Obama unveils new US policy for Pakistan, Afghanistan

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Barack Obama Friday said Al-Qaeda is ‘actively planning' attacks on US from safe havens in Pakistan.

Unfolding a new US strategy to defeat Taliban and Al-Qaeda, Obama said Pakistan must be 'stronger partner' in destroying Al-Qaeda safe havens. In this connection, he said Pakistan would be provided financial assistance of 1.5 billion dollars each year for the next five years.

However, he said US would not provide a blank cheque to Pakistan “as they also needed to prove their commitment in war against terror.”

President Obama warned the situation in Afghanistan is increasingly perilous. He said he would plunge 4,000 more US troops into the unfinished war, triple US aid to Pakistan to 7.5 billion dollars over five years, attempt to peel away more moderate Taliban factions and lead a global civilian surge to Afghanistan.

"Attacks against our troops, our NATO allies, and the Afghan government have risen steadily. Most painfully, 2008 was the deadliest year of the war for American forces."

"I want the American people to understand that we have a clear and focused goal: to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat Al-Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan and to prevent their return to either country in the future," Obama said.

"That is the goal that must be achieved. That is a cause that could not be more just. And to the terrorists who oppose us, my message is the same: we will defeat you. "

He said US will not turn blind eye to Afghan government corruption.

The US President proposed setting up a new contact group on Afghanistan including Iran to tackle the Taliban and Al-Qaeda insurgency.

Snowstorm, floods hit northern US states

CALIFORNIA: A heavy blizzard dumped wet snow on volunteers as they rushed to build dikes against rising flood waters in North Dakota, as officials used explosives to try break up ice jams on swelling rivers.

The storm's blustering winds knocked out power to towns across the largely rural prairie state and made many roads impassable as it dumped snow and freezing rain, officials said.

Several bridges and roads were already closed due to flooding as an unusually heavy snow pack began to melt on top of saturated land that has not yet fully thawed.

More snow was forecast to fall on the Red River valley in the coming days and rain could worsen flood conditions by the weekend, the weather service predicted.

Low-lying homes across the state were evacuated as rivers and creeks spilled over their banks, although damage was largely restricted to water in basements. No injuries were reported in a situation report issued at 7:30 pm (0130 GMT Thursday).

About 20 people from homes south of Fargo were evacuated with airboats that sluiced through ice-covered floodwaters after sandbag dikes began to leak.

Blackhawk helicopters were to be used to dump sand and salt down river of the ice jam to help get the water flowing again and reduce flood pressure on the city. Officials warned they may not know if the operation was successful until Thursday.

Heavy snowfall prompted thousands of volunteers in Fargo to reinforce temporary dikes and levees after the projected crest of the mighty Red River was raised to a record 41 feet (12.5 meters) by Saturday. Snowplows cleared streets for trucks delivering sandbags to neighborhoods along the river, where volunteers from as far away as Iowa and Montana mingled with high school and college students whose classes were cancelled. Hundreds of volunteers passed along sandbag

Hearing of petitions against governor rule in Punjab adjourned

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) has adjourned the hearing of miscellaneous applications filed before the Lahore High Court (LHC) against governor rule in Punjab till March 31.

A full bench of LHC headed by LHC chief justice heard the petitions. Lawyers while giving the arguments said the matter is also under trial in Supreme Court and apex court will conduct the hearing of case on March 30.

IPL second edition schedule released

CAPE TOWN: The opening match and final of the second edition of IPL, shifted overseas to South Africa, are to be held at the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town and the Wanderers in Johannesburg respectively on April 18 and May 24.

The semi finals are to be held on May 22 and 23 in Pretoria and Johannesburg respectively, as per the full schedule of the Twenty20 League available.

In a double header on the first day, last year's winners Rajasthan Royals would take on Royal Challengers, Bangalore, while Mumbai Indians would clash with first edition's runners-up Chennai Super Kings at Cape Town.

In all, the 59 matches will be held in eight cities: Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Pretoria, East London, Kimberly, Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth.

Kingsmead in Durban, which has a large number of South Asians, has been allotted the lion's share of 16 matches while the Centurion Park in Pretoria would host 12 ties.

The Wanderers in Johannesburg and Newlands in Cape Town come next best with eight matches each, with the latter playing host to four of these on the first two days of the cash-rich, high-profile competition.

Seven matches are to be held in St George's Park in Port Elizabeth while Buffalo Park in East London has been allotted four matches.

Two matches each have been handed over to Outsurance Oval in Bloemfontein and De Beers Oval in Kimberley.

There are a total of ten double headers (two matches back to back at the same venue) with Durban hosting half of these.

Rallies all over country to celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi (SAWW)

ISLAMABAD: Eid Milad-un-Nabi (SAWW) is being observed with great reverence and religious fervor all over the country today (Tuesday) and security is high alert on this occasion.

Official and private buildings, bazaars, mosques and roundabouts have been tastefully decorated in all big cities of the country. Special security arrangements have been made on the eve of the Eid-I-Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH).

Mahafil-e-Milad and public meetings are being held in connection with the Eid-I-Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) and people will pray exclusively for country’s security, inter-Muslim solidarity and restoration of peace in the country.

In Lahore, buildings, mosques and markets have been beautifully decorated and a torch-bearing rally has been taken out.

Full preparations have been made to celebrate the Eid Milad-un-Nabi (SAWW) also in other cities.

The day began with special pray after Namaz-e-Fajr in the mosques and a salute with 21 martyrs was presented to mark the celebrations.

On this occasion, Badshahi Mosque, Minar-e-Pakistan, Assembly Hall, WAPDA House and other buildings have beautifully been illuminated while mahafils of Naat and speeches continued throught the night in various mosques and parks of the city.

In Peshawar too, Eid Milad-un-Nabi (SAWW) is being observed with great reverence and religious fervor and security remains on high alert with enhanced police patrolling as well as elaborate security measures at all sensitive places to avoid any untoward incident on the occasion.

Various bazaars, buildings, mosques and roundabouts have been elegantly decorated and special arrangements have been made for illumination in Peshawar.

The central procession of the Eid-e-Milad will be taken from Milad Chowk and going through its traditional routes of Hashtnagri, Karimpura, Ghanta Ghar, People Mandi and end at Qissakhwani Bazar.

Special prays will be held on this occasion.

US shuttle Discovery set to soar to space station

WASHINGTON: The US space shuttle Discovery is on Wednesday to head to the International Space Station to complete an overhaul of the power-generating systems on the orbital outpost.

Weather permitting; Discovery will lift off from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida, at about 9:18 pm (0118 GMT Thursday).

Discovery's seven astronauts, including Japan's Koichi Wakata, are to deliver the fourth and last pair of power-generating solar panels to the ISS.

The launch, originally set for February 12, had been delayed four times due to problems with control valves, which channel gaseous hydrogen from the shuttle's three main engines. Three of the valves were replaced with newer ones.