Worldwide alert on Microsoft browser

According to Breaking News from our Staff Reporter : MORE than 500 million internet users around the world are at risk from a major flaw discovered in Microsoft's Internet Explorer software that can give criminals access to personal details, including banking passwords and log-ins.

Microsoft Australia said yesterday it was "working around the clock" to fix the fault in the popular internet browser, used by about 70 per cent of net users worldwide, live news channel reports.

About 2 million people, most of them outside Australia, are believed to have fallen victim to the flaw after visiting apparently safe websites, and the problem threatens to sweep the worldwide web, Britain's Daily Mail reported yesterday.

The newspaper said that hackers in China were at the centre of the cyber attack, the most serious in the history of Microsoft's operating system.

Hackers are believed to have used the technology to steal computer game passwords, which can be sold on the black market in Asia and there are fears cyber criminals will exploit the flaw to steal passwords to gain access to internet bank accounts or send out spam emails.

Experts said that users did not have to download any files for their computers to get infected made the flaw in Explorer particularly dangerous.

In a statement released yesterday, Microsoft Australia said a vulnerability had been found to affect all versions of Internet Explorer. The statement said Microsoft teams had developed an "emergency patch", due to be released at 5am today, to protect customers from the problem.

"When the patch is released people should run, not walk, to get it installed," said Trend Micro advanced threat researcher Paul Ferguson.

"This vulnerability is being actively exploited by cyber criminals and getting worse every day."

He said Trend Micro had identified about 10,000 websites that had been infected with malicious software that can be surreptitiously slipped into visitors' unprotected Internet Explorer browsers to A security adviser to Microsoft Australia, Stuart Strathdee, said he could not comment on how many Australians had been affected, but said the impact had been minimal, with only a "small number" of users directly suffering. People who had activated their automatic security update would automatically receive the "emergency patch" as soon as it is available, he said.

Those who had configured their computers not to install updates should visit the security section of the Microsoft website: www.microsoft.com.au/security to download it, he said.

Microsoft rarely issues security fixes for its software outside of its regular monthly updates. The last occasions on which the company did were in October, and earlier last year.

23-per-cent-polling-in-Jammu-&-Kashmir-till-midday

Srinagar/Jammu (PTI): Defying separatists yet again and braving severe cold conditions, an estimated 23.37 per cent of over 11.65 lakh electorate voted in 16 constituencies in the sixth phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir till midday on Wednesday, which was by and large peaceful.

Barring detection of an IED at Mominabad in Janglat Mandi area and a symbolic protest by activists of Hurriyat Conference at Janglat Mandi and Khannabal in Anantnag district, the polling was progressing peacefully in six segments in Jammu region and 10 in Kashmir Valley, sources said.

Inderwal in Jammu region recorded the highest poll percentage of nearly 35 per cent, while Anantnag constituency in the Valley registered the lowest of 9.32 per cent, they said. Banihal recorded 29.5 per cent of polling, Ramban (29) Kishtwar (29.75) and Bhaderwah (26), Doda (22), Noorabad (32), Shangus (25.98), Bijbehara (25.98), Dooru (19.11), Kokernag (18.97), Devsar (18), Kulgam (18), Pahalgam (17.51) and Home Shalibug (15).

Upper reaches of Pir Panjal range experienced snowfall, while plains in the state were lashed by rain overnight resulting in a further drop in the temperature in the Valley this morning.

Electoral fortunes of 271 candidates, including two former chief ministers -- Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Ghulam Nabi Azad -- would be decidedon Wednesday.

As many as 20,000 additional security forces personnel and nearly 10,000 local policemen have been deployed at the polling booths for smooth conduct of polls, they said.

There are 1,268 polling stations in the 16 constituencies in Anantnag, Kulgam, Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts.

Millions-of-Muslim-perform-Waqoof-e-Arafat

ISLAMABAD, Dec 7 (APP): About 2.5 millions of Muslims from across the world on Sunday performed the most important ritual of Hajj, Waqoof-e -Arafat.

Over 2.5 million Muslims are performing Hajj this years.Of these 165,000 are Pakistanis, PTV reported.

Starting just after dawn today, in mild weather, the faithful made their way slowly on foot or by bus onto Jabl-e-Arafat, where Prophet Mohammed Sallalah-o-Alaihe -Wa Alaihe Wasallam delivered his last Khutba more than 14 centuries ago.

For the second day of the Hajj, the male pilgrims wore two pieces of unstitched cloth, serving as a shroud, while the women were entirely covered apart from face and hands.

The crowd continued to recite ‘Labaik Allahhuma Labaik’ as they converged on Jabl-e-Arafat to seek Allah Almighty’s blessings and forgiveness for their sins.

They spend the rest of their time on mount Arafat praying and beseeching God for his forgiveness, as a symbol of the wait for Judgement day.

In his Hajj sermon, grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdul Aziz, bin Abdullah al-sheikh called upon the Muslims to implement Taqwa in their lives as it is the essence of Islam.

He asked them to follow the teachings of Islam for success in this world and the hereafter.

He said Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Sallalahoo Alaihi Wa Alaihi Wasalam) showed the path of righteousness to the humanity and by following the very basics of Islam, we can rid the society of all evils.

He said Islam is a complete code of life, addressing all the requirements of the people. Sheikh Abdul Aziz warned that the enemies of Islam wanted to disintegrate the Ummah and gain control on the Muslim resources.

He said the evil design of such elements could be foiled only if the Muslims remain firm on the teachings of Islam.

He said Islam is a religion of peace and there is no extremism in our religion.

He said those who kill their own brethren in terrorist acts had no link to Islam. After the sermon, the Hujajj offered combined Zuhr and Asar prayers. They also visited Jabl-e-Rahmat, the mount of blessings.

After Waqoof-e Arafat, at sunset the faithful will move towards the valley of Muzdalifah where they will spend the whole night in the open sky and seek forgiveness and blessings of Allah Almighty.

On Monday the Hujjaj will return to Mina, perform Rammi or stoning of the big ‘Satan’, sacrifice animal, usually a sheep, in pursuit of the Sunnah of Hazrat Ibrahim Alaihissalam and perform other rituals.

The next day, the Hujjaj will again perform Rammi at Jamrat, stoning of the smaller Satan.

Later, they will return to Makkah to perform Tawaf-e-Ziarat. The Saudi authorities have made elaborate arrangements to facilitate the pilgrims.

The Saudi interior ministry has assembled 100,000 stewards to ensure safety during the Hajj and the health ministry has supplied 11,000 of its medical and paramedical staff along with 140 first aid points and 24 field hospitals containing a total of 4,000 beds.

Car-bomb-devastates-Peshawar-market-22-killed-90-injured

By Ali Hazrat Bacha
PESHAWAR, Dec 5: At least 22 people were killed and over 90 others injured when a car bomb ripped through a congested locality of Kocha Risaldar near Qissa Khwani Bazaar on Friday evening.

The explosion was followed by a fire that engulfed scores of buildings in the narrow streets, making it difficult for rescue workers to move the injured and bodies trapped inside.

Hospital sources said the death toll might rise because some of the injured were in critical condition.

People started running around in panic amid groans of the injured and wails of ambulance sirens.

A large number of people rushed to rescue the injured and pull bodies from devastated buildings.

Mian Iftikhar Hussain, a spokesman for the NWFP government, and provincial police chief Malik Mohammad Naveed said the explosion had probably been caused by a car bomb.

However, the city police chief said it was not clear whether it was a car bomb blast or suicide bombing. “The cause can be ascertained once the area is cleared and the fire is extinguished.”

He said police and volunteers had begun evacuating the victims and a rescue operation was in progress. Forensic evidence would be studied afterwards. He said the explosion might have taken place in a hotel or a vehicle.

The victims, among them women and children, were taken to the Lady Reading Hospital. Most of the bodies were mutilated, some charred beyond recognition.

Some students of Kohat University who were staying at the Park Hotel said three of their colleagues had died.

The blast damaged scores of houses and shops and several people were injured by shreds of broken windowpanes.

There was an imambargah, Alamdar Karbala, in the hotel building.

According to sources, a van parked in a lane outside the hotel had exploded.

Witnesses said power supply was suspended after the explosion.

Plastic utensils and used clothes in shops fuelled the fire. Several vehicles parked in the vicinity were destroyed.

The fire also affected a girls’ school in Jehangirpura. Most of the shops were burnt to ashes as firefighters had to negotiate their way through alleys to reach the scene. It took two hours to douse the leaping flames.

Syed Irfan Raza adds from Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned the Peshawar bomb blast.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik ordered an inquiry into the incident and asked the NWFP government to submit a report of the probe.

Indian FM denies making phone-call to President Zardari

Updated at: 1310 PST, Sunday, December 07, 2008


NEW DELHI: Indian Foreign Minister, Pranab Mukherjee has denied making any telephone call to President Asif Ali Zardari.

Pranab Mukherjee in a statement blamed Pakistan making a phone call story for keeping the people confused and diverting the attention from the Pakistani elements involved in Mumbai blasts. Indian foreign minister further expressed his fears that Pakistan could think of taking actions making the fake telephone call a basis.

The published report relating to Indian foreign minister’s phone call told that the call was faked, while the Federal Information Minister, Sherry Rahman said that the call received on November 28 was made from the authentic number of Indian foreign office and all phone calls were connected to the President after proper verification, but now the Indian foreign minister has himself confirmed that no such phone call was made by him. While the President House spokesman, Farhatullah Babar told Geo News that President Zardari was phoned up from the Indian foreign ministry’s authentic number. He said that the government has already clarified its position and he would not like to say any further in this regard.

Taj-Hotel-Top-Story

3 terrorists killed at Taj, operations officially on

Updated at: 0953 PST, Saturday, November 29, 2008 NEW DELHI: The 59-hour siege of old Taj hotel ends with the NSG killing three terrorist who were holed up inside. NSG said they would not declare the operation over before sanitising each and every floor. "Three terrorists have been killed but we are still continuing our operations," Director General of NSG, J K Dutt, told reporters outside the hotel. On whether all the terrorists have been killed and hotel is now free, he said that it could be ascertained after the combing operation is over. During the night, terrorists holed out in the hotel engaged in a fierce gun battle with security forces as some places in the first and the ground floors of the 565-room building set afire by terrorists amid explosions in the over 100-year-old heritage complex in the Colaba area.

India-Pak-tour-depending-on-security-concerns

India should not postpone Pak tour on security concerns: Sohail, Kamran

Updated at: 1310 PST, Saturday, November 29, 2008 KARACHI: Pakistani cricketers Sohail Tanvi and Kamran Akmal have reached back home from Mumbai after postponement of Champions League. Talking to media at airport here Tanvir said that India and Pakistan must be realistic in their approaches and instead of raising security concerns and boycotting to play in each other countries, they must know both are equally affected terror victim.” Both the cricketers were few miles away from Taj hotel when the menace took place on Wednesday night and after spending some anxious moments there, both have now come back home via Bahrain. Kamran and Akmal were supposed to represent Rajasthan Royals in the December 3-10 Champions Trophy but the Twenty20 extravaganza was put off due to the terror strikes.