International Karachi, Sunday, May 15, 2011, Jumadi-ul-Saani 11, Price Rs12 Pages 8
Help send doctors to villages, CM tells PMA
CJ exacts quality FJA construction
See page 8
Osama beat spymaster: Shaukat Aziz
See page 8
Graves take Libyan imams hit by Nato
See page 8
See on Page 2 Economic Indicators $17.01bn 14.08% $20.15bn $32.26bn $(12.11)bn $99mn $9.05bn $1.32bn Rs 1012bn $59.54bn Rs 5463bn $491mn 6.75% 4.10% $1,051 176.03mn
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241.19 Yearly(Jul, 2010 up to 12-May-2011) Monthly(May, 2011 up to 12-May-2011) 15.61 4.02 Daily (12-May-2011) 2823 Total Portfolio Invest (30-Apr-2011)
NCCPL (U.S $ in million)
FIPI (13-May-2011) Local Companies (13-May-2011) Banks / DFI (13-May-2011) Mutual Funds (13-May-2011) NBFC (13-May-2011) Local Investors (13-May-2011) Other Organization (13-May-2011)
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ISI chief says will quit if asked; Parliament's draft resolution to be sent to UN, US: PM, President
Dronefire to kill Nato transit
ISLAMABAD: joint session of the Parliament in a unanimous resolution on Saturday called for immediate halt to drone attacks by the US otherwise Pakistan would be "constrained" to consider necessary steps including withdrawal of transit facility allowed to Nato and ISAF forces. After over 10-hour detailed briefing to the parliamentarians on killing of al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden on May 2 by Director General of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, the DG Military (Operations) and the Deputy Chief of Air Staff, the joint session adopted a unanimous resolution which "strongly asserted that unilateral actions, such as those conducted by the US forces in Abbottabad, as well as the continued drone attacks on the territory of Pakistan are not only unacceptable but also constitute violation of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations (UN), international law and humanitarian norms and such drone attacks must be stopped forthwith, failing which the government will be constrained to consider taking necessary steps, including withdrawal of transit facility allowed to Nato/ISAF forces."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called on President Asif Ali Zardari at the presidency on Saturday, and the two leaders agreed to
We stand by army, agencies: Zardari ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari reaffirming that military and political leadership are on the same page have vowed that no conspiracy to malign the national security agencies and the armed forces would be allowed to succeed He expressed these views in his meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday. PM briefed the president on the incamera meeting held on the May 2 incident and the approval of joint resolution in this regard. He said that in light of these resolutions government would take comprehensive steps. He said that democratic government would not make any decisions that are against the public sentiments and expectations. He said that the public should have full faith in the national security agencies and any attempt to malign the security agencies and armed forces would be foiled. President further said there is no difference between the political and military leadership and they are on the same page and no compromise would be made on national security. President also took on board the PM on his recent visit to Russia and the agreements signed there in various sectors.-Online send a copy of the parliament's joint resolution on the Abbottabad operation to the United States and the United Nation. The heads of the country held a meeting following the president's return from Russia
Choked funds cut subsidies: Shaikh ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has said that subsidies had to be reduced due to the resource constraints and added that efforts were afoot to increase income in a bid to ease the provision of funds along with raising other resources. Addressing the annual planning coordination committee meeting here, the finance minister said that funds would first be provided to the projects nearing completion. He said that disbursing more funds with shortage of resources was not easy. However, the planning commission has prepared a roadmap for the economic
development and funds would be released on the basis of priority. Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh further said that as a result of the 7th NFC Award, the provinces have received Rs300 to Rs350 billion additionally and with the availability of more resources, the responsibilities on the provinces rest more. The provinces could spend more of these funds on supply of potable water, law and order and health facilities. Dr Shaikh said that the provinces have more funds than the federation for the development works and he hoped that the provinces would help cut the financial deficit. -Agencies
24 senators pledge allegiance to Dar
Dar proposed leader of Opp ISLAMABAD: Twenty four senators including six dissident members of PML-Q have lodged an application with Chairman Senate for appointing PML-N Senator Ishaq Dar as opposition leader of the house. PML-N sources told Online that besides signatures of senators from JI, PML-LM, Balochistan Nationalist Parties also has signatures of 6 dissident senators of PML-Q, who had decided to sit on opposition benches after Q-league and PPP shook hands again. These senators include Tariq Azeem, Naeem Hussain Chatta, Javed Ali Shah, Gulshan Saeed, Jamal Leghari and Rehana Yayha Baloch. With these dissident members supporting PML-N candidate the parliamentary leader post of PML-Q leader Ch Shujaat Hussain is in doldrums. Sources said that the 24 senators who had pledged their support for Ishaq Dar have requested Chairman Senate Farooq HNaek to issue the notification of
and topping the agenda was Friday's in-camera briefing of the parliament, sources told local media. Prime Minister Gilani and
leader of the house at earliest. The supporting senators include Raja Zafar Ul Haq, Professor Khurshid, Abdul Rahim Mandokhel, Abdul Malik Baloch, Hasil khan Bazinjo, Professor Ibrahim, Afia Zia, Pervez Rasheed, Mushahid Ullah Khan, Sajid Mir, Zafar Ali Shah, Najma Hameed, Ghufran Khan, Ishaq Dar, Tariq Azeem, Naeem Hussain Chattha, Javed Ali Shah, Gulshan Saeed, Humayun Khan Mandokhel, Rehana Baloch, Saleem Saif Ullah Khan, Haroon Akhtar, Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi and Fouzia Fakhar Alzaman. It is expected that the notification would be issued any time soon as according to the rules if the opposition members are unanimous on a single member than Chairman Senate is bound to appoint him opposition leader. Sources said that JUI-F did not pledge support for Ishaq Dar and instead have announced to make See # 3 Page 7
President Zardari also discussed the security developments in the country in the wake of the operation carried out by US forces in Abbottabad on May 2. Friday's session, which was held to take the members of
American arrested, spying alleged FATEHJANG: A US national has been arrested under espionage charge after found roaming near sensitive nuclear installations in Fatehjang, media reports on Saturday. The arrested man identified as Mathieu Craig staying at G8 sector of Islamabad, sources say. The man told the police that he lost his way and reached there accidentally. According to investigations Craig has arrived in Pakistan on a business visa and staying in Islamabad for a long time after marrying a Pakistani woman.-Agencies
Pakistan in Azlan Shah Cup tough final IPOH, Malaysia: Pakistan qualified for the final match of Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament by beating the host Malaysia o n Saturday. Pakistan defeated Malaysia by 3-2 in their penultimate round-robin league match to enter the final of the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament. Shakil Ahmed, Sohail Abbas and Muhammad Waqar each scored a goal for their team. Pakistan advanced to the final after 2004 and would face five times champion Australia in the final. Earlier on Thursday World champions Australia defeated Great Britain 2-1 to enter the final of the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament.-Online
ISLAMABAD: Services Chiefs attending the Joint Session at Parliament House.-APP
the parliament into confidence regarding national security, was termed successful by the PM as he briefed Zardari on its proceedings. It was the first time that the high command of the military and its spy agency, the ISI, were answering questions from the members of the parliament. ISI chief, Lt. General Ahmad Shuja Pasha briefed lawmakers on the bin Laden issue and also reportedly offered to tender his resignation. The session was closed to
the media but sources said that Pasha had offered to resign and had said that he was ready to appear before any commission set up by parliament. "Yes, General Pasha had offered to tender his resignation," a parliamentary source said. A second source confirmed that the general had said he would resign if the parliament asked and present himself before any commission the lawmakers set up. The lawmakers called on the
government "to appoint an independent commission on the Abbottabad operation, fix responsibility and recommend necessary measures to ensure that such an incident does not recur". Zardari and Gilani reportedly discussed the details of setting up an independent commission to probe the operation. Both praised the parliament stance to withdraw logistical cooperation for US troops based in Afghanistan and hit out at the drone strikes..Agencies
Kerry tells Pakistan to be a 'real' ally in WoT
US up to get over tie-breach: Kerry ISLAMABAD: Some serious questions remain in relations between the countries after the killing of Osama bin Laden, we're not trying to find a way to break the relationship apart, we're trying to find a way to rebuild it Senator John Kerry said on Saturday. Kerry, who is visiting Afghanistan ahead of a trip to Pakistan to discuss strained bilateral ties, said Islamabad needed to improve efforts in fighting extremism, but the death of bin Laden provided a critical chance to move forward. He said adding the United States wants Pakistan to be a "real" ally in combating militants inside its borders. "We obviously want a Pakistan that is prepared to respect the interests of Afghanistan, and to be a real ally in our efforts to combat terrorism," Kerry told reporters
in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif. "We believe there are things that can be done better. And there are serious questions that need to be answered in that relationship. But we're not trying to find a way to break the relationship apart, we're trying to find a way to build it." US lawmakers have questioned whether Pakistan is serious about fighting militants in the region after bin Laden was found living in Pakistan. Some have even called for a suspension in US aid to Islamabad. Pakistan has rejected allegations the killing showed incompetence or complicity in hiding the al Qaeda leader. Kerry, a Democrat close to the Obama administration and who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said last week it was "extraordinarily hard to believe" bin
Laden could have survived in Pakistan for so long without any knowledge. Current and former US officials, in private, say the United States repeatedly told Pakistan that Washington would send American forces into that country if it had evidence bin Laden was hiding there. Asked if the United States would conduct a similar raid inside Pakistan to kill Mullah Omar, the reclusive leader of the Afghan Taliban, if they knew his whereabouts, Kerry said Washington would consider all its options. "The United States government will always reserve all of its options to be able to protect our people. Other plots have been conducted and organised and planned out of Pakistan. It is really critical that we talk with the Pakistanis as friends," Kerry said. See # 1 Page 7
‘N’ satisfied over in-camera briefing
Sharif demands army, spies budget in House Says follow parliament resolution to control militancy LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has termed government's resolution on Abbottabad raid as weak, demanding of the government to present the budget of secret agencies and army in the parliament. While addressing a press conference on Saturday after meeting with US ambassador Cameron Munter, PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif urged that an independent commission should be formed on the issue. "Terrorism has weakened our
economy terribly." "This country is not of a present president but of 170 million people. The ruling government has given nothing to the nation but gloom," he added. Nawaz said that he was in contact with Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan during in-camera session on Abbottabad raid. "Why government allows drone attacks? Why our soil is used for drones?" PML-N chief said that martial law was not imposed on
Pakistan by military but, he added, just by four generals. "US should be aware of Pakistan's concerns seriously. Pakistan has rendered more sacrifices. Our sovereignty was violated," he added. He said that the parliament must play its role positively and affectively. Moreover, Senator Pakistan Muslim League (N) Pervez Rasheed while expressing satisfaction over briefing to the joint in-camera session of the See # 2 Page 7
2 President has right to meet politicians, says Shehla ISLAMABAD: Deputy Speaker Sindh Assembly Shehla Raza said on Saturday that President has a right to meet all the political members. Talking to Radio Pakistan she said that admissibility of the petition against the President's dual office is sustainable as the President has never sought any advice from the judiciary. Shehla maintained that no one from the government side appeared in the court after this petition was admitted. She said that two amicus curie namely Hafiz Pirzada and S.M Zafar did not appear in the court. She said that despite these irregularities verdict was announced. She said every citizen of Pakistan has a constitutional right to be member of a political party. She said that second office of the President is not an office of the profit. Shehla Raza said that Pakistan Peoples Party has repeatedly been facing the difficult situation with the LHC in the past including Z.A Bhutto's martyrdom. To a question she said that President is elected by the provincial assemblies as well as the National Assemblies and Senate. The elected members sitting in the parliament would naturally elect a political figure as the President, she added. She said that it is not possible for the parliament to elect a non political figure. She said that the elements objecting over President's offices are those who want to dissolve the political setup and get importance under the doctrine of necessity but they do not find and opportunity to do so.-APP
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Pakistan takes 3rd place in Intel fair
Exports topped target for 1st time: Puri
Young Pakistani scientists use nanotechnology to clean polluted water
LAHORE: CEO of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Tariq Iqbal Puri has said that for the first time ever in the country's history, exports have surpassed the target. He said despite the economic slowdown, it was all the more significant Pakistan was on course to set new records of exports growth. To build on this landmark achievement, Puri said TDAP was accelerating its efforts and taking out-of- box measures to achieve a possible $24 billion exports by the end of this financial year. The TDAP Chief Executive was speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. LCCI President Shahzad Ali Malik, Senior Vice President Sheikh Mohammad Arshad, Vice President Sohail Azhar, former LCCI Presidents Mian Misbahur Rehman, Shahid Hassan Sheikh, PIAF Chairman Sohail Lashari, former LCCI Senior Vice President Tahir Javaid Malik, former vice presidents Aftab Ahmad Vohra and Shafqat Saeed Piracha also spoke on the occasion. In spite of the power and gas shortages, the exporters are doing good business in the international market and are competing well with foreign competitors, Puri said, adding the demand for textiles has increased considerably. He said that there are a number of other areas including non-traditional items, minerals, livestock and pharmaceutical that has a huge export potential and Pakistani businessmen should avail the opportunity. The TDAP CEO said that as the year had been declared as Exports to China Year therefore the TDAP was encouraging Pakistani entrepreneurs to focus on non-traditional items for exports. The TDAP, he added, would ensure that it provided all possible assistance and was in the process of setting up a web portal. This web portal he added would a state of the art affair catering to the needs of the businessmen.-PR
KARACHI: Ambreen Bibi and Mehwish Ghafoor of Islamabad, Pakistan, won a Third Place Grand Award in the field of Environmental Sciences at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, a program of Society for Science & the Public. They received the award and $1,000 for developing a treatment that utilizes nanotechnology to make polluted water drinkable. Matthew Feddersen and Blake Marggraff from Lafayette, Calif. were awarded the top prize. They received $75,000 and the Gordon E. Moore Award, in honor of the Intel co-founder and retired chairman and CEO, for developing a potentially more effective and less expensive cancer treatment that places tin metal near a tumor before radiation therapy. Taylor Wilson from Reno, Nevada was named an Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award winner and received
$50,000. Taylor developed one of the lowest dose and highest sensitivity interrogation systems for countering nuclear terrorism. The team of Pornwasu Pongtheerawan, Arada Sungkanit and Tanpitcha Phongchaipaiboon from Thailand also received an Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award. This team determined that a gelatin found in fish scales could be successfully used in modern day food packaging - an invention that could have positive, long-term effects for the environment. "We champion the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair because we believe that math and science are imperative for innovation," said Naveed Siraj, Country Manager, Intel Pakistan. "This global competition features youth trying to solve the world's most pressing challenges through science."-PR
Dawlance launches H-Zone Cold Plasma Air Conditioner Staff Reporter
neutralize the pollution, kill the airborne bacteria and refresh the air to make it healthy for breathing. This technology ensures that air conditioner not only provides comfortable cooling but Cleans and Refreshes the room environment to let consumers enjoy a healthy lifestyle." The H-Zone Air Conditioner is equipped with a special Air Quality Sensor that detects the presence of pollution such as smoke, volatile chemicals and carbon monoxide in the room air. It activates Cold Plasma mode once it detects pollution in the environment. The Filter Clean warning ensures that AC works to its maximum capacity even after years of usage. Anti corrosive fins and built in compressor protects against voltage fluctuation make Dawlance AC a truly reliable partner, while its stylish design is bound to accentuate home decor.
KARACHI: The leadeing home appliances brand of Pakistan, extends its H-Zone product range with Cold Plasma Air Conditioner which offers health features, trendy design and superior functions all in the same product. The new H-Zone Air conditioner is equipped with a unique combination of features never found in any other brand of Air conditioner until now. Based on consumer insights, H-Zone function enables the air conditioner to Detect, Inform and Clean the environment of any pollution that may be suspended in the air. Expressing his views at the launch, Mr. Salman Ali, Category Manager Air Conditioners said, "The key feature of this new product is KARACHI: Patron-in- H-Zone Cold Plasma generChief Korangi Association ator which releases the of Trade and Industry healthy ions (Plasma) that (KATI) S. M. Muneer, Chairman KATI Syed Johar Ali Qandhari and former Chairman Mian Zahid Hussain strongly condemned the ongoing negative campaign by some quarters against military of Pakistan. In a joint press statement, they said that our armed KARACHI: The Dawlance team represented by Head of forces were one of the best in the world and they were Sales & Supply Chain Raja Adeel Khalid, Head of Marketing Hasan Jamil & Category Manager Ali Air Conditioners the symbol of solidarity. Salman Ali present at the launch of H-Zone Cold They have time and again Plasma air conditioner which offers health features, proved that they have the trendy design and superior functions.-Staff Photo capabilities and courage to face any challenge, both in war and peace. The time witnessed their bravery in the battles against terrorism. They said that unfortunately, military was the only institution left in Pakistan, which was purely working as "An institution" and therefore, it was our prime responsibility ISLAMABAD: Renowned artiste Laila Zuberi, Syma Nosheen, Shaheena Anwar and Ambreen Khan posing for a group photo to strengthen our military with the winners after Soya Supreme Cooking instead of defaming it and Class in Islamabad.-Online distorting its image. They further pointed out the services of Pak Army in devastating earthquake in 2005 and massive floods last year wherein army worked day and night to rescue and rehabilitate the affectees.-PR KARACHI: A delegation representing an association of
Traders oppose anti-army propaganda
Moot on Urdu & national
Media Managers and Journalists from Bangladesh visited Orient Advertising Karachi. The picture shows the visiting delegation along with the management team of Orient Advertising (Pvt.) Limited.
rebuilding set for June KARACHI: A towday All Pakistan Conference “Urdu Aur Qoumi Tameere-Nau” will be organized by “Maxim PR”, a subsidiary of Pakistan’s leading advertising agency Maxim Advertising, in the second week of June in Karachi.-PR
KARACHI: Intel Board of Advisors & Management Team @ Intel Solution Summit 2011 was held at Melbourne. Photo shows Kamil Hassan, RCO Intel Asia-Pacific, Steven J Dallman, Vice President, Sales and Marketing and Khushnood Aftab, Member of Intel Board of Directors, represented Pakistan at Intel Solution Summit 2011.-PR
DHL expands fleet-force in Pakistan KARACHI: DHL, the world's leading Logistics Company, further expanded its domestic fleet in Pakistan by inducting more new trucks in its existing fleet of vehicles. The strengthening of the fleet will help DHL Global Forwarding to provide efficient and timely service to its customers in Pakistan. A senior level delegation of DHL Global Forwarding lead by Ms. Anne Schaefer, Director Strategic Planning South Asia and Mr. Imran Shaikh, Managing Director, DHL Pakistan, recently visited Hinopak Motors Limited, Karachi. Speaking on the occasion Ms. Anne Schaefer, Director Strategic Planning - South Asia said "We see a great and growing demand from our customers for reliable and secure domestic transport solutions across the country. DHL differentiates itself through best-in class quality standards in a developing market segment. We see ourselves in the driver-seat in collaboration with local partners to expand and enhance the transportation infrastructure for companies operating in Pakistan. The expansion of our fleet is one important aspect but our activities also include work on related issues like road safety." Commenting on the expansion of DHL vehicle fleet, Managing Director DHL Global Forwarding Pakistan Imran Shaikh, said "This induction marks the expansion of our domestic operations in Pakistan and we hope that the extended fleet will help us to serve our customers well by providing timely and efficient services across Pakistan-PR
SITE official Help send doctors to worried over KESC staff’s rural areas, CM tells PMA nonstop strike KARACHI: Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah has urged the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) to help government in ensuring presence of doctors transferred to health centers and hospitals in rural areas. Addressing the doctors at the oath taking ceremony of PMA -Sindh office bearers for 2011-2013 here on Saturday, he said non availability of experienced doctors and medical specialists in the government healthcare centers even in the suburban areas has appeared to be a major problem. "Whenever doctors are transferred or even appointed at rural health centers,
taluka hospitals or semi urban areas the administration is pressurised with recommendations from influential sector to prevent these transfers," said the chief minister. This, he said has aggravated the menace of quackery in areas devoid of qualified medical experts and specialists. Syed Qaim Ali Shah said even at Lyari, within Karachi and at another well equipped hospital in a city like Sukkur there were several faculties vacant as qualified experts do not want to serve there. These issues, he said had to be addressed while government is committed to solve all genuine problems faced by the medical com-
munity including significant raise in emoluments and salary, fool-proof security and proper promotion mechanism. He said as per directives of President Asif Ali Zardari, the Sindh government had constituted a committee comprising Finance Minister, Health Minister and Vice Chancellors of different medical universities to recommend measures for the benefit of doctors. "In accordance to the committee's suggestion significant allocation has been made for health sector, with due attention towards well being of medical community in the upcoming budget," said Syed Qaim Ali Shah..-APP
PESHAWAR: French Ambassador in Pakistan H E Daniel Jouanneau conferring 'Chevalier De La Legion D' honneur (Knight of The Legion of Honour) the highest French Civil Award to Honorary French Consul in Peshawar Raza Kuli Khan Khattak since 1971 at impressive investiture ceremony held at Peshawar.-PR
KARACHI: Senior Vice Chairman SITE Association of Industry Asad Nisar Barkhurdaria, has expressed much concern on continuous strike by employees of KESC, as appearing in local news paper, as a result of which the industries in SITE area are without power for the last six days and the management is much worried because their production is suffering. Industries which have their own generation units are burning costly diesel. While Karachi Electric Supply Company continued to suffer disruption and subversion at the hands of CBAUnion and its outside connivers for fourth consecutive day on Thursday, the industries are also suffering of burnt sub-stations, PMTs and disconnected electricity supply network at a number of places, forcefully closed down operation offices and complaints centers, blocked the repair and maintenance work and damaged and destroyed the utility's assets, equipment and vehicles. Complaints are receiving from the industries that their power supply is discontinued for the last four days in most of the cases but KESC management is helpless in repairing the faults. The faults are being attended throughout source by the KESC management but the pace is very slow.-PR
FPCCI organizes seminar
FPCCI calls for standardisation to boost exports M Imran Sharif KARACHI: At present, compliance is the basic requirement of all international markets such as EU, Saudi Arabia and USA, which are major export markets for Pakistan. However, many of our exports are rejected due to non-compliance with their standards. This was stated by Acting President of FPCCI M. Akbar Khan in his key note address on the occasion of a seminar on "National Standarization needs of Pakistan" on saturday organized at Federation House in collaboration with Pakistan Standards Quality Control Authority (PSQCA). The Acting President also spoke about FPCCI's continuing collaboration with Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) in pursuance of the MOU signed in December 2010. Federal Secretary Ministry of Science and Technology Irfan Nadeem was the Chief
Guest. Vice President FPCCI Khalid Tawab and Chairman FPCCI Standing Committee on Customs and Member Advisory Council of PSQCA Shaukat Ahmed were also present on the occasion. DG PSQCA M. Junaid Qureshi, delivered the welcome address at the event, where he introduced PSQCA, which was followed by screening of an informative documentary about PSQCA's activities. Deputy Director General, Standards Development Centre (SDC) Dr. Shahzad Afzal made a detailed presentation about the Standardization Needs of Pakistan. Chairman FPCCI Standing Committee on WTO and R&D cell Eng. M A Jabbar spoke about the role of industry in the Implementation of standards and technical regulations and identified some shortcomings in the functioning of PSQCA.
ICCI vows developing co-work with ECO countries ISLAMABAD: President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) Mahfooz Elahi, has said that Pakistan has plenty of opportunities to strengthen its economy by developing close cooperation with Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) countries in trade and energy. In a statement, he said that goods could be traded between member countries of the ECO at reduced duties which would give a boost to trade relations among countries of the bloc. He was of the view that Pakistan was an energy deficient country and it could easily meet its energy requirements by promoting energy cooperation with ECO countries because this region was estimated to contain a third of the global energy resources. He said that Crude oil production was more than 6000 barrels per day while Natural gas production was around 9
trillion cubic feet. "Thus our cooperation with ECO countries in energy, trade and commerce activities would lead to our economic prosperity", he added. ICCI President said that the work in the field of trade liberalization should be towards the reduction of tariffs and removal of non-tariff barriers in the ECO region. Mahfooz Elahi said that the organisation should work for effective utilization of the agricultural and industrial potentials of ECO region. Joint efforts should have to be make for better access to markets outside the ECO region for the raw materials and finished products of the Member States, he opinioned. He said that government should emphasize on IranPakistan gas pipeline and TAPI gas pipeline projects to overcome energy crisis. Infrastructure and energy connectivity should be given priority as key goals, he added.-NNI
LAHORE: Group photo of CEO TDAP Tariq Iqbal Puri with LCCI President Shahzad Ali Malik, Senior Vice President Sheikh Mohammad Arshad, Vice President Sohail Azhar, former officer bearers and EC members.
KARACHI: KCCI organized a presentation on "Pre-marriage (Minor) Thalassemia Screening Test". CEO Afzal Memorial Thalessima Foundation Dr. Javed Qidwai was the Chief Guest. President KCCI Mohammad Saeed Shafiq presenting Chamber's Crest to Dr Asim Qidwai at the occasion. Senior Vice President Talat Mahmood, Chairman Banking Insurance & CSR SubCommittee Rehan Hanif, Chairman Health & Education SubCommittee Ansar Javed and others also seen in the picture.-PR
KARACHI: Former President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Majyd Aziz inaugurating IAPEX 2011 with Anjum Adil, Mumtaz Jilani, Habib Fida Ali, and Silwat Afzal at the Karachi Expo Center.-Staff Photo
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Sunday, May 15, 2011
Google Chrome PC takes on Microsoft L
Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Chrome at Google, announces an Acer notebook running Google Chrome OS during the keynote address at the Google I/O Developers Conference in the Moscone Center. -Reuters
Cisco warns of sales miss, eyes $1bn savings isco Systems Inc warned C that it will fare worse this quarter than Wall Street had feared, and laid out plans for global job cuts as it struggles to revive growth. Shares of Cisco fell 3 percent after the world's largest networking equipment maker projected nearly flat sales growth this quarter. CEO John Chambers, who admitted last month that the Silicon Valley bellwether had lost its way, cautioned that Cisco's fiscal year starting August would also not live up to the company's previous growth expectations. The company is preparing a round of layoffs around the world, aiming to cut annual expenses by $1 billion, Chambers told analysts on a Wednesday conference call. Most of the cutbacks would be done by the end of the company's fiscal first quarter, though Chambers would not be drawn on their scale. Employees hurt by the layoffs would know by the end of the summer. "Cisco is a very strong company in a healthy market with a few problematic areas," he said. But his optimism failed to impress shareholders, who sent Cisco shares down in late trade after the weak guidance. Cisco's sales warning obliterated an initial 4percent lift after the company posted quarterly earnings that exceeded low expectations. "Cisco is in a period of transition. There's a very negative camp that believes that Cisco is in a long decline ... which is why the stock is so inexpensive," said Evercore Partners analyst Alkesh Shah. The results come as Chambers works to turn around the Silicon Valley bellwether. Since the rare admission, he has trimmed the company's bloated management structure, offered
early retirement to some employees, killed the Flip camcorder and laid off 550 workers. Chambers said he would decide on the next round of layoffs very quickly. "Each time we've done this in the past, we've done it crisply and emerged out of it stronger. ... We want to do it surgically instead of with a blunt instrument," he said. "We were all here for the last couple of weeks, 9:30 at night, although the pizza wasn't too good." ZEROING IN ON SWITCHES Cisco warned that overall fourth-quarter revenue would be flat to just 2 percent higher than a year earlier, implying a range of $10.84 billion to $11.05 billion, below expectations for $11.59 billion according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Cisco shares slid 1 percent to $17.72 after rising as much as 4.2 percent to $18.53 from a Nasdaq close of $17.78. During the conference call, analysts grilled Chambers about his plans for reviving his bread-and-butter business of selling the plumbing of the Internet and corporate networks. They zeroed in on its switching business, where sales fell 9 percent in the third quarter after sliding 7 percent in the second quarter. Chief Financial Officer Frank Calderoni told Reuters he could not say when Cisco's switching business would grow again. Before the company gave out weaker-than-expected guidance investors had been hoping the results would beat forecasts. The company reported profit, excluding items, of 42 cents per share, for the fiscal third quarter ended April 30, beating the average analyst forecast of 37 cents according to Thomson -Reuters
Amazon could cut ties in more states over tax dispute
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mazon.com could cut its partnership with affiliates in more U.S. states that require the online retailer to collect sales tax, Chief Executive Jeff Bezos said on Wednesday. The comments from the world's largest online retailer come less than a month after brick-and-mortar rival Best Buy expressed optimism about potential online taxation reforms that would expand the collection of sales taxes on items bought over the Internet. Many traditional chains such as Best Buy and Sears have openly voiced their concerns about online-only retailers like Amazon getting an unfair advantage by not having to collect sales tax in states where it does not have a corporate presence. Lawmakers in states -- many facing huge budget deficits -have also argued that Amazon has a duty to collect tax because its "affiliates," or independent Web operators which are paid a fee when they drive traffic to Amazon that results in a sale, operate in the state. Amazon has already announced plans to cancel its affiliate program in Illinois in response to the state's new law to target online retailers that have affiliates in the state. Texas is considering taxing online sales and California, which already passed legislation that was vetoed, is considering another bill. Last October, Amazon also got a $269 million bill for uncollected sales taxes from the state of Texas. "We will continue to drop states who pass those affiliate laws, from the affiliate program," Bezos said at the ShopSmart Shopping Summit in New York . -Reuters
AT&T, T-Mobile CEOs back mobile megamerger
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op executives of AT&T Inc and T-Mobile insisted on Wednesday their proposed merger would benefit consumers and rejected criticisms that it would stifle innovation. AT&T Chief Executive Randall Stephenson and TMobile USA CEO Philipp Humm appeared before the Senate Judiciary's antitrust subcommittee to defend their deal, which would concentrate 80 percent of U.S. wireless contract customers in just two companies -- AT&T/T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. AT&T touted fewer dropped calls and faster data speeds to entice consumer and policymaker support for its $39 billion bid to take over Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile USA. Lawmakers said they were intrigued by the potential to expand faster 4G wireless services to more parts of the country and provide a shortterm solution to the spectrum crunch impairing voice and data services in high-density areas.
But they want more evidence the deal won't also hurt consumer prices and options. "The merits of this argument need to be examined. The certainty of the outcome needs to be explored," Senator Patrick Leahy, chairman of the full Judiciary Committee, said about potential consumer benefits. Congress has no direct role in reviewing the merger but has oversight of the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department. Those two agencies are expected to take a year to complete their reviews. T-Mobile's Humm stressed that the company on its own would not be able to remain competitive in the U.S. wireless market as Deutsche Telekom is unable to finance the investments required to handle the explosion in data usage. Humm also said T-Mobile lacked the spectrum holdings to expand coverage to suburban and rural areas or to launch next generation 4G wireless
Internet service -- a problem the combination with AT&T would solve. "The transaction will provide our combined customers and the American public improved services faster than either company could provide on its own," Humm said. AT&T's Stephenson said the merger will allow AT&T to improve its services, handle more data traffic and bring mobile Internet to 55 million more Americans than it could have done on its own. Lawmakers probed the companies about the potential harm to competition and the threat of job losses, and questioned whether AT&T could better spend $39 billion by upgrading its network. "An industry that once was a monopoly owned by AT&T in the last century is in danger of reverting to a duopoly in this new century," said subcommittee Chairman Herb Kohl. "So the burden will squarely be on AT&T and T-Mobile to convince us why this merger is necessary."-Reuters
aptop computers using Google's Chrome operating system will go on sale in June, as the world's No. 1 Internet search engine challenges Microsoft Corp and Apple on their home turf. The new Web-centric PCs, made by Samsung and Acer Inc, are Google's latest attempt to change how consumers and companies use their computers. The bare-bones operating system is essentially a web browser that steers users to use applications like email and spreadsheets directly on the web, instead of storing software such as Outlook or Word directly on PCs. Moving day-to-day functions onto the Internet removes the burden of timeconsuming tasks associated with traditional PCs, like installing software and updates, backing up files and running antivirus checks, executives said. "The complexity of manag-
ing your computer is torturing users," Google cofounder Sergey Brin told reporters. "It's a flawed model fundamentally. Chromebooks are a new model that doesn't put the burden of managing your computer on yourself." In another move encouraging people to move their computing off their PCs and onto "the cloud", Google on Tuesday launched an online music locker service letting users store and listen to their songs wherever they are. For nearly two years Google has touted Chrome as an alternative to Microsoft Windows, which is used on more than 90 percent of the world's PCs, but faced delays launching laptops designed to use the software. Meanwhile, the exploding market for smartphones and tablets using Google's Android operating system has quickly taken center stage for the Internet heavyweight, and some observers say Google
should reconcile or merge the two. "Our goal is to focus on the users and bring the best forward. Wherever we can share (technology with Android) we will share," said Sundar Pichai, Senior Vice President of Chrome. "But the final expressions are two different visions." DRIVING ADS As with Android, Chrome software will be free, but is expected to spur people to use the Internet more often and search for more things, potentially boosting Google's Internet ads business. The operating system and "Chromebook" PCs expand on Google's web browser, also called Chrome, that competes against Microsoft's Internet Explorer. The laptops, using processors made by Intel, will be available for order on Amazon.com and Best Buy's online store on June 15. The Mountain View, California company will also
PayPal tops mobile payment brands: Survey PayPal, the eBay-owned online payment system, could be set for a major boost as mobile payment systems start to take off over the next year, a survey by market research firm GfK suggests. GfK found that PayPal was the brand most likely to be trusted with personal financial data by consumers in nine major markets around the world, in a survey whose results are due to be published later on Thursday. Credit-card brands Visa and MasterCard were the next most likely global brands to be trusted, followed by Apple -- which already handles account data through the iTunes store --, Nokia and Samsung. Mobile operators, who have been hoping to diversify their increasingly commoditised revenues through NFC, came far down the list. "When we think of trust or security, we probably default to a brand that's been around for a long time. In this case, people have put their trust in a very new company," GfK analyst and report author Ryan Garner told Reuters. "Whilst financial brands have built up high levels of trust, mobile-based brands such as Nokia and Apple, and relatively new financial
brands like PayPal, have the potential to disrupt this seemingly comfortable position," GfK said. Paying for small items like newspapers or a coffee by touching a mobile phone against an NFC (near field communications) reader has been technologically possible for many years. But a reluctance to invest in the necessary infrastructure has prevented a market from developing in mature economies as banks, telcos, phone makers and software makers have tussled over ownership of the customer. NFC FLOOD This year, however, a slew of NFC-enabled smartphones based on Google's latest Android platform is due to hit the market. Research in Motion's new Bold BlackBerry, due to go on sale this summer, also will be equipped with NFC. At least one in five smartphones will have an NFC chip by 2014, adding up to almost 300 million NFCcapable smartphones by 2014, according to a new forecast by telecoms analysis firm Juniper Research. Meantime, mobile operators are gearing up to launch mobile payment services after years of trials. Telefonica's O2 is about to apply for a banking license in Britain, while in Spain Telefonica recently signed a deal to collaborate on NFC
technology with Orange and Vodafone. Key retailers in Britain including Tesco, the Co-op and fast-food chain McDonald's also are expected to install contactless payment terminals soon. GfK carried out its online survey of 8,603 consumers in Britain, the United States, Germany, France, Spain, Brazil, China, Italy and South Korea -- which it used as a benchmark because mobile payments have been used there for many years. Chinese consumers were keenest to start using mobile payment services, with 82 percent saying they found the idea appealing. Brazil followed, with 73 percent, while the French were the least keen, with just 42 percent finding it appealing. South Korea, the benchmark for the survey, had 72 percent. In regions like western Europe and the United States, mobile payments are a harder sell because financial systems are well established and shopping in stores is already fairly convenient, with many accepting debit and credit cards as well as cash. In parts of sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia, where many people have no bank account, mobile payments using simpler technology than NFC have proven very popular.
CALIFORNIA: A pedestrian walks past the Cisco logo at the technology company's campus in San Jose, California. -Reuters
offer businesses its Chromebooks, along with technical support, as a hasslefree solution for $28 a month. Google is competing fiercely against Apple to win consumers in the mobile market, with sales of Android-based phones recently overtaking iPhones but with its own tablets far behind Apple'siPad. Google kicked off its annual developers forum on Tuesday with an image of its Android robot eating an apple, a shot at its Cupertino, California rival. Also on Tuesday, Microsoft said it would buy popular Internet phone service Skype for $8.5 billion, beating out bids by Google and Facebook and highlighting its need to gain new customers for Windows as more consumers turn from PCs to mobile gadgets. Shares of Google were down 1.57 percent at $534.12.
Sony: Hackers launched no new PlayStation attack security measure that Sony Corp installed made one of the official PlayStation websites unavailable in Japan. The company published a statement about the site on Wednesday after a Bloomberg report said the site was down because of a hacker attack. Sony uses its PlayStation website to update the public about a break-in to its servers which compromised the personal data of more 100 million users. The website is separate from the PlayStation Network, the online gaming hub where users can buy and download video games. It has been offline since April 19. An earlier report by Bloomberg saying that hackers had attacked the PlayStation blog was incorrect, said Sony spokesman Dan Race in a statement. "Media reports claiming that the U.S. PlayStation.com site and blog were partially disrupted because of hackers are false," he said. "We installed a new security measure that has temporarily made the sites inaccessible to select regions outside of the U.S." The report circulated through the Twitter online social network and was picked up by at least one news website. Bloomberg corrected its story. A Bloomberg representative was not available. Users in Japan can still get access to PlayStation websites, just not the U.S. version, Race said, adding that Sony is working on getting it back online as soon as possible.
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Intel to sell up to 10mn Clearwire shares Intel Corp said on Wednesday it plans to sell up to 10 million shares of wireless service provider Clearwire Corp to book certain tax benefits. The sale of the shares would not impact any contracts between Intel and Clearwire, the company said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Intel owns 102,404,811 Clearwire shares, or 32.8 percent of the outstanding shares. Clearwire's Class A common stock will be sold through Intel's venture arm Intel Capital in public open market, beginning on or about Friday,. Clearwire, the first U.S. operator to offer services using the latest in high speed wireless technology, needs new funding as it continues to burn through cash because of the cost of building a new network. It is majority owned by Sprint Nextel Corp.
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Sunday, May 15, 2011
The Financial Daily International
US Debt Limit Talks Embroiled In Chaos
Vol 4, Issue 187
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Amir A. Ashary Editor: Shakil H. Jafri Executive Editor: Manzar Naqvi Honorary Advisory Board Haseeb Khan, FCA
S. Muneer Hussain Rizvi
Asim Abbas Ashary, CPA
Khurram Shehzad, CFA
Akhtar M. Zaidi, FCA
Prof. Zakaria Sajid (KU)
Dr. A. Hadi Shahid, FCA
Zahid Bukhari SVP HBL (retd)
Muhammad Arif
Ismat Sabir Head office
111-C, Jami Commercial Street 11, Phase VII, DHA Karachi Telephone: 92-21-35311893-6 Fax: 92-21-35388428 URL: www.thefinancialdaily.com Email Address: editor@thefinancialdaily.com
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Time to save Ummah from fragmentation In the aftermath of Middle East crisis the divide between Arbi and Ajmi seems to be getting more visible. After the demonstration in Bahrain, Iran was accused of supporting the anti monarch elements. The attempt by GCC forces to contain the demonstration attracted mixed reaction but the strangest was the reaction from the United States, which was leading assault against Libyan President Gaddafi. It also seems that some of the smaller kingdoms are getting jittery after the US played a key role in the change of regime in Egypt and Tunis. This should not be shocking for them as the US keeps on changing the rulers in its periphery countries. Those losing the US support were King Raza Shah Pehelvi of Iran and Saddam Hussain of Iraq. President Ziaul Haq of Pakistan was also the victim of changing priorities. One is completely astonished to see the enmity among the Muslim countries. The history of mutiny spread over many decades clearly shows that some of the tribal chief revolted only to serve the objective of super powers of the time. In the recent history the war between Iraq and Iran, spread over nearly a decade and Iraq attacking Kuwait are the worst examples of serving the purpose of anti Muslim forces. Various factions of Muslims have been created in the recent times to weaken the Ummah. Enmity between Shias and Sunnis was fully operative in Iraq and now efforts are being made to create a common force to weaken Iran, which has so far endured series of economic sanctions. Staging the drama of killing of Osama bin Ladhen can also be termed part of a grand agenda to split Pakistanis and malign its defense forces. Despite, various attempts to malign defense forces, the latest one is aimed at creating chaos in the country at a time when India is being encouraged to replace Nato forces after their exit. The time has come for the Muslim Ummah to identify its common enemy. All the Muslim petroleum producing countries are the hot targets. Economic sanctions have been imposed on Iran to contain its oil exports. Iraqi facilities were destroyed during war spread over ten years and Libya has been assaulted only to deprive it from earnings from oil exports as well as destroy its oil installations. Occupation of Afghanistan is also the part of the policy to grow a thorn between Iran and Pakistan and to initiate cross-border activities against the two countries. It is also part of the strategy to fragment both the countries, Iran on sectarian basis and Pakistan on linguistic basis.
Disclaimer:
All reports and recommendations have been prepared for your information only. Summary and Analysis are not recommendation to buy or sell. This information should only be used by investors who are aware of the risk inherent in securities trading. The facts, information, data, indicators and charts presented have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but their accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. The Financial Daily International and its employees are not responsible for any loss arising from use of these reports and recommendations.
Tim Reid WASHINGTON: Rival plans to cut the US. deficit emerge almost daily: gangs, panels and commissions all trying to reach an elusive deal. There are splits between Republicans and Democrats, and mixed messages from all sides. With pressure mounting in Washington for a budget agreement that can clear a path to raise America's debt limit, only one thing is clear: nobody yet knows how to get there, and a deal appears as far off as ever. "Nobody can get a handle on this because there is no handle," said a veteran Republican strategist. "The overall picture really is as muddied and unclear as it looks. Anybody who says they know what's going to happen here is lying. They don't." The United States is set to reach its $14.3 trillion debt limit on Monday, and will only be able to avoid default until Aug. 2, according to the US. Treasury. Efforts to forge a bipartisan deficit-reduction package as a step towards Congress raising the borrowing limit are in turmoil. A thicket of plans to cut the deficit, which is expected to hit $1.4 trillion this year, have emerged in recent days with virtually no chance of passage in Congress. A bipartisan group of senators know as the "Gang of Six," which has been trying to reach a detailed deficit-cutting deal for five months, seems to be
fading from view. Republicans in the House of Representatives are badly split, its leadership struggling to send a unified message. Last week, the architect of the Republican budget plan, congressman Paul Ryan, appeared to pull back from his proposal to privatize Medicare, the government-run program for the elderly. Yet in a speech to Wall Street on Monday, House Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in Congress, said Medicare was very much on the table. ONLY BOTTLED WATER ON OFFER Across the aisle, Democratic liberals and moderates are at loggerheads over how far to cut entitlement programs such as Medicare, and how deep spending cuts should go. The White House and Democrats insist that tax increases, as well as spending cuts, must be part of a deficit deal. Republicans say tax hikes are "off the table" and demand swingeing reform of Medicare, a proposal opposed by most Democrats and the White House. Written off by many in Washington just a week ago as little more than political theater, there is now a growing consensus that the only real chance for a deal lies with a seven-member panel chaired by Vice-President Joe Biden, which met for a third time on Thursday. Chris Van Hollen, one of four con-
gressional Democrats in the group, said progress was going to be painfully slow. "The approach we are taking is one step at a time," Van Hollen told Reuters, adding that the atmosphere inside the talks had been serious and purposeful. "Just bottled water on offer -- no bread," he said. Van Hollen said the first two meetings had focused on "areas of agreement" but that soon they will have to move into painful negotiations on the controversial items of taxes and entitlements such as the Social Security retirement program. "We will have to see as the process unfolds which areas the sides may give ground on," he said. THROWING IDEAS AT THE WALL Former Senator Alan Simpson, the Republican co-chair of President Barack Obama's deficit-reduction commission, said: "You can see how tough this is going to be for the Biden group. And if they can't get this done - forget it." Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said she had been holding almost daily meetings with members of Congress. "People are just throwing ideas at the wall to see what sticks," MacGuineas said. Boehner is under enormous pressure from two opposing, "unforgiving" sides, the Republican strategist said --
Wall Street, which wants the debt limit raised soon to avoid turmoil in the bond markets, and House conservatives aligned with the Tea Party movement, who refuse to vote for raising the borrowing cap without drastic spending cuts. Boehner tried to reassure both sides in his Monday speech. He insisted any rise in the debt limit must be accompanied by even greater cuts in spending, while also conceding that a failure to raise the debt limit would be "irresponsible." "The Republican leadership wants to do the right thing in raising the debt limit" the strategist said. "But they don't want to destroy themselves politically." Strategists on both sides still believe a deal will be struck to raise the debt ceiling -- but only after Democratic and Republican leaders have dragged out negotiations to demonstrate their toughness. Many believe that only when President Barack Obama, Boehner and Harry Reid, the Democratic Senate leader, forcefully enter negotiations will there be a chance for a deal. "A deal is more likely than not -- but I wouldn't even put it at 80 per cent likely," said Norm Ornstein, a veteran congressional analyst at the American Enterprise Institute think-tank. "The most likely scenario is that after a lot of gut-wrenching, heartstopping moments, some kind of consensus will emerge. -Reuters
UN protection of civilians at issue after Libya Patrick Worsnip UNITED NATIONS: Recent U.N. resolutions on Libya broke new ground in backing international action to protect civilians, but the stalemated civil war that has ensued could roll back those advances, diplomats and analysts say. Russia, China and other powers have voiced dismay that the world body has appeared to take sides in an internal conflict, not just in Libya but also in Ivory Coast, where a Security Council resolution led to the ousting of an incumbent ruler. As a result, veto-holders Russia and China may not be as willing in future to permit sweeping endorsements for tough action, either by a coalition -- as in Libya -- or by U.N. peacekeepers -- as in Ivory Coast, diplomats say. No one contests the principle of protecting civilians during armed conflict, a theme that has been on the Security Council agenda for more than a decade. The skeptics' concern is that it will be used as a cover by Western powers bent on overthrowing leaders they do not like. More generally, it raises the specter of "interference in the internal affairs" of sovereign states, a taboo for Moscow and Beijing for decades.
In Libya, a March 17 Security Council resolution authorized "all necessary measures" to protect civilians as Tripoli looked set to crush rebels who had seized control of the east. Western air and missile strikes on the forces of leader Muammar Gaddafi drove them back from the rebel stronghold of Benghazi. It was the first time the Council had authorized a military response to protect populations in a non-consenting state. In Ivory Coast, a similarly worded resolution passed on March 30 resulted in military action by French and U.N. peacekeepers that culminated 12 days later in the arrest of Laurent Gbagbo, who had refused to cede power after a presidential election the United Nations said he lost. As a consequence, Gbagbo's challenger, Alassane Ouattara, took over the West African country. OVERSTEPPING AUTHORITY Following the two resolutions, human rights groups were ecstatic over what they saw as a new willingness by the United Nations to enforce principles to which it had long paid lip service. Russia and China, faced with an Arab League call for U.N. action on Libya and West African support over
Ivory Coast, had abstained in the first resolution and voted for the second. But both soon made clear they thought the United Nations was at risk of overstepping its authority -- not protecting civilians but backing one faction in a civil conflict. At a Security Council debate this week, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said it was "unacceptable for U.N. peacekeepers ... to be drawn into armed conflict and essentially to take the side of one of the parties." Chinese Ambassador Li Baodong said, "There must be no attempt at regime change or involvement in a civil war of a country by any party in the name of protecting civilians." Similar concerns have been expressed by Brazil, India and South Africa, which are also on the Security Council. The implications have not been lost on Western diplomats who had hoped the Council's adoption of the Libya and Ivory Coast resolutions might set a precedent. "There was a chance to create a model for the protection of civilians in Libya. But now it's going to be very difficult in the future to persuade Russia and China to support such operations," a diplomat said. An immediate casualty
could be a Western attempt to bring about Security Council action on Syria's violent crackdown on anti-government protesters. "Some people are cautious in the context of Libya," a diplomat commented. ARCANE DEBATE Protection of civilians is written into the mandate of at least seven U.N. peacekeeping forces around the world and has been the subject of regular reports by U.N. SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon and his predecessor, Kofi Annan. These, however, have tended to focus on the soft end of the subject, such as programs to train peacekeepers, rather than the sharp end of NATO bombing a government army, as in Libya. The subject also has become enmeshed with an arcane debate at the United Nations over whether the world body has a "responsibility to protect" -- or R2P in U.N. jargon - populations threatened by genocide or other mass atrocities. That concept was launched in a 2005 summit of more than 150 world leaders in a belated response to a perceived U.N. failure to prevent massacres in Rwanda and Bosnia in the 1990s. A carefully crafted declaration said the responsibility began with the government of the country concerned. If that
failed, it foresaw a sliding scale of international action ranging from advice through mediation to -- in a last resort -- intervention by force authorized by the Security Council. A General Assembly conference two years ago showed that most U.N. members broadly supported R2P, but envoys from leftist states in Latin America and elsewhere denounced it as a smokescreen for "colonialism and interventionism" by the West. Some diplomats say that if the Libyan insurrection had toppled Gaddafi in a couple of weeks, rather than extending into a drawn-out civil war, concerns about how protection of civilians was to be interpreted would have been far fewer. Supporters of R2P say that was never likely to happen and it was too soon to say the concept was fatally damaged. But Ramesh Thakur of the Australian National University said, "The evolution of R2P, and prospects of its being authorized/used again, will depend on how Libya turns out. If NATO respects its limitations and success is achieved, R2P stands vindicated. If (resolution) 1973 (on Libya) is abused and a messy stalemate ensues, the bar will be greatly raised." - Reuters
Arab Dynasties Lure Jordan, Morocco into Anti-Iran Bloc Suleiman al-Khalidi AMMAN: Rich Gulf Arab dynasties have reacted to upheaval in the Arab world by inviting fellow monarchies Jordan and Morocco to join their club as they seek ways to combat domestic unrest and a perceived Iranian threat. The announcement by leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Tuesday welcoming Jordan and Morocco as prospective members of the oil-producing bloc surprised many in Amman and Rabat, which have not seen themselves as being on a par with the wealthier economies of the Gulf. Impetus for the closer realignment has been enhanced by mass protests gripping the Arab world that worried autocratic ruling elites about a contagion sweeping their region as former allies Egypt and Tunisia succumbed to popular revolts, analysts say. Sunni Gulf leaders are concerned that Western allies could abandon them and back reforms if protests become widespread enough as they did with their longtime allies Hosni Mubarak and Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. Jordan has long supported US-backed
Gulf security arrangements underpinned by fears led by Saudi Arabia of Shi'ite political activity as a channel for Iranian influence. "No doubt the main motivation has been what has been happening in the Arab world and its repercussions. It's a signal that the security and stability of Jordan is not just a local concern. It's also a message of solidarity," said Nawaf Tell, director of Jordan University's Centre for Strategic Studies. Ali Anouzla, editor of independent Moroccan news portal Lakome.com, said: "This looks like an alliance that will be against both geography and strategic common sense." "Amid the popular revolts demanding democracy, it feels more like a political alliance aimed at preserving the stability and the continuity of Arab monarchies, the majority of which are led by prominent tribes and clans in their respective countries." "People demanding change in Morocco have shown what inspires them: They have always carried Tunisian and Egyptian flags." Anouzla said those demanding change in Morocco want a parliamentary
monarchy, not a constitutional one, to guarantee a separation of powers. Taher Adwan, Jordanian minister of state for media affairs, told Reuters that Amman backed the GCC's foreign policy and its opposition to Iran's meddling in the region. "Jordan had a clear stance that rejected any Iranian intervention in the affairs of Bahrain," Adwan added. Naser al-Belooshi, Bahrain's ambassador to France, said both Morocco and Jordan had similar capitalist economies that complement the GCC, adding that their strong links with the United States and France could only benefit the world's largest oil exporting region. Jordan's geographical position -- it borders Israel, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia -- has been growing in value as a crucial buffer whose stability is key to Gulf security as the Arab democratic revolution shakes the grip of long-serving rulers. The GCC, an alliance of oil-producing states grouping Saudi Arabia,Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman, was founded in 1981 after the Islamic Revolution in Iran. It is linked by economic, military and trade ties.
While its attempts at economic integration and a common currency have been marred by political rivalries and rifts, the bloc moved swiftly to protect its members from revolts sweeping the region, sending troops to Bahrain to help the ruling Sunni Al Khalifa family quash popular Shi'ite protests. In joining the GCC, Jordanian officials hope for help for their country's struggling economy under a Marshall type plan similar to a $20 billion package the GCC had already committed to help Oman and Bahrain, which have been hit by unrest. While Jordan might expect financial benefit, the mismatch between its strained economy and those of the wealthy oil exporters may put another brake on efforts to harmonise their economies. Plans for Gulf currency union are already stalled by political differences and are unlikely to progress for years. The rise in oil prices has been a major cause of Jordan's growing budget deficit and officials hope closer ties with the GCC could earn Jordan, an energy importer to the tune of $1.4bn last year, discounted oil prices.-Reuters
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Sunday, May 15, 2011
Harry Potter & climate theory
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limate doesn't change by magic. Just ask Mark Serreze, director of the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center in Colorado. On a conference call with other scientists and reporters, Serreze and others linked climate change to the last two harsh winters over much of the United States and Europe. And they squarely blamed human-caused greenhouse gas emissions for the rise in world temperatures that got the process going. "Climate doesn't change all by itself," Serreze said. "It's not like the Harry Potter theory of climate, where he flicks his magic wand and the climate suddenly changes. Climate only changes for a reason." He crossed off other possible drivers for climate change one by one. "Could it be that the Sun is shining more brightly than it was? No, that doesn't work. We've been monitoring energy coming from the Sun and apart from the
11-year sunspot cycle, there's not much happening. "Is it that the warming is coming from the oceans - the oceans are releasing heat into the atmosphere? … Well, if that were the case, we'd have to observe that the oceans are cooling … but oceans are not cooling, the oceans are warming like the atmosphere. "We might be able to argue that it's something we don't understand, something like a cosmic ray flux modulated by the Sun … That's pretty much of a cop-out, OK? Because you're not really making an explanation, you're making a supposition." The only factor that can explain the observed rise in global average temperature - 1.4 degrees F or .8 degrees C over the last century - is climate forcing due to heightened levels of greenhouse gases, Serreze said. These higher temperatures are most evident at higher latitudes, such as
around the Arctic Circle, and sea ice there has been dropping to record levels over the last several years. Serreze and others have noticed an interesting phenomenon over the last two years that may help predict when a severe winter will occur. In the Arctic over the last two winters, there's been a pattern called a negative Arctic Oscillation. When this happens, it keeps warm air over the high Arctic but spills out warm air to the latitudes to the south, putting more moisture into the air which often shows up on the ground as snow. Also during the last two years, the amount of Arctic sea ice during the northern autumn is been remarkably low. "When we have autumns with low sea ice, these tend to be followed by negative Arctic Oscillation," Serreze said. If this theory holds up, it could improve prospects for seasonal prediction of climate. Not exactly a magic wand, but still a useful climate tool!
Cows, climate change and the US High Court I
f you took all the cows in the United States and figured out how much greenhouse gas they emit, would you be able to sue all the farmers who own them? That interesting legal question came from Justice Antonin Scalia during Supreme Court oral arguments about whether anenvironmen-
tal case against five big U.S. power companies can go forward. At issue is whether six states can sue the country's biggest coal-fired electric utilities to make them cut down on the climate-warming carbon dioxide they emit. One lower court said they couldn't, an appeals court said they could and now the
high court will consider where the case will go next. A ruling should come by the end of June. For now, though, the question was cows. Attorney Barbara Underwood argued that the five power companies were the largest emitters of carbon dioxide in the United States, making up 10 percent of
U.S. emissions. No other company comes close, she said. Scalia then leaped into the fray. "You're lumping them all together," he said of the five big power companies. "Suppose you lump together all the cows in the country. Would that allow you to sue all those farmers? I mean, don't you have to do it defendant by defendant? … Cow by cow or at least farm by farm?" And if you can lump all the cows together and claim they fuel global warming, Scalia reasoned, "you can lump together all the people in the United States who breathe, I suppose?" Scalia has a point. Both people and cattle exhale carbon dioxide when they breathe, adding to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Environmentalists point to the amount of CO2 emitted by power plants as a more powerful fuel for climate change. A slightly gamey aspect of bovines is methane, which they emit in copious amounts, and methane is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. But that did not make it into these legal arguments.
Job security for allergists? P
lease don't blame Dr. Jay Portnoy, an allergy specialist in Kansas City, Missouri. He doesn't go around planting ragweed. But he does treat people who suffer from asthma and hay fever, and he figures he will be busier now that the ragweed pollen that exacerbates these conditions is around longer each season than it used to be. "These are really common diseases and they're very expensive and they definitely affect quality of life and it's just going to get worse for pollen sufferers," Portnoy said of the report he helped write on climate change's impact on the ragweed pollen season. "Of course for allergists like me, it's job security." Really, though, it's not his fault: "I'm not 'Ragweed Appleseed,' I don't go around planting ragweed. I'm just the messenger. The reality is I'm going to have more patients." Ragweed-triggered allergies cost $21 billion a year in the United States, so scientists tracked ragweed pollen in North America. They found the pollen season is lengthening. It's more dramatic the further north you go. In Saskatchewan, the pollen season is nearly four weeks longer than it was in 1995. Luckily, ragweed pollen season doesn't begin
until mid-summer. That's this plant's natural inclination. It's a short-day plant, and does not bloom until the days start getting shorter, sometime around June 21.
Green Tea: Benefits for Acne cne is caused due to excess oil production by the sebaceous glands which are found on the face, neck, chest, back and shoulder region. Acne break out due to hormonal changes and can give your face an unpleasant look with scars. There are many natural and medical treatments to get rid of it, but green tea benefits for acne are well known for many years. Green tea has been used by the Chinese since years. Green tea is made from the same plant which is used to make black tea. The only difference is that green tea is made from the unfermented leaves, which basically belong to theCamellia sinensis plant. Let's find out green tea benefits for acne, and how it can be used. Benefits of Green Tea for Acne Green tea is one of the most famous and effective natural remedy for skin problems. Green tea contains antioxidants which inhibits the oxidation process and prevents the growth of unwanted antibodies. This improves the immune system of the body and restricts the growth of acne by fighting against bacterias and other microorganisms. Apart from the antioxidant, green tea contains tannic acid which reduces the swelling and inflammation of the dermal tissues which are present on the upper layer of the skin and also lowers the production of oil from the sebaceous glands. It has epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which rejuvenates the dying skin cells. Green tea also detoxifies the blood and helps in improving the overall health of the body. Studies show that the products which contain green tea are as effective as products made from 4% benzoyl peroxide. Hence, we can say that it is a natural
A
and safe way of getting rid of acne and pimples. How to Use Green Tea After going through green tea benefits on skin, let's find out how to use or apply it. Following are some simple ways of using green tea, as it can be beneficial in any form. Take a look. n Green tea, as we know, is made from the unfermented tea leaves, hence you can replace it with your black tea.
A cup of green tea every day and you will observe a drastic change in your skin and your acne will stop popping out. It will also get mixed with the blood and will detoxify your blood and will improve the immune power of your body. n Boil green tea and then let it steep for nearly 10 minutes. Apply it directly on the face with the help of a cotton ball or apply it with the tea bag. Keep it on till it dries naturally and then wash it off. It is also effective on scars and blemishes. n You can make a facial mask out of green tea as well. Boil
the green tea and then let it cool down. Now take an egg white and mix it with the green tea. Mix it properly. Now wash the face and pat dry. Apply the mixture on the face and let it dry naturally. Once dried, wash it off with warm water. It gives a youthful appearance to the face. n Prepare strong green tea and store it in refrigerator. Apply it daily with the help of cotton balls. It can work as an
excellent skin toner. You can also get green tea in the form of pills, creams, gels, face wash in the market, which are quite effective. Just go for products from a trustworthy company, and enjoy the benefits of green tea. Green tea is medically accepted and is recommended by many doctors. You just need to include green tea in your daily diet, or use it topically, it will not only help you to get rid of acne but will also improve your skin and overall health. So, try this ancient and natural remedy and get rejuvenated and acne free skin.
n
Enviro-word of the moment: Anthropocene A
word has entered the language - at least, the language of environmental concern - that may be ready for prime-time. That word is Anthropocene. It's the epoch we're apparently living in, roughly translated as the Age of Man. The theory behind the name is that human beings have made such an impact on Earth's geology that we should have an era named for us that differentiates this time from the tired old Holocene period. Holocene means "entirely new," but it's been some 10,000 years since it started. Scientists and others meeting in London figure it may be time to move on. In a note about their meeting at The Geological Society, they
ask: "Has humanity's impact on the Earth been so significant that it defines a new geological epoch? In the blink of a geological eye, through our need for energy, food, water, minerals, for space in which to live and play, we have wrought changes to Earth's environment and life that are as significant as any known in the geological record." They may have a point. Homo sapiens has been particularly expert at exploiting natural resources, warming up the planet by 1.3°F (0.74ºC) over the past century. But the impact goes beyond the extraction and burning of fossil fuels; increasing human appetites for land, food and water put pressure on every other species on
Earth. Some scientists believe Earth is on the brink of a sixth mass extinction (the last one was 65 million years ago) and see human activities as being at least partly to blame. Nobel Laureate Paul Crutzen gets most of the credit for coining the word. Back in 2000 he reckoned that human impacts on the world, its ecosystems and the geologic record constitute a new "Anthropogenic" geological epoch (he wrote it up for the journal Nature two years later). Andrew Revkin, who runs the New York Times' Dot Earth environmental blog, gets some points for using the term "Anthrocene" in 1992 to describe the same phenomenon.
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International
Sunday, May 15, 2011
THINKING THE UNTHINKABLE ON EUROPE’S DEBT CRISIS * * *
Closer fiscal union would better share euro zone risks But political obstacles are vast and may be insurmountable Solution needed for long-term stability of currency union
BRUSSELS: There is a solution to Europe's debt crisis. It's called proper fiscal and political union. The only problem is Germany, France, Austria, Finland, the Netherlands and quite a few others would never accept it. For well over a year, Europe's leaders have been coming up with bold, multi-billion-euro measures to try to put a stop to the debt rot eating away at Greece, Ireland and Portugal, and which could soon affect other member states such as Spain. The net result, especially when looked at through the eyes of the financial markets, is no improvement. Greece and the others are no closer to resolving their problems, and the likelihood of a debt default or restructuring has only risen. For their next move, euro zone leaders are expected to decide to extend the maturities on 110 billion euros of loans already granted to Greece, could lower the interest rate, and may come up with a further package of support. [ID:nLDE74A16A] The terms of Ireland's bailout could also soon be altered, and if Portugal finds itselHf unable to make progress on fiscal reforms, its package could be tinkered with in time too. From the markets' point of view, the situation is unsustainable. The debts of Greece, Ireland and Portugal just keep rising as a proportion of GDP, and there is little prospect of them financing themselves in the markets for years to come. As a result, the euro zone will have to keep providing them with emergency loans to tide them over -- effectively lending them more money to try to overcome their bad debts -- or the debts will have to be restructured,
with potentially deep repercussions for Europe's banking system and wider economy. "There's no one silver bullet. There's no one optimal solution," said Janis Emmanouilidis, a senior policy analyst at the European Policy Centre who studies the crisis. "Policymakers are having to decide between multiple, unpleasant, sub-optimal solutions." The likelihood, given the immense political constraints on taking more radical, far-reaching solutions, is that the euro zone will stick to its current course of action and do whatever it can to avoid the prospect of a debt restructuring or default. But one potential solution -- and something economic historians say the euro zone will have to move towards in the decades to come if it is to be a strong and enduring single currency union -- is fuller political and fiscal integration. The alternative could be countries dropping out of the euro zone, as reports last week suggested Greece was considering. HISTORY TO CONSIDER From the start, since the formation of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1958, the body which ultimately morphed into the European Union, the European project has been about avoiding conflict, sharing risk and moving towards closer cooperation. When the euro was introduced for 11 EU countries in 2002, it was a logical next step in a now more than 50year process of economic integration. With 17 of the EU's 27 states now in the euro, the single currency is one of the region's greatest achievements. But despite its successes, the euro has not brought with
it the depth of macroeconomic and fiscal coordination that some of its early architects envisaged. Greece's economy is hardly comparable to Germany's; Portugal's bears little resemblance to Finland's. In those differences, and the debt and deficit imbalances they have wrought, lies the seat of the sovereign debt crisis. If there were tighter political and fiscal integration, with the euro zone one unified economy, the argument goes, it would be in a much better position to weather its current distress. Average euro zone debt as a proportion of GDP is just over 80 percent, a much more manageable level than Greece's, at near 150 percent or Ireland's, which is above 120 percent. If the euro zone issued bonds collectively -- an idea that has been proposed, dismissed out of hand by Germany and others, but which has not entirely gone away -- then markets would still be buying the debt, not driving yields higher, traders say. In an analysis last month, comparing the euro zone crisis to similar problems in the U.S. banking system in the 19th century, Adalbert Winkler, a professor of finance at Franfurt's School of Finance and Management, concluded: "A substantially more comprehensive economic union might be needed to stabilise the euro area... Already in 1990 the Bundesbank argued that a political union might be a prerequisite for the smooth functioning of European monetary union." The problem -- as economists, EU policymakers and market participants know -- is that it is politically nearimpossible.
Not only would it mean surrendering sovereignty -few issues are more sovereign than collecting taxes and running and financing a budget -- but it would be the bailout to end all bailouts: wealthy central and northern European countries such as Germany and the Netherlands quite literally assume the collective debts and risks of the likes of Portugal and Greece. "It would mean denouncing your own country and there is way too much nationalism at this point for that idea to get anywhere close to reality," said Mark Grant, managing director of structured debt at Southwest Securities in Florida. "To provide aid on a case-by-case basis is one thing. To turn your sovereignty over to Brussels is quite another." It would also mean that those countries "rescued" in the euro zone safety net would face no incentive to overhaul their economies to make themselves more competitive and grow. They would be more likely to go on as they have done, knowing they are protected under the euro zone banner. That is the very reason Germany, Finland and others are adamant that strong "conditionality" is attached to the bailout loans to Greece, Ireland and Portugal. Yet even if the whole idea of deeper fiscal and political union is unthinkable for a decade or more, the long-term trend for the euro zone points in that direction. As Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates said this week: "The European project faces a challenge, and this challenge has to be answered by deepening the European project...The common currency is defended by deepening economic integration. It's best if we all work together." -Reuters
China trade deal follow-up criticial as 2012 looms
n US proclaims "promising shift" in China n Business groups guarded, await implementation n China seen moving to shut-down mode in 2012-13 WASHINGTON The "promising shifts" in China's economic policy hailed by US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner this week will require holding Beijing's feet to the fire -- if the past record is any guide. The annual US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue ended on Tuesday with Chinese pledges to end discrimination against foreign firms looking to secure lucrative government contracts and to open the mutual fund and car insurance sectors to US firms. "We are seeing very promising shifts in the direction of Chinese economic policy," Geithner declared as the two days of talks ended. But truly how promising remains to be seen. US industry groups that stand to benefit had a more measured response. Engage China, a coalition of financial services trade associations including bankers and insurers, applauded the talks results but with a strong caveat that "truly meaningful progress" awaited major changes in regulatory policies that discriminate against non-Chinese firms. The guarded responses, experts say, are born of experience with promised reforms by China that never materialize, or that go on the books in Beijing but are ignored in the provinces. "The commitments always sound good on paper, but the question is going to be what it always is: Are they going to actually implement them in the real world?" said William Reinsch, a member of the US-China Economic and Security Commission, which advises the U.S. Congress. "The record is one of pretty consistent promises, followed by not doing
anything," he said. "INDIGENOUS INNOVATION" NOT DEAD? The centerpiece result of this year's talks, from the U.S. standpoint, was China's pledge to separate government procurement from its so-called "indigenous innovation" policy that seeks to advance Chinese technological progress. U.S. officials and businesses complain the policy either shuts foreigners out of markets for computers, machinery, telecommunications gear and other goods worth tens of billions of dollars a year or forces them to transfer technology to local competitors as the price of market entry. China's pledge to cut the procurement-technology link, first made by President Hu Jintao in January and clarified on Tuesday by senior officials, leaves questions unanswered. "They've taken out the most egregious bits, but the general thrust of the policy is still there," said a former U.S. trade negotiator now working for a private consultancy. "Much government procurement is done at provincial and local levels," he said. "They can still give preference to local companies in many ways." A U.S. business source, who like the trade consultant spoke on condition of anonymity, said the procurement pledge did not contain a time line for implementation or a plan to revise Chinese law to eliminate discriminatory product lists. "It's not clear if -- without clear, transparent and open guidance from the Chinese government to the provincial authorities that these lists are null and void -- the local authorities will stop using them," he said.
CEMENT CHANGES BEFORE 2012 Reinsch, a former trade negotiator, said the issue cuts to a struggle in Beijing between proponents of a more open economy and those committed to a status quo of state control. "It's not bad faith. These people are not lying to us," he said of China's negotiators. "But they must go back and answer to people in Beijing, some of whom have very different views." Many U.S. China watchers say little business will get done once a Chinese leadership transition starts in 2012. When it comes to trade talks, "the Chinese are going to shut down," said Derek Scissors of the Heritage Foundation. "They are are going to tell us to stuff it on every single issue through 2012 -- if not 2013." The remaining months of this year are seen as critical to lock in China's pledges, because the start of campaigning for the 2012 presidential elections could bring a harsh focus on Chinese trade policies. Vice President Joe Biden will visit Beijing as a guest of China's heir-apparent Xi Jinping this summer, while President Barack Obama will host an economic summit in Hawaii and Xi will visit the United States toward the end of the year. Working-level trade talks are slated for late 2011. "Our hope is that subsequent dialogues, including the forthcoming exchange of visits by the U.S. and Chinese vice presidents, will lead to additional market access in China for American firms," said Myron Brilliant, a senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. -Reuters
Can Hamas leopard change its spots?
n Hamas appears to moderate its stance amid uncertainty n Israel denounces group, Western powers watch carefully n Syria unrest could push Hamas into broader Arab fold n All this falls well short of the criteria laid down by Quartet JERUSALEM: The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has felt the political winds shift across the Middle East and is bending with them, making peace with its secular rival Fatah and trying to cool its conflict with Israel. Israel has ridiculed the idea that the Hamas leopard can ever change its spots, but analysts poring over a recent slew of interviews from the movement's senior leaders believe change is under way, wrought by upheaval across the Arab world. Despite the fact it looks secure in its coastal stronghold, the Gaza Strip, Hamas last month reached out to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who governs in the West Bank, and agreed to a surprise unity deal to end years of fierce feuding. By doing so, Hamas effectively renewed its commitment to a ceasefire with Israel. No mortars or missiles have been fired out of Gaza since the accord was announced on April 27 -- a rare period of calm on one of the region's most dangerous borders. Hamas has also conspicuously failed to provide wholehearted support to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who faces the worst civil unrest of his 11-year rule, despite the fact that he has harboured the Islamist group leadership for a decade. The chilly relations have raised speculation that Hamas might move its main regional office out of Damascus, which would take the group further out of Shi'ite Iran's orbit. It would strengthen ties with administrations that have good relations with the West, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt. Growing signs that the Islamist group is considering
moving out first originated in the Saudi-owned pan-Arab al-Hayat daily, which cited unnamed Palestinian sources for its report. "I think Hamas is serious this time. It is taking a chance and wants to be given a chance," said political analyst Hani Habib, who lives in Hamas-controlled Gaza. "I don't think players in the region and the rest of the world should worry about Hamas moving in a more moderate direction," he said. ISRAELI SCEPTICISM Any suggestion that Hamas might be mellowing is firmly rejected by Israel, which points out that the group's founding charter clearly calls for the destruction of the Jewish state. Israel, like many of its Western allies, says Hamas is a terrorist organisation and suffered a PR failure when Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh hailed the slain Osama bin Laden as a "holy warrior" just before the unity deal with Fatah was signed. "Hamas has not changed its ideology or its policy, and it surely does not intend on agreeing to any kind of peace deal with the State of Israel," the outgoing head of Israeli spy agency Shin Bet, Yuval Diskin, said in a speech this month. At most, he told an audience in Tel Aviv, Hamas "may agree to a ceasefire which it will use to build up its power". Interestingly, other Hamas leaders swiftly distanced themselves from Haniyeh's warm praise of bin Laden, who was killed by U.S. soldiers in Pakistan. "Concerning bin Laden, everyone knows Hamas has differences with al Qaeda ... especially (its) operations targeting civilians," Hamas leader in exile Khaled
Meshaal told France 24 TV. Meshaal has given more interviews in the past several weeks than he has done in the past several years, apparently eager to show the world exactly where Hamas stands on Middle East peace. Although he stopped short of recognising Israel, he repeatedly stated that he wanted to establish a Palestinian state along pre-war, 1967 borders, implicitly suggesting that Hamas was ready to accommodate the reality of Israel. He also said that he would henceforth consult with more moderate Palestinian factions over how to confront Israel, suggesting that he would no longer attack without consensus. Another Hamas official, Sami Abou Zuhri, told Le Monde daily that observers should not focus on Hamas's uncompromising 1988 charter, but rather judge the group on the words of its leaders. ARAB CONTEXT All this falls well short of the criteria laid down by the peacemaking Quartet -- the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia --, which says Hamas must recognise Israel and renounce violence if it wants to be accepted as a peace partner. However, unlike Israel, which immediately withheld tax funds from the Palestinian Authority in response to the unity deal, the European Union and the United States are biding their time, no doubt hoping that Hamas is indeed undergoing a transformation. Palestinian analysts believe the group has been forced into a re-think because of the Arab uprisings which have rattled its sanctuary in Syria and strengthened its "par-
ent", the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, long suppressed under Hosni Mubarak. "One key element that forced Hamas to ... look more moderate is the unfolding events in Syria and the Arab world," said Samir Awad, a political analyst at the West Bank Birzeit university. "Hamas cannot support a Syrian regime which is slaughtering its people. It is in such an embarrassing position." Hamas has denied it is considering leaving Damascus, but sources have said it might open new offices elsewhere. Any move from Syria would take Hamas further out of Iran's camp and back into the broader Arab fold, aligning more closely with influential Sunni states such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which used to help fund the group before Washington objected. It is undoubtedly too early to say where the Arab Spring will lead Hamas and no one expects it to be sitting around the negotiating table with Israel anytime soon. But its every move is being scrutinised and supporters are promoting its cause. "Let me give you a very clear message. I don't see Hamas as a terror organisation," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the U.S. PBS this week -- a strong and significant endorsement from the only Muslim member of NATO. "It is a resistance movement trying to protect its country under occupation," he added, in comments that will have delighted Hamas but further eroded Turkey's strained ties with Israel. -Reuters
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Sunday, May 15, 2011
Is Pharma’s Big Brand Era Over? NEW YORK: When drug sales reps come knocking in the future, they are increasingly likely to lavish their attentions on neurologists or cancer specialists than that old standby -- the local family doctor. Pharmaceutical companies have long spent millions of dollars pitching pills to U.S. primary care doctors, the main prescribers of the world's most lucrative medicines. These physicians were the gateway to selling everything from cholesterol-lowering drugs to antidepressants, blood pressure medicines, allergy pills and stomach ulcer treatments. But with patents on many of the world's best-selling drugs expiring, the industry is seeing less value in its traditional strongholds. Now it is the specialist physician who is more likely to hear from the sales force.
"The mass market is really starting to disappear," Sanofi Chief Executive Officer Chris Viehbacher told the Reuters Health Summit this week, where healthcare executives discussed the industry's changing focus. Viehbacher himself took a big step away from the mass market with Sanofi's $20 billion purchase of biotechnology company Genzyme, which specializes in treatments for rare genetic diseases. Oncology, multiple sclerosis and hepatitis C are some of the therapeutic areas where the industry is focusing its commercial efforts to fight stagnating sales. The narrower categories have meant less competition for a given drug. Companies are also often able to charge higher prices for more tailored treatments that are less vulnerable to pressure from governments and health
insurers. Primary care doctors will still prescribe the industry's inventions. But with the drugs' patents gone, the prescriptions will be almost exclusively for low-cost generic versions, which are virtually worthless to big brand-name drugmakers. At least 90 percent of prescription pills and capsules will be generics within 10 years, according to David Snow, CEO of Medco Health Solutions Inc , which manages drug plan benefits. In years past, drug innovation meant that brand name products were less vulnerable to generic rivals. By the time they had lost patent protection, manufacturers had come up with a new and better class of medicine to treat the same problem. That has changed with the latest crop of blockbusters, like Pfizer Inc's Lipitor cholesterol drug and Novartis'
blood-pressure drug Diovan, which face generic competition by next year. They have proven so successful for addressing areas like heart disease that drugmakers have found it difficult to improve on them. "There are some mass markets that are so well-served now it is hard to be better," Biogen Idec Inc CEO George Scangos said. "If you look at what the statins did for lipid (levels), it is hard to do much better ... And so it's harder to develop those drugs." Or as Bain & Co healthcare expert Tim van Biesen puts it: "The generic drug cabinet, so to speak, works." SPECIALISTS SIT PRETTY Instead, companies like Allergan Inc , which focus on more niche areas, now sit in the sweet spot. Allergan, which has a stock valuation of 22 times earnings esti-
mates -- more than double many larger pharmaceutical companies -- has prospered selling the anti-wrinkle drug Botox and other cosmetic products as well as therapies for the eye. Allergan CEO David Pyott noted that most of the company's markets are growing at double-digit percentage rates. He even downplayed the importance of emerging markets, viewed as a critical new growth vehicle for major drugmakers, as a "wonderful little kind of booster engine" for Allergan. Shire Plc has a major business in rare disease treatments and also boasts a valuation well above large drugmakers. It has developed a more "holistic" approach to reflect its specialty, focusing on patients and healthcare payors rather than just doctors, CEO Angus Russell said. The large drugmakers that
want to succeed in specialty areas may require a major cultural shift, Russell said. That could prove difficult if specialty is only a relatively small part of their expansive operations. "The mass marketing model was designed around certain principles which worked really well for probably 30 years and they're not working so well today," Russell said. A move to specialty could help drugmakers cut marketing costs at a time the industry is eager to slash expenses. "It's much easier to get to 6,000 oncologists in the United States, which is roughly what you have to cover, than it is to get to 250,000 primary care physicians," said van Biesen, head of Bain's North American healthcare practice. At the same time, some brand drugs continue to
address medical needs of a wide population of patients, including treatments for diabetes and pain, where experimental medicines are in development. Several major drugmakers are trying to strike gold by developing treatments for Alzheimer's disease, a research field marked by failure. Any effective therapy would no doubt be widely prescribed to an evergrowing patient population. And as drugmakers crowd into specialized areas, the newer markets may start to lose some of their appeal. "If everybody gets into specialty care it will become like primary care, which is to say very high competitive intensity," van Biesen said. "From an industry standpoint that's a long-term challenge; from a consumer and patient standpoint, not a bad thing." Reuters
Ending drug cos' addiction to price rises LONDON: Drug companies are dosing up on price increases to prop up stagnant sales, but will soon need to break that addiction as more medicines face generic competition. Industry executives -notably on the pharmacy management and specialty drugs side -- told the Reuters Health Summit this week that prices for some drugs have been sharply increased because manufacturers need to make up for a lack of new products and the loss of patent protection on older medicines. "Prices were just shoved up every year to make more money and meet earnings, to be blunt," Shire Chief Executive Angus Russell said. He was referring to so-called mass market drugs used to
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treat common conditions like high blood pressure, rather than the specialty products for rare genetic diseases that are Shire's hallmark. Payments for two-thirds of the 15 best-selling drugs in the United States rose by doubledigit percentage rates last year, according to an analysis of medical claims data by Thomson Reuters MarketScan. "The industry has been in volume decline for three years -- it's been propped up on price," said Tim van Biesen, head of Bain & Co's healthcare practice. "You have to ask how long that can continue." He forecast that worldwide sales for the top 25 pharmaceutical companies will be flat for the next five years. "This is the only industry in
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US officials have long maintained Omar fled to Pakistan after the Taliban government was overthrown in late 2001 by USbacked Afghan forces and is still in hiding there. Islamabad has denied reports he is in Pakistan. Kerry said Pakistan itself was a victim of extremism and faced its own tough decisions but that the killing of bin Laden provided a new opportunity. "Sometimes those choices can be very difficult for people to make because of the pressures that they're under and the violence that occurs," he said. "We respect and understand that, but this is the time, this is a critical time to find a better way forward and we hope that we're going to be able to do that."-Reuters
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Parliament has said that the representatives of people had introduced a new chapter in era of history. The unanimous resolution adapted by joint sitting of Parliament would steer country out of crisis, he said this in an exclusive chat with a Private TV Channel. We are satisfied over briefing given by country's military leadership to elected representative, he said. He said that the suggestion and demands made by his party were accommodated in the resolution. The country's civil and military leadership have strongly condemned US drone strikes in country's tribal areas and vowed to force US to end such attacks.-Agencies
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Ghafoor Haidri the opposition leader but so far neither a consensus has been reached nor do they enjoy the support of other opposition parties.-Online
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to go to India at the next hearing. The judge, who conducted the hearing behind closed doors at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, then adjourned the case till May 28. The prosecution had told the judge last year that it was imperative for the commission to visit India and interview certain officials in order to take forward the proceedings. Defence lawyers had opposed the move even then, saying there was no provision in Pakistani laws for constituting such a commission. Kasab has been convicted and sentenced to death by a special court in India for his role in the attacks that killed 166 people in November 2008. Interior Minister Rehman Malik said last year that the trial of the seven suspects, including Lashker-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, had stalled and it was important for the proposed commission to visit India and record the testimony of key officials.-Online
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centre was attacked by Taliban suicide bombers who blamed the Pakistani military for failing to stop the US raid on Osama's compound. He said Pakistan has to be prepared for such attacks and take extra precautions to ensure security.-Online
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aggressive there," he says, but did arrest hundreds of terrorists in other places in Pakistan. Asked whether he thought Pakistan was a good ally of the US, the chairman of the committee that oversees US intelligence agencies says, "I would say Pakistan is an ally. There are challenges,
the world that has never had to go down the experience curve in cost," van Biesen said, pointing out that prices for electronics always drop as new technology comes on the market. According to MarketScan, paid claims for Pfizer's Lipitor, which will go off patent in November, rose 11.4 percent last year, compared with 5 percent annually in the previous five years. Drugs with price rises in the mid-teens included: cholesterol drug Crestor made by AstraZeneca ; blood-clot preventer Plavix sold by Bristol Myers Squibb and Sanofi ; and asthma treatment Singulair, from Merck & Co. "As their branded drugs approach the patent cliff, there has always been the tendency
to see increased pricing toward the end, just to get the last dollar out of every drug before they lose brand protection," said David Snow, chief executive officer at Medco Health Solutions one of the nation's largest managers of prescription drug benefits. PREMIUM PRICES When it comes to groundbreaking new medicines, premium pricing is still the order of the day. The trouble for companies like Pfizer, Merck and Sanofi is that they are not producing enough breakthrough treatments. Swiss drugmaker Novartis set an average annual U.S. price for Gilenya, the first oral treatment for multiple sclerosis, of $48,000 last October -- a hefty premium to the price
charged for older medicines, which must be injected. Novartis was able to justify that price, given the new drug's effectiveness and the fact that it frees patients from injections. But the premium pricing has since been followed by steep price rises for some of the older injectable products. Drugmakers say the limited lifetime of their brand-name medicines -- they will eventually be supplanted by low-cost generics -- and high development costs mean they need to bring in as much revenue as possible before patents expire. Medco's Snow said other costs, including the 10-year $80 billion excise tax that will be assessed on brand pharmaceutical companies under last
year's U.S. healthcare reform law, are also taken into account. "If you think for a second they are just going to take their bottom line, hand it over in taxes to the government and not consider it a cost of doing business, then people don't understand how business works," he said. "So it does not surprise me we've seen an acceleration in price increases to make up -- to pay for those taxes." Drug companies typically offer hefty discounts and rebates to insurers and government payers, making list prices virtually useless as a tool for tracking drug sales. "We really don't have good transparency on pricing in the United States market," said
AstraZeneca CEO David Brennan, while noting that it is one of the few markets where companies can freely raise prices. Bain's van Biesen said pharmaceutical companies -- barring a major innovation leap -are facing several years of stagnant growth. "We have observed some really high price increases being taken by other companies in the U.S. ... which I just find absolutely incredible," GlaxoSmithKline CEO Andrew Witty said on a recent conference call. "We think it is probably not the right moment for people to be taking crazy price increases. We think ultimately that is going to come back to bite." Reuters
there's serious challenges there and 'ally' may be too strong a word," Rogers tells Logan. Rogers says he knows the Pakistanis have disclosed US operations and held back information, but believes the killing of bin Laden may lead to more cooperation. "I hope they see this as an opportunity to be more cooperative. To be more open, to help us with other targets that we have in Pakistan that we're very interested in having apprehended and brought to justice," he tells Logan, who suggests that al Qaeda's number-two would be on that list. "Zawahiri is a great example," replies Rogers. "I believe he's in Pakistan."-Online
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Continued from page 8
reached the gates of the city of Zliten -- their next main military target on the road to Tripoli. The rebel leadership also advanced on the diplomatic front. US national security adviser Tom Donilon told the rebels' Jibril "that the United States views the (National Transitional Council) as a legitimate and credible interlocutor of the Libyan people," the White House said. Officials did not say whether Obama dropped by the meeting. The Libyan opposition wants Washington to recognise the body as "the sole" legitimate interlocutor of the Libyan people. Unlike France, Gambia, Italy and Qatar, the United States has not fully recognised the NTC. And White House spokesman Jay Carney said such a step was "premature." There was no immediate sign of new US financial help for the cash-strapped rebels. But the White House said it was working with Congress on changes to the law to allow a portion of around $30 billion in Kadhafi regime assets blocked in the United States to be funnelled towards the opposition. French President Nicolas Sarkozy will meet Jibril in Paris on Saturday, the French presidency said. Meanwhile rebel chief Mustafa Abdul Jalil was holding Saturday what the insurgents billed as a "town hall" meeting in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi with leaders from western Libyan cities that remain under Kadhafi's control. Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen also was at the White House Friday for closed-door discussions with Obama. Rasmussen said Nato was fulfilling its UN-mandated mission in Libya, had saved "numerous lives" and had stopped the Kadhafi regime's bid to retake the country by force after widespread uprisings. In The Hague, ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said he would seek arrest warrants for three people considered most GERMANY: Wolf-Dietrich Molzow (L) and Andre Sommer (R), victims who are convinced their physical handicaps were caused by the pregnancy test drug Duogynon pose with a responsible for crimes against humanity in Libya. Diplomats banner to Bayer shareholders at the Bayer general shareholdersâ meeting.-Reuters expect Kadhafi to be among them. In Geneva, the UN refugee agency said it feared up to 1,200 Slope. Officials said the most recent sale was last year, but that they had not been held on any set people fleeing Libya had died in the Mediterranean Sea so far and schedule. that it had found evidence that a military vessel refused to rescue Republicans dismayed by the lack of progress in Shell's drilling have drafted legislation to exempt one boat.-Reuters drilling off Alaska from air pollution laws. Continued from page 8 House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings of Washington, sponsor of the legNo #8 Lease sales in the western and central Gulf of Mexico that were islation, said it was "ironic" that Obama "is now taking baby steps in our direction" after the White postponed last year will be held by the middle of next year, the House and congressional Democrats criticised the bills. "The president is finally admitting what Republicans have known all along, that increasing the same time period required by the House. A sale off the Virginia coast still would not happen until 2017 at the earliest. But Obama supply of American energy will help lower prices and create jobs," Hastings said. Obama also called on Democrats and Republicans to vote to eliminate billions in taxpayer subsisaid he would speed up environmental reviews so that seismic dies to oil and gas companies. studies to determine how much oil and gas lies off the Atlantic In the weekly Republican message, Alabama Rep. Martha Roby said it's time for Washington to Coast can begin. To further expedite drilling off the Alaskan coast, where such get serious about the challenges facing the country, including straightening out its finances and tackplans by Shell Oil Co. have been delayed by an air pollution per- ling the gas price issue. She praised the House for passing measures to expand domestic energy promit, Obama said he would create an interagency task force to duction "because when we're talking about energy, we're talking about jobs." "The greatest threat to our economy, job creation, and the future of our children is to do nothing," coordinate the necessary approvals. He also will hold annual lease sales in the vast National Petroleum Reserve on Alaska's North Roby said. "We have to act. It is what we were sent to Washington to do."-Reuters
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CJ exacts quality FJA construction ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's High Commissioner in India Shahid Malik in a meeting with Federal Minister for Interior Senator A Rehman Malik.-Online
Graves take Libyan imams hit by Nato TRIPOLI: Libyans prepared Saturday to bury 11 imams killed in what Moamer Kadhafi's regime said was a Nato air strike while the Western coalition expressed regret at any loss of civilian lives. Funerals for the 11 imams reportedly killed when they gathered early Friday in the eastern city of Brega were to be held later on Saturday, officials said. At least 50 other people were wounded in the Nato aerial attack, with five of them in critical condition, government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim told a news conference on Friday in Tripoli. A NATO statement said a "command and control bunker was struck in Brega early this (Friday) morning, as the structure was being used by the Kadhafi regime to coordinate strikes against the Libyan civilian population." "We are aware of allegations of civilian casualties in connection to this strike and although we cannot independently confirm the validity of the claim we regret any loss of life by innocent civilians when they occur." Imams present at Friday's news conference in the Libyan capital called for revenge. They urged Muslims across the world to kill "1,000 people
for each dead imam" across the world, namely in "France, Italy, Denmark, Britain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates." Kadhafi insisted meanwhile that he was beyond the reach of Nato bombs after Italian claims he was wounded and on the run. "I want to say to the Crusader cowards that I live in a place where I cannot be reached or killed; I live in the hearts of millions," Kadhafi said in an audio message aired Friday on state television. A series of six loud explosions rocked Tripoli late Friday and early Saturday as jets flew overhead. Smoke could be seen rising from one of the sites in eastern Tripoli, witnesses said. In Washington, the Libyan rebel movement's number two, Mahmud Jibril, was received at the White House by President Barack Obama's national security adviser. The White House said the rebels' National Transitional Council was a "legitimate and credible" voice of the Libyan people. But it stopped short of offering the full diplomatic recognition that Jibril was seeking. Questions about Kadhafi's fate arose Friday when Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said the Libyan strongman was "probably outside of Tripoli and probably also
injured." He said the reports that Kadhafi was on the run were credible because they came from the Roman Catholic bishop of Tripoli. But the bishop, Giovanni Martinelli, denied having made any such comment. "What the foreign minister said is not right because I never said that the Libyan leader was wounded," Martinelli told Radio France Internationale. "I only said that he was under psychological shock from the death of his son. I did not say he was wounded or that he left Tripoli." Government spokesman Ibrahim told reporters Kadhafi "is in very good health, high morale, high spirits," and "he is in Tripoli." Kadhafi's audio message appeared to have been made after a Nato strike on his Bab al-Aziziya compound early Thursday, because he referred to "the martyrdom of three civilians, journalists." On the battlefield, rebels reportedly made new progress in their advance towards the eastern and western boundaries of the western port city of Misrata. A correspondent said they had moved 20 kilometres in the east to reach the gates of Tavarga and in the west they See # 7 Page 7
US hones drills as oil drives it crazy WASHINGTON: Facing continued public unhappiness over gas prices, President Barack Obama is directing his administration to ramp up US oil production by extending existing leases in the Gulf of Mexico and off Alaska's coast and holding more frequent lease sales in a federal petroleum reserve in Alaska. Obama said Saturday that the measures "make good sense" and will help reduce US consumption of imported oil in the long term. But he acknowledged anew that they won't help to immediately bring down gasoline prices topping $4 a gallon in many parts of the country. His announcement followed passage in the Republican-con-
trolled House of three bills including two this week - that would expand and speed up offshore oil and gas drilling. Republicans say the bills are aimed at easing gasoline costs, but they also acknowledge that won't be immediate. The White House had announced its opposition to all three bills, which are unlikely to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate, saying the measures would undercut safety reviews and open environmentally sensitive areas to new drilling. But Obama is adopting some of the bills' provisions. Answering the call of Republicans and Democrats from Gulf Coast states, Obama said in his weekly radio and
Internet address that he would extend all Gulf leases that were affected by a temporary moratorium on drilling imposed after last year's BP oil spill. That would give companies additional time to begin drilling. The administration had been granting extensions case by case, but senior administration officials said the Interior Department would institute a blanket one-year extension. New safety requirements put in place since the BP spill also have delayed drilling in Alaska, so Obama said he would extend lease terms there for a year as well. An oil lease typically runs 10 years. See # 8 Page 7
US national held at Peshawar airport PESHAWAR: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Saturday stopped an American national Mark DeHaven at the Peshawar airport as he was facing a lawsuit for illegally staying in the country. According to media reports, DeHaven was offloaded form a Dubai bound flight as he was to leave for US via Dubai. FIA officials said that the US
national could not be allowed to leave the country until the case was decided. They said that Mark Dehaven was blacklisted following his detention and could not leave the country until clearance from the Interior Ministry. A local court on March 8 released US national Aaron Mark DeHaven on bail. He was arrested for overstaying in the
country illegally in Pakistan's northwest city Peshawar and was sent to jail on 14-day judicial remand.. DeHaven is believed to have been working for a private security company. On the other hand Mark De Haven's counsel developed stance that Interior ministry has cleared his client and he is permitted to travel abroad.-Agencies
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has observed that quality, durability and scope of construction work of the Project Phase -II of the Federal Judiciary Academy (FJA) would not be compromised at any cost. He observed this while presiding over the 35th meeting of Board of Governors of FJA held under his chairmanship here in Supreme Court Building on Saturday. The meeting unanimously approved the revised PC-I for the construction of building of
President inks NDU bill into law ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari Saturday signed "the National Defence University (NDU) Bill, 2011" into a law which provides for the establishment of the NDU at Islamabad. According to a press release issued here on Saturday, the National Defence University Bill, 2011 was passed by the National Assembly on February 21, 2011 while the Senate passed the bill on May 4, 2011. The new enactment provides for the establishment of the National Defence University (NDU) in Islamabad with the objective to impart higher education in the fields of national defence, management, statecraft and security to meet contemporary and future challenges and to promote national interests.-NNI
PC strikes FAS pact with KASB ISLAMABAD: The Privatisation Commission (PC) has entered into an agreement with Consortia of KASB Bank for Financial Advisory Services (FAS) here on Saturday to conduct the privatisation of NPCC transaction. The Financial Advisory consortium comprising the KASB Bank as consortium lead member along with M/s Mohsin Tayebaly and Company (Legal Consultants), M/s Riaz Ahmed & Company Chartered Accountants (Accounting and Tax Consultants) and M/s BARQAAB Consulting Services (Pvt.) Ltd (Technical Consultants). The Secretary Privatisation Commission Imtiaz Hussain Kazi signed the agreement with KASB Bank. It is planned to bring NPCC to a point of sale in the shortest possible time frame without compromising transparency and efficiency of the transaction. The National Power Construction Company (NPCC) transaction is being progressed on fast track basis for completion within the given timeframe of four months. NPCC currently rated amongst top contractors, is a specialist contracting outfit for turnkey management of Power Projects i.e. Extra High Voltage Transmission Lines, Distribution Networks, Substations, Power Generation Plants, Industrial Electrification, External Lighting of Housing Complexes etc.NNI
the Federal Judicial Academy with an estimated cost of Rs92 millions. The meeting was attended by Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan Judge In-charge of the FJA, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani Judge Supreme Court of Pakistan, Justice Qazi Faez Essa Chief Justice High Court of Balochistan, Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan Chief Justice High Court of KPK, Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmed Chief Justice Lahore High Court, Justice Iqbal Hameed-urRehman Chief Justice Islamabad High Court and
Justice Mushir Alam Chief Justice High Court of Sindh. Senator Moula Bux Chandio, Federal Law Minister who is also Vice Chairman of the FJA, BoG, Moulvi Anwar-ul-Haq, Attorney General for Pakistan, Dr Faqir Hussain, Registrar, Supreme Court of Pakistan, Pervaiz Ali Chawla, DG, FJA, Secretary, Planning and Development Commission, Additional Secretary Finance and Representatives of Pak PWD and NESPAK also attended the meeting. On the occasion, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry/Chairman FJA and other members offered Fatiha for the departed soul of (late) Pervaiz Mahmood Mian, Ex Director FJA who passed away a few weeks ago and it was suggested that the FJA recommend the compensation for the departed soul to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, for further process if admissible under rules. The Chief Justice of Pakistan also directed the DG of the Academy to convey condolences to the grieved family on behalf of the FJA, BoG.-NNI
26/11 hearing proceedings at ATC
Sending commission to New Delhi argued ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court conducting the trial of seven suspects in the 2008 Mumbai attacks today adjourned the case for a fortnight after hearing arguments on the government's proposal to send a commission to India to interview key officials. Judge Rana Nisar Ahmed of the Rawalpindi-based court was told by defence lawyers during the in-camera proceedings that the prosecution's application for sending a commission to India had little relevance as the Lahore High Court
had already disallowed the use of the confessional statement of Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving attacker. The defence lawyers questioned the "evidentiary value" of any material that could be gathered by the proposed commission and said it would be better if the Indian officials, like the magistrate who recorded Kasab's statement, were asked to appear in the Pakistani anti-terrorism court, sources said. The defence further contended that the government, and not
Failing to find him living under their noses
Osama beat spies: ex-PM SINGAPORE: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said his country's inability to track down Osama bin Laden was due to "an intelligence failure" but he stopped short of placing blame on the spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Aziz, who led Pakistan from 2004 to 2007, also said his administration could not have done anything more to find the al Qaeda leader, who had lived in the military town of Abbottabad - about two hours from the capital Islamabad since 2006. "I would say this is an intelligence failure. But at the same time I would hasten to add that the ISI, which is our main intelligence agency, is professional. It is committed to pursuing the policies of the government and ensuring the security of the
country," Aziz told MediaCorp in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the Williamsburg Conference in Singapore. Mr Aziz said Islamabad will likely review and improve its anti-terror efforts. "The government has to learn from this episode and correct (itself), in terms of how people come in and where such people are hiding and why it happened. The procedures, I am sure, will be reviewed and corrected ... anti-terror efforts get a lot of attention from all governments, including the Pakistan government, and I think there is room for constant improvement and changes in strategy." Mr Aziz said the possibility of more reprisal attacks in Pakistan for the killing of Osama cannot be ruled out. On Friday, a paramilitary training See # 5 Page 7
Ayman al-Zawahir too in Pakistan: US WASHINGTON: As the US re-evaluates its relationship with Pakistan, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R.Mich.) says the word "ally" may be too strong a word to describe the country where Osama bin Laden and, he now believes, al-Qaeda's numbertwo, Ayman al-Zawahir, have been hiding. Lara Logan also speaks to Amrullah Saleh, the former intelligence chief of Afghanistan, who tells her he traced the Qaeda leader to a Pakistani city in 2007 that was just 12 miles from Abbottabad, where US forces killed bin Laden last week. Logan's report will be broadcast on "60 Minutes" Sunday, May 15 at 7 p.m. ET/PT. Saleh says that when he told Pakistan's then-president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, that bin Laden was in the Pakistani city of Mansehra, the Pakistani leader lunged at him.
Pakistan has harbored America's enemies for years, says Saleh. "The senior Taliban leaders, we would learn about their locations every day," he tells Logan. He was even able to get their telephone numbers, which were traced to the Pakistani city of Quetta. The leaders there are known as the Quetta Shura. Did the US ever move against them? "Not against Quetta Shura, never," says Saleh. While American soldiers fought against an endless stream of enemy fighters staged in Pakistan, their leaders remained protected in Quetta, Saleh says. Congressman Rogers says the US has known for years that the Taliban's leaders are living inside Pakistan. "It was one of those, I think, arranged trade offs for other bits of cooperation," says Rogers. "[The US] knew [Pakistani military] weren't being See # 6 Page 7
the court, would make a final decision on sending the commission to India, the sources said. The defence lawyers argued that the matter had also been complicated by India's proposal to send a commission to Pakistan to interview suspects and witnesses, the sources added. The prosecution team sought more time to argue the matter, saying a senior prosecution lawyer would present its stance on the need for the commission See # 4 Page 7
Ahmadinejad cuts down cabinet by 3 TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Saturday dismissed three ministers whose portfolios are being merged with other ministries as part of a cabinet streamlining, his office's website announced. Those who lose their jobs include Oil Minister Masoud Mirkazemi whose responsibilities are being merged with the energy ministry. Iran is Opec's second largest crude exporter and currently holds the cartel's presidency. Welfare Minister Sadeq Mahsouli and Industries Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian also go, as their responsibilities are merged with the labour and commerce ministries respectively. The departures are part of a streamlining of the cabinet provided for under Iran's development plan for 2010-2015, which requires the number of posts to be cut from 21 to 17. Transport minister Hamid Behbahani already lost his job in February when he failed to survive an impeachment motion in parliament. His responsibilities have been merged with the housing ministry. The mechanics of the downsizing have been a source of tension for weeks between the president and parliament. Ahmadinejad says that cabinet appointments are his prerogative but parliament insists it must approve the new portfolios and who holds them. A widely reported war of words erupted this week between Ahmadinejad and parliament speaker Ali Larijani on the issue, before Iran's powerful Guardians Council intervened and sided with parliament on Thursday. The Guardians Council, is the body that oversees elections, interprets the constitution and vets parliamentary legislation.-Agencies
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