Sarah Palin announing her resignation as Governor of Alaska, effective July 26, 2009.

WASILLA, Alaska – Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin abruptly announced Friday she is resigning from office at the end of the month, a shocking move that rattled the Republican party but left open the possibility she would seek a run for the White House in 2012.

Younis Khan wishes to begin Test series with victory

GALLE: Younis Khan, the Pakistan captain, has expressed confidence in his batsmen’s ability to tackle the wiles of spinner Ajantha Mendis in the three-Test series starting at Galle on Saturday, wishing to start Test match series with victory against Lankans.

Younis said his batsmen’s familiarization with Mendis is only not because the two teams have played each other often in the past year or so, but also because Pakistanis are used to playing spin at home.

“We have a lot of offspinners, left-arm spinners and legspinners,” Younis said. “The wickets are similar to Pakistan. Although there is more grip on the Sri Lankan pitches, all pitches are flat. Why Sri Lanka and Pakistan are meeting each other so often is because of their good relationship. Both teams know each other’s weaknesses. Because of our nature we compete with each other very well.”

Over 800 victimized by agent mafia in Saudi Arabia

KARACHI: Over 800 Pakistanis, went to perform Umrah in Saudi Arabia, have been betrayed by Travel Agent Mafia working in Pakistan, as the money of their return tickets have been refunded here in Pakistan, leaving them in Lurch in Saudi Arabia.

Over 800 Pakistanis went Saudi Arab through separate airlines belonging to various cities who are unable to get back to country due to lack of their return tickets while travel agents in Jeddah have denied them of any support or help to avert this malfunction.

Waziristan operation targetted against Baitullah: Malik

ISLAMABAD, July 3 (APP): Interior Minister A. Rehman Malik Friday said the Waziristan operation is targetted against Tehrik?e?Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud and his accomplices. He was talking to media here at a local hospital after inquiring after the injured of Pindi suicide blast. Malik said the operation is against the militants and it would continue till the complete elimination of terrorist elements.

To a question he said the government had neither indulged into an agreement with any militant group in past nor it has the intention in future.”

Commander Naeem among 13 terrorists killed in Swat, Dir operation: ISPR

PESHAWAR, July 3 (APP): As many as 13 terrorists including commander Naeemullah were killed and 24 were apprehended along?with lot of arms, ammunition and equipment while one solider sustained injuries during last 24 hours in Swat and Dir, said an update of ISPR here Friday. In Swat, security forces conducted house to house search operation at Kabbal and Akun Kalle and recovered 3 rifles, 2 pistols, one communication set and 30 mobile phone SIMs and ammunition of various calibres.

During search operation at Zara Khella security forces recovered 16 rifles, 2 IEDs, 2 pistols and safety fuses and detonators and ammunitions of various calibers.

Security forces conducted search operation in areas around Rangeela and Dadhra and one soldier was injured while defusing IED.