|
| November 27, 2005 | Sunday | Shawwal 24, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Ten dead as powerful quake hits southern Iran island TEHRAN, Nov 27 (AFP) - At least 10 people were killed and 50 others injured Sunday when a powerful earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale struck an island off Iran's southern coast, officials said. The quake hit Qeshm island at 1:53 pm (1023 GMT) and was felt for more than 10 seconds, the official news agency IRNA said. The island, home to some 100,000 people, is situated off the coast of the port city of Bandar Abbas. "The death toll stands at 10, and 50 people have been injured. I am still touring the damaged villages," the governor of Qeshm island, Heydar Alishbandi, told AFP by telephone. It hit almost two years after the southeastern city of Bam was razed in a quake that left more than 31,000 people dead. The island has a busy commercial and fishing port, and is also a popular weekend getaway for Iranian tourists. However he said the island's main town, also called Qeshm, was undamaged. The affected villages were identified as Gabardin, Tonban, Tourian and Khaldin all situated in the less densely populated west of the island. The head of the Iranian Red Crescent's rescue unit, Shahram Alamdari, said two villages on the island suffered 90 percent damage. "The rescue operation started 10 minutes after the incident. The injured are being taken away by helicopter. We are also ready recieve the injured in Tehran if there are more injured people," he told Iranian media.(First Posted @ 20:15 PST Updated @ 23:00 PST)
Strong quake hits southern Iran coast TEHRAN, Nov 27 (AFP) The 5.9 intensity Earth quake that hits southern Iran also affected UAE, where residents fled high-rise office and apartment blocs. "I took my baby and ran down the 10 flights to the street," one alarmed resident of Dubai told AFP. The temblor was also felt in the neighbouring UAE emirates of Ras al-Khaima and Sharjah, residents said.(First Posted @ 16:50 PST Updated @ 20:15 PST)
PM calls developed countries for latest technology to third world VALLETTA (Malta), Nov 27 (PPI) Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz has called upon the developed countries to promote and provide latest technology particularly information technology to the under developed countries. He was giving detail of the retreats on the second day of the commonwealth heads of government meeting in Valletta. Shaukat Aziz urged them to reduce subsidy on agriculture to enable the exposure of the products of developing ones in the world market. The Prime Minister said Pakistan explained to the commonwealth leaders that subsidy to the agriculture sector in the developed countries is disadvantageous to the farmers in the under-developed and developing countries. The Prime Minister said on the sidelines of the CHOGM he held meetings with various world leaders and discussed bilateral relations with them. Various agenda items of CHOGM were discussed in detail and Pakistan explained its point of view on various important issues.(Posted @ 22:50 PST)
Malik leaves for US to undergo surgery SRINAGAR, Nov 27 (APP): The chairman of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Mohammad Yasin Malik, has left for the United States to undergo a surgery for removing stones from his kidney. According to Kashmir Media Service, a JKLF spokesman, in a statement in Srinagar said, Malik had some problems in his kidney and was prescribed by doctors to have a surgery to remove stones from his kidney. The spokesman said, Yasin would stay in the US for a month and later he would visit United Kingdom for a few days. During Malik's stay, the spokesman said, he would hold discussions with overseas Kashmiris and US officials regarding prevalent situation in occupied Kashmir and ways for resolution of Kashmir dispute. (Posted @ 22:40 PST)
Commonwealth hopes EU will help win trade deal VALLETTA, Nov 27 (Reuters) - The Commonwealth's top official said on Sunday he hoped the European Union will hear a call from the group of former British colonies to cut its farm subsidies to help win a fairer deal on world trade. Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon said he wanted the three EU states in the Commonwealth -- Britain, Cyprus and Malta -- to begin lobbying their EU partners on trade at a summit of EU and Mediterranean rim leaders later on Sunday. "The prime minister (of Malta) ... (will) be meeting all those European heads and I am sure he is very capable of explaining the background to the Commonwealth's thinking," McKinnon told a news conference. The group of 53 mostly former British colonies issued pages of statements covering development, terrorism and migration, but the trade issue dominated a summit held a few weeks ahead of crucial World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks in Hong Kong. Leaders set aside some human rights issues to pour their energies into demanding a fairer deal on world trade to help lift developing states out of poverty. The main achievement of the summit, hosted by Malta, was a call on the EU to cut farm subsidies to help get a WTO agreement.(Posted @ 22:32 PST)
EU offers Iran fresh nuclear talks TEHRAN, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Britain, France and Germany have accepted Iran's offer to resume talks which broke down in August about the country's disputed nuclear programme, the official IRNA news agency reported on Sunday. "The ambassadors of Britain, France and Germany handed over a letter in which the EU3 foreign ministers have accepted the resumption of talks in December," IRNA said, quoting a statement issued by Iran's Supreme National Security Council. Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani earlier this month wrote to the so-called EU3, calling for the resumption of talks. There was no immediate comment from the EU3.(Posted @ 20:25 PST)
Six innocent Kashmiris taken into custody SRINAGAR, November 27 (PPI) In occupied Kashmir, Indian troops, in their routine house-raids, arrested six innocent Kashmiris from different places. According to Kashmir Media Service, of those arrested, three were taken into custody from Rajouri, two from Bandipora and one from Rafiabad, in Baramulla district.(Posted @ 17:25 PST)
Some 86 Cambodian Muslims detained in Thailand, killings continue in south BANGKOK, Nov 27, 2005 (AFP) - At least 86 Cambodian Muslims entering Thailand on tourist visas have been detained by the military, officials said Sunday, but it was not clear if their arrest was connected with unrest in southern Thailand. The Cambodians passed through Thai immigration at Aranyaprathet on the Cambodian border Saturday, according to an immigration officer. "We were asked by the Eastern Military Task Force to strictly check any Cambodians coming into the country but we didn't find anything wrong with their papers so we had no reason to refuse their entry," the officer told AFP.(Posted @ 17:20 PST)
One killed, three wounded in Bangladesh bomb attack: police DHAKA, Nov 27 (AFP) - One man was killed and three others wounded Sunday in a bomb attack in southwest Bangladesh, said police, who ruled out a link to Islamic groups that have launched a series of such attacks since August. A bus attendant was seriously injured when a suspected member of a Maoist group hurled a bomb at him in Alamdanga, some 200 kilometre (125 miles) from the capital Dhaka, police superintendent Mohammad Sarwar told AFP. "He died on his way to hospital. An angry mob overpowered the bomb thrower but he threw another bomb which injured three," Sarwar said. Sarwar ruled out any link to hardline Islamic groups in the attack, but added the suspect may be a member of Maoist groups that are now active in southwestern districts of the country. Bangladesh was hit by two series of nationwide bomb blasts in August and October and a deadly bomb campaigns on the judges and courts. At least seven people, including two judges, were killed in the blasts that police linked to outlawed Jamayetul Mujahideen through leaflets found in all the blast sites. The group, led by an Afghan war veteran, wants to impose strict Islamic law in this Muslim majority country.(Posted @ 16:32 PST)
Cricket-West Indies 405 and 68-2 v Australia 428 - close ADELAIDE, Nov 27 (Reuters) - West Indies were 68 for two in their second innings at the close of play on the third day of the third and final test against Australia at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. Scores: West Indies 405 (Brian Lara 226) and 68-2 (Ramnaresh Sarwan 53 not out); Australia 428 (Mike Hussey 133 not out, Justin Langer 99, Ricky Ponting 56; Dwayne Bravo 6-84). (Posted @ 13:10 PST)
Younis Khan pulls out of third Test LAHORE, Pakistan, Nov 27 (AFP) - Pakistan's vice-captain Younis Khan has pulled out of the third and final cricket Test against England due to the death of his brother. "My brother Sharif Khan died in Ukraine on Saturday and I won't be able to play the third Test," Younis Khan told AFP. Pakistan, with a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, take on England in the final Test starting in Lahore on Tuesday. (Posted @ 12:40 PST)
Algerian president sent to Paris for medical examination ALGIERS, Algeria Nov 27 APP/AP _ Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was sent Saturday to a Paris hospital after suffering a gastrointestinal problem, his office said. A statement said the doctors who examined him felt the president's condition is not a source of concern. (Posted @ 09:37 PST)
Chinese city to turn taps back on after toxic spill BEIJING, Nov 27 (Reuters) - China's northeastern city of Harbin prepared to turn the taps back on Sunday after a toxic spill into its river left millions without water for five days and an 80-km (50-mile) slick still flowing beyond. Water supplies in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, were due to come back on around 1500 GMT. The local government, quoting provincial and city environmental protection officials, said on its Web site the water would be "safe for drinking". (Posted @ 09:31 PST)
Myanmar junta extends Suu Kyi house arrest - source YANGON, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Myanmar's military junta has extended opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's period of house arrest for another 12 months, a Home Office source said on Sunday.The source said representatives of the military government in the former Burma had visited Suu Kyi in her Yangon home to read her the statement. There was no immediate comment from Suu Kyi's NationalLeague for Democracy. (Posted @ 09:30 PST)
White House claims 'strong consensus' on Iraq pullout WASHINGTON, Nov 27 (AFP) - The White House on Saturday for the first time claimed ownership of an Iraq withdrawal plan, arguing that a troop pullout blueprint unveiled this past week by a Democratic senator was "remarkably similar" to its own. It also signalled its acceptance of a recent US Senate amendment designed to pave the way for a phased US military withdrawal from the violence-torn country. The statement by White House spokesman Scott McClellan came in response to a commentary published in The Washington Post by Joseph Biden, the top Democrat of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in which he said US forces will begin leaving Iraq next year "in large numbers." According to Biden, the United States will move about 50,000 servicemen out of the country by the end of 2006, and "a significant number" of the remaining 100,000 the year after. In the statement, which was released under the headline "Senator Biden Adopts Key Portions Of Administration's Plan For Victory In Iraq," McClellan said the Bush administration welcomed Biden's voice in the debate. (Posted @ 09:25 PST)
'Europe's biggest mosque' planned for London Olympics LONDON, Nov 27 (AFP) - An Islamic group is proposing to build Western Europe's biggest mosque, with room for 40,000 worshippers, in east London in time for the 2012 Olympic Games, the Sunday Times reported. Tablighi Jamaat envisions a futuristic design for the three-storey mosque, with wind turbines taking the place of minarets and an overall capacity of 70,000 when surrounding buildings are taken into account. Besides the mosque itself, the complex -- with a distinctive sweeping roof -- would include a garden, school, library and accomodation for visiting worshippers. Islamic calligraphy would grace the walls and ceilings."It will be more than a mosque. The idea behind it is to break down barriers," London- and Barcelona-based architect Ali Mangera, who is designing the project, was quoted as saying. Officials in the east London borough of Newham said the planning application for the project -- which could cost more than 100 million pounds (146 million euros, 171 million dollars) -- would be finalised over the coming year. (Posted @ 09:19 PST)
Prime Minister calls on Nigerian President VALLETTA, (Malta) Nov. 27 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz called on Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo here Saturday and discussed bilateral relations, trade ties and regional situation. Both the countries agreed to enhance trade, economic and commercial relations and exchange of delegations to promote bilateral ties. (Posted @ 08:53 PST)
| All Branches of The State Bank of Pakistan |
| All Treasuries |
| All Branches of National Bank of Pakistan |
| All Branches of Habib Bank of Pakistan |
| All Branches of United Bank of Pakistan |
| All Branches of Muslim Commercial Bank of Pakistan |
| All Branches of Allied Bank of Pakistan |
| All Branches of Bank Al Falah and |
| All other scheduled Banks within Pakistan |
Donations, both from domestic and international donors can be deposited in the above branches of the Banks. Donations from abroad can be deposited at all the branches of above banks in foreign countries where such branches exist.
In other foreign countries where these branches do not exist donations will be recevied by the Pakistan Missions and remitted to the State Bank of Pakistan.
All proceeds recevied in the name of the Fund will be credited to the public account of the Federal Government under following Head of Account:-
| "G 12 Special Deposit Fund |
| G 121 - Relief Funds |
| G 12130 " President's Relief Fund for Earthquake Victims-2005" |
Further information and details can be obtained from the
following telephone and fax numbers:-
Phone No : 051-9208100, 051-9202528,
Fax No : 051-9207635
Important Emergency Numbers in Pakistan
Prime Minister House Earthquake Relief Cell: 051-9213891, 051-9222666.
Disaster Relief Cell, PM Secretariat: 051-920-6111
Crisis Managment Cell, Commander 111 Brigade, Rawalpindi: 051-926-7596
Foreign Office Emergency Coordination Centre Phone: 051-920-7663, Fax: 051-922-4205, 051-922-4206
Disaster Relief Cell, PM Secretariat: 051-920-6111
Crisis Managment Cell, Commander 111 Brigade, Rawalpindi: 051-926-7596
Foreign Office Emergency Coordination Centre Phone: 051-920-7663, Fax: 051-922-4205, 051-922-4206
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
Make sure to reload these pages so you're viewing the current version.
|
|
|
Contributions |