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| May 12, 2005 | Thursday | Rabi-us-Sani 3, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Air France flight to US diverted over suspect passenger WASHINGTON, May 12 (AFP) - The United States ordered an Air France flight from Paris to Boston diverted Thursday after a passenger whose name is on a terrorism watch list was found to be on board, US security officials said. Flight AF-332 was told to go to Bangor in the northeastern state of Maine, the US Transportation Security Authority (TSA) said(Posted @ 00:20 PST)
President Musharraf, citing a recent report, said ISLAMABAD, May 12 (APP) -Pakistan has immense potential for telecom growth and would become the second biggest market of Nokia by the year 2007. He said the foreign direct investment in the country is growing by leaps and bounds, promising vast economic opportunities for the hard working workforce. He informed the gathering that Government would privatize the Pakistan Telecommunication Limited but would not pass monopoly to the private sector.(Posted @ 00:20 PST)
Two dead, 50 hurt in rebel attack near Kashmir school SRINAGAR, India, May 12 (AFP) - Two women died and at least 50 people, including 20 children, were hurt Thursday in a grenade attack by Islamic rebels outside a missionary school in Indian Kashmir's summer capital, police said. The blast near the school in Srinagar's commercial heart was the second rebel attack in two days in the city, the urban centre of a 15-year revolt against Indian rule.((Posted @ 20:45 PST)
Experts sign draft on Kishanganga Project LAHORE, May 12 (APP): Pakistan and India on Thursday signed draft prepared in the wake of talks on Kishanganga Hydropower Project. The preparation of the draft was delayed by two days due to serious objections, raised by the respective parties on certain clauses.Pakistan Indus Water Basin Commissioner Syed Jamaat Ali Shah told reporters that the draft includes all the things that had been discussed by the experts during their three days of talks and nothing beyond the deliberations. The experts are expected to meet again for the second round of talks in New Delhi later this month.(Posted @ 20:00 PST)
Russian fighter jet crashes, killing pilot MOSCOW, May 12 (APP/AP) _ A Russian Air Force fighter jet crashed Thursday, killing the pilot, a Defense Ministry spokesman said.The MiG-29 crashed in the region of Tver, a city about 250 kilometers (150 miles) northwest of Moscow, the spokesman said on condition of anonymity.The spokesman did not give further details. It was not clear whether the crash site was near to populated areas.(Posted @ 19:45 PST)
Shujat meets Musharraf Rawalpindi May 12 (PPI)President ruling PML and former Prime Minister Ch. Shujaat Hussain and Secretary General PML Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed Thursday called on the President General Pervez Musharraf here. PML leaders exchanged views on overall political environment in The country. The working of the Parliamentary Committee on Balochistan and othermatters of national importance also came under discussion.(Posted @ 19:00 PST)
MMA chief calls for worldwide protest day LAHORE May 12 (APP)- President Muttahida Majlis Amal (MMA), Qazi Hussain Ahmed, urged the Islamic movements worldwide to stage a united protest against the report of alleged desecration of the Holy Quran by U.S. interrogators at Guantanamo Bay. Lauding the unanimous resolution passed by the National Assembly to condemn the incident, he stressed the need for a worldwide protest by all Muslim countries at the end of May, according to a press release issued here Thursday. Meanwhile MMA Secretary General, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, called on workers to stage protest demonstrations on Friday, May 13.(Posted @ 18:45 PST)
HR abuses up despite India-Pak peace process: Shabbir (Srinagar, May 12 PPI) The President of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), Shabbir Ahmad Shah, said that there is no let-up in human rights violations in occupied Kashmir despite the India-Pakistan CBMs. Addressing a party meeting, he said that the human rights violations can only be stopped when India pulled back its troops and repealed all its draconian laws from occupied Kashmir.(Posted @ 18:30 PST)
Prisoners in a Pakistani jail take security guards hostage Islamabad (dpa)- Rioting prisoners in Pakistan’s Sukkur prison took 25 security guards hostage, as inmates cells were opened on Thursday morning, officials said. The stand off with the around 2,300 prisoners remained tense throughout the day, and police might be ordered to storm the barracks. "We may have to carry out a full-fledged operation inside the inner cordon if the situation does not come to normal in next few hours," a police official said.(Posted @ 18:30 PST)
U.N. says Pakistan vulnerable to Afghani opium trade Islamabad (dpa) - A top U.N. drug official Thursday said Pakistan needed continued support from the international community because of its proximity to the world's largest opium producer, Afghanistan. "The significant increase in cultivation of opium in Afghanistan is a threat to Pakistan and makes it the most-exposed country," Antonio Maria Costa, executive director of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime said in Islamabad.(Posted @ 18:30 PST)
Pakistan arrests two militants including a suspected suicide bomber MULTAN, Pakistan, May 12 (AFP) - Police said on Thursday that two militants belonging to the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi group have been arrested. Both the suspects, identified as Khawaja Ibrahim and Amir Shehzad, were involved in a plot to attack a religious rally last year. "Shehzad is a trained suicide bomber and his capture is a big breakthrough that will help police to uncover the network," a police official said.(Posted @ 18:15 PST)
Humayun leaves for Colombo KARACHI, MAY 12 (APP) - Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan left for Colombo to make the free trade agreement (FTA) with Sri Lanka operational. Before his departure, the minister said that "this is a major step towards enhancing bilateral trade between the two countries and it is better and more comprehensive than the FTA between India and Sri Lanka", he observed.(Posted @ 18:15 PST)
PM notes vast potential of expanding trade ties with Singapore SINGAPORE, May 12 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Thursday noted a vast potential of expanding trade and commercial ties with Singapore and hoped his visit would boost bilateral economic relations and attract Singaporean entrepreneurs to benefit from Pakistan's investment-friendly climate. Speaking at a luncheon meeting hosted by International Enterprises Singapore, he said that Pakistan "provided a level-playing field to the local and foreign investors where the government only plays the role of a facilitator," he told the gathering of eminent Singaporean businessmen.(Posted @ 18:15 PST)
Europeans warn Iran on nukes VIENNA, May 12 (Reuters) - France, Britain and Germany have warned Iran that they will break off talks and join Washington in seeking U.N. Security Council action if Tehran makes good on its threats to resume atomic work, diplomats said on Thursday. The foreign ministers of the European Union's three biggest powers sent a toughly worded letter to Hassan Rohani, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, warning that resuming potentially arms-related nuclear work "would bring the negotiating process to an end," an EU diplomat quoted the letter as saying.(Posted @ 18:15 PST)
Pakistan Telecom bidding due on June 10 ISLAMABAD, May 12 (Reuters) - Eight international telecom firms short listed to take a controlling stake in Pakistan Telecommunication Co Ltd are expected to lodge bids on June 10 while a pre-bidding conference will be held on May 25, a privatisation commission official said on Thursday. The eight firms include Singapore Telecommunications Ltd, China Mobile, Telekom Malaysia Bhd, Kuwait's Telecommunications Co, Saudi Oger Limited, Saudi Telecom, Emirates Telecommunication Corporation of the UAE and Turkcell. (Posted @ 16:35 PST)
Pakistan says US claims on religious freedoms are baseless ISLAMABAD, May 12 (AFP) - Pakistan on Thursday rejected efforts by a US Congress-mandated commission to include it on a blacklist of countries that violate religious freedoms. "These accusations are baseless," Pakistan's information minister Sheikh Rashid told AFP. Rashid said Pakistan guaranteed religious freedoms and had granted special rights to minority communities which included the right to vote in their own local communities as well as in general elections. (Posted @ 16:30 PST)
Russian troops kill 40 militants during VE-day holiday MOSCOW, May 12 (Reuters) - Russian troops killed up to 40 Chechen militants in counter-terrorist operations in the Caucasus while Moscow hosted world leaders for celebrations marking victory in World War Two, an army spokesman said on Thursday. (Posted @ 16:30 PST)
Terrorists present distorted view of Islam: Rice WASHINGTON, May 12 (APP) - US Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice late Wednesday evening agreed with CNN's Larry King that terrorists present a distorted view of Islam. She said America "values this great religion that is Islam." Speaking about evil designs of terrorists, she said "it is clearly a distorted view of religion, because Islam is a great and peaceful religion." She also acknowledged that "one of the fastest-growing religions in the United States is Islam." (Posted @ 16:30 PST)
India test fires nuclear-capable surface missile BHUBANESHWAR, India, May 12 (AFP) - India successfully tested the nuclear-capable Prithvi-1 missile at 1:04 pm (0734 GMT) Thursday from a test range in the eastern state of Orissa, a defence ministry spokesman said. The missile has a range of 250 kilometres (190 miles) and can carry conventional or low-yield nuclear warheads. (Posted @ 16:00 PST)
Three children burnt alive in Karachi KARACHI, May 12 (APP) Three children identified as Chitan (10), Soono (7) and Neeto(6) were burnt alive in a fire accident in a flat near Lakhpati Hotel in Ranchore Line area, Karachi. The tragic incident occurred when the parents, as per their daily routine, locked their house from outside and left for work. An oil lamp that they left burning in the room is suspected to have caused the blaze and engulfed the house, leaving the children trapped inside. (Posted @ 16:00 PST)
At least 15 dead and 84 wounded in Baghdad suicide car bomb attack BAGHDAD, May 12 (AFP) - At least 15 people were killed and 84 wounded in a car bomb explosion at 10:55 am (0655 GMT) Thursday on a busy main street in the Jadida district Baghdad, hospital officials said. Medics at Kindi hospital said they had received the bodies of 12 dead, three of them women, along with 76 wounded, including 10 women. Another three dead and eight wounded, three of them women, were taken to Ibn-Anafees hospital. (Posted @ 15:15 PST)
Car bomb injures policeman in northern Iraq city Baghdad (dpa) - A car bomb exploded in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Thursday, leaving a policeman injured, according to the police. In a separate incident nearby, an improvised explosive device blew up at the Azadi Intersection north of Kirkuk, he said. One civilian was injured (Posted @ 13:15 PST)
Afghan anti-US protests spread to Kabul KABUL, May 12 (AFP) - Demonstrators against the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran at Guantanamo Bay jail took to the streets of Kabul Thursday in a third day of protests across Afghanistan that had left four people dead, witnesses said. They shouted slogans calling on U.S. to apologise to Islamic countries and the Muslims at large. Another similar demonstration started at the Polytechnic Institute, northeast of Kabul, where protesters torched a US flag. Peaceful demonstrations were also held in the southeastern Afghan provinces of Khost, Laghman and Wardak Wednesday. (Posted @ 13:15 PST)
Mine kills two U.S. Marines in Iraq BAGHDAD, May 12 (Reuters) - Two U.S. Marines were killed and 14 wounded on Wednesday when their armoured vehicle drove over a mine in northwest Iraq during an offensive against insurgents, the U.S. military said on Thursday. (Posted @ 12:30 PST)
Pakistan not to hand over Al Liby to U.S. CANBERRA, May 12 (Reuters) - Pakistan will not hand over a top al Qaeda member it captured last week to the United States, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri said at a joint news conference with Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer on Thursday. U.S. agents and Pakistani authorities have been jointly interrogating Abu Faraj Farj al Liby. "At the moment we are questioning him. He was involved in two attempts on President Pervez Musharraf, so we have a very strong vested interest,” Kasuri said adding that “he is in the custody of the Pakistan government and until all the issues are cleared there is no question of him being handed over to anyone else. Anything relevant to American security is being shared with the United States." (Posted @ 12:30 PST)
Iraqi general and police colonel shot dead by insurgents BAGHDAD, May 12 (AFP) - A general in Iraq's newly-formed army and a police colonel were shot dead in separate incidents Thursday morning in Baghdad, an interior ministry official said. "Staff General Iyad Imad Mehdi was seriously wounded by gunmen at 07:15 am (03H15 GMT) on leaving his home in the western Jihad district," the official said. "He died at Yarmuk hospital," the official said, adding that the gunmen had escaped in a car. One hour later, police Colonel Jamal Ahmed Hussein, who worked at the interior ministry, was gunned down on leaving his home in the Al-Amin district, in the southeast of the capital, the official said. "He was shot several times and taken to Kindi hospital where he died," the official added. (Posted @ 10:30 PST)
Pakistan says it has "vastly reduced" danger from Al-Qaeda CANBERRA, May 12 (AFP) - The Pakistani army's drive against Al-Qaeda has paralysed its communications network and "vastly reduced" its capacity for terrorism, Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri said Thursday. He was speaking after a meeting with his Australian counterpart Alexander Downer, who announced that the two nations would sign an agreement to improve counter-terrorist cooperation when Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf visits next month. "The top (Al-Qaeda) people are all foreigners. They were brought in during the Cold War after the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. But they stayed behind," he said. "We have to clean up the mess."(Posted @ 10:10 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 213.54 points: KARACHI, May 12: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 7284.08, down 213.54 points from Wednesday’s close. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:40 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, May 12: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.02 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:40 PST)
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