Peace talks with TTP over, Chaudhry Nisar laments

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

ISLAMABAD: Lamenting the end of peace talks, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan alluded to a larger conspiracy aimed at disrupting talks with the Taliban, culminating in the drone strike on Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Chief Hakimullah Mehsud.

Briefing members of parliament on the status of talks with the TTP, the interior minister said the prospect of dialogue with the militants was “unfortunately” no longer possible.

He said the team formed to initiate the dialogue was meant to set off to meet the TTP today, but all hopes of dialogue had come to an end with the killing of Mehsud.

Nisar commended all the political parties for uniting to pursue peace talks, and showing patience despite ongoing attacks. He said evidence had been gathered for the Qissa Khawani attack, the Peshawar church attack and the killing of Major General Sanaullah Niazi, adding that the timing of these acts of terrorism was suspect.

He also thanked the Army which, “went the extra mile” to protect the peace dialogue, despite the grave security situation that was developing.

The interior minister did however blast the local media for its irresponsible reporting on the issue of peace talks, adding that he remained silent during “dangerous” misreporting and leaks at the time due to the sensitive nature of the issue.

Yousaf Baig Mirza joins as CEO Express Media Group

Yousaf Baig Mirza has joined as CEO Express Media Group. He will head the Group’s electronic and print media entities. Express Group has three TV Channels, which include the flagship channel Express News along with Express Entertainment andTimes. On the print side, they have Daily Express, the very popular English daily The Express Tribune and Sindh Express.

Having served as the head of various private and state owned media groups in the past 15 years, Mr Mirza has extensive experience of media management in Pakistan and abroad. He was thrice called over by the serving regimes to fix the State TV, which invariably takes a sharp dip after his exit, both in terms of revenue and viewership. Under his dynamic leadership the state run network made remarkable improvements and expanded significantly.

He is credited with launching some of the most successful channels in the public as well as private sectors. The Advertising Association of Pakistan awarded him with the prestigious ‘Media Man of the Decade Award’ for his professional contribution. He is a pioneer of the Private-Public Media Partnership which has benefitted most of the private sector channels up and running today.

Known for his outstanding expertise and professionalism, Mr Yousaf Baig Mirza has led top media groups in the private sector to incredible success. His strength in management is well consolidated with his remarkable knack for Media Marketing.

The management is extremely pleased to welcome Mr Mirza as the CEO Express Media Group and have tremendous faith that his unparalleled expertise in media will take the organisation to a whole new level.

Drone attacks counterproductive to peace efforts: Nawaz

Screengrab of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif speaking at Azm-e-Nau 4.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said “drone attacks are counterproductive” to Pakistan’s efforts for peace, Express News reported Monday.

He said this in his first public speech since a US drone strike killed Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud, while speaking at Azm-e-Nau 4, one of the many military training exercises that are meant to introduce new war strategies.

The series aims at improving the mobilisation speed of troops and increasing cooperation for joint Army, Navy and Air Force response to any conventional threat. Security officials have deemed it a ‘new concept of war fighting’ aimed at preempting India’s ‘Cold Start Doctrine’.

Nawaz said that on his recent trip to Washington, he “made it clear that Pakistan does not intend to accept foreign aid.”

“Gone are the days when our national security policies were determined by phone calls from abroad,” the prime minister added.

Nawaz warned peace could not be achieved “by unleashing senseless force”. Though he did not mention the drone strike directly, he stressed his desire to “give peace a chance”.

He also remarked that the Pakistani population is united “when it comes to the protection of our motherland.”

Praising the Pakistan army, he said that it has come to the aid of the civil government by “imparting training to our law enforcement agencies”.

He further stated that economic development is linked to the law and order situation of the country and that it is not something that will change overnight.

New technologies

The army allegedly shot down a drone during the exercise to demonstrate the development of anti-drone technology.

Demba Ba could make €8.5 million move to Valencia to fund Chelsea’s Lewandowski transfer

According to British newspaper, the Daily Mail, Chelsea looks like the front runners to land Lewandowski, but will need to land one of the many striker’s they’ve acquired over the years, with Demba Be looking to be the odd man out.

Fernando Torres looked to be the likeliest candidate to be sold, especially to a club in Spain, but his recent turn of form under Mourinho has thrown that idea on the back-burner for the time being, leaving former Newcastle goal-scorer, Demba Ba as the one who will leave this January.

Chelsea have found a suitor in struggling La Liga side, Valencia, who, according to the report, are willing to pay the €8.5 million asking price for Ba, which is the same that Dortmund reportedly wants for Lewandowski this January.

However, Chelsea may face stiff competition as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United, as well as Bayern Munich have all been previously linked to the striker, while West Ham United is set to rival Valencia for the services of Ba.

Kagawa wants January Transfer..

Manchester United star Shinji Kagawa wants to quit Old Trafford in January

Japanese playmaker fears he could miss out on World Cup place as he struggles on the sidelines under David Moyes
Kag-away? Shinji Kagawa doesn't want to jeopardise his World Cup place Kag-away? Shinji Kagawa doesn't want to jeopardise his World Cup place
Alex Livesey

Shinji Kagawa wants to quit Manchester United in January, writes the Sunday People's Dean Jones.

The Japanese midfielder has struggled for games since David Moyes took over and has now told team-mates that he needs to leave Old Trafford in the transfer window.

Kagawa, 24, fears he will continue to be frozen out of the United side in the build-up to the World Cup, and does not want to risk a lack of fitness and form as he heads to Brazil.

His uncertain future has been highlighted ever since Moyes arrived as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor, and the fact he now accepts he needs a new club will come as a blow to fans who believe he gives the side a more creative outlook.

But the emergence of teen sensation Adnan Januzaj has certainly not helped Kagawa’s chances of gaining a regular starting role at United.

Kagawa arrived in June 2012 in a deal worth around £17million from Borussia Dortmund.

The German club enquired about re-signing him in the summer, and Bundesliga side Wolfsburg have declared that they will be in the hunt to snap him up too if he becomes available.

The Town Where Every one have to Wear Mask

The age old adage home is where the heart is finds its true meaning in Miyakejima, a small island located in southeast Japan. Despite the high level of volcanic activity that causes poisonous gas to leak from the earth that forced the 3,600 island residents to evacuate in 2000, the citizens just won’t stay away. Thus, the self-appointed gas mask town rose from the, very literal, ashes.

Resting atop a chain of volcanoes, Miyakejima is a hub for volcanic activity. For the past century, the volcanoes have erupted six times. The worst of these occurred in June 2000 when, after a repose interval of 17 years, Mount Oyama erupted. The eruption was proceeded by 17,500 (yes, 17 thousand) earthquakes, which hit the island between June 26 and July 21.

During the assault of eruptions and earthquakes, Miyakejima was enveloped in ash plumes reaching 10 miles in height, pyroclastic flow (fast flow of superheated gas), and heavy ash fall alongside crater collapses. The disaster also led to high levels of toxic sulfur dioxide regularly leaking up through the ground, making 20% of the land uninhabitable. After three months, the government took action and forced a mass evacuation in September.

For five years, Miyakejima was declared off-limits, with the barren island resembling a post-apocalyptic world: all dead trees, rusted cars, and abandoned buildings. For two years after the eruption, Mount Oyama continued to emit 10,000 to 20,000 tons of sulfuric dioxide gas from its summit daily. Slowly though, the evacuation order began to lift, and in 2005 citizens were allowed to return to their homes. Though some opted to remain in their relocated houses in Tokyo, about 2,800 chose to return, laden with gas masks and dire warnings about noxious gas still seeping through the land. Despite the re-populating of the island, nearly a third of Miyakejima remains permanently off-limits and the government conducts regular health checks and enforces age restrictions in certain areas.

Regardless of the dangers posed by living in the gas-soaked village, locals and tourists are in abundance. Gas mask tourism is a huge draw card for the region, with disposable masks sold at ferry stations and local stores. The volcanic destruction is also a money spinner, with sight-seeing tours of abandoned houses, flattened cars and a school gym half-destroyed by lava, as well as hot spring baths.

Jose Mourinho set to spend again in January

Chelsea Striker : Fernando Torres

The 50 million pound man Fernando Torres & Champions League 2010 winner Samuel Eto’o have each scored just one goal in this season’s Barclays Premier League for Chelsea. While the third choice striker Demba ba has not been among the scorers after netting the winner against West Brom on 2nd of March.
With their shock defeat against Newcastle this weekend, Chelsea currently find themselves 5 point behind the leaders Arsenal and ahead of third place Liverpool on the basis of goal difference. This result forced the special one to make necessary changes upfront.

Samual Eto’o

This challenge makes the Chelsea boss to add goals to his Chelsea side in the second half of the season as the search for the attacking  option has already begun.

The priorities of Cheslea FC is to search such a player who is not cup tied in the Champions league however this condition will not restrict them from finding a perfect match.

One possible solution for this problem might be Liverpool’s Luis Suarez who is not cup tied for Champions league however Liverpool this time are determined not to sell their star striker for any amount of money.

Even though some signs are seen for the possible return of old Fernando Torres after matches against Manchester City   Tottenham but against Newcastle, he was not as impressive as he was against Man city where he netted the winner in 90th min. As a result he was replaced by Samual Eto’o who had won Champions league with Mourinho but the move has not been impressive so far. He has scored only once for Chelsea in the 4-1 victory over Cardiff on Oct 19.

Demba Ba, Mourinho’s third attacking option is not considered for the selection at the highest level.

Lukaku: Currently in Loan At Everton