Withdrawal of Asif Zardari not true: Sherry Rehman

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sherry Rehman late Friday said co-Chairman of PPP Asif Ali Zardari was not withdrawing from the presidential race and any news of his giving up Presidential contest she termed “rumor”.

She said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) possesses the numbers required to win the presidential election and it would see Asif Ali Zardari as President on September 6.Talking to journalists outside the Parliament House here, she said PPP enjoys clear majority in the parliament and being a major party it has the right of Presidentship. “In all provinces our party has adequate representation. We enjoy comfortable majority and our opponents are only spreading misinformation,” she said while responding to a question.

Asked about contacts with PML (N), she said in politics there are always contacts and doors of negotiations should remain open, adding that PPP followed a policy of national reconciliation, which was in the interest of the people as well as the country. “PPP is promoting political reconciliation as Shaheed Benazir Bhutto laid her life for promotion of reconciliation,” Sherry said. She said Asif Ali Zardari wants strong relations with all political parties because PPP believes in establishment of democratic norms in letter and spirit.

To another question Sherry Rehman said, “It is the real time to strengthen democratic forces and stabilize the democratic institutions and after September 6 there will be consolidation and stabilization in the country.

McCain makes huge gamble with VP pick :

DAYTON: John McCain made what some analysts say is one of the riskiest wagers in US political history by naming Sarah Palin as his running mate, potentially putting a national security novice a heartbeat away from the presidency.

In one sense the pick was an immediate success, sparking an avalanche of media coverage which swamped talk of Democrat Barack Obama's soaring convention speech and elevation as the first black major party White House nominee just late Thursday.Pat Buchanan, a former Republican presidential candidate, said on television channel that the pick of the 44-year-old mother of five was the "biggest political gamble in American political history." The upside is that the charismatic Alaska governor will delight the conservative right which has been wary of McCain, is a fit with the "change" theme consuming the electorate and makes a pitch for women voters yet to warm to Obama.

She is youthful, energetic and with a young family brings a trace of glamor and flamboyance to the previously staid McCain campaign, and she can be billed as an anti-Washington reformer. And her selection allows McCain to tap into the historic theme of this election: if Obama wins, America will get its first African-American president. Should McCain win, the country will have its first female number two. But the pick is such a gamble, because Palin has zero foreign policy experience, no exposure to the fierce crossfire of the national political battle, and will be portrayed by Democrats as a right-wing extremist.

The number one knock on Palin is that in a time of global turmoil she has no obvious credentials to serve as US commander in chief should McCain, who was 72 Friday and has had cancer twice, die in office or have to step down through ill health. Palin will also have a challenge in going head-to-head in a vice presidential debate with Obama's vice presidential pick Joseph Biden, a senator with decades of national security experience.

World Bank asks Pak to do more to safeguard economy :

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has asked Pakistani government to do more to safeguard the economy against further shocks.

However, the Bank’s Vice President for South Asia, Isabel Guerrero has acknowledged the steps taken to support the economy amid a hike in global food and fuel prices. During her visit Guerrero reconfirmed the lender’s ongoing commitment to Pakistan -- noting that investment programmes in are on track - despite the prevailing political and security uncertainty. The World Bank team met with high level government officials today including the finance minister Naveed Qamar, Prime Minister Yousuf Gilani and PPP leader Asif Zardari. The two sides also discussed different infrastructural projects in the fields of power, water management, public health and nutrition.

Death toll in Kohat suicide attacks mounts to 7, many migrate :

KOHAT: Death toll in Kohat suicide attack has mounted to seven while 32 including 25 security men were injured in three suicide attacks on Friday.

According to sources, suicide bombers attempted to ram three explosive-laden vehicles at security forces camp in a building near Kohat tunnel in Darra Adamkhel. The first suicide bomber drove his double cab towards the building housing security forces, but security personnel opened fire on the vehicle before he could reach the structure. As the bullets struck the car, it exploded at the gate of the complex. Second car was blasted after hitting the wall whereas third suicide bomber left the car at the gate of the camp and managed to flee. Two persons were killed in the blastInspector of tunnel security forces William Johnson and 32 others including 25 security men wounded in the blast.

The injured were shifted to CMH Kohat. Security forces have cordoned off the area. Militants blew off the bridge, Rosiano Qillay, which connected Adam Khel Pass to Indus High Way on Friday night.The tensions in the area have forced several inhabitants to migrate of to nearby safer places.

Lohan hits out at 'bully' father :

Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan has lashed out at her father calling him a "public embarrassment" and a "bully" on her MySpace blog.
The star was responding to an interview with her father Michael, in which he said that he thought Lohan's girlfriend Samantha Ronson was "using" her.
"His recent attack on my life and my loved ones is simply for an addiction that he has - fame," the actress said.
The Mean Girls star and her father have been estranged for many years.

Europe seeks overseas film boost :

The European Commission is to expand a pilot scheme to put more European films into Asian and Latin American cinemas.
One of the scheme's co-ordinators said the plan would provide a counterbalance to the large amount of Hollywood product in cinemas around the world.
European film officials are promoting the scheme at the Venice Film Festival.
In return for a subsidy, some 50 companies have already agreed to show a certain number of European titles each year. That network will now expand.
Getting its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival this weekend is Inju - the Beast in the Shadows, directed by Barbet Schroeder, a veteran both of Hollywood and of French cinema.
The thriller, which is gruesome at times, stars French actor Benoit Magimel and is set in Japan.

Wagner says goodbye to Bayreuth :

Wolfgang Wagner has bid farewell to the Bayreuth opera festival in Germany after 57 years at the helm.
The 88-year-old blinked back tears as the annual music festival, founded by his grandfather - composer Richard Wagner, came to a close on Thursday.
"I hope you leave the stage a happy man," said festival spokesman Peter Emmerich, in a speech to Wolfgang.
Wolfgang's tenure officially comes to an end on Saturday, but the battle to become his successor remains wide open.
Wolfgang agreed to step down as head of the prestigious music festival earlier this year.

Chemical coat to mean drier socks :

Almost any surface or fabric can be made waterproof but remain breathable thanks to a former military technology.
The process was originally developed to ensure soldiers' clothing remained impermeable to chemical weapons.
Shoe maker Hi-Tec has signed a deal with the developers of the process to use the technology to waterproof many of its shoes.
The first commercially available shoes treated with the process were shown off in London this week.

Ofcom seeks help on mobile rules :

The good and bad aspects of the UK's mobile phone networks are being sought by Ofcom.
The telecoms regulator wants help from consumers and industry on areas that need more regulation or where the rules can be loosened.
It is also looking for ideas on how best to extend mobile networks across the entire nation.
It said rule changes might be necessary given the rapid pace of technological change in the industry.

Powerful Gustav heads to Caymans :

Hurricane Gustav is moving towards the Cayman Islands as it continues to threaten Cuba and the US Gulf Coast.
The storm has already killed at least 71 people as it passed through the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica.
Gustav could develop into a category three storm over the weekend as it passes over warm waters.
The warnings came as New Orleans buried some of the last unidentified victims of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the city three years ago.
Both New Orleans and coastal Mississippi have been holding commemorations for the victims of Hurricane Katrina on the anniversary of the storm sweeping ashore.

McCain picks female running mate :

US Republican presidential hopeful John McCain has picked Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, as his surprise running mate.
At 44, she is three years younger than Barack Obama and is credited with reforms during her first term, but she is relatively unknown in US politics.
Mr McCain appeared with her on stage at a lively rally in Dayton, Ohio.
Analysts say Mrs Palin was chosen to rejuvenate the campaign of Mr McCain, who is celebrating his 72nd birthday.
The announcement ended weeks of speculation about his potential choice, in which Mrs Palin was mentioned only as a long shot.