Oprah aims for "Mindful TV" | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 LOS ANGELES: She is already the most influential woman on television, publishes a magazine, has starred in movies, opened a school in South Africa and is one of America's biggest celebrity philanthropists.

So why is Oprah Winfrey taking perhaps the biggest gamble in her life and launching a cable TV network this weekend? Because she believes people are hungry for shows that entertain, inspire and offer what she calls "mindful television."

"What I want to do is build a channel that is a respite for your mind, an oasis of stimulation that you come away from with little pieces of light.

"I'm aiming for a moment where somebody could say, 'I never thought of it that way before.' I just love that," Winfrey 56, told Parade magazine in an interview this week.

Three years in the making, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) kicks off on January 1 with a weekend of "sneak peeks" into the array of largely female-oriented original series, lifestyle, and advice shows that viewers can expect in the first year.

OWN, a venture between Winfrey's Harpo Inc and Discovery Communications, will be available in some 80 million homes.

The OWN launch has brought with it some uncharacteristic anxiety for Winfrey, who will end her popular U.S. daytime chat program, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" -- which airs in some 140 countries -- in May after 25 years.

She told her magazine "O" that she has "never felt such fear in all my life" than she has in launching OWN in a crowded TV market packed with hundreds of cable channels.

Pakistan win toss, elect to bat in final T20I | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 CHRISTCHURCH: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi won the toss and elected to to bat first in the third Twenty20 match against New Zealand in Christchurch Thursday.

Playing for pride after Pakistan lost the first two ties in the three-match series, Afridi said he wanted his team to set a competitive total on a dry-looking pitch.

Pakistan made two changes from the second match, with Abdur Rehman and Tanvir Ahmed coming in for Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul.

New Zealand were unchanged, with captain Ross Taylor saying he would have elected to bowl had he won the toss.

Teams
New Zealand: Ross Taylor (captain), Dean Brownlie, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Nathan McCullum, Peter McGlashan, Kyle Mills, Adam Milne, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ian Butler (12th man).
Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi (captain), Asad Shafiq, Abdul Razzaq, Wahab Riaz, Tanvir Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Fawad Alam (12th man).

Pakistan set 184 run-target for N Zealand in final T20I | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 CHRISTCHURCH: Pakistan set a competitive target of 184 runs for New Zealand in an effort to win the third and final Twenty20 International as a consolation here at the AMI Stadium on Thursday.

The hosts have already won the three-match series by defeating the tourists in the first two T20Is.

Pakistan made 183 runs for six wickets after electing to bat first in the third Twenty20 match against New Zealand in Christchurch Thursday.

Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad made 54 while New Zealand's James Franklin took two for 12.

Injured Ponting to miss fifth Ashes Test | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 SYDNEY: Australian captain Ricky Ponting will miss the fifth Ashes Test against England after X-rays revealed further damage to a broken finger suffered earlier in the series, officials said on Thursday.

"Ricky Ponting had a repeat X-ray after the fourth Test which showed evidence that the fracture of his fifth finger has moved during the course of the Melbourne Test," team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said.

"His return to cricket will be based on how quickly the fracture heals and he will hopefully commence training in the later part of the Australian summer," he added.

"He is expected to be fully fit for the ICC Cricket World Cup."

Clarke replaces injured Ponting as skipper | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 SYDNEY: Michael Clarke will captain Australia for the first time and Usman Khawaja will make an historic debut in next week's final Ashes Test in the absence of injured skipper Ricky Ponting.

Clarke was promoted on Thursday from vice-captain to lead the team after Ponting was ruled out with a fractured little finger.

Clarke will also captain Australia in the limited overs and Twenty20 matches against England following the Test series, with Cameron White his deputy.

Pakistan-born Khawaja will become the first Muslim to play Test cricket for Australia as Ponting's batting replacement as the home side seeks to level the series.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was named vice-captain under Clarke for the Sydney Test, which gets underway on Monday.

X-rays revealed that during the fourth Test in Melbourne, won by England on Wednesday to retain the Ashes, Ponting had sustained further damage to a fractured little finger suffered earlier in the series.

Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland said the selectors had recommended Clarke assume the captaincy of the Australian team for the final Test and the one-day series against England.

Khawaja, 24, who has scored the most runs (598) in the domestic Sheffield Shield competition this season at 74.75, will be considered for the demanding number three spot, the position occupied by Ponting.

"Usman will make his debut for Australia in this match, something we are excited about given his tremendous form at domestic level over the past two seasons," Hilditch said.

Paceman Doug Bollinger, dropped after the second Test in Adelaide, is back in Australia's 12-man squad after Ryan Harris suffered a stress ankle fracture in the Melbourne Test.

The 12th man will be named on the morning of the match after the pitch is assessed, selectors said.

Australia - Michael Clarke (captain), Brad Haddin (vice-capt), Shane Watson, Phillip Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Mike Hussey, Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger, Michael Beer (12th man to be named).

Asian markets mixed in cautious year-end | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 HONG KONG: Asian stock markets were mixed on Thursday, with some signs of optimism going into 2011 but Beijing's efforts to cool the Chinese economy dampening spirits.

Sydney's S&P/ASX 200 index was up 0.29 percent by the afternoon, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was off by 0.31 percent, Shanghai's Composite index dipped 0.28 percent and Tokyo's Nikkei was down 1.24 percent on its last day of trading of the year.

Traders said Shanghai was still coming to terms with last weekend's interest rate hike, the second in less than three months. A warning by the housing ministry of further unspecified measures to rein in the property market added to nervousness, dragging down developer stocks.

The rate hike "has hurt already-weak sentiment as it will have a negative impact on the market liquidity conditions," Dow Jones Newswires quoted Capital Securities analyst Jacky Zhang as saying.

However there were also signs of exuberance, with firmer metals prices helping push Sydney higher after losses on Wednesday caused partly by gloom about China.

"At the end of the day this is concern over an overheating economy as opposed to an economy that's about to collapse," said David Land, a trader at CMC Markets. "For the last two months economic data, especially from the US, is certainly supporting the bull's argument that 2011 is going to be a year of profit and revenue growth."

In Hong Kong, Haitong Securities said the dip in the market was likely to be limited as China's economic cooling measures had largely been priced in. Haitong noted that the Hang Seng had climbed just five percent over the year, while "H-shares" -- mainland firms listed in Hong Kong -- were two percent lower.

Tokyo's fall meanwhile was largely in reaction to a plunge in the value of the dollar against the yen -- seen as hurting Japanese exporters -- although again there was some optimism that the damage might be slight. "Despite the fact that the dollar is nearing 80 yen, the selling is limited," said Masayoshi Yano, a senior market analyst at Meiwa Securities. "It reflects continuing hopes for a US economic recovery into next year."

The dollar fell as investors left the US currency due to falling US bond yields and instead hunted out riskier assets. The greenback dropped to 81.40 yen in Tokyo morning trading, off an intraday low of 81.26, but down from 81.62 yen in New York late Wednesday.

The euro rose to 1.3254 dollars from 1.3224 dollars in New York. Against the yen, the single European currency was marginally lower at 107.87 against 107.88 yen in New York.

Oil rose in Asian trade on expectations that freezing temperatures in the northern hemisphere will stoke demand. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for February delivery, rose three cents to 91.15 dollars per barrel. Brent North Sea crude for February was up 14 cents at 94.28 dollars.

Gold opened at 1412.50-1413.50 US dollars an ounce in Hong Kong, up from Wednesday's close of 1,407.00-1,408.00 dollars.

US stock markets drifted upwards on Wednesday, keeping the Dow index at two-year highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.09 percent to 11,585.38, the broader S&P 500 index gained 0.10 percent and the NASDAQ rose 0.15 percent.

POL prices likely to rise | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 ISLAMABAD: Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has drafted a summery seeking hike by Rs.4 to 7 per liter in Petroleum Products (POL) prices from January 1, 2011, however, the final decision of weather or not to approve summary would rest with Prime Minister Gilani, Geo News reported Thursday.

Sources told Geo News that the said summary was prepared keeping in view hike in prices of POL products in international market.

Prices of petrol and diesel may go up by Rs.6.40 and Rs.4.50 per liter respectively, while High-Octane fuel’s price may inflate by Rs.7.20/liter.

The summary would seek inflation in Kerosene oil price by Rs.3.50/liter; however, it may also happen that government decreases some amount of petroleum levy, sources said.

According to sources, the summary was prepared seeing the fast inflation of POL prices in international market.

Oil down in Asian trade | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 SINGAPORE: Oil dropped in Asian trade Friday after US data showed the country's crude stocks declined at a smaller-than-expected margin, analysts said.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for February delivery dropped 15 cents to 89.69 dollars per barrel in the afternoon.

Brent North Sea crude for February was down three cents at 93.12 dollars.

"The slight drop in crude price... is likely due to US weekly data indicating lower-than-expected crude oil inventories drawdown," said Chen Xin Yi, a Singapore-based commodities analyst for Barclays Capital.

Figures released Thursday by the US Department of Energy showed crude stock piles had fallen by much less than expected, even given the cold weather in much of the United States.

Crude stocks fell by 1.3 million barrels, much lower than the nearly three million barrel drop that market analysts were predicting.

The United States is the world's biggest oil consuming nation and the weekly stocks report is widely monitored by the market.

Crude prices this week have been boosted by the extreme cold weather and blizzards across the northern hemisphere, with households using more heating oil.

Tepid year-end for Sydney, China markets | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 HONG KONG: Trade was tepid as Asian stock markets closed for the year on Friday, with Sydney ending on a low note after a lacklustre Wall Street performance but Chinese shares gaining slightly.

Sydney's S&P/ASX 200 index ended the half-day session down 0.94 percent, or 45.2 points, at 4,745.2 and was down 2.57 percent for the year as a whole. Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended its shortened session up 0.16 percent, or 36.11 points, at 23,035.45 and up 5.32 percent for the year, while the Shanghai Composite Index was up 0.59 percent at lunch.

Exchanges were closed in Tokyo, Seoul, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Bangkok, after Japan's Nikkei index ended Thursday down 1.12 percent and off by 3.01 percent for the year as a whole. Sydney was hit by multiple negatives.

Earnings downgrades in the United States for financial giants Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs weighed on banks, flooding in Queensland dampened mining stocks and an imminent cyclone near Port Hedland in the northwest hurt metals stocks such as Fortescue Metals Group and Atlas Iron.

In Hong Kong however traders were snapping up year-end bargains, with the market buoyed by coal stocks thanks to the seasonal cold and anticipation of strong results from the year-end shopping season.

In Shanghai, Shanxi Xishan Coal and Electricity Power gained 2.7 percent after announcing it was hiking its product prices from January 1, potentially boosting earnings. Chinese stocks were on course to close around 16 percent down on the year.

New Zealand's exchange ended the session down 0.76 percent, or 25.24 points, at 3,309.03, and up 2.44 percent for the year.

The US dollar continued an overnight slump against the euro and yen, largely due to fund managers seeking to enhance the look of their portfolios at the year end. A euro bought 1.3298 US dollars in early Asian trade, up from 1.3286 dollars in New York on Thursday. The European currency bought 108.40 yen from 107.78 yen a day before.

The greenback was also down against the yen, trading at 81.52 yen compared with 81.55 yen in US trade on Thursday. The Aussie dollar was well above parity with the greenback, at 1.0156.

Oil dropped in Asian trade after US data showed the country's crude stocks declined at a smaller-than-expected margin. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for February delivery, dropped 15 cents to 89.69 dollars per barrel. Brent North Sea crude for February was down three cents at 93.12 dollars. Gold opened at 1,408.00-1,409.00 US dollars an ounce in Hong Kong, down from Thursday's close of 1,413.00-1,414.00 dollars.

NS announces rise in profit rates | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

ISLAMABAD: Rates of profit on different National Savings schemes have been raised from January 1, 2011. According to officials of National Savings Schemes, the rates of profit on savings schemes have been increased in the wake of rise in discount rate by the State Bank of Pakistan. A huge of investment of Rs1700 billion is being currently being managed by the National Savings which has raised profit mark up on its Regular Income Certificate by 1.08 percent to 13.44 percent. The rate on Special Certificate has been raised by 1.2 percent to 13.33 percent; Defence Savings Certificate by 0.95 percent to 13.55 percent and; rate of profit on Welfare Certificate has been raised by 0.72 per cent to 16.36 percent.

'Limited' Pakistan progress on rights: US report | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 WASHINGTON: Pakistan has made only limited progress in improving human rights with reports of thousands of disappearances despite US pressure on its wartime partner, the State Department says.

In a report mandated by Congress, the State Department assured lawmakers that the United States was vetting forces' human rights as it extends billions of dollars to the frontline nation in the battle against extremism.

In October, President Barack Obama's administration said for the first time that it had cut off training to several units after a graphic video emerged that appeared to show summary executions.

The State Department, in the report completed in late November, said that Pakistan "has made limited progress in advancing human rights and continues to face human rights challenges."

"The State Department continues to press military and civilian authorities in Pakistan, at the highest levels, to take serious and sustained action to eliminate extrajudicial killings, provide humanitarian access and investigate all cases of disappearances," it said.

The assessment, which was first reported Thursday by The New York Times, voiced particular alarm about Pakistan's southwestern province of Baluchistan where a long-running insurgency -- separate from the US-backed campaign against Islamic extremists -- has grown more violent in 2010.

Non-governmental organizations "have reported thousands of disappearances, mostly in Baluchistan. Hundreds of cases are pending in the courts and remain unresolved," the State Department said.

The State Department also pointed to some progress, such as hearings by the Supreme Court of Pakistan into the missing in Baluchistan.

Amnesty International, in a report in October, called on Pakistan to investigate the alleged torture and killing of more than 40 political leaders and activists in Baluchistan.

Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch said that at least 22 teachers and other education professionals were killed by suspected militants in Baluchistan between January 2008 and October 2010.

T. Kumar, the international advocacy director of Amnesty International USA, praised the Obama administration for putting greater concern on human rights in Pakistan but said: "Obviously, they can do more."

Kumar feared that Pakistan was using cooperation with the United States as cover to crack down in other areas, particularly in Baluchistan. He called for the United States to make human rights an integral part of all dialogue.

He said a focus on human rights would help the United States in one of its key objectives in Pakistan -- assuaging widespread anti-American sentiment.

"In the long run, you're going to be the losers by keeping the population resentful," Kumar said. "Instead you can send a message to Pakistanis that live in an area that the US is not against civilians."

The United States entered a complicated partnership with Pakistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks, with the Islamabad government providing crucial access for US forces in Afghanistan.

Pakistan returned to civilian rule in 2008 and the Obama administration, which took office the year afterward, has focused efforts on supporting the nuclear power's democratic institutions and troubled economy.

But the administration has also made sure to preserve cooperation with the powerful military. In October, it promised two billion dollars in new defense aid, separate from its 7.5 billion dollars in mostly civilian assistance.

In diplomatic cables recently released by WikiLeaks, the US embassy in Islamabad said there was credible evidence of abuses by Pakistani forces but hoped to raise the matter quietly so as not to alienate the military.

Khodorkovsky sentenced to 6 more years |

 MOSCOW: A Russian judge sentenced jailed former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky to six additional years in prison on Thursday after convicting him on multi-billion dollar theft and money-laundering charges.

Moscow judge Viktor Danilkin granted the prosecutors' sentencing request and said Khodorkovsky would serve a total of 14 years in prison, including time served since his arrest in October 2003, meaning he is to remain in jail until 2017.

Queen Elizabeth becomes great-grandmother | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 LONDON: Queen Elizabeth, 84, became a great-grandmother for the first time when the wife of her grandson Peter Phillips gave birth to a baby girl, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday.

Autumn Philips, a Canadian, gave birth on Wednesday.

"The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal, Captain Mark Phillips and Autumn's family have been informed and are delighted with the news. The baby's name will be confirmed in due course," the statement said.

Peter Phillips is the only son of the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, and her first husband Mark Phillips.

The baby is 12th in line to the throne.

Her birth also made Peter Phillips's sister Zara an aunt. The royal family said last week that Zara, a successful equestrian athlete, was to marry rugby player Mike Tindall.

Peter and Autumn Phillips, who courted controversy by selling the rights to their wedding to Hello! magazine for a reported 500,000 pounds ($770,000), live in Hong Kong, where he works for the Royal Bank of Scotland.

More repairs ordered for Discovery fuel tank | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 CAPE CANAVERAL: NASA ordered additional repairs to space shuttle Discovery after more cracks were discovered in the ship's fuel tank, but the flight remains targeted for early February, officials said.

The shuttle's cargo run to the International Space Station, one of the final missions before the United States ends the 30-year-old shuttle program, has been on hold since November 5 when a hydrogen fuel leak scuttled a launch attempt. Technicians later found a 21-inch- (53-cm) long crack in the foam insulation that covers the tank, a potential debris hazard for launching.

Further investigation revealed underlying cracking in structural supports, the cause of which has not been determined.

X-rays of the backside of the tank, completed this week, showed additional cracks in three more of the aluminum lithium tank support structures, Kennedy Space Center spokesman Allard Buetel said late on Thursday.

Those cracks will be repaired while managers consider if additional modifications to the tank will be needed, work that could delay the scheduled February 3 launch to later in the month.

The shuttle fuel tanks have been a top safety issue for NASA since the 2003 Columbia accident, which killed seven astronauts. A piece of foam insulation broke off Columbia's tank during launch and smashed into the ship's wing. The damage caused the shuttle to break apart as it flew through the atmosphere for landing 16 days later. NASA redesigned the tanks after the accident and developed new in-flight inspection procedures.

NASA is ending its space shuttle program in 2011 after two or three more missions to complete the space station, a $100 billion project of 16 nations that has been under construction 220 miles above the planet since 1998. Russia already has taken over the job of transporting crew members to and from the outpost -- at a cost of $51 million a seat --- in anticipation of the shuttles' retirement.

NASA is also investing in commercial companies with the hope that private industry will be ready to provide launch services for astronauts by about 2015.

Pacific countries became first to mark start of 2011 | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 SYDNEY: New Year revellers around the planet began welcoming 2011 in a blaze of fireworks and parties Friday, temporarily banishing the misery of extreme weather that has struck across the world.

Countries in the Pacific became the first to mark the start of the year as a crowd of about 1.5 million crammed Sydney's foreshore, drawn in record numbers by afternoon sunshine ahead of fireworks on the Harbour Bridge -- even as Australia's northeast battled devastating floods.

In Europe, crowds were set to throng landmarks like London's Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower, following a big freeze that paralysed travel and cut power and water supplies for tens of thousands.

And New York workers were scrambling to plough snow out of Times Square for the famous New Year countdown, after a blizzard dumped 32 inches (80 centimetres) on the city and surrounding areas.

Party-goers carrying blankets and camping equipment began descending on Sydney harbour more than 12 hours before the main fireworks display at 1300 GMT, with new arrivals turned away as early as 3pm (0400 GMT).

Extreme, 43 degrees C (109 F) heat brought the risk of wildfires near Adelaide, while celebrations in the country's north were muted by floods that left vast swathes of land underwater and forced thousands to leave their homes.

The tiny Pacific nation of Kiribati, just east of the international dateline, was the first to welcome in 2011 at 1000 GMT. The deeply religious community of about 6,000 had been set to mark the occasion with village church services.

New Zealand, which has experienced a mild heatwave over the festive period, moved into 2011 soon after, with a fireworks spectacular in Auckland as part of a celebration themed "Hot in the City".

Further south in Christchurch, hit by a powerful earthquake in September, officials only approved celebrations after late checks and modifications, including removing the city cathedral's crucifix in case it fell on revellers.

In Asia, about 400,000 were expected at a glittering fireworks-and-laser display along neon-lit Hong Kong's harbour, while millions of Japanese will visit Shinto shrines to "purify" themselves.

Although Lunar New Year is a much bigger event in the continent, thousands will brave Beijing's cold for the countdown at an up market shopping centre, while about 7,000 were expected at a kite-flying event in central Shanghai.

Seoul was to observe Buddhist tradition with a bell at Bosingak traditional pavilion rung 33 times by 11 civilian delegates in turn, watched by up to 100,000 revellers.

Midnight marks the beginning of year 100 on Taiwan's calendar, and was to be celebrated with Taipei's biggest ever New Year fireworks costing 60 million Taiwan dollars (two million US) and a concert by pop idols.

Thousands of people will jam Hanoi's Hoan Kiem Lake for midnight, while the "Bangkok Countdown" outside a glitzy mall -- where major anti-government protests took place this year -- is the centrepiece of Thailand's celebrations.

In Myanmar, democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi, released this year after more than seven years of house arrest, called for the country's people "to struggle together with new strengths, new force and new words in the auspicious new year".

Revellers in Indian financial and entertainment capital Mumbai -- scene of a 2008 attack that killed 166 people -- were given the go-ahead to party through the night, despite intelligence about a possible New Year militant strike.

Meanwhile 250,000 people will throng the banks of London's River Thames to hear Big Ben chime the last midnight of 2010, the traditional sound of the British New Year.

Millions of others will crowd landmarks like Rome's Colosseum and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, as well as Paris's Champs Elysees and the Puerta del Sol in Madrid.

Earlier, organisers were forced to cancel a giant January 1 snowball fight in Berlin after 8,000 signed up, while in New York this week, people wrote down and shredded bad memories of 2010 in Times Square for "Good Riddance Day".

SC moved for disqualification of Rehman Malik | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 ISLAMABAD: A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court on Friday for disqualification of Interior Minister Senator Rehman Malik over wrong recitation of the Holy Quran (Surah Ikhlas), Geo News reported.

Tariq Asad Advocate contended in his plea that Senator Rehman Malik wrongly recited Surah Ikhlas three times during the cabinet meeting.

He asserted that Malik did not qualify for the senate seat, as he has no knowledge of the basic teachings of Islam, therefore, he should be disqualified under article 62 and 63 of the constitution.

Pakistan tops journalists death list in 2010 | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 BRUSSELS: At least 94 journalists died in violence this year across the world, the International Federation of Journalists said Friday, adding that Pakistan was the most dangerous place in 2010 for media workers.

"Journalists and media personnel remain prime targets for political extremists, gangsters and terrorists," the Brussels-based organisation said in a report, adding that another three died in accidents over the past 12 months.

The death toll came at the hands of "targeted killings, bomb attacks and crossfire incidents," it said.

In 2009, the total was 139 journalists.

The IFJ said 15 media workers died in Pakistan this year, adding that the majority of the annual fatalities comprised "victims of violence connected to the insurgency war in Pakistan, the drug war in Mexico as well as the political unrest in Honduras."

The list was issued two days after Danish and Swedish intelligence agencies said they foiled an attack plot against the daily that published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).

"Nearly 100 journalists killed is a heavy loss which ought to stir the world governments into action to offer better protection to journalists," said Jim Boumelha, IFJ president.

Malik denies report of BB murder plot at brigadier’s home | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 KARACHI: Federal Interior Minister has denied a report, published in a section of press, that the plot for assassination of Benazir Bhutto was hatched at a brigadier’s home, Geo News reported.

Talking to mediamen at Jinnah International Airport here Friday, Malik asserted that plot was hatched at the house a terrorist whose name would be disclosed at appropriate time.

He termed the news item, published in a section of press on Friday, as baseless. He added that there is complete understanding between civil and military leadership.

Interior Minister said that legal action would be taken against the paper for publishing a fake story.

To a question, Malik said MQM is a political power and reality, adding that there should not be any doubt after a telephonic conversation between President Asif Ali Zardari and MQM Chief Altaf Hussain last night.

US drone strike in NWA kills 4 | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 MIRANSHAH: A US missile attack killed at least four militants when it targeted a vehicle in Ghulam Khan town North Waziristan district Friday, Geo News reported.

Two missiles fired by a US drone hit the vehicle in Ghulam Khan town, some 15 kilometres (9 miles) northwest of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan tribal district close to the Afghan border.

Security officials in Miranshah and Peshawar said that militants killed in the strike were associated with the powerful, al-Qaeda-linked Haqqani network, but that they were still seeking more information.

Officials said militants were moving from one area to another when their vehicle was struck by the unmanned US aircraft. Militants frequently relocate in an effort to avoid the intensifying campaign of drone attacks.

The Haqqani network fights foreign troops in Afghanistan from bases in North Waziristan and was created by Afghan warlord Jalaluddin Haqqani. It is currently run by his son Sirajuddin Haqqani.

The Pakistani Taliban also dominates parts of the lawless area, as do other warlords. The United States does not confirm drone attacks, but its military and the Central Intelligence Agency operating in Afghanistan are the only forces that deploy the unmanned aircraft in the region.

Sindh defers tabling of Commissioner System bill |

 KARACHI: The presentation of bill for restoration of Commissioner System in Sindh Assembly has been deferred, Geo News reported Friday.

Sindh Government made the above decision after negotiations with Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM).

Apple's iPhone most popular item on eBay in 2010 |

 NEW YORK: Apple's iPhone beat out Barbie and the World Cup to take the coveted spot of most popular item on eBay's Top Shopped 2010 list, while the iPad came in fifth.

eBay compiles the annual list by analyzing sale and search data from the year to track top shopping trends.

Over 1.63 million iPhone 4 related items were sold on eBay in 2010, according to eBay. The iPad and its related items saw over 600,000 sales this year, enough to take fifth place for the year.

Barbie came in second with 1.17 million sales. "Military jackets" took third place, while the classic Hot Wheels toys came in fourth. Rounding out the list were the World Cup, The Beatles, Silly Bandz, Alice in Wonderland and the New Orleans Saints.

The list demonstrates significant gains by Apple, as last year's list did not include any technology items. Sales of iPhone items this year nearly tripled the sales of last year's top seller, "The Yankees," which sold 551,230 items in 2009.

Apple's products have topped several year-end lists as 2010 comes to a close. Time magazine gave the iPad the title of No. 1 gadget of 2010, while the MacBook Air, iPhone 4 and Apple TV all made the top 10 list.

The iPad, iOS and iPhone were three of the top four tech topics on Twitter this year. Apple rival Google took second place with its Android mobile operating system.

And journalist Walt Mossberg ranked the iPad as his best reviewed product of 2010, calling it "amazing." The iPhone 4 tied for third place with the Android-based Samsung Galaxy S.

Ariane rocket launch postponed because of winds1 | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

CAYENNE: The launch of a European Ariane rocket carrying two satellites was postponed because of strong winds high above French Guiana on Tuesday, space officials said. The rocket was due to launch from the European Space Agency's launch site in Kourou, French Guiana on the northeast coast of South America carrying the Hispasat 1E satellite for Spanish telecoms operator Hispasat and Koreasat 6 for South Korea's Korea Telecom. "We are unable to authorize a launch tonight because of the high altitude winds," Joel Barre, Director of The Guiana Space Center said. He said a new attempt to launch the rocket would be made on Wednesday. High altitude winds can cause debris from the rocket to fall on populated areas.

Anti-polio drive kicks off | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

KARACHI: The three-day anti-polio drive has been launched from today (Tuesday) 28th December across the Sindh province, Geo News reported on Tuesday. Project Director API of Sindh Health Department, Dr Mazhar Khamisani told that around 100 anti-polio drives had been completed successfully. As many as 65,00000 children below the age of five year would be administered anti-polio drops, he added. The health department has finalized arrangements to ensure getting of 100 per cent result of campaign with regard to anti-polio drops' vaccination to children.

Sandra Bullock out in neighbor poll | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

NEW YORK: Americans would most like to live next door to actress Sandra Bullock in 2011, but the cast of the reality show "Jersey Shore" made the most undesirable neighbors, according to a poll released on Tuesday. Bullock, who has won huge audiences with her All-American, girl-next-door image, earned more than a quarter of the vote in the annual poll on the most desirable celebrity neighbors, conducted by online real estate marketplace Zillow website. She was followed by conservative Republican politician, Sarah Palin. That may bode well for people in Arizona as on Monday, headlines trumpeted the news that her daughter, Bristol Palin, had bought a home in the state. President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha dropped three places to No. 4 on the list after coming out on top last year. They were proceeded by talk show hosts Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia DeRossi at No. 3. Rounding out the top five was talk show host Conan O'Brien. But the extroverted Italian-American cast of "Jersey Shore," which has scored impressive TV ratings and won fans with their fist pumps and tans, were voted the worst neighbors for 2010, followed again by the Obamas at No. 2 and Sarah Palin at No. 3. "It was voyeuristic fun getting to know the 'Jersey Shore' crew as they partied and fist-pumped week after week on reality television, but do we want to live 'up close and personal' next door? Americans said 'no way,'" according to Zillow Vice President of Marketing and Communications Amy Bohutinsky. Kanye West and Mel Gibson rounded up the top five worst neighbors in the No. 4 and No. 5 spots, respectively. The survey asked U.S. adults which celebrities and politicians they would most like to be their neighbor, and with whom they wouldn't want to share a fence.

Cop movie 'Elite Squad 2' outguns 'Avatar' in Brazil | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 SAO PAULO: "Elite Squad 2," a Brazilian movie mixing explosive action with political intrigue, has become Brazil's top movie of all time, besting even the US blockbuster "Avatar" at the national box office, producers and industry specialists said.

The movie, a sequel to a 2007 original that also became a huge success, has taken 60.5 million dollars in Brazilian ticket sales since its premiere three months ago, topping the 60.4 million dollars "Avatar" pocketed over a similar period, the industry outlet Filme B said.

"The film has grabbed the title of the biggest box office hit in Brazilian cinema history, topping the blockbuster 'Avatar' by James Cameron," the producers of the movie crowed on their website.

The launch of "Elite Squad 2" in Brazil coincided with a spectacular real-life operation by the crack police squad of its title that swept brutal drug gangs out of a nest of slums in Rio de Janeiro.

It is to get its international showing next month at the Sundance Film Festival in the United States.

Johnny Depp loved being ‘silly’ for new movie | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

LOS ANGELES: Johnny Depp enjoyed making his upcoming movie Rango as it gave him the chance to “be silly”. The actor provides the voice for the film’s title character, with stars including Bill Nighy, Isla Fisher and Abigail Breslin also displaying their vocal talents. The comedy is CGI-animated, with the actor’s own facial expressions providing a reference for their characters, and Johnny loved delivering his performances on a soundstage alongside his co-stars. "I think it just gives a bunch of grownups an opportunity to be silly," he laughed. The movie is set for release next year, and tells the tale of a chameleon that aspires to be a swashbuckling hero before finding himself stuck in a Western town plagued by bandits. Johnny felt he had a great deal in common with his reptile character, as he too sometimes wonders who he really is. "Rango is a lizard attempting to adapt to his surroundings," the star told ET. "He's trying to figure out what he's supposed to be, like most of us in life. It's certainly like nothing I've ever done before, or any of us have ever done before."

Kiwis set huge target for Pakistan in 2nd T20I | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

HAMILTON: Pakistan need to achieve a difficult target of 186 runs to beat New Zealand and level the three-match series of Twenty20 Internationals here on Tuesday. Sent into bat by Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, New Zealand made a disastrous start losing Jesse Ryder on the very first ball of the match delivered by Abdul Razzaq. However, James Franklin (40) and Martin Guptill (44) took their team out of trouble, adding 91 runs for the second wicket. Later, other batsmen batted aggressively and took the score to 185-7 in the allotted 20 overs. Scott Styris scored 34 while captain Ross Taylor was unbeaten on 30. Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was themost successful bowler for Pakistan taking three wickets for 35. Pakistan need to win this match to keep the series alive after being soundly beaten by five wickets on Sunday in the first match of the three-match series. Pakistan made one change from the first match with Asad Shafiq coming in for middle-order batsman Fawad Alam. New Zealand stood down their two debutants from the opening game, Adam Milne and Dean Brownlie, and brought in all-rounder Luke Woodcock for his debut and new-ball bowler Ian Butler.

India beat South Africa to level series 1-1 | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

DURBAN: India completed an 87-run win on the fourth day of the second Test against South Africa at Kingsmead on Wednesday to set up a series decider in the final match in Cape Town. Set a target of 303, South Africa were bowled out for 215. The match finished an hour after lunch but South Africa's hopes were effectively ended when overnight batsmen Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers were dismissed in the first hour of the day. It was a remarkable fightback by India, who lost the first Test in Centurion by an innings and 25 runs and whose chances seemed to have nosedived when they were sent in at Kingsmead and bowled out for 205. But India's bowlers shot out South Africa for 131 to take control of the match and an innings of 96 by man of the match VVS Laxman meant that South Africa had to score by far the highest total of the match to snatch victory. The win ensures that India will retain their number one ranking in Test cricket, irrespective of the result in the final Test. Second-placed South Africa needed to win the series 3-0 to displace the tourists at the top of the rankings.

Oil down in Asian trade | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 SINGAPORE: Oil fell in Asian trade on Wednesday but the decline was seen as limited with heating oil demand set to stay firm as a cold spell continued to grip the United States and Europe, analysts said.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in February sank 11 cents to 91.38 dollars per barrel.

Brent North Sea crude for February delivery was down 14 cents to 94.24 dollars.

Analysts say prices will be underpinned by strong heating oil demand which has perked up because of the unusually strong cold spell in the northeast US and parts of Europe.

"As long as the extreme cold in northern hemisphere persists, this will lend some support to oil prices in the near term," said Chen Xin Yi, a commodities analyst for Barclays Capital.

US reserves fell by about 15 million barrels in the first half of December in the face of brisk demand and end-of-year inventory adjustments by refiners.

New figures on US stocks are to be published Thursday.

Oil demand from China, the world's biggest energy consuming nation, is also another factor bolstering prices, she said.

"China's demand growth has scaled a new high in November, topping 9.3 million barrels per day, with diesel, jet fuel and gasoline demand all setting record highs in the month," she said.

Barclays Capital predicts oil prices will average 91 dollars per barrel in 2011.

Dollar falls back versus euro | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

NEW YORK: The dollar fell back against the euro in Asia Wednesday following an earlier buying spree of the greenback triggered by a rise in US bond yields, dealers said. The euro rose to 1.3128 dollars in Tokyo morning trade against 1.3116 dollars in New York late Tuesday. The single European currency was marginally higher at 108.04 yen against 108.00 yen. The dollar fell to 82.29 yen from 82.43 yen. The euro was down against the dollar on broad demand for the US currency as Treasury yields rose overnight following a lacklustre sale of the US five-year notes, Satoshi Tate, senior dealer at Mizuho Corporate Bank, told Dow Jones Newswires. The poor bond sale triggered "the last round of dollar-buying" this year, Tate said. The yen showed strength against the dollar supported in part by month-end dollar sales by Japanese exporters, dealers said.

Newly approved UAE budget foresees deficit: report | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates' top legislative body has approved a 2011 budget with a projected deficit of more than 800 million dollars while passing a new law on public debt, reports said Wednesday. The budget endorsed by the Federal National Council is based on a deficit of three billion dirhams (817 million dollars, 622 million euros), said The National newspaper. "It envisages 41 billion dirhams of spending against 38 billion dirhams of projected revenue," said the English-language daily. The Emirati government had decided in November to cut its projected 2011 public spending by six percent compared with this fiscal year's 43.63 billion dirhams. During Tuesday's session, the Council also passed a public debt law, stating it should not exceed 200 billion dirhams (54.49 billion dollars) or 25 percent of gross domestic product, said The National. "The federal government currently has no debts," Obaid al-Tayer, the minister of state for financial affairs, was quoted as saying by Abu Dhabi's Al-Ittihad daily. Tayer added that the new legislation, would only apply to the debts of the federal government in the UAE, a federation of seven emirates including financially troubled Dubai. The government would draw on its reserves to finance the budget deficit but it could also issue bonds to finance the shortfall, the official said. In addition to the federal budget, each of the seven emirates adopts its own budget and the total spending in those budgets is much higher than that of the federal government. With crude reserves estimated at 97.8 billion barrels, the UAE is oil cartel OPEC's fourth largest producer. It has a population of about six million people, more than 80 percent of them expatriates, mostly Asians. The Gulf country pumps about 2.32 million barrels of oil per day, of which the emirate of Abu Dhabi, which is also the federation's capital, contributes more than 90 percent.

11 killed in Russian military jet crash: report | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

MOSCOW: A Russian military jet crashed overnight Tuesday in the Tula region south of Moscow, killing 11 people on board, official news agency reported, citing a law enforcement source. "According to preliminary data, there were 11 people on board the plane, they were all killed," the source told media. The plane that crashed was an Antonov An-22, the agency reported. The Ria Novosti agency, citing a law enforcement source, reported that there were 12 people on board the plane, all of whom had died. The massive turboprop aircraft was flying between Voronej and Tver when it disappeared from radar screens, Ria Nosti reported.

China 'stepping up anti-carrier missile tests' | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

 TOKYO: China is stepping up efforts to deploy a "carrier-killer" missile system, the commander of the US Pacific Command has said in an interview with a Japanese newspaper published on Tuesday.

"The anti-ship ballistic missile system in China has undergone extensive testing," Admiral Robert Willard told the Asahi Shimbun in Honolulu, according to a transcript of the interview on its website.

Willard said China appeared to have achieved "initial operational capability" but it would take "several more years" before fully deploying the system.

US military analysts have warned China is developing a new version of its Dongfeng 21 missile that could pierce the defences of even the most sturdy US naval vessels and has a range far beyond Chinese waters.

Washington has expressed rising concern over China's military intentions following a string of double-digit increases in Chinese military spending and the rapid modernisation of its armed forces.

In the interview, Willard also said China aims to become a global military power by extending its influence beyond its regional waters.

"They are focused presently on what they term their near seas -- the Bohai, Yellow Sea, South China Sea, East China Sea," Willard said.

"I think they have an interest in being able to influence beyond that point, and they have aspirations to eventually become a global military," he said. "In the capabilities that we're seeing develop, that is fairly obvious."

Referring to tensions on the Korean peninsula, Willard warned that North Korea is ready to take another provocative step and called on China, Pyongyang's sole major ally, to play its role in defusing the situation.

"I think, for now, we're past this particular crisis, but we have no doubt, given North Korea's history, that a next provocation is readied," Willard told the daily.

"It's a matter of assessing how it might be deterred or how the North Koreans might be dissuaded from exercising the next provocation," he said.

"We think the US-Republic of Korea (South Korea) alliance is part of that deterrence effort," he said. "We think the international community and China in particular are another part of it."

Tensions have been high following the North's shelling of a South Korean border island, which killed four people, including two civilians. The South's forces are on alert for any fresh attacks.

US shakes off blizzard, but not travel misery | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

NEW YORK: The US northeast began Tuesday to shake off the icy grip of one of the biggest blizzards in years, but beleaguered air travelers faced continuing delays from the after-effects of the massive storm. After an evening of ferocious winds, by early Tuesday the storm had fully moved out of New York. The system, packing enormous snowfalls and gales, churned up through Maine and into Canada, leaving a cold tail as far south down the US east coast as the Carolinas. The lifting of the siege meant that New York, the area hardest hit by the blizzard beginning Sunday, could finally start getting back to normal. Snow plows and salt spreaders were hard at work before dawn in Manhattan battling through knee-high snow in many streets. Officials however expected it would take several days for New York and its all-important transport hubs to be fully back on track following the sixth heaviest snowfall in city history. "We know that many streets still have not been plowed -- and I saw that myself, yesterday, when I was visiting small businesses in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island," New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a press conference updating the public on the clean-up. He said the storm's ferocity created unprecedented challenges, especially cleaning out the mountains of snow left behind. "Anyone who?s been outside recently can see that this storm is not like any other we've had to deal with," said Bloomberg. He said that New York police have removed some 1,000 vehicles from just three busily trafficked thoroughfares, a fraction of the stalled vehicles likely stranded on city roads. "Our number one challenge is stuck ambulances and abandoned cars and buses," Bloomberg said. "These abandoned vehicles are making it very difficult for our plows to move as quickly as they usually do, and that is one of the real differences between this storm and past ones that we've dealt with." The three major area airports -- John F. Kennedy International, La Guardia and Newark International in New Jersey -- reopened late Monday, but passengers still had to face a huge backlog of flights and more delays. A spokeswoman at the New York Port Authority, the office that manages regional airports and transit, said that as of Tuesday 94 flights had been canceled at La Guardia, 281 canceled at JFK, and 423 canceled at Newark. That was an improvement over the 1,400 flights canceled on Sunday, she said. The backlog also affected arriving flights. Conditions remained grueling for ground commuters, with bus, subway and train lines still snarled up. "There continue to be major delays and in some cases suspensions in service across our transportation network," New York's Metropolitan Transport Authority said. Passengers could only hope for better service than on Monday, when many found themselves at wind-blasted bus stops with no buses in sight, or in stricken subway cars, as they tried to get to work or home. The rescue services often faced similar problems, as scores of police cars, ambulances, and tow trucks also got stuck in the snow and ice. In eastern Canada officials on Tuesday said more than 12,000 homes were left without electricity and flights were severely disrupted at Toronto and Montreal airports. In the southern United States, an unusual cold snap in New Orleans led to tragedy when eight homeless people died in an abandoned building. The squatters said they had set alight trash in a large barrel to keep warm. Those who died were likely overcome by carbon monoxide as the building filled with smoke. A combination of the heat and gasses likely caused the fire to engulf the building, officials said. The storm was generally considered to be a bonanza for area ski resorts, some of which saw more than two feet of powder fall on their trails. But conditions turned treacherous at Maine's Sugarloaf Mountain ski resort, where several people were injured Tuesday after high winds caused various ski lift chairs to derail. Reports said injured skiers were being treated at area hospitals.

Palestinian leader to lay first stone of Brazil embassy | GEO | LIVE GEO NEWS | GEO NEWS | GEO TV

BRASILIA: Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas is to lay the symbolic first stone of an embassy in Brazil this week, following Brasilia's decision to recognize a Palestinian state, the Palestinian representative here said. Abbas will head the stone-laying ceremony on Friday, and on Saturday he will attend the inauguration ceremony for Brazil's new president, Dilma Rousseff, Palestinian diplomatic representative Ibrahim al-Zeben said. Brazil angered Israel and the United States early this month when it declared it was recognizing a sovereign Palestinian state within the borders before the 1967 Six Day War. Argentina, Uruguay and Bolivia have since followed suit. The other Latin American countries that previously recognized an independent Palestine are Cuba, Nicaragua, Costa Rica Venezuela. Israel has called the declarations "regrettable," and said a Palestinian state should only be defined with its assent. Lawmakers in the United States, Israel's close ally, have also criticized the moves. Washington regularly uses its veto power in the UN Security Council to block any motions deemed to run counter to Israeli interests.