No sugar shortage in next three months: Iskander Khan

KARACHI: There will be not shortage of sugar in the country in next three months, Chairman Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) Iskander Khan said. Talking to Geo News, Iskander Khan said sugar mills have seven to eight lac tonnes of sugar in stock. However, government should take timely measures for uninterrupted supply of sugar after three months. Sugar mill owners will help government in this connection. He said the import price of sugar is more than Rs.70/kg whereas sale of sugar at Rs.61/kg is not possible in ramzan. He denied the reports that sugar price will be reach to Rs.100/kg in ramzan.

Bad weather continues to hit China; second storm nears

BEIJING: Southern China is bracing for its second typhoon in a week, with shipping and flights already disrupted by heavy rain and strong winds ahead of Chanthu's expected landfall later on Thursday, state media said.

Chanthu was upgraded from a tropical storm after gathering strength over the South China Sea. It is forecast to hit Yangjiang in Guangdong province and Qionghai on the resort island province of Hainan, a local news agency said.

Shipping between Hainan and the mainland has already been suspended and dozens of flights cancelled, it added. More than 26,000 fishing boats are also taking shelter in Hainan ports.

At least 701 people have died since the start of the year as a result of torrential rains which have swept large parts of southern and central China, and another 347 are missing, the government said on Wednesday.

The scale of the devastation, with more rain forecast, has raised fear of another mass disaster on the scale of the 1998 Yangtze River floods, when more than 4,000 people died, though the government says it is now much better prepared.

Premier Wen Jiabao, in comments published in Chinese newspapers on Thursday, said the situation was serious and called for greater disaster prevention efforts.

"The country is now at a crucial stage in fighting the floods, with water levels on the Yangtze River, Huai River and Tai Lake surpassing safety limits. The situation is very serious as typhoons are coming," Wen said.

Typhoon Conson skirted Hainan last week, killing two people, before heading into Vietnam.

` lindsay lOhan :: gOing to jail `

Hollywood star Lindsay Lohan has sentenced 90 days in jail for violation of probation terms in a drugs case in 2007.

Superior Court Judge Marsha Revel issued the sentence last week after listening to testimony from employees of an alcohol treatment program that Lohan had been ordered to attend. Lohan missed seven classes since December, which led to the judge's harsh rebuke of Lohan moments after the "Mean Girls" star offered a tearful apology.

Budget Charts a New Course for NASA

On Monday, the White House announced the 2010 budget proposal for NASA. The proposal scraps the human spaceflight plan unveiled by President George W. Bush in January 2004. The centerpiece of this Vision for Space Exploration was the goal of returning humans to the moon.

Under the fiscal year 2011 budget proposal, NASA's budget would increase from $18.7 billion to $19 billion. That number would increase slightly each year over the next five years, totaling more than $100 billion. But the budget ends the Constellation program, which aimed to return humans to the moon by 2020. The program included the Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles, as well as the Orion crew spacecraft.

Constellation "was over budget, behind schedule, and lacking in innovation due to a failure to invest in critical new technologies," the White House explained in a document summarizing the NASA budget. Even if Constellation was on budget and schedule, it added, "NASA's program to repeat many of the achievements of the Apollo era, 50 years later, was the least attractive approach to space exploration as compared to potential alternatives."

In its place, NASA plans to turn to the commercial sector for putting astronauts in orbit. "Commercial launch vehicles have for years carried all U.S. military and commercial--and most NASA--satellites to orbit," the White House release noted. Supporting the development of commercial systems that can carry crews to and from the International Space Station (ISS)--which will see its operational life extended to at least 2020 in the proposed budget--will be a cornerstone of the new policy. NASA plans to spend up to $6 billion over five years on this effort, starting with $500 million in the 2011 budget.

The budget proposal also includes $7.8 billion over five years to develop new "critical technologies" needed for future exploration plans. NASA cited several examples of such technologies, including in-orbit propellant transfer, which could allow spacecraft to refuel in space; automated rendezvous and docking systems for spacecraft; closed-loop life support systems that could permit long-duration human missions without requiring large amounts of water, air, and other supplies; and inflatable modules that could enhance use of the ISS. Such technologies could not only support future NASA exploration missions but also private spaceflight efforts under development by companies such as Bigelow Aerospace, Orbital Sciences, and SpaceX.

FIA Says no Law Now to Check Cyber Crimes in pakistan

The FIA says there is no law in the country at the moment to check cyber crimes and has thus closed the investigation against the son of PPP Information Secretary Fauzia Wahab, who threatened Editor Investigation The News Ansar Abbasi some months ago in a text message, reported The News.

“The News” disclosed this fact citing a reply made by FIA to the query of Ansar regarding his complaint. The FIA on numerous occasions told Ansar that his complaint was under consideration, but this reply says the relevant law has lapsed so nothing can now be done.

Ansar asked FIA:

“This is with reference to my application dated Dec 18, 2009, regarding threatening SMS that I had received from 0333-2182500. As a consequence of my application, I received an acknowledgement letter No FIA/NR3C/cases/ISB/1327-29 from Shahid Nadeem Baloch, Project Director; however, I am not aware of the follow-up actions.”

According to “The News” FIA’s reply said:

“The contents of complaint prima facie attract the application of the Prevention of Electronic Crime Ordinance. The ordinance has, however, expired in November 2009 and thereafter neither the same has been re-promulgated nor any other law has been passed by Parliament dealing with offences punishable under PECO.

In view of above legal position, the acts of omission/commission mentioned in the complaint do not constitute an offence punishable under any law available on the charter of FIA.

Hence, no action can be initiated on your complaint by NR3C for want of jurisdiction.”

It merits mentioning here that Cyber Crime law was first issued through a presidential order on December 31st, 2009 by former president Musharraf, which was later endorsed by PPP government with little amendments.

Ordinances are supposed to be endorsed or renewed every three months.

Keeping in view the current developments in cyber world, it is extremely important to have a cyber law in the country to execute those threats arising over the internet.

It is un-comprehendible that why Government of Pakistan is ignoring the said law for this long.

An FIA official in a conversation with ProPakistani said that agency has been reminding the concerned departments about the lapse of ordinance, but apparently they are either busy doing other businesses or they are deliberately not paying any attention.

He said that Cyber Crime law is supposed to be defined by Ministry of IT and Telecom, as internet domain is fairly covered by IT Ministry. He further added that it is the need of the hour to get Cyber Crime Law get passed from parliament to make it permanent part of Pakistani law

Power looms laborers protest in Faisalabad

FAISALABAD: Faisalabad is witnessing strike today on appeal by Labor Qaumi Movement to demand the raise in wages, Geo News reported Tuesday.

The laborers of power looms initiated strike this morning with strong protests as the deadline for wages raise came to end today.

In Sadhaar area of the city, the laborers clashed with factory guards in bid to get the factory shut down. Later on, a factory, motorbike and a car were set on fire.

In the meantime, various incidents of clashes between power looms laborers, factory owners and police personnel, took place in several areas, where people including factory owners were injured.

The efforts are afoot with shelling to break up the crowds of laborers. Also, various people have been arrested during this while.

Council of Looms Owners Chairman Waheed called an emergency meeting of power looms owners to mull over the present situation.

The laborers demand 17 percent hike in their wages. Contrarily, the owners said it is impossible for them to raise their wages in view of load shedding and raise in prices of raw materials.

Five killed in Punjab rains

LAHORE: The spell of sporadic rain continued in different parts of Punjab including Lahore that turned weather pleasant on Tuesday.

Five people were killed in rain-related incidents in Lahore, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib. Heavy showers lashed different areas of Punjab on Tuesday morning. However, water accumulation in low-lying areas disturbed routine life.

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif visited rain-affected areas of Lahore and reviews rescue operation. Three persons including two children electrocuted in Shahidra and Taj Park areas whereas two dead in Sheikupura and Nankana Sahib.

Met office predicted more rains in next 48 hours. Rain recorded in Lahore 62 mm, Gujaranwala 86 mm, Mianwali 80 mm, Sialkot 69 mm and Chakwal 25 mm.

Javed Hashmi hospitalized over brain hemorrhage

MULTAN: A leader of Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) Makhdoom Javeed Hashmi has been admitted to ICU ward at Nishter Hospital here, after he suffered Brain Hemorrhage, media reports said quoting family sources as saying on early Tuesday.

According to family sources, following he suffered Brain Hemorrhage, his body also suffered stroke due to internal bleeding.

Given his serious condition, saying anything about his health would be too premature, hospital sources said.