QUETTA: The Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Tuesday accepted the bail plea submitted by former federal interior minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao in the Nawab Akbar Bugti murder case, Aftab Sherpao had submitted the bail application on Monday and today the court granted him bail against a surety of one million rupees and adjourned the hearing to Sept 3.

The former minister appeared before a two-member bench comprising Justice Jamal Mandokhel and Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mengal who heard the Akbar Bugti murder case today.

During the proceedings, counsel for the former minister Professor Mohammad Umer Farooq argued that his client had no knowledge about Bugti’s murder infact he came to know about the operation through media reports.

At this point, Aftab Sherpao told the court that he was named in the FIR as he was the member in the federal cabinet.

Speaking to the media after hearing, Sherpao said he had no role in the military operation in Balochistan, adding that, whatever took place, happened at the behest of the provincial government.

He said that Bugti was a great leader, adding that the problems could not be solved by killing anyone.

The complainant in the case is Akbar Bugti’s elder son, Jamil Bugti, who named in the FIR then president General (r) Pervez Musharraf, then prime minister Shaukat Aziz, then Balochistan governor Owais Ghani, then interior minister Aftab Sherpao, then Balochistan chief minister Jam Yousuf and then provincial home minister Shoaib Nausherwani.

Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was killed during a military operation on Aug 26, 2006.

[Courtesy by geo news]

According to details, some unidentified persons opened fire and shot dead a man neamed Fazal Ameen in Aligarh Bazar in Orandi Town. In another incident of violence, gunmen shot dead Abdul Qayyum in Pakhtunabad while Zubair and Niaz were shot dead in firing at a shope in Qasba Colony.

 Police have also recovered two dead bodies from Sarjani Town and Gulistan Johar while some unidentified persons shot dead Noor Maalik in Frontier Colony.In yet another incident of violence, a police official and two passersby were wounded in firing at a bus near Qasba More.

(Courtesy by DUNYA NEWS) 

SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft on Thursday unveiled a new corporate logo for the first time in 25 years as the US tech giant geared up for a series of big product launches. It features a symbol made up of four separate colored squares -- reminiscent of the old Windows logo featuring wavy squares -- next to the name of the company. The previous logo was simply the italicized name.

"Today's new Microsoft logo is the first time the company has accompanied its logo with a symbol," a spokeswoman said.

The move comes with Microsoft ramping up the buzz for its Windows 8 operating platform and its first tablet computer, called Surface. The company is also making an aggressive effort to gain ground in the smartphone market.

"It's been 25 years since we've updated the Microsoft logo and now is the perfect time for a change," said Microsoft brand strategy manager Jeff Hansen.

"This is an incredibly exciting year for Microsoft as we prepare to release new versions of nearly all of our products. From Windows 8 to Windows Phone 8 to Xbox services to the next version of Office, you will see a common look and feel across these products providing a familiar and seamless experience on PCs, phones, tablets and TVs.

"This wave of new releases is not only a reimagining of our most popular products, but also represents a new era for Microsoft, so our logo should evolve to visually accentuate this new beginning."

The logo also includes the name Microsoft in the Segoe font that is used in products and marketing communications, along with the new squares.

"The symbol is important in a world of digital motion," Hansen said. "The symbol's squares of color are intended to express the company's diverse portfolio of products."

The new logo is being used starting Thursday on the Microsoft.com website and in three Microsoft retail stores today.

"It will sign off all of our television ads globally," Hansen said.

"And it will support our products across various forms of marketing.... We're excited about the new logo, but more importantly about this new era in which we're reimagining how our products can help people and businesses throughout the world realize their full potential."

Microsoft is set to release its Windows 8 next-generation operating system tailored for a world shifting from personal computers to smartphones and tablets on October 26.

Finnish telecom giant Nokia and Microsoft are expected to unveil a smartphone equipped with the Windows Phone 8 operating system on September 5. (AFP)

ISLAMABAD:Although the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz are major stakeholders at the centre, other political parties will be acquiring the lead role in provinces when the process to choose caretaker leaders starts later this month.

Leaders are planning to open formal negotiations aimed at selecting members of the interim governments both at the federal and the provincial level to administer the approaching polls.

The 20th Amendment passed by the parliament earlier this year enjoins dialogue between leaders in the national and provincial assemblies to select office-bearers for the interim set-up.

The prime minister is the leader of the house in the National Assembly, while chief ministers have this role in provinces.

At the centre, the PPP and the PML-N would assume the lead role with consultation between Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

Battlefield reversal

In Punjab, the battle of nerves persists between these two parties but their roles are switched: the PML-N is the government and the PPP stands as the opposition. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Opposition Leader Raja Riaz would be competing to choose provincial-level caretakers for the elections.

The curious situation wherein the same parties have varying roles in both the government and the opposition offers opportunities and challenges at the same time, said PML-N leader Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan.

“It means that the interests of various political groups in the entire spectrum are dependent on each other. That is why the failure is not a desirable option for everyone,” added Dastgir.

The same thing was expressed by a blunter Riaz: “If they (PML-N) create a problem for us in Islamabad (centre), we will not spare them in Lahore (Punjab).”

Provincial combatants

In Sindh the PPP and its ally Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) are in the government. The Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) of Pir Pagara will assume the role of opposition.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the negotiations would be between the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) of Maulana Fazlur Rehman which is the major opposition.

The situation in Balochistan is the most interesting: all but one member of the provincial assembly is in the government. Sardar Yar Muhammad Khan Rind, a dissident of Pakistan Muslim League-Q, is the only opposition lawmaker whose membership has been recently restored after some years of suspension. It is said he would join PML-N to become the one-man opposition in the province.

(Curtsy by tribune)

LAHORE:Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran has stated that the PU students will work as volunteer in Punjab government’s ongoing dengue awareness drive.

He was addressing a high-profile meeting of Punjab University’s Dengue Research Group (DRG), formed last year for scientific information about psychological effects, diagnose, preventive, curative measures etc regarding the disease at Al-Raazi Hall of Undergraduate Study Centre here on Thursday. Chief Social Mobilizer Mrs Shaista Pervaiz Malik, Head of Research & Development on Dengue Program Dr Waseem Akram, Acting Registrar Prof Dr Aurangzeb Alamgir, Chairperson Doctoral Programme Coordination Committee Prof Dr Shahida Husnain, Chairman Zoology Department Prof Dr Muhammad Akhtar, Chairman Dengue Research Group Prof Dr Saeed Akhtar, Director Centre for Applied Psychology Prof Dr Rkhsana Kausar, Director CEMB Prof Dr Tayyab Husain, Director School of Biological Sciences Dr Javed Iqbal, Chief Medical Officer Dr Nauman Ahmed, Prof Dr Muhammad Idrees,  Dr Khalid Saeed from UVAS, Dr Muhammad Aslam from UHS, CEO NUR Foundation and Member Board of Management Fatma Memorial Hospital Dr Haroon Ihsan, Advisor Students Affairs Prof Dr Muhammad Rafique and a large number of researchers were present on the occasion. The VC said that PU’s DRG was working on various aspects of dengue fever and its findings would help the government curb the disease and save mankind.

Chairman Dengue Research Group Prof Dr Saeed Akhtar gave a detailed presentation on Surveillance and Summary of Dengue Situation in Lahore. He also presented data analysis of various towns of Lahore and said that desert coolers were the largest container of larvaes and 66 percent of larvaes were detected from the desert coolers. He said that from Nov 2011 to August 2012, no larvae had been found in some ponds being watched for research purpose outside Zoology Department.

Dr Muhammad Idrees said that Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology had tested 4000 samples and free of cost diagnosis for DENV and its Sero-typing had been provided in all the cases in Punjab and samples from Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had also been tested. He said that the outbreak of dengue fever was not expected in KPK the current year as according to the test of samples sent by KPK government, the ratio of infested larvaes was 1.2 percent while for outbreak, the ratio required to be more than 20 percent. He said that 15 suspected cases were received the current year out of which 5 cases, four from Lahore and one from Rahim Yar Khan, were found positive and three were containing DHF-3 and two DF-2.

He said that the scale of the dengue outbreak could be measured if samples of larvaes were provided to the research team. He said that the group had cloned and sequenced five genes of Serotype 2, performed Phylogenetic analysis, studied partial sequences from DF and DHF patient and predicted the chances of DENV outbreak for KPK government by detecting virus in mosquitoes. Dr Aslam said that 27 percent of dengue patients were found female while the rest were male. He said Aedes Aegypti used to bite humans outdoors in the daylight and the peak hour of biting was around Asar prayer. He added that the mosquito did not stay indoors. Prof Dr Rukhsana Kausar said that under her supervision, CAP had done research on “Level Of Information And Precaustionar Practices Among Dengue Survivors And Non-Affected Individuals: A Case Control Study”, “Acute Stress, Disorder, Symptoms Severity And Satisfaction With Treatment In Dengue Fever Patients In Relation To Empathy And Altruism In Paramedic Staff”, “Psychological Impact Of Dissemination Of Dengue Related Information Through Media On Patients And General Population”, “Symptom Severity, Self-Efficacy And Psycho-Education For Dengue Fever Patients: A Case Control Study”, “Level Of Awareness And Precautionary Practices Regarding Dengue Fever Among Nomads” And “Psychological Distress And Quality Of Life Of Survivors Of Dengue Fever”.

She said that the results of the researches were eye-opener and very meaningful which could help in various areas. Dr Waseem Akram said that monsoon season had started late the current year so the time of the outbreak of dengue fever would be different. He said that we must maintain strict vigilance of breading places of the mosquito to avoid dengue outbreak at a large scale. A researcher said that there were positive results of research on Bio-control of dengue fever. Another researcher indicated that people must be made aware of implications of self-medication. Dr Haroon Ihsan also apprised the meeting of research being conducted by Fatma Memorial Hospital and pointed out various facts helpful for dengue control.

Concluding the meeting, Chief Social Mobilizer Mrs Shaista Pervaiz Malik said that we could solve any issues when we sit together. She said that only technical solution could not resolve the problem and we should move the society to curb dengue fever. She said that lack of education, religious beliefs etc were also a big challenge to control the disease. She said that some elements were uselessly politicizing Punjab government’s true efforts by hurling purposeless questions on Punjab government’s unprecedented efforts to curb dengue fever. She said that we were registering volunteers and would utilize their abilities in their respective areas to create awareness regarding dengue fever among people. She lauded Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran’s efforts in saving lives of people and supporting research activities in this area

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and MQM Chief Altaf Hussain made a telephonic contact on Wednesday night.
Both the leaders exchanged views on prevailing political situation in the country besides Pakistan News national and international issues and matters of mutual interest.

MQM Chief greeted the President for Independence Day and Umrah.

The President hailed Altaf Hussain’s role for democracy in the country.

(Courtesy by GEO NEWS)

AAZAZ: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation suspended Syria, saying the Muslim world "can no longer accept a regime that massacres its people", as 31 people were reported killed in an air strike.

Regime forces were also bombarding the key battleground city of Aleppo in the north, activists said,Pakistan Breaking News while Damascus was shaken by a bomb attack targeting a military headquarters and a firefight near the prime minister's office.

As the world's main Muslim grouping the 57-member OIC wound up a summit in the Saudi holy city of Mecca early Thursday, UN investigators said the Syrian regime had committed crimes against humanity, including the Houla massacre in May.

A statement issued at the end of the emergency OIC summit said participants had agreed on "the need to end immediately the acts of violence in Syria and to suspend that country from the OIC".

The final statement said there had been Pakistan Breaking News "deep concern at the massacres and inhuman acts suffered by the Syrian people".

OIC chief Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu told a news conference the decision sent "a strong message from the Muslim world to the Syrian regime".

"This world can no longer accept a regime that massacres its people using planes, tanks and heavy artillery," he added.

The move was welcomed by the United States as sending a "strong message" to President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

"Today's action underscores the Assad regime's increasing international isolation and the widespread support for the Syrian people and their struggle for a democratic state that represents their aspirations and respects their human rights," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

A report by the UN Commission of Inquiry said government forces and their militia allies committed crimes against humanity including murder and torture, while the rebels had also carried out war crimes, but on a lesser scale.

Pakistan Breaking News "The commission found reasonable grounds to believe that government forces and the shabiha had committed the crimes against humanity of murder and of torture, war crimes and gross violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law," the UN report said.

It said they were responsible for the massacre in the central city of Houla in May when 108 civilians, including 49 children, were killed in a grisly attack that Assad himself had said was the work of "monsters".

Rebel fighters were however not spared in the probe, which found them guilty of war crimes, including murder, extrajudicial execution and torture.

In the north of Syria, activists and residents reported another atrocity by the regime, with at least 31 people including children killed in an air strike in Aazaz, a rebel bastion near the second city Aleppo.

(Courtesy by GEO NEWS )

A training fighter jet of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) crashed in Hyderabad Thal area of Bhakkar while the pilot managed to eject safely Wednesday. According to sources, pilot Farooq was flying the training jet Meraj when it caught fire. Fortunately he managed to eject safely after the jet caught fire and landed safely while the aircraft crashed in a suburban area of Bhakkar.

Police has cordoned off the crash site.

(Courtesy by GEO NEWS )

PESHAWAR: Four bodies were found in a gunny sack from Sarband area of Peshawar Wednesday. According to police, two bodies bearing torture marks were found from Sarband who were shot dead by unknown men after being kidnapped.

The victims were identified as Muazuddin and Arif Shah, who belonged to Budh Bair and Hangu respectively.

The bodies were shifted to morgue for medico-legal formalities while police has started the investigation.

It is pertinent to mention that a total of nine bodies have so far been found from gunny sacks in Peshawar in the current month.

(Courtesy by GEO NEWS )

The London 2012 Olympics have ended with a spectacular musical closing ceremony and the official handover to the next host city, Rio de Janeiro. The three-hour show featured some of the biggest names of British pop from decades past, including the Spice Girls, George Michael and Elbow.

Games chief Lord Coe said: "When our time came - Britain, we did it right."

The official Games flag was handed to the mayor of Rio before the flame at the Olympic Stadium was extinguished.

President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, who declared the Games of the 30th Olympiad closed just before midnight, said: "We will never forget the smiles, the kindness and the support of the wonderful volunteers, the much-needed heroes of these Games.

"You, the spectators and the public, provided the soundtrack for these Games.

"Your enthusiastic cheers energised its competitors and brought a festive spirit to every Olympic venue."
Best of British

At the close of the ceremony, watched in the stadium by the 10,000 athletes and 80,000 spectators, the flame was extinguished in dramatic fashion. Each nation will receive one of the cauldron's 204 petals.
As fireworks went off above the east London stadium, the Who performed My Generation and the venue became a sea of red, white and blue confetti.

The finale, which began with Big Ben chiming, paid tribute to UK music, fashion and culture.
Prince Harry represented the Queen at the ceremony, which took place on top of a stage in the shape of a union jack and saw a volunteer cast of 3,500.

The show saw the Spice Girls re-form to sing Spice Up Your Life from the top of five London taxis, and a surprise performance from Take That, who sang their hit Rule the World. It had been thought they would not appear because Gary Barlow was mourning the loss of his daughter who was delivered stillborn last Saturday.

Artistic Director Kim Gavin also brought together household names, including George Michael, Jessie J, Emeli Sande, Madness, the Pet Shop Boys, One Direction, Ray Davies and Liam Gallagher, as the best of British music went on show to the world.

During the ceremonial part of the show, the Olympic flag was waved aloft by London Mayor Boris Johnson and passed by Mr Rogge into the hands of the Mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes.

The Brazilian national anthem rang out and the stadium was transformed into the green and yellow colours of Brazil's flag. 
Lit up the world'

London 2012 chairman Lord Coe told the audience: "Today sees the closing of a wonderful Games in a wonderful city.
"We lit the flame and lit up the world."

The official handover also saw a celebration of Rio's mix of cultures, music and dance, bringing a carnival atmosphere to the proceedings.

Earlier, there was a riot of colour as the athletes entered the stadium, with four-time Olympic gold medallist sailor Ben Ainslie carrying the British flag and leading out Team GB.

The smiling athletes filled each section of the floor of the stadium, to the sound of Elbow playing their atmospheric hit, One Day Like This.
As is traditional during the closing ceremony, the final medals of the 2012 Olympics were handed out. On this occasion they went to the athletes in the men's marathon, which was won by Uganda's Stephen Kiprotich.

The 70,000 Games Maker volunteers were also thanked for their hard work during the 16 days of competition.

Home-grown fashion was celebrated with appearances from models Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, both wearing the creations of the late Alexander McQueen, while British eccentricity also featured, with comedian Russell Brand singing the Beatles' I am the Walrus from the top of a psychedelic bus.
Comedian Eric Idle drew much laughter when he performed a typically quirky version of Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, and Muse rocked the stadium with the official anthem of the Games, Survival.

The Games ended with the US topping the final medal table with 46 golds, followed by China with 38 golds. GB came third with 29 golds - their best tally since 1908.

The Queen earlier said Team GB's "outstanding" performance had "inspired" the country.

The last day saw a final - and 29th gold - for Team GB, with boxer Anthony Joshua winning his super-heavyweight bout.
In all, 44 world records have been set during London 2012, and 117 Olympic records broken.

Among those to have set new world bests included Kenyan David Rudisha in the men's 800m and the Jamaican sprint relay team, which included 100m and 200m gold medallist Usain Bolt.
US swimmer Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian in history while cyclist Sir Chris Hoy's two gold medals meant he became the most successful British Olympian of all time.

Earlier, US President Barack Obama telephoned Prime Minister David Cameron to offer his congratulations for a "brilliant" London Olympics, Downing Street said.

On Sunday, crowds also packed London's Hyde Park to watch the sporting action on big screens and enjoy a farewell concert headlined by Blur.

The Paralympics is set to start on 29 August, with the revamped 560-acre (227-hectare) Olympic Park site - to be known as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - then set to reopen from the first anniversary of the opening of the Games, on 27 July 2013. 

LAHORE: One out of twin babies disappeared mysteriously from the Jinnah Hospital in Lahore. According to sources, the father of the twin babies has alleged that the hospital staff is involved in his child’s disappearance while the family of the disappeared infant protested the incident.

MS Jinnah Hospital Dr Mohammad Afzal told that three attendants were present with the twins in the gynae ward while they were handed over to the parents from the labour room.

Dr Afzal told that investigation into the incident has been ordered while the security guard of the gynae ward has also been suspended.

The case against unknown accused has been registered in the name of the infant’s father.

(Courtesy by GEO NEWS)

LAHORE: Encounters have gone rampant in Lahore these days and in a latest one police on late Saturday night killed an alleged robber, while two of his sidekicks managed to flee. According to police, they received reports that an armed robbing trio, driving a stolen car, was on the run after sweeping a house clean in Liton Road area. A police party went after them and got them before they could run away to safety, they added.

Finding cops on their tail the panicked robbers started shooting at the them, which forced the lawmen to fire back causing the death of one of the alleged dacoits.

Leaving their dead comrade-in-crimes behind the other two crooks called it a fight and took flight.

The identity of the killed robber has not been ascertained yet.

Investigation has been launched.

(Courtesy by GEO NEWS)

LAHORE: Punjab University has announced the annual examinations-2012 results Saturday here. Sania Riaz of a private college obtaining 686 numbers topped the list in B.Sc., while Queen Mary College’s Sandas Shahzadi securing 658 numbers stands second and Gojranawala private college’s Sanila with 655 numbers placed in third position, according to the results.

In B.A., Hafizabad’s Mohammad Mohsin obtaining 688 numbers stood first, Shahidra’s Kanwal Latif securing 668 numbers placed second, while Hafizabad’s Muqaddas Shahnaz and Gojranawala’s Maria An’am obtaining 661 numbers shared the third position.

1,43,750 candidates appeared in the B. A. and B.Sc. annual exams. B.A. success percentage works out to 53.58 and B.Sc. 61.04.

Candidates obtaining first three positions in B.A. belong to private institutions.

(Courtesy by GEO NEWS)

 QUETTA: Doctors in government and private hospitals of Quetta continued observing their strike Saturday for the 11th consecutive day.

The strike was called by the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), Balochistan chapter and other organizations against the kidnapping of a fellow senior doctor of Bolan Medical Complex (BMC), Ghulam Rasool.

Unknown armed men had abducted psychiatrist Dr Ghulam Rasool of BMC hospital from Brewery Road on Wednesday August 1, two days after a kidnapped senior surgeon of the same college Dr Din Mohammad Bangulzai had been released.

Dr Rasool was on his way home after performing his duty at BMC when armed men intercepted and kidnapped him.

The paramedical staff along with doctors boycotting their duties, while patients, especially from far-flung areas are facing severe difficulties after the doctors stopped performing their duties in out patient departments (OPDs).

However, doctors and paramedics were present at casualty and emergency wards to attend to patients

The Balochistan government has formed a committee for the recovery of Dr Ghulam Rasool, however, no advancement has been made so far.

Balochistan doctors have vowed continuing their strike until the return of Dr. Ghulam Rasool.

(Courtesy by GEO NEWS)

Adil Rashid took career-best figures in List A cricket as Yorkshire Carnegie kept their slim semi-final hopes in the Clydesdale Bank 40 alive with a 69-run victory over the Northamptonshire Steelbacks.
Former Australia batsman Phil Jaques blasted 87 off just 83 balls against his old club as Yorkshire posted 262 for eight from their 40 overs, with Lee Daggett taking four wickets for 54 runs for the hosts.

The Steelbacks never looked like reaching their target as they collapsed to 193 all out with all-rounder Rashid taking four for 38 and David Sales top-scoring with 55 off 58 deliveries.

Northamptonshire won the toss and chose to field and they removed Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale for 16 in the eighth over when he slashed Luke Evans to Rob Newton at backward point. But Jaques raced to 50 off just 44 balls before James Jaques forced Adam Lyth to edge to Steelbacks wicketkeeper David Murphy to depart for 29.

Jaques eventually holed out when he smashed Evans, who was playing in his first match of the season, to Olly Stone at deep square leg. David Miller hurried to 44 off 50 deliveries, but he dragged Daggett on to his stumps before the same bowler's delivery clattered into Rashid's off stump to dismiss him for 25.

Daggett struck twice more in the 38th over when Gary Ballance (15) launched him to Niall O'Brien at deep square leg and Azeem Rafiq (one) chipped to Alex Wakely at mid-off five balls later.

Yorkshire wicketkeeper Gerard Brophy (19) was then stumped by Murphy after missing Steelbacks captain Andrew Hall's delivery in the final over.

Chasing 263, the hosts began steadily before Rob Newton fell cheaply for 30 in the 11th over when he was taken at mid-off by Ballance off the bowling of Rashid. He struck again when Wakely was stumped by Brophy for eight before Ireland international O'Brien smashed his full toss to Gale, who took a superb diving catch at mid-on, after he had plundered 38.

He continued to torment the Northamptonshire batsmen and trapped Rob Keogh lbw for 14 in his final over - but Sales hung around to complete his half-century off 52 balls. However, his effort ended when he was run out by Miller from deep midwicket before Murphy departed for six in the same manner by the same fielder, this time from mid-off, three overs later.

Ashraf bowled Middlebrook for two before Hall (28) launched Steven Patterson to Miller at long-on and Iain Wardlaw bowled Daggett and Evans for ducks in the final over to complete a sorry procession.

The USA beat Japan 2-1 at Wembley to avenge their 2011 World Cup final defeat and claim their fourth Olympic gold in women's football

Carli Lloyd scored both goals for the US, an early header and a powerful strike after the break.

Yuki Ogimi scored to reduce the deficit for Japan, who hit the opposition woodwork twice and their own once.

Japan had a chance to equalise late in the game but Hope Solo made an excellent save to deny Mana Iwabuchi.

It was enough for the USA to add to previous Olympic victories in 1996, 2004 and 2008.
 Despite being outclassed for large periods of the game, they showed a resilience and determination that their coach Pia Sundhage described earlier this week as "unique".

The match was played in front of 80,203, a record crowd for a women's Olympic football fixture.

And the near full house at Wembley was served up a treat as two teams of contrasting styles produced a relatively open final brimming with passion and skill.
 Perhaps the pain of last year's World Cup defeat in Germany was still on the minds of the US players as they bossed the opening seven minutes before Lloyd's header - taken off the boot of Abby Wambach as the striker attempted to volley Alex Morgan's cross - gave them the lead.

Coach Sundhage leapt joyously into the air but she soon came back to earth as Japan, diminutive maybe but swift in mind and fleet of foot, soon took control.

Their crisp and accurate passing soon started to slice open the US defence. Solo saved from Nahomi Kawasumi before athletically tipping a header from Ogimi onto the crossbar.

The American keeper was then fortunate to see a shot from Aya Miyama hit the woodwork and rebound safely away from her goal.

Shinobu Ohno then went very close with a curling effort from 18 yards as Solo's goal started to lead a charmed life.
 But they refused to give up or compromise on their passing principles and they were rewarded when Ogimi tapped home moments after skipper Christie Rampone had made a goal-line clearance.

Amy Le Peilbet also cleared off the line as Japan continued to press forward and Solo was called into action to deny substitute Iwabuchi with eight minutes of normal time remaining.

USA coach Pia Sundhage paid tribute to Japan after the final, claiming: "We started the game in a good way and got a goal but after that we were way too conservative in the way we defended and attacked.

"A lot of credit must go to Japan, the way they played, kept possession and their good technique forced us to change our game plan.

"I think that many of us coaches should watch Japan and learn from the way they keep possession and look dangerous."

But she felt the US team would continue to improve as they build towards the next World Cup in 2015.

"There are some many other good teams right now, and it has not always been like that," said the Swede.

"I can imagine four years from now it will be entertaining and exciting and the technique of the players will make magic stuff happen.

"But by the 2015 World Cup I think that we might be unstoppable. There are so many young players coming through."

Japan coach Norio Sasaki also thinks the standard of the women's game is improving.

"I believe the game is changing and developing," he said. "It is not only about skill and the physical side but also about defence and organisation." 

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Khalid Shameem Wynne called on President Asif Ali Zardari and and discussed regional and national security issues with him.

According to sources, the meeting lasted for quite a while in which both the heads discussed matters relating to professional aspects of Armed Forces, operational readiness and other relevant issues in length.

 Sources said General Wynne briefed the president over Pak-Afghan border situation, deployment of military troops in tribal areas and dimensions of Pakistan’s cooperation with the ISAF and Afghan forces at the border

President told Joint Chief of Staff Committee General Khalid Shamim Wynne that despite limited resources, Armed Forces of Pakistan will be provided maximum facilities.


He said undoubtedly the sacrifices of Armed Forces are invulnerable and its role in countering menace of terrorism and extremism is highly laudable in this regard.

(Courtesy by DUNYA NEWS)

LAHORE: Hindu pilgrims who were earlier stopped at the Wagah Border from entering India staged a protest following which they were granted permission to enter the country.

Hindu pilgrims had been stopped at the Wagah Border by Rangers due to issues with their immigration documents. Rangers officials earlier said the pilgrims would be allowed to enter India when their No Objection Certificates (NOCs) were received.

Two families who had NOCs were allowed to travel to India earlier via the Wagah Border.

On Thursday, Interior Minister Rehman Malik termed the migration of families belonging to Hindu community from Jacobabad as a conspiracy against Pakistan.

The minister, while replying to a question about the migration of 60 Hindu families to India, said the government had been determined to provide complete security to the minorities.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Thursday took notice of the purported migration of Hindu families from Jacobabad to India on account of the perceived law and order situation.

The chief minister directed the Minister for Excise, Mukesh Kumar Chawla, to visit Jacobabad and inquire into the matter and submit a report within three days.

A section of the media reported on Wednesday that around 60 Hindu families had migrated to India due to insecurity.

The report said that migration of Hindu families mostly in Jacobabad and Ghotki districts had started around six to eight months ago on account of the fear triggered by the poor law and order situation in addition to alleged forced conversions.

(Courtesy by GEO NEWS)

ISLAMABAD: The government has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against the judgement striking down the Contempt of Court Act, 2012. A decision to file the review petition was made after President Asif Ali Zardari met with coalition partners and Law Minister Farooq Naek last Sunday.

On August 3, the Supreme Court had declared the Contempt of Court Act 2012, unconstitutional and null and void.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a show cause notice for contempt of court to Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf for failing to implement its directives of writing a letter to Swiss authorities to open graft cases. Prime Minister Ashraf has been directed to appear before the Supreme Court when the hearing of the NRO implementation case will resume on August 27.

A five-judge special bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, was hearing the case.

During the hearing, Attorney General Irfan Qadir read out the apex court’s directive of July 25. Qadir said the government was taking serious steps to resolve the issue, adding that, more time was required to arrive at a settlement.

The attorney general requested the bench to take up the matter after Eidul Fitr and asked if the case could be adjourned until the first week of September.

Upon which, Justice Ejaz said that enough time had been given to the government in order to formulate a response in this regard.

The attorney general said that given the government’s ongoing efforts, the gulf between the two state institutions would cease to exist.

Addressing the attorney general, Justice Khosa said that the bench could not move an inch away from its decision. He moreover asked the attorney general as to why the government had failed to arrive at a decision in spite of being given enough time to do so.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Pakistan People’s Party had decided it would not write a letter to Swiss authorities for reopening cases against President Asif Zardari and would ‘resist’ actions by the Supreme Court within bounds of the Constitution.

During the previous hearing of the NRO implementation case, the Supreme Court had suggested to the government to find a way out of the impasse between the executive and the judiciary.

During the July 25 hearing of the case, the bench repeatedly asked the government through the attorney general to use wisdom and find a solution to vindicate the positions of the two institutions perceived to be at logger heads, also implying that it was not in a mood to send another prime minister home and conceding that President Zardari enjoyed immunity from prosecution in criminal cases.

Earlier on June 27, the bench had given the new prime minister two weeks to indicate whether he would ask Swiss authorities to reopen a corruption case against President Zardari.

The court had on June 19 dismissed Yousuf Raza Gilani as prime minister after convicting him of contempt in April for refusing to reopen the multi-million-dollar case against the president.

Raja Pervez Ashraf was later elected as the new prime minister.

The allegations against President Zardari date back to the 1990s, when he and his late wife, former premier Benazir Bhutto were suspected of using Swiss bank accounts to launder $12 million allegedly paid in bribes by companies seeking customs inspection contracts.

The Swiss shelved the case in 2008 when Zardari became president and the government had been insisting that the president has full immunity.

But in 2009 the Supreme Court overturned the NRO, a political amnesty that had frozen investigations into the president and other politicians, ordering that the cases be reopened.

(Courtesy by GEO NEWS)

ISLAMABAD: Mainly hot and humid weather is expected in most parts of Punjab and Islamabad with chances of rain/thundershower at isolated places of Multan division during next 24 hours. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), seasonal low lies over northwest Balochistan with its trough extending southeast wards according to the synoptic situation.

Weak monsoon currents are still penetrating into upper and central parts of the country.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, mainly hot and humid weather is expected in most parts, however, rain/thundershower is likely at isolated places of D I Khan division during next 24 hours.

Mainly hot and humid weather is also expected in most parts of Sindh and Balochistan during next 24 hours, however, rain/thundershower is likely at isolated places of Zhob, Kalat and Sibbi divisions during next 24 hours.

Mostly partly cloudy weather is expected with chances of rain/thundershower at isolated places of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan during next 24 hours.

The rainfall recorded during last 24 hours was: Sibbi 57 mm, Kakul 23 mm, Gupis 19 mm, Bahawalnagar 18 mm, Bunji and Malamjabba 5 mm, Hunza, Gilgit, Sialkot and Mohenjodaro 3 mm each.

US President Barack Obama has said "soul searching" is needed on how to reduce violence following a second mass shooting event in the US in a month. Wade Michael Page, 40, killed six and injured three at a Sikh temple in near Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Sunday.

He was shot dead by police in the temple's car park during the attack.

Officials say they are investigating reports that Page had white supremacist links, and the FBI is treating the attack as possible domestic terrorism.

The temple attack follows a shooting in Aurora, Colorado at a midnight screening of the new Batman film on 20 July. Twelve people were killed and 58 were injured in the attack.

"All of us recognise that these kinds of terrible, tragic events are happening with too much regularity for us not to do some soul searching to examine additional ways that we can reduce violence, " Mr Obama said during an unrelated bill signing on Monday.

Mr Obama has pledged to work with members of both political parties and civic organisations to reach a consensus on the matter, but has not given details.

Debate on gun control issues has featured very little during the US presidential campaign, which has mainly focused on the economy, correspondents say.

Sikhs living in the United States have expressed their shock and fear after a shooting at a temple in Wisconsin on Sunday which left seven people dead. Some community members could not believe what happened. Others said they had feared such attacks since 9/11.

A gunman entered the Sikh temple on Sunday morning and opened fire, killing six people and injuring a policeman.

A vigil for the victims was held in nearby Milwaukee as police searched the suspect's home.

FBI and bomb squad officers have surrounded the property of the alleged gunman in Cudahy, about 2.5 miles (4km) north of the Wisconsin Sikh Temple and evacuated local residents.

In total seven people died in the attack in Oak Creek, a suburb of Milwaukee, including the gunman. A police officer and two other men were critically injured.
Muslim confusion

Officials have not yet identified the gunman or a possible motive, but Sikh organisations in the US say the community has been vulnerable since the 9/11 attacks.
Continue reading the main story    
Sikhism at a glance

    Sikhism is a monotheistic faith founded more than 500 years ago in South Asia
    Observant Sikhs do not cut their hair; male followers often wear turbans and do not shave their beards
    The faith has about 27 million followers worldwide. There are up to 500,000 Sikhs in the US, where they have sometimes been confused with Muslims
    In Sept 2001, an Arizona gas station owner, Balbir Singh Sodhi, was shot dead by a man said to be seeking revenge on Muslims for 9/11

"This is something we have been fearing since 9/11, that this kind of incident will take place," said Rajwant Singh, chairman of the Washington-based Sikh Council on Religion and Education.

"It was a matter of time because there's so much ignorance and people confuse us [as] being members of Taliban or belonging to [Osama] bin Laden," he told Associated Press.

"We never thought this could happen to our community," Devendar Nagra told Associated Press, "we never did anything wrong to anyone."

Sikhism hails from the Indian subcontinent and observant Sikhs wear turbans. Members of the community have been attacked in the past by assailants mistaking them for Muslims.

"That turban has tragically marked us as automatically suspect, perpetually foreign and potentially terrorists," Valarie Kaur, a filmmaker based in the US who has chronicled attacks on Sikhs, told the news agency.

Several hundred people turned up to an impromptu candlelit vigil in Milwaukee on Sunday evening for the victims of the shooting.

There are an estimated 2,500 - 3,000 Sikh families in and around the city worshipping at two gurdwaras and temples, including the Wisconsin Sikh Temple.
A man wipes away tears outside the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, where a shooting took place on 5 August 2012 Distraught family members are still waiting for news in Oak Creek

Lakhwinder Singh, a member of the congregation there, told Reuters that two of the victims were believed to be the president of temple and a priest.

"It will take a long time to heal. We're hurt very badly," he said.
'Terrorist-type incident'

President Barack Obama spoke of his sadness at the shooting, which comes just over two weeks after a gun massacre left 12 people dead at a Colorado cinema.

"As we mourn this loss which took place at a house of worship, we are reminded how much our country has been enriched by Sikhs, who are a part of our broader American family."

Local politician Mark Honadel called the attack "craziness".

The state representative told CNN: "Unfortunately, when this type of stuff hits your area, you say to yourself, 'why?' But in today's society, I don't think there's any place that's free from idiots."

Police have described it as a "domestic terrorist-type incident". The FBI are taking over the criminal investigation.