Pakistan conducts successful Flight Test of Hatf-VIII (Ra'ad) - Associated Press of Pakistan

Secretary Religious Affairs reviews Haj arrangements in Saudi Arabia - MAKKAH, May 30 (APP): Secretary Ministry of Religious Affairs Chaudhry Mohammed Azam held a meeting with Chairman Moassasah for South Asian Haj Pilgrims Adnan Katib here on Wednesday and discussed Haj arrangements. The Secretary Religious Affairs who was on a visit to Saudi Arabia, held meetings with Saudi officials to review Haj arrangements for Pakistani pilgrims. The delegation also inspected the buildings hired for Pakistani Hujjaj. During the visit, Secretary Ministry of Religious Affairs held in depth meetings with Director General Hajj Syed Abu Aakif, Director Haj Rafeo Shah and Deputy Director Haj Madinah Munawarrah Umar Farooq.

SAARC news agencies to help create an order based on shared benefits - PARO (Bhutan) May 30 (APP) : The national news agencies of SAARC member states should promote the spirit of friendship, trust and undestanding and help create an order based on mutual respect, equity and shared benefits for the collective welfare of the people of the region.
Head of Media Relations Division, Bhutan, Dawa Penjor speaking at a three-day seminar on “How to increase cooperation among news agencies of SAARC region” here on Wednesday said that SAARC is a manifestation of the determination of the people of South Asia to work together in all fields to meet the future challenges.

Asian economies growth to slow, balance: Expert - BEIJING, May 30 (APP):  Asian economies will expand at a slightly slower pace over the next two years due to shrinking demand from developed nations, but the growth will be more balanced, a top economist forecast on Wednesday. The region’s average gross domestic product (GDP) will drop to 7.2 percent and 7.3 percent in 2012 and 2013, respectively, from 7.4 percent last year, said Michael Heise, chief economist with the Allianz Group, the world’s leading insurance and financial services provider. China’s growth, though slowing in recent years, will become a driver of the region’s expansion, Heise said at a press conference concerning a report on Asia’s economic outlook.

Pentagon recognizes need to put US-Pakistan relations back on track - WASHINGTON, May 29 (APP):  The Pentagon on Tuesday recognized the need to put US-Pakistan relationship back on track, with a spokesman differeing with the media characterization that Chairman Joint Chiefs Staff General Martin Dempsey expressed his backing for a Senate move to cut Pakistan aid over the issue of imprisoned Pakistani doctor Shakil Afridi. A Pentagon spokesman said Gen Dempsey has been clear in emphasizing the need to repair strained ties with Pakistan, which is considered by experts as key to a successful outcome of the Afghan conflict.

UN honours 8 Pakistanis posthumously on Int?l Day of Peacekeepers - UNITED NATIONS, May 29 (APP): The United Nations on Tuesday honoured the sacrifices of 112 peacekeepers, including eight Pakistanis, who paid the ultimate price in serving the cause of peace in hot spots around the world last year. “Peace, stability and justice - these are timeless goals of peacekeeping. The fallen we remember today contributed to these eternal aims - and their legacy will live on for all time,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a solemn ceremony marking the annual International Day of UN Peacekeepers. He also paid tributes to the more than 120,000 military, police and civilians currently serving worldwide under the blue flag.
LAHORE, May 30 (APP)- The first phase of PCB-Pepsi cricket Stars talent hunt Programme for U16 players will start from June 1 across the country. It will be the third edition of the programme which aims at hunting fresh cricket talent. The first phase of the trials will be held in 5 districts of Punjab, Baluchistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa simultaneously. Players born on or after September 1, 1996 are eligible to appear for trials.  Original Form B of NADRA is required for age verification and no other document in this regard would be accepted.
  LAHORE, May 30 (APP)- The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) baseball coaches course will be held here from August 25.    The Pakistan Federation Baseball in collaboration with both OCA and Pakistan Olympic Association will conduct the 12-day useful activity which aims at upgrading the existing knowledge of the baseball coaches.
  LAHORE, May 30 (APP)- A book titled “ History of Pakistan Junior cricket “ has been launched to provide an indepth analysis and study of the junior cricket in Pakistan. The book compiled by Pakistan Cricket Board’s manager logistics, Maqsood Ahmad Khan focuses on Pak jr cricket from 1968 till today and provides and ample material about yesteryears who progressed from their teens to become stars. The photographs selected in the book are very valuable and show case the efforts for putting together the history of junior level cricket. “ It is the first ever book on Pak jr cricket and tells about the U19 cricket records “,said Maqsood while talking to APP here on Wednesday.
  ISLAMABAD, May 30 (APP): Intikhab Alam, the director games and development of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said that the process of receiving applications for the new bowling coach has not been ended as the board is still looking for a “suitable person for the slot.” “We have received several applications for the bowling coach. But most of the applicants do not fulfill our requirements,” he told APP. Pakistan has recently appointed Dav Whatmore and Julien Foutain as head/batting and fielding coach, respectively and Intikhab said after their appointment players’ technique had started to improve. 
  PESHAWAR, May 30 (APP): Director General Rescue-1122 Dr. Shamsul Haq  Wednesday said that all arrangements for smooth holding of the Rescue-1122 Sports Week have been completed and the opening ceremony of the Games carrying different disciplines would be kicked off from June 3 here. In the sports week different competitions like victim/patient carrying running, long jump, Tug-of-War, swimming, Kabaddi, Volleyball, Badminton, Football will be organized. He said it is for the first time that the Rescue-1122 is organizing its sports week to be concluded on June 8 in order to make the Jawans of the force more vibrant.
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Gilani, Erdogan hold wide-ranging talks to boost Pak-Turk ties - Associated Press of Pakistan

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UN team in Syria evacuated from tense town - The Associated Press

Assad says Syrians support his reform efforts(AP) – 3 minutes ago 

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad has told a Russian state news channel that his country supports his reform agenda.

He says recent parliamentary elections in the country show that Syrians "up to this time support the course of reform."

The government has praised the May 7 vote as a milestone in promised political reforms.

But the opposition boycotted the polls and said they were orchestrated by the regime to strengthen Assad's grip on power.

The interview is to be broadcast on state news channel Rossiya-24 later Wednesday, but some excerpts were released in advance.

Assad's last interview with a foreign news outlet was in December.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

BEIRUT (AP) — A team of international observers was evacuated Wednesday from a tense town in northern Syria a day after their convoy was hit by a roadside bomb, a U.N. spokesman said.

The team's vehicles were struck by the blast Tuesday during a mission in the northern town of Khan Sheikhoun. None of the observers was wounded, but they had to spend the night with rebel forces in the area. Ahmad Fawzi, a spokesman for international envoy Kofi Annan, said the observers were "reported to be uninjured and in good health."

Syria-based U.N. spokesman Hassan Seklawi said U.N. members picked up the team around noon Wednesday.

"They left in one convoy in the direction of Hama," Seklawi said referring to a central city south of Khan Sheikhoun.

Tuesday's attack, which came minutes after witnesses said regime forces gunned down mourners at a funeral procession nearby, dealt a fresh blow to Annan's peace plan and the U.N. effort to monitor compliance with a troubled cease-fire agreement.

Russian state television was to air an interview with Syrian President Bashar Assad later Wednesday.

Russia has been Syria's most powerful and loyal ally over the course of the uprising, selling weapons to the regime and blocking action against Damascus at the U.N. Security Council.

Activists said the violence continued Wednesday with regime forces opening fire from the outskirts of Khan Sheikhoun.

Rami Abdul-Rahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights activist group, said the heavy machine-gun fire has so far prevented people from holding funerals for some of the 20 mourners who were killed at the funeral on Tuesday.

The U.N. said rebel forces had given the observers shelter in the town, which has witnessed anti-government protests since an uprising against Assad's regime began in March last year.

Fawzi said in a statement that six staff members were "reportedly being treated well" while in rebel hands. He said the observers were caught up in the explosion as they met with the rebel Free Syrian Army. He said three vehicles were damaged.

More than 200 U.N. observers have been deployed throughout Syria to monitor the cease-fire agreement, which has been repeatedly violated by both sides since it took effect on April 12.

The bombing was at least the second time the U.N. observers have been caught up in Syria's violence. Last week, a roadside bomb struck a Syrian military truck in the south of the country just seconds after the Norwegian team leader Maj. Gen. Robert Mood rode by in a convoy.

It was not clear who was behind the blast and no one claimed responsibility.

A video posted by activists online appeared to show the exact moment the U.N. vehicle was struck. The video shows two white vehicles clearly marked "U.N" with people milling around it, and two others parked a few meters (yards) behind. Slippers apparently left behind by the mourners running away from the shooting earlier are seen strewn about on the ground.

The blast blew off the front of the first vehicle and sent up a plume of smoke as people screamed and frantically ran for cover. The four cars are then seen slowly driving away.

It was not clear how close the observers were to the funeral shootings, but if confirmed, a regime attack on civilians directly in front of the observer mission could put pressure on them to describe publicly what they are seeing in Syria. They report back to the U.N. but have not publicized their findings.

Also Wednesday, a Turkish official said the situation in Syria and discussions on the possibility of a NATO intervention were bound to come up during a NATO summit in Chicago next week. So far, the international community has shown little appetite for getting involved in another Arab nation in turmoil.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with Turkish government regulations, said NATO could become involved if the U.N. Security Council approved an intervention — a move considered unlikely given Russia and China's support of Assad — or if any of the NATO members feels threatened and calls for protection from the alliance.

The official said Turkey would call for NATO protection if "our national security and national interests are threatened or if there is an attack from Syria," though he added "there is no such situation at present."

Syria's state-run TV, meanwhile, reported Wednesday that authorities released 250 people who were involved in the uprising. Assad has issued several pardons releasing thousands of detainees since the crisis began.

The Observatory also said Syrian forces opened fire at the Naziheen Palestinian refugee camp in the southern city of Daraa, killing four people. The pro-government TV station Ikhbariyah blamed members of "an armed terrorist group," saying they fired two rocket-propelled grenades at the camp, killing a 4-year-old girl and wounding 15 other people.

Activists also reported intense shelling by Syrian troops of the rebel-held central town of Rastan, which witnessed intense clashes between troops and rebels earlier this week.

In the central city of Homs, activists said Syrian troops stormed the Shammas neighborhood late Tuesday, killing at least 15 people. The Observatory said some of those killed were subjected to "summary executions." An amateur video posted online showed about 10 dead men lying on the floor of a room said to be in Shammas neighborhood.

The reports could not be independently confirmed.

The Syrian uprising began with mostly peaceful protests calling for change, but a relentless government crackdown led many in the opposition to take up arms. Some soldiers also have switched sides and joined forces with the rebels.

The U.N. estimates the conflict has killed more than 9,000 people.

Tensions have spilled over the border, with Lebanese tribesmen loyal to Assad kidnapping Syrian opposition supporters to exchange them with relatives abducted in Syria recently.

Members of Lebanon's Jaafar tribe kidnapped seven anti-government Syrian citizens recently and exchanged them Wednesday for two men kidnapped in the Syrian border town of Zeita, according to Lebanese security officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser contributed to this report from Ankara, Turkey.

Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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United States helps strengthen Pakistani Civil Society - Associated Press of Pakistan

People of Pakistan and Japan have centuries old contacts: Japan FM - TOKYO, April 27 (APP): Pakistan is a beautiful country blessed with a lot historical and cultural assets, including the Indus Valley and Gandhara civilizations. This was stated by Japan’s Foreign Minister, Koichiro Genba, while addressing a reception arranged by Pakistan Embassy in a local hotel here to mark the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Pakistan. The Japanese Foreign Minister said that the people from the present day Pakistan had centuries old contacts with the people of Japan. He said recent research had revealed that even in the 18th century trade prevailed between Japan and the areas consisting present Pakistan. The Japanese Foreign Minister appreciated Pakistan’s assistance in the wake of Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.

Arif Lohar says his US tour is aimed at sharing ?our wish for peace? - NEW YORK, April 27 (APP): Pakistan’s famous folk singer Arif Lohar, who is in the United States bringing Sufi music to Americans audiences in various cities across the country, calls himself both “a fakir and a safir (a wandering mystic and a cultural ambassador). All the world over, the language is music, he said in an interview with The New York Times. The styles are different, the
nuances are different. But the language is the same. I am here representing my country and my culture. I have connected with people, and it feels so good to connect in that way,” said Lohar, who is set to perform at Asia Society in New York Friday night—the show is sold out.

Grossman had productive meetings on full range of issues: US - WASHINGTON, April 26 (APP): The United States on Thursday described the  U.S. delegations talks with Pakistani officials as productive as the two sides engaged in discussions on full range of issues in the wake of Pakistani Parliaments new guidelines on way forward in the bilateral relations. The State Department said the U.S. inter-agency team, led by special  envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Marc Grossman, affirmed Washingtons resolve to work with Pakistan going forward on wide-ranging areas.

US says wants to see PM contempt issue settled justly, transparently - WASHINGTON, April 26 (APP): The United States sees the issue of contempt of court against Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilai as an internal Pakistani matter and expects it to be resolved  justly and transparently, the State Department said Thursday. State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland, asked at the daily  briefing to comment  on the Supreme Court’s conviction verdict earlier Thursday in the contempt case against the prime minister,  said:

Hillary Clinton to visit China, Bangladesh, India next week - WASHINGTON, April 26 (APP): U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will next week visit China, Bangladesh, and India on a regional trip during which she will discuss bilateral relations with leaders of the three countries. In Beijing May 3-4, Secretary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner will join their Chinese co-chairs, Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councilor Dai Bingguo, for the fourth joint meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED), the State Department said.
LAHORE, Apr 26 (APP)- The 34th National Boxing Championships on Thursday reached to final stage after all the national champions eased into the title-fight round here at the Punjab College Hall. On the fourth day of the event there was only one RSC O/C (referee stopped contest outclass) and a knock out decisions and a walk over but none of the boxers who entered into the ring retired.  All the bouts were played till the last second and the decisions were  made on points.
  LAHORE, Apr 26 (APP)- The newly appointed, Chief Executive Officer of USA Cricket Association, Nabeel Ahmed said that USACA will seek cooperation from different cricket boards including Pakistan Cricket Board to lift the level of cricket in America. “We have been assigned a challenging task to raise the standards of USA cricket and definitely we will be taking all necessary measures to give new dimensions to our cricket,” he told APP from Detroit here on Thursday. The newly elected CEO of USACA firmly believes that noted cricket boards of the world can benefit the cricket in USA where the passion for cricket is ever growing and youth is taking cricket as a sport, said Nabeel from Pakistani origin and a former Senior Vice President of USACA.
  LAHORE, April 26 (APP) - Pakistan Olympic Association entered into a new era by launching its webiste to provide update information regarding national olympic committee and its affiliated national sports federations. “ It is a new chapter in country’s sports that we have developed a major source of information sharing regarding Pakistan’s sports for our own people and sports lover around the globe”,said Lt Gen retd Syed Arif Hasan, President,POA at a news conference to unveil the salient features of the POA website after Executive Committee meeting of the POA here on Thursday.
  LAHORE, April 26 (APP) - Top national players moved into the quarter finals of the men singles of the 14th All Pakistan Aamer Hayat Khan Rokhri Badminton Tournament after winning their respective ties here on Thursday at New Khan Hall. No upset was recorded in the single matches and Wajid Ali (Wapda), Shoaib Hafeez (Punjab), Shabbar Hussain (Wapda), Waqas Ahmed (Wapda) and Attique Ch (Wapda) breezed into the next round of the event.
  KARACHI, Apr. 26 (APP) - Pakistan’s top cuemen Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Sultan won their last league games but failed to qualify for the last 16 round of 28th Asian Snooker Championship in Doha (Qatar), according to information received here on Thursday. Asif was taken to full distance by Bashar Hussain Abdulmajid of Qatar before grabbing 4-3 wins.
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