'US strike' on Pakistan militants

At least 12 militants have died in a missile strike by a suspected US drone in north-west Pakistan, intelligence officials and residents say.

The attack targeted a stronghold of Pakistan's top Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud in South Waziristan, near the Afghan border.

The missiles flattened a compound in the Zangarha area, officials said.

There have been dozens of such strikes since last August, killing hundreds of militants and civilians.

Most strikes have taken place in the tribal regions of North and South Waziristan.

Local officials told the BBC Urdu service's Dilawar Khan that a suspected US drone had fired two missiles at a militant compound in the Zangarha area, 15km (9 miles) north-east of the town of Ladha.

Witnesses told the BBC that many militants loyal to Baitullah Mehsud were present at the time of the attack.

Residents said that militants were digging through the debris to recover bodies, but that they were also avoiding gathering in large numbers on the road to Zangarha for fear of another attack.

"Our initial reports from agents in the field say at least 12 to 14 Taliban have died in today's American missile attack," the Associated Press news agency quoted an official as saying.

The strikes come at a time when the Pakistani government is engaged in operations against the Taliban commander in South Waziristan.

Criticism

Last month, a suspected drone struck twice within hours killing more than 60 people - most of them militants who had gathered for the funeral of those killed in the first strike.

Pakistan has been publicly critical of drone attacks, arguing that they kill civilians and fuel support for the militants.

The US military does not routinely confirm drone attacks but the armed forces and the Central Intelligence Agency operating in Afghanistan are believed to be the only forces capable of deploying drones in the region.

In March, US President Barack Obama said his government would consult Pakistan on drone attacks.

Strauss confident of Ashes glory

England captain Andrew Strauss says he is confident his side can get off to a winning start when the Ashes series against Australia begins on Wednesday.

Strauss will lead his team out in Cardiff and said: "An Ashes series is different to everything else.

"With the tradition, history and great battles of the past, this is what everyone wants to be involved in. It's like the football World Cup for us.

"It means a lot to the England players and we are treating it in that way."

Strauss believes key all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who shone in the dramatic series win four years ago, is desperate to once again play in a winning Ashes team.

Flintoff also captained England when they suffered a 5-0 whitewash to Australia in 2006-07 and Strauss says that makes him even more determined.

You can have any other tournament you want but to have the chance to play in the Ashes is everything England's Andrew Flintoff

"Freddie has settled in brilliantly and is very motivated to play well in this series," added Strauss.

"It's great to see him with the bit between his teeth - he feels as though he has some unfinished business."

Flintoff says the thought of playing in an Ashes series drove him on while he was recovering from a recent knee injury.

"The Ashes is in the back of your mind," admitted the 31-year-old. "When I was in the gym and trying to get back to fitness, it was all about playing in the Ashes.

"The reason you do all the rehab is to put back on that England shirt, to get the chance to play in an Ashes series.

"I'd have loved to have played in the Twenty20 World Cup because it is a great tournament, but the ultimate is the Ashes.

"You can have any other tournament you want but to have the chance to play in the Ashes is everything. It is the biggest thing for an Englishman to play in."

Strauss, meanwhile, admits a good start in Cardiff - which has never hosted an Ashes Test before - is crucial in the five-match series.

"You definitely want early momentum in a series like this because once you go behind it's hard to pull it back," added Strauss.

"I guess both teams are looking to gain some early confidence and you can only do that by playing some good cricket."

Australia go into their first Ashes series since the retirements of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer.

They have also suffered a major blow with fast bowler Brett Lee ruled out with a hip injury. but Strauss is nevertheless expecting a stern test of his side's credentials.

"We have to be wary about how much we talk about Brett because although he's a fantastic bowler, whoever replaces him will complete a strong attack," said Strauss.

"They will have a good balance and we will be expecting a severe examination right from the start - the worst thing we could do is assume the bowling attack will be worse off without him.

"It's true that Australia have lost some players with aura so maybe it's not quite as intimidating as it used to be, but we're expecting some hard cricket.

"We know what it is like playing against the Aussies but we won't be bullied this series, we will go toe-to-toe and look them in the eye.

"The 11 guys who go out there on Wednesday will be very proud people and over the next few weeks there will be some epic moments."

LA countdown to Jackson memorial

Fans have begun to gather outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles for Michael Jackson's memorial concert, amid strong police presence.

The show, which begins at 1000 local time (1800 BST), will feature Mariah Carey, Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder.

Concrete barriers have been erected outside the concert hall, where Jackson had been rehearsing a comeback show before his untimely death on 25 June.

The memorial will be broadcast in the UK on BBC Two and Sky Arts 1.

Other people due to take part in the service include Motown boss Berry Gordy, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Hudson, and Britain's Got Talent finalist Shaheen Jafargholi, who has played the young Michael Jackson in the musical Thriller - Live.

More than 1.6 million people applied for one of the 11,000 passes issued for the event, with an additional 6,500 issued for a screening at the nearby Nokia Theatre.

A total of 8,750 people were chosen at random to receive a pair of tickets to attend the ceremony.

But many ticketless fans have arrived in Los Angeles hoping to get into the Staples Center, including Briton Vikkie Spencer.

"We just wanted to come and there's going to be loads of people around anyway and we're just going to be part of it," she said.

"We're just going to go and wait outside and hope to buy some [tickets]".

The Los Angeles Police Department, trying to avoid a mob scene, have warned those without tickets they will not be able to get close to the venue.

Assistant police chief for Los Angeles, Jim McDonnell, told CNN he did not anticipate any trouble.

"It will be a crowd that gathers for the right reasons and keeps the reason they're there in mind," he said.

One person who will not be attending is Jackson's former wife and the mother of two of his children, Debbie Rowe.

"The onslaught of media attention has made it clear her attendance would be an unnecessary distraction to an event that should focus exclusively on Michael's legacy," her lawyer Marta Almli said in a statement.

"Debbie will continue to celebrate Michael's memory privately."

Jackson's long-time friend Elizabeth Taylor has also declined the opportunity to speak at the memorial.

"I cannot be part of the public whoopla [sic]," she wrote on Twitter.

"And I cannot guarantee that I would be coherent to say a word."

"I just don't believe that Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others. How I feel is between us. Not a public event."

About 50 cinemas across the US are planning to broadcast the memorial live, for free.

It will also be relayed to big screens across the UK, Australia and Hong Kong.

Family service

Meanwhile, Jackson's family will attend a private service - expected to be the singer's funeral, shortly before the memorial.

The family have remained tight-lipped about the singer's final resting place, but police have confirmed that a "private function" will be held at the Forest Lawn cemetery in Los Angeles.

Several carloads of people, including his sister La Toya, were seen arriving at the heavily secured cemetery on Monday evening, shortly after a hearse arrived, accompanied by five police cars.

BBC reporter Peter Bowes said the Jackson family were due to gather at Forest Lawn "very early in the morning".

"They hope it will be a private and relatively quiet service for a few family members and a few close friends, although it probably won't be."

10 coalition soldiers killed in Afghanistan

KABUL: Bombs and bullets killed seven American troops while three NATO troops died in a helicopter crash in one of the deadliest days for foreign troops in Afghanistan since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, officials said Tuesday.

Four of the deaths Monday came in an attack on a team of U.S. military trainers in the relatively peaceful north, Navy Chief Petty Officer Brian Naranjo, a U.S. military spokesman.

Two Americans were killed in a roadside blast in southern Afghanistan, Naranjo said.

Another American soldier died of wounds in a Monday firefight with militants in the east, a U.S. military spokesman said. Also in the south, two Canadian and a Briton serving with the NATO-led force were killed Monday when their helicopter crashed in Zabul province, said a spokesman for the military alliance, Lt.Commander Chris Hall. The incident was not caused by insurgent fire, Hall said.

SC suspends carbon tax on petroleum products

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has given interim verdict to suspend the enforcement of the carbon surcharge tax, Geo News reported Tuesday.

The bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry heard the petitions filed against the raise in petroleum prices.

In case, the carbon tax is withdrawn on petroleum products, the petrol price is expected to come down by Rs10/lit and diesel price to lower by Rs8/lit and the kerosene oil to come down by Rs6/lit.

The apex court directed Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to issue notification regarding suspending the carbon tax on petroleum products.

Talking to media, Senior Counsel Akram Chaudhry said that the higher judiciary cancelled the notification issued on June 30 and directed to stop charging the carbon tax until the Court concludes hearing.

Attorney General of Pakistan Lateef Khosa, Secretary Petroleum and representative of OGRA attended the hearing.

Commenting on the verdict, Adviser on Petroleum Dr Asim Hussain said the price of petroleum products will return to pre July 1 level, adding the ministry of petroleum respects the verdict of higher judiciary.

Pakistan stunned by Sri Lanka’s dramatic win in 1st Test

GALLE: Rangana Herath skittled Pakistan with his left-arm spin to hand Sri Lanka a dramatic, 50-run victory in the first cricket Test here on Tuesday.

Herath grabbed 4-15 as Pakistan, chasing a modest target of 168, collapsed from a seemingly impregnable 71-2 to 117 all out in their second innings before lunch on the fourth day.

Fast bowler Thilan Thushara and spinner Ajantha Mendis chipped in with two wickets each as a jittery Pakistan lost their last eight batsmen for 46 runs at the Galle International Stadium.

The brilliant win gave Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series, the first between the two nations since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in the Pakistani city of Lahore on March 3.

Seven Sri Lankan players were injured and eight local security men were killed in the attack, prompting the sport's governing body to move 2011 World Cup matches out of Pakistan.

Pakistan, who beat Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 final in London last month, now have four days to ponder the loss before the second Test starts at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on July 12.

Herath, who replaced the injured Muttiah Muralitharan for this match, struck twice in the day's second over when he removed the overnight pair of Mohammad Yousuf and Salman Butt in the space of four deliveries.

Yousuf, century-maker in the first innings, was given out leg-before as he padded up to a straight ball from the left-armer that was headed for middle stump.

Left-handed Butt, who looked good while making 28 on Monday, appeared to lose concentration after Yousuf's departure and pulled Herath high to Tharanga Paranavitana at deep square-leg.

Wickets tumbled at regular intervals after that and Herath, later named man of the match, signalled the victory by having Abdur Rauf snapped up at first slip by former captain Mahela Jayawardene.