The Express Tribune Newsletter: July 23, 2012

Today's Headlines The endgame: Afghan opposition says peace hinges on Pakistan Kamran Yousaf While the Afghan endgame may be a difficult proposition for the Americans and their western allies to handle but for many Afghan leaders the solution is simple — they believe that the road to peace in Kabul is through Islamabad. Allied victory: Pranab Mukherjee wins India's presidential race Aditi Phadnis Presidential candidate of India's ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and former finance minister Pranab Mukherjee gleaned the magic number of votes (around 518,000) to become the 13th president of India. He secured the required number during the ongoing counting of votes at Parliament House here on Sunday. Analysis: PPP playing it close to the heart M Ziauddin Contrary to predictions of some pundits and the impression being created by the publicists of the PML-N and the PTI, the two parties are going to find it almost impossible to get the better of the PPP and its coalition partners if the general elections are held today or for that matter any time before the 'due date'. 27 petitions: SC to start hearing on Contempt of Court Act Azam Khan A five-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry would start the hearing of some 27 petitions against the new contempt of court law on Monday. Business Point of concern: Has our banking system become unsound? Ali Salman Pakistan's financial sector liberalisation in general and privatisation of banks in particular has largely been hailed by experts on account of professionalisation, financial inclusion and penetration of banks. Notwithstanding the usual criticism of a high interest spread and high bank charges, strong evidences have now emerged which suggest that the banking sector has become visibly unsound. Conflict, security and development: The hidden costs of violent conflict Khurram Baig The region of South Asia is profoundly marked by internal conflicts. Indeed, there is not a single country in the region today, except perhaps for Maldives that has remained unaffected by national strife and violence. Nor are there any signs of abatement in the number of casualties, except in Sri Lanka. _______________________________________________ Sports Hockey: Greenshirts 'ready' for showdown Fawad Hussain Pakistan hockey team, the country's main medal contender at the London Olympics, has wrapped up a 10-day training camp in Cannock and shifted to the Olympics village. Bangladesh rise to fourth in T20 rankings Our Correspondents Bangladesh rose to fourth spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty20 rankings after they completed a 3-0 whitewash of Ireland with a dramatic last-ball win in the final game at Stormont.  _______________________________________________ Life & Style Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan announces new album Sher Khan Renowned Pakistani singer Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan, who gained recognition across the border for his remarkable playback vocals, has announced that he will be releasing a new album for his fans very soon. But this time, it will be a digital release (over the internet) and not through CDs. Musical: 'I thought I was the only one in the world' Saadia Qamar Arshad Iqbal is a 17-year-old boy who recently discovered that he loves to play the drums. He has the knack to play the instrument, but he did not know it till students at the Nixor College helped him and other students at his school by giving summer lessons in drumming and theatre. _______________________________________________

Opinion ISI's interface with terror Khaled Ahmed The frivolous and inane Tazeen Javed Drone buzz Tanvir Ahmad Khan Winds of change Rasul Bakhsh Rais Pakistan in the role of Asian glue Shahid Javed Burki   Blogs US ties are not dispensable Kazim Alam Malaysia's exquisite mosques Dalia Merzaban Ramazan and the 'holier than thou' syndrome Danish Shah To hell with ODIs and T20s; it's Test cricket that matters! Umair Qazi Poll Should the government complete its term or hold early elections? Hold early elections (53%, 262 Votes)  Complete its term (47%, 236 Votes)  Total Voters: 498 Links Contact us Tribune on Facebook Tribune on Twitter About us RSS Feed Subscribe to the Paper Careers Copyrights Jobs Classifieds

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Top 10 stories of the week (July 15-22, 2012)

Top 10 stories of the week

July 15-22, 2012

1. Infant died five minutes after burial, autopsy shows – Owais Jafri 2. Aisam, Faha decide to part ways – Web Desk 3. Ramazan shows: Will you tune in to Veena, Maya Khan or Aamir Liaquat? – Shaheryar Popalzai 4. Twitter alert: Shock and awe following Aisam-Faha separation – Web Desk 5. Bollywood's first superstar: Rajesh Khanna passes away - IANS 6. Asma Jahangir or Hussain Haroon as caretaker PM? – Our Correspondent 7. Veena Malik's Ramazan show called off after public outrage – Our Correspondent 8. NA-151 by-polls: Abdul Qadir Gilani wins with 64,628 votes – Web Desk 9. Do you have an appetite for Veena in Ramazan? – Web Desk 10. Hamid Mir, Absar Alam move SC to form media accountability commission – Sidrah Moiz Khan

Top Opinion The great India-Pakistan tamasha Shahzad Chaudhry Top Business  Despite lead, Pepsi aims for bigger piece of the cake Our Correspondent Top Sports Cricket tour: Will not let Pakistan play in India, says Shiv Sena Web Desk/AFP Top 3 blogs 1. Social media is lying to you about Burma's Muslim 'cleansing' Faraz Ahmed 2. Burma killings: Think before you point fingers Shahlah Zahiruddin 3. Ramazan with Veena Malik: Lord forgive us all Sidrah Moiz Khan Links Contact us Tribune on Facebook Tribune on Twitter About us RSS Feed Subscribe to the Paper Careers Copyrights Jobs Classifieds

 

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The Express Tribune Newsletter: July 22, 2012

Today's Headlines   Allen talks cooperation after 'Salala tragedy' Ejaz Haider General John Allen, commander Isaf (International Security Assistance Force) in Afghanistan, has said that if the Pakistan Army launched an operation in North Waziristan Agency, "we are prepared to pay extra attention" to any spill over that may occur because of the operation. BB assassination case: Court defers decision on unfreezing Musharraf's account Mudassir Raja A trial court hearing the assassination case of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto reserved judgment on Saturday on an application seeking the unfreezing of one of Pervez Musharraf's bank accounts. The former president's bank account was seized after he was declared a proclaimed offender. NRO implementation case: Giving Qayyum legal cover, govt readies new strategy Irfan Ghauri / Azam Khan The government is set to aggressively defend itself before the Supreme Court in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) implementation case on July 25, with a new strategy: pleading that the then attorney general had written a letter to Swiss authorities with the support of all executive authorities in 2007. Senate re-election: Govt adviser clears dual nationality hurdle, faces another in perjury Qamar Zaman While Rehman Malik will once again be a senator on August 8, the adviser on interior affairs will still find himself in hot water in court.   Business Weekly Review: Stock market rises on foreign interest  Our Correspondent The stock market witnessed a strong week amid foreign buying worth $10.8 million, almost triple the amount bought in the preceding week. CNG out, LPG in: PSO to set up 26 LPG filling stations Zafar Bhutta The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has decided to give permission to Pakistan State Oil (PSO) for setting up 26 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) filling stations at its retail outlets across the country, officials say. _______________________________________________ Sports 'Pakistan hockey is far from glory' Nabeel Hashmi Wasim Feroze, former left-out and part of the Pakistan side that won bronze in the 1992 Olympics, has blamed the hockey federation's inefficiency for the state the national side is in right now, adding that it will take at least 20 years for the team to regain its lost status. Olympics: Flame starts London tour  AFP Olympics legend Nadia Comaneci carried the 2012 torch on the roof of the North Greenwich Arena as the flame began a seven-day tour of London that will culminate at the Games' opening ceremony. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Sim Sim Hamara: The show must go on, says Peerzada  Sher Khan The Urdu rendition of "Sesame Street", "Sim Sim Hamara" was introduced in Pakistan last December as one of USAID's most interesting initiatives for the country. Comment: My brand of religion Ahmer Ashraf Television channels are putting their best foot forward (as far as religious shows are concerned) in Ramazan.  _______________________________________________

Opinion Watching the Watchmen  Saroop Ijaz Thanks Mr Katju, however… Anwer Mooraj The fabulous Mr Zardari Aakar Patel Investing for public good Roshaneh Zafar Syria: The end Shibil Siddiqi Blogs Ramazan and the 'holier than thou' syndrome Danish Shah To hell with ODIs and T20s; it's Test cricket that matters! Umair Qazi All I ask for is two drops Faraz Talat  Ramazan and its blessings Neha Arif Riar Poll Do you agree with the law that prohibits eating in public during Ramazan? Yes: 54% (450 votes) No:  46% (390 votes) Total: 840 votes Links Contact us Tribune on Facebook Tribune on Twitter About us RSS Feed Subscribe to the Paper Careers Copyrights Jobs Classifieds

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The Express Tribune Newsletter: July 21, 2012

Today's Headlines   Dir Bala: 3 killed, 7 injured in bomb attack on peace militia bus Web Desk At least three people were killed and seven others were injured in a remote controlled bomb attack on a bus carrying members of the peace militia in Dir Bala, Express News reported on Saturday. Next elections: Zardari tells opposition to wait 'eight more months' Hafeez Tunio While speculation on early elections is rife, President Asif Ali Zardari has asked leaders of opposition political parties to wait eight more months. Allies differ: ANP not ready to relent on dual nationality bill Sumera Khan The Awami National Party (ANP) formally conveyed its opposition to the dual nationality bill on Friday when the party's lawmakers met Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. Nisar opts out of govt-opposition talks Abdul Manan Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, a key leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), will not be a part of the high-level team that will negotiate with the government on the timing of the elections and the choosing of a caretaker set-up.   Business Euphoria evaporates: Pakistan and India fail to strike oil trade deal Zafar Bhutta As Pakistan wants to meet only 20% to 25% of its needs for petroleum products from India to avoid overreliance on the old rival due to security concerns, the two countries have failed to seal a big deal as Islamabad has asked Delhi to compete in tenders floated by Pakistan State Oil (PSO) for oil supply through land route. Dictum meum pactum: S&P reaffirms Pakistan's sovereign credit rating Farooq Tirmizi Exactly one week after Moody's downgraded Pakistan's credit rating to its lowest ever, Standard & Poor's (S&P) – its bigger and better-known rival – has reaffirmed the country's sovereign creditworthiness rating at B-minus, and maintained its stable outlook on the country. _______________________________________________ Sports Flame to make dramatic entrance Our Correspondents The Olympic flame will make a dramatic arrival in London to tour the capital before it plays a starring role in the opening ceremony in one week's time. Security tight for Bolt and Jamaica stars Our Correspondents Olympic 100m and 200m champion Usain Bolt and Jamaica's star-studded track and field team have been training under heavy security at the University of Birmingham since their arrival here just about a week ago. _______________________________________________ Life & Style Veena Malik's Ramazan show called off after public outrage Our Correspondents The idea of the controversial Veena Malik repenting for her sins on national television did not settle well with the awaam. From internet petitions calling for the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to ban the show, which had been scheduled to air during the holy month, to comments on social media forums, the anger was hot and unrestricted. India's 'Coke Studio' raises the bar with new season Rafay Mahmood While India's "Coke Studio @ MTV" was the recipient of much criticism last year for its abominable music, this year's Indian music producers have delivered a gem to silence the critics. _______________________________________________

Opinion The 'new land' in Punjab Ajmal Kamal Tilla Jogian Salman Rashid Stop Myanmar violence before jihadis step in Naveed Hussain India's regent Prime Minister Kunal Majumdar The sleepwalkers walk Amina Jilani Blogs India: Who's the fairest of them all? Raksha Kumar How is Abdul Qadir Gilani's win a victory for democracy? Salman Latif Greece wishes it used the Pakistani rupee! Ali Mehdi Is there really no 'gent' with you? Anam Abbas Poll In your opinion, would the presence of international observers ensure transparent elections? No (51%, 265 Votes) Yes (49%, 250 Votes) Total Voters: 515 Links Contact us Tribune on Facebook Tribune on Twitter About us RSS Feed Subscribe to the Paper Careers Copyrights Jobs Classifieds

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