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| December 20, 2005 | Tuesday | Ziqa’ad 17, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Pakistan government, Etisalat reach agreement on PTCL privatization ISLAMABAD, Dec 20 (APP): The government of Pakistan (GoP) and Etisalat on Tuesday reached an agreement towards successful completion of the privatization process of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) with respect to Etisalat's acquisition of 26 percent shares in PTCL along with management control, a joint press release issued from Abu Dhabi by the Privatization Commission and Etisalat of UAE here Tuesday said. After the round of talks in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, the minister for Privatization and Investment, said a team from Etisalat would be arriving in Pakistan next week to finalize the transaction, which was expected to be completed in January 2006. Mohamed Hassan Omran, Chairman & CEO of Etisalat said, "we are pleased to announce that our talks with GoP representatives resulted in resolution of all issues. We are looking forward towards participating in the dynamic telecom sector in Pakistan to the benefits of the shareholders of both Etisalat and PTCL." (Posted @ 22:54 PST)
Natural disasters cause record losses for insurers in 2005: report GENEVA, Dec 20 (AFP) Natural disasters caused about 225 billion dollars in damage in 2005 making this year the costliest ever for insurers especially in the United States, the world's largest reinsurance company Swiss Re said on Tuesday. About one-third of the amount, an estimated 80 billion dollars, was insured by the industry, Swiss Re said in a statement. More than half of those insured losses, 45.0 billion dollars, were caused by Hurricane Katrina, which also proved to be the most expensive catastrophe in history for the insurance industry. The Pakistan quake last month left about 87,000 people dead and caused estimated damage of 5.0 billion dollars, but little of this was underwritten by insurance.(Posted @ 21:27 PST)
Iranian, Azerbaijani presidents open gas link BAKU, Dec 20 (AFP) The presidents of Azerbaijan and Iran ceremonially launched a natural gas pipeline linking Azerbaijan's isolated exclave Nakhchevan with the Islamic Republic, local media reported Tuesday. Iran's hardline president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev met in Nakhchevan where they also discussed bilateral relations, Azerbaijani television and news agencies reported.(Posted @ 21:27 PST)
Storm weakens off India coast as it moves out to sea HYDERABAD, India, Dec 20 (Reuters) A tropical storm menacing India's eastern coast weakened on Tuesday as it was pushed away further to sea by cold winds from the Himalayas in the mainland, officials said. But officials said they would not call off an alert unless the storm completely dissipated and asked people to be ready to move.(Posted @ 21:12 PST)
India, China eye more joint bids for foreign oil NEW DELHI, Dec 20 (Reuters) India was planning more joint bids with Chinese firms for foreign oil projects after successfully teaming up for the Syrian oil and gas assets of Petro-Canada, a top Indian official said on Tuesday. Petro-Canada said it will sell its mature Syrian oil and gas assets to a joint venture of companies owned by India's Oil and Natural Gas Corp. and China National Petroleum Corp. for $578 million. "This is a significant milestone. We are looking at other projects to work together," Petroleum Secretary S.C. Tripathi said.(Posted @ 21:11 PST)
British swimmer sets icy Antarctic world record CAPE TOWN, Dec 20 (Reuters) Extreme swimmer Lewis Pugh has set a new world record for the most southerly long-distance swim, conquering the icy Antarctic waters at 65 degrees south, his research team said on Tuesday. The 1 km swim follows just months after a record Arctic swim, making the British solicitor the first person to accomplish such a feat in both the world's coldest seas. Scientists were astounded with his ability to raise his body temperature before swimming, allowing him to survive temperatures that only a few can endure.(Posted @ 21:09 PST)
NATO must cover U.S. Afghan troop cuts: U.N. KABUL, Dec 20 (Reuters) U.S. troop cuts in Afghanistan must be covered by deployments of NATO-led peacekeepers due to take place next year, Jean-Marie Guehenno, U.N. Undersecretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations said on Tuesday. The Pentagon confirmed on Tuesday that U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had ordered a cut in the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan to about 16,000 from a current 19,000 by next spring. However, individual NATO states have yet to confirm how many troops they will deploy.A Pentagon spokesman said the orders signed by Rumsfeld were made in the light of growth in the Afghan army and police forces and NATO's expansion plans. In Kabul on Tuesday, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander told reporters his country, a NATO ally which has special forces troops in Afghanistan, was considering sending more soldiers in the middle of next year to form a provincial reconstruction team.(First Posted@ 15:25 PST Updated@ 21:08 PST)
Cricket-Pakistan's Inzamam and Shoaib Akhtar to skip final ODI RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, Dec 20 (Reuters) Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq and fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will skip the fifth and final one-day international against England on Wednesday. Inzamam said pace bowler Mohammad Sami would also be rested for the match to give some experience to the younger players in the squad. "No one is injured but we have decided that having won the series it is a good opportunity to try out the younger players. Specially with the home series against India also coming up next month," he said. Batsman Yasir Hameed, all rounder Yasir Arafat and bowler Mohammad Asif will play in the final match with Younis Khan leading the side in place of Inzamam. England captain Marcus Trescothick said it would be tough for his team to lift themselves for the final match. "We have not played into this situation often. It will be tough to come back. It is up to the guys individually to look deep into each other and put pride into our last performance before we go home," Trescothick said.(Posted @ 20:45 PST)
Aziz announces cash prize of Rs. 100,000 each for cricket team ISLAMABAD, Dec 20 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Monday announced a cash prize of Rs. 100,000 for each member of the national cricket team after their victory over England in both ODI and test series. Earlier President General Pervez Musharraf had awarded Rs. 200,000 to each member of the team on Sunday."You have done the nation proud and brought smiles back on the faces of the people", Aziz said at a reception hosted for the team.(Posted @ 20:41 PST)
Aziz gives directions to revamp, restructure and corporatize Pakistan Railway ISLAMABAD, Dec 20 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday emphasized the need to completely revamp, restructure and corporatize Pakistan Railways. He said this while chairing a meeting at the PM House to review the implementation of goals set for 2004-07. "With the growth in economy we need to build a world class logistics chain. Railways being one of the most cost effective means of transportation is a very important link of this chain. The revamping of Pakistan Railways will give a boost to business activities", he said. He directed the railways authorities to improve their services, develop projects for public private partnership projects and benchmark against international practices. He gave instructions for the Monabao-Mirpurkhas link to be completed before December 31, and be made operational by January 31 next year. He also asked to fast track the feasibility and the construction of rail links from Bostan-Zhob-D.I.Khan-Kalat-Kohat-Peshawar.(Posted @ 20:41 PST)
Final decision on F-16 next year: Kasuri ISLAMABAD, Dec 20 (APP): Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri Tuesday said Pakistan would take a final decision on the purchase of F-16 aircraft by next year after studying the needs of reconstruction in the quake devastated areas and the amount of international assistance received yet. Talking to newsmen here at Chaklala Air base after seeing-off US Vice President Dick Cheney, he said, Pakistan cannot ignore its defence requirements but added that the provision of relief was the first priority for the government. He said during his visit, Cheney discussed in detail with President Musharraf bilateral ties, matters of mutual cooperation, besides exchanging views on regional and international issues. Kasuri said both leaders discussed Pak-USA relations, America’s contribution in the relief efforts, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kashmir and the composite dialogue between Pakistan and India in the meeting. Pakistan also explained the measures taken for the resolution of the Kashmir issue, he added. Pakistan’s nuclear issue and terrorism were also discussed and added that Cheney appreciated Pakistan's role in the war against terrorism.(Posted @ 20:31 PST)
Pakistan, India working out modalities for joint survey of Sir Creek NEW DELHI, Dec 20 (APP): Pakistan and India on Tuesday held parleys at the technical experts meeting to carve out the terms of reference and modalities to undertake the first-ever joint survey of Sir Creek. Surveyor General of Pakistan, Maj General Jamil ur Rehman Afridi headed the twelve-member delegation at the talks, while the Indian side was led by Brig. Girish Kumar, Deputy Surveyor General. The technical experts meeting on the first day of the two-day parleys was held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere, informed sources said, adding that a joint statement was likely to be issued on Wednesday.(Posted @ 20:21 PST)
Pakistan and India begin talks on fourth bus link LAHORE, Pakistan, Dec 20 (AFP) Pakistan and India Tuesday began two days of talks on launching a fourth cross-border bus service as part of their peace process, officials said. The new route would link Amritsar with Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev, who founded the Sikh religion. "Hopefully we’ll be signing a final agreement on the Lahore-Amritsar bus service tomorrow," additional secretary in the ministry of communications, Mohammad Abbas told reporters after the first day of talks. Indian delegate Saroj Kumar Dash, joint secretary in the department of road transport and highways also sounded hopeful of signing the agreement at the conclusion of today’s round of talks.(First Posted@ 12:11 PST Updated@ 20:11 PST)
Iran assures India of LNG supply by 2009 NEW DELHI, Dec 20 (Reuters) Iran has assured India it will honour its commitment to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG), India's oil minister, Mani Shankar Aiyar, said in a written reply to a question from a member of parliament on Tuesday. Iran had signed a deal with India in June to export five million tonnes of LNG annually for 25 years from the end of 2009.(Posted @ 20:06 PST)
Pakistan arrest wanted militant ISLAMABAD, Dec 20 (Reuters) Pakistani security forces have arrested a prominent militant wanted in connection with the 1997 killing of a senior police officer Ashraf Marth in Punjab province, police and intelligence officials said on Tuesday. The suspect, identified as Usman Choto, was a senior member of the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militant group and was arrested in Karachi on Sunday, said the officials. Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao said he had no knowledge of the arrest.(Posted @ 20:00 PST)
Cricket-India 398 and 287-9 v Sri Lanka 206 - close AHMEDABAD, India, Dec 20 (Reuters) India were 287 for nine in their second innings at the close of the third day of the third and final test against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Scores: India 398 and 287 for nine; Sri Lanka 206. (Posted @ 17:06 PST)
Gunmen storm city hall in Bethlehem; standoff ends BETHLEHEM, West Bank, Dec 20 (Reuters) About 20 gunmen from the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades briefly seized Bethlehem city hall, overlooking the Church of the Nativity, on Tuesday. The gunmen fanned out on rooftops and in the offices of city hall, firing several shots in the air and forcing workers out. They demanded money and jobs for about 320 members. Witnesses said that the gunmen left after about an hour after Bethlehem's governor promised to address their demand for jobs and pay.(First Posted @15:28 PST; Updated @ 17:05 PST)
UK police hold man over July 21 London attacks LONDON, Dec 20 (Reuters) British police said on Tuesday they had arrested a man in connection with the failed bomb attacks in London on July 21, saying he had been held by anti-terrorism officers as he stepped off a plane from Ethiopia. Detectives said four men tried to set off bombs on three underground trains and a bus in the capital on July 21 but their devices failed to detonate. The botched attacks came just two weeks after four suicide bombers killed themselves and 52 others in an identical plot. (Posted @ 17:04 PST)
Rockets fired at southwest Pakistan paramilitary camps, no casualties QUETTA, Pakistan, Dec 20 (AFP) Seven rockets were fired at two paramilitary camps in tribal areas of southwest Pakistan on Tuesday but caused no damage or casualties, security officials said. Four rockets landed early Tuesday on a camp of the Frontier Corps (FC) in the town of Dera Bugti, 240 kilometres southeast of Quetta in Balochistan province, a paramilitary forces spokesman said. Three rockets landed on a FC camp in the town of Kohlu early Tuesday in the same area, a local police official said. Security forces also seized a large cache of arms and explosives near a main gas field in the town of Sui, the spokesman added. "No arrests were made as the place was abandoned but we seized 70 rockets, seven rocket launchers and explosives," he said. In another incident Tuesday a railway track was also blown up near the town of Sibbi, 100 kilometres southeast of Quetta. A passenger train was halted in time.(Posted @ 15:50 PST)
Cricket-Indian government approves Karachi test NEW DELHI, Dec 20 (Reuters) India has conditionally given clearance to the national cricket team to play a test in Karachi during their tour of Pakistan starting next month, an Indian cricket board official said on Tuesday. "The tour has been cleared (by the government). Karachi has also been cleared to play a test, provided certain security conditions are met," Rajiv Shukla, chairman of the board's media committee, told reporters.(Posted @ 15:30 PST)
New York hit by massive transport strike NEW YORK, Dec 20 (Reuters) New York transit workers walked off the job for the first time in 25 years on Tuesday after contract talks failed, stranding millions of people who rely on the bus and subway system each day. The strike came after the Transport Workers Union rejected an offer from the state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority late on Monday, shortly before a midnight deadline when the union had said its 34,000 members would walk out if there was no deal. The strike crippled the entire subway and bus system, which carries 7 million daily passengers.(Posted @ 15:27 PST)
Israel's Sharon says ready to return to work after stroke JERUSALEM, Dec 20 (Reuters) Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made his first public appearance since suffering a mild stroke and said on Tuesday he planned to return to work soon. "Now I must quickly get back to work and move forward," he said. He told reporters his job performance would not be affected.(Posted @ 15:25 PST)
Three Italians hurt in Afghan suicide attack KABUL, Dec 20 (Reuters) Three Italian peacekeepers were slightly wounded in a suicide car bomb attack that hit one of the two ISAF vehicles driving in convoy in the western Afghan city of Herat on Tuesday, and at least one attacker died, a spokesman for the NATO-led peacekeeping force said. A Taliban spokesman said his movement had carried out the attack, and identified the bomber as Mullah Asadullah.(Posted @ 15:24 PST)
Cricket-Australia and South Africa draw first test PERTH, Dec 20 (Reuters) The first test between Australia and South Africa ended in a draw at the WACA on Tuesday. Scores: Australia 258 and 528-8 declared; South Africa 296 and 287-5.(Posted @ 15:05 PST)
North Korea to develop light-water nuclear reactors SEOUL, Dec 20 (AFP) - North Korea announced Tuesday it intended to build an unspecified number of light-water reactors, saying the United States had reduced a 1994 deal on mothballing nuclear power plants to a "dead document." Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a dispatch that the government would also resume the construction of two graphite moderated reactors (GMRs) frozen under the 1994 accord. North Korea will "start developing and building LWRs (light-water reactors) of Korean style in reliance upon its indigenous technology and potential when an appropriate time comes to put further spurs to its peaceful nuclear activities," it said.(Posted @ 12:14 PST)
Seven more Indian MPs caught in TV bribe sting NEW DELHI, Dec 20 (AFP) - Seven more Indian MPs have been caught on television asking for cash, hot on the heels of a similar scandal involving parliamentarians earlier this month, Star News TV said Tuesday. Star News aired pictures of the "sting" operation which showed MPs from different parties, including the ruling Congress, apparently asking for cash ranging from five to 45 percent of the project value to approve spending on public works programmes in their constituencies. The television footage, first aired late Monday and repeated on television Tuesday, was the second similar expose by a TV channel in a month. Earlier this month Aaj Tak television station broadcast images of 11 MPs grabbing cash in return for asking questions in parliament. Each of the more than 700 MPs in the two houses of parliament gets 20 million rupees (445,000 dollars) every year to fund development projects in their constituencies.(Posted @ 12:02 PST)
Five U.S. soldiers plead guilty to Iraq abuse BAGHDAD, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Five U.S. Army Rangers court-martialled over charges of detainee abuse in Iraq have pleaded guilty and been given punishments varying from 30 days to six months in confinement, the military said Monday.Two soldiers would receive a bad conduct discharge over the charges, which resulted from an investigation into allegations of abuse that took place on Sept. 7, a statement said. It said the sentences were passed at courts-martial completed between Dec. 8 and 13. In November, the military said five soldiers from the 75th Ranger Regiment had been charged after allegations they had punched and kicked Iraqi detainees and hit them with a broomstick on Sept. 7 in Baghdad, between arresting them and taking them to prison. It was not immediately clear whether Monday's statement described the outcome of the November charges.(Posted @ 10:30 PST)
Ronaldinho voted Player of the Year ZURICH, Dec 20 (AFP) - Brazilian star Ronaldinho was named FIFA International Footballer of the Year here Monday for the second year in succession. The 25-year-old Barcelona star added the global prize to the European Footballer of the Year award he picked up last month. He received 956 votes to take the 2005 award with England midfielder Frank Lampard second with 306 votes and Cameroon attacker Samuel Eto'o - a team-mate of Ronaldinho's - third with 190.(Posted @ 10:25 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 102.42 points: KARACHI, December 20: At the close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 9482.08, up 102.42 points from Monday's close. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:45 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, December 20: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.22 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:45 PST)
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