Shoaib malik and Sania mirza going to Sialkot for Valima

LAHORE: Cricketer Shoaib Malik and his bride Sania Mirza left for Sialkot to host their valima reception ceremony there, Geo News reported Sunday.

According to police sources, Shoaib Malik and his wife Sania Mirza appeared from VIP Gate of a hotel at Mall Road followed by their relatives.

According to police sources, there was only one police squad vehicle for the security of the couple.

The sources told that Shoaib, Sania and their families shied away from media glare without taking any protocol.

Pakistan hands six dossiers to India

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan sought the extradition from India of the suspected lone surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai attacks to further its own investigation into the case, officials said on Sunday.

According to sources, Indian Deputy High Commissioner Rahul was summoned at Foreign Office and handed six dossiers on the headway made in Mumbai Attacks investigations.

The dossier has been sent to New Delhi through which the extradition of Ajmal Kasab, the gunman, and Fahim Ansari, an Indian accused of conducting reconnaissance of Mumbai landmarks before the attack, has been sought.

The dossiers comprise the answers to questions raised by India in connection with the Attacks. Also, the explanation of some questions has been demanded of India.

Pakistan wants more information on the Attacks, the dossiers said.

"In the context of an ongoing trial in Islamabad, it(extradition) is becoming our legal requirement and we are sending a dossier soon in this regard," Pakistan’s Foreign Office official earlier said.

India blames Pakistan-based LeT for the Mumbai attacks and has broken off talks with Pakistan, saying Islamabad must first act against militants operating from its soil, including the LeT, before a peace process can resume.

Another official said Pakistan hoped to get information from Kasab and Ansari which could be used for the trial of the seven LeT members.

"We believe their statements, especially Kasab's, would be helpful," said the official, who declined to be identified.

Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said warrants had been issued for the arrest of the pair.

Kasab is accused of being one of 10 gunmen who attacked Mumbai in November 2008 in a three-day rampage.

An Indian court concluded his trial in March and is due to announce its verdict on May 3. Kasab faces the death penalty if found guilty of waging war against India.

India has also been pressing Pakistan to prosecute LeT founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed but Islamabad says New Delhi has not provided enough evidence against him.

Leaders of India and Pakistan may meet in Bhutan's capital this week on the sidelines of a summit of South Asian nations to discuss trade and the environment.

Pakistan hands six dossiers to India

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan sought the extradition from India of the suspected lone surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai attacks to further its own investigation into the case, officials said on Sunday.

According to sources, Indian Deputy High Commissioner Rahul was summoned at Foreign Office and handed six dossiers on the headway made in Mumbai Attacks investigations.

The dossier has been sent to New Delhi through which the extradition of Ajmal Kasab, the gunman, and Fahim Ansari, an Indian accused of conducting reconnaissance of Mumbai landmarks before the attack, has been sought.

The dossiers comprise the answers to questions raised by India in connection with the Attacks. Also, the explanation of some questions has been demanded of India.

Pakistan wants more information on the Attacks, the dossiers said.

"In the context of an ongoing trial in Islamabad, it(extradition) is becoming our legal requirement and we are sending a dossier soon in this regard," Pakistan’s Foreign Office official earlier said.

India blames Pakistan-based LeT for the Mumbai attacks and has broken off talks with Pakistan, saying Islamabad must first act against militants operating from its soil, including the LeT, before a peace process can resume.

Another official said Pakistan hoped to get information from Kasab and Ansari which could be used for the trial of the seven LeT members.

"We believe their statements, especially Kasab's, would be helpful," said the official, who declined to be identified.

Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said warrants had been issued for the arrest of the pair.

Kasab is accused of being one of 10 gunmen who attacked Mumbai in November 2008 in a three-day rampage.

An Indian court concluded his trial in March and is due to announce its verdict on May 3. Kasab faces the death penalty if found guilty of waging war against India.

India has also been pressing Pakistan to prosecute LeT founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed but Islamabad says New Delhi has not provided enough evidence against him.

Leaders of India and Pakistan may meet in Bhutan's capital this week on the sidelines of a summit of South Asian nations to discuss trade and the environment.

Oil stays below 84 dollars in Asian trade

SINGAPORE: Oil prices fell in Asian trade Thursday after a report showing weaker demand in the United States, the world's largest energy-consuming nation, analysts said.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in June, dropped 26 cents to 83.42 dollars a barrel.

Brent North Sea crude for June was down 16 cents to 85.54 dollars.

The US Department of Energy (DoE) announced Wednesday that American crude reserves increased 1.9 million barrels in the week ending April 16. This was against market expectations for a drop of 200,000 barrels

Gasoline or petrol stockpiles also soared 3.6 million barrels, more than forecasts for a small gain of 300,000 barrels.

Distillates, which include diesel and heating fuel, rose 2.1 million barrels whereas analysts had expected an increase of 900,000 barrels.

"The increase in crude inventories was largely unexpected so demand fundamentals are weighing on people's minds," Serene Lim, a Singapore-based oil analyst with the ANZ bank, said.

Demand in the United States is closely monitored by the oil market because it is the world's biggest economy and its largest energy consumer.

The giant US economy is struggling to recover from its worst downturn since the 1930s.

US and China announce anti-dumping steps

BEIJING: The United States and China have announced new anti-dumping steps against each other over aluminum and nylon, raising the threat of new tensions over trade and currency that had eased in recent weeks.

The U.S. Commerce Department said Wednesday it was launching an investigation into whether Chinese extruded aluminum products were being dumped, or sold at improperly low prices, due to government subsidies or other aid.

On Thursday, China's Commerce Ministry said it was imposing anti-dumping duties of up to 96.5 percent on imports of polycaprolactam, or nylon 6, from the United States, Europe, Russia and Taiwan.

The latest moves could reignite strains over U.S. complaints about China's currency controls, which critics say keep the Chinese currency undervalued and give its exporters an unfair price advantage. The two sides have made a series of conciliatory gestures in recent weeks, including a visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao to Washington.

The two governments have launched a series of trade cases over access to each other's markets for tires, steel, movies, music and other goods.

Products cited in the latest U.S. complaint are used in making window and door frames and sills, gutters, and solar power frames. The Commerce Department said their prices were alleged to be 32.5 to33.3 percent too low. The department said it would issue a preliminary report May 17 and a final determination in May.

Jordan reports blast at depot, denies Israel rocket fire

AMMAN: A senior Jordanian official said a blast hit a depot near its port town of Aqaba on Thursday, denying an Israeli television report that rockets were fired from its territory at the resort city of Eilat.

The explosion occurred in an air-conditioning plant on the outskirts of Aqaba at about 7:00 am (0400 GMT), the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"We know of no rockets in Eilat," he said, adding that an investigation had been launched into the incident.

Shoaib and Sania reach Islamabad hotel

ISLAMABAD: Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza have arrived at a local hotel where reservation had been made for their day-long stay in the capital city.

The couple was provided a VVIP protocol as they left Benazir International Airport for the hotel on Thursday evening.

A cheerful crowd gathered outside the airport to welcome the newly-weds. However, the couple left the airport in a coaster from VIP exit.

The roads were blocked for free movement of the couple’s convoy who are being treated as state guests during their visit to the city.

Reservation for the state guests has been made in a five-star hotel for a day in Islamabad.

They are expected to meet high officials in the capital city including the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad.

Earlier, the couple took a flight from Karachi airport and arrived in Islamabad in one hour and forty-five minutes.

Shoaib and Sania were presented flower bouquets by the plane crew as they got onboard at Karachi airport.

On her arrival in Karachi from India, Sania Mirza said it is for the first time in her life that she has come to the metropolitan city. “It feels great to have arrived here in Pakistan,” she said.

On the occasion, Shoaib Malik said he will stay in Pakistan with her mate for one week.

Sania Mirza’s mother is accompanying the couple. It is expected that the Indian guests will start arriving in Pakistan in the next day or two to attend the Valima reception.

Shoania will return to India after hosting the reception on April 28.

Above 150 US companies facing bankruptcy threat

WASHINGTON: At least 150 US companies facing threat of bankruptcy as Obama administration has announced amendments in financial reforms to tackle the situation.

US President Barack Obama said in a speech that the United States was doomed to repeat its economic crisis if his financial reform bid failed, calling financial institutions to "join, not fight" the drive.

In his speech, Obama outlined the need to push forward the financial industry reform, explaining at a speech in New York that the nation will be at risk if the US keeps the current framework. He seeks to swiftly push regulatory reform into law.

"It is essential that we learn the lessons of this crisis, so we don't doom ourselves to repeat it," Obama said.

Obama said he believed in the "power of the free market," but a free market was never meant to be a free license to take whatever you can get, however you can get it. And he urged Wall Street bosses to halt armies of lobbyists the White House says are being paid millions of dollars by the industry to hinder reform.

Iceland closes airports for first time due to volcanic ash

LONDON: Iceland will close two airports on Friday for the first time, a week after ash from an Icelandic volcano forced the shutdown of airspace over much of Europe and stranded thousands of passengers around the world, the Icelandic aviation authority announced.

The Keflavik International Airport and Reykjavík International Airport will be closed beginning early Friday morning, the aviation authority said, according to a statement on the Keflavik airport's website.

Though the ash cloud originated in Iceland, the country's airports have been spared from closure until now. Strong northwest winds had been blowing ash from the volcano, in the south of Iceland, out to sea and over Europe.

Elsewhere in Europe, most airports appeared to be open on Thursday and are expected to be open Friday.

That reduction in volcanic activity appeared to be the main reason that flights resumed operating in Europe on Wednesday, along with European countries relaxing their restrictions on flight, according to a spokeswoman for Eurocontrol, an intergovernmental body that manages European air travel.

MQM delegation meets Punjab CM

MQM delegation meets Punjab CM LAHORE: A four-member delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) met with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif at his residence here on Friday.

The delegation headed by Provincial Minister Dr. Sagheer comprised of Faisal Sabzwari, Khalid Umer and Nisar Ahmad Panwar discussed conventions of MQM in Punjab and other issues.

Talking to Geo News, MQM leader Faisal Sabzwari said that permission to hold conventions in open spaces in ... Full story