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| November 30, 2005 | Wednesday | Shawwal 27, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Cricket-Pakistan 185-4 v England (288) at close on second day of third test LAHORE, Nov 30 (Reuters) Mohammad Yousuf rode his luck to score an unbeaten 84 runs and guide Pakistan to 185 for four in reply to England's first innings of 288 at close of play on the second day of the third test on Wednesday. Yousuf, who was dropped on 16 by Andrew Flintoff at second slip, held the innings together after the early loss of three wickets and the retirement of captain Inzamam-ul-Haq who got hit on the right wrist by fast bowler Steve Harmison. Scores: England 1st innings 288 (M. Trescothick 50, M. Vaughan 58, Collingwood 96; S. Malik 3-58, D. Kaneria 2-47, M. Sami 2-57, Naved-ul-Hasan 2-76, S. Akhtar 1-45) Pakistan 1st innings 185-4 (S. Malik 0, S. Butt 28, A. Kamal 5, Inzamam-ul-Haq 35 retired hurt, M. Yousuf 84 n.o., S. Akhtar 0 n.o.; M. Hoggard 2-22, S. Harmison 1-56, L. Plunkett 1-37) (First Posted@ 16:50 PST Updated@ 21:05 PST)
Bush: No deadline for US Iraq withdrawal ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, Nov 30 (AFP) US President George W. Bush said in a speech Wednesday that US troop levels in Iraq would depend on conditions there, not on "artificial timetables set by politicians in Washington." "America will not run in the face of car-bombers and assassins so long as I am your commander in chief," Bush told a friendly audience at the US Naval Academy here. "Pulling our troops out before they've achieved their purpose is not a plan for victory," Bush said.(First Posted@ 20:15 PST Updated@ 21:20 PST)
Cricket-Inzamam cleared to resume batting LAHORE, Nov 30 (Reuters) Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has been cleared to resume batting in the third test against England after sustaining a wrist injury on Wednesday. Inzamam had to retire hurt on 35 after being struck by fast bowler Steve Harmison on his right wrist. "The tests have shown no internal fracture or injury and it is just a case of bad bruising. He has been cleared to bat again on the third day," a PCB spokesman said. Inzamam needs just 10 more runs to complete 8,000 in test cricket after becoming Pakistan's leading century maker with his 24th hundred in the second test.(Posted @ 21:00 PST)
US military planting stories in Iraqi newspapers: report WASHINGTON, Nov 30 (AFP) The US military is secretly paying Iraqi newspapers to print stories written by US soldiers in an effort to polish the image of the American mission in Iraq, a US newspaper reported Wednesday. US military "information operations" troops have written the articles, which are translated into Arabic and placed in Baghdad newspapers with the help of the Lincoln Group, a Washington-based defence contractor, according to The Los Angeles Times. The stories denounce insurgents and tout the work of US and Iraqi troops and the US-led effort to rebuild Iraq. The United States has paid Iraqi newspapers to publish dozens of articles, the LA Times added. Much of the effort was being directed by the "Information Operations Task Force" in Baghdad, part of the multinational corps headquarters commanded by Army Lieutenant General John Vines, the newspaper said. The task force has even bought an Iraqi newspaper and taken control of a radio station, a military official said.(Posted @ 21:00 PST)
Israeli political upheaval like a coup: Abbas RAMALLAH, West Bank, Nov 30 (AFP) Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas said Wednesday the recent upheaval in Israeli politics amounted to a virtual coup in the Jewish state. "The tranformations of the political parties in Israel represents a near political and social coup d'etat," Abbas told journalists at his West Bank headquarters. "We must wait to see what other changes will take place in Israel. We are interested in knowing who is going to represent the Israeli people and who is going to negotiate with us," he added.(Posted @ 20:20 PST)
Britain quizzes U.S. over reports of CIA jails LONDON, Nov 30 (Reuters) Britain said on Wednesday it had asked the United States to respond to media reports that the CIA was running secret jails in Eastern Europe and covertly flying prisoners through airports in the European Union. Foreign Minister Jack Straw wrote to Washington on behalf of the EU on Tuesday amid growing concern in Europe about the reports. His letter raised "media allegations of CIA terror camps in Eastern Europe" as well as the question of flights, a foreign office spokeswoman said. The United States has neither confirmed nor denied the existence of secret jails.(Posted @ 20:15 PST)
Squash-Pakistan’s Mansoor loses out to Egyptian Karim in World Open Nov 30 (Infostrada Sports) Karim Darwish (Egypt) beat Mansoor Zaman (Pakistan) 11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 11-3 in the first round of the World Open men's singles squash tournament.(Posted @ 20:10 PST)
Pakistani court acquits Bhutto in corruption case KARACHI, Nov 30 (AFP) A Pakistani anti-graft court Wednesday acquitted former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and four others on corruption charges involving appointments to the state-owned carrier, court officials said. "The prosecution has failed to prove its case against any of the accused. I therefore acquit all the accused," Judge Parkash Lal Ambwani of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) said in his judgement. The case related to some 800 appointments to the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), during her second term in office. Bhutto was accused of causing heavy losses to the state by allegedly offering jobs at PIA to supporters of her Pakistan People's Party (PPP). This was the oldest case against Bhutto who still faces about half a dozen other corruption charges, her party officials said.(Posted @ 20:10 PST)
Guantanamo inmate wins right to live in Germany BERLIN, Nov 30 (Reuters) A Turkish man, Murat Kurnaz, held since 2002 in the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay can keep his German residency status despite being out of the country for longer than six months, a German court ruled on Wednesday. Kurnaz, dubbed by the media the "Bremen Taliban" after the north Germany city where he lived, was arrested in Pakistan in late 2001; he alleged that he had suffered abuse and interrogation techniques including sexual humiliation, underwater suffocation and the desecration of Islam at Guantanamo.(Posted @ 18:55 PST)
Sweden to boost Afghan force despite soldier death STOCKHOLM, Nov 30 (Reuters) Swedish parliamentarians have backed a government plan to boost the country's peacekeeping force in Afghanistan to a maximum 375 over two years from around 100 now, parliament said on Wednesday, days after one of its soldiers was killed there in a roadside bomb attack. The increase is linked to a plan for Sweden to take over from Britain the leadership of the unit responsible for security and reconstruction in the northern town of Mazar-i-Sharif next year, the combined foreign affairs and defence committee said.(Posted @ 18:45 PST)
Cricket-Pakistan asks new BCCI head to clear tour plans LAHORE, Nov 30 (Reuters) Pakistani cricket authorities have asked the newly elected president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to finalise the Indian cricket team's itinerary for next year's test and one-day series. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan sent a message on Wednesday to his new BCCI counterpart Sharad Pawar inviting him to Pakistan and asking him to confirm the tour itinerary as soon as possible. New BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said the itinerary would be discussed when senior board officials hold meetings in Mumbai over the weekend.(Posted @ 18:46 PST)
Cricket-ICC to consider six-day tests in Pakistan LAHORE, Nov 30 (Reuters) The International Cricket Council (ICC) is willing to consider six-day tests in Pakistan to ensure completion of the regulatory 450 overs during the winter season. ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said on Wednesday that the ICC would be keen to look at such a proposal to beat the problem of reduced overs in tests in Pakistan. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan said the PCB had hoped the use of floodlights in Lahore would allow the full 90 overs to be bowled in a day in the third test. "Unfortunately, the lights and the red ball have not matched," Khan said.(Posted @ 18:45 PST)
Cricket-England match in Karachi still on schedule LAHORE, Pakistan, Nov 30 (Reuters) England still plan to play a one-day international in Karachi next month although the security situation remains under review, the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Wednesday. "I have reviewed the situation with the England team management and as things stand we will be going to Karachi to fulfil the commitment," David Morgan told a news conference. England are scheduled to play the third of their five one-day matches in the southern city on Dec. 15.(Posted @ 18:40 PST)
Bus crash kills 30 in Nepal KATHMANDU, Nov 30 (AFP) At least 30 people died and 15 others were injured when their bus veered off a road in Nepal and plunged 50 metres down a hill, police said Wednesday. The bus was carrying Hindu pilgrims from Kathmandu and was travelling to Swargadari, a religious site for Hindus, a police officer said.(Posted @ 17:35 PST)
France launches news network to rival CNN, BBC PARIS, Nov 30 (AFP) France on Wednesday announced the birth of a new international television news network half owned by the state that aims to rival the BBC and CNN when it starts broadcasting next year. President Jacques Chirac, addressing his cabinet, said that France "must be at the forefront of the global battle of images, that's why I am resolved that our country should have an international news channel," according to a government spokesman. The French International News Network (CFII), known colloquially as "CNN a la francaise", will be run by a joint company owned by the leading private French television broadcaster TF1 and the public broadcaster France Televisions, a communications minister told a media conference. CFII would begin broadcasting "before the end of 2006."(Posted @ 17:30 PST)
Iraq likely to face violence for years: White House WASHINGTON, Nov 30 (Reuters) The White House said on Wednesday that Iraq was likely to struggle with violence for many years, but as its forces increasingly take over security, U.S. troops can eventually withdraw. Before George W. Bush’s speech at the U.S. Naval Academy, the White House released a document titled, "Our National Strategy for Victory in Iraq," repeating the Bush administration's stance that setting a timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq would be harmful because it would embolden the insurgents.(Posted @ 17:05 PST)
Car deaths 400 times greater than terrorism-study LONDON, Dec 1 (Reuters) Deaths from car crashes in developed countries were nearly 400 times greater than those resulting from international terrorism, according to a study published on Thursday. As many people die every 26 days on U.S. roads as were killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and politicians should bear this in mind when allocating resources to combat two "avoidable" causes of death, researchers said. Their report, published in the journal Injury Prevention, compared the number of deaths from international terrorism with car crashes between 1994 and 2003 in 29 countries from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).(Posted @ 17:00 PST)
Saudi women triumph in landmark vote for trade group RIYADH, Nov 30 (Reuters) Two Saudi women triumphed on Wednesday in an unprecedented election to a local business group, the first vote in the conservative Islamic kingdom where women campaigned openly for office. "I'm a bit in shock, but this shows people are ready for women to play a role," said Lama Sulaiman, one of two businesswomen to win a seat on the 18-strong board of Jeddah's Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The vote in Jeddah is seen as a landmark for Saudi women after they were barred from voting or standing in elections to municipal councils earlier this year. Sulaiman and Nashwa Taher will be joined by 10 men in the Jeddah chamber and another six people who will be appointed by the government.(Posted @ 17:00 PST)
Government's deregulation policy in telecom sector benefiting consumers: PM ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Wednesday said that the government's deregulation policy in the telecom sector has created a competitive environment and was benefiting consumers through reduced tariffs and improved services. He told the leading telecom leaders and experts from Asia Pacific countries gathered here at a three-day session of the General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity that the teledensity in Pakistan has grown from 4.5 per cent a few years ago to 17 per cent. The number of mobile-phone users has also gone up to 19 million and the country's cellular market was the fastest growing after China, he added. He also informed the audience that a new under-sea line would be laid next month along with an additional fibre optic cable near the border with India for redundancy in Internet connectivity. Aziz added that the government was going to explore more avenues and would encourage the private sector to put an under-sea cable. He held out a firm assurance that the government would ensure level-playing field for every investor in the telecom sector.(Posted @ 16:35 PST)
Indian soldiers kill two militant commanders in Kashmir SRINAGAR, Occupied Kashmir, Nov 30 (AFP) Indian troops shot dead two senior Militant commanders, one of whom had been on the run for 12 years in Occupied Kashmir, the army said on Wednesday. "Sikander Khan, alias Mama, and his close aide Sheikh Fahad were killed during a gun battle with soldiers in Nilura village of (southern) Pulwama district," an army spokesman said. The spokesman added that Khan and Fahad were self-styled divisional commander and district commander respectively of militant group Al Badr. The spokesman also said that Khan hailed from Afghanistan, while Fahad was a resident of Oman.(First Posted@12:20 PST Updated@ 14:50 PST)
Pakistan urges world community to stay the course until peace in Afghanistan restored UNITED NATIONS, Nov 30 (APP) - Pakistan has urged the international community 'to stay the course' until durable peace and enlarged prosperity is achieved in war-ravaged Afghanistan. "Success in Afghanistan requires long-term commitment and a comprehensive strategy to address the security, political, economic and social objectives," Pakistan's U.N. Ambassador Munir Akram told the General Assembly on Tuesday. Speaking in a debate on the situation in Afghanistan,he said Pakistan supports the presence of international forces in Afghanistan until peace is fully restored.(Posted @ 13:05 PST)
Pakistani-American sentenced for worldwide aircraft parts scam: prosecutors SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 30 (AFP) - A Pakistani-American man has been sentenced to nearly 16 years in prison for passing junk aircraft parts off as new and trying to sell military jet parts to China, prosecutors said Tuesday. District Judge David Carter ordered 56-year-old Amanullah Khan to spend 15 years and eight months in federal prison and pay more than 5.4 million dollars (US) in restitution, said Assistant US Attorney Douglas McCormick. Judge Carter said Khan had shown himself to be a "menace to worldwide air safety," according to prosecutors. "I believe the sole motivation was greed," McCormick said. "He'd take a box of scrap turbine jet blades and sell them for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars each." "He was making millions of dollars in a short time."(Posted @ 13:00 PST)
General defends the use of incendiary bombs WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (AFP) - The top US general Tuesday defended the use of white phosphorus munitions in combat against Iraqi insurgents as a legal "legitimate tool of the military." Allegations that civilians were victims of white phosphorus bombs in the battle for Fallujah last year has put the spotlight on a weapon that showers down incendiary particles that burn right through skin. "A bullet goes through skin even faster than white phosphorus does," General Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a Pentagon press conference."So I would rather have the proper instrument applied at the proper time, as precisely as possible, to get the job done, in a way that kills as many of the bad guys as possible and does as little collateral damage as possible," he said. He said white phosphorus was mainly used to mark targets for air strikes and to create smoke screens for moving forces around a battlefield unseen."White phosphorus is a legitimate tool of the military," he said. "It is not a chemical weapon. It is an incendiary. And it is well within the law of war to use those weapons as they're being used, for marking and for screening," he added.(Posted @ 12:50 PST)
Pakistan set for early free trade benefits from China, Malaysia WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (AFP) - Pakistan will derive early tariff concessions from China and Malaysia as it conducts free trade negotiations with them and other Asian economies, Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan said here Tuesday. Khan, who is on a visit to the United States, told reporters that he would travel to Beijing and Kuala Lumpur in December to "operationalize the early harvest" program. The initial tariff concessions from China would cover "almost everything which Pakistan is exporting right now, including textiles, apparel sports goods, surgical instruments and fisheries," he said. "For some items, the concessions are immediate and in two years they will come down to zero, depending on where the tariffs are right now," Khan said. Pakistan would also offer to China import tariff cuts on primarily machinery and raw materials as well as fruits and vegetables, he said.(Posted @ 12:45 PST)
US, Pakistan to step up talks on bilateral investment pact WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (AFP) - The United States and Pakistan agreed Tuesday to strive harder to forge a bilateral investment pact that could set the stage for negotiations to establish a free trade agreement. United States Trade Representative (USTR) Rob Portman and Pakistan Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan "committed to redoubling efforts to conclude" the bilateral investment treaty, USTR spokeswoman Neena Moorjani said after the talks. She said the treaty "can play an important role in strengthening Pakistan’s economy which creates new opportunities for exporters and investors in both economies as well as bolster our joint efforts on terrorism." Humayun Akhtar also raised with Portman Pakistan's desire to commence free trade negotiations. He told reporters that a possible visit by President George W. Bush to Pakistan next year could provide an impetus for signing the bilateral investment treaty.(Posted @ 12:40 PST)
Nine Iraqis shot to death in attack on minibus BAQUBA, Iraq, Nov 30 (AFP) - Nine Iraqis from a Shiite village northeast of Baghdad were shot and killed Wednesday as they boarded a minibus to go to work on nearby farms, police said. Two more people were wounded in the drive-by shooting in the village of Abu Saida, northeast of Baquba, police added.(Posted @ 12:30 PST)
India successfully test-fires supersonic cruise missile BHUBANESWAR, India, Nov 30 (AFP) - India on Wednesday successfully test-fired an army version of its supersonic BrahMos cruise missile that was jointly developed with Russia, a defence officer said. The missile was tested from Indias Chandipur-on-sea site, 200 kilometres northeast of Bhubaneswar. "The flight trial met all the mission objectives, officer said. The missile has a range of 290 kilometers and can carry a 300-kilogram (660 pounds) conventional warhead and can be launched from land, ships, submarines and aircraft, the officer said. The eight-metre (26-foot) missile weighs about three metric tonnes.(Posted @ 12:30 PST)
Met to install 15 broadband, 50 short period seismic stations ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): Network of 15 broadband and 50 local (short period) seismic stations are being set up in the most vulnerable areas of the country, including the Northern Areas, Azad Kashmir and NWFP, Director General Metrological Department,Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman Chaudhry said Tuesday. Briefing Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal he said 10 stations would be in Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir, 5 each around and in urban areas of Karachi and Quetta, while the remaining 30 stations would be in other parts of the country, he added.(Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 108.95 points: KARACHI, Nov 30: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 9026.59, down 108.95 points from Tuesday's close. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Nov 30: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.15 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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