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| September 20, 2005 | Tuesday | Sha'aban 15, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Musharraf. : Population summit to improve population welfare program Islamabad, Sept 20 (PPI) President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have hoped that population summit beginning here today (Wednesday) would improve population welfare programme. In a message President Musharraf said the Population issues playa crucial role in the development equation and require a concerted approach to strike a balance between Population increase and resources needed for sustainable development. It is, therefore, important to promote a shared vision on appropriate policy initiatives and programmes that focus on individuals, households and communities. The Population Welfare Programme in Pakistan has been actively advocating voluntary adoption of small family norm and providing nationwide comprehensive family planning and reproductive health services with the support of the private sector and civil society organizations.(Posted @ 23:50 PST)
Overseas Pakistani to invest $ 100 million to setup steel plant Islamabad, Sept 20 (PPI) Mr. Hasib Rehman, a Pakistani settled in Japan called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at the Prime Minister House Tuesday and informed him that he is setting up a steel plant at the total cost of US$100 million which includes Japanese equity. The investment is being made in response to the recent visit by the Prime Minister to Japan where he met various investors and captains of trade and industry to attract investment into Pakistan. Prime Minister said that the government would encourage foreign investment particularly from Japanese investors and is delighted that Japanese equity and investment has started coming into Pakistan.(Posted @ 23:42 PST)
Foreign observers of Exercise High Mark-05 visit PAF's operational base ISLAMABAD, Sep 20 (APP): Military observers from China, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and UAE, who are on official visit to Pakistan, visited one of the main Operational Base to witness the ongoing exercise High Mark- 2005. On arrival, they were briefed on the Role and Task of the Base which is participating in the Exercise, said a press release Tuesday.(Posted @ 23:33 PST)
Explosions rock Quetta QUETTA Sep 20 (PPI): Two explosions rocked Quetta Tuesday night. According to details first blast took place in the fields near Killi Qambrani in the outskirts of Quetta. Another explosion took place at Pod Galli Chowk along Sabzal road. No damage of any kind was reported(Posted @ 22:35 PST)
Magnificent seven for Pathan as India seize control HARARE, Sept 20 (AFP) - India were in complete control after the first day of the second Test with Zimbabwe here on Tuesday after the hosts were ousted for only 161 runs in their first innings. At the close of play the Indians had replied with 195-1, a first innings lead of 34 runs with nine wickets in hand.(Posted @ 22:25 PST)
PM assures development of Karachi under urban renewal programme Islamabad, Sept 20 (PPI) Prime Minister Shuakat Aziz has said that the local government system is playing an important role in improving governance and helps resolve the problems at local level. He was talking to a delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement led by its Parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Dr. Farooq Sattar here Tuesday. The Prime Minister said the government is developing major cities under the urban renewal programme to improve infrastructure and provide basic facilities to all these cities. Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur,Mirpur Khas and other major cities he said would benefit under this programme. (Posted @ 22:10 PST)
Sudan unveils first post-war unity government KHARTOUM, Sept 20 (AFP) - Sudanese authorities announced the line-up of a much-delayed unity government on Tuesday, eight months after an historic north-south peace agreement that ended more than two decades of civil war. A Sudanese official read out the names of the ministers during a press conference in the capital Khartoum. The formation of Sudan's first national unity government is a major step in implementing the peace deal signed by the regime in Khartoum and the former southern rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) on January 9. The government was supposed to have been in place by August 9 but its formation was delayed by the death in a July 30 helicopter crash of southern former rebel leader John Garang and bitter wrangling over key portfolios.(Posted @ 21:52 PST)
Vatican shielding Croatian general wanted for war crimes: Del Ponte LONDON, Sept 20 (AFP) - The Roman Catholic Church is shielding a Croatian general wanted for war crimes during the break-up of Yugoslavia, the UN chief prosecutor for the region told a British newspaper in comments published Tuesday.Carla Del Ponte, chief prosecutor of the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), told the Daily Telegraph that she believed General Ante Gotovina was being sheltered in a Franciscan monastery in Croatia. Speaking at her offices in The Hague, Del Ponte told the newspaper that she said she had information he is hiding in a Franciscan monastery and so the Catholic Church is protecting him. I have taken this up with the Vatican and the Vatican refuses totally to co-operate with us, she told the paper.(Posted @ 19:42 PST)
Cyprus blocks accord on Turkey standoff BRUSSELS, Sept 20 (AFP) - The European Union failed Tuesday to formally approve a hotly disputed joint declaration on Turkey's refusal to recognize Cyprus due to last-minute opposition from Nicosia, diplomats said.(Posted @ 19:38 PST)
Five killed, five injured in road mishap PAKPATTAN, Sept 20 (APP): Five persons were killed and five others sustained serious injuries when a passenger wagon rammed into a road side tree here on Tuesday morning. The wagon was going to Arifwala from Lahore. Near Chak No 145/EB, it rammed into a road side tree. As a result five passengers died on the spot while five others received serious injuries.(Posted @ 19:35 PST)
US to provide US $ 40 million for two programmes to Pakistan ISLAMABAD, Sept 20 (APP): United States would provided US $ 30 million for counter narcotics programme and US $ 10 million worth of Soybean to Pakistan under two agreements signed here today.. According to first agreement , the U.S. will provide $30 million in supplemental funds to support Pakistan's efforts to fight narcotics and enhance border security. The U.S. government is already providing $30.905 million to support ongoing programs in border security, counter narcotics and law enforcement, for a total of $60.906 million this year. A portion will be used for building bridges in connection with the ongoing construction of over 350 kms.of roads to increase the access of Pakistani law enforcement agencies to remote border areas. Under the other agreement U.S. Government's P.L. 480 Food for Progress Grant Program pledges 10 million dollars worth of U.S. Soybeans to Pakistan. Under the agreement Pakistan will import approximately 30, 000 tons of U.S. Soybeans, scheduled to arrive between November 2005 and January 2006.(Posted @ 19:22 PST)
Pak wins three gold in Commonwealth Powerlifting championship LAHORE, Sept 20 (APP)- Pakistan powerlifting team has returned home after winning three gold and five silver medals in the Commonwealth powerlifting championship held in England. Country's ace lifter Adeel Rana claimed two gold and Imran Khalid won one. Adeel who was declared second best lifters of the premier meet won the top honours in the dead lift (275kgs) besides winning the same event for two gold while Imran won the gold in the bench press (215kgs). Adeel also bagged two silver in squats and bench press while Imran won the silver in squats dead lift and total weight.(Posted @ 19:02 PST)
Iran will not back down in nuclear stand-off: Khamenei TEHRAN, Sept 20 (AFP) - Iran will "not surrender to any sort of pressure and threat", supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared Tuesday, as the country faced the threat of being referred to the UN Security Council over its nuclear programme. "The great Iranian nation today, stronger than before and with a determined will to reach its aims and goals, stands solidly and will not surrender to any sort of pressure and threat," Khamenei said in a speech read out on state television.(Posted @ 18:58 PST)
Police arrest hundreds in Nepal as UN rights agency rebukes government KATHMANDU, Sept 20 (AFP) - Nepalese police arrested more than 400 people Tuesday in protests against King Gyanendra's rule, witnesses said, as the UN rights agency in the country criticised police handling of the demonstrators. Among the more than 400 arrested were women activists and university teachers, police said. Witnesses said the police charged the crowd of women with batons, injuring several.The police response to the daily protests drew a rebuke from Ian Martin, Nepal representative of the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, who asked the government to avoid excessive use of force.(Posted @ 18:56 PST)
Iran to link oil trade to nuclear dispute TEHRAN, Sept 20 (AFP) - Iran's top nuclear negotiator warned Tuesday that Tehran would link its oil and other economic trade with individual countries to how much they supported the Islamic republic over its nuclear programme.(Posted @ 18:52 PST)
India promises Bangladesh not to divert key rivers DHAKA, Sept 20 (Reuters) - India met Bangladeshi demands on Tuesday by pledging not to divert the waters of two major shared rivers (Brahamaputra and Ganges) because doing so might generate protests in eastern India. "We are not going to link the Brahmaputra with the Ganges, because this will not only affect Bangladesh, but also our Bihar and West Bengal states," Indian Water Resources Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi told reporters at the end of the two-day talks. India also pledged more assistance in flood forecasting for Bangladesh and said it would review a 30-year Ganges water treaty signed nine years ago, water resources ministry officials said. Bangladesh says India has unilaterally controlled the Ganges flow since 1974 when it built the Farakka barrage near Bangladesh's northern border. Critics say it deprives Bangladesh of its fair share of water in dry months and causes flooding by releasing excess water during the monsoon season.(Posted @ 18:46 PST)
Security incidents in Iraq, Sept 20 Sept 20 (Reuters) - One U.S. soldier was killed when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb north of Baghdad, a U.S. military statement said. A tribal leader was killed on Monday when gunmen wearing police uniforms shot him in Iskandariya, south west of Baghdad, a police source said.The Dean of Political Science at Basra University was injured by gunmen while escaping an assassination attempt in Mosul. Police said Prof Talal Younis was leaving his house with his son, who was also injured in the attack. Four U.S. soldiers were killed on Monday by roadside bombs during two separate incidents while conducting combat operations in Ramadi, 110 km west of Baghdad, a U.S. military statement said.(Posted @ 18:24 PST)
Florida Keys batten down for Tropical Storm Rita MIAMI, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Gusty squalls and heavy rain began to lash the Florida Keys on Tuesday as Tropical Storm Rita raced toward the low-lying islands. All 80,000 residents were ordered out of the Keys on Monday but many remained behind in boarded-up homes to await the arrival of Rita which was expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it enters the Gulf of Mexico where deadly Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc three weeks ago. "It's raining pretty hard (but) there's no big wind yet," said Keys resident Mare Contrare. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez cautioned southern Florida not to dismiss the power of the coming storm, even as it struggled to reach hurricane strength. "Tropical Storm Rita is a serious threat. Do not underestimate this storm," he said. Tropical storm-force winds were also being felt in the Miami area, home to 2.3 million people. About 3,900 homes and businesses were without power in Miami-Dade County, according to state officials.(Posted @ 17:58 PST)
Lions kill 20 peasants in Ethiopia ADDIS ABABA, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Lions disturbed by deforestation have killed 20 people and devoured 750 of their domestic animals in Ethiopia, a local news agency said on Tuesday.In the rare daylight attacks, all during August and in the remote south, lions killed shepherds tending cattle and villagers after breaking into their houses. Authorities were hunting the lions, who began roaming after deforestation disrupted their habitat and caused drought along the Gibe River Valley, officials said.(Posted @ 17:45 PST)
Cricket-Test Series Sri Lanka v Bangladesh scoreboard Colombo, Sept 20 ( Reuter) –After a disastrous start ( 48 for 4) host Sri Lanka finished at 448 for 7 at close on the first day of the second test against Bangladesh today. Summarised score: Sri Lanka 448 for 7 (Samaraweera 138, Dilshan 168 --Rasel 3 for 125, Hosein 3 for 103) Tuesday(Posted @ 17:42 PST)
Croatian police say British embassy employee behind Zagreb blast ZAGREB, Sept 20 (AFP) - Croatian police said Tuesday that a bomb in Britain's diplomatic mission in Zagreb was smuggled in and set off by an embassy employee, who was injured in the blast.(Posted @ 17:26 PST)
Iran may be 6 months from nuclear bomb know-how NEW YORK, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Iran may be as little as six months away from completing the know-how to build a nuclear bomb, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said on Monday. Shalom told a meeting of U.S. Jewish leaders in New York:"The question is not if they are going to hold that bomb in2009 or 2010 or 2011, the question is when they will have the full knowledge. "According to our people, security and intelligence, they are very, very close. It may be only six months before they will have that full knowledge."(Posted @ 17:18 PST)
N.Korea raises stakes on nuclear deal with reactor demand BEIJING, Sept 20 (AFP) - North Korea said Tuesday it would not dismantle its nuclear weapons until the United States delivered light-water reactors, casting doubt on an agreement heralded as a breakthrough for peace. "They are telling us to give up everything, but there is nothing we should give up first," North Korea's envoy to the talks Kim Gye-gwan told reporters at Beijing airport before leaving for Pyongyang. "The United States can prove a change to its hostile policy against the DPRK (North Korea) by providing light water reactors." Japan immediately rejected the demand as "not acceptable", while China said all sides should honour their "solemn political commitment" to a joint document issued at the six-nation talks Monday.(Posted @ 16:44 PST)
EU accuses Iran of breaching atomic safeguards VIENNA, Sept 20 (AFP) - A draft European Union resolution to take Iran before the UN Security Council accuses Tehran of "breaches" of international atomic safeguards, according to a copy of the text obtained by AFP.(Posted @ 16:26 PST)
Turkish businessman freed after Iraqi kidnap ordeal ISTANBUL, Sept 20 (AFP) - A Turkish businessman kidnapped in Iraq last May has been freed after paying a ransom of 250,000 dollars, Turkish newspapers said on Tuesday. Ali Musluoglu, 48, was kidnapped on May 19 by gunmen who threatened to kill him if his company did not stop providing logistical support to US troops. "I was tortured," Musluoglu told the daily Milliyet after returning to his hometown of Reyhanli, southern Turkey. "They whipped my back and arms. "There was no bed, no toilet in the room where they kept me. I had to pick up my own excrement”. Musluoglu said he was abducted by five masked men in Baghdad and was "sold" to other groups twice. Ransom was initially set at five million dollars, but the kidnappers finally settled for a quarter of a million, the daily reported.(Posted @ 16:22 PST)
Mine blasts near Afghan border kill Pakistani soldier, civilian WANA, Pakistan, Sept 20 (AFP) - A Pakistani soldier and a civilian were killed and eight other people were wounded Tuesday when two vehicles hit separate landmines in a remote area near the Afghan border, officials said. Troops on patrol in South Waziristan's once-volatile Shakai Valley hit a mine at dawn. "This was the first blast in Shakai in more than one year. It left one soldier dead and five injured," an official said. A car carrying some officials also struck a landmine in the valley, an intelligence official told AFP. One man was killed and three other people hurt, he said. They had been returning from a tribal authority meeting.(Posted @ 16:10 PST)
Kashmir. Qayum wants continuation of intra-Kashmiri dialogue Delhi, Sept 20 (PPI) Former Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir Sardar Mohammad Abdul Qayum Khan has supported continuation of the intra-Kashmiri dialogue. Sardar Qayum who is leading a delegation of Kashmiri leaders from Azad Kashmir and Pakistan in the 'heart-to-heart talks among the Kashmiris, said "I have been trying for two decades for an intra-Kashmiri dialogue". He regretted that such a dialogue did not take place in the past despite efforts by people like him. Sardar Qayum said there would be "sincerity, honesty, frankness, and exchange of ideas without reservations. That's what I expect of the dialogue" he added. (Posted @ 15:54 PST)
Australian Test and one-day squads to face World XI SYDNEY, Sept 20 (APP/AFP) - Australia on Tuesday named a 13-man Test squad and a 14-man one day squad for the Super Series against an International Cricket Council (ICC) World XI next month. The Test squad: Michael Clarke, Adam Gilchrist (vc), Matthew Hayden, Brad Hodge, Simon Katich, Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Stuart MacGill, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting (c), Shaun Tait, Shane Warne, Shane Watson. The one-day squad: Nathan Bracken, Michael Clarke, Adam Gilchrist (vc), Brad Hogg, James Hopes, Michael Hussey, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting (c), Andrew Symonds, Shaun Tait, Shane Watson (Posted @ 15:32 PST)
Storm kills eight in south India, thousands homeless HYDERABAD, India, Sept 20 (Reuters) A storm killed at least eight people in southern India and left more than 25,000 people homeless, officials said on Tuesday. Hundreds of trees and electricity poles were uprooted by strong winds and heavy overnight rains triggered flooding in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh state. (Posted @ 14:13 PST)
President returns home today ISLAMABAD, Sep 20 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf is returning home today after a nine-day marathon visit to the United States and the United Nations. (Posted @ 12:37 PST)
Two rockets hit Jalalabad JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Sept 20 (AFP) Two rockets hit the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad Tuesday, seriously injuring a guard, while police captured militants carrying explosives into another eastern town, officials said. (Posted @ 12:23 PST)
Sharp temperature drop kills dozens in Mongolia ULAN BATOR, Sept 20 (Reuters) Cold weather killed 30 people in isolated, wind-swept Mongolia where temperatures plummeted from a warm 23 degrees Celsius on Friday to below zero, local media said. Most of the victims in the capital, Ulan Bator, were found over the weekend on the streets and at bus stops, the Daily News said. (Posted @ 10:12 PST)
UK forces free two soldiers held in Iraq prison BASRA, Iraq, Sept 19 (Reuters) British forces freed two undercover soldiers from a jail in Basra late on Monday after a day of rioting in the southern city was sparked when the soldiers had fired on an Iraqi police patrol. An Iraqi Interior Ministry official said British forces stormed the jail using six tanks and dozens of Iraqi prisoners also escaped during the raid. (Posted @ 10:11 PST)
Manipur rebels kill 14 Indian soldiers IMPHAL, India, Sept 20 (Reuters) Separatist guerrillas from the underground Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), have killed 14 Indian soldiers in an ambush on an army patrol in Manipur, a military official said Tuesday. "The attack has been a severe blow to the security forces," the official added. (Posted @ 09:57 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 93.03 points: KARACHI, September 20: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 8066.00, up 93.03 points from Monday’s close. (Bureau Report) (Posted @ 14:30 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, September 20: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.15 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:30 PST)
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