MOSCOW: At least seven people were killed on Thursday in an attack in Russia’s troubled southern region of Dagestan, the local branch of the Federal Security Service said reported by A Pakistan News.

“Seven or eight people were killed in the attack,” the official said, adding that the victims were workers who were repairing a television transmitter but without specifying the nature of the attack.

“Police were sent to the scene and a shootout is currently in progress with the attackers,” he added.

The local pro-Kremlin authorities in Dagestan and other North Caucasus regions are battling to defeat an Islamist insurgency that has already left scores of civilians and police dead.

ISLAMABAD,PAKISTAN NEWS: A bomb explosion was reported on Tuesday near Sector H-8/4 in the federal capital, however no causality was reported.

According to the IG police, the explosion took place in garbage and the bomb was of low intensity; meanwhile, investigative teams have reached the site of the incident. A PAKISTAN NEWS

Federal Government Closed Thursday, The federal government will be closed again Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010, according to a new status update from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), after three days of being closed due to snow.

The Washington Post notes that “four consecutive snow days is unheard of,” and the possibility of the federal government being closed the whole week with a Friday off day could mean “uncharted territory.”

To provide this latest update, the OPM also gave its Web site a server boost, after it had been crashing each of the last three days due to surges in traffic.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News: The Supreme Court of Pakistan refused on Thursday federal home ministry’s investigation report in the case of missing persons, describing it fulfilling of formality.

Justice Jawed Iqbal in his remarks while hearing the case termed the government report mere a ‘paperwork’ by the federal department. He ruled out the impression that the apex court can’t enforce its decisions.

On the occasion, Attorney General of Pakistan Anwar Mansoor again suggested to the court to constitute a commission for the recovery of missing persons.

Justice Iqbal expressed his dissatisfaction over the proposal, saying “from 1947, 31 commissions have so far been set up, but not even a single body can be termed satisfactory except the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report of 1972.”

On Saturday, Interior Minister Rehman Malik has asked officials of law enforcement agencies and provincial governments to expedite investigations into the cases of missing persons after registering FIRs.

Chairing a meeting to discuss the issue at the interior ministry, the minister has said that fresh investigation reports on missing persons would be presented in the SC.

Malik had reiterated that the federal government, in coordination with provincial governments, would make serious efforts to trace the whereabouts of all missing persons.

A three-judge bench, comprising Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed and Justice Sair Ali, has been hearing the cases of missing persons for four years on petitions filed by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Defence of Human Rights and former PPP senator Farhatullah Babar.

Ronald Reagan Birthday, I was barely old enough to vote for Ronald Reagan in 1980. I argued with my parents about the vote as they were recuperating 1960’s liberals. Reagan appealed to my sense of national pride and his clear message of personal responsibility interacting with a vastly reduced government. I had just taken my first economics class in college from a libertarian teacher. Reagan’s message of market economics mixed with a coach’s optimism is what attracted me.

My dad eventually found his way to the right side in 1984, a long journey from staffing for Cesar Chavez, civil rights organizing, and anti-American peace marches. The affirmative action issue and abortion issue turned this former liberal activist into a Republican.

Such was the reach of Ronald Reagan. He appealed not only to moderates but lifelong Democrats as well. What message do self-appointed “conservatives” offer today that appeals broadly? We obsess with pet issues like border fences and campaign financing while losing sight of the big picture.

Ronald Reagan never lost sight of the big picture, and he did not swoop down like a policy wonk on any particular issue. The conservative greatness of Ronald Reagan has less to do with his specific policy record than with his optimistic economic message and his foreign policy legacy. He defeated communism by steadfast determination which earns him a large chapter in the annals of history.

There is an alarming tendency these days for people desiring a “conservative” label to ascribe beliefs to Ronald Reagan which he did not share or promote. Radio entertainer Sean Hannity has a ridiculous segment on his program called “What would Reagan Do?” In it, he ascribes all of Hannity’s own beliefs to Ronald Reagan, thus defining conservatism in his own image.

The funny thing is nobody has heard Sean Hannity talking about the size and scope of the federal government, which was THE core conservative message of Ronald Reagan. Hannity applauded deficit spending, made excuses for the ‘No Child Left Behind Act’ and pretends now that Reagan would oppose an amnesty bill. (Reagan supported and signed an amnesty bill.)

Hannity isn’t the only one. WE ALL want Ronald Reagan back but we forget why. We project our version of conservatism on the current crop of candidates and come away disappointed. “None of them are Reagan” we think, as we recite a laundry list of issues that this or that candidate is at odds with today’s talk radio conservatives. We think we know what Reagan would do.

The thing is we don’t have to guess about Ronald Reagan. We have his record as both governor of California and President of the United States. We know what Reagan would do today because we know what he did then.

In truth, Reagan governed from the middle like all presidents try to do. And in doing so, his record would in many ways alarm talk radio conservatives today.

He was a “green” governor of California, still earning platitudes from the environmentalists in the state. As president, his pen stroked giant swaths of land into the national park system, something that fellow conservative Barry Goldwater also championed. So what would Reagan do on tree hugging environmental issues? Not a priority to him, but his record is a mixed bag at best.

As president, he presided over a large increase in the federal government. He did not steal our local power as much as George Bush, but he steered far away from the conservative ideal.

He did not talk much about social issues, making them a distant 3rd priority never acted upon during his administration. In fact, given three chances on the Supreme Court he appointed only one conservative. If Sanda Day O’Conner had not been put on the bench by Ronald Reagan, the immorality of affirmative action practices would have been forever banned three years ago.

He cut taxes. That was good, but he associated them with corresponding budget reductions, something he challenged congress to enact. Those phantom budget reductions never happened on his watch.

What Ronald Reagan DID was give people confidence in America again. He defeated communism, assuring the ascension of America as the only superpower in the world. He forcefully talked up small government, free-market conservative economic values, but he did not deliver on them. And he whispered about social issues we care about, but his policy inaction and bench appointments confirm that social conservatism was not his cup of tea.

So what would Ronald Reagan do today?

I hope he would remind us of his optimistic resonating conservative message, a message we have clearly forgotten. And I think he would tell the various factions in the Republican party to shut up about the tiny nuances of our wonkish pet policies.

He would surely remind everyone of his 11th commandment: “thou shalt not speak evil of fellow Republicans.” That was another part of Reagan’s legacy that today’s conservatives forget.

You see, Ronald Reagan understood that conservative ideology transcends the particulars. He realized that conservatism is a broad appeal when appealed broadly.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News: Chief Justice Muhammad Iftikhar Chaudhry has ruled out any clash among the institutions.
During the proceeding of a case of Grade-22 promotions sans seniority, the federal government told the court that rules vis-à-vis promotions would be charted out in a fortnight.
Federal Government’s counsel Abudl Hafeez Pirzada presented Prime Minister Gilani’s letter in court in which the PM submitted that the government respected the court and would enforce its verdicts. During the hearing, the CJ remarked that the parliament did a commendable job of disapproving the November 3 acts.
The CJ added that the court believed in supremacy of constitution and was making efforts to strengthen democracy and parliament in the country.
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KARACHI, Pakistan News: MQM Parliamentarians and Senators have asked the Rabta Committee to allow them to sit on opposition benches. In a joint statement issued from Nine Zero Karachi, Haq Parast parliamentary members have asked the Rabta Committee that they had informed the federal government leaders time and again about the irresponsible attitude of the Sindh government but went in vain. It is said in the statement that Liyari gangs are supported by Sindh government and the gangs are involved in target killings of MQM leaders. Haq Parast parliamentary members and senators have strongly demanded the MQM Rabta Committee that MQM should review its decision to sit on government benches in the Federation and Haq Parast parliamentary members should be allowed to sit on opposition benches.

MUMBAI: The FBI has turned down India’s request for extradition of terror suspect David Headley to this country on the ground he will have to first undergo a sentence which could be imposed on him in the US for the offences committed if convicted.

Indian officials were told there was no realistic possibility of the Pakistani-American being handed over since the sentence could range between 200 and 300 years of imprisonment.

The US stand was conveyed to the Indian investigators by the Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) officials during their regular interaction to discuss the case related to Headley,  whose links with the banned Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) were being probed by the two countries, officials told India news media.

The polite turning down of the Indian request for extradition of 49-year-old Headley, arrested in Chicago on October three last, came in the wake of repeated statements including that by Union Home Secretary G K Pilai that India would press for the extradition of the terror suspect.

Pillai had said earlier that India will seek his extradition after completing investigation by January next year into his links with the Mumbai terror attacks.

However, FBI seems to be in no mood to hand over him to India and very politely conveyed that he could be handed over once the sentence ranging to 300 years is completed. He can also be sentenced to death, the sources said.

Headley has been charged by the FBI for 26/11 attacks in Mumbai also on December seven. He is alleged to have conducted reconnaissance of all targets attacked by militants on November 26 last year besides drawing the routemap for their landing on the Mumbai coast.

India: Mayawati writes to PM for a separate Poorvanchal, Mayawati, state chief of India’s northern Uttar Pradesh shot off a letter to prime minister, Manmohan Singh seeking to carve out a ‘Poorvanchal’ state, which would comprise the eastern parts of the state, said an official on Sunday.
Mayawati’s demand comes in the wake of her favouring the creation of ‘Bundelkhand’ and ‘Paschimanchal’ states out of Uttar Pradesh. “The state chief (Mayawati) in her letter which she has written on December 13 has urged the federal government to give its nod for the creation of Poorvanchal keeping in consideration aspiration of the people living there. This will also help in the better administration of the region,” said Vijay Shanker Pandey, Additional Cabinet Secretary, Uttar Pradesh. Chief Minister Mayawati had shot off a letter earlier on March 15, 2008 seeking Poorvanchal.
Mayawati’s demand comes after the federal government’s nod to forming a separate state of Telangana from southern Andhra Pradesh. The Additional Cabinet Secretary said that Mayawati, in her letter, had pointed out that the Poorvanchal region, which is socially and economically backward, requires financial assistance. “The state chief (Mayawati) through also letter also requests the prime minister (Manmohan Singh) to approve financial assistance of Rs. 80,000 crore (Rs. 80 billion), which she had sought earlier for the development of Poorvanchal,” said Vijay Shanker Pandey, Additional Cabinet Secretary, Uttar Pradesh.
Since attaining independence in 1947, India has had to balance the challenges of maintaining different peoples under one federal system as well as the relationship between central power in the capital Delhi, and the states of the world’s largest democracy.
The Gorkhas, ethnic Nepalese, and West Bengal called for an indefinite strike from Friday demanding their own “Gorkhaland” to protect their heritage. Other groups have also been pushing forward demands for a statehood demands.

I think I need to convert to Saks girl, because they are officially my favourite department store this season. After having walked through Barneys and Bloomies (judging from the crowd, I assume Neiman Marcus to be the same), I can officially say that Saks is offering the BEST deals this sale season! Earlier this month (when I was pondering over my pink skirt), they had that weekend of extra 40% off already on sale items. While everyone else is currently doing that however, Saks has moved on to taking 50% off already on sale items, there are also a LOT more on sale items too! This sale began last week (privately) for Saks card holders and I heard the Saks New York was flooded with customers, literally fighting over each other for the latest stocks as they unpacked the boxes. This week it is open to everyone and it’s craaaazy (I believe they are having a “black week” instead of black friday, so better get there early!).

To begin with, the traffic on their website must be phenomenal, because the website is constantly down and I’m led to a “Sorry we’re experiencing technical problems” page every few clicks. And when I DO get onto the page, it appears that many sizes are already out! Luckily for me, Saks Fifth in Chicago is not exactly the busiest department store in town (this honor belongs to Nordstroms and Bloomies) and there were still some stuff left in my size (kind of) when I visted today. So I swiped this Rebecca Taylor dress for 1/3 of the price!! I believe it was 40% off and then another 50% off. I was considering it when it was at 40% off, but when I saw it was another 50% off, it was almost a no brainer. It’s not super special, but if you look at it more closely, it has mini dark purple polka dot prints on it in felt. And when you swirl, the dress swirls with you. It just feels so cute and fun! The back is also a racer back design, which I thought was very intriguing. I am super happy with this find (besides the fact that I had to get it in a 4 instead of a 2, but I figure that the dress is supposed to be a bit loose!).
What got me super psyched and smiling all the way home and then dancing around wearing them like a crazy person (in the privacy of my apartment of course) though were these Stuart Weitzman pumps (except mine are actually sling backs). I’ve been eying them for a week now, ever I caught sight of them on the sales rack. I asked HG what she thought and we agreed that they were very classic looking pumps and would be worth it (it was at 40% off back then). So today when I passed the shoe floor and saw that the racks (and the whole floor for that matter) was literally empty, I had to stop by and check out my shoes. Lo and behold, they were also another 50% off. I was SO psyched, I immediately picked them up and tried them on even though the store was closing then. Unfortunately they only had a size 5.5 left (I’m a 6). But since they’re sling backs, I didn’t think half a size mattered as I can adjust the straps. Also, I tried them on and made sure that my feet isn’t sticking out the back (a big no no). While I was waiting for the sales guy to get me the full pair, I watched women all around me in a flurry grabbing and trying on shoes, furiously sweeping up 70% off Jimmy Choo boots and Louboutins in a mad rush to buy all they can before the sales people refuse to serve us. It was quite an amazing sight. THIS was what I’d imagined black friday to be- I guess there won’t be much left now for black friday (we asked and they’re not planning to restock, they’ve been on this mode all week). It’s a good thing I got to my pumps on time!

It’s amazing what a good bargain can do for one’s constitution. As you can tell, I am still super hyped about it

Image Source: Saks

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)