Pakistan-China sign MoU on construction of Bunji Dam

HANGZHOU: Pakistan and China on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding for construction of Bunji Dam in northern areas of Pakistan.

The agreement was signed between Pakistan’s Ministry of Water and, Power and China Three Gorges Project Corporation. Chairman Board of Investment Saleem Mandviwala and Li Yang’an, signed the MoU for their respective sides.

President Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan’s ambassador in China Masood Khan and senior Chinese officials witnessed the signing ceremony.

Masood Khan told that Bunji Dam, one of the eight hydel projects short listed for construction in the four provinces by WAPDA, will have a capacity of generating 7,000 megawatts of electricity. He said that it was part of China’s commitment to help Pakistan overcome its power crisis.

Prior to the signing of MoU, Li Yang’an called on President Zardari, and the two discussed Pakistan China cooperation in hydel power generation.

President Zardari recalled his last visit to China in February when he also went to see the Three Gorges Dam project, and said that Pakistan has lot of potential for construction of hydel power projects on its rivers for which it needed their assistance and expertise.

The president hoped with the Chinese cooperation, Pakistan would soon be able to overcome its energy crisis.

It's Ramadan

RAMADAN is the month in which was sent down the Al Quran, as a guide to mankind. Also clear signs for guidance and judgment between right and wrong. And it is in Ramadan that Muslims are required to fast.

"Oh ye who believe,
Fasting is prescribed to you
As it was prescribed to those before you
That ye may learn self restraint".
- Sura Baqara verse 183

There are other verses of course about fasting . But I'm not going to pretend I'm an "ulama" or Islamic scholar about to give his sermon.

Suffice to say, today is the first day of Ramadan when Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk. Must if they are not sick etc. And fasting is not only about abstaining from food, drink and sex during day time (and sex here means between husband and wife. Not illicit).Fasting also require Muslims to abstain or refrain from all things negative, all things bad.

And we are told we must keep off these bad things for good. Not only during Ramadan, but even after Hari Raya and subsequent days until we say good bye to this world. Put boldly, the good things we do in Ramadan must continue till we die. Sad that many positive things in Ramadan come to an end on the very first day of Syawal or Hari Raya. No need to go into specifics.

When one is fasting it's only natural that one look forward to breaking fast or "buka puasa" time. But in Malaysia breaking of fast is now a food galore, a gourmet festival . Look at the events and the menu presented in hotels, restaurants and other eateries and you know what I mean. Nothing wrong with that. If one can afford to pay for such a hearty spread by all means indulge.

It's just that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) we were told broke his fast by eating a few date fruits and some water. Then the Prophet would pray. Praying as we know is the pillar of Islam. I'm not suggesting folks who attend big "buka puasa' session do not pray.

But just a note of caution, praying with a very full stomach can be "susah" expecailly the "marathon" "terawih" prayers.

But to their credit hotels etc have places where one can pray. Their own "suraus." And many of their customers would break fast "lightly," go for prayers and come back for the meal.

When fasting, many of us expect others to "understand that we're fasting." Meaning "be tolerant towards us who's fasting." Fine. But we must also "understand what's expected of us" by others. We must also tolerate their "demands" if we are required to work and perform.

We can't expect to "be tolerated" just because we're fasting. After all fasting is not about rest, relax and taking things easy. It's business as usual. Even the Battle of Badr, a war between Muslims and the on believers in the days of the Prophet was fought during Ramadan. And the warriors of Islam who fought the war were fasting.

Anyway, this Ramadan in Malaysia will see a by election being contested by BN and PAS . Up for grabs is the Permatang Pasir state seat. Two days away.

Held in "bulan puasa" in a Malay/Muslim area, campaigning must surely differ from previous occasions. Wooing for votes are carried out during breaking fast, after and before prayers, along the corridors of mosques and suraus, house to house . My hope is that the holy of Ramadan is not marred by politicians and their band of supporters in their eagerness for victory.

We know there are politicians who are experts in the "he say they say" tactic. I'll simplify it:

Mr A say Mr B say bad things which is unbecoming of a Muslim especially in the month of Ramadan. Thus tarnishing not only Ramadan but also Islam. Mr A then get his supporters to get reaction from other respected folks including the ulamas. The ulamas are asked what they think of the remarks "made" by MrB .As the remarks are really bad, the ulamas would say they do not agree with MrB. And some would also slam MrB publicly. Hence MrB is seen as unworthy of a state seat. UnIslamic even.All because of the bad things he said. But the truth is MrB did not say it all all. Mr B did not say what Mr A said MrB said. Get it?

To all Muslim readers, Selamat berpuasa. May this Ramadan be the best Ramadan we've experienced. (By MOHSIN ABDULLAH/MySinchew)

Iraq Officials Scramble to Respond to Deadly Blasts

By CHIP CUMMINS and BEN LANDO

Iraqi lawmakers called a special parliamentary session for next week to assess and try to reform the country's security services, as officials scrambled to contain popular anger over blasts this week that killed more than 100.

At a closed-door meeting Friday, parliamentary leaders questioned the ministers of defense and interior, in charge of the bulk of Iraq's security. They also questioned the head of the Baghdad Security Command, a separate security unit in the capital.

Lawmakers criticized the security services for what many see as a convoluted and sometimes overlapping bureaucracies. "The problem is that there is no strategic coordination between the heads of the security apparatus," Azhar al-Samaraei, a Sunni lawmaker, told reporters on the sidelines of the meeting.

At a news conference following the meeting, lawmakers and ministers vowed a thorough investigation of the attacks and closer vetting of detainees before they are released.

The U.S. State Department initially had said Wednesday that Iraqi officials hadn't requested any additional military help after the Baghdad bombing. But on Friday, officials said Baghdad did ask for assistance.

American troops provided surveillance, intelligence gathering, perimeter security, medical support, and explosive ordnance-disposal teams, according to one U.S. official. The U.S. hasn't been asked to provide any additional security in Baghdad, said another official, U.S. Army Maj. David Shoupe, a military spokesman, according to the Associated Press.

Wednesday's attacks, including two truck bombings near the foreign ministry and the finance ministry, have raised fresh questions about the pace of the American withdrawal from Iraq।

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has enjoyed growing popularity thanks to dramatically improved security. But in recent months, political tensions between Iraq's sects and ethnic groups have increased ahead of parliamentary polls slated for January.

A spate of deadly attacks have raised concerns that the political tension is triggering violence and threatening to spiral into sectarian bloodshed.

Earlier this week, America's top commander in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno, said he wanted to insert American soldiers as a temporary peacekeeping force into areas contested by Iraq's federal government and the Kurdish semiautonomous government in the North.

U.S. officials say they suspect Sunni extremists linked to al Qaeda in the recent violence. But Iraqi politicians have taken to blaming each other.

In Baghdad, prominent politicians from several groups have in recent weeks traded accusations, implicating their foes in the attacks.

A security deal between Washington and Baghdad mandated the withdrawal of American forces from Iraqi cities on June 30. Mr. Maliki's government trumpeted the drawdown as a triumph of Iraqi sovereignty.

Since then Iraqi officials have been loath to seek out fresh military assistance from the 130,000 U.S. troops still in the country.

Interior Minister Jawad Al Bolani, at a press conference after Friday's meeting, said U.S. forces are continuing to provide technical and intelligence-gathering assistance, in accordance with the security pact between the two sides.

In a rare admission, however, he said Iraq would still need to rely on that assistance for some time। "We still will need the support for a while," he said.

Write to Chip Cummins at chip.cummins@wsj.com

North Korea envoys have talks with South minister

SEOUL (Reuters) - Senior North Korean officials visiting the South for the funeral of a former president met Seoul's unification minister on Saturday, in the highest-level meeting between the rival states in nearly two years.

The nearly two-hour meeting ended with Yonhap news quoting South Korean minister Hyun In-taek as saying the Northern officials' departure could be delayed. Local media said his comment hinted at North Korean officials meeting with the South's President Lee Myung-bak later in the day.

The presidential house said it was unaware of any such meeting with the delegation sent by North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, while the Unification Ministry could not immediately be reached for comment.

"There is a message just in holding the meeting," Hyun told reporters ahead of the talks.

But in an indication of the North's anger at the South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's government, the group is set to leave on Saturday before the state funeral for former President Kim Dae-jung, awarded the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize for brokering the first summit between the leaders of the two Koreas.

Relations chilled after Lee took office last year and effectively ended Kim's "Sunshine Policy" of engagement by cutting off a steady flow of unconditional aid to the North, calling on it to reduce security threats to the region if it wanted help.

Impoverished North Korea has all but severed ties with Lee's government, which ended aid once equal to about 5 percent of the North's estimated $17 billion yearly GDP.

The first dispatch of envoys to the South in nearly two years follows moves by the communist North this month to reduce tension after conducting a nuclear test in May, firing missiles and threatenin1g to attack its capitalist southern neighbor.

The North's rare conciliatory step could mean it wants greater contact with the outside world after being hit with U.N. sanctions for its nuclear test.

The North Korean delegation is scheduled to leave later on Saturday.

(Editing by Jerry Norton)

Bill forecast to remain at sea, but East Coast not in clear

(CNN) -- Hurricane Bill is expected to remain in open waters this weekend, but experts warn it still poses dangers along the U.S. East Coast.

Although Bill weakened Friday afternoon to a Category 2 storm, CNN meteorologist Bonnie Schneider said it was "still a large and dangerous storm," especially the threat of rip currents along the coast.

Rip currents, or rip tides, are strong seaward flows of water that occur where there's a break in the shoreline. They are capable of pulling even strong swimmers out to sea, and they are difficult to detect.

The National Hurricane Center warned that Bill could regain some strength Saturday as it passes between Burmuda and the East Coast and warned of "extremely dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents" along much of the East Coast and the Canadian Maritime Provinces.

Mike Schapiro knows the danger of a rip current. He found himself in the powerful surge when he was 7 years old.

"I was being pulled along with a rip tide in Belmar, [New Jersey]," he said. "I panicked. But, fortunately, I was eventually able to stand. Another person in the water had to be rescued."As of 8 p.m. ET, Bill's center was about 200 miles southwest of Bermuda and about 600 miles east-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

Forecasters have said the storm will pass between Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast Saturday. Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 85 miles from Bill's center, and tropical storm-force winds outward as much as 275 miles, the center said.

A coastal flood warning was issued late Friday for areas along the North Carolina coast, with ocean overwash expected to be significant along the Outer Banks north of Cape Hatteras.

The National Weather Service on Friday issued a high surf advisory for Virginia Beach, Virginia, and warned of a high risk of rip currents.

The Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services Department ordered red flags be flown to warn beach-goers of rough waters. And the Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service closed the oceanfront for the weekend, according to CNN affiliate WAVY-TV 10.

Still, some people still were out enjoying the water, albeit with caution.

"I think [the flying of red flags] means we should be paying attention," Erma Wicks told CNN affiliate WAVY. There is an alert in the water. But there's no problem; I'm not going in that far."

Farther north, the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency began making preparations ahead of the rough surf that was expected to hit this weekend.

RIEMA said on its Web site that it planned to staff its lifeguards at "monitoring" level this weekend.

"We have to plan for the worst and hope for the best in this situation," RIEMA Director J. David Smith told CNN affiliate WPRI.

In New York, all beaches facing the Atlantic Ocean were closed "due to heavy, high waves and particularly heavy currents," New York City Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe said.

"The lifeguards have a lot of experience with these ocean beaches and they just felt it was really too difficult to keep swimmers out of danger," Benepe said.

"We're seeing very strong currents and increased wave height, waves of six to eight feet at Rockaway Beach. The normal out there is usually no more than two or three feet," he said.

In Montauk, New York, the easternmost point of Long Island, at least one merchant was erring on the side of caution after hearing forecasts for choppy seas.

"I can't cry wolf," said Henry Uihlein, who owns Uihlein's Marina and Boat Rentals in Montauk.

"I start crying wolf about this, it looks like I'm alarming people to haul their boats prematurely," Uihlein said. "But I am going to haul all my boats out of the water. That way I can handle if it does come close. People don't want to go through the expense and aggravation of hauling their boats out if the storm is going to miss us."

Uihlein said he witnessed the rough seas and had seen enough.

"I just got back in from off the water. I was about maybe three miles northeast of the Montauk Lighthouse," he said. "Once you get past thelighthouse, it's getting nasty."

Britain rejects claim that bomber release tied to UK trade deals

(CNN) -- Britain on Friday rejected claims made by the son of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi that the release of the Lockerbie bomber was linked to trade deals between Libya and Britain.

Saif al-Islam Gadhafi made the comments in an interview with Libyan channel Al Mutawassit, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. The interview was conducted while the younger Gadhafi was flying from Scotland to Libya on Thursday with Abdelbaset al Megrahi on board, according to AFP.

Al Megrahi had been serving a life sentence for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in which 270 people, including 189 Americans, were killed. Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill freed him after doctors concluded he has terminal prostate cancer and estimated he has three months to live.

"All British interests were linked to the release of Abdelbaset al Megrahi," AFP reported Gadhafi as saying, citing the Al Mutawassit broadcast.

"In all commercial contracts, for oil and gas with Britain, (al Megrahi) was always on the negotiating table," Gadhafi said, according to AFP, adding that then-Prime Minister Tony Blair raised al Megrahi's case each time he visited Libya.

The British Foreign Office in London promptly denied the claims, saying in a statement issued late Thursday that "there is no deal."

"No deal has been made between the U.K. Government and Libya in relation to Megrahi and any commercial interests in Libya," said the statement, obtained by CNN. "All decisions relating to Megrahi's case have been exclusively for Scottish ministers, the Crown Office in Scotland and the Scottish judicial authorities."

Saif al-Islam Gadhafi also called al Megrahi's release "a victory that we offer to all Libyans," according to AFP.

The State Department blasted Gadhafi's comments. Assistant Secretary of State P.J. Crowley told CNN that "al Megrahi is a terrorist and mass murderer, and any triumphalism is disgusting."

"We have told the Libyans that he should not be considered a hero -- not today, not ever. The Libyans are aware that their treatment of Megrahi will have a profound impact on our bilateral relationship," Crowley said.

U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday said the joyous welcome al Megrahi received after arriving in Libya was "highly objectionable." British officials also offered criticism.

In a written statement Friday, Saif al-Islam Gadhafi thanked "our friends in the British government who played an important role in reaching this day, and I can assure them that the Libyan people will never forget the courageous stand of the British and Scottish governments. I can also assure them that the friendship between our people will continue to be strengthened and that this past chapter is now firmly behind us."

Al Megrahi always maintained his innocence, complaining that he had spent years in prison for something he did not do.

"The remaining days of my life will have to be spent under the shadow of the wrongness of my conviction," he said in a statement issued Thursday through his attorney. He also offered sympathy to the families of the victims.

The Libyan government had accepted responsibility for the bombing and compensated victims' families in a $2.7 billion deal that paved the way for sanctions against Libya to be dropped and for Tripoli to improve ties with the West.

But on Thursday, after al Megrahi's return, the Libyan official news agency JANA issued a statement from the government saying that al Megrahi had been "a political hostage," as evidenced by his release.

Afghan elections

If he wins — and there are indications that he might — Hamid Karzai’s second term as Afghan president could be more challenging than his first। Even though final election results will take at least a week, the Karzai camp has already claimed victory for the incumbent, while the spokesman for rival candidate Abdullah Abdullah has alleged fraud.

The Taliban’s threat to wreck the polls failed, for people did come out to vote, though the turnout was understandably low. The election was termed a referendum on Mr Karzai’s policies, which have failed to give his people what they want first and foremost — peace. The Taliban insurgency has acquired a new vigour, and on polling day alone there were 73 acts of terror. More than 20 people died in election-related violence.

If and when he settles down for a second term, Mr Karzai must take note of the shift in America’s policy. With the Iraq war virtually behind it, the Obama administration is now concentrating on Afghanistan where the number of American troops is likely to go up from the existing 20,000 to 68,000 by December. At the same time, Washington has made it clear that the ‘surge’ does not preclude the possibility of talking to ‘moderate’ Taliban.

What Mr Karzai must note is that it is not only the Afghans who want peace; there is evidence of considerable war-weariness among the Nato nations, coinciding as the situation does with the international economic crisis. It is doubtful if Mr Karzai is ready to make bold policy decisions and chart a new course of action that could bring the war to an end. His years in power since the 2004 election have been characterised by corruption and incompetence.

More regretfully, Afghanistan remains the world’s number one drug producer, and he has allied himself with warlords known to be criminals, like Tajik chief Qassim Fahim and Rashid Dostum, the Uzbek who has been accused of suffocating hundreds of prisoners to death in sealed containers. It remains to be seen whether a new mandate will enable Mr Karzai to reach out to the militants for a durable peace in his war-torn country.

Pakistan: Drone Strike Kills 12

A drone attack on a village near the Afghan border in North Waziristan killed 12 people early Friday, Pakistani security officials said. The village, Dande Darpa Khel, is part of the stronghold of Jalaluddin Haqqani, an Afghan fighter and senior Taliban member. The missiles hit a compound near an Islamic school that Mr. Haqqani had set up, and women and children were among the dead, Pakistani officials said.

Moon not sighted; 1st Ramazan to fall on Sunday

ISLAMABAD: The first day of the holy month of Ramazan will fall on Sunday (August 23), as the moon of new month was not sighted today, Geo News reported Friday.

The central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee held a meeting with Chairman Mufti Nunib-ur-Rehman in chair to sight the moon of Ramazan of 1430 of Hijri calendar.

Mufti Munib-ur-Rehman announced that no witness came forward with the evidence of sighting moon.

Meetings of zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committees were also held at provincial, zonal and district headquarters.

Earlier, the zonal committees at Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore and Karachi announced the moon was not sighted.

Witnesses from the interior Sindh including Sukkar, Hyderabad, Padidan, Jackobabad, Sibbi and Preetabad said moon was not sighted.

War News Updates: World News Briefs -- August 19, 2009

War News Updates: World News Briefs -- August 19, 2009

+ 22 essential items prices soar last week

ISLAMABAD: The prices of as many as 22 daily commodities have surged even before the advent of the holy month of Ramazan. Acco ...Full Story

+ China to appeal WTO ruling

BEIJING: China said on it will challenge a World Trade Organisation ruling against its restrictions on imported films, books and a ...Full Story

+ PSO dues on public, private institutions reach Rs 87b

KARACHI: Dues of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) owed by public and private institutions have reached up to Rs 87 billions. According ...Full Story

+ Patrol, diesel shortage in various parts of country

LAHORE: There are reports regarding shortage of patrol and diesel in various parts of the country, particularly in Punjab and many ...Full Story

+ Shaukat to preside over meeting of FBR, customs

ISLAMABAD: A meeting of all top officials of customs and Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) would chalk out strategy to bring uniform ...Full Story

+ Bullish KSE100-index closes up 63 points

KARACHI: Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) 100-Index remained bullish and closed at 7,995 up 63 points on Tuesday. The trading start ...Full Story

+ ECC Approves Ramazan Package

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet (ECC) has approved the Ramazan Package to provide immediate relief t ...Full Story

+ KSE100-index closes at 7952 points

KARACHI: Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) 100-Index closed at 7952 down 42 points on Wednesday. The trading started in a positive z ...Full Story

+ Oil jumps after surprise fall in US crude reserves

NEW YORK: Oil prices spiked higher Wednesday on tumbling US crude inventories indicating strong demand in the world's biggest ener ...Full Story

+ 2,000 tonnes LPG imported to maintain prices

KARACHI: The government has imported 2,000 tonnes Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) to meet the demand during month of Ramzan and to main ...Full Story

+ World sugar prices at the highest level in 2009

KARACHI: The price of sugar on world markets has soared by 57% so far this year as parts of Brazil, the largest exporter, had rain ...Full Story

SBP directs banks to maintain ATMs from 12 to 6

KARACI: All banks are liable to provide uninterrupted ATM services to account holders, said spokesman State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

The spokesman SBP Syed Wasimuddin said this while talking to Geo News. He said all banks will carry out maintenance work of ATM machines from 12 midnight to 6:00 am. He also denied the reports that SBP is not providing Rs.100 currency note to banks and added that currency notes supply to banks is as per routine.

PM sacks acting chairman of Pakistan Steel

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani sacked the acting chairman of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), Rasul Bux Phulpoto.

According to reports, the appointment of Phulphoto as acting Chairman PSM has been annulled by the PM Gilani as he was not taken into confidence by the Ministry of Industries and Production over the decision.

On Tuesday, Premier Gilani had dismissed the then PSM chairman Moin Aftab Shiekh for corruption char ... Full Story