General Musharraf retreats, ends curbs on media

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday reversed a contentious decree that was meant to curb the media following nationwide protests by journalists, opposition parties and civil society.

"The President has directed withdrawal of the ordinance," news agency PTI quoted Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani as saying.

Musharraf, unhappy with the media coverage of his decision in March to suspend Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, had issued an ordinance on Monday giving the state broadcasting authority Pakistan Electronic Media Regulation Authority (PEMRA) more powers to shut down television stations.

According to the ordinance, PEMRA could halt broadcasters' transmissions, close offices, seize equipment and revoke licenses.

The ordinance imposed penalties for programmes or coverage deemed anti-military or anti-judiciary. It also warned that if there is any violation of orders, then the premises of the broadcasters can be sealed, distributors can be penalised and offenders can be fined up to Rs 10 million (Pakistani rupees) - the equivalent of nearly Rs 70 lakhs in Indian money.

Musharraf issued the withdrawal order at a meeting with members of the Pakistan Broadcasters Association, Durrani said.

Chaudhry's suspension in March had sparked off protests from lawyers and the opposition, which have snowballed into the most serious challenge to the authority of Musharraf since he seized power in 1999.

Musharraf has projected himself as a champion of the media, as the number of independent broadcasters has multiplied since he came to power in a military coup.

But he says some television news channels' reporting of the judicial crisis has been unbalanced.

The government has also objected to coverage of opposition rallies in which Chaudhry's supporters criticised the Army, and last week effectively banned live broadcasts.

Saturday’s withdrawal follows the announcement by the government to stop the implementation of the ordinance till a six-member committee forwarded its recommendations on it.

MS founder Gates finally graduates

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates finally has his Harvard degree, 30 years after he dropped out of the prestigious university to enter the software business and become the world's richest man.

Gates was originally slated to graduate in 1977, but didn't, until this Friday, when Harvard University Provost Steven Hyman bestowed an honorary law degree on him.

Gates, who runs a $60 billion philanthropic endowment now, urged his fellow graduates to use their education to fight poverty around the world. He dropped out of Harvard and co-founded Microsoft Corp. to become the world's richest person.

"We recognize the most illustrious member of the Harvard College class of 1977 never to have graduated from Harvard," Harvard University Provost Steven Hyman was quoted by news agency Reuters as saying.

Meanwhile, Gates thanked his alma mater for honouring his success.

"I've been waiting for more than 30 years to say this, 'Dad, I always told you I'd come back and get my degree'," Gates, told the crowd.

"I'll be changing my job next year, and it will be nice to finally have a college degree on my resume," he added.

The MS man was referring to his plan to shift full-time into philanthropy.

Last year, Gates said he would step down from his day-to-day management role at Microsoft in 2008 to focus on philanthropic work.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, founded in 2000, supports projects to improve health, reduce poverty and increase public access to technology.

Gates' commitment to charity caught the attention of famed investor Warren Buffett, the world's second richest man.

Federer reaches French Open final

Roger Federer reached a record eighth consecutive grand slam final by overcoming Russia's Nikolay Davydenko 7-5 7-6 7-6 in a thrilling French Open semifinal on Friday.

World number one Federer bettered the record of seven successive final appearances set by Australian Jack Crawford in the 1930s but was made to work for it.

The elegant 25-year-old Swiss, chasing the only grand slam title to elude him, showed more composure when it mattered to set up a final against either defending champion Rafael Nadal of Spain or Serbian newcomer Novak Djokovic.

Fourth seed Davydenko, who failed to advance to his first final of a major event, gave his all but it was not enough.

The 26-year-old bowed out by sending a backhand wide on the second match point after just over three hours of high quality tennis.

It was a case of missed opportunities for fourth seed Daydenko who held led in each of the three sets and saw Federer save 14 break points.

Federer, who committed 45 unforced errors also had to save three set points in the final set.

"I could have lost in three sets," Federer said. "He's an excellent player. It's a superb win for me before the final."

He is bidding to win his fourth consecutive grand slam title, something last accomplished by Rod Laver in 1969, and 11th overall, which would tie Laver and Bjorn Borg for third on the all-time list.

CD claims al-Qaeda, India on war

During Friday prayers about 30 CDs were thrown in a mosque in Srinagar and news agencies in the Jammu and Kashmir capital also received CDs and a statement allegedly from the al-Qaeda saying that it is declaring war on India.

The CD shows a man called Abu Abdul Rehman Ansari, who claims to be a top al-Qaeda leader.

In the CD, Ansari announces that the terrorist organisation is launching a jehad (holy war) against India. The statement is both in Arabic and Urdu.

Reacting to the CDs, the Union Home Ministry said that there is no need to panic and they are conducting necessary inquiries.

"This has come to our notice and we are conducting the necessary inquiries. We view such activities and threats as a desperate effort by terrorists and anti-national elements to try and create problems in the country and scare among the people. A close watch is being maintained by the state and central government agencies and action is being taken on a continuous basis to foil such designs. There is no need for any panic," a Home Ministry official said in New Delhi

Taj falls to No. 10 on list of wonders

The Acropolis in Athens and Mexico's Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza are among the leaders in a competition to choose the New Seven Wonders of the World, the organisers said on Thursday. The competition ends in a month's time.

The winners will be chosen through a global online and phone vote, organisers of the New 7 Wonders of the World (www.new7wonders.com) competition said, a far cry from the methods used by the Greeks who chose the original Seven Wonders more than 2,000 years ago.

Some 50 million people have voted so far in the competition designed to produce a 21st Century list of the world's greatest man-made heritage sites, but Tia Viering, a spokeswoman for the organisation, said the result is wide open.

The winning list will be announced in Lisbon on July 7. Many countries are carrying out special events to encourage people to vote for their sites. "There are some really creative, phenomenal things going on in the last four weeks that will influence the final result," Viering said.

These include an Indian singer dedicating a song to the Taj Mahal and Brazil's soccer team urging Brazilians to vote for Christ Redeemer, the statue that adorns Rio de Janeiro's skyline.

The most popular 10 sites so far include both the Taj Mahal and Christ Redeemer, along with the Colosseum in Rome, the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China, Peru's Machu Picchu, Petra in Jordan and the statues of Easter Island.

Viering said the number of votes so far for each site will not be divulged as it could influence the final result. The organisation running the competition, which could become the largest ever global poll, was established by Swiss/Canadian filmmaker Bernard Weber.

Only one of the seven wonders of the ancient world remains is standing today — the Pyramids of Giza. The originals, located in the Mediterranean region, also included the Lighthouse of Alexandria and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Mahesh Babu surprises Nishita

Superstar Mahesh Babu sprang a pleasant surprise on a seven year old girl, who is recovering from a post cardiac surgery complication, by greeting and cheering her up on her birthday at Rainbow hospital on 31 May.

Nishita, who was operated upon by Dr. P Gopichand for congenital heart problem a month ago, developed a severe lung problem and had a difficulty in coming off the ventilator, although she recovered from the surgery. She needed multiple intercostal drains, advanced ventilator techniques and intensive care management. The Paediatric Intersive Care Unit headed by Dr. Dinesh Chirla at Rainbow Children Hospital has literally pulled her out from the jaws of death.

Nishita, a great fan of Mahesh Babu, has been watching his movies on laptop during recovery and had been the only source of happiness. Seeing this the Rainbow Children Hospital had arranged a surprise birthday party for her by getting Mahesh Babu to visit her at the hospital on her birthday. In spite of his busy schedule, Mahesh Babu along with his wife Mrs Namrata visited Rainbow children hospital on their way back from airport and wished Nishita a happy birthday. The couple helped the child cut cake and cheered her up. Nishita was all smiles as she realized her dream of seeing Mahesh babu. Nishita’s parents expressed their gratitude to the superstar for his great gesture

I plan to rule India one day: Mayawati

After creating history by becoming chief minister of the country's largest state for the fourth time, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has set new goals for herself - to rule India some day and build a "casteless society".

"My aspiration to rise in life has brought me here today. I must confess I do look forward to occupying the highest chair in the country, one day," Mayawati, 51, said in her first exclusive interview to the print media.

While she is on one hand busy establishing her credentials as an administrator in a new mould, she also has her eyes set on the 2009 general election. "I have started preparing my own blueprint for much larger participation of BSP in the next Lok Sabha elections than ever before," she said in the 50-minute interview conducted at her private residence.

Mayawati is confident that the Dalit-Brahmin combination she forged in Uttar Pradesh would now attract other important social groups. "While Muslims have begun to drift towards us, a number of backward castes too are throwing their lot behind us."

And what makes her believe that her BSP would be in the reckoning in other states? "Well, each time we have risen to power, our graph has gone up. Now that we have formed our first single-party majority government in Uttar Pradesh, the message has gone far and wide that we are here to stay and that we have the potential to establish BSP rule in other states too," she added with an air of confidence.

"We are the only party in the country with a solid base vote in every state; the question is of tapping that vote, which in turn would attract others to forge the BSP ahead of most other parties in several other states."

Mayawati outlines her dreams. "I wish to achieve what my ideologues always dreamed of - establishing a society without the traditional hierarchy, where everyone is treated at par and where one's caste tag does not determine his status in that social hierarchy.

"Be it Narayana Guru, Shahuji Maharaj, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar or for that matter even manyavar (respected) Kanshi Ram, they all talked about the need for a casteless society but none of them could chart out a path to achieve that goal," she pointed out.

She added: "Even Kanshi Ramji could never imagine that upper caste Brahmin votes would ever be transferred to a party like ours. He was always circumspect about that and would not have easily ventured into an experiment of the kind we tried and that worked quite successfully in Uttar Pradesh."

For Mayawati, who clearly displays the potential of emerging as the only undisputed leader of India's 22 per cent Dalit population, the success story of her "social engineering" in the country's most populous state was not just a feather in her cap. It marks the beginning of a new social era that was inconceivable for many.

Mayawati's obvious bargain to use her party's potential numerical strength at the forthcoming presidential election to ensure a reprieve in what came to be known as the Taj Corridor corruption case has amply demonstrated her skills in getting over hurdles.

Sure enough, it could not have been any mean task to ensure that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was denied permission by the Uttar Pradesh governor to the pursue the charges against her.

But that is another charge she refutes. "All that talk about the governor's refusal being a trade-off for ensuring BSP's support to the central government is outright false propaganda," she asserted.

Sporting her favourite beige salwar-kameez, barefoot as she prefers to remain at her neatly manicured home (not the official residence), Mayawati went at length to talk about overcoming what at one point of time seemed like the most formidable social barrier - caste - that eventually gave her party a clear majority to rule Uttar Pradesh.