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30 April 2005 Saturday 20 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. Malaysia agrees to hire services of Pakistani workers ISLAMABAD, Apr 30 (APP): The Malaysian Government has agreed to hire the services of the Pakistani workers in five sectors on the basis of 3-year contract. This was decided in a meeting held here Saturday between Federal Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis Ghulam Sarwar Khan and the Malaysian delegation headed by its Minister of Home Affairs Dato Azmi Bin Khalid.(Posted @ 00:10 PST) BOMBER BLEW HIMSELF UP NEAR EGYPTIAN MUSEUM IN CAIRO - SECURITY CAIRO, April 30 (Reuters) - Four foreigners -- two Israelis, a Russian and an Italian woman -- were injured when a man blew himself up about 100 metres (yards) from the Egyptian Museum in central Cairo on Saturday, security sources said. (Posted @ 18:40 PST) Privatisation (38 parties show interest in buying of MCL shares) ISLAMABAD, April 30 (PPI): Federal Minister for Privatisation and Investment Dr Abdul Haffeez Shaikh to privatise the Mustehkam Cement Limited (MCL) through the sale of 85.29% shares held by the holding company SCCP Our privatisation to the common man through public offerings of GoP shares in public sector entities, improving the services and the products and to generate more job opportunities in all the sectors of economy, he said. (Posted @ 18:30 PST) Sports Cricket Shoaib Akhtar may miss Caribbean tour Lahore, April 30 PPI: The world's fastest bowler Shoaib Akhtar may be left out of Pakistan's cricket squad to tour West Indies next month.The selectors are reported to be not satisfied with Shoaib's level of fitness despite his recent return to action in domestic Twenty20 cricket competition. (Posted @ 18: 20 PST) Sports Cricket India beat Pakistan by 66 runs in Blind series New Delhi, April 30 PPI: An allround performance by Subhash Boya helped India beat Pakistan by 66 runs in second match of Petro Cup Cricket series for the Blind here Saturday. (Posted @ 18:10 PST) Japan to resume yen loans to Pakistan ISLAMABAD, April 30 (AFP) - Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will announce a resumption of yen loans to Pakistan after a seven-year-suspension during his current visit here, a Japanese official said saturday.Koizumi "will resume yen loans to Pakistan using this visit," Japan is a key aid donor and trade partner of Pakistan with the two way trade estimated at one billion dollars annually. (Posted @ 18:00 PST) Ethiopian flooding death toll rises to 111 ADDIS ABABA, April 30 (AFP) - Ethiopia's flooding death toll rose to 111 as devastating rains swept 50 villages in the southeastern region of the country, officials said At least eight of the dead were devoured by crocodiles in the Wabe Shebell river after it burst its banks on Saturday. (Posted @ 17:50 PST) India welcomes Nepal's decision to lift emergency, but urges more steps NEW DELHI, April 30 (AFP) - India welcomed Saturday a move by Nepal's King Gyanendra to lift a state of emergency he imposed in the Himalayan kingdom as a "first step" towards restoring democracy and urged him to take more measures. "We welcome the lifting of the emergency in Nepal as a first step towards the beginning of a political process in that country," India's foreign ministry said. (Posted @ 17:40 PST) Blast at Turkish resort kills one police officer ISTANBUL, April 30 (Reuters) - One police officer was killed and two were injured on Saturday in an explosion as they investigated a suspicious package at a tourist resort in western Turkey, state-run Anatolian news agency reported. The blast occurred in the Aegean resort town of Kusadasi next to a statue of modern Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the agency said. (Posted @ 17:30 PST) Myanmar's Palaung ethnic rebels surrender weapons YANGON, April 30 (Reuters) - Myanmar's 843 rebels from the ethnic Palaung State Liberation Army have turned over their weapons to the government, state media reported on Saturday. (Posted @ 17:20 PST) Pakistan, China border to reopen next week BEIING, April 30 (APP): Pak-China border for land trade via Karakorum Highway is expected to reopen next week. The Chinese custom point, which was opened to Pakistan in 1982, normally remains open to goods and passengers from May 1 to December 31. The reopening has been delayed this time due to harsh winter weather conditions in the early part of the year. (Posted @ 17:15 PST) US tops list of FDI contributors in first nine months ISLAMABAD, Apr 30 (APP): The United States topped the list of investing countries by contributing $ 177.9 million out of $ 792.6 million Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows attracted by the country during July-March period of the current fiscal According to official statistics, Switzerland and UK remained the second and third highest in the list of FDI contributors with $ 129.8 million and $ 127.5 million, respectively in first nine months of FY 2004-05.Other countries contributing FDI during the period under review included UAE ($ 40.7 million), Japan ($ 34.3 million), Netherlands ($ 30.4 million) and others ($ 252 million). (Posted @ 17:10 PST) Four U.S. soldiers killed, two wounded by roadside bomb TIKRIT, Iraq Apr 30 (APP/AP) _ Four U.S. soldiers were killed and two wounded by a roadside bomb in northwestern Iraq, the military said Saturday.The attack on the Task Force Freedom convoy occurred Thursday in Tal Afar city, 150 kilometers (93 miles) east of the Syrian border, the military said in a brief statement.Elsewhere, four U.S. soldiers in a convoy were wounded when their Humvee rolled into a ditch late Friday night near Abu Ghraib prison, west of Baghdad, the U.S. military said Saturday. (Posted @ 17:00 PST) Russian Federation supports Egypt for UNSC membership ISLAMABAD, Apr 30 (APP): Russian Federation regards the Arab Republic of Egypt as an influential and major member of the international community and extends its support for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. According to Egyptian embassy, the Russian Federation expressed its support through an official joint declaration, issued at the conclusion of the visit of President Vladimir Put in to Cairo asserting the eligibility of the Egypt for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council. (Posted @ 16:50 PST) China's president to meet leaders of Russia, Britain and France BEIJING, April 30 (APP/AFP) - Chinese President Hu Jintao will hold talks with the leaders of Russia, Britain and France next month during commemorations in Moscow of the end of World War II, an official said Saturday. It was however still undecided whether Hu would also meet US President George W. Bush, Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui told a press briefing. (Posted @ 16:25 PST) 257 dead in Angola's Marburg virus outbreak LUANDA, April 30 (APP/AFP) - The death toll from the Marburg virus outbreak in Angola has climbed to 257, according to a joint statement issued by the southern African nation's health ministry and the World Health Organisation (WHO) late Friday. A total of 277 cases have been recorded, of which 266 were in the northern province of Uige, the epicentre of the outbreak, the communique said. In Uige deaths totalled 246, an increase of four in 24 hours, and a further 526 people remain under surveillance,it said. (Posted @ 16:20 PST) Two women killed, seven hurt in police, army shooting in Afghanistan HERAT, Afghanistan, April 30 (APP/AFP) - Afghan soldiers and police opened fire during an argument at a public gathering in Afghanistan's western city of Herat, killing two women and wounding seven other people, police said Saturday The shooting erupted during a crowded ceremony late Friday to mark the anniversary of the toppling the communist government of president Najibullah in 1992. Police said the shooting started when a soldier being crushed by the crowd mistakenly fired his weapon, prompting more fire. (Posted @ 16:15 PST) Pakistan-Japan discuss bilateral matters, trade ISLAMABAD, Apr 30 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and his Japanese counterpart Junichiro Koizumi Saturday discussed bilateral matters and regional and international situation. The exclusive talks soon after his arrival at the PM house also touched upon economic and trade relations between the two countries. The two leaders would hold substantial, delegation level talks later in evening. Prime Minister Koizumi was earlier given a warm reception as he arrived on a two-day official visit. Prime Minister Aziz received him at the PM House. He later left to meet President General Pervez Musharraf at the President House. (Posted @ 16:10 PST) THOUSANDS OFFER PRAYERS AT HAZRATBAL SHRINE SRINAGAR, Apr 30 (APP): In occupied Kashmir, thousands of people offered Friday prayers at the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar and also had a glimpse of the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad which was displayed after all the five prayers during the day. Big congregations were also held at some other shrines including Jinab Saheb, Soura, Asar-e-Sharief, Kalashpora, Khankah Moulla, and Asar-e-Sharief Pinjurah, Shopian. (Posted @ 15:50) BJP to contest next polls under new leadership NEW DELHI, Apr 30 (APP): Amid controversial remarks by RSS Chief K S Sudarshan on the BJP top brass, party vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has announced that a second-rung leader would head the party in the next general elections. "The guidance and leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani have always been there and would continue and a leader from the second generation would lead the party in the next Lok Sabha elections", he told newsmen responding to a question on Sudarshan's remarks that Vajpayee and Advani should pave the way for the second-generation leadership. (Posted @ 15:45 PST) Pakistan believes in economic security: Ambassador Karamat WASHINGTON, Apr 30 (APP)- Ambassador Jehangir Karamat has said that Pakistan's economic transformation was now being used to reduce poverty through sustained high growth, development projects and social safety nets. In his address at the Dickinson College, Pennsylvania, he said:"By shifting focus to economic viability Pakistan indicated that it was going to rely on economic security rather than military security," (Posted @ 15:40 PST) Cricket-Unbeaten De Villiers and Smith dominate ANTIGUA, April 29 (Reuters) - Centurions AB de Villiers and Graeme Smith dominated the first day of the fourth test between the West Indies and South Africa in St John's on Friday. South Africa, who won the toss and chose to bat, reached stumps on 214 without loss as De Villiers reached 103 with Smith on 106. (Posted @ 15:30 PST) Astronomers get first ever photo of planet outside solar system PARIS, April 30 (AFP) - Astronomers believe they have for the first time taken a picture of a planet in another solar system, European scientists said Saturday. The planet, known as an exoplanet, is five times bigger and 10 times hotter than the biggest planet in our solar system, Jupiter. The photograph was taken last year by astronomers working with the Very Large Telescope at Mount Paranaol in Chile, the French National Scientific Research Centre (CNRS) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO) said. (Posted @ 14:30 PST) Last Titan rocket flies from Florida MELBOURNE, Fla., April 29 (Reuters) An unmanned Titan 4 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Friday evening to place a classified military payload into orbit, ending nearly five decades of Titan launches from Florida .The launch, which took place at 8:50 p.m. EDT (0050 GMT Saturday), leaves just one final mission for the military's largest unmanned booster from the Air Force's west coast launch site in California. Titan rockets began flying from Cape Canaveral in 1959.(Posted @ 14:25 PST) EU-Iran nuclear dispute talks fail, more planned LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - The European Union's so-called "Big Three" and Iran failed to reach agreement over Tehran's nuclear programme on Friday but decided to hold more talks in the future. "The informal talks have concluded. No conclusions were reached and both sides, the EU Three and Iran, have agreed to go away and reflect on what was discussed and to continue the discussions in future," said a British Foreign Office spokesman. No immediate comment was available from Iran (Posted @ 14:15 PST) U.S. probe of "abysmal" treatment of minorities in India demanded WASHINGTON, April 29 (APP): Sardar Simranjit Singh Mann, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal and a former member of Indian parliament, Thursday denounced India's treatment of minorities. Addressing a press conference, he demanded probe by the UNited Nations ofIndia’s "abysmal" record in this behalf and called for "an international investigation, preferably by the U.N., of the 2002 and 1984 pogroms." He urged that "the people responsible for those pogroms should be identified and brought to book." Sardar Mann thanked the United States for refusing visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, and called for inquiry against the conduct of Modi. (Posted @ 12:40 PST) US holds Pakistan in high esteem: says Steve Hadley WASHINGTON, Apr 30 (APP)- Stephen Hadley, National Security Advisor to President Bush, Friday said the United States considers Pakistan as "a strategic partner." He said this in a meeting with Ambassador Jehangir Karamat who briefed the Presidential Advisor on latest developments on Pakistan-India relations, the New Delhi visit of President General Pervez Musharraf and the recent progress in respect of Pak-fghanistanrelationship (Posted @ :11:00 PST) 63-year-old Canadian dies on Everest climb MONTREAL, April 29 (APP/AFP) - A 63-year-old university professor seeking to become the oldest Canadian to climb Mount Everest died on Friday of an apparent heart attack, his climbing team announced. Dr. Sean Egan, of Ottawa University, had been suffering respiratory problems after reaching base camp and was descending for treatment when he died, the team said (Posted @ 11:00 PST) Israeli police, Palestinians clash at land protest JERUSALEM, April 29 (Reuters) - Several Palestinian protesters and an Israeli police officer were injured on Friday during a protest against a Greek Orthodox patriarch near the holiest Christian site in Jerusalem, police and clergy said.Carrying Palestinian flags, about 500 Palestinians approached the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to protest against Patriarch Irineos I, who has been accused in media reports of selling Greek Orthodox Church land in Jerusalem to Jews.Israeli police tried to disperse the protesters to stop them from reaching the church, sparking clashes that injured 15,Toubasi said. An officer was also injured in the scuffle and four protesters were detained for questioning, police said. (Posted @ 10:00 PST) US 'leash lady' to plead guilty of Iraq abuses SAN FRANCISCO, April 29 (Reuters) - Lynndie England, the U.S. soldier pictured holding a naked Iraqi detainee on a leash in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal that damaged U.S. credibility around the world, will plead guilty next week to most charges against her, her lawyer said on Friday. The 22-year-old reservist will plead guilty to seven of nine charges on Monday before military court in a deal that could bring a maximum sentence of 11 years (Posted @ 09:15 PST) Five killed when ship capsizes off Somalia LONDON, April 30 (Reuters) - U.S. and German warships rescued 89 people when a vessel capsized 25 miles off Somalia's coast but five others were killed, the U.S. military said on Saturday. (Posted @ 09:15 PST) Nepal ends emergency, king retains extra powers KATHMANDU, April 30 (Reuters) - Nepal's king ended a state of emergency two days early, the Palace said on Saturday, but the sudden midnight proclamation does not reduce extraordinary powers he seized in February's royal coup. (Posted @ 09:15 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. Phone:+92 (21) 111-444-777   Fax: +92 (21) 569-3995 webmaster@dawn.com Note: Make sure to reload these pages so you're viewing the current version.

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