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| August 23, 2005 | Tuesday | Rajab 17, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
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Four die in Swiss light plane crash GENEVA, Aug 23 (Reuters) - A light plane crashed near the Simplon mountain pass in south-central Switzerland on Tuesday, killing all four people on board, Swiss police said. "I can confirm four people died. There were no survivors," Vincent Favre, police spokesman in the canton (state) of Valais, told Reuters. No information was immediately available on the victims' nationality or the single-engine turbo prop aircraft's takeoff point and destination. Witnesses reported that the plane had gone into a tailspin in good weather and said the pilot had probably lost control, according to Favre. Police have reached the crash site on the Alpine pass between Switzerland and Italy and an investigation is under way, he said.(Posted @ 21:45 PST)
Floods cause chaos in southern Germany KEMPTEN, Germany, Aug 23 (AFP) - Severe floods caused havoc in southern Germany on Tuesday as rivers burst their banks and towns were cut off from the outside world, authorities said. The flooding was worst in the rural area surrounding the popular Alpine ski resort Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria after heavy rains overnight intensified on Tuesday, weather services said.(Posted @ 21:14 PST)
Israel completes settler evacuations HOMESH SETTLEMENT, West Bank, Aug 23 (AFP) - Israel completed its historic operation to evacuate parts of occupied Palestinian territory Tuesday when it cleared the northern West Bank enclave of Homesh, a police spokesman said. It marks the first time Israel has removed Jews from Palestinian territory it occupied in 1967.(Posted @ 20:38 PST)
Two dead as Alpine deluge sweeps through Switzerland GENEVA, Aug 23 (APP/AFP) - Two people were killed and two others were missing Tuesday after three days of heavy rain in central and eastern Switzerland turned Alpine streams into raging torrents and triggered flooding around the country's lakes.(Posted @ 20:16 PST)
Israel clears West Bank settlement of Sanur, one more to go SANUR SETTLEMENT, West Bank, Aug 23 (AFP) - Israeli security forces Tuesday cleared the West Bank settlement of Sanur, leaving just one Jewish community to be cleared of a few hardliners for the completion of the historic pullout operation, the army said. Dozens of hardline Jewish settlers were hoisted off the rooftop of a former British fortress here where they had been holding out against their evacuation. A few diehards opposed to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's pullout plan were holding out in the nearby settlement of Homesh, but police said they were soon expected to be cleared.(Posted @ 19:18 PST)
92 persons arrested on smuggling of camel jockeys children ISLAMABAD, Aug 23 (APP): Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Senator Tariq Azim on Tuesday said Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has busted several gangs including 92 individuals, who were involved in the smuggling of Pakistani children for using them in traditional camel races. Addressing a press conference here, the minister said the government will also get interpole's help for the arrest of culprits who escaped from Pakistan and are living abroad. He said about 7,000 to 10,000 children are being used as Camel jockeys in Arab countries while 2,000 to 3,000 children are being used in UAE.Tariq Azim said 300 camel jockey children have been repatriated to Pakistan and several Arab countries have set up special centers for the safe return of these children.(Posted @ 19:08 PST)
Commander Combined Forces, CGS Afghan National Army arrive RAWALPINDI, Aug 23 (APP): General Bismullah Khan, Chief of General Staff Afghan National Army and Lieutenant General Karl Eikenbery, Combined Forces Commander Afghanistan arrived here Tuesday on a two day official visit to attend the 12th Tripartite Commission Meeting scheduled here on Wednesday.(Posted @ 19:02 PST)
Pakistan moving forward on the path of sustainable democracy: Musharraf RAWALPINDI, Aug 23 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Tuesday said Pakistan is moving forward on the path of sustainable democracy, which has great significance for development of the country and the well-being of its people.In a wide-ranging interaction with Asian Parliamentarians the President said the elected assemblies will complete their term and general elections would be held in the year 2007. Reviewing the global scenario he renewed his call for settlement of long standing Palestinian and Kashmir disputes. Entertaining questions from the Asian MPs, the President said that Asian nations should strive for integrating regional economies. Asian countries need to supplement each others economies to achieve the long-sought goal of across the board development and prosperity of our people, he said. The President particularly highlighted the need for bringing South and Central Asian countries into the mainstream of Asian development.(Posted @ 17:45 PST)
Automatic Train Protection System to be installed within three months ISLAMABAD, Aug 23 (APP): Automatic Train Protection System (ATPS) would be installed initially at four stations within three months on an experimental basis,Director Operations Pakistan Railways Syed Nasir Zaidi said Tuesday in a tv interview. Meanwhile, VHF system was being installed for maintaining close liaison between driver, guard and station master. In the first phase VHS system in 150 engines has already been installed. The remaining 200 engines would also have it soon, he added. VHF system has already been installed from Rawalpindi to Lahore. The remaining area from Khanewal to Karachi would be covered soon, he said.(Posted @ 17:30 PST)
President confers Nishan-e-Imtiaz on Commander Royal Saudi Naval Forces RAWALPINDI, Aug 23 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Tuesday conferred the award of Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) on Vice Admiral Prince Fahd bin Abdullah bin Muhammad Al-Saud, Commander, Royal Saudi Naval Forces at a special investiture ceremony held here. The ceremony was attended by federal ministers, Vice Chief of Army Staff, the Services Chiefs, senior civil and military officers and other distinguished guests.(Posted @ 17:25 PST)
Triple car bombs target U.S. troops in west Iraq RAMADI, Iraq, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Three car bombs exploded in quick succession near U.S. forces in Ramadi, west of Baghdad, on Tuesday ,police and witnesses said. In the first blast, a car blew up as a U.S. convoy was passing through the centre of the city. One U.S. army vehicle was damaged in the explosion and three Iraqi bystanders were wounded, police said. It was not clear if any U.S. troops were wounded or killed in the attack. Minutes later, a suicide truck bomber rammed his explosives -laden vehicle into a building frequently occupied by U.S. troops in an industrial zone on the edge of Ramadi, witnesses said. Part of the building collapsed but there was had no information about any casualties. As U.S. troops were arriving to help those hit in the second blast, a third bomb, concealed in a car parked near a mosque, went off, a reporter near the scene said adding that smoke was rising from the site of the blasts and the building hit in the second bombing was badly damaged.(Posted @ 16:45 PST)
Indian leader to question Pakistan's Musharraf about condemned "spy" NEW DELHI, Aug 23 (AFP) - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Tuesday he would speak to Pakistan's president about an alleged Indian spy handed the death sentence in Pakistan. MPs urged Singh to intervene after the man's family, which says he is an innocent man who strayed across the Pakistani border while drunk, threatened to commit mass suicide when the sentence was upheld by Pakistan's Supreme Court. "The prime minister assured us that he would speak to Pakistan President (Pervez) Musharraf on the issue and that the government would do all it could to save the life of Indian national Sarabjit Singh," said Shamsher Singh Dullo, a senior leader of Singh's Congress party.(Posted @ 16:32 PST)
PM says Iraq charter almost done, but Sunnis reject draft BAGHDAD, Aug 23 (AFP) - Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari said Tuesday that almost all issues dogging the draft constitution were resolved, but Sunni Arabs warned it was divisive and would be rejected when put to the nation. "We have agreed on 151 of the 153 articles in the constitution, including the federal status of the government and the status of regions and provinces," Jaafari told a press conference. But several issues remained unresolved, including the mechanism for implementing federalism, the treatment of former Saddam regime officials, and how to divide authority between the presidency, parliament and the government. Negotiations will take place over the next three days to bridge remaining differences over the text, which must be approved in an October referendum ahead of new elections in December.The talks are aimed largely at bringing the Sunni Arabs on board, government spokesman Leith Kubba said.(Posted @ 16:28 PST)
15,000 refugees repatriated in 10 days: UNHCR ISLAMABAD, Aug 23 (APP): About 15,000 Afghan refugees have been repatriated from Bajour and Kurram Agencies during last 10 days, UNHCR spokesman Babar Baloch told BBC Tuesday. He said repatriation of refugees from Bajour Agency was gaining momentum and added that 3,000 refugees have got themselves registered while about 331 had already been repatriated. (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
PM approves construction of Faisalabad-Karachi motorway ISLAMABAD, Aug 23 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Tuesday approved in principle the construction of Faisalabad-Karachi Motorway. At a presentation on national highways and motorways he said with high economic growth, Pakistan needs a world class logistic chain which will include a controlled access motorway linking Faisalabad with Karachi. Peshawar- Rawalpindi Motorway is under construction while the motorway linking Rawalpindi with Lahore and Faislabad is already in operation. The Prime Minister directed that the present Grand Trunk (GT) Road be upgraded and improved. The meeting focused on improving Gwadar linkage to up north on fast track basis considering them as being vital for development of a national corridor linkage Torkham to Karachi. It also considered matters relating to the National Highways Improvement Programme undertaken by the NHA at a cost of 261 million US dollars. The Prime Minister was also briefed on matters relating to the Islamabad - Peshawar, Lahore - Islamabad, Multan - DG Khan - Qila Saifullah Motorways besides the Korakoram highway and Lyari Expressway and Karachi Northern by-pass. (Posted @ 16:05 PST)
Militant group threatens to strike Bangladesh again DHAKA, Aug 23 (Reuters) Banned militant group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, widely blamed for hundreds of bomb blasts across Bangladesh last week, has warned it will strike again unless Bangladesh introduces Islamic rule. "This is the third invitation to the government of Bangladesh. If it fails to establish the Islamic law or try to arrest any member of Jamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (we) will take direct action," the group said in a statement on a website. (Posted @ 13:00 PST)
China sets up lunar exploration centre BEIJING, Aug 23 (AFP) China has set up a lunar exploration centre in Beijing to spearhead the country's moon probe projects in its latest bid to secure its place as a major world space power, China Daily reported Tuesday. "The Centre for Lunar Exploration Programme, approved by the State Council in January 2004, will design and carry out the country's unmanned moon probe project," the report cited officials as saying. (Posted @ 10:35 PST)
India building collapse kills ten, many trapped MUMBAI, Aug 23 (Reuters) A four-storey residential building collapsed in India's financial capital Mumbai early on Tuesday, killing ten people and leaving at least 25 trapped in the debris, police and television news channels said. Fire and police teams rescued 47 people from the building in the crowded Nagpada area of central Mumbai, a police officer said. (Posted @ 10:15 PST)
U.S. soldier killed in Iraq BAGHDAD, Aug 23 (Reuters) A U.S. soldier was killed in a rocket attack in southern Baghdad late on Monday afternoon, the U.S. military said in a statement. (Posted @ 09:55 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 31.10 points: KARACHI, August 23: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 7559.00, down 31.10 points from Monday's close. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:25 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, August 23: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.14 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:22 PST)
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