Brain of Lahore!

LAHORE, Jan 29: Saifur Rehman of the Society Public School, Mughalpura, has won the "Brain of Lahore 2011" inter-school quiz competition arranged by the Punjab Education Foundation at the Trust School, Harbanspura, on Saturday. A total of 236 schools took part in the competition, says a handout. Speaking on the occasion, chief guest Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan asked the students to emerge as nation-builders and change the destiny of the country by learning new skills and knowledge in keeping with the demand of the day. The winners of "Brain of Lahore 2011" and "Brain of Kasur 2011" were awarded Rs20,000 each.

UN reports attacks on Southern Sudanese returnees

In this Monday, Jan. 24, 2011 photo,Aker Aguer, 38, recalls her journey home from Khartoum to Southern Sudan. On Jan. 8, Aguer joined the tens of thousands of Southern Sudanese returning home, spurred by the prospect of her homeland becoming Africa's newest country. She was still north of the border on Jan. 9 when the convoy came under attack, despite a guard of Sudanese soldiers. Gunmen shot in the air to stop the buses then looted luggage and valuables. – AP Photo AWEIL: It should have been a joyful homecoming: Aker Aguer was returning home to Southern Sudan years after she fled a brutal civil war, to vote for her homeland's independence. But then, armed raiders fired on the bus she was traveling in with her five children, during one of several attacks on returning southerners reported by the United Nations in the weeks after a vote that drew international praise for being peaceful and orderly. The attacks on convoys north of the contested Abyei region continued throughout the weeklong referendum in early January, marring a process that was otherwise largely peaceful, and continued even after polls had closed, UN reports said. The violence along Sudan's contested north-south border shows that militias can still strike with impunity despite a heavy military presence on both sides of the border.   Observers fear such attacks could derail key talks between the north and south preceding the south's declaration of independence, set for July. In the past three weeks, UN agencies have reported at least eight attacks on convoys of buses plying several routes through central Sudan. The most serious incidents took place near the contested border hotspot of Abyei, a fertile area claimed by both northern and southern governments. The UN report also said a convoy was shot at on Jan. 17 as it passed through the oil fields of Diffra, just north of Abyei. On Jan. 8, Aguer joined the tens of thousands of Southern Sudanese returning home, encouraged by the prospect of her homeland becoming Africa’s newest country. She was still north of the border, in a convoy of some 800 people on Jan. 9, when the convoy came under attack, despite a guard of Sudanese soldiers. Gunmen shot in the air to stop the buses then looted luggage and valuables. "We were just frozen," said 38-year-old Aguer. Aguer was searched and said her clothes were torn by a woman who was with the raiders. The mother of a 3-month-old baby was stabbed to death when she refused to give up her cell phone, according to an internal UN report and interviews with witnesses. A separate report, based on interviews with more than 80 families, said roughly half of them were robbed. Others reported missing family members after the attack. "Even though they took everything, I am happy to be home with my children alive," Aguer said, sitting in a makeshift lean-to of thatched straw and wooden poles in the southern town of Aweil. Around her, new arrivals slept in the open; some had scrounged a plastic sheet or a bit of straw for a roof. Holding the vote was a key part of a 2005 peace deal that ended the civil war, a conflict between the mainly Muslim north and mainly Christian-animist, oil-rich south that lasted more than two decades and drove Aguer and hundreds of thousands like her to seek refuge in the north and in Kenya and Egypt. A UN spokesman said that the north and south have both agreed to increase security in Abyei and in the region of Southern Kordofan. The future of the region and whether it will be part of north or south Sudan is being negotiated by the two regions. "These efforts for reducing and preventing violence are vital to help contain the situation," said Kouider Zerrouk, a spokesman for the UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan. "However, continued absence of a final settlement for the future status of Abyei leaves open the possibility of further clashes between the communities in the area." Most of the people attacked said the raiders were Misseriya tribesmen, who fear losing their rights to graze in Abyei if the region goes to the south. Some said the governor of South Kordofan state, Ahmed Haroun, is encouraging and organizing the tribesmen. Haroun is wanted by the International Criminal Court for his role in organizing government-allied militias often referred to as the "Janjaweed," which operate in the western region of Darfur. "He's the founder of all militias in Sudan," said Mathiang Deng, a southerner who recently arrived in Aweil.  Analysts say failure to reach an agreement on the future of Abyei – which some describe as "Sudan's Kashmir" – could derail the southern government's plan to declare independence on July 9. The final results of referendum have not yet been announced, but initial reports show an overwhelming vote for secession. "The recent brutal attacks on convoys of returnees should send an alarm to the ruling parties," said Jehanne Henry, who leads Human Rights Watch's work on Sudan. "Their utter failure to agree on the terms of an Abyei referendum is leading to increased tensions in the area, and innocent civilians are paying the price."

Cartoon 30, January 2011

Train crash in Germany kills 10, injures 33

Fire fighters stand next to an overturned regional passenger train after it collided with a goods train late on late January 29, 2011 in Hordorf, near Magdeburg, eastern Germany. Ten people died and up to 33 other people were seriously injured in the accident which happened. More than 150 firemen, police and rescue workers were at the scene and rail traffic was interrupted. The causes of the accident were not immediately known. – AFP Photo BERLIN: A head-on train crash in eastern Germany killed 10 people and injured at least 33 others, eight of them severely, local firefighters said Sunday. A passenger and a cargo train crashed head-on near Hordorf village, close to Saxony-Anhalt's state capital Magdeburg, and several train cars derailed and overturned, a spokesman for the district's firefighters said. He declined to be named in line with department policy. Rescue operations were still under way early Sunday, and police had no immediate information as to what could have caused the accident late Saturday evening, regional police spokesman Frank Kuessner said. Eight bodies have been retrieved from the passenger train so far and some 35 suffered injuries, he said. Kuessner had no immediate explanation for the differing casualty figures. "Rescue operations are still ongoing. The death toll may well rise further," he said. Saxony-Anhalt's Deputy Interior Minister Ruediger Erben, who rushed to the scene late Saturday, said the trains must have crashed head-on with high speed, German news agency DAPD reported. The accident happened about 125 miles (200 kilometers) southwest of Berlin, Germany’s capital.

Cover Story: Treasure trove of the empire

Mirza Ghalib holds an iconic status in Urdu poetry but he was known to take more pride in his Persian poetry than in Urdu. For Persian was the bourgeois language in the Mughal period and "had long been the language of the educated elite." The magnificent influence of the Iranian culture and tradition on Mughal India brims into all the art and architecture of that period. While Mughal India accepted tremendous Iranian, European and Central Asian influences, which show prolifically in its art, architecture and culture, it was emperor Akbar's secular instincts that offered great impetus to the local art of his time (1556-1605). "While the subcontinent had its own remarkable artists and craftsmen (and literati) … Akbar's energetic patronage drew Hindu and Muslim practitioners from all over the empire to the royal workshops and to construct his monuments," explains Stronge. Susan Stronge's latest book, Made for Mughal Emperors: Royal Treasures from Hindustan, researches the impact of various influences on the architecture, art and culture of Mughal India. A writer and senior curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Stronge's areas of interested include the "court arts" of South Asia; her previous books, Tipu's Tigers (2009), Painting for the Mughal Emperor (2002), and The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms (1999) were all highly acclaimed. Made for Mughal Emperors is not just dry text on art and craftsmanship and neither does it simply rely on stunning visuals with minimal text as most coffee table books do. Rather, the beautiful pictures in this 255-page book are appropriately supported by well-researched, interesting and everyday accounts of the lives of the Mughals: their lifestyles, pastimes, beliefs, celebrations, and traditions, and so on. Accounts of royal weddings and traditions, such as the celebration of Nowruz are fascinating pieces of information. The pictures are of artifacts, court scenes, jewellery and portraits housed in museums and art institutions the world over. Stronge also tells us that in Mughal India women held an important advisory status as they "were often extremely influential figures and from the time of Babur played crucial roles in peacemaking." We also learn that it was the Europeans who brought the concept of portrait to the subcontinent. Most miniature paintings are opaque watercolour and gold on paper which seem to be extremely enduring. As God is in the detail, the accounts carry the right spice to keep the reader hooked. Akbar "never learnt to read and write, as Jahangir confirmed in his memoirs," yet his patronage attracted scholars and writers from Iran and Central Asia, and produced what one commentator describes as "the most brilliant period of Persian literature in Hindustan as well as some of the finest manuscripts of the Mughal dynasty." Stronge also believes Akbar to have been dyslexic. "However, his inability to read was not a barrier to acquiring knowledge." While claims such as these may not go down well with many subcontinental readers, one of the strengths of Stronge's work is that she presents historical facts in a non-partisan manner rather than in a biased light. This makes the narrative an even more interesting read. Made for Mughal Emperors: Royal treasures from Hindustan (History) By Susan Stronge Roli Books, India ISBN 978-81-7436-696-2 255pp. Rs8,995

Non-Fiction: For a kind capitalism

Poverty, deprivation and marginalisation are still the fate of nearly three-fourths of mankind. In the Third World, which is subject to a double exploitation — that is, by the local ruling classes and by the advanced world — the weak need some succour within the confines of capitalism and its various freedoms. As Muhammad Yunus writes in Building Social Business: The new kind of capitalism that serves humanity's most pressing needs, one may become "impatient with the terrible social problems we have created and imposed on our fellow humans. But instead of trying to devise giant plans to change the world all at once, I urge … to 'start small'. Create a tiny plan to help a few people at a time and put it into practice immediately." And Yunus has launched a successful movement, which is now famous worldwide, to apply his theory. The Grameen movement was born in a small place called Jorba where Yunus discovered 42 persons who had become debt-slaves after borrowing small sums of money from a money-lender at an interest rate of 10 per cent per week. Their total debt at the time was the equivalent of $27 which Yunus repaid on their behalf. He then persuaded a bank to give these people small loans against his guarantee. He lost nothing as they always repaid the loans on time. It was then that Yunus launched the cooperative bank Grameen. The poor chipped in to run the bank which gave them loans without collateral, so they could start small businesses and generate income. Ninety-seven per cent of the bank's borrowers were women, who were generally discriminated against by commercial banks, and their repayment rate was 98 per cent. Profit was not distributed, though one could withdraw one's capital. Thanks to the bank, beggars turned into traders, some selling small items on their begging rounds, others giving up begging to pursue business. The bank also gave students loans to finance higher education. This success encouraged Yunus to establish a company, in collaboration with the French company Danone, to sell clean water at low rates, again without profit. Yunus calls these enterprises "social business". The people working for them are well-paid but get no profit. There is now a plan to start profit-making companies on the same cooperative basis. Yunus rightly believes that the scope for such projects is wide. For example, this principle can be applied to transfer advanced medical technology to poorer countries, treat urban waste, build irrigation projects, and so on. The system can also benefit the poor in rich countries. Yunus believes that this kind of cooperation can humanise the spread of globalisation, where, instead of the "strongest taking all," the poorest too can have "a piece of action". As he puts it, "poverty is an, artificial, external imposition on a person"; it can therefore be removed. Yunus is right, except that the cooperative movement, though inspiring, can only operate on the margin of capitalism. It cannot trespass on the ground which serves the interests of the capital itself. Cooperatives started in countries which were first to industrialise, such as Holland and England. There they were confined to distribution, such as low-price shops, and were not successful in the field of production, which the capital was not prepared to share. They have greater scope in the Third World, where the capital has not yet seized the entire economic space. It is to Yunus's credit that he grasped this opportunity to help turn marginalised people into self-dependent citizens by means of cooperation. It is an experience other Third World Countries can learn a lot from. Building Social Business: The new kind of capitalism that serves humanity's most pressing needs (Economics) By Muhammad Yunus Public Affairs, New York ISBN 978- 1-5864-8824-4 256pp. Rs1,795

Irish bailout bill passes

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso poses with Ireland's Leader of the Opposition Enda Kenny of the Fine Gael party and party member Michael Noonan ahead of a meeting at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels January 28, 2011. – Reuters Photo DUBLIN: The upper house of the Irish legislature has passed a contentious Finance Bill needed to comply with terms of a massive international bailout package for the country, Irish state television reported. The Finance Bill is designed to comply with the terms of a European Union-International Monetary Fund loan, which is contingent on Ireland cutting 15 billion ($20.56 billion) from its deficit spending over the coming four years and the country imposing the harshest cuts this year. The vote was 30-20, RTE said. The bill's passage was expected. Prime Minister Brian Cowen has said he will seek dissolution of the legislature on Tuesday, setting the stage for a national election. Cowen's Fianna Fail is expected to take a drubbing in that vote. His Fianna Fail has long dominated, but Cowen, who was Ireland's finance minister from 2004 to 2008, is widely blamed for Ireland's stunning slide from Celtic Tiger boom economy to the brink of bankruptcy. The measure included a 90 percent tax on bonuses paid to employees of any of the Irish banks that needed state support to survive after a runaway property market collapsed. The government proposed the tax in December following uproar over news that Allied Irish Bank, the beneficiary of a euro3.7 billion ($5.07 billion) bailout, was about to pay bonuses to more than 2,000 executives totaling euro40 million. The government quickly dropped the idea, but it was revived on Wednesday to secure the votes of two independent legislators, Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy-Rae. That concession clinched passage of the bill in the lower house the following day. The parliament has already approved cuts in welfare benefits, the minimum wage and salaries of Cabinet ministers, and it has raised school fees. But the toughest measures – increasing income taxes across the 2 million-strong work force, raising effective tax levels to 41 percent or more – are in the Finance Bill.

Literarybuzz

EVA Gabrielsson, Stieg Larsson's partner, plans to complete the late author's final Millennium novel. Stating that the pair 'often wrote together', Eva plans to finish the fourth novel he left uncompleted on his death. According to early details picked up from Gabrielsson's memoir of her life with Larsson, Millennium, Stieg and Me, set for publication in France and Scandinavia next week, Larsson had written 200 pages of a fourth novel in his internationally successful Millennium series before he died. Eva refused to divulge details of the plot, but promised that its damaged protagonist Lisbeth Salander 'little by little frees herself from her ghosts and her enemies.' She also added that the book would only be finished when she gets undisputed rights to Larsson's work from his family, who inherited the author's assets when he died intestate.

The story of an underdog

IN the mid-19th century, an English woman known for her salons that hosted the likes of Tennyson, travelled to Egypt in an attempt to cure her increasingly debilitating tuberculosis. It was hoped that the dry, warm air of Egypt would stall or perhaps even cure Lady Duff Gordon's disease, and so she relocated to Luxor with her lady's maid, Sally Naldrett. Lady Gordon's letters were compiled and her travels and interests were recorded in a biography. However, it was not her life that interested novelist Kate Pullinger when she wrote The Mistress of Nothing, but that of her maid, a woman about whom little is known, other than her affair with her Lady's dragoman, an Egyptian called Omar. Pullinger's Sally is the perfect lady's maid — she has little family of her own, has no plans of marriage and her entire life has been devoted to, and controlled by, the woman she works for. Sally has nowhere else to go, and nothing else to do but to take care of her lady. While in England Sally is reserved and in Egypt she begins to be treated casually and almost as an equal by her employer and so she begins to open up. Both Sally and her lady begin to relax in the warm, welcoming climate of Luxor. Tellingly, they remove their stays, adopting Egyptian dress alongside many other local customs. And as Sally's interest in her new life and surroundings increases each day, she lowers her guard to the possibilities of friendship and love. Pullinger seems to be aware that many contemporary readers may not have the patience for detailed and long-drawn historical fiction. She is careful not to delve too far into the stylised narrative that often leads to the branding of historical fiction by many as boring, and she artfully creates the background needed to set her story in motion. Egyptian history is very much a part of this book — the politics, lifestyles, culture and food. Pullinger distributes her information evenly and Lady Gordon is increasingly interested in the socio-politics of the region, immersing herself in debate and conversation with informed people. While these conversations help the reader understand some of the background to the story, it is still Sally's narrative that brings the place to life. Her wonder at the artifacts of ancient Egypt, her sensuous understanding of Arabic, "full of air and full of earth", and her constant quest to assimilate into this new world fills the narrative with longing and belonging. But The Mistress is Nothing is more than just a story of two Englishwomen adopting the ways of their new home. It is really about the relationship between Lady Gordon and her maid, and the power that one holds over the other. Sally's entire world is that of her lady's but she is certain that she herself is irreplaceable — not only does she act as servant, companion, seamstress, cook, she is also Lady Gordon's medic, able to soothe her when her "consumption" strikes, and her only truly loyal friend. But with the revelation of her affair with Omar, Sally's presumed friendship with her employer is tested, and the novel emerges as an astute look at power relationships and the abuse of authority. Sally is seemingly left at the mercy of her employer, who is lonely, jealous and more than anything, simply astounded that her only friend could keep such a secret from her. The reviewer has studied English Literature and film and hosts a radio programme on books and films The Mistress of Nothing (NOVEL) By Kate Pullinger McArthur & Co., Canada ISBN 9781552787984 256pp. Cdn$24.95

No spin: A beauty called Balkasar

It's a heady combination: windblown beauty, wantonly wild, and ladies and gentlemen of politics, law, foreign affairs and religion. Perched high on a hillock cradled with sleepy hills and a lake below, there stand our stalwarts under an open sky, chilly and grey, debating the future of the land. Why drive 60 miles out of Islamabad to meet for lunch at a deserted spot? The host, who coined the phrase "laptop warriors" could have celebrated his grandson's birthday in the Capital. Instead, Ayaz Amir, the local chaudhry, MNA, columnist and intellectual wanted his guests to see the dramatic expanse that nature staged. Are you listening minister of tourism? Mount Dhok Sial calls. The name Balkasar evokes images of rustic romance, age-old chivalry and immortal love. Chakwal district has produced warriors rising high as generals, air marshals and admirals. Today Chakwalites still swell the rank and file of our armed forces. Ayaz Amir, who began his career as a captain in the army, calls fellow columnists "laptop warriors" because of their war on corruption against the present rulers. Ayaz rates as the "poorest" MNA according to his filing of assets declaration with the election commission. Why then his contempt for those who want a 'third force' to come and purge corrupt politicians? I think you have the answer. "You must write about the ransacking of Pakistan embassy in Kabul when you were the ambassador," I say to Qazi Humayun, who almost lost his life in the mob attack. He'd rather enjoy the present moment than be reminded of the Kabul-based Rabbani government's mob attack on September 6, 1995. The Rabbani government (yes, the same Burhanuddin Rabbani you saw in Islamabad recently hugging our biggies) held Pakistan responsible for the Taliban takeover of Herat. An agriculturist standing nearby interjects "Are you kidding? Diplomats, bureaucrats and khakis, retired or serving, will never open their mouths," he says looking at Humayun, "Were they to do that, nobody would care for the media because these people hold the real stuff and know the truth." How true. Indeed, I look around me and see active and retired power horses that have, are and will fuel the engines of this nation till kingdom come. "If only they would speak," says the agriculturist sage who knows them well, "but they never will, so our last hope is a Pakistani Julian Assange, the author of WikiLeaks!" While we wait for a desi Assange to arrive, let's make do with 'DiploLeaks' that our foreign ministry doles out to the press euphemistically called "background briefing." Recently, this newspaper carried a front-page story that many of us may have missed because of its bland headline: "Pakistan finds Biden's clarifications unrealistic," (paragraph four was dynamite) conveyed by Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to President Barack Obama." There were shuddery allegations against America on "violation of Pakistan's sovereignty, disrespect for Islam; much-touted American inner desire to de-fang and destabilise Pakistan." The official who gave the briefing cautioned the US against "economically squeezing Pakistan, destabilising it and disturbing the societal balance." His message: “'Do not try to turn Pakistan into a battlefield' mentioning incidents in Karachi, Data Darbar bombing, sectarian strife and bomb attacks as part of what could be described as an international conspiracy." Included in this damning demarche was the donors’ snub to Islamabad. Stop! Look at the date when it was published: Jan 16, 2011. Two days earlier, Zardari had met Obama in Washington. The latter's words must have been unvarnished, blunt and plainspoken as they've been in the past whenever the two have met. Islamabad fired the above stinger missile two days later to equal the score. The lady who saved Pakistan from being declared a "terrorist state" is Ambassador Syeda Abida Hussain. This was when Nawaz Sharif was in the saddle and she was his envoy in Washington. She had spunk, zing and gutsiness. She told Gen Zia to get lost when he presented her a chador which he asked her to wear while sitting inside the parliament with male members. Abida was prime ministerial material, but somewhere along the road, she apparently lost her way. Whenever I interviewed her, I was in awe of her. She was our role model in school. Today, there's nothing to ask her. Her daughter is a PPP senator. Then there is Nasim Zehra, the talk show host. As she joins our group, guests come up to her and congratulate her for getting the liberal left and the religious right on the same page concerning killing of Salmaan Taseer. They call her bold, brave, and audacious. She is surprised. "I just did my duty in bringing the truth before my viewers by giving both the sides an opportunity to present their objective viewpoints." Her handling of the delicate subject, especially her conclusion was superb. Nasim is amazed at the silence of the ladies in parliament, including the Speaker, who would not defend fellow MNA Sherry Rehman. A jolly cleric present at the party weighs in on the ongoing clash between civil society and the clergy. He appears to be a moderate and hence in a minority with his religious brothers. The real clash before me is between the rich and the poor. The privileged classes – politicians, feudal lords, bureaucrats and businessmen live in luxury while the working staff live in abject poverty and deprivation. I notice the stark difference on our drive back to Islamabad on the motorway. Before we enter the Capital, we pass miles and miles of population plunged in utter darkness. All I can see are ghostly silhouettes of homes standing in sullen silence. Not a shred of light escapes through these homes. The January night is cold and cruel. How must these people feel, I wonder. How do they keep warm? I ask myself. Far in the horizon, we see a flood of lights, as if there exist two worlds in close proximity – heaven and hell on earth. The glare of lights in Islamabad is blinding when one travels from the darkness to cross over to the other side. It's at the discretion of the water and power ministerty, as to who gets electricity. Someone knows well that millions can be made through sale of plots where streets are shamelessly showered in light as if they were avenues in Manhattan. Hard core corruption is everywhere today. "Youth will be instruments of change," is the prediction by a Pakistani-Canadian psychic. The young I meet at lunch are our last hope – say technocrats like Harvard law school graduate Salman Raja. Wordsworth put it best when he wrote on the French revolution: "Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive/ But to be young was very heaven!–Oh! Times/ In which the meagre, stale, forbidding ways/ Of custom, law, and statute, took at once/ The attraction of a country in romance!" anjumniaz@rocketmail.com

Smokers’ Corner: Bananas

For long, many Pakistanis have wondered just how do certain Pakistani media men and religious leaders who have turned the obsessive act of badmouthing the US, Jews and liberals into a robust cottage industry, manage to travel so frequently to the US. Well, it seems the days of curiosity in this respect may be coming to an end. According to a front-page story in Dawn last Friday, four US Congressmen have asked Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, to refuse visas to those Pakistanis who are on record praising the killer of former Governor of Punjab, Salmaan Taseer. There are reports that the US government is now seriously contemplating refusing visas to a number of Pakistani media personnel, lawyers and religious leaders who have been reported to have condoned the ghastly murder. These also include TV and print journalists and religious leaders who travel regularly to the US (and Europe). Most Pakistanis who were shocked by the jubilant reactions of certain people at Taseer's assassination have squarely hailed the report of a possible US visa ban on these men and women. This hailing has nothing to do with some Pakistanis' resentment of not being able to visit Disneyland the way all these so-called anti-West media folks, lawyers, politicians or religious leaders have been doing for many years. Instead, the welcoming gesture by them is more about the rather concrete perception that surrounds the ways of these obsessive anti-US charlatans in which they are seen as spreading political and religious hatred and arousing populist political chaos under the cover of being gung-ho patriots and people of faith who are out to warn the Islamic republic of the nefarious designs of Americans, Jews and Hindus. But, of course, unknown to most Pakistanis is the startling fact that many such fiery journalists and men/women of faith are regular visitors to the US and European countries. Also, for long, a number of Pakistan's staunch anti-West defenders of the faith and sovereignty have had close relatives, children and siblings settled in various western countries, while they urge Pakistanis to rise against 'US slavery' and to 'crush America.' The question always was, for how long could Pakistanis go on loudly supporting the rising and now almost entirely knee-jerk and rhetorical tide of anti-Americanism while at the same time be the first to join the long queues seen outside American and European visa offices? It is a bizarre sight, but come to think of it, the bizarre, especially in matters of faith and ideology, has certainly become the norm in this country. We are quick to use terms like munafiq (hypocrite) for others, but we conveniently refuse to see that each one of us has become a raving, ranting hypocrite — a double-faced act that we then explain away as a reaction against corruption and 'US imperialism.' It's a vicious cycle that denies us the patience and logic to reflect upon our own doings instead of always being on the look out for 'bad Muslims', 'heretics', foreign agents and media-made punching bags to blame our economic miseries, political chaos and moral confusion on. Worse are those who do so simply to bag cheap and instant applause from morally and intellectually bankrupt sections of society, or from a populace frustrated by living under the booming hammer of economic downturns, wobbly regimes and terrorist attacks. So much change (in the mindset and not just faces) has to be allowed and worked for if this unfortunate country is ever to finally take that turn towards some sort of salvation. And mind you, like it or not, this turn may also mean us having to embrace certain economic, social and political ideas and policies which, today, we are mindlessly rejecting as being western, Orientalist, secular or liberal. I just cannot understand why so many Pakistanis clamp up when anyone suggests such ideas as solutions in Pakistan, whereas the same Pakistanis are okay living among these same ideas in western countries. But then, are they, really? For example, forget about nuts like Faisal Shahzad or prying puritans like Farhat Hashmi — their topsy-turvy ways are all too obvious — what about those Pakistanis who keep posting hate comments and speeches on the internet from various US cities? How did they get the US visa?

Pillion riding ban lifted in Karachi

The pillion-riding ban had been in place since January 17, 2011 for security reasons, DawnNews reported. – File Photo KARACHI: The Sindh government has lifted the ban on pillion riding in Karachi from midnight on Saturday, sending a wave of happiness across the provincial metropolis. The ban had been in place since January 17, 2011 for security reasons, DawnNews reported.

Japan edge Australia 1-0 to win Asian Cup

Japanese players celebrate after beating Australia in their 2011 Asian Cup final football match. – Photo by AFP DOHA: Tadanari Lee scored an extra-time winner as Japan edged Australia 1-0 to win a pulsating Asian Cup final and become the most successful team in the history of the competition. The unmarked substitute sent a stunning left-foot volley past the diving Mark Schwarzer in the 109th minute to hand his country their fourth title at the continental showcase, a feat no-one else has achieved. The win, following their successes in 1992, 2000 and 2004, carried the added bonus of an automatic place at the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil — the traditional World Cup warm-up tournament. It followed a deadlocked match at 90 minutes that sent the game into extra-time, with penalties looking likely until Lee worked his magic. Both teams had scored 13 times before the final and Australia looked most likely to add to that early on. Harry Kewell had the first shot on target in the opening minute, an ambitious long-range drive that didn’t trouble Eiji Kawashima, while Matt McKay sliced a decent opportunity from inside the box just seconds later. Schwarzer, who marked a significant milestone by surpassing Alex Tobin to set a new record for the most capped Socceroo ever on his 88th appearance, also found himself in action at the other end. The 38-year-old, though, had Keisuke Honda’s half-chance easily covered. Australia were looking strong with Japan missing the spark of Shinji Kagawa, who broke a bone in his foot in their penalty shoot-out win over South Korea in the last four. The Australians should have gone ahead on 15 minutes when Brett Holman whipped a low cross into the area but the stretching Carl Valeri could not connect. In a dangerous period for Japan, Tim Cahill’s header forced a desperate one-handed save from Kawashima moments later as the Socceroos upped the ante. Lucas Neill, Cahill and Kewell then linked well on the half-hour mark, only for the former Liverpool man’s half-volley to hit the side-netting. Holger Osieck’s side had only conceded one goal ahead of the final and Japan were struggling to penetrate their defence until Ryoichi Maeda finally found himself in space on the edge of the area, only to hook his shot over the bar. Japan were working hard to build attacks, but they were breaking down too easily. As they did in the first half, Australia came out after the break with real verve and almost took the lead on 49 minutes when Luke Wilkshire’s cross hit the bar and Cahill tried to bundle in the rebound. Australia claimed a goal but it was not given and replays showed the ball did not go over the line. Japan also had their chances, with Yuto Nagamoto turning Wilkshire inside-out and delivering a perfect cross to Shinji Okazaki, whose header skimmed just past the post with Schwarzer stranded. It was anyone’s game, and Kewell will have kicked himself for not doing better on 71 minutes when he had just the keeper to beat, but Kawashima stuck out his right boot to save a certain goal. He was Japan’s saviour again as the clocked ticked down when he rushed out to collect a loose ball ahead of the charging Kewell, as the match headed into extra-time. Tiredness was creeping in and Kewell went off to be replaced by Robbie Kruse, who almost made a dream start with Kawashima tipping his header onto the bar with the young striker’s first touch of the game. Honda went close at the other end before the dangerous Nagamoto weaved down the left and found the unmarked Lee at the back post, the 25-year-old cleanly hitting his volley for his first international goal. – AFP

Egypt appoints former air force commander as PM

In this still image taken from video, Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak addresses the nation on Egyptian state TV in Cairo January 28, 2011. – Photo by Reuters CAIRO: Egypt’s president picked on Saturday a former air force commander and aviation minister, Ahmed Shafiq, as the next prime minister, ensuring men with military links are in the top three political jobs. Shafiq’s appointment followed announcement earlier on Saturday that Omar Suleiman, the intelligence chief with military experience, would be vice president and in prime position for the top job if Mubarak does not run in September. Mubarak, 82, was also a former air force chief. The move followed days of unprecedented protests that have shaken the country to its core. – Reuters

Egypt Mubarak picks vice-president for first time

In this image taken from TV, showing Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, right, shaking the hand of Omar Suleiman, who is sworn in as Vice President of Egypt, Saturday Jan. 29. 2011. Naming his vice president in the wake of the biggest challenge ever to his rule by anti-government protesters who have demonstrated through the streets of Cairo over recent days. On screen writing declares that Mubarak swears in Vice President Suleiman. – Photo by AP CAIRO: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, 82, picked his intelligence chief and confidante Omar Suleiman as vice president, a post Mubarak occupied before taking the top job and which has never been filled in 30 years of his rule. The step indicates for the first time a possible succession plan and also suggests Mubarak’s son, who has long rumoured to be a potential leader, has been pushed out of the picture. The moves comes after five days of protests that have shattered the image of a country that had long been able to crush dissent and opposition through its vast military and security forces. It may also indicate Mubarak, 82, will not run again in the planned September presidential elections, when officials had suggested he would stand. Omar Suleiman, 74, has long taken a close role in key policy areas, including the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, an issue seen as vital to Egypt’s relationship with its key ally and aid donor the United States. State TV showed Suleiman being sworn in as the vice-president. The official state news agency carried a brief item that said: "Minister Omar Suleiman has been sworn in this evening as vice president for the president of the republic." It was not clear if protesters would welcome a move that keeps control in the hands of the military and security institutions. "He is just like Mubarak, there is no change," a protester told Reuters outside the Interior Ministry, where thousands were protesting, moments after the appointment. – Reuters

Trade via Pak-Iran Zero-Point border resumes

The Iranian border security officials at Pak-Iran border. – Photo by AFP (File) CHAGAI: Trade activities via Zero-Point trade gate of Pak-Iran border in border town of Taftan were kicked off once again on Saturday after a period of over six months. The Iranian government had closed Zero-Point trade gate on 15th July 2010 after violence erupted in Iranian province of Siestan Balochistan. The closure of the Zero-Point had caused increase in the troubles of people living in the areas along the border on both sides, as shortage of edibles and others items were reported. Following the request of the Pakistani government and keeping in view the sufferings of the people living alongside the border in the two countries, Iranian government directed the border force officials to reopen Zero-Point trade gate on 26th Jan 2011. However, trade activities resumed on Saturday, 29th January as there were holidays in Iran on Thursday and Friday. The people were delighted over reopening of the trade gate and thanked both Governments in this connection. – APP

Upbeat Sajjad eyes national snooker crown

Muhammad Sajjad. -File photo KARACHI: Pakistan’s ace cueist and Asian number two, Muhammad Sajjad is hopeful of regaining the spot on the national ranking charts when the 36th NJI National Snooker Championship breaks off at Karachi Gymkhana Billiards Hall on Monday Sajjad, who recently returned competed in a professional ranking even in Thailand said that playing at the international level had made him a more skilful player and done his game a world of good. "Because of big difference at national and international level I was not able to retain the number one ranking in Pakistan," he told APP in an interview.. "I found it difficult to play on different tables in Pakistan after playing on the international circuit. Playing on consistent tables, alongside the top professionals has raised the standard of my game," he said. The 2008 and 2010 national champion said he was confident of claiming a title for a third time and that he expected a tough challenge from current Pakistan number one Imran Shehzad and number two Sohail Shehzad. Sajjad is placed 4th in the national ranking currently. He was the first Pakistani to win a Thai national ranking event last year on a wildcard entry.

Pakistan keeps interest rate unchanged

"The State Bank is aware of the delicate balance that needs to be struck between risks to inflation and economic growth," said the State Bank governor. – File Photo KARACHI: Pakistan’s central bank on Saturday kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 14 percent, while asking the government to spell out a clear and coherent strategy for the economy. The governor of the State Bank also blamed government lending for adding to the country’s rising inflation, which has been exacerbated by a huge floods. "The State Bank is aware of the delicate balance that needs to be struck between risks to inflation and economic growth," Shahid H. Kardar said at a press conference while unveiling his bimonthly monitory policy. He added it was because of this reason that the bank decided to keep the policy rate unchanged. "Delays in crucial economic reforms have increased challenges for the management of the economy. Despite high interest rates, the fiscal deficit and borrowings from the banking system is continuing to stoke inflationary pressures," he said. "All this is impeding economic recovery and increasing the debt burden of the country. However, an improved external current account and stable financial markets allow for some optimism.""Under these challenging circumstances, a proactive monetary policy is necessary but not sufficient to tackle high and persistent inflation," said the governor. Kardar said inflationary pressures that were already high at the beginning of the current fiscal year that started on July 1, and remained at elevated levels until the end of 2010. In December average inflation stood at 14.6 percent, he said. "Not only did the contributing factors of inflation continue to prevail the first half of the current fiscal year, the economy also experienced an additional shock in the form of unprecedented devastating floods," he said. "To bring inflation under better control, the critical measures would be fiscal consolidation and reduction in fiscal deficit and government borrowings from the State Bank," he said. Kardar called on the government to spell out a strategy to boost the economy. "This is all the more important," he said referring to the postponement of tax reforms and reversal of the decision of increasing retail prices of petroleum products. "These actions have made it difficult to raise external resources for budget financing."The bank blamed rising inflation on relentless government borrowing and the fallout from catastrophic monsoon flooding, saying prices could continue rising by double digits into the next fiscal year. The central bank has increased interest rates 150 basis points in past five months, "to mitigate risks to macroeconomic stability". Inflation declined to just over 10 percent in late 2009 after peaking at 25 percent in November 2008. – AFP

England, Australia to play back-to-back series in 2013 and 2014

England and Wales Cricket Board marketing and communications manager Steve Elworthy said the two boards wanted to get a gap between the Ashes and the World Cup. -Photo by Reuters SYDNEY: England and Australia will play back-to-back Ashes series in 2013 and 2014 because of the 2015 World Cup in Australia, the Sydney Morning Herald reported on Saturday. "We do have those two Ashes series that are back to back," Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young told the newspaper. "One concern that England had, which is understandable in 2015 if they’d played Ashes then the World Cup, the England team would have to stay in Australia for five months, that’s just way too long. "From a media rights point of view, that is blue-chip cricket. The Ashes have an X-factor element that excites the Australian public. The Ashes make turnstiles spin and they drive the ratings up." England and Wales Cricket Board marketing and communications manager Steve Elworthy said the two boards wanted to get a gap between the Ashes and the World Cup. "We want to break the cycle of the World Cup and Ashes arriving at once, get enough distance between the events, make sure the players have enough catchup time and we want to protect the Ashes brand," he told the BBC.

ICC dismisses plea to keep World Cup tie at Eden Gardens

Paint containers hang from scaffolding in a stand under construction at Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata on January 27, 2011. -Photo by AFP NEW DELHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected the Indian board’s request to keep Eden Gardens in Kolkata as the venue for the World Cup match between India and England on Feb. 27. The ICC had asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India to find an alternative venue because Eden Gardens was under-prepared due to a delay in rennovation work. In an email to BCCI president Shashank Manohar, ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the request had been turned down. "I told him the ICC could not accommodate the request," Lorgat was quoted as saying by the Cricinfo website. "There was too much of planning and too much of logistics that would be involved." Manohar was not immediately available for comment. The Cricket Association of Bengal, which has its headquarters at Eden Gardens, asked the ICC through the BCCI to give another extension, promising to have the work completed by Feb. 7.

Hot economy, Europe’s woes lure Brazilians back

Brazil's Neymar (L) jokes with teammate Henrique during a practice session at the stadium in Arequipa January 28, 2011. -Photo by Reuters RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazilians, long the great nomads of global soccer, are being lured home as European clubs struggle financially and local teams backed by a booming economy gain the clout to attract big names like Ronaldinho. The 30-year-old two-time World Player of The Year left AC Milan this month and signed with Rio de Janeiro’s Flamengo, becoming the latest in a string of homecomings in the past few years including big names such as Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Fred and Elano. National team captain Robinho and striker Adriano also returned for short stints. Most of those high-profile returnees are in the sunset of their careers, leading one Spanish sports newspaper to call Brazil the new "elephants’ graveyard" of world soccer. Many returning players, including Ronaldinho, aim to better catch the eye of national team coach Mano Menezes ahead of the World Cup in Brazil in 2014. But the trend also reflects a broader shift in economic power as Europe stagnates and Brazil’s once crisis-prone economy goes from strength to strength. Its currency has doubled in value against the dollar since 2003, reducing the allure of foreign salaries that have pulled Brazil’s famously skilled players to distant fields from the Far East to the Faroe Islands. Meanwhile, many European clubs are struggling with high debts and weak revenues. "Brazilian clubs have to adapt to a new reality," said Mauricio Assumpcao, president of Rio’s Botafogo club. "It’s changed and I think it’s changed for good because I don’t see how the European market can return to buying the number of players that it used to." The number of players exported from Brazil fell 14 percent to 1,017 in 2009 while imports rose 7 percent to 707 — more than double the number in 2006 — according to the Brazil Football Confederation, the national football authority. Club revenues in Brazil’s top league rose an average of 12 percent in the 2008-09 period, compared to 4 percent in Europe’s top five leagues, a study by Spanish sports marketing firm Prime Time Sport showed last year. "The European football economy is not as wealthy as it used to be. The easy call for Brazilian clubs of sending their players over there is not as easy as it used to be," said Esteve Calzada, chief executive of Prime Time Sport. At the same time, growing revenues from television rights have boosted Brazilian clubs’ wealth and enabled them to raise their transfer budgets and wage bills, Calzada said. "I’ve been involved in discussions of several potential transfers from Brazil to Europe and some of them did not happen because the players in Brazil already had a very good salary." NEYMAR BREAKTHROUGH Brazilian fans have long bemoaned the lack of funds and poor administration at their clubs that have made talented young players easy pickings for rich European teams. Many of those problems persist. Teams suffer from high turnover of players and coaches, and often lack professional financial management. Still, a big sign the tide could be turning came last year when Santos, the team of the great Pele, managed to fend off a reported 25 million pound ($40 million) bid by England’s Chelsea for precocious 18-year-old striker Neymar. Santos offered Neymar, one of Brazil’s hottest talents, a five-year "career plan" that was unprecedented in Brazilian soccer, including a share of revenue from image rights and his own international media spokesman to enhance his global brand. Ronaldinho’s path back to Brazil, sealed by a contract he signed in a Rio steakhouse, was also smoothed by a deal on image rights. Flamengo will only pay 20 percent of the player’s salary, according to Brazilian media, the rest being footed by the investment fund that has the right to exploit his image through TV commercials and other publicity. Paulo Vinicius Coelho, one of Brazil’s leading soccer writers, said commercial deals such as the one keeping Neymar in Brazil held the key to stopping the hemorrhaging of talent to Europe and other regions. "Brazil lost the capacity to form players with Brazilian characteristics," he said. "The system of exporting players has to change urgently because football is our cultural patrimony that is being lost." A stronger economy alone would not guarantee a renaissance in domestic football, he said, pointing to the return of great players such as World Cup winner Romario in the mid-1990s during another period of currency strength.

World Cup 2022 will not be shared, says Bin Hammam

"Qatar submitted a bid to organise the World Cup and it is fair for Qatar to organise all the matches,' Bin Hammam told reporters. -Photo by AFP DOHA: The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will not be jointly hosted by other Gulf nations as requested by UEFA head Michel Platini, AFC president Mohammed Bin Hammam told reporters on Saturday. Bin Hammam has often appeared frustrated when asked questions about possibly moving the dates of the World Cup or sharing matches and he again looked stern when saying the tiny Gulf emirate would host matches alone. "Qatar submitted a bid to organise the World Cup and it is fair for Qatar to organise all the matches,’ Bin Hammam told reporters at the Khalifa Stadium. "It has never been discussed that the matches should be played in other countries as well. I do not think that any country will be part of the competition in that respect." Bin Hammam said that the surrounding regions would still benefit from Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 tournament. "The impact of the World Cup is very huge. Of course the biggest impact will be in Qatar, but the region will also benefit. "The region will benefit from tourists coming, it will benefit economically, a lot of infrastructure will need to be built. Football will be promoted in a huge way and I think the legacy that football will be leaving in this reason will be huge." Platini, who has continually called for the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East to be shared and moved to the cooler winter months, will join Bin Hammam at the Asian Cup final between Japan and Australia in Doha later on Saturday. TERMS SET Bin Hammam remains a popular figure throughout Asia and was sworn in unchallenged for a third and final term as the head of the AFC earlier this month. The 61-year-old Qatari said it was important that maximum terms were set to avoid complacency in the position. "I’m afraid… our main aim is how to protect myself sitting in the seat and not how we do for the future," Bin Hammam answered when asked what were the dangers of having a president sat in a role for too long. "I have done a lot (in my eight years in charge of the AFC)and someone else must come and take over with new ideas if I want to stay more I will think how can I protect my position my seat." The comments could be seen as a dig at FIFA president Sepp Blatter, 74, who is seeking a fourth term as the head of world soccer in June. The pair have endured a frosty relationship and Bin Hammam, who continues to duck questions about possible running for the presidency at the FIFA congress in June, again questioned the way FIFA is being run under the Swiss’ leadership. "The people today are complaining a lot about how FIFA runs its business. There are a lot of changes that have to be added to the FIFA practices." In what could also be seen as a slight dig at Blatter, Bin Hammam laughed off a question on whether he wanted to be FIFA president when the 2022 World Cup comes to his homeland. "I’ll be 73 then. I won’t be in any key sporting positions by 2022."

Clijsters rallies past Li to win Australian Open

After a shaky first set, three-time US Open-winner Clijsters fought her way back in a thrilling final in front of 15,000 fans at Rod Laver Arena, including a vocal Chinese contingent. -Photo by AFP MELBOURNE: Belgium’s Kim Clijsters came from a set down to beat Li Na 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 and win her maiden Australian Open title Saturday, dashing Chinese hopes of a first ever Grand Slam win. After a shaky first set, three-time US Open-winner Clijsters fought her way back in a thrilling final in front of 15,000 fans at Rod Laver Arena, including a vocal Chinese contingent. "I finally feel like you guys can call me ‘Aussie Kim’ because I won the title," Clijsters told her Australian fans, who gave her the nickname when she was engaged to Lleyton Hewitt. The 27-year-old Clijsters claimed her fourth Grand Slam title, and her third since ending a long career break to give birth to her daughter, Jada. She is now considering scaling back her schedule again. Clijsters went into the tournament as the firm favourite but was made to battle all the way by Li, who was hoping to complete her own fairytale by becoming the first Chinese — or Asian — player to win a Grand Slam. "Li and I have played some amazing matches over a number of years — she’s a tough competitor," Clijsters said. "It’s been a great effort for her these part two weeks and I hope we can play many more Grand Slam finals in the future." Li had been on the front cover of many of China’s major newspapers as the world’s most populous nation looked to the 28-year-old from Wuhan to create a piece of tennis history. But despite looking the likely winner in the first set, Li faded in the third and became increasingly agitated as the match slipped away, complaining about comments and flash photography from the crowd. "Tell the Chinese (fans), don’t teach me how to play tennis," she fumed to the chair umpire, after being broken in the second set. Clijsters had opened in fine style as she won the first eight points of the match, but once Li settled down and found her range with her dominant groundstrokes, and her forehand in particular, she steadily took control. She broke Clijsters three times in the first set as she repeatedly forced her opponent onto the defensive with the power and accuracy of her shots. Clijsters tried to stay with her but whenever the pair went toe-to-toe from the baseline, Li invariably came out on top. "(The first set) was going too fast for me," Clijsters said. "She was doing everything so well, she was hitting both sides, forehand and backhand, and she was serving well." But after convincingly winning the first set, Li began to struggle on serve and Clijsters took her chance to drag her way back, changing tactics by taking much of the pace off the ball. Li tried to counter by hitting harder, but only succeeded in increasing her error count and handing Clijsters cheap points. "I tried to serve a bit better, slow it down and put spin on it, and I tried to loop a few balls," Clijsters said. "She missed some of them and I saw that made her nervous." The Belgian broke Li four times in the second set and twice in the third to wrap up a tense final in 2hr 5min, immediately bursting into tears as she realised what she had achieved. Clijsters has now claimed back-to-back Grand Slam titles after also winning last year’s US Open. Meanwhile Li, 28, was satisfied with becoming the first player from China to reach a major singles final, which made her an overnight superstar and saw her compared to idolised basketball player Yao Ming and hurdler Liu Xiang. "It doesn’t matter if I won or lost today," Li said. "I played my best tennis." Li, whose tales of her husband’s snoring and her shopping sprees have delighted fans in Australia, also reached last year’s Australian Open semi-final before being beaten by eventual winner Serena Williams. She is projected to reach a career-high world number seven in next week’s rankings, while Clijsters will rise to second behind Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki.

US calls for immediate release of diplomat in Pakistan

"When detained, the US diplomat repeatedly requested immunity under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations." — AP Photo ISLAMABAD: The United States on Saturday called for the immediate release of a US diplomat it said was unlawfully detained by Pakistani authorities in Lahore, its embassy in Islamabad said. "When detained, the US diplomat identified himself to police as a diplomat and repeatedly requested immunity under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," it said in a statement. It added, "Local police and senior authorities failed to observe their legal obligation to verify his status with either the US consulate general in Lahore or the US embassy in Islamabad".

Egyptian government resigns

Afridi, Hafeez sizzle as Pakistan crush New Zealand

Shahid Afridi scored a blistering 65, which included five sixes and five boundaries, and in the process equalled the fastest one-day half century in New Zealand. -Photo by AFP WELLINGTON: Mohammad Hafeez scored his first one-day century and Shahid Afridi blasted the equal-fastest half century in New Zealand as Pakistan levelled their one-day series against the hosts following a 43-run victory at Lancaster Park on Saturday. New Zealand never really challenged Pakistan’s imposing 293 for seven, with Martin Guptill (39), Jamie How (24) Scott Styris (46) and Kane Williamson (42) all getting starts but leaving too many runs for the lower order to overhaul the total. Skipper Afridi also cleverly rotated his bowlers, who expertly changed their pace and angles, bowled to their fields and took wickets just as New Zealand’s batsmen appeared set to push on. Tim Southee (13 not out) hit a six off the last ball to drag New Zealand to 250 for nine. Hamish Bennett was with Southee on four. "We got a few starts and didn’t go on," New Zealand captain Ross Taylor said in a televised interview. "All credit to them I think Umar Gul bowled really well and took it away from us." The six-match series is locked at 1-1 after New Zealand won the first match in Wellington by nine wickets last week and the second in Queenstown was washed out on Wednesday. Pakistan’s innings had been held together by Hafeez (115), who also shared a 94-run partnership with Misbah-ul-haq (35) and 52 runs with Umar Akmal (44). "I was just concentrating on the game. I missed a couple of opportunities in the test series so I was looking forward to scoring runs in this match," Hafeez said. "We were all looking forward to winning this game… and it was a good team effort." Afridi scored a blistering 65, which included five sixes and five boundaries, as he and Umar blasted a destructive 69-runs off 26 balls as Pakistan made full use of the final powerplay, scoring 126 runs in the last 10 overs. Afridi’s half century was brought up on his 19th delivery, equalling the fastest one-day international half century scored in New Zealand, which is also held by Brendon McCullum. "I think you have to give credit to Shahid Afridi," Taylor added. "He batted very well. The boundaries here are very small but he cleared them with some massive sixes."

Tendulkar yearns for elusive World Cup glory

Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, former cricketer Mohinder Amarnath, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and Yusuf Pathan, from left, hold their respective awards during the Castrol Awards for Cricketing Excellence in Mumbai. -Photo by AP MUMBAI: Over the last two decades, there is very little missing from Sachin Tendulkar’s list of achievements as a batsman but the absence of a World Cup in his trophy cabinet continues to rankle the Indian run-machine. The 37-year old, with more than 32,000 runs and 97 centuries in international cricket, came closest to ending that quest when he was the highest scorer in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, where Australia beat India in the final. The Feb. 19-April 2 World Cup in the sub-continent represents, in all probability, Tendulkar’s last chance to set the record straight and the batsman is all too aware of the event’s importance. "I still want to achieve something and everyone knows that," a smiling Tendulkar said at an award ceremony on Friday, adding that India’s rise to number one in the world test rankings has given him confidence to believe a cup victory was possible. "To get there was not easy, we had to work very hard," he added. "There were lots of challenges but we stood together, backing each other, trusting each other and achieved various things as a team. "When we got there (in 2009) many people thought that it was may be a matter of 30-40 days as the South Africa series (2010) was coming up and no one expected us to do well to be honest. "After losing the first test in Nagpur, we got to hear that soon we will lose the number one spot. But here I am standing today after almost a year and we are still number one. "To get there is wonderful but to stay there for a year in this competitive era is just fantastic." India are currently number two in the one-day rankings and Tendulkar singled out coach Gary Kirsten for special praise for the team’s improved performance. "Gary Kirsten has brought a remarkable change in our side," Tendulkar said about the former South Africa opener. "I found the atmosphere in the dressing room quite different and that has brought all the changes. "I think all batsmen have performed well since 2007."

China Kingho Group to invest in Thar Coal field

"Thar coal field in Sindh is spread over more than 9000 sq km and is bestowed with 175 billion tons of lignite coal." — File Photo ISLAMABAD: The Kingho Group being the largest private group of China has expressed its keen interest to Invest in Thar Coal project. A seven-member delegation of M/s. China Kingho Group, headed by Executive Vice President Ma Xiaomin, visited Board of Investment (BOI) to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan in coal sector and development of coal fields of Thar, Badin, says a statement issued here. Minister of State and BOI Chairman Saleem H.Mandviwalla stressed that in order to sustain economic growth, Pakistan needed to develop its indigenous energy resources rapidly. Proposed investment in development of Thar coal mines would provide benefits like strategic energy resource, import substitution of expensive raw furnace oil (RFO), lower power tariff for coal-fired power plants, and improve socio economic development in Thar region. It will also lead to skilled job creation and transfer of technology, he remarked. Director Mineral and Natural Sources, Azhar Khan told that Thar coal field in Sindh is spread over more than 9000 sq km and is bestowed with 175 billion tons of lignite coal, which can fuel power generation of over 100,000 MW for more than two centuries. EDG Board of Investment Humayun Khan Sikandari informed that Thar coal field has been declared SEZ, and the investor will enjoy Corporate Income Tax Holiday of 5 years and 10 years for Developers of the Zone. The head of delegation Kingho Group of China, told the BOI officials that through years of effort, has achieved a diversified but integrated development pattern which is composed of coal mining, washing and sorting, production, transportation and sales of coal, together with iron ore mining, chemical metallurgy, salt chemicals, building materials, logistics, and hotel and tourism businesses. China Kingho Group being the largest private group has manpower of 64,000 and possesses 22 billion tonnes of reservoirs of coal and 800 million tonnes of iron ore, he said.

Sri Lanka lose $125,000 on West Indies series

Sri Lankan cricket team captain Kumar Sangakkara (R) shakes hands with West Indies cricket team captain Darren Sammy (L) during a press conference in Colombo on January 28, 2011. West Indies returned to Sri Lanka to play a three match ODI series which was to be played in December but was rescheduled due to bad weather. -Photo by AFP COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Cricket on Saturday said it had lost $125,000 after bad weather forced a one-day series against the visiting West Indies to be rescheduled. The series was due to be played in December but has been postponed to this month and early February, and reduced from five matches to three. Sri Lanka Cricket Chief Executive Ajith Jayasekera said the board lost television fees of $25,000 for each of the original meetings. "The matches couldn’t be played and we didn’t get the fee for each match," Jayasekera told AFP. He added that the partner broadcaster Ten Sports would not show the current series as it was considered as a separate tour rather than part of the previous programme. The matches will still be shown by Sri Lanka’s national television station Rupavahini, but will not be broadcast to international audiences. They were to have been played at two of Sri Lanka’s World Cup venues but will now all be held at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. But Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara played down any significance to the switch ahead of the World Cup. "Our mental approach has to be regardless of getting experience on the wickets. There is a World Cup to be played, and played well. So our preparation is going to be the same," he said. "We are strong enough and we have the character to deal with whatever comes our way." Sri Lanka, the losing finalists of the 2007 edition, are in Pool A with defending champions Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Canada. The tournament starts in Dhaka on February 19.

Eight wounded in Quetta explosion

Security officials and people gather around the wreckage of a vehicle after bomb explosion in Quetta on January 29, 2011. — Photo by AFP QUETTA: Eight people, including three policemen, were injured Saturday when a bomb targeting a senior police official exploded on Quetta's Alamdar road, police said. The bomb, planted in a Suzuki car, exploded as a police vehicle carrying Shaban Ali passed through the heart of Quetta, the capital of oil and gas rich Balochistan province, senior police official Hamid Shakeel told AFP. Rescue teams rushed to the site of the blast and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals. Shakeel said nobody has so far claimed responsibility for the attack. Local security officials, who declined to be identified, also confirmed the incident. Moreover, security agencies cordoned off the area and started an investigation into the attack. Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran, has seen an upswing in violence recently, with the province suffering from a separatist insurgency, sectarian violence and Taliban militants. Hundreds of people have died since militants rose up in 2004 demanding political autonomy and a greater share of profits from the region’s natural oil, gas and mineral resources.