| Twin blasts kill 15 in Russia's Caucasus region Posted: <p> </p><p>Two blasts near a police post late Thursday killed at least 15 people and wounded more than 20 in Dagestan, part of Russia s restive Caucasus region, the interior ministry said.</p><p> </p><p>"At least 15 people have been killed, including 12 police officers and three rescue workers from Russia s emergency services ministry," a spokeswoman told AFP, adding that the dead included civilians.</p><p> </p><p>And while early reports had said more than 20 people had been wounded that figure could rise, she added.</p><p> </p><p>The first blast went off at 10:30 pm (1830 GMT) near a traffic police post in Dagestan s capital Makhachkala: a car exploded as police tried to stop it for an identity check, said the spokeswoman.</p><p> </p><p>One police source told the RIA-Novosti agency that the car s driver had triggered the device.</p><p> </p><p>The blast sparked a huge fire and the second explosion took place after the emergency services had arrived at the scene, said the spokeswoman.<br />The blast damaged about 20 cars, Russian news agencies reported.</p><p> </p><p>Russia is fighting an Islamist insurgency in the Caucasus, mostly in Dagestan and Ingushetia.<br /> </p> 
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| Junior Asia Cup Hockey starts in Malaysia Posted: <p> </p><p>South Korea beat Japan 4-1 in the opening match of the Junior Asia Cup Hockey which started in Malacca, Malaysia on Thursday.</p><p> </p><p>Pakistan will start their Junior Asia Cup Hockey today when they take on China. India is defending the title in the tournament which will conclude on May 13. Pakistan will face arch rivals India on May 6.<br /> </p> 
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| Mian Channu: Dacoits kill two traders Posted: <p> </p><p>According to details, two traders, Abdul Manan and Muhammad Ilyas were returning to Mian Channu from Chichawatni after selling gold when three dacoits tried to loot them.</p><p> </p><p>The traders offered resistance at which the dacoits opened fire and injured both the traders and looted Rs 0.9 million. The injured traders were taken to District Headquarters Hospital where they succumbed to their injuries. The heirs of the traders have staged a protest after the incident and attacked the City Police Station.<br /> </p> 
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| Record cotton production this year Posted: <p> </p><p>Cotton production reached 14.813 million bales during this year which is 27 per cent more recorded during the previous year. The production of cotton during the previous year was recorded at 11. 670 million bales.</p><p> </p><p>According to Ahsan Ullah, executive member of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association, the export of cotton has also reached a record high with 1.1 million bales while the textile mills have so far bought 13.400 bales.<br /> </p> 
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| Karachi: Police seize huge cache of arms from Lyari Posted: <p> </p><p>Arms and ammunition recovered during ongoing Lyari operation was presented before the media in Karachi. Interior Minister Rehman Malik gave details of the arms recovered during the operation.</p><p> </p><p>The arms recovered from Lyari included hand grenades, rocket launchers, modern rifles and huge quantity of bullets. Speaking on the occasion Rehman Malik said that ordinary criminals cannot use this kind of sophisticated weapons.<br /> </p> 
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| SC verdict does not refer to my disqualification: PM Posted: <p> </p><p>Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that verdict of Supreme Court regarding his contempt of court case did not include any reference to his disqualification.</p><p> </p><p>Talking to local and foreign media here on World Press Freedom Day, he said that any wishful interpretation of Constitution should be avoided.</p><p> </p><p>He also cited Article 248 of Constitution, according to which both President and PM enjoyed immunity, and stressed that this was a global phenomena.</p><p> </p><p>Arguing that he had done nothing unethical, he also stressed that giving the impression of his portfolio being illegal was an unconstitutional act.</p><p> </p><p>He termed PML-N, as a politically isolated and rejected entity, which was forced to revert to undemocratic and unethical moves out of sheer frustration.</p><p> </p><p>Declaring himself as representative of 180 million masses, he said that as such status of his, the Supreme Court should have showed some regard by bringing out a detailed verdict against him after which I would file my appeal in the Supreme Court, according to my constitutional and legal rights.</p><p> </p><p>Referring to the issue of separate province of Seraiki belt, he deliberated that Seraiki masses had this demand since 40 long years, and creation of a Seraiki province would help alleviate grievances of the region.<br /> </p> 
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| PM thanks Altaf, Shujaat, Asfand on historic resolution Posted: <p> </p><p>Prime Minister Syed yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday phoned MQM chief Altaf Hussain, PML-Q chief Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain and ANP leader Asfand Yar Wali and thanked them for supporting the resolution in the National Assembly on creation of Southern Punjab province.</p><p> </p><p>MQM chief congratulated PM Gilani, President Asif Ali Zardari, the federal cabinet, members of parliament and the people of Southern Punjab on passage of the resolution. He said that this is an historic day for the people of Southern Punjab.</p><p> </p><p>The prime minister also thanked Asfand Yar Wali and Ch Shujaat. He said that PML-N has been politically isolated now in the country.<br /> </p> 
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| Lyari violence: Metric papers in 6 centres cancelled Posted: <p> </p><p>The chairman Metric Board Karachi, Saeed Siddiqui, has cancelled all Metric examination papers in six centres in Lyari due to deteriorating law and order situation in the area.</p><p> </p><p>New dates for the cancelled papers will be announced later. Saeed Siddiqui said that examination in other parts of Karachi will be held on schedule.<br /> </p> 
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| Notification to shut markets in Sindh at 8:30pm issued Posted: <p> </p><p>Implementing the recommendations of the National Energy Conference to save electricity, the Sindh government has issued notification to shut markets at 8:30pm in the province.</p><p> </p><p>The traders of the province were taken into confidence before the issuance of the notification. Medical stores, milk shops and general stores are exempted from the notification.<br /> </p> 
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| Ephedrine scandal: 120 pharma companies to be probed Posted: <p> </p><p>According to sources, notices have been issued to manufactures of cough syrups and nasal drops. These companies have been asked to submit record of use of Ephedrine chemical during the past three years.</p><p> </p><p>The sources said that the production and quality control managers of the said companies will be interrogated.</p><p> </p><p>Meanwhile a delegation of the pharma industry called on Federal Minister Sirdous Ashiq Awan and apprised her about the reservations of pharmaceutical industry.<br /> </p> 
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| PR to restart two trains between Lahore, Faisalabad Posted: <p> </p><p>The Divisional Superintendent Railway, Lahore informed that the service of Tipu Sultan Express and Faisal Express will start from May 7. The train service between Lahore and Faisalabad was stopped one year ago due to non-availability of locomotives.</p><p> </p><p>He also informed that the additional stops of non-stop trains will be finished after the restoration of these two trains.<br /> </p> 
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| Taliban, banned outfits involved in Lyari, says Malik Posted: <p><br />While addressing joint conference along with Sindh CM Qaim Ali Shah in Karachi, Malik said that comprehensive strategy has been prepared against terrorists.</p><p> </p><p>Every possible step would be taken for restoration of peace in the city. Criminal elements are likely to surrender within 72 hours, he said.</p><p><br />He said that chaotic situation in Balochistan is undoubtedly affecting Lyari.</p><p><br />He said that Taliban, Baloch and banned outfits are undoubtedly involved in creating anarchy in the hub of economy.</p><p><br />He said that miscreants are using latest and sophisticated weapons usually used by the Army.</p><p><br />He said that we are sending messages to the miscreants, with the direction that whosoever wants to have an amnesty, he should surrender within 24 hours; otherwise police and Rangers would continue operation.</p><p><br />He also warned that the house would be set on fire if any rocket launcher or hand grenade is recovered from there. <br /> </p><p>He said that special police check posts would be formed in Lyari in to check the suspicious people.</p><p><br />He said that four helicopters equipped with machine guns would also monitor the Lyari operation; new and novel satellite system also has been arranged in this regard, he concluded. <br /><br /> </p> 
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| Gayle rejoins international cricket Posted: <p> </p><p>Gayle, renowned as a big-hitting batsman, has not played international cricket for more than a year following a dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) sparked by critical comments he made about officials in a radio interview.</p><p> </p><p>The 32-year-old Jamaican left-hander, also a useful off-spin bowler, signed to play Twenty20 cricket for Somerset this season.</p><p> </p><p>However, Gayle -- currently starring in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) -- issued a statement on Thursday saying he had made himself available for international cricket again following talks with the WICB.</p><p> </p><p>He said he would not be joining south-west side Somerset, even though he has received no guarantees he will be selected by the West Indies.</p><p> </p><p>"I wish to advise that as of today (Thursday), I have written to Somerset and advised them that I will not be honouring the commitment I made to them when I signed a contract with them," Gayle said.</p><p> </p><p>"I made it clear to them that my decision was made because of my commitment to West Indies cricket and to West Indies cricket fans, and because I believe that it is time for the WICB to make a decision which will provide a clearer view of my own future.</p><p> </p><p>"I understand that by making this decision, it may place me in a position of considerable risk, since I am foregoing a signed contract, without any guarantees whatsoever, with only the hope that I will be selected to play for the West Indies again.</p><p> </p><p>"I have now satisfied all of the requests of the WICB and their selection panel, with whom I met via teleconference yesterday (Wednesday), and to whom I reiterated previous assurances given to the board regarding my availability.</p><p> </p><p>"So that there is no doubt, I confirmed to the selectors that I was available for West Indies duty in all forms of cricket, immediately following the conclusion of my contractual obligations to my IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore."</p><p> </p><p>Gayle has not played for the West Indies since the 2011 World Cup, but has been in blistering form in the IPL, where he is third in the list of the tournament s highest run scorers and has made 81, 87, 4, 86 and 71 in his past five innings.</p><p> </p><p>Although he was not selected in the West Indies Test squad for a three-match series starting at Lord s on May 17, he could now return to the side for the subsequent one-day series, which gets under way in Southampton on June 16.</p><p> </p><p>But those one-day matches clash with the county Twenty20 tournament, hence Gayle s decision to pull out of his Somerset contract. Somerset were, unsurprisingly, upset by Gayle s move.</p><p> </p><p>"We are very disappointed that Chris Gayle will not be joining us for this season s FLt20 (Friends Life T20), particularly as we have a signed contract and a no-objection certificate from the West Indies Cricket Board," said Somerset chief executive Guy Lavender.</p><p> </p><p>Somerset subsequently announced that they had signed South African batsman Francois du Plessis as a replacement for Gayle.</p><p> </p><p>The West Indies squad arrived in England on Wednesday and they begin their tour with a three-day match against south coast county Sussex at Hove starting on Saturday.<br /> </p> 
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| Osama's letters expose division within Al-Qaeda Posted: <p> </p><p>A year after bin Laden was killed by US Navy SEALs at his Pakistani hideout; the White House released 17 documents from among a massive trove of files recovered at his home in Abbottabad.</p><p> </p><p>Osama bin Laden was deeply worried about "unnecessary" Muslim casualties from Al-Qaeda attacks and called on his deputies to spare civilian lives to shore up his network s image, according to letters from his compound published Thursday.</p><p> </p><p>The letters expose divisions inside Al-Qaeda, tensions with fellow extremists in Pakistan and an anxious bin Laden pained by his group s standing among Muslims.</p><p> </p><p>Concern over the organization s reputation in Islamic countries ran so deep that his followers even weighed changing Al-Qaeda s name to make a fresh start, according to one document.</p><p> </p><p>In a May 2010 letter, the Al-Qaeda chief underscores "the need to cancel other attacks due to the possible and unnecessary civilian casualties" in Muslim countries.</p><p> </p><p>"We ask every emir in the regions to be extremely keen and focused on controlling the military work," he wrote, referring to Al-Qaeda attacks.</p><p> </p><p>Bin Laden expressed grave concern about his terror network losing the sympathy of Muslims and described operations killing Muslims as "mistakes," adding it was important that "no Muslims fall victim except when it is absolutely essential."</p><p> </p><p>"It would lead us to winning several battles while losing the war at the end," he wrote.</p><p> </p><p>Bin Laden suggests targeting US interests in "non-Islamic" countries, except where American troops are deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan, to avoid more Muslim casualties.</p><p> </p><p>He also calls for two groups to prepare to take out US President Barack Obama and senior military officer General David Petraeus, now the head of the Central Intelligence Agency.</p><p> </p><p>Bin Laden argued that by killing Obama, the United States would be plunged into crisis because he believed Vice President Joe Biden was not ready for the job.</p><p> </p><p>"Biden is totally unprepared for that post, which will lead the US into a crisis," he wrote.</p><p> </p><p>"As for Petraeus, he is the man of the hour in this last year of the war, and killing him would alter the war s path."</p><p> </p><p>At the time the letter was written, Petraeus was chief of US Central Command, overseeing troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He took over as commander in the Afghanistan war in June 2010.</p><p> </p><p>Assessing the damage done to Al-Qaeda s reputation by violence against Muslims, Bin Laden writes of the need for a new campaign designed to rally Islamic followers.</p><p> </p><p>"I intend to issue a statement, in which I would discuss starting a new phase to amend what we have issued -- as such we would regain the trust of a large portion of those who had lost their trust in the Mujahidin," he wrote.</p><p> </p><p>In another letter whose author is unclear, there is a discussion about the possibility of changing Al-Qaeda s name to reconnect with Muslims around the world.</p><p> </p><p>The group s current "name reduces the feeling of Muslims that we belong to them, and allows the enemies to claim deceptively that they are not at war with Islam and Muslims, but they are at war with the organization of Al-Qaeda," according to the letter.</p><p> </p><p>The author proposes a list of possible new names, including the "Muslim Unity Group" and "Islamic Nation Unification Party."</p><p> </p><p>Concerns about violence targeting fellow Muslims is a recurring theme in the declassified documents, with some inside Al-Qaeda angered and frustrated with comrades in Iraq and Pakistan.</p><p> </p><p>One letter from Al-Qaeda leaders addressed to Hakimullah Mahsud, head of the Pakistani Taliban, condemns his organization for attacks on mosques and marketplaces.</p><p> </p><p>The letter cites "clear legal and religious mistakes" by the Pakistani Taliban which are "contrary to the objectives of Jihad and to the efforts exerted by us."</p><p> </p><p>If the group fails to rectify their mistakes, the authors wrote, "we shall be forced to take public and firm legal steps from our side."</p><p> </p><p>The batch of declassified documents was posted online by the Combating Terrorism Center at the West Point military academy. The letters or draft letters are dated from September 2006 to April 2011, for a total of 175 pages in the original Arabic.<br /> </p> 
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| CAA issues now rules for non-scheduled airlines Posted: <p><br />According to rules, non-scheduled airlines would have to seek permission before four days in Pakistan.</p><p> </p><p>New laws have been implemented from May 1. Likewise, the airs lines would have to take permission from Civil Aviation Authorities four days ago in order to use airspace of Pakistan.</p><p> </p><p>With the implementation of new rules, the CAA would have to face tremendously heavy loss.</p><p><br />The CAA has transferred the account of non scheduled and chartered airlines worth hundreds of million rupees to a foreign bank rather than national banks.</p><p><br />After implementation of new rules, non scheduled airlines would be bound to take permission from the Civil Aviation Authority four days before their arrival.</p><p><br />Before, the permission used to be granted only within two hours.</p><p><br />In the same way, such airlines also would have to seek permission four days before in order to use the Pakistani airspace.</p><p> </p> 
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