Tom offers $75,000 reward for guitars

LOS ANGELES: Rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are offering a $75,000 reward for the return of five guitars stolen from a Los Angeles-area studio last week, ahead of their US and Europe tour.

The band said on their website that the guitars include Petty's 1967 12-string blonde Ricken backer 360 and his 1965 Gibson SGTV Junior, as well as instruments belonging to bassist Ron Blair, rhythm guitar player Scott Thurston, and lead guitarist Mike Campbell.

They said they would pay a $75,000 reward "with no questions asked to anyone with information leading to the recovery of the guitars."

The guitars were reported stolen on Thursday from a studio in Culver City, west of Los Angeles, where the band was rehearsing for their US tour, which is set to open in Broomfield, Colorado, on Wednesday.

Police said they were investigating the theft. (Reuters)

read more...

India: 20 trapped as building collapses

NEW DELHI: More than 20 people were feared trapped Monday after a building housing a blanket factory collapsed in northern India, television reports said.

Television footage showed emergency workers searching through the debris of the building which collapsed Sunday night in Jalandhar in Punjab state.

Eyewitnesses said around 70 people had been working in the factory at the time but there was no confirmation of the precise number.

The CNN-IBN channel quoted police officials as saying more than 40 people had been rescued.

One eyewitness told the channel that the collapse was caused by a boiler explosion. (AFP)

read more...

Multan region faces CNG closure

MULTAN: Multan region is facing CNG closure for three consecutive days while the citizens are forced to buy expensive fuel.

Following the gas load management program, more than 200 CNG stations were closed in Multan region including Vihari, Chichawatni, Khanewal, Muzaffargarh, Lyyah and Dera Ghazi Khan.

Commuters were facing severe problems in carrying out their day-to-day tasks where CNG is closed for three days, starting from 6am today.

The CNG supply will be resumed on Wednesday.

The public transport owners have increased the fares due to CNG suspension and increased petrol prices.

read more...

Karachi: Motorbike pillion riding banned

KARACHI: Sindh Government has once again resorted to imposing a ban on motorbike pillion riding for a month taking effect from Sunday (8:00 AM).

Sindh Home Minister, Manzoor Wassan talking to Geo News said that the decision had been taken given the deteriorating law and order situation in the metropolis.

Elderly, women, children, and journalists would be exempt from this ban.

read more...

Will never receive Zardari: Shahbaz

ARIFWALA: Chief Minister Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif has said that he would rather resign than receive President Asif Ali Zardari who has looted billions of rupees and stashed away in Swiss banks.

Addressing a public meeting here Saturday, Shahbaz said he would resign 100 times but never receive Zardari.

The chief minister said Asif Zardari was under a wrong impression that he could snatch their glory.

Shahbaz challenged the President to go to any place of his own choosing from Peshawar to Karachi and get the picture of what the masses really think of him.

Had it been Benazir Bhutto, he would have received her 100 times as she was a democratic force, Shahbaz said.

Mr. Zardari hatched conspiracy against 100 million people and plunged the Punjab into darkness, Shahbaz Sharif claimed.

He said Zardari did drive out Musharraf but presented him a 21-gun-salute farewell. "Musharraf and his stooges still continue to be the companions of Zardari," he added.

read more...

Turkmen president wins on racing track

ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan: Turkmenistan's authoritarian leader has proven he doesn't only win elections easily, coming first in a car race he wasn't even supposed to take part in.

President Gurbanguli Berdymukhamedov drove to the racing track in a Bugatti sports car Saturday morning ostensibly to give his blessing to the former Soviet Central Asian nation's maiden automotive competition.

While an event presenter introduced the president, he received a request nobody in Turkmenistan would be likely turn down. "Can I take part?" Berdymukhamedov asked.

Before long, the president had changed into racing gear, entered the zippy and diminutive Turkish-made Volkicar automobile and promptly proceeded to record the best time in the time-trial challenge.

Announcers at the race said the winning car will be given to the national sports museum.

The apparently choreographed display appears to be another episode in an ongoing state project to cast the president as an effortlessly competent man of action.

read more...

Pakistan all set to auction 3G tech

ISLAMABAD: The government is going to shortlist three major contenders for selection of consultant by next week for high profile transaction of third generation (3G) technology that possesses potential to bring investment of over $1 billion, it is learnt.

The official documents available with The News disclosed that Auction Supervisory Committee (ASC) under chairmanship of Finance Minister Dr Hafeez Shaikh will meet on April 11 to finalize short listing of three major parties having international repute for appointment as consultant out of total 10 to 12 interested parties.

"This process may not be completed within the current fiscal year but ASC has taken decision in principle that transparency will not be compromised and Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules will be adhered to," senior government official confided to The News here on Friday.

When contacted Secretary Ministry of Information Technology Farooq Awan said that the appointment of consultant and completion of transaction would be completed in a transparent manner.

He said that around 10 to 12 interested parties showed their interest for the slot of consultant and this process would be completed by the end of this month.

Sources said that the short-listed parties would be asked to submit RFP (Request for Proposal) and financing bidding after which the lowest bidder would be selected for appointment of consultant.

The consultant would be assigned to evaluate 'Reserved Price' for this transaction on the basis of his or her expertise and appointment of independent consultant would give credibility to this crucial transaction.

read more...

Chennai outplay Deccan by 74 runs in IPL

Visakhapatnam: Ravindra Jadeja’s impressive allround performance guided Chennai Super Kings to defeat Deccan Chargers by 74 runs in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League here at the Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

First he top scored with a breezy 48 from 29 balls and later he displayed the best bowling performance grabbing five wickets for just 16 runs to demolish Deccan batting lineup.

He struck three sixes and as many fours while Dwayne Bravo hit an unbeaten 43 off 18 balls with five sixes and Faf du Plessis made 39 off 25 balls with four sixes and a four.

Chennai Super Kings amassed 183 for six in the allotted 20 overs and then bowled out Deccan Chargers for 119 runs in 17.1 overs.

Main scorers were captain Cameron White (23), Shikhar Dhawan (21) and Parthiv Patel (20).

Geo Super showed this match live from the venue.

read more...