Five-museum complex to be built near Mohatta Palace

The president, during a presentation about ongoing projects and future expansion plans of Mohatta Palace Museum here on Thursday, praised the initiative and said similar multi-museum cultural complexes should be set up in other provincial capitals.
The meeting was informed that the proposed Mohatta Palace museum cultural complex would house five major museums aligned across a central quadrangle—a museum for objects of excellence from all over Pakistan, a museum of contemporary art, a crafts museum of living artistic traditions,  a city museum of Karachi and its hinterland and an archaeological museum.
The meeting was informed that the federal government had allocated an annual grant-in-aid of Rs25 million and the Sindh government Rs15 million for the current fiscal year.
President Zardari appreciated the effort behind over two dozen publications of the museum presented to him.
He assured the participants that he would try to persuade individuals and organisations, both within and outside the country, to make contributions to the museum.
He accepted an invitation extended to him by trustees to unveil an obelisk in memory of Benazir Bhutto in the palace garden.
The president advised formation of two committees, to be headed by Hameed Haroon.
One of the bodies is to identify archaeological sites and monuments in need of urgent attention.
The committee will submit a preliminary report within 30 days and the other committee, with Hamid Akhund as secretary, will be responsible for revitalising the Save Moenjodaro Committee.
Other members of the committee would be named shortly.
The president said Mohatta Palace Museum cultural complex be completed within two-and-a-half years.
He directed the Sindh chief secretary to acquire demarcated properties after getting the design properly vetted and approved.

Winding ropes for survival

Rope-making tribes that migrated from Balochistan to Sindh several years ago in search of employment continue to be exploited by middlemen. A few such migrants of the Baloch Lund caste are settled in Kachho Village of District Dadu in Sindh, where women spend their entire day winding leaves to prepare ropes.Woman crushing bundles of leaves of a wild plant ‘Peesh’ to prepare ropes in Kachho village of District Dadu, Sindh.

Mullah Omar rejects Karzai’s call for peace talks

KABUL: Mullah Mohammad Omar, leader of Afghanistan’s Taliban militia, on Wednesday rejected a call from President Hamid Karzai for peace talks, in a statement issued ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha.

Karzai was inaugurated last week after winning a fraud-tainted August poll and used a speech to again call for the Taliban to rejoin the political process in Afghanistan, where about 100,000 US and Nato troops are stationed.

‘The people of Afghanistan will not agree to negotiation which prolongs and legitimises the invader’s military presence in our beloved country. Afghanistan is our home,’ a Taliban statement quoted Omar as saying.

The elusive leader of the militia, which were unseated in the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan, accused foreign powers of seeking negotiations to ‘prolong their evil process of colonization and occupation. The cunning enemy wants to attack people’s crowded places such as mosques and other similar places in order to malign the Mujahideen,’ Omar said.

The one-eyed militant commander called on his fighters to ‘guard against these activities of the enemy and fully avoid carrying out any similar activity. The well-being and prosperity of the people should be your priority.’

The United States and Britain — which have the most troops in Afghanistan — have also opened the door for talks with militants they call ‘moderate Taliban,’ or those who do not have links to Al-Qaida.

Omar is a founder of the Taliban and is often referred to as its ‘supreme commander’ or spiritual leader. Many analysts and diplomats believe he is hiding out in Pakistan, although Islamabad denies his presence.

His last public statement was in September, to coincide with Eid-al-Fitr, in which he also rejected Karzai’s calls to the Taliban to come to the peace table and referred to ‘huge casualties and sagging morale’ among foreign forces.

US President Barack Obama is expected to announce early next week his decision on requests from senior commanders in Afghanistan to boost American troop strength by up to 40,000 in a bid to counter the Taliban insurgency.

Since foreign forces were reinforced earlier the year, the Taliban have been resurgent, adapting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to the increasingly fortified vehicles used by the international military.

So far this year almost 500 foreign troops have been killed, making it the deadliest year since the invasion on October 7, 2001.

Civilian casualties are also high, caused by forces on both sides of the conflict. No definitive are figures available, but Taliban suicide bombs kill indiscriminately, with at least 100 civilian victims in Kabul in four months.

Omar’s statement appeared to respond to rising general disgust with Taliban tactics by calling on ‘every believing man to avoid causing casualties among the common people.’

‘There is no justification under Sharia law for the murder and injury of common people, nor is there any room for such deed in our sacred religion,’ the statement said.

‘Pay heed to the protection of public and national property during the conduct of military operations, particularly during martyrdom-seeking operations,’ he said, referring to suicide bombings.

‘Focus on the invaders and their lackeys and other important targets.’ The statement also had a message for the ‘freedom-loving people of the West,’ who opinion polls show are questioning the wisdom of their governments’ continuing the commitment to Afghanistan.

‘Every day our youths, old men, women and children are martyred by your bombs and mortars,’ it said.

‘The invaders raid the homes of our people at night. They destroy our green gardens, public properties, educational and commercial centres.’— AFP

India preparing for limited war against Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit Tuesday urged the world community to take notice of remarks passed by the Indian Army Chief, saying India is setting the stage for a limited war against Pakistan since long.

The FO spokesman said in its statement that the remarks of Indian Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor reflect the hazardous and aggressive nuclear theory propagated by India.

The spokesman said Deepak’s statement endorses Indian’s aggression-based ambitions regarding nuclear hegemony, adding it is incumbent upon the big world powers to keep intact the power balance in the region.

Abdul Basit said Pakistan is a responsible country and will continue working for the upkeep of peace in the South Asia on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

Gold hits record at Rs31,885/ 10g

The price of 10 grams of yellow metal hit record level at Rs31,885 this week, showing a steep rise of Rs1,585.

President All Sindh Saraf Jewelers Association Haroon Rasheed Chand said the increasing international rate of gold has pushed the commodity’s price to a record level in the local markets.

The price of gold at the weekend reached Rs31,885 per 10 gram and Rs37,200 per tola.

31 dead, 82 trapped after China mine blast

BEIJING: An explosion at a coal mine in northeast China early Saturday killed 31 workers and left 82 trapped, state-run China television said, the latest deadly incident to hit the industry.

The blast happened at 2:30 am (1830 GMT Friday) at a mine in Heilongjiang province, according to a statement issued by the State Administration of Work Safety.

A total of 528 miners were working in the pit, near Hegang City, when the blast occurred, the state administration said.

The previous toll given by TV channel was 15 dead and 114 trapped.

The mine is owned by the Heilongjiang Longmay Mining Holding Group, based in provincial capital Harbin.

State-run news agency said vice premier Zhang Dejiang was going to the scene of the incident to direct rescue operations. President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao had given instructions on the rescue work.

According to the company's website, in 2009 it was ranked 12th out of the top 100 Chinese mining companies and seventh in terms of production volume, without giving further details.

China has a dismal work safety record, with thousands of people dying every year in mines, factories and on construction sites.

Its coalmines are among the most dangerous in the world, with safety standards often ignored in the quest for profits and the drive to meet surging demand for coal -- the source of about 70 percent of China's energy.

In October four owners of an illegal colliery in Guizhou province in the southwest went on the run after 14 workers died when a mine collapsed. The four were later caught by authorities.

And an explosion at a mine in central Henan province in September left more than 50 people dead. The work safety administration said mine shafts had been destroyed after a gas explosion at the pit in the city of Pingdingshan.

Official figures show that more than 3,200 workers died in collieries last year, but independent labour groups say the actual figure could be much higher, as many accidents are covered up in order to avoid costly mine shutdowns.

Due to the country's heavy use of coal to power its fast-paced economic growth, it has become one of the two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases alongside the United States.

Depp labeled world’s hottest man for the 2nd time

NEW YORK: Popularly known for his offbeat and eccentric characters, Johnny Depp earned the second “sexiest man alive” title by People’s magazine Wednesday.

Beating 2008 winner Hugh Jackman, Depp, 46, has been portrayed as "the king of cool with the killer cheekbones" in the People’s sexiest men alive issue which will be out Friday.

This is not the first time the “Pirates of the Carribean” movie star has been bestowed with the honor. He took the title in 2003 also.

Answering what made Depp win the title for the second term, People Senior Editor Kate Coyne told the CBS Early Show, "He was sexy ten years ago, he'll be sexy ten years from now. He appeals to multiple generations of women -- and for many different reasons to different kinds of women."

"He's sort of everything," Coyne said. "He's a guy's guy, kind of a bad boy, he's a respected artist and actor. You know, he's got a little bit of everything."

New Zealand Invitation XI make 234 against Pakistan

 WELLINGTON: New Zealand were bowled out for 234 as Pakistan were 14-0 at close of first day’s play against New Zealand Invitation XI in a three-day invitation match.

Earlier, New Zealand captain Grant Elliot elected to bat first after wining the toss. New Zealand Invitation XI were bowled out at 234 runs. Reece Young scored 75 runs. Pakistani fast bowler Abdul Rauf took four whereas Muhammad Asif, Yasir Arafat and Danish Kaneria took two wickets each.

In reply, Pakistan scored 14 runs without loss at stumps. Imran Farhat at 10 and Fawwad Alam without score were remained at the crease.

Obama visit triggers protest in S Korea

SEOUL: South Korean civil groups staged different rallies in the capital Seoul on Wednesday prior to US President Barack Obama's arrival in South Korea.

A small group of anti-war protesters demonstrated outside the US Embassy in Seoul, protesting against the South Korean government's plans to re-deploy its troops in Afghanistan.

South Korea announced its troop dispatch plan late last month, about two years after it withdrew some 200 army medics and engineers from Afghanistan.

The pullout, though previously planned, followed a hostage standoff in which the Taliban killed two South Koreans after demanding that Seoul immediately withdraw its troops.

Local media reports, however, have said the government is considering increasing the number to 130, and plans to send about 300 troops by early next year.

South Korea will be Obama's final destination of his Asia tour which began on November 12.