Moon sighted for the month of Ramazan: Ruhat-e-Hilal

KARACHI: The crescent moon for the month of Ramadan has been sighted by the Ruhat-e-Hilal committee on Wednesday. The first day of Ramdan will be on Thurday.

The announcement was made by Mufti Muneeb-ur Rehman, the chairman of the Ruhat-e-Hilal Committee.

The sighting has been verified in different parts of the country. 

Bed rest for Aamir

Aamir Khan has been advised bed rest by his doctors since the actor is running high fever from some days.

Aamir experienced uneasiness as soon as he landed from Australia a few days back. The actor was extremely unwell and had to cancel all his meets due to health reasons.

Priyanka Chopra turns UNCIEF ambassador

The swanky Bollywood actress & former Miss world - Priyanka Chopra, as per the latest reports, has been appointed the national ambassador of UNCIEF, where she will support in promoting child and adolescent rights.
An agreement in this regard will be signed between the actress and UNICEF representative, Karin Hulshof in the signing ceremony to be held in New Delhi on August 10.
Priyanka joins industry veteran Sharmila Tagore, who is also UNICEF’s National Ambassador. Another Bollywood star, Amitabh Bachchan, is the Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF. Sachin Tendulkar, Aamir Khan and Raveena Tandon are also associated with UNICEF.

Gates plans to slash 'top-heavy' Pentagon hierarchy

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates moved to slash a "top-heavy" military hierarchy, announcing plans to eliminate at least 50 posts for generals and admirals, close a major command and cut back on the use of contractors.

Mounting the most ambitious Pentagon reform in a decade, Gates said harsh fiscal and economic realities require that it "make every dollar count" as it fights two wars and equips itself to confront potential adversaries elsewhere.

President Barack Obama applauded the effort, acknowledging that "change is never easy."

"These reforms will ensure that our nation is safer, stronger, and more fiscally responsible," he said in a statement.

US defense budgets have doubled to some 700 billion dollars a year since 2001, but Gates warned that the Pentagon now needs to tighten its belt to sustain and modernize the US force.

At a press conference, he unveiled a series of measures targeting the proliferation of personnel in his own office, in military headquarters, defense agencies and intelligence-related units.

"The culture of endless money that has taken hold must be replaced by a culture of restraint," he said.

Flood crisis deepens, rains hampering rescue efforts

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Sindh. Section 144 has been imposed in Kacha areas. Rangers have been deployed on all protective embankments across Sindh. Flood water has been rising in Guddu and Sukkur barrage, which is moving towards the populated area in Kandh Kot.
The worst floods in 80 years have killed over 1,600 people, left two million homeless, washed away crops and farm animals. More homes and crops are likely to be swept away with heavy rain forecast to lash the country in the next 24 to 36 hours. Indus floodwater, which now heads to Kotri Barrage, is threatening to affect some 200 villages of Hyderabad and Jamshoro districts in Sindh.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2cOO8DopdAIn a bid to save Ada Basera, Chawk Qureshi and Ghazi Ghat Bridge, a breach was made near Ghazi Ghat Bridge in Dera Khazi Khan-Muzaffargarh road near Muzaffargarh cutting off ground links to Dera Ghazi Khan. The torrential rains are hampering the relief work and all the helicopters meant for dropping food supplies to the flood affected people have been grounded and are waiting for the weather to clear up.
Water level has surged to 700,000 cusecs, after the dam continues to receive floodwater from the Indus River. The spillway and tunnel No 5 of the dam have been unlocked.
According to the Tarbella management, due to the high floods in Indus River, water inflow of 685,000 cusecs is expected to enter into Tarbella dam in the next 24-hours.
People who had to leave their houses in a hurry have been forced to spend the night under the open sky.