Afghan polling 'marked by fraud'

Election observers in Afghanistan have said there was widespread voting fraud and intimidation during the presidential election on Thursday.LINK...

Gaddafi seen meeting bomber on TV

Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi has defied strong criticism from the UK and the US by meeting Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on Libyan TV.LINK...

Pakistani Taliban quiz Mehsud kin over "spying"

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani Taliban have detained four relatives of their leader Baitullah Mehsud, believed to have been killed this month in a US missile strike, on suspicion of tipping off authorities about his ...LINK....

Iran's enduring turmoil It is far from over

THE incumbent president claims to have won a walloping 65% of the vote in the disputed presidential election of June 12th. He is still backed by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Islamic republic's powerful supreme leader, its security forces, its state-run ...

Drone strike on militant's family

Two missiles, suspected to have been fired by a US drone, have killed one of the wives of a leading Pakistani militant, relatives have told the BBC.

US strike kills two militants in Pakistan: officials

Jackson’s mom gets custody, seeks say in estate

Michael Jackson’s 79-year-old mother was awarded custody of the singer’s three children and given more time to spell out objections to having two music executives administer his multi-million dollar estate. Judge Mitchell Beckloff officially admitted the pop singer’s 2002 will into probate court and extended until October 2 the temporary control of the ‘Thriller’ singer’s estate granted to executors John Branca and John McClain. Jackson’s mother, Katherine, has asked for more say in guiding the matters of his estate, valued at more than $500 million in an attachment to his will, and Superior Court Judge Beckloff gave her until October 2 to come up with reasons why she should have greater input. Lawyers for concert promoters AEG, which was behind the planned comeback tour of the King of Pop before his death in June, also filed papers asking to be named a party to estate hearings and to be kept informed of business decisions. reuters

Esperanto is easy to learn, fans say

Fans of Esperanto, the artificial language devised in the late 19th century Poland by Ludwik Zamenhof, say it’s relatively fast and easy to learn, pronounce and use. Some 75 percent of Esperanto’s vocabulary comes from Latin and Romance languages, notably French, and around 20 percent from Germanic tongues like German and English. The remainder is drawn from the Slavic languages Russian and Polish, while most of its scientific terms come from Greek. And, to ease learning, the language is phonetic. Esperanto uses a modified Latin alphabet, every word is pronounced exactly as spelled, and there are no “silent” letters or exceptions. What makes Esperanto exceptionally easy, however, are its logical rules. afp

Farmer’s home-made helicopter

A Chinese farmer with only a basic school education has made his own helicopter out of wood. Wu Zhongyuan, 20, of Luoyang, in central China’s Henan province, took nearly three months to complete his home-made aircraft. He says he used his memories of middle school physics lessons to make the machine which he claims can fly up to a height of 800 metres. “I didn’t have a design,” he said. “The only source for me to get relevant knowledge was surfing the internet via my mobile phone.” The blades are made from an elm tree, the engine is from a motorcycle and the frame is reinforced with steel pipes, reports Dahe Daily. ananova

Nintendo DSi users get to share pictures on Facebook

Nintendo said that it is updating DSi software to allow users to upload pictures from the camera-equipped handheld videogame devices to hot social-networking website Facebook.The Facebook photo-sharing feature is to be live after 5:00 pm in California and usable with a free system update to be available online. “Facebook and Nintendo DSi build on the trend of personalisation that is so important to consumers,” Nintendo of America executive vice president of sales and marketing Cammie Dunaway said in a statement. “We’re giving people the tools to express themselves in creative new ways and show off the results to their friends and family on Facebook.” DSi users will be able to tap an on-screen icon to send photos from DSi camera albums to Facebook profile pages by means of wireless broadband Internet connections, according to Nintendo. The Japanese videogame titan has sold more than 1.7 million DSi devices in the United States since the third-generation of the game system was launched, in April according to figures from industry-tracker NPD Group. afp

Prostitutes ‘more trustworthy’ than officials in China

Prostitutes are considered more trustworthy in China than government officials and scientists, a recent survey of more than 3,000 respondents showed. The online survey of 3,376 Chinese showed that 7.9 percent of respondents considered sex workers trustworthy, putting them in third place after farmers and religious workers, the Insight China magazine said on its website.“A list like this is at the same time surprising and embarrassing,” the China Daily said in an editorial, commenting on the result of the survey, which was carried out in June and July.“The sex workers’ unexpected prominence on this list of honour... is indeed unusual.”The newspaper said the list showed scientists and teachers ranked “way below, and that government functionaries, too, scored hardly better.” Soldiers and students were ranked after sex workers on the list of trustworthy professions, the Insight China magazine said. a

Golden Phelps eyes road to London

ROME: Olympic great Michael Phelps found all the motivation he needed to launch out on the long road to the 2012 Games at the swimming World Championships.A defeat, and a dazzling victory over Milorad Cavic in the 100m butterfly will give Phelps plenty to focus on as he plots his next Olympic exploits. He became the first man to break the 50-second barrier with a time of 49.82, reaffirming his superiority over the Serb after beating him by just one-hundredth of a second at the Beijing Games. “The coolest thing is being able to have races like this, because it brings the best out of everyone,” Phelps said of the tension-filled rematch. “That’s what sport is about, you have to go to the next level when racing these kind of people.”Phelps also won gold in the 200m butterfly, finally posting a world record that lived up to his lofty expectations in the event. Three relay golds took his total to five to balance his defeat by German Paul Biederman in the 200m freestyle. “Michael’s back in the game, which is good for us,” said Phelps’s personal coach, Bob Bowman, who was also head coach of the US men’s team. “I know for Michael you can expect anything, so I’m never really surprised,” Bowman said. “He can always pull out something like the 100 fly when he really needs it.”In the wake of his glorious campaign in Beijing, where he earned a record eight gold medals to take his total to 14, Phelps took six months off. He’d barely gotten back in the water when he found himself tabloid fodder - a London paper publishing a picture of him holding a marijuana pipe at a party. A sprinkling of his sponsors tut-tutted, the USA Swimming federation slapped his wrist with a three-month ban, and the welter of negative publicity had Phelps saying he wasn’t sure he wanted to swim on through the London Games. Nor has all gone smoothly in the pool, as he tried, and finally rejected, a new freestyle stroke designed to help him become a player in the 100m free.Phelps’s personal uncertainties all played out against the backdrop of a costume controversy splitting the sport. The debate over the super-fast polyurethane swimsuits gained a new intensity when Biedermann seized Phelps’s 200m free world record while wearing one of the speedy models - which are headed to the scrapheap next year. Biedermann ended Phelps’s run of 10 straight individual victories in world and Olympic competition - a record stretching back to 2005 and including five individual golds at the 2007 World Championships and five in Beijing. His last major defeat had been at the hands of compatriot Ian Crocker in the 100m butterfly final at the 2005 worlds. “We’re going to go back and work on the 200 free, that’s a big motivator for him if he wants to race this kid,” Bowman said. And if Biedermann’s victory inspired any doubts about Phelps’s abilities, his scintillating victory over Cavic silenced them. “When I was contemplating coming back, I remember watching some of the videos. I thought about the excitement I have when watching a race and after a race and the emotions that were going through my head. I wanted to get back to that, and this meet has brought me back to that. I think it’s going to help me over the next few years,” he said.Bowman wasn’t surprised to see his swimmer rise to the occasion against Cavic, who had needled Phelps over the swimsuit issue, snatched the American’s recently achieved 100m fly world record in the semi-finals and told anyone who would listen that he still believed he had deserved gold in Beijing. “He loves the big races, loves the energy,” Bowman said. “He sort of thrives on that, while some other swimmers don’t.” And Bowman was delighted to see what he’ll have to work with as Phelps gets down to the serious build-up to London. “It’s very gratifying considering the year we’ve had and to know we’re at that level starting the next season,” Bowman said. Cavic said the American remained the toughest man in the pool. “Michael Phelps is Michael Phelps,” Cavic said. “He does what he does – and he did.” afp

Rugby players get 9-month ban for drug test refusal

LONDON: Bath rugby players Michael Lipman, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins each received a nine-month ban after being found guilty of misconduct by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in failing to submit to doping tests. The RFU ruled Monday that the players failed to “submit to drugs tests on two separate occasions when requested by Bath Rugby” after an end-of-season party on May 10. The RFU said the players’ good character ensured they were not suspended for 15 months. English rugby’s governing body said in a statement: “If the three players had taken the test, there is no reason to suppose the results would not have been negative and no further action would have been taken.” The trio can play again on February 28. They have 14 days to appeal. ap

Pakistan cannot take part in World Championship

LAHORE: Pakistan cannot take part in the World Badminton Championship due to its demotion in world rankings. The World Badminton Championship will be held in the Indian city of Hyderabad, Deccan from August 10 to 16. Pakistan Badminton Federation (PBF) senior vice-president Syed Naqi Mohsin told a TV channel that ranking of national players Rizwan Azam and Mohammad Ateeq in doubles was 62 while ranking of Wajid Ali in singles was 106

Qadir suspects match-fixers in Pakistan team

LAHORE: The ghost of match-fixing has come back to haunt Pakistan cricket, feels former chief selector Abdul Qadir, who suspects that some players might be involved in it considering the ‘strange’ manner in which the team lost the Test and one-day international series in Sri Lanka. Pakistan lost the Test series 0-2 and are trailing 0-3 in the five-match ODI series. Qadir, one of the greatest leg-spinners of his era, told media Tuesday that he suspected something fishy the way team had lost. “Look I don’t buy the fact that the very team that just five weeks ago won the Twenty20 World Cup are performing so badly that they are virtually losing every match in Sri Lanka. This has been one of our worst tours to Sri Lanka,” Qadir said. “After following this series I suspect some players could be involved in match-fixing and if a high level inquiry committee is formed everything will become crystal clear,” he added. He said cricket had not become so unpredictable that a team that won the World Cup would perform so poorly. “It is strange the way we are losing matches. When the bowling clicks the batsmen don’t perform. When the batsmen perform the bowlers don’t perform. Something is wrong somewhere,” Qadir said

Rain-damaged road poses threat to commuters

KARACHI: The recent rains have severely damaged the road from Teen Hatti to Jail Chowrangi, and despite the passage of many days since the heavy showers, no efforts have been made to repair it.The part of the road outside the juvenile jail is particularly in a very depleted state with potholes after every few yards.The potholes are creating problems for commuters, and residents fear that they may cause accidents leading to loss of precious lives.The damaged part of the road near the Osmania Mohajir Colony is especially quite dangerous because turning vehicles have to suddenly apply brakes that could easily result in a collision. It is pertinent to mention here that this road was inaugurated by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad in December last year. The city government had spent Rs 250 million on the construction of this road and Jamshed Road (from Gurumandir to Main gate Central Jail). “Minibuses move on this road at a very fast speed and those on motorcyclists have to make a sudden stop because of these potholes,” said a resident. “Due to this situation there could be serious trouble for motorcyclists.” Residents also say that the covers of manholes on these roads were above the road level that often puts vehicles, particularly motorbikes, in a lot of trouble. Besides, they say, the width of the greenbelt on this road was unnecessarily reduced, depriving the area of many trees. “There is never a traffic jam here, so there was no need to reduce the width of the greenbelt, but it was still shortened.”

Obama faces 30 death threats a day

LAHORE: The rate of threats against US President Barack Obama has increased 400 percent from the 3,000 a year or so under former president George W Bush, Washington Times quoted Ronald Kessler, author of ‘In the President’s Secret Service’, as saying.The report said some threats to Obama “have been publicised, including an alleged plot by white supremacists in Tennessee late last year to rob a gun store, shoot 88 black people, decapitate another 14 and then assassinate the first black president in American history”. However, most are kept secret because the secret service fears that revealing their details would “increase the number of copycat attempts”. Although most threats are not credible, each one has to be investigated meticulously, it said. The book revealed that the US president was being protected by an “increasingly over-stretched and under-resourced secret service”.

Blasphemy’ claims three more victims

LAHORE: A factory owner and two others were killed along Muridke-Sheikhupura Road when factory workers attacked them for allegedly desecrating the holy Quran, reported a private TV channel on Tuesday. One private TV channel said the owner and the other two were killed over the factory administration’s failure to pay workers, but another private channel reported the attack was prompted by an allegation that the factory owner – identified only as Najeebullah – had desecrated the holy Quran. A worker entered Najeebullah’s factory at around 2pm and saw that the owner had taken down an outdated calendar – which had verses from the holy Quran written on it – and put it on a table. The worker then misbehaved with the owner over – what he thought – was “desecration” of the holy Quran. When a guard tried to stop him, he ran out into the working area and started gathering his colleagues, claiming the owner had committed ‘blasphemy’. When an enraged mob subsequently surrounded Najeebullah, his guard tried to protect him by firing in the air, but the crowd started firing shots at the owner and his guard. The channel said a large number of workers also attacked the factory administration and beat up several employees. They also blocked the road leading to the factory for three hours and later set the unit on fire. Heavy police contingents rushed to the factory to bring the situation under control, but the angry mob seized their weapons. The killings on Tuesday come amid heightened tensions in another part of Punjab. Rioters in Gojra burnt alive at least seven Christians on Saturday over blasphemy allegations

Swat terrorists behind Gojra violence: Taseer

LAHORE: The terrorists who fled the operation in Swat were behind the recent violence against Christians in Gojra, Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer said on Tuesday. Visiting the violence-hit town’s Christian Colony, the governor said the tragic incident could have been contained by timely intervention by the government. Taseer said justice would be served and those responsible for the attacks would be punished in accordance with the law. He said an FIR had been registered against the accused, adding that those attempting to disturb the province’s peace would be dealt with an iron hand. “The culprits will not be spared and will be given exemplary punishment once the judicial inquiry concludes,” the governor said. staff report

SJC challenged in Supreme Court

LAHORE: The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) reviewing the PCO judges issue has been challenged in Lahore registry of Supreme Court.The petitioner Barrister Zafarullah in his plea said justice is not excepted because the judges who gave the verdict against PCO judges will also be a part of SJC.He asked how the judges who gave decision against PCO judges could make justice in SJC. SJC had already delivered its verdict against them.The petition state

SJC challenged in Supreme Court

LAHORE: The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) reviewing the PCO judges issue has been challenged in Lahore registry of Supreme Court.The petitioner Barrister Zafarullah in his plea said justice is not excepted because the judges who gave the verdict against PCO judges will also be a part of SJC.He asked how the judges who gave decision against PCO judges could make justice in SJC. SJC had already delivered its verdict against them.The petition state

Aston Villa stun Juventus to win Peace Cup

SEVILLE, Spain: Aston Villa overcame Italian giants Juventus to win the Peace Cup on penalties on Sunday after both sides had failed to score at the end of extra time.

The Italians, who beat Real Madrid 2-1 in Friday's semi-final, put Martin O'Neill's up-and-coming team under intense pressure in a fast-paced game, played in the southern Spanish city of Seville, in which both sides failed to convert a host of chances.

In the end, Carlos Cuellar scored for Villa while Nicola Legrottaglie missed the last spot-kick to give the English Premier League side a 4-3 win on penalties.

Villa keeper Brad Guzan stopped a lame shot from Italian legend Alessandro del Piero and also saved from Vincenzo Iaquinta while Steve Sidwell and Chris Herd failed to score their penalties for Villa.

The Premier League side were without England striker Emile Heskey who was suspended after picking up a red card in the 2-1 semi-final win over Porto.

Juve, who finished runners-up to Inter Milan in Serie A last season, started the game with veterans Del Piero and Fabio Cannava

Name plates of 6 PHC judges removed; 5 OSDs appointed

PESHAWAR: Name plates of 6 PCO judges of Peshawar High Court (PHC) have been removed from the court rooms while five judges have been appointed as OSDs.

The above development took place after the landmark verdict of the Supreme Court.

The six judges are: Shah Ji Rehman, Ghulam Mohiuddin Malik, Syed Musaddiq Hussain Gilani, Alam Khan, Yahya Zahid Gilani and Ziauddin Khattak.

Registrar PHC told Geo News that Chief Justice PHC Justice Tariq Pervez has appointed five judges as OSDs in PHC. These are: Shah Ji Rehman, Ghulam Mohiuddin Malik, Yahya Zahid Gilani, Ziauddin Khattak and Syed Mussadiq Hussain Gilani. Notification in this regard has been issued, he added.

JIK to take out anti-US rally on Aug 6

KARACHI: Jamat-e-Islami Karachi (JIK) on Monday announced staging out an anti-US rally on August 6 here, which will commence from Empress Market to Regal Chowke, Geo news said.

According to party statement issued through its city center Noor-e-Haq, the rally will be led by JIP’s vice Ameer professor Ghafoor Ahmed, in connection with the US brutality whereby it killed scores of innocent people on August 6,1945 by carrying out nuclear attacks on two Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Two cities still face adverse damages left by atomic reactive, statement said

Four killed over trivial row in Charsadda

CHARSADDA: Armed men have shot dead four family members while one sustained injuries over a meager family dispute here on Monday, Geo news reported.

According to police sources, the incident took place in Kheshgi locality meanwhile, the offenders managed to flee the shooting scene.

Police shifted the injured man and dead bodies to District Headquarter Hospital while the culprits are being searched out, sources added.

Gojra violence culprits will bring to justice: Shahbaz

GOJRA: Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif vowed that the culprits of violence against Christians will bring to justice as soon as possible.

During a visit to Gojra, Shahbaz said High Court judge will conduct the inquiry of the tragedy and culprits will bring to justice soon. He expressed grief over the loss of lives and ensured Christian community for providing safe and secure environment.

Chief minister said that the government will not rest till the complete rehabilitation of inter-communal riots’ victims of the city. He also visited the violence-hit areas.

Earlier, provincial law minister Rana Sanaullah and IG Punjab Tariq Saleem Dogar received Shahbaz Sharif on his arrival in Gojr