My Girlfriend Priyanka cried throughout Jail: Neil Nitin MukeshMy Girlfriend Priyanka cried throughout Jail: Neil Nitin Mukesh

Neil Nitin Mukesh’s love interest is no longer kept out of view. That the girl in question Priyanka Bhatia is very much part of the Mukesh parivar became evident on the night of November 2 when at the Fame Adlabs at a private screening of Jail, Priyanka was prominently present alongside Neil’s parents and brother Naman.

Neil mother and girlfriend sobbed uncontrollably throughout.

“Priyanka and my mom were hysterical with grief. They weren’t looking at just a character being put through a traumatic time. To them it was someone who they both love in pain in front of their eyes, ” said Neil.

Neil admits Priyanka is an integral part of his family. “My parents and her parents don’t only know and like one another we also visit one another’s homes constantly.

More than lovers we’re friends first. There’s a comfort level in our interaction that makes us very relaxed with one another. We don’t have to hide anything. We meet openly and are very proud of one another.

There’s no pressure for marriage on either side. When it happens, it happens. The marital status on the passport would hardly alter anything between us.”

Priyanka has done a course in fashion designing. Neil is open to the idea of Priyanka designing his clothes for his films. “I’d love that. But it should happen on its own. Neither Priyanka nor I want to pressurize anyone to use her skills. But if it happens I’d be very happy to be dressed up by her.”Another happy happening is the fact that Neil’s colleague Ranbir Kapoor’s film Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani releases on the same day as Neil’s Jail.

Says Neil, “Ranbir and I are of course competitors. But there’s no negative rivalry between us. Our respective fathers would kill us if we behaved like two brats fighting for the same roles. I’m proud that Ranbir’s and my grandfather were very close friends. My father and Ranbir’s father adore each other. Ranbir is like my younger brother.”

So is Neil saying Ranbir is no competition?

“Of course he is!” rejoins Neil. “I’d want Ranbir’s film to do as well as mine. Fortunately Jail and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani look like the North and South pole.”

On Tuesday night all of Neil’s forthcoming directors saw Jail at Yashraj Studios “David Dhawan. Abbas-Mustan, Kunal Kohli and Ken Ghosh saw the film. I think they liked what they saw. So I’m safe in their films.”LINK....

Katrina's obsessed stalker returns to haunt her!

Katrina Kaif, recently, got a shock of her life when she found out that an a youngster who has been stalking her since May had surfaced again and was on a trail to get close to her at a recent event.

According to sources on Sunday evening when Katrina went to the multiplex for the event, the stalker shocked her as he sprung out of nowhere and started yelling her name.

Recognising the stalker, Katrina recalled that he had showed up at her residence twice in May. Confirming the news, a source says, “She quickly alerted the security about him. She told them he was the same guy who had showed up at her house. The security soon swung into action and handled the stalker well."

Shunali Shroff, Head of Corporate Communications of the multiplex, confirmed the unpleasant incident and said, “Yes, there was a guy who was stalking Katrina. Our security made sure that he did not get near her. She was our guest and it was the least we could do.”

Katrina said, “Yes, he was the same guy who had come to my house. He keeps following me and reached the multiplex this time. The police have warned him to stay away from me, but he does not understand. I don't know what he wants. It's terribly disturbing.”LINK...

Shilpa and Raj to dance on special song for sangeet

Here's the latest news from Shilpa-Raj's big fat wedding. Choreographer Ganesh Hegde has been assigned the task to plan and polish the dance moves of everyone from family to friends for the sangeet ceremony that will be held on November 21 in Khandala.

Talking about the event, Ganesh told a news daily, “The sangeet is not a professional thing for me. I am related to Shilpa. We are keeping this as personal as possible and haven't involved any professional dancers.

We're planning something cute where all the family members pay tribute to each other. Raj's younger brother is extremely enthusiastic about it. Raj's family members will be coming down from London.”

As for the theme, Ganesh adds, “There's no singular theme, but yes, we will explore and celebrate that Shilpa, who is from a South Indian (Bunt) family, is marrying Raj, who is a Punjabi. We'll have a good mix of South Indian and Punjabi style dance and music.”

About Shilpa and Raj's special number, Ganesh says, “They will be dancing together on a lovely romantic number. We haven't finalised the song yet but it will definitely be one of Shilpa's own numbers. Apart from Shilpa's own songs, there will be some high-tempo numbers too. The guests won’t dress in special costumes for their performances as they will anyway be dressed in their finery.”LINK...

Twilight co-stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart have been pictured holding hands in Paris as they prepared to board a flight to London, fuellin

The Twilight stars held hands as they boarded their flight to London Photo: SPLASH NEWS

For months, the pair have dodged or denied suggestions that they are seeing one another in real life.

However, the paparazzi caught them with arms entwined as they walked to their plane at an airport in Paris, en route to the London fan party for The Twilight Saga: New Moon."They were the last ones to leave the terminal to board the plane. Out on the tarmac, he took her hand, like young lovers. They stopped and looked at each other, their plane, the scene.

"They seemed very calm, in love. They continued holding hands boarding the plane," one photographer told People magazine.

Pattinson, 23, and Stewart, 17, have faced constant questioning about their relationship since appearing together in the first Twilight film as Edward Cullen and Bella Swan.

Stewart said she was sick of being asked about it. "There's no answer that's not going to tip you one way or the other. Think about every hyopthetical situation. 'Ok, we are. We aren't. I'm a lesbian.'

"I probably would've answered if people hadn't made such a big deal about it. But I'm not going to give the fiending an answer."

Tonight's fan party is the only stop on the British leg of the New Moon tour. two thousands fans will attend the event at Battersea Evolution in south London, where they will see the stars on the red carpet and watch a Q&A session with the cast.LINK...,

Saudi Arabia provides $380mln loan to Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia here on Tuesday signed three agreements worth $380 million for time deposit, import of fertilizer and hydropower generation.

Of these, two loan agreements pertained to the pledge made by Saudi Arabia during Donors Conference held in Tokyo on the backdrop of Friends of Democratic Pakistan meeting in which it pledged US$700 million for Pakistan.

The loan agreements were signed by Vice Chairman and Managing Director Saudi Fund for Development, Eng. Yousef Ibrahim Al-Bassam on behalf of Saudi Arabia and Secretary Economic Affairs Division, Sibtain Fazal Halim and Deputy Governor Sate Bank of Pakistan, Yaseen Anwar on behalf of Pakistan.

The first loan agreement is related to time deposit of US$200 million that Saudi Arabia would keep in State Bank of Pakistan.

It carries an interest rate of three months LIBOR and its repayment would be made in eight years including three years grace period.

On the occasion, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan, Abdul Aziz Al-Ghadeer and Secretary Chairman WAPDA, Shakil Durani and Deputy Governor were also present at signing ceremony.

The second agreement from the pledged amount was export credit of US$100 million which would be utilized for import of urea fertilizer from Saudi Arabia.

A separate agreement would be inked between Trade Corporation of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), which will execute this agreement.

The loan of $100 million carries an interest rate of one year’s LIBOR plus 85 basis points and will be repayable after a period of two years.

The agreement to this effect was signed by Yousef Ibrahim Al-Bassam and Secretary EAD Fazal Halim.

The third agreement was co-financing of Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project which is regular on-going assistance form Saudi Arabia.

The Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, with a donor-component of US$75 million, is co-finance by Saudi Arabia, Abdu Dhabi, Kuwait, Islamic Development Bank OPEC Fund and Chinese EXIM Bank.

Saudi Arabia would provide soft loan of US$80 million for this project.

The loan caries an interest rate of two percent and is payable in 20 years including grace period of six years.

Speaking on the occasion, Eng. Yousef Al-Bassam said that Saudi Arabia was keen to continue its cooperation with Pakistan and assist it in financing development projects in various sectors of economy.

He said that the signing of these agreements was a continuing process towards more stronger ties and cooperation between the two countries.

He said that the hydropower project aims to utilize the natural resources to contribute to providing power supply, which will assist in supporting the social-economic development in Pakistan.

Secretary EAD also spoke on the occasion and expressed the hope that the amount provided through these agreements would help promote the respective sectors.LINK....

Hair-pulling woman footballer suspended

NEW YORK: Once the darlings of American sport for their global success, women's football players are now internet video hits thanks to a hair-pulling harridan and a set of US teen girls gone wild.

Highlights making the rounds on US television and with on-line video viewers now feature University of New Mexico defender Elizabeth Lambert pulling down an opponent by her ponytail and a late-game brawl between high school girls.

Lambert was handed an indefinite suspension for her actions on Thursday in a 1-0 Mountain West Conference playoff semi-final loss to Brigham Young University, which including hitting, kicking and punching rivals.

Lambert apologized for her actions, still under review by conference officials for possible further action, but the video of her punch-and-pull performance has proven popular viewing.

In the wake of the incident came a Sunday brawl in Rhode Island involving a fight between Woonsocket and Tolman girls football teams.

Woonsocket led 5-0 in the final seconds when two players ran into each other, touching off a fight between players who punched and pulled hair and inspired post-game fights in the stands.

Only a decade ago, the host US national team defeated China in the Women's World Cup final. A second US women's pro league, Women's Professional Soccer, debuted this year with top talent from around the world.LINK...

Zardari allegedly made big money in sub-marine sale

Updated at: 1820 PST, Wednesday, November 11, 2009 PARIS: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is suspected of having received millions of dollars in kickbacks from the 1994 sale of three French submarines to the Pakistani Navy, a French daily reported. In addition, investigators believe that the non-payment of the full amount of the agreed kickbacks may have led to the deaths of 11 French nationals in a 2002 terror attack in the city of Karachi. The report says the French daily acquired documents that allegedly show that Zardari received 4.3 million dollars in kickbacks from the sale of three Agosta 90 submarines for 825 million euros (currently 1.237 billion dollars). The documents were sent to the Pakistani National Accountability Bureau (NAB) by British authorities in April 2001 and indicate that Zardari received several large payments into his Swiss bank accounts from a Lebanese businessman, Abdulrahman el-Assir, in 1994 and 1995. According to a former executive of the French naval defence company DCN, French authorities chose el-Assir to act as intermediary in the deal. He allegedly deposited a total of 1.3 million dollars in Zardari’s bank accounts between August 15 and 30, 1994, one month before the submarine contract was signed, and then 1.2 million dollars and 1.8 million dollars one year later. According to DCN employees who testified in the terror attack investigation, the kickbacks to Pakistan in the deal totalled 10 per cent of the purchase amount, with 6 per cent, or 49.5 million dollars, going to the military and 4 per cent, or 33 million euros, being funneled to political circles.LINK...

Imran Khan has emergency surgery

Surgeons have performed an emergency operation on former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Imran Khan to remove an obstruction in his small intestine.

The procedure was carried out on Monday at Lahore's Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital after Imran, 56, complained of severe pain in his abdomen.

A hospital spokesman said afterwards: "Mr Khan is now out of danger."

Imran, who captained Pakistan to World Cup success in 1992, was a member of the national parliament for five years.

He is in intensive care and has been advised to remain in the hospital for at least three days.

The hospital where he is being treated is named after Imran's mother and was established following a charity appeal launched by the ex-cricketer himself, after she died of cancer.LINK...

Sticks and carrots at the ready for US senate health care passage

Analysts say that the most important thing for the Democrats is to just get this bill through the senate. Liberals beware. Photo: AP

"Some people you can persuade by talking to them about legislative substance, some you have to persuade by talking to them about their political futures and careers," said Bruce Oppenheimer, a political science professor at Tennessee's Vanderbilt University.

"Some of them you cajole, some of them want just to be stroked a lot. Some of them you have to threaten and part of persuasion is knowing what works with who ... and some people you probably know not to waste your efforts on," he said.On Saturday, a health care bill passed by a narrow 220-215 vote in the House of Representatives, where Speaker Nancy Pelosi commands a substantial Democratic majority, but only after she accepted a series of compromises.

The environment is less favorable in the Senate, where Senator Harry Reid heads a fractious caucus with a slimmer majority and will need all his political skills to build a coalition.

The leadership will have to use "appeals to loyalty and necessity", said Steven Smith, a political science professor and expert on congressional politics at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri.

Reid will need to bring together both fiscally conservative and liberal Democrats, and also may woo them with offers of either legislative compromises or perks for their states, Oppenheimer said.

"It may be that a senator who is sitting on the fence will look for what they can get in return."

To secure the bill's passage, Reid is also likely to court moderate Republicans including Maine's senator, Olympia Snowe, by offering them concessions, even at the risk of angering liberal Democrats.

"At some point the liberal side will start saying you're giving up too much, but I think that most of them strategically know that the important thing right now is to get a bill out of the Senate," Oppenheimer said.

Moderate Democrats will require more convincing than their liberal counterparts, particularly in the wake of Democratic defeats last week in gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey, analysts said.

The election results will "absolutely" make moderates think twice about voting for health care reform, said Thomas Goldwasser, adjunct professor of political management at George Washington University, in Washington.

"Any moderate in the Senate is going to be frightened if they come from a state that didn't lean heavily towards a Democratic president."

But Oppenheimer said the Democratic leadership may warn senators that facing voters without successful reform would be even more of an electoral risk.

"Democrats do not want to have to run for re-election in 2010 having a bill that has failed. I think there's a real stake in getting something passed and in the end I think the administration's going to take advantage of that," he said.

As Reid works behind the scenes, President Barack Obama and White House officials have a public role to play in pushing the debate forward, Smith said.

"They need to continue to champion the programme with the public, they need to keep down opposition, they need to keep people interested in the programme.

"There's no one who can substitute for the president in pressing the cause," he said.

Howard Dean, former governor of Vermont and a leading liberal health care advocate, said Obama should hold Congress to his year-end deadline for completed legislation.

"I think the president has to sign the bill by the end of the year," said Dean. "It gets so political once you enter into an election year. After the new year, once people come back, all they're going to be thinking about is elections."

When legislation arrives on Obama's desk, it is likely to be watered down by compromises, despite warnings from Dean that the liberal wing of the Democratic party is "hanging by a thread because of ... compromises" in the House.

"They're going to have to settle for anything as non-controversial as they can. I think they know they have no margin of error," Goldwasser said.

Ultimately, moving the process forward will trump pleasing the party's liberals, according to Oppenheimer.

"Your big effort in the short term is to get something out of the Senate and therefore you're willing to trade off on specific provisions as long as you can get a bill through."LINK....

Sugar mills violate judicial orders

KARACHI: The most of the sugar mills of Sindh are employing delaying tactics which is brazen violation of the judicial verdict, Geo News reported Sunday.Talking to Geo News, Imtiaz Ali Shah Sugarcane Commissioner of Sindh Department of Agriculture said the sugar mills of the province should have started providing the 30 percent of their stock at Rs36/kg.The majority of sugar mills including Shah Murad and An-Noor Sugar Mills are using delaying tactics in providing the commodity to the wholesalers.He said the attitude put up by the sugar mills is violation of judicial ruling.Imtiaz Ali Shah further said 19 sugar mills of the province will start crushing by next week, adding five sugar mills have started crushing.link

Fund raising deal inked for 84MW Hydel Project

KARACHI: The Hub Power Company (HUBCO) has inked a fund raising deal for the first private sector 84 mega watts (MW) hydel project. Talking to Geo News HUBCO's Chief Executive Javed Mehmood said that HUBCO will provide 25 percent of funds, whereas a consortium of banks will afford rest of the 75 percent for $23.30 billion project. Javed said this is first time that international monetary institutions are financing an infrastructure in Azad Kashmir. The consortium includes Asian Development Bank, IFC, Habib Bank, National Bank and a French institution. ‘The project will be constructed on a canal near Mangla.’ Soil testing has been started, whereas the construction work will begin in the first week of coming December, he added. link....

Action to continue until extremists are wiped out: Zardari

ISLAMABAD: Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, British Foreign Secretary’s special representatives on Tuesday called on President Asif Ali Zardari and discussed matters relating to bilateral relations and Pakistan’s fight against extremism and militancy.They also exchanged views on the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP), rehabilitation of displaced persons as a result of Waziristan operation, access to Pakistani products in EU markets and regional situation after post-Mumbai attacks. Those who attended the meeting included Rehman Malik, Interior Minister; Salman Faruqui, Secretary General to the President;Senator Sughra Imam and senior officials. British High Commissioner in Pakistan Robert Brinkley was also present.The President while referring to the difficulties being faced by Pakistani nationals in getting UK visas appreciated the steps being taken by the British government to strengthen the Visa sections in Islamabad and Abu Dhabi to clear the backlog of visa applications. The President called for reducing the processing time for visa issuance and also the facility of returning of passports while the visa is under the process.The President said that Pakistan look forward for the continued support of the British Government in the EU for access of Pakistani goods into the EU markets and initiation of the process towards Free Trade Agreement. This would help boost Pakistan’s economy by generating employment opportunities in the country and also send positive signals to Pakistani entrepreneurs and foreign investors, the President added.The President urged for developing a roadmap to move forward the process of Pakistan- UK ‘Strategic Dialogue’ towards building a comprehensive partnership and added that it should address Pakistan’s core priorities of security and economic development. The President said his visits to the UK in August and September this year and the recent visits of the British Home and Defence secretaries have contributed to the strengthening of the strategic dialogue between the two countries.Referring to the ongoing drive against militancy in the tribal areas of South Waziristan, the President said the operation would continue till the area is cleared of terrorists and the objectives of the operation are achieved. The government is equally focused on the relief and rehabilitation of the dislocated people from Waziristan, the President said and added that international community should step forward to share the burden.The President appreciated Britain development assistance of 665 million pounds over the next four years but also stressed the need for more trade and investment which he said would give the relationship a strong foundation.Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles appreciated the government’s determinations to fight against the militants and lauded the success made so far. He said that Britain will continue to support Pakistan build its ravaged economy and in the rehabilitation of the displaced people

Electricity generation shrinks by 50%

LAHORE: Thin water flow in Mangla and Tarbela dams is causing 50 percent declined at in hydal electricity generation, whereas the unavailability of furnace oil has forced closure of thermal power houses. As a result, 8 to 15 hour electricity outages persist.The load shedding hours have not decreased in winters owing to significant decline in hydel and thermal electricity generation. Currently, hydel electricity production stands at 3,000 MW and thermal electricity generation at 6,000 MW.Punjab is bearing 8 to 15 hours of unannounced power outages to balance the energy deficit.The sources stated that supply of 600 MW electricity per day is being ensured to Karachi despite all kinds of difficulties.PEPCO has cut down furnace oil purchases due to its worsening financial condition. The energy crisis is feared to grow in the coming days.Link.....

Akram seeks prayers

LAHORE – Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram’s wife Huma Wasim was laid to rest on Monday at a local graveyard amidst expressions of grief and sorrow from the relatives, fans and family friends. Everybody who is anybody in the Pakistan cricket in the city was present to pay last and respect to her and stood on Akram’s side at this time of grievance. Prominent among them were PCB director cricket Zakir Khan, former captains Inzamamul Haq, Moin Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed, Aaqib Javed, Shoaib Malik, Intikhab Alam, Ijaz Ahmed, Abdul Qadir and PCB chairman Ijaz Butt. Saeed Anwar, a former Pakistan captain and ex-teammate of Wasim, led the funeral prayers. Her last rites were performed at Jamia Mosque, Block DD, Phase 4, DHA at 2:30 pm and then her body was taken to the graveyard for burial.Talking to media at the occasion Wasim Akram said that he needs friends prayers. “I would urge the people to pray for me to give me strength and courage to raise our children. I want prayers so I could carry on with my wife’s dreams to raise our children as she wanted them to be,” he added. Her qul rituals will be held at the same venue, Jamia Mosque after 5 pm. Meanwhile, messages of condolence kept pouring in.Bipin Dani adds from Mumbai: Over 1,000 people had gathered at the funeral saying final good bye to the very remarkable, loved and admired person called Huma Wasim Akram, according to Maqbool “Max” Babri, one of the family friends present, from Lahore. “The Namaz-i-Janaza was held at the DD mosque at 2.35 this afternoon where over a 1,000 mourners were gathered to say good bye to a great mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend, teacher, psychologist, hypnotherapist, counsellor, coach and above all a delightful caring human being”, “Max” Babri said over telephone.The president of Pakistan, the prime minister, governors, chief ministers, speaker of the national assembly have sent their messages of condolences to Wasim Akram and his much devastated family.Many current and former cricketers including Shoaib Malik, the member of the current Pakistani team, coach Intikhab Alam, administrators, managers were present at the S Block graveyard in Defence. This graveyard is only about a kilometer away from the Wasim Akram residence in Z Block. “Wasim Akram has asked all of us to pray for the departed soul and for courage and strength for himself to continue and fulfill Huma’s mission to bring-up the the two motherless boys in a way that they grow up to be responsible and caring citizens like Huma was”, Babri further added.It could not be confirmed whether Akram’s two sons-Taimur and Akbar- were present. Possibly they were asked to stay back. “Weeping Akram’s beard was overgrown, He was tired and he seemed not totally himself”.“We will always remember Huma as she will continue to live with and within us as she had touched so many people and their hearts with her wisdom and kindness. Her very spontaneous laughter and expression of joy. Her very appropriate, assertive and humorous comments underlining the fact that Huma and Wasim are actually and truly equal partners in life rather than traditional husband and wife”, Babri further added.“There is some good news though. If we have learned something from Huma and if we are any good as human beings, we will get to meet her in heaven one day”, the psychologist and hypenotherapist Babri signed off.

Peshawar blast toll mounts to 90

PESHAWAR: The total death toll from Peshawar blast has mounted to 90 while rescue sources say that more people could still be buried under the debris. Over 150 people sustained injuries in the blast. Hospital sources have confirmed that 160 were brought there, and a list of 136 of these injured has been made visible inside the hospital premises. According to details, the powerful blast occurred at Peepal Mandi ripped near Meena Bazar, Peshawar. The explosion triggered fire in nearby shops while an old building came to ground with the heavy impact which also caused damage to other surrounding buildings.Most of the buildings in the area had already been declared to be in poor condition.AIG Bomb Disposal Unit Shafqatullah Malik said that explosives, weighing 150 kilograms, were planted in a vehicle.DCO Peshawar Sahibzada Anees has confirmed 87 deaths in the tragic incident while the hospital sources confirmed 89 people dead, majority of them are women and children.Condition of many injured is said to be serious and the toll is feared to rise further.Senior NWFP Minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour reiterated the commitment to bringing the terrorists to justice.President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed profound grief over the loss of innocent lives in Peshawar bomb blast, while denouncing the incident, Prime Minister (PM) Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani directed concerned officials to provide the injured with all the possible medical relief. NWFP Chief Minister (CM), Amir Hyder Khan Hoti has ordered inquiry of the blast. Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif, CM Punjab Shehbaz Sharif, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Quaid Altaf Hussain, Governor Punjab Salman Taseer, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Qamar Zaman Kaira, NWFP CM Amir Hyder Hoti, Governor NWFP Owais Ahmed Ghani, CM Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad, CM Balochistan Aslam Raisani, Governor Balochistan Zulfiqar Magsi, Federal Ministers Farooq Sattar and Babar Ghauri, Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Syed Munawar Hassan and Qazi Husain Ahmed strongly condemned the blast.

Pakistan facing food security challenges: Gondal

ISLAMABAD: The federal minister for food and agriculture Nazar Muhammad Gondal Tuesday stressed that Pakistan needs modern technology and research in the field of agriculture.Like other countries of the world, Pakistan is also facing the challenges of food security and to overcome these challenges we need to enhance agricultural production per acre, and introduce new seeds, Nazir M. Gondal said while addressing a seminar held on agriculture.He further added that by introducing new crops Pakistan can not only increase its produce but we can also control different existing crop disease and pests.

Tomatoes worth Rs.2.5 billion imported from India

KARACHI: Pakistan has so far imported Rs.2.5 billion tomatoes from India through Wagah border.A tomato importer told Geo News that reduced production of tomatoes this year forced to import tomatoes. Indian tomatoes are cheaper then anywhere else, therefore, importers are preferred to import tomatoes from India via Wagah border. So far tomatoes worth of Rs. 2.5 billion have been imported so far whereas tomatoes of Rs. one billion will be imported till December.

Afghan leader's brother on CIA payroll: report

WASHINGTON: Ahmed Wali Karzai, the brother of the embattled Afghan president and a suspected drug trafficker, has been on the CIA payroll for most of the past eight years, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

The US spy agency pays Karzai for a variety of services, the newspaper said, such as fielding recruits for an Afghan paramilitary force operating at the CIA's direction in and around his home city of Kandahar, a Taliban stronghold. He also helps the CIA contact and sometimes meet Taliban followers.

Karzai, who is said to have ties to Afghanistan's lucrative illegal opium trade, has a "wide-ranging" relationship with the CIA, the Times said, citing US officials.

87 killed in Peshawar blast: hospital sources

PESHAWAR: The death toll of the blast occurred in Meena Bazar Peshawar has climbed to 87, hospital sources said. More then 200 people injured in the blast.

According to reports, three persons have been rescued from the rubbles of the buildings collapsed after the explosion.

The injured have been shifted to Lady Reading Hospital and other hospitals where emergency has been announced. The children and women are also among the wounded. Some of the injured reported in a critical condition. The administration of Lady Reading Hospital has appealed for blood donation. The blast shattered windowpanes of nearby buildings and created panic among the people.

The charred bodies have been recovered from the blast site as several persons still trapped under the rubbles. A nearby mosque Umme Habiba has been destroyed in the explosion. Police have cordoned off the area as rescue operation is on the blast site.

President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed his heartfelt grief over the loss of innocent lives in Peshawar bomb blast, while denouncing the incident, Prime Minister (PM) Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani directed concerned officials to provide the injured with all the possible medical relief. NWFP Chief Minister (CM), Amir Hyder Khan Hoti has ordered inquiry of the blast.

Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif, CM Punjab Shehbaz Sharif, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Quaid Altaf Hussain, Governor Punjab Salman Taseer, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Qamar Zaman Kaira, NWFP CM Amir Hyder Hoti, Governor NWFP Owais Ahmed Ghani, CM Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad, CM Balochistan Aslam Raisani, Governor Balochistan Zulfiqar Magsi, Federal Ministers Farooq Sattar and Babar Ghauri, Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Syed Munawar Hassan and Qazi Husain Ahmed have strongly condemned the blast.Link...

Two robbers killed in Karachi police encounter

KARACHI: Two dacoits were killed while two others fled away, meanwhile, the looted material including currency and illegal weaponry were recovered during police encounter in Model Colony here on Wednesday, Geo news reported.

According to police, a woman knocked at the door of Muhammad Imran but as the door got opened, four unknown persons broke into house and started looting residents of their valuable jewelry and money, but in meantime, neighbours called police on phone, which arrived on time.

Subsequently, miscreants opened fire on police, which they retaliated befittingly, killing two among them while two remaining persons including woman succeeded to flee, police said.

Also, police claimed recovery of 2 pistols, looted currency and jewelry, sources added.Link...

Hillary Clinton arrives in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has arrived in Islamabad Wednesday on her three-day visit of the country.

In her visit she will meet President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and Pakistan Muslim League Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif.

Meetings with Chairman Senate, Speaker National Assembly and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also include in her visit schedule.

This is Clinton’s first official visit to Pakistan as US Secretary of State.

The mechanism of future US aids to Pakistan will also be discussed with her during the meetings. link.....