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| December 15, 2005 | Thursday | Ziqa’ad 12, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Cricket-Pakistan beat England by 165 runs KARACHI, Dec 15 (Agencies) Pakistan beat England by 165 runs in the third one-day international here on Thursday. Scores: Pakistan Innings 353-6 in 50 overs(Akmal 109, Yousuf 68, Afridi 31, Inzamam-ul-Haq 45, Razzaq 51; Flintoff 57-1, Plunkett 61-2, Collingwood 58-1); England Innings 188 all out in 42 overs (Trescothick 22, Strauss 23, Flintoff 36, Bell not out 37; Akhtar 23-0, Naved-ul-Hasan 31-2, Sami 18-1, Arafat 31-1, Afridi 42-2, Malik 29-3). Man-of-the-match: Kamran Akmal. Schedule for next ODI matches: December 19, fourth ODI match at Rawalpindi, December 21, fifth and last ODI match again at Rawalpindi. Pakistan lead the ODI series 2-1. (First Posted@ 18:16 PST Updated @ 19:25 PST)
Schools, colleges to remain closed on Friday in Karachi tomorrow Karachi, Dec 15 (PPI): City Nazim Karachi Mustafa Kamal declared Friday, December 16, a holiday in all public and private educational institutes including schools and colleges within City District Government Karachi (CDGK) on account of the third ODI win by the Pakistani team against England, an official handout released here Thursday said.(Posted @ 22:08 PST)
Amnesty says CIA detainee flights used UK territory LONDON, Dec 15 (Reuters) Amnesty International said on Thursday Britain had allowed the CIA to operate flights on its territory to transport terrorism detainees illegally and demanded that the government launch an investigation. "The UK government must launch an immediate, thorough and independent investigation into mounting evidence that its territory has been used to assist in unlawfully transporting detainees to countries where they may face "disappearance", torture or other ill-treatment," the human rights group's regional director Claudio Cordone said in a statement.(Posted @ 23:40 PST)
Fire at Chinese hospital kills 33 BEIJING, Dec 15 (Reuters) A fire at the largest hospital in the north-eastern Chinese city of Liaoyuan killed 33 people on Thursday, the official Xinhua news agency reported. The cause of the blaze and the extent of the damage were not immediately known.(Posted @ 23:12 PST)
Government focusing on providing better facilities in far-flung areas: PM ISLAMABAD, Dec 15 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Thursday said the government had initiated various development projects and was especially focusing on improving different facilities in far-flung areas to raise the living standards of people. Talking to a delegation of Nazims, naib Nazims and Union Council Nazims led by MNA Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali here at the Prime Minister House, he said the government believed in all-round development of the country. He specially mentioned the Lowari Tunnel project in Chitral which was estimated at Rs.9.5 billion. Aziz emphasised the need of tapping the potential in mining, tourism and micro-hydel for the development of Chitral district.(Posted @ 22:04 PST)
French Navy frigate concludes visit to Pakistan KARACHI, Dec 15 (APP): The French Navy Frigate visited Pakistan from December 12 to 15 and during its stay, the Pakistan and French navies conducted successful sea exercises, an ISPR (Navy) press release issued here said on Thursday. Joint Commander in-Chief, Indian Ocean Theatre, Rear Admiral Habert de Gaullier also visited the Mazar-e-Quaid and laid a floral wreath.(First Posted@19:52 PST Updated @ 21:52 PST)
India win volleyball match 3-1 DG KHAN, Dec 15 (APP): India won the volley ball match of the "Dosti Safar Series" here Thursday 3-1. According to details, the fifth and last volleyball match was played between Pakistan and India at the City Park here which was won by the visiting Indian team.(Posted @ 21:46 PST)
Britain drops 'extremist mosques' closure plan LONDON, Dec 15 (AFP) Controversial plans to give police new powers to shut down mosques used by extremists are to be dropped from new terrorism legislation, Britain's Home Secretary Charles Clarke announced Thursday. The proposal, which was criticised by Muslim leaders and police, was one of a number drawn up in the wake of the July 7 attacks on London's public transport system that killed 56 people. Clarke told members of parliament in a written statement: "I will not seek to legislate on this issue at the present time, although we will keep the matter under review."(Posted @ 20:32 PST)
U.S. military releases dozens of Afghan detainees from Bagram jail KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec 15 (APP/AP) 47 Afghan detainees were released from a jail on the main U.S. military base in Bagram on Thursday after they were determined to no longer present a threat to security. So far, 314 detainees have been released from Bagram in 13 batches and about 300-400 detainees still remain there, an official from the Reconciliation Commission said. Muhammad Ashraf, one of the released men, said he was arrested in his hometown of Kandahar and was held there for eighteen months before being released.(Posted @ 19:56 PST)
Group hijacks bus in Pakistan, one member killed LAHORE, Pakistan, Dec 15 (Reuters) 22 members of the Anjuman Sarfroshan-i-Islam hijacked a bus on the outskirts of Faisalabad Thursday but later freed the passengers and surrendered to the police after a gunfight in which one hijacker was killed, officials said. The hijackers had demanded talks with President Pervez Musharraf after taking about 35 passengers hostage. Police had stopped the bus and tried to negotiate before shooting erupted. One policeman was also wounded, police said. None of the hostages were hurt. The police quoted the hijackers as telling their hostages that a Mahdi had emerged and they wanted to spread his message. It was not immediately clear if one of the hijackers claimed to be the Mahdi.(Posted @ 19:22 PST)
U.S. soldier killed in Afghan clash KABUL, Dec 15 (Reuters) An American soldier was killed in a fire-fight with suspected Taliban guerrillas in Kandahar on Thursday, the U.S. military said. One militant was killed, while one U.S. soldier and an Afghan soldier were also wounded.(Posted @ 19:20 PST)
Palestinian PM resigns to run for parliament RAMALLAH, West Bank, Dec 15 (Reuters) Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie submitted his resignation on Thursday to run for a parliamentary seat in next month's election, President Mahmoud Abbas said. There was no immediate word on who might replace him as caretaker prime minister.(Posted @ 19:15 PST)
Israel delays start of Gaza-West Bank convoys JERUSALEM, Dec 15 (Reuters) Israeli officials decided on Thursday to further delay the launch of Palestinian bus convoys between Gaza and the West Bank beyond next week, Israel Radio announced. Israel postponed the convoys, due to have started on Dec. 15 under a U.S.-brokered deal, after a suicide bombing that killed five people last week. But political sources had said the convoys could still start as early as next week.(Posted @ 19:15 PST)
Rich nations wrangle, poor complain at trade talks HONG KONG, Dec 15 (Reuters) Developing nations cranked up pressure on the rich to open their long-protected markets as world trade talks floundered on Thursday, while the United States and Europe blamed each other for the deadlock. As World Trade Organisation (WTO) nations haggled in Hong Kong, over 1,000 anti-globalisation marched peacefully under the watchful eyes of riot police a short distance away. Inside the convention centre, the World Bank added its voice to the indignation. "In the three days the meetings have taken so far, the rich countries have transferred more than $2 billion to their farmers in various forms of support," World Bank Vice President Danny Leipziger said in a statement. "In the same period, the 300 million poorest people in Africa have earned less than $1 billion between them."(Posted @ 19:15 PST)
Scattered attacks fail to disrupt big Iraq vote BAGHDAD, Dec 15 (Reuters) Only scattered insurgent attacks marred Iraq's election on Thursday. The largely peaceful poll, which will raise U.S. hopes that a stable government can eventually pave the way for American troops to pull out, was a sharp contrast to January's election for an interim assembly, when some 40 people died. Officials reported a high turnout across the country. "There's more diversity in this election ... we're delighted," Election Commissioner Farid Ayar said. A guard was killed and a policeman wounded by a bomb at a polling station in Mosul. In nearby Tal Afar one man was killed and two wounded in mortar attacks on two polling stations after midday, police said. A dawn mortar blast wounded three people, one a U.S. Marine, in Baghdad's Green Zone government and diplomatic compound, the U.S. embassy said. An explosion also rocked Ramadi but no casualties were reported there.(Posted @ 19:15 PST)
Cricket-ICC to review supersub rule in February KARACHI, Dec 15 (Reuters) The International Cricket Council (ICC) will review the experimental one-day supersub rule in February next year. ICC President Ehsan Mani told reporters on Thursday: "we will review it and see if it needs to be amended or finished," he said. Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq had called on Wednesday for the rule to be scrapped, saying it benefited only the team winning the toss.(Posted @ 17:50 PST)
Italy to cut its Iraq forces by 10 percent in January ROME, Dec 15 (Reuters) Italy will reduce its troop force in Iraq by 10 percent in January as part of its phased withdrawal from the country, Defence Minister Antonio Martino said on Thursday. Martino told reporters Italy would cut its military contingent to 2,600 soldiers by the end of January from 2,900. Italy faces a general election next April where the unpopular Iraq war might become an issue, analysts said.(Posted @ 17:45 PST)
Eight killed in Myanmar crackdown on Indian separatists GUWAHATI, India, Dec 15 (AFP) Three Indian separatist rebels and five Myanmar soldiers were killed in a military offensive to evict the militants from bases in Myanmar, rebel leaders said Thursday. Myanmar began an offensive nearly two weeks ago to drive the rebels out of northern Sagaing Division, which borders India's Nagaland state, the separatists said. There has so far been no confirmation of the military offensive from Myanmar and Indian intelligence officials.(Posted @ 16:40 PST)
Indian Maoists to step up 'war' against big companies: reports NEW DELHI, Dec 15 (AFP) India's Maoist rebels vowed to intensify their "war" against multinational companies, accusing them of plundering resources and driving people off their lands, reports on Thursday said. "The war" against multinational and other companies "will now be taken to a higher stage," the banned outfit's central committee spokesman Azad, was quoted by The Indian Express as saying. The Maoists cited as possible targets South Korea's POSCO and Indian firms Tata, Essar-Ruia and Reliance, and said they aimed to create a "red tornado" by turning sympathisers into "action-oriented squads." Big companies were setting up operations in India and forcing tribal and other people from their land, The Hindustan Times quoted the Maoists as saying.(Posted @ 16:40 PST)
Indian PM says no changes to India-US nuclear deal NEW DELHI, Dec 15 (AFP) India said Thursday it would permit no changes to a landmark nuclear deal with the United States to ensure its passage by the US Congress. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told parliament the landmark deal struck with President George W. Bush when he visited Washington in July giving New Delhi access to civilian atomic technology was a "binding commitment." Singh said the agreement with the US would proceed on the basis of "strict reciprocity…if the US does not carry out its obligations, we are also free not to carry out our obligations," Singh told the upper house.(Posted @ 16:35 PST)
European police bust biggest ever illegal immigration ring targeting Britain PARIS, Dec 15 (AFP) European police have broken up the biggest-ever illegal immigration ring targeting Britain by arresting dozens of suspects believed to have helped smuggle "thousands" of people into that country, French and Italian authorities said Thursday. The raids carried out in Britain, France, Greece, Italy and Turkey on Wednesday with Interpol and Europol coordination after a three-year investigation, a French official said. Italian police put the number of people apprehended at 90. French authorities said the illegal immigrants came from Afghanistan, Iraq and, to a lesser extent, from Pakistan, Somalia and Ethiopia.(Posted @ 16:32 PST)
Kazakhstan opens oil pipeline to China ATASU, Kazakhstan, Dec 15 (Reuters) Kazakh oil started flowing into a new pipeline to China on Thursday, the first such route from an ex-Soviet state and the start of a project that could give Beijing direct access to Caspian Sea crude. The line, from Atasu in central Kazakhstan to Alashankou in China's north-western Xinjiang region, will initially transport up to 10 million tonnes (210,000 barrels per day) of Kazakh and Russian oil to China.(Posted @ 16:24 PST)
Last UN peacekeeping contingent leaves Sierra Leone FREETOWN, Dec 15 (AFP) Some 300 Pakistani soldiers, the last contingent of what was once the world's largest peacekeeping operation helping one of the poorest countries on earth recover from a decade of horrific civil war, on Thursday left Sierra Leone. The Pakistani soldiers left from the capital Freetown's Lungi airport on a flight bound for Islamabad.(Posted @ 16:08 PST)
Pakistani commander wounded in attack on helicopter ISLAMABAD, Dec 15 (Reuters) The commander of a Pakistani paramilitary force was wounded on Thursday when gunfire hit his helicopter as he was flying over an area in Balochistan province, a security official said. Frontier Corps commander Dar was wounded in the leg, said the security official. His deputy was also hurt. Their helicopter landed safely.(Posted @ 16:05 PST)
Fire bombs thrown at Iraq voting station in Sweden STOCKHOLM, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Fire bombs were thrown at a polling station for the Iraqi parliamentary election in northern Stockholm overnight but did not ignite, a police spokesman said on Thursday."Somebody has thrown bottles with gasoline at the building,but they did not ignite," spokesman Fredrik Lindfors said. "They then disappeared on foot."Sweden is home to many Iraqis who fled the country during Saddam Hussein's rule. The police said they had issued a nationwide alert and searched for the assailants using tracker dogs, but without success. Security at the two polling stations in the greater tockholm area has now been strengthened and the Swedish security police have been informed, Lindfors said.(Posted @ 14:15 PST)
Nepali soldier kills 11 villagers after row KATHMANDU, Dec 15 (Reuters) - A Nepali soldier fired indiscriminately on a crowd gathered near a temple outside Kathmandu, killing at least 11 people and wounding 19 others,the army said Thursday. It said the soldier, who began shooting after a row broke out with villagers, also died in the incident which took place at about midnight Wednesday near the tourist resort of Nagarkot, 30 km (20 miles) from the Nepali capital. Some media reported he killed himself. "The army has taken the incident very seriously and an investigation has been ordered," the army said in a statement,adding families of the dead would be compensated.(Updated @ 12:10 PST)
Bush says Iran 'real threat,' criticizes president WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W.Bush on Wednesday called Iran a "real threat" and lashed out at President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over the country's nuclear program and calls for the destruction of Israel. "Iran's a real threat," Bush told Fox News in an interview in which he repeated his charge that Iran was part of an "axis of evil" along with North Korea and prewar Iraq. "I called it part of the 'axis of evil' for a reason," Bush said. "I'm concerned about a theocracy that has got little transparency, a country whose president has declared the destruction of Israel as part of their foreign policy, and a country that will not listen to the demands of the free world to get rid of its ambitions to have a nuclear weapon," Bush said in the interview.(Posted @ 11:10 PST)
Israel blasts militant targets in north Gaza, Rafah GAZA CITY, Dec 15 (AFP) - Israel launched two air strikes against targets across the Gaza Strip early Thursday, demolishing two buildings used by Palestinian militants but causing no casualties, sources on both sides said. In the first attack , an Israeli missile ploughed into the home of Palestinian militant Amer Karmut in the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, causing massive damage to the building. One person was lightly injured. Shortly afterwards, another Israeli missile slammed into a three-storey building in centre of the southern city of Rafah which lies on the border with Egypt, and which houses the offices of a charity run by Islamic Jihad. It suffered heavy damage but there were no reports of any casualties. (Posted @ 09:35 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 84.72 points: KARACHI, December 15: At the close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 9488.70, up 84.72 points from Wednesday's close. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:30 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, December 15: 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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