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24 April 2005 Sunday 14 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426 Welcome to DAWN, Pakistan's most widely circulated English language newspaper Updated round-the-clock, with a major update before 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)

to return to the regular issue please click here. Tigers have their bite blunted by Toulouse LEICESTER, England, April 24 (AFP) - The European Cup final will be an all French affair for the second time in three years after Toulouse beat Leicester Tigers 27-19 here on Sunday.(Posted @ 23:43 PST) Iran says determined to resume uranium enrichment N.Korean general US brought atom talks to collapse SEOUL, April 24: The United States has brought six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programmes to a collapse, the chief of the general staff of the North Korean army said today. Vice Marshal Kim Yong-chun, told a national meeting his country would steadily bolster its nuclear capability to counter an invasion by the United States. The North's official KCNA news agency reported his remarks. The comments came as the top U.S. negotiator to the nuclear talks, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, prepared in Seoul for discussions on Monday in renewed diplomatic efforts to restart talks to end Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. (Reuters) (Posted @ 23:35 PST) New pope to visit German home region soon: local leader BERLIN, Avril 24 (AFP) - The new head of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church intends to visit his home region of Bavaria in southern Germany in the near future, Bavarian state premier Edmund Stoiber said on Sunday, as Pope Benedict XVI was inaugurated in the Vatican. Stoiber told the German Catholic news agency KNA that the former cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who became pope after the death of John Paul II, had told him of his plan after his inaugural mass on Sunday. The Bavarian leader, who heads the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) party, was speaking from the Vatican, where he attended the inauguration ceremonies as part of a 120-strong official delegation from Bavaria. The new pope has already announced that in August he will attend Catholic World Youth Day, which this year will be held in the western German city of Cologne. Pope Benedict was born in the Bavarian village of Marktl am Inn.(Posted @ 23:20 PST) At least 15 dead in Baghdad bombings BAGHDAD, April 24 (AFP) - At least 15 people were killed and 57 wounded in two bomb blasts Sunday evening in the northern Baghdad district of Shula, an interior ministry source said. The explosions occurred in a Shiite (eds: correct) district of the Iraqi capital. "A bomb exploded and when people ran out, near the Hussayniah al-Beit mosque, a car driven by a suicide bomber ploughed into them," he said. The wounded were rushed to two hospitals. An official at the Nur hospital said he had received 15 dead and 23 wounded, adding that according to survivors' testimony the explosions occurred outside an ice cream parlour (Posted @ 22:45 PST) Pakistan, India agree to swiftly return mistaken border crossers KARACHI, April 24 (AFP) - Border officials of India and Pakistan have agreed to swiftly return each others' nationals who mistakenly cross borders of the nuclear-armed South Asian rivals, officials said Sunday."Orders have been issued to local commanders to implement the decisions of the commanders' meeting about the swift return of people crossing borders inadvertantly," Pakistan Rangers spokesman Major Abid Hussain told (Posted @ 19:10 PST) Groundwork begins on U.S. Social Security overhaul WASHINGTON, April 24 (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate panel will start laying the groundwork this week to revamp Social Security in an effort to push President George W. Bush's individual account plan forward against solid Democratic opposition. The Senate Finance Committee will hear on Tuesday from non-government experts who have developed their own plans to bring long-term solvency to the retirement program with and without the investment accounts Bush says must be a part of any overhaul.(Posted @ 18:30 PST) World Bank to expand fight against malaria WASHINGTON, April 24 (Reuters) - The World Bank announced on Sunday it will expand its fight against malaria, one of Africa's biggest killers, because global efforts in the past five years have failed. The global development lender said in a report that the new strategy includes a special task force to ensure that anti-malarial efforts are part of its lending programs for poor countries. (Posted @ 18:30 PST) Two hurt as Bangladeshi workers storm embassy in Kuwait KUWAIT CITY, April 24 (AFP) - About 1,000 Bangladeshi workers, angry over the non-payment of salaries, stormed their embassy in Kuwait Sunday, causing extensive damage and injuring two people, security officers said. (Posted @ 18:00 PST) Over 700,000 houses needed annually to check shortage KARACHI, Apr 24 (APP)- Government should facilitate and patronize maximum housing schemes to check increasing number of Katchi Abadis in the city and around which have shot up to 1700 against 371 in 1984. Muneer Sultan, Vice Chairman, standing committee on utilities, Karachi Chambers of Commerce and Industry further said that not only public sector employees but the general public in towns and cities of the country are facing shortage of houses. Quoting World Bank, he said Pakistan at present is short of 6.3 million houses and this gap could be plugged by constructing at least 700,000 houses in urban areas annually. Currently only 300,000 houses are added annually against the 500,000 to 600,000 people that migrate to Karachi from other areas of the country.(Posted @ 16:25 PST) Abbas asserts revamps security RAMALLAH, West Bank, April 24 (APP/AFP) – Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas moved to stamp his authority on the security services after a sweeping revamp of the top brass which saw key allies of the late Yasser Arafat pushed upstairs. Among those who have been relieved of their duties as part of the reshuffle announced late Saturday was Musa Arafat, a cousin of Arafat, who was head of national security in Gaza. The post of head of national security in the West Bank and Gaza went to General Suleiman Helef, while General Ahmed Abdel Karim was confirmed as military intelligence chief and General Husni Rabaya was named new national police chief. Mandur Nawfal, a political analyst and one-time advisor to Arafat, said pressure from the Americans for security reform was instrumental in Abbas's decision.(Posted @ 16:25 PST) Pakistan to establish Allama Iqbal Faculty of Arts at Kabul University ISLAMABAD, April 24 (PPI): Pakistan will establish Allama Iqbal Faculty of Arts at Kabul University in Afghanistan. Radio Pakistan quoting the Planning Commission sources reported that the project costing over four hundred ninety-one million rupees will be completed in two years and will facilitate about one thousand two hundred students in various disciplines. The programme is part of the Pakistan government's plan to support Afghanistan in the development of its educational facilities and impart higher education to their students.(Posted @ 16:25 PST) Pakistan Development Forum opens Monday ISLAMABAD, April 24 (PPI): A two-day Pakistan Development Forum opens in Islamabad on Monday. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is expected to inaugurate. Over two hundred delegates both local and foreign representing a wide-range of organisations including development partners, NGOs, private and public sector participants, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and IMF will participate in the forum.(Posted @ 16:00 PST) Seven more Kashmiri youth martyred (SRINAGAR, April 24 PPI) Indian troops have martyred seven more Kashmiri youth, according to Kashmir Media Service reports. Of those four were shot dead by troops in fake encounters in Mendhar area of Poonch district, two in Banshal and one at Dharmshala in Rajouri district.(Posted @ 16:00 PST) 60 miners trapped in China mine BEIJING, Apr 24 (APP/AP): A coal mine flood in northeastern China has trapped more than 60 miners. The flooded mine is in Jiaohe, a city in Jilin province, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Accidents in China's coal mines kill thousands each year. In the first three months of this year alone, 1,113 miners have been killed which is up 20.8 percent from the same period in 2004.(Posted @ 16:00 PST) President joins Asian-African leaders to commemorate golden jubilee of Bandung Conference BANDUNG, (Indonesia) April 23 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf on Sunday joined leaders of 106 Asian and African countries to renew a shared commitment to carry forward the 1955's spirit of cooperation for the cause of collective development. Commemorating the golden jubilee of the landmark conference, the leaders walked the Asia-Africa Street to the Merdeka Building as a sign of their joint resolve to follow up their mission avowed at a two-day conference in Jakarta, with concrete actions in both political and economic terms. Pakistan was one of the five founding members of the Asian-African Conference in 1955, known as Non-Aligned Movement at that time.(Posted @ 16:00 PST) Pilot project for providing houses to employees started KASUR, April 24 (APP): The State Minister for Housing and Works Division, Sardar Muhammad Asif Nakai, said that the government has started a pilot project to provide residential facilities to the employees of federal government. Under this programme about 1000 houses would be provided to the employees of grade 1 to 16 through ballot. (Posted @ 15:50 PST) Pakistan bids to host 12th UN Congress on crime prevention Bangkok (dpa) – Pakistan has put in a bid to host the 12th United Nations congress on crime prevention and criminal justice in 2010, sources said on Sunday. "Being a front line state against terrorism we think that Pakistan hosting the next congress would have relevance," said Pakistan Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao. Thailand is currently playing host to the 11th U.N. congress on crime prevention, a once-every-five-years event that winds up on Monday.(Posted 15:50 @ PST) Four confirmed cases of polio (MANSEHRA, April 24 PPI)The surveillance officer of United Nation (UN) in Mansehra, Dr Qamar Zaman, has said that only four confirmed cases of polio have been detected in the country during the first quarter of the current year as compared to eight cases last year. Two cases were reported in Multan, one in Sanger district and one in Peshawar. “This is a big achievement, and we are optimistic that polio would soon be completely eradicated from Pakistan," said Dr Zaman.(Posted @ 15:20 PST) Mass held to formally inaugurate Pope Benedict XVI VATICAN CITY, Apr 24 (APP/AP) _ Tens of thousands of pilgrims joined religious and world leaders for Pope Benedict XVI's formal installation on Sunday, a ceremony that officially launches the pontificate of the 265th leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Priests bearing Benedict's Fisherman's Ring and the woolen shawl that he will wear _ both symbols of his papal authority _ led a procession of cardinals out of the basilica and onto the steps leading to the square, where tens of thousands of people gathered under a brilliant spring sun for the two-hour Mass.(Posted @ 15:20 PST) Leghari hopes for greater Sino-Pak cooperation Boao, China April 24 (APP): Former President Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari has underlined the need for greater Sino-Pak cooperation to further promote regional peace and development. "Pakistan and China need to join hands with a particular focus on strengthening mutual cooperation for socio-economic development at bilateral and regional levels,” he said while chairing the preliminary session of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference that opened here today. Established in 2001, the BFA attracts a great number of Asian high-level officials, businessmen, scholars annually from across the world to discuss regional and global economic and political issues.(Posted @ 15:20 PST) Bomb kills two, wounds three in Thailand BANGKOK, April 24 (Reuters) - A bomb exploded in Thailand's mainly Muslin south on Sunday, killing two policemen and wounding three others a day after Thailand's queen condemned those behind a 15-month wave of violence. The blast was the latest in a series of attacks in which security officials have blamed Muslim separatists and local gangs for violence that has killed more than 600 people since January 2004.(Posted @ 14:30 PST) FBISE's intermediate exams to start from April 26 ISLAMABAD, April 24 (PPI): The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) has announced that the annual intermediate examinations will start from April 26 and continue till the mid of May 2005. Examination centers across the country as well as in Pakistani schools abroad have been established for this purpose.(Posted @ 14:25 PST) Detention order of PPP leader issued who had died eight years back MULTAN, April 24 (PPI): Punjab Home Secretary issued the detention order of PPP’s former Chairman of Mailsi Municipal Committee, Taufeeq Ahmed Khan Yousafzai, who had died in 1997. Police raided his home to take him into custody only to find out that Mr. Yousafzai had died eight years back. They left only after the family had showed them the death certificate.(Posted @ 14:25 PST) Israeli security forces arrest three Palestinians who allegedly were en route to carrying out attack JERUSALEM April 24 (APP/AP) _ Israel Radio reported Sunday that security forces arrested three Palestinians suspected of planning to carry out an attack in Israel. A fourth Palestinian fled and security forces were searching the area. (Posted @ 12:00 PST) Twin car bombs kill 7 in Iraqi town of Tikrit TIKRIT, Iraq, April 24 (Reuters) - Two suicide car bombs exploded inside a police academy compound in the town of Tikrit on Sunday, killing at least seven people and wounding dozens, Iraqi police and doctors said. A suicide bomber drove into the compound and blew up his vehicle among a crowd of policemen, killing several. As police and passersby rushed to help those hit in the blast, a second car bomber entered the compound and detonated his vehicle, witnesses said. A doctor at Tikrit's hospital, Mohammed Ayash, said seven bodies had been brought in and as many as 26 people were wounded. All those killed were police, while both civilians and police were among the wounded. (Posted @ 12:00 PST) Afghan woman stoned to death for adultery FAIZABAD, Afghanistan, April 24 (Reuters) - An Afghan woman has been stoned to death for adultery, police said on Sunday, the first such incident in Afghanistan since the Taliban's ouster from power. Amina, a 29 year-old married woman, was publicly stoned to death on the basis of a district court's decision on Thursday in Argo district to the west of Faizabad, the provincial capital of Badakhshan, provincial police chief, General Shah Jahan Noori, confirmed to Reuters, adding a team has been sent to the area to investigate the incident further. (Posted @ 12:00 PST) 22,800 cotton bales reduced to ashes SADIQABAD, April 23 (APP): About 22,800 bales of cotton worth million of rupees burnt to ashes when fire erupted in the store of Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) at Jamal Din Wali road about 15 kilometres away from R Y Khan on Saturday night. The cause of the fire could not be established immediately, About 22,000 bales of cotton were burnt in an earlier fire incident on April 15. (Posted @ 10:00 PST) Oscar-winning British actor Sir John Mills dies aged 97 LONDON, April 23 (APP/AFP) - Veteran British actor Sir John Mills, one of the country's most beloved and best-known screen stars who appeared in more than 100 films, died on Saturday aged 97 after a brief illness. The hugely respected stage, screen and television actor, whose career spanned more than 70 years, won a best supporting actor Oscar in 1971 for "Ryan's Daughter".He starred as Pip in the 1946 classic "Great Expectations", and was also renowned for appearing in a string of well-known war titles, including "Ice Cold in Alex", "Dunkirk" and "Tunes of Glory". (Posted @ 10:00 PST) Top Philippine diplomat murdered, home burgled MANILA, April 24 (AFP) - A senior Philippine diplomat was murdered Sunday by three men who broke into her home in Manila, police said. Alicia Ramos, 64, was strangled to death while her sister, Leticia, suffered lacerations on her arms. Ramos, a former ambassador to Singapore, was an assistant secretary for Asia Pacific affairs at the foreign ministry. Her sister, Leticia, also worked at the foreign ministry. An initial investigation suggested the motive was robbery. (Posted @ 10:00 PST) Two killed, three wounded in bombing on Thai-Malaysian border BANGKOK, April 24 (AFP) - Two border patrol officers were killed and three other people were wounded early Sunday when a bomb exploded at a border checkpoint along Thailand's frontier with Malaysia, police said. (Posted @ 10:00 PST) Cricket-South Africa seize commanding 225-run lead BRIDGETOWN, April 23 (Reuters) - AB de Villiers, Boeta Dippenaar and Jacques Kallis earned South Africa a commanding lead in the third test against West Indies on Saturday. South Africa were 521 for eight at the close of play on the third day, an advantage of 225 runs. Opener De Villiers scored a career-best 178, Dippenaar made 71 and Kallis hit 78. (Posted @ 10:00 PST) Brazil says it will fly Gutierrez to asylum Sunday QUITO, Ecuador, April 23 (Reuters) - A Brazilian air force jet will fly ousted Ecuadorean President Lucio Gutierrez and his family to asylum on Sunday, four days after he was toppled following a week of street protests, Brazil said on Saturday. (Posted @ 09:45 PST) Asia-Africa conference BANDUNG, Indonesia, April 24 (Reuters) - Asian and African leaders are visiting the Indonesian city of Bandung on Sunday to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference, where the Third World asserted itself for the first time. (Posted @ 09:45 PST) Founder: Quaid-I-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah Editor: Tahir Mirza The DAWN Group of Newspapers Haroon House, Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road, Karachi 74200, Pakistan. 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