Monday, December 5, 2011

The Express Tribune Newsletter: December 06, 2011

 

Today's Headlines

December 06, 2011

 

Afghan endgame: Islamabad missed, but no surprises at Bonn
Our Correspondents

With key players missing, an international conference on Afghanistan's future in the German city of Bonn wasn't expected to produce much. And the event lived up to its billing.
_______________________________________________

National/City

Key US senators urge review of Pakistan funding
AFP
The United States must "fully review" its ties with Pakistan and consider cuts or new restrictions to military and economic aid, Republican senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham urged Monday.

Review on the cards: Pakistan summons envoys from world capitals
Kamran Yousaf
Pakistan appears to be shaping for a paradigm shift in its foreign policy, with a flurry of directives making their way from Islamabad to its missions in world capitals. The move comes in the wake of the Nato airstrikes on Pakistan forward posts along the Afghan border on November 26.

PM Gilani interview: Business as usual?
APP
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Monday that Pakistan seeks good relations with the US, based on mutual respect and clearly defined parameters, which, he added, "won't take long".

'Ijaz offered to mediate between Delhi, jihadis'
Our Correspondents
A leading Indian newspaper claimed on Monday that US businessman Mansoor Ijaz had offered to broker a peace deal between New Delhi and jihadists linked to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan..

Vacant seat in NA: PPP yet to find Sherry's replacement
Irfan Ghauri
The Pakistan Peoples Party is reportedly in a fix over who to nominate as a replacement of Sherry Rehman in the lower house of parliament.
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Business

Explaining the spin-off: AkzoNobel gearing up to supply Middle East paint market from Pakistan
Farooq Baloch
Far from winding up its business in Pakistan, AkzoNobel – the world's largest paint company – is planning to invest heavily in expanding its production facilities in Pakistan,The Express Tribune has learnt.

Local per acre citrus yield half of India's output
Shamsul Islam
The country's citrus production per acre stands at approximately 4.6 tons, almost half of India's 9 tons per acre, according to the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF).
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Sports

Women's cricket: Breaking new grounds
Shahzada Usman
Pakistan's recent success in Bangladesh, where it qualified for next year's World Twenty20 as well as the 2013 World Cup, not only brought them an added bout of laurels but also recognition, admiration, support and a maiden One-Day International (ODI) century.

Aiming for glory, a letter at a time
Our Correspondents
Pakistan's eight-person squad begin their World Youth Scrabble Championship 2011 campaign in Malaysia today with national junior champion Shahzaib Khatri termed the country's main hope in the three-day event.
_______________________________________________ 

Life & Style

Tribune Take: Veena Malik scandal, a publicity stunt?
Mahawish Rezvi
In today's episode of the Tribune Take we look at the ongoing fallout of the Veena Malik nude photo shoot scandal.

Nohas: Sales to dust
Rafay Mehmood
If Eid is the season for cinema owners to recover all losses, Muharram is the golden month for music shop owners to sell nohas. This year, however, the response to nohas was disappointing as the demand and eventually sale of these religious tunes declined significantly due to a number of reasons. On the seventh of Muharram, the dearth of customers at Rainbow Centre was a rare scene; no nohas were being played loudly and only a trickle of customers could be spotted in the shops.
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Opinion

Bonn minus Pakistan
Britta Petersen

Deconstructing the SC order on the memo
Asad Jamal

Endgame dangers
Dr Akmal Hussain

Telling Pakistanis the truth
Ayesha Ijaz Khan

In memory of Pakistan Railways
Yaqoob Khan Bangash

Blogs

I love ET blogs. Here's why…
Faraz Talat

Why Ashura is a 'Holy-Day' for all of us and not just you
Mahjabeen khan

Bella and Edward are not role models
Saira Khan

A field trip to a festival of hate
Vaqas Asghar

Poll

Do you agree with Pakistan's decision to not join the US-led investigation into the NATO airstrike?

No (29%, 257 Votes)
Yes (71%, 640 Votes)
Total Voters: 897

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Sunday, December 4, 2011

The Express Tribune Newsletter: December 5, 2011

 

Today's Headlines

December 05, 2011

Anti-terror cooperation: Pakistan to rewrite rules of engagement
Kamran Yousaf

Pakistan has decided to scrap all existing anti-terror cooperation agreements with the United States in a development that may not only take the uneasy alliance between the two countries to the point of no return but also impede world efforts at bringing sustainable peace in Afghanistan.
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National/City 

Nato air raid: No Bonn-homie, just sympathy from Obama
Our Correspondents
A day before an international conference on the Afghan endgame kicked off in the German city of Bonn, US President Barack Obama called up his Pakistani counterpart to offer condolences over the death of two dozen troops in Nato airstrikes that prompted Islamabad's boycott of the crucial meeting. 

Evicted: US starts vacating Shamsi airbase
Our Correspondents
American aircraft reached Pakistan on Sunday to airlift US nationals who are vacating the Shamsi airbase in the Washuk district of Balochistan, military authorities confirmed to The Express Tribune. 

Pakistan Railways Special Report: A journey of neglect, incompetence and corruption
Taha Siddique
The annual report by the Auditor General of Pakistan showed that Pakistan Railways lost Rs5.6 billion last year, citing widespread misuse of public funds. 

Taliban and ISAF battle it out, in 140 characters or less
War is horrific and impersonal; unless it's being waged on a website that features blue birds.

For minorities in Pakistan, persecution never ends
Even in death, the Ahmadiyya community faces persecution.
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Business

Women entrepreneurs: Self-employment is the best way to go
Kazim Alam
For Rizwana Shahid, starting a business to support her family was the only choice after her husband had a heart attack in 1998. 

SBP keeps rates on hold: Pakistan inflation risks are back on the radar
Sayem Ali
After cumulative rate cuts of 200bps at its previous two meetings, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has struck a note of caution about the government's medium-term outlook, warning that inflationary pressures are building again. At its 30 November meeting, the SBP kept policy rates on hold, with the overnight deposit and lending rates unchanged at 9% and 12%, respectively. The SBP says that macroeconomic risks have increased since the October meeting, with inflation remaining high and the rupee coming under renewed pressure.
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Sports

Cricket: Buoyed Pakistan hungry for more success
Fawad Hussain
Pakistan's record sixth consecutive One-Day International (ODI) series triumph has left the players hungry for even more success and they intend to achieve it by bringing improvement in their performances, says team manager Naveed Akram Cheema. 

Hockey: Extraordinary show required say Olympians
Our Correspondents
Pakistan's loss against Great Britain in the Champions Trophy opener has prompted criticism from former hockey greats, who now want the team to show immediate improvement in the matches ahead.___________________________________________

Life & Style

Bollywood charmer: Dev Anand's romance with life cut short.
Rafay Mehmood
Another star, another legend leaves us. Fans of Dev Anand, Bollywood's guru of romance, woke up on Sunday to learn of his death from a cardiac arrest in London. He was 88.

Veena Malik files for Rs100m in damages from FHM
Our Correspondents
Refusing to balk in the face of controversy, Veena Malik has filed for monetary damages against For Him Magazine (FHM) to the sum of Indian Rs100,000,000 following their release of two magazine covers featuring the diva naked.

 

 

Opinion

Other side of Salala
Shahzad Chaudhry 

Fighting the battles within
Rasul Bakhsh Rais 

Parliament's role in economic governance
Ishrat Husain 

Narratives for the next elections
Shahid Javed Burki 

Classrooms — dynamic learning spaces
Ainee Shehzad 

Blogs

The CIA recruits came to campus
Shahzeb Shaikha 

A wheelchair shouldn't be a curse
Kashif Qureshi 

What the Nato strikes mean for TTP's jihad
Khuram Iqbal 

How many PMs does it take to fix an X-ray machine?
Nishaa Ishtiak 

Poll

Afghanistan says Pakistan's boycott of the Bonn Conference won't make any difference. Do you agree?

Disagree (76%, 305 Votes)
Agree (24%, 98 Votes)
Total Voters: 403
 

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Top 10 on Tribune (Nov 27-Dec 04, 2011)

  

Top 10 stories of the week

Nov 27-Dec 04, 2011
 

 

1. Veena Malik denies nude photo shoot for FHM – Web Desk 

2. Veena Malik defends ISI tattoo for FHM photo shoot – AFP 

3. Shah Mahmood Qureshi joins PTI – Web Desk 

4. NATO apology not good enough: Pakistan army – Web Desk 

5. Kayani's bold move: 'Pakistani troops will return fire if Nato attacks again' – Kamran Yousaf 

6. Veena bares all and then tries to cover up – Saadia Qamar 

7. Express 24/7 bows out amidst revenue drop – News Desk 

8. Pakistan gave 'go-ahead' before NATO attack, says US – Web Desk 

9. Occupy Numaish Chowrangi: Death of two scouts sparks 4-hour riot – News Desk 

10. Teenage bravado gone awry: 'Phadda' boys create panic at elite school – Azam Khan/Umer Nangiana 

 

 
Top Opinion

I'm a ghairatmand Pakistani
Atika Rehman

Top Business

By word of mouth: Student Biryani goes global
Farooq Baloch

Top Sports

Aisam no more: Bopanna to team up with Bhupathi in 2012
AFP

Top 3 blogs

1. Nudity, Niqab and the illusion of 'free choice'
Bina Shah

2. Shahid Afridi is my neighbour
Rafay Mahmood

3. How I learnt where Islam ends, and culture begins
AbuBakr Agha

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Saturday, December 3, 2011

The Express Tribune Newsletter: December 04, 2011

 

Today's Headlines

December 04, 2011

 

Memogate: Court's commission falters but PM braces for fire
Abdul Manan / Qaiser Zulfiqar

http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/301667-gilanireuters-1322972356-704-640x480.jpg

As the embattled government's chief executive placed himself squarely in the line of potential fire, the memogate offensive appeared to falter on its own, with the chief justice's nominee refusing to head the commission to probe the scandal.
_______________________________________________

National/City reports

Haqqani changed BlackBerry handsets thrice to cover tracks: Mansoor Ijaz
News Desk
Writing for the popular American magazine, Newsweek (over his much preferred Financial Times) Mansoor Ijaz has claimed that Husain Haqqani had changed his BlackBerry handset and pin code three times since May to cover up his  involvement in the Memogate scandal.

Neither Pakistan, nor any other govt informed of OBL raid in advance: White House
Huma Imtiaz
US has refuted claims by Pakistani-American businessman, Mansoor Ijaz that Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari, and former Ambassador Husain Haqqani had advance knowledge of a covert raid deep into Pakistan to capture or kill Osama bin Laden.

JI eyeing alliance with Imran's party: Baloch
Umer Farooq
Amidst growing popularity of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, a right-wing party has said that it may form an alliance with the party of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan.

SC notices: Will the president, military respond?
Faisal Shakeel
President Asif Ali Zardari has not yet made up his mind on filing a reply to the Supreme Court in the memogate case, Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq told The Express Tribune.
_______________________________________________

Business

Weekly Review: Bourse drops amid tension after Nato bombings
Our Correspondent
Local investors remained cautious while foreigners offloaded stocks as tensions between Pakistan and the US reached a new peak following the Nato attack on a Pakistani checkpost.

Election year: Provinces see budget surplus slashed by 600%
Shahbaz Rana
Balancing the budget deficit could becoming a tough task for the centre this year as provinces have failed to keep expenses in check and are far behind in the projected level of savings. The fact that this is election year could have been a factor behind the 600% drop in the combined budget surplus of all four provinces at the end of the first quarter of the current fiscal year.
_______________________________________________

Sports

2nd ODI: In 6th heaven
AFP
Ruthless Pakistan handed Bangladesh a 76-run drubbing in the second One-Day International (ODI) to take a decisive 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Falling flat at the first hurdle
Our Correspondent
Pakistan failed to hold on to their early lead and suffered a 2-1 loss at the hands of Great Britain in their Champions Trophy opener yesterday.
_______________________________________________ 

Life & Style

Veena bares all and then tries to cover up
Saadia Qamar
Controversy queen Veena Malik is making the headlines once again with her nude photograph on the cover page of Indian magazine FHM's December edition, that was revealed on December 2. To top it all off Malik, who is posing nude, has an Inter-services Intelligence (ISI) tattoo on her bare arm.

'Evergreen' actor Dev Anand dies in London
IANS
Evergreen star Dev Anand, one of the icons of Indian cinema, died Sunday after suffering a massive cardiac arrest in London. He was 88.
_______________________________________________

Magazine

No you can't
Sher Khan
Inside a small courtroom in the Californian city of Santa Ana, Palestinian-American Shaheen Nassar and his 10 friends stood tall as a six-man jury found them guilty of conspiracy.

10 things I hate about ET blogs
Hammad Ali
They think they're actually making a significant difference in the world. No, they are not.  Hugh Hefner thinks he's advocating for women's rights. If he is, then I'm signing up for women's rights as well. So no, your 300-word post on African kids makes no difference to them.
_______________________________________________

 

 

 

Opinion

The blood trade
Saroop Ijaz

Using the PAF?
Ejaz Haider

Our cargo cults
Fasi Zaka

The Salala tragedy and the Bonn conference
Najmuddin A Shaikh

Religion without ethic
Khaled Ahmed

Blogs

A wheelchair shouldn't be a curse
Kashif Qureshi

What the Nato strikes mean for TTP's jihad
Khuram Iqbal

How many PMs does it take to fix an X-ray machine?
Nishaa Ishtiak

Veena to the bone
Taha Kehar

Poll

Afghanistan says Pakistan's boycott of the Bonn Conference won't make any difference. Do you agree?

Disagree (74%, 133 Votes)
Agree (26%, 47 Votes)

Total Voters: 180

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Friday, December 2, 2011

The Express Tribune Newsletter: December 3, 2011

 

Today's Headlines

December 03, 2011


Nato Attack: Parliamentary panel endorses govt's strong stand
Irfan Ghauri

This time, there may be no turning back. The cabinet's decision to boycott a crucial conference in Bonn, Germany on the Afghan endgame was endorsed by the parliamentary committee on national security on Friday. The conference, which has been planned for a year, will be attended by 90 countries on Monday.
_______________________________________________ 

National/City

Pakistan declined to join investigation into NATO airstrike: Pentagon

Huma Imtiaz
US on Friday said that Pakistan had been invited to join an investigation into the cross border North Atlantic Treaty Organistaion (NATO) bombing of a Pakistani check post. However, Pakistan had elected not to participate in the investigation. 

Imran to reveal Nawaz's assets, incomes
Abdul Manan
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan is expected to hold a press conference in Islamabad on December 4, in which he will disclose details of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)'s eponymous chief's assets, sources told The Express Tribune.

NATO attack: PML-N to boycott joint session if held behind closed doors
News Desk
 If the parliament's joint session on Nato's attack in Mohmand Agency and the memogate scandal is held behind closed doors, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) may boycott proceedings, the opposition party warned on Friday.  

Boycotting Bonn: All hail govt's game face, but wonder if it will last
Qamar Zaman
The government's game face was appreciated and encouraged by friends and foes in the upper house of parliament alike, despite scepticism on how long the countenance would last.

Veena Malik denies nude photo shoot for FHM
News Desk
Veena Malik has stirred controversy in both Pakistan and India — and this time she is not even involved. An alleged photograph of the actress posing nude appeared on the Indian online edition of the international monthly men's lifestyle magazine FHM on Friday, but her PR manager confirmed to The Express Tribune that the photograph is fake. 

International Day for Disabled People: Quetta doctor proves spirit as important as physical fitness
Shehzad Baloch
When Nadir Khan lost both his legs six years ago, he thought he could bid farewell to his dream of playing cricket. 

Mansoor Ijaz met me twice: Hizbul Mujahideen chief
News Desk
Chief of militant organisation Hizbul Mujahideen Syed Salahuddin has said that Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz had met him, in a bid to convince him to continue a ceasefire in Indian-administered Kashmir. 

Distasteful 'prank': Police probe Peshawar school bomb hoax
Iftikhar Firdous
A letter, apparently written by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, threatening to blow up a girls' school in Peshawar turned out to be a hoax on Friday. 

Pakistan Railways Special Report: A journey of neglect, incompetence and corruption
Taha Siddiqui
"We have been warning officers for the last three years that the railway system will collapse but our supervisors ignore our recommendations," says Sagheer Cheema, a mechanic who has been with the organisation for 25 years, speaking on the current disarray that engulfs Pakistan Railways (PR).
_______________________________________________ 

Business

Trend remains upwards: Inflation falls to 23-month low
Shahbaz Rana
The change in calculation methodology continued to work for the statisticians in Islamabad as CPI inflation was recorded at 10.19% for the month of November, a figure last recorded in October 2009. 

Stock market activity drops to 13-year low
Our Correspondents
Investors seem to have parked their funds in other avenues or taken a break as activity at the stock market dropped to its lowest level since 1998 in November.
_______________________________________________ 

Sports

Hockey Champions Trophy: 'Time to execute what has been taught'
Fawad Hussain
The Pakistan hockey team is upbeat about its chances in the Champions Trophy as it opens its campaign in the eight-nation event with a match in Auckland against higher-ranked opponents Great Britain today. 

Squash: Banned Atlas cruises in London Open
Our Correspondents
Serving a two-year ban placed by the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), the country's top-ranked player Aamir Atlas remains determined about his future with an impressive start at the London Open Squash.
_______________________________________________ 

Life & Style

Exhibition: In bursts of colour, IVSAA Fine Art students turn themselves inside out
Usman Liaquat
Beauty may indeed lie in the eye of the beholder, but the students graduating from the Fine Art department at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture have worked assiduously to ensure that any eye cast upon their work would meet a sight to remember. 

Dino talks music
Rafay Mehmood
The VJ, who made phrases like 'dost scene on hay'and 'party on hay boy' a part of the Pakistani youths' everyday conversation, is back on the music front with his latest single "Jaan Lo". Dino Ali's latest offering is a love song, but the singer managed to highlight the fun side of love with his light voice and jazzy tunes. Additionally, the black and white video of the song adds to the experimental side of this song and unlike his previous videos, this one doesn't show Ali singing to a pretty girl.
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Opinion

India-Pakistan businessmen and the JuD
Jyoti Malhotra 

The dog's grave
Salman Rashid 

Personal accounts of 1971
Ajmal Kamal 

Quotable quotes
Amina Jilani 

Mainstreaming the disabled
Akhtar Waheed 

Blogs

Three layers of chocolate heaven
Yousuf Bawany 

Heera Mandi: A street corner by the mosque
Alina D

Mohammad Hafeez: The sweetly timed turnaround
Faras Ghani

Muharram is your holiday, not mine
Sidra Rizvi 

Poll

Have you ever been tested for HIV/AIDS?

No: 79% (299 votes)
Yes: 21% (79 votes)
Total votes: 378 

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