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| September 4, 2005 | Sunday | Rajab 29, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
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US government admits hurricane death toll in the thousands WASHINGTON, Sept 4 (AFP) - A top US federal official admitted for the first time Sunday that thousands of people died in the Hurricane Katrina disaster in the southern United States. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt told CNN television he had no death toll but said: "I think it's evident it's in the thousands." Senators and local officials have already said thousands of people were killed by Hurricane Katrina last Monday and its chaotic aftermath. But the authorities have refused to give an official toll. Leavitt acknowledged a case of dysentry in Mississippi and warned of the growing danger of disease epidemics.(Posted @ 23:55 PST)
PAF launches largest ever exercise ISLAMABAD, September 04 (PPI): Pakistan Air Force launched its largest ever (four-week) exercise High Mark-2005 in Northern Areas today. The exercise is being conducted after a lapse of one decade. Pakistan Air Force planes will perform offensive and defensive maneuvers at high altitude in the Northern Areas and at the medium and low altitude at plains, deserts and sea. The exercise also includes live demonstration of weapons delivery at various places. In an interview, Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat said the objective of the exercise is to review the state of preparedness of Pakistan Air Force and verify its strategic plans. (Posted @ 23:30 PST)
PM thanks Turkish Prime Minister for his assistance ISLAMABAD, Sep 4 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Sunday contacted the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyep Erdogan on telephone and thanked him for his personal efforts, role and assistance in arranging a meeting between the Foreign Minister of Pakistan Khurshid Mehmud Kasuri and Foreign Minister of Israel Silvan Shalom in Istanbul. The Prime Minister Aziz while talking to Turkish Prime Minister on telephone expressed the hope that the meeting will help promote the Palestinian cause, boost peace efforts in the Middle East and develop better interfaith harmony.(Posted @ 22:40 PST)
Pakistan offers help in Katrina relief efforts WASHINGTON, Sept 4 (APP)- Pakistan on Sunday offered to send a team of doctors and para-medics to the hurricane hit region of the United States, to support the relief agencies. "The Embassy of Pakistan in Washington is in constant contact with the Task Force established by the US Department of State to assist foreign governments in reaching their citizens evacuated from New Orleans," said a Pakistan Embassy statement. The embassy was also working with the Office of Crisis Management Support, which is the focal point for all the disaster relief efforts, to provide help to the affected members of the Pakistani community. "The Embassy is also working closely with the members of the community and the community organizations," the statement said adding, "The Consul General of Pakistan in Houston has visited the victims of the disaster." The embassy has also established an Emergency Response Unit to assist Pakistani nationals who are affected by the hurricane. Information about the affected Pakistanis may be e-mailed to katrinaresponse@embassyofpakistan.org (Posted @ 22:25 PST)
Blair off to Asia for EU summits with China, India EDINBURGH, Sept 4 (AFP) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair left Sunday for a four-day swing through China and India overshadowed by a EU trade dispute with Beijing over textile quotas. Having spent the weekend in Scotland with Queen Elizabeth II, Blair departed from Edinburgh for Beijing where he was to hold talks Monday with President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. The trip is part of Britain's turn at the six-month rotating presidency of the 25-nation European Union. Travelling with him in a chartered jumbo jet were 40-odd top executives from British and European companies such as Airbus, BP, British American Tobacco, Deutsche Post, GlaxoSmithKline, Rolls Royce and Royal Dutch Shell.(Posted @ 22:10 PST)
India beat Zimbabwe by four wickets HARARE, Sept 4 (Reuters) - India beat Zimbabwe by four wickets in the sixth and final round-robin match in a triangular series also involving New Zealand on Sunday. Scores: Zimbabwe 250 (Tatenda Taibu 71, Charles Coventry 74). India 255 for six in 48.1 overs (Yuvraj Singh 120, MS Dhoni 67).(Posted @ 20:22 PST)
Pakistan become Asian Boxing Champion by winning three Gold Medals Karachi, September 4 (PPI): Pakistan headed the medal's table when three of four of its boxers who earlier qualified for the finals claimed victories to grab Gold medals in Asian Boxing Championship on Sunday at Ho Chi Min city, Vietnam. According to the details available here, Meharullah gave the country its first medal when he prevailed over his rival Kim Song Guk of Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the final of feather weight event. The SAF games gold medallist won the bout on points (35-16). Asghar Ali Shah became the light welter weight champion by overcoming Nurgozhizhenis of Kazakhstan on points (37-26) to give the second premier medal to the country. Another promising pugilist, Shaukat Ali grabbed the third Gold when he won the bout in final of heavy weight category. He outclassed Uzbek Mahdi Ghorbani on points (31-16). Noman Karim was the only Pakistani boxer who lost in the final when he was thrashed by Lee OK Sung of Korea on points (10-24) in 51 Kg category. However, secured silver medal for the country. Bantam weight category boxer Joan Tipon of Philippines was declared the best boxer of the championship. Pakistan after winning three Gold and one Silver medal was declared the champion team of the championship while second position goes to Khazakhstan and Philippines the third position.(Posted @ 19:45 PST)
Chirac's condition 'very satisfactory': doctors PARIS, Sept 4 (AFP) - The condition of President Jacques Chirac, who was hospitalised Friday with an eye problem triggered by a "vascular accident", is "very satisfactory", the Val de Grace hospital in Paris said Sunday.(Posted @ 19:30 PST)
Pakistan to host India for first-ever women's cricket series LAHORE, Pakistan, Sept 4 (AFP) - Pakistan later this month will host the first ever visit by an Indian women's cricket team, an official said on Sunday. "The Indian women's cricket team coming to Pakistan later this month will help lift interest of women in cricket," secretary of the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) women's wing, Shamsa Hashmi, told AFP. The Indian women's under-21 team is scheduled to arrive in the eastern city of Lahore on September 26 and play four one-day matches in the city. Dates will be finalised next week. "Since India's senior team is of very good standard and we are new, we requested them to send their Under-21 team while we will play our national team," said Hashmi, who is an all-rounder. India finished runners-up to Australia in the women's World Cup in South Africa earlier this year but Pakistan failed to qualify.(Posted @ 19:15 PST)
Saudi police kill wanted militant in clash-source RIYADH, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Saudi police killed one wanted militant and injured another in a shootout in the eastern city of Dammam on Sunday, a security source said. He told Reuters the clash was continuing, but gave no further details. The world's top oil exporter has been battling a wave of al Qaeda violence for more than two years.(Posted @ 18:25 PST)
Blast injurs 6 troops in Sopore SRINAGAR, Sept 4 (APP): In occupied Kashmir, six Indian troops were injured in a powerful blast in Sopore area, reports Kashmir Media Service. In a powerful explosion at Nathipora, in Sopore, an army vehicle in the convoy was torn apart. Six soldiers travelling in the vehicle were injured. They were rushed to the hospital, where the condition of one of the injured is stated to be critical. Local residents said that after the blast Border Security Force (BSF) personnel deployed in Sopore town went on a rampage and many pedestrians were beaten to pulp. (Posted @ 17:30 PST)
Mirwaiz leaves for New Delhi SRINAGAR, Sept 4 (APP): The Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, accompanied by Professor Abdul Ghani Butt and Fazl Haq Qureishi, has gone to New Delhi for talks with the Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh. Reporting this Kashmir Media Service says, the Mirwaiz will lead a five-member APHC delegation at the talks on Kashmir. Maulana Abbas Ansari will go to New Delhi tomorrow while Bilal Ghani Lone is already in New Delhi. (Posted @ 17:00 PST)
Nine killed in bus accident in IHK JAMMU, Sept 04 (APP): In occupied Kashmir, nine persons were killed and two seriously injured when a vehicle in which they were travelling towards Srinagar rolled down into a 200 feet nullah near Amar Chasma on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, reports Kashmir Media Service on Sunday. The ill fated vehicle was on its way from Jammu to Srinagar when it met with the accident at Amar Chashma. The driver reportedly lost control over the speeding vehicle resulting in vehicle plunging into 200 feet deep gorge. All the occupants of the vehicle were brought out of the gorge after hectic efforts and shifted to Ramban Hospital. The injured were, later, referred to Government Medical College Srinagar for specialised treatment. The condition of injured was stated to be critical.(Posted @ 16:45 PST)
Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh to complete sweep COLOMBO, Sept 4 (AFP) - Sri Lanka completed a 3-0 sweep when they thrashed Bangladesh by six wickets in the third and final one-day international at the Premadasa Stadium here on Sunday. Chasing a rain-revised target off 106 off 46 overs, Sri Lanka finished the job in the 22nd over. (Posted @ 15:50 PST)
Three Russians killed in Malaysian helicopter crash KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 (AFP) - Three Russians were killed after their helicopter crashed while conducting a logging operation in the Malaysian state of Sarawak on Borneo island, police said Sunday.The pilot, co-pilot and the mechanic were the only three people on board the KAMOV KA-32 helicopter when it went down amid heavy rain Saturday and burst into flames in the southern region of Kapit. The crash was witnessed by several workers at the logging camp. At the time of crash it was lifting logs but due to uncertain circumstances it just swung down and caught on fire. (Posted @ 09:55 PST)
Troops pour in, multitudes flee chaotic New Orleans NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, Sept 3 (AFP) A massive air and bus evacuation has cleared all Hurricane Katrina survivors from inside the New Orleans Superdome and Convention Center where they had been huddled in squalid conditions, officials said.As the flood waters slowly receded, bodies still lay in the streets of New Orleans. No toll for the tragedy was available, but a senator has said the number of dead could top 10,000 in Louisiana. In New Orleans, the stench of urine, excrement and garbage was overpowering across the city. The administration case will quickly come under scrutiny when a Senate committee starts hearings into the government's disaster response. In a sign of things to come, Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu branded Bush's visit to a busted levee in New Orleans on Friday a mere photo-op. New Orleans deputy police commander W.S. Riley said: "For 72 hours this police department and the fire department and handful of citizens were alone rescuing people," he told AFP. "We have people who died while the National Guard sat and played cards." National Guard commander, Lieutenant General Steven Blum, said the reservist force was slow to move troops into New Orleans because it did not anticipate the collapse of the city's police force. (Posted @ 09:45 PST)
Uzbekistan-born teenager becomes first Muslim Miss England LONDON, Sept 4 (AFP) - An Uzbekistan-born teenager on Saturday night became the first ever Muslim girl to be crowned Miss England and will compete in the Miss World pageant in China in December. Hammasa Kohistani, 18, whose parents had fled Afghanistan, said she was delighted but surprised to learn she was the winner and hoped she would not be the last Muslim girl to receive the honor. She was born in Tashkent, central Uzbekistan, after her parents were forced to flee Afghanistan. The brunette speaks six languages including Russian, Persian and French, and secures a place in the Miss World final in China in December which offers a 100,000-dollar (80,000-euro) prize. (Posted @ 09:35 PST)
US Chief Justice Rehnquist dies WASHINGTON, Sept 3 (AFP) - US Chief Justice William Rehnquist died late Saturday after a bout with thyroid cancer, a Supreme Court official said. (Posted @ 09:30 PST)
Koizumi denies plan to extend term as prime minister TOKYO, Sept 4 (AFP) - Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Sunday denied growing speculation he would stay in power beyond a self-imposed limit of September 2006 if he is reelected next week. "Even if I am handed a victory in the election, I will do my best to fulfil my duties as (ruling-party) president and prime minister to the end of my term to September" next year, Koizumi said on public network NHK. Asked if he would not extend his term no matter what happened in the election, Koizumi said: "I will not." (Posted @ 09:10 PST)
Malaysia says Thailand should win "hearts and minds" of Muslims: reports KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 (AFP) - The Malaysian government has called on Thailand to win the "hearts and minds" of the Muslim population in its troubled south to prevent the spillover of problems into Malaysia, reports said Sunday. "We hope Thailand will undertake efforts to win the hearts and minds of the Muslims there because it is clear that there is fear which shows there is conflict among various groups there," Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar was quoted as saying by the Star newspaper. Some 131 Thai Muslims crossed into Malaysia's northeastern Kelantan state last Tuesday, saying they feared for their safety in southern Thailand, where insurgency is raging. "What is clear is that the situation in the four Muslim provinces in the south should be resolved quickly before the problems spill over into Malaysia," said Syed Hamid. Malaysian and Thai marine police began Saturday joint patrols along the Sungai Golok river separating the two countries in a bid to prevent more Thais from crossing over, the official Bernama news agency reported. Nearly 900 people have died over the past 20 months in the southern Thai provinces bordering Malaysia in insurgency-related incidents. (Posted @ 09:10 PST)
Twenty-three soldiers killed in bomb attack in east India NEW DELHI, Sept 4 (AFP) - Twenty-three paramilitary soldiers were killed Sunday in a blast triggered by suspected Maoist rebels in the eastern Indian state of Chhattisgarh, Aajtak television channel quoted the state's home minister as saying. "They used a powerful explosive and that is why the toll is so high," said Arvind Vichar Netam, Chhattisgarh's home minister. (Posted @ 09:05 PST)
12 killed in apartment block blaze south of Paris PARIS, Sept 4 (AFP) - Twelve people were killed and 14 others seriously injured after fire broke out in an apartment block in a southern Paris suburb overnight, according to the latest toll from firefighters Sunday. The fire, third in just 10 days, broke out around midnight in an 18-storey block in the town of Hay-les-Roses in the Val-de-Marne area south of Paris. The cause of the fire was not immediately unknown but it was believed to have started in the entrance hallway. In the first fire on Aug 26, 17 people including 14 children died in a rundown apartment building housing African immigrants and three days later seven other African immigrants were killed in another blaze in a rundown building in Paris. (Posted @ 09:05 PST)
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