MINGORA/PESHAWAR: The Maulana Fazlullah-led insurgents on Wednesday released seven schoolchildren kidnapped on Tuesday, while four persons, including

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JOHANNESBURG: Bangladesh left-arm slow bowler Abdur Razzak took four for 16 as South Africa’’s batsmen perished in a push for quick runs in a rain-hit Twenty20 international at the Wanderers Stadium here on Wednesday. South Africa, who were sent in to bat, scored 118 for seven in an innings reduced to 14 overs after two interruptions for lightning and rain. The home side were well placed at 72 for two after 7.5 overs at the second rain break but with only 37 balls remaining after the reduction of overs they lost five wickets, mainly to reckless shots, in adding only 46 more runs. AB de Villiers, who was dropped twice, scored 36 off 26 balls for South Africa It was the opening match of a tour by Bangladesh which includes three one-day internationals and two Test matches. Only three runs were scored off the first 11 deliveries of the match before Loots Bosman and Herschelle Gibbs went on the attack in an opening stand of 43 before Gibbs was bowled off an inside edge by left-arm seamer Syed Rasel off the first ball of the fifth over. Gibbs survived a chance to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim in the first over when he was on one, with Rahim standing up to Rasel. He made 18 off ten balls. Bosman hit 28 off 18 balls before hitting a high catch to Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful off Razzak. Bangladesh were without opening bowler and vice-captain Mashrafe Mortaza because of a back injury. Fast bowler Dale Steyn returned to the South African team after recovering from an illness which kept him out of action since the tour of England which ended in September.Rory Kleinveldt, an all-rounder from the Cape Cobras franchise, made his international debut for South Africa.

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MAKKAH: President Asif Ali Zardari performed Umrah early on Wednesday morning and prayed for prosperity, solidarity of Pakistan and sought Allah Almig

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KARACHI: Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Dr Shamshad Akhtar on Wednesday announced that the central bank will henceforth provide 100 per cent re

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Karachi Well-known jewel trader Kamran Tessori was arrested by police from Karachi airport on Wednesday upon his arrival from the federal capi

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ISLAMABAD: Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf on Wednesday said all out efforts were being made to overcome the energy crisis and the load#8209;shedding would end by December 2009. The minister while giving assurance to the Senate Standing Committee on Water and Power said that keeping in view the situation the government is bringing in rental power generation units and maximizing generation from Independent Power producers (IPPs) to augment the existing supply.He said that a debt of Rs. 400 billion had created problems for the power generation sector out of which Rs. 260 billion are receivables of the eight power companies while Rs. 140 billion had to be paid to the oil companies. The power generation companies had no money to pay to the oil companies due to which the situation went from bad to worse, he added. The minister said low discharges from Tarbela and Mangla dams due to preservation of water for Rabi crops were another problem due to which the power generation suffered. He informed that provision of gas to the power generation companies has been placed on top priority list. The Senate body thoroughly discussed the issue of load shedding and energy crisis in the country and the future plans of power generation that have been planned by the Ministry of Water and Power. The Committee underlined the need for chalking out emergency plans to increase power generation capacity to meet the growing demands of electricity in the country and overcome the energy crisis, which the country is facing at the moment. Members of the Committee were of the view that a proactive approach was required to address the issue on both short and long term basis.

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Pakistan News

WOCHA BAKHTA: Weeping Afghan villagers said on Wednesday that a wedding party was turned into a bloodbath after foreign troops unleashed a massive att

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Pakistan - Blast Three militants, who were planting a bomb at a school, were killed in Pakistan’s northwest of Wednesday, police said. The militants died at the scene when they tried to blow up the school in the restive Swat valley, according to a police officer.

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RawalpindiThe rat-biting cases are on the rise in the city as an increased number of cases are being reported in the city hospitals.Dr

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IslamabadA Senate committee has ordered the FIA to probe whether the Capital Development Authority (CDA) invested in the crashing stock exchan

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