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| January 4, 2006 | Wednesday | Zilhaj 3, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Dubai ruler, UAE vice president, dies in Australia DUBAI, Jan 4 (AFP) - Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashed al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and vice president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), died on Wednesday in Australia at the age of 62, the official news agency WAM announced. The statement did not indicate the cause of death but the Dubai ruler's office said that Sheikh Maktoum, who has ruled the emirate since 1990, died early Wednesday in Australia. Forty days of national mourning have been declared, with government offices closed for a week, WAM said. Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the architect of the city state's development boom, succeeds him as ruler of the emirate, one of the seven that form the UAE federation, another report said. (First Posted @ 11:45 PST; Updated @ 13:31 PST)
PM receives Thai Crown Prince ISLAMABAD, Jan 4 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Wednesday received the Crown Prince of Thailand, Maha Vajiralongkorn, at the Chaklala Air Base, who brought with him additional relief assistance for the earthquake victims. The Crown Prince is on a two-day visit to Pakistan and the additional relief assistance comprises of canned food, blankets, winter clothing and tents worth US$ 28,571.The Crown Prince will also call on President General Pervez Musharraf during his visit.(Posted @ 20:45 PST)
International mediation must for solution of Kashmir dispute: Mirwaiz MUZAFFARABAD, Jan 4 (APP): Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said Wednesday that international mediation and guarantees were imperative for achieving the permanent solution of the Kashmir dispute. He was talking to newsmen at the residence of Sahibzada Ishaque, MLA, before leaving for Balakot to express solidarity with the quake survivors. Senior Hurriyat leader Professor Abdul Ghani Bhatt and Bilal Ghani Lone were also present on the occasion. Mirwaiz said talks between India-Pakistan were imperative but the involvement of the world community at a certain level was also necessary to reach any possible solution of the Kashmir issue, acceptable to all the parties concerned.(Posted @ 20:40 PST)
Nearly 50 dead as violence flares in Iraq BAGHDAD, Jan 4 (AFP) A suicide bomber walked up to a group of about 100 Shiite mourners burying the victim of a drive-by shooting in the small town of Mukdadiyah, about 100 kilometres northeast of Baghdad, before detonating his bomb at the gravesite. Police said at least 34 people died and 48 were wounded in the attack. In other violence, at least two car bombs exploded in the capital. Five people were killed and 13 wounded, according to an initial toll. Another car bomb exploded in south Baghdad as police commandos drove by. Two commandos and one civilian were killed and 11 people wounded, security officials said. A police commando was also killed and 18 others wounded in clashes with insurgents in the west of the capital, an official at Yarmuk hospital said.Earlier in the day, a senior oil ministry official and his son were shot dead in their car in the same area of the capital. In the restive town of Baquba further north, one woman was killed and several people wounded in two bomb attacks. Insurgents also ambushed a convoy of 18 tanker trucks being escorted by security forces to Baghdad from the refinery in the northern town of Baiji, killing a driver, officials said.(First Posted@13:40 PST Updated@) 20:20 PST)
Gunmen bulldoze section of Gaza-Egypt border GAZA, Jan 4 (Reuters) Palestinian gunmen using a bulldozer smashed through a barricade on the Gaza Strip's southern border with Egypt on Wednesday, witnesses said. They said the gunmen were disaffected members of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, who were demanding the release of a comrade detained on suspicion of kidnapping three Britons last week.(Posted @ 20:10 PST)
Mild intensity earthquake jolts Manshera PESHAWAR, Jan 4 (APP): An earthquake of mild intensity measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale was felt in Manshera, according to Meteorological station, Peshawar, Wednesday. The earthquake originated at 1731 hours (PST) and its epicentre was 200 kilometres north-east of Peshawar in Hazara division.(Posted @ 19:15 PST)
Russia, Ukraine end gas dispute; relief in Europe MOSCOW, Jan 4 (AFP) Russia and Ukraine reached a face-saving compromise Wednesday ending a bitter gas dispute that had sent a shudder through Europe, with a new deal ensuring supplies to Kiev and the lucrative European market.After talks in Moscow, officials from Russian energy giant Gazprom and its Ukrainian counterpart Naftogaz said they had agreed a five-year deal, taking effect immediately. News of the accord was welcomed by the oil market, where prices dropped in New York and London, and by the European Union which had been concerned about the potential fallout for Russian gas importers such as Germany.(Posted @ 19:10 PST)
Pakistan holds key militant wanted for Musharraf’s attempted assassination LAHORE, Pakistan, Jan 4 (Reuters) Security forces have arrested a leading militant accused of involvement in two failed assassination attempts on President Pervez Musharraf, a security official said on Wednesday. Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum, of the outlawed Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militant group, was arrested in late December in the eastern city of Lahore, said an intelligence official. "He is amongst the top nine terrorists in the country and was also involved in the planning of two failed assassination attempts on President Musharraf," the official added, referring to attacks in Rawalpindi in December 2003. He said Tabassum was also involved in a series of attacks on Western targets as well as the Bari Imam attack. In Karachi, officials said security forces had arrested three other Lashkar militants accused of involvement in a series of attacks on Shi'ites. The men were arrested during a raid in Karachi's industrial Korangi district late on Tuesday, the official said. Security agencies also seized guns, detonators and explosives from the militants, identified as Maqsood Ahmed Qureshi, Azhar-ul-Haq and Nawaz Khan, the official told a news conference.(First Posted@ 16:33 PST Updated@) 19:05 PST)
Japan, India to start talks to bridge nuclear divide NEW DELHI, Jan 4 (Reuters) India and Japan agreed on Wednesday to launch talks on nuclear issues in a bid to resolve differences. The agreement came during discussions between India's junior foreign minister, E. Ahamed and visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, officials said. "The ministers agreed to launch a…dialogue on disarmament and non-proliferation, with the objective of promoting commonalities and enlarging areas of convergence for mutual cooperation in a constructive manner," a joint statement said. "The dialogue will also address the issues relating to high technology trade," it added.(Posted @ 18:56 PST)
India considers Saudi offer to renovate mosque NEW DELHI, Jan 4 (Reuters) India said on Wednesday it would study an offer by Saudi King Abdullah to fund the renovation of India's largest mosque after a newspaper reported intelligence agencies felt the proposal posed a security threat. Asked about the report in the Times of India, foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said "it will be examined in consultation with authorities concerned and all relevant agencies". The chief cleric of the Jama Masjid, built by Mughal emperor Shahjahan in 1656, said any rejection of the Saudi offer could upset officials in Riyadh. The Saudi embassy said it had no comment on the matter.(Posted @ 18:55 PST)
Militants claim kidnapping of nine Iranian soldiers DUBAI, Jan 4 (Reuters) Militants have kidnapped nine Iranian soldiers to press Tehran to free 16 jailed members of their group, according to a video aired by Al Arabiya television on Wednesday. Al Arabiya said the Organisation of God's Soldiers had seized the soldiers and their ammunition in a province bordering Pakistan. It said the soldiers appealed to their government to heed the militants' demand.(Posted @ 18:25 PST)
UAE President leaves for home SADIQABAD, Jan 4 (APP): President UAE Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayad Al-Nahayan Wednesday left Rahim Yar Khan for UAE on Wednesday. (Posted @ 17:23 PST)
Multi-platinum artist Bryan Adams to perform in Karachi for fund raiser KARACHI, Jan 4 (APP): The multi-platinum artist, Bryan Adams, will undertake a three-day visit to Pakistan during which he will perform live in Karachi on January 29 to help raise funds for education and health projects being run by local singer Shehzad Roy's Zindagi Trust. An announcement to this effect was made at a press conference held at a local hotel on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, Richard Coram, who represents Byran Adams, said that during his visit Adams is also expected to visit the northern areas of the country. (Posted @ 15:55 PST)
Pakistan to host Asia Cup in September 2007 NEW DELHI, Jan 4 (AFP) The six-nation Asia Cup limited-overs tournament will be held in Pakistan in September next year, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) said on Wednesday. The tournament was originally scheduled to be held next month but was put off at India's request to enable their players to rest between two important series against Pakistan and England. ACC president Sharad Pawar of India said the dates and venues of the tournament would be decided later in consultation with the Pakistan Cricket Board. (Posted @ 15:37 PST)
Pakistan's consulate plan scuppered in Mumbai MUMBAI, India, Jan 4 (Reuters) Tenants of a high-rise office building in India's financial capital have stopped Pakistan from reopening a long-delayed consulate there, saying crowds of visa seekers would present a security threat. Pakistan's foreign ministry rented a sprawling office in Mumbai's crowded main business district after India turned down Islamabad's long-standing demand to allow the use of a Mumbai house in which Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of the Pakistani nation, lived before Pakistan was created in 1947. "There is bound to be security problems. It will disturb the peace of the present occupants. So, we don't want the consulate here," said E.S.R. Khan, secretary of the building's tenants' association. Pakistani officials said they were disappointed and expected New Delhi to find a solution. "India didn't give us our property and now they wouldn't let us rent a space. What can we say? But something has to be done," said Rai Riyaz Ahmed, spokesman at the Pakistani embassy in New Delhi. (Posted @ 15:35 PST)
Four soldiers killed, one Kashmiri martyred SRINAGAR, Jan 4 (APP): In occupied Kashmir, four Indian troops were killed and one Kashmiri youth martyred, at different places. According to Kashmir Media Service, three soldiers killed in an explosion in Akhnoor area of Jammu district, while five others were also injured the attack. Another Indian soldier was found hanged at 18 Wireless Army Unit New Plots, in Jammu. The troops, in their fresh act of state-terrorism, martyred one youth in Rajouri. Unidentified gunmen killed one person at Kokernag in Islamabad and two dead bodies were recovered from Bandipora and Solina in Srinagar. Two persons were suffocated to death in Town Hall Islamabad. Meanwhile, forceful protest demonstrations were staged at Regal Chowk, in Srinagar, against illegal detention of Kashmiris, languishing in various jails. The angry protestors, raising full-throated anti-India slogans, demanded immediate release of all the political prisoners, including woman activist, Aasia Andrabi and Farooq Ahmad Dar. Police prevented the protestors from marching towards UN office and took into custody over a dozen demonstrators. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Self-rule only acceptable solution to Kashmir dispute-Bhushan Bazaz NEW DELHI, Jan 4 (APP): Supporting the option of self-rule, President Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Forum (JKDF) Pandit Bhushan Bazaz said that it could be the only acceptable solution to the Kashmir dispute in the prevalent scenario. Mr Bazaz who paid a two-week visit to the held valley exhorted the Pandits to extend their helping hand to All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) in finding a just and mutually acceptable solution to the vexed issue of Kashmir. "Kashmir is an intricate issue. It needs to be resolved in such a way that it is acceptable to all the three principal parties India, Pakistan and Kashmiri people", Mr Bazaz said, according to a press statement issued here today. "I think self-rule can be the only acceptable solution to the problem of Kashmir", he added. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Cricket-South Africa lead Australia by 96 at close SYDNEY, Jan 4 (Reuters) - South Africa led Australia by 96 runs with nine second innings wickets in hand after the third day of the third and final test on Wednesday. The Proteas led Australia by 92 runs on the first innings and were four for one second time around when Brett Lee trapped AB de Villiers lbw for one on what was the last ball of the day. Australia finished with a respectable first innings total of 359 after starting the day in trouble at 54-3. Skipper Ricky Ponting made 120 to become just the sixth player to score a century in his 100th test appearance while vice-captain Adam Gilchrist blazed 86 before being last man out. (Posted @ 13:50 PST)
Relief flights resume in wintry Pakistan quake zone MUZAFFARABAD, Jan 4 (AFP) - Helicopters resumed relief flights in earthquake-ravaged Pakistan Wednesday after three days of rain and snow, as authorities said many survivors were descending from the mountains. The choppers were delivering food and other vital supplies to remote villages in Azad Kashmir and North West Frontier Province, although roads remained blocked, an Army spokesman said. As sun brought relief from sub-zero temperatures survivors repaired their tents and shopped in the dilapidated markets of Muzaffarabad. However, Met Office said a cold snap following the snowfall was likely to grip quake-hit areas for the next three to five days, and Aid agencies have warned that most of the hundreds of thousands of tents being used in the quake zone are not winterised. The UNHCR said it was still dealing with people who had come down from the devastated Neelum Valley after setting up new camps for them on Tuesday. "Five blankets and plastic sheets have been provided to each person as heating arrangement," said Morgan Morrism, senior coordinator of UNHCR. British army engineers meanwhile built winter shelters for survivors in the isolated village of Dhal Khazian and were now combining six shelters to construct a school for 250 girls, NATO said Wednesday in a press release. The troops, who are specially trained for cold weather and mountain environments, have been working above the snow-line for three to four nights at a time, it said. (Posted @ 13:25 PST)
Russia, Ukraine announce breakthrough deal on gas war MOSCOW, Jan 4 (AFP) - Russia and Ukraine announced a breakthrough accord Wednesday ending a bitter dispute over natural gas pricing and designed to guarantee supplies to Kiev as well as to the lucrative European market. Under the five-year deal Kiev will buy gas at a rate of 95 dollars per 1,000 cubic metres.The accord settles a dispute that saw deliveries to Ukraine cut off Sunday, a move which had the knock-on effect of reducing supplies to the key European market which relies on Russia for a quarter of its gas needs. The price is nearly double the Soviet-era tariff of 50 dollars per 1,000 cubic metres that Ukraine currently pays, but far below the 230 dollars that Gazprom had been demanding. (Posted @ 13:15 PST)
Only one US miner may have survived: report TALLMANSVILLE, West Virginia, Jan 4 (AFP) - Only one of 13 coal miners trapped for underground following an explosion may have survived the disaster, CNN reported early Wednesday, some three hours after it was announced that 12 were brought out alive. The US network quoted a person who had attended a private briefing to relatives by a coal mining official as saying that a 26-year-old miner was the only survivor of the tragedy. The man had earlier been taken to hospital in critical condition. (First Posted @ 11:45 PST; Updated @ 13:10 PST)
Closure of Sukkur Barrage's canals from Jan 6-27 SUKKUR, Jan 4 (APP): Chief Engineer Irrigation Sukkur Barrage has announced that all the canals of Sukkur Barrage will remain closed due to annual closure from January 6 to 27 for inspection, and necessary repair and maintenance work of the infrastructure. During the above period, there will be no releases in any of the off-taking canals of Sukkur Barrage viz N.W (Khirthar) canal, Dadu canal, Khairpur Feeders East and West, Rohri Main Canal and Nara Canal respectively. (Posted @ 12:00 PST)
More deaths as Thai Muslim unrest enters third year SUNGAI PADI, Thailand, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Suspected militants killed two village officials in Thailand's south, police said on Wednesday, the second anniversary of the start of an insurgency in which more than 1,000 people have been killed. A motorcycle gunman shot dead 51-year-old Maromae Masae, a Muslim deputy village chief, as he ate breakfast at a roadside tea-shop in Sungai Padi, a Narathiwat village 1,200 km (700 miles) south of Bangkok. On Tuesday evening, a gunman shot dead village-headman Hama Masae, also 51. (Posted @ 11:53 PST)
Eid-ul-Azha on Wednesday, January 11 in America, ICNA anouncement WASHINGTON, Jan 4 (APP)- Eid-ul-Azha would be celebrated in the United States on Wednesday, January 11,Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) said in an announcement. (Posted @ 10:15 PST)
Cricket-Players to score a century in 100th test SYDNEY, Jan 4 (Reuters) – Two Pakistanis are members of the elitist club of players to score a century in their 100th test appearance. Australian captain Ricky Ponting became the sixth member after he made 120 against South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday. The others are:--- 104 -Colin Cowdrey (England) v Australia, Birmingham 1968; 145 - Javed Miandad (Pakistan) v India, Lahore 1989-90; 149 - Gordon Greenidge (West Indies) v England, St John's 1989-90; 105 - Alec Stewart (England) v West Indies, Manchester 2000; 184 - Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) v India, Bangalore 2004-05; 120 - Ricky Ponting (Australia) v South Africa, Sydney 2005-06 (Posted @ 09:52 PST)
Forty seven journalists killed on duty in 2005: CPJ NEW YORK, Jan 4 (AFP) - A total of 47 journalists were killed in their line of work in 2005, three quarters of them victims of murder committed either to silence or punish, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said Tuesday.Iraq accounted for 22 deaths, or nearly half of the year's total, the media watchdog said in an annual report. (Posted @ 09:38 PST)
Saudi sets deadline for pilgrim arrival JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Jan 4 (AFP) - Saudi officials on Tuesday announced that the deadline for pilgrims to arrive in Saudi Arabia by plane for Haj would be Wednesday midnight. "A fine of 200,000 Saudi riyals (53,000 dollars) will be imposed on any plane carrying pilgrims that arrives in Saudi Arabia after Wednesday at midnight," a statement said. The deadline for pilgrims arriving by sea was set at midnight on Tuesday, the statement said. More than 2.5 million Muslims are expected to perform Haj this year, according to government figures. (Posted @ 09:35 PST)
Israel blocks Palestinian East Jerusalem campaign JERUSALEM, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Israeli police blocked Palestinians from electioneering in Arab East Jerusalem on Tuesday when campaigning began for parliamentary polls, highlighting a dispute that threatens to delay the vote. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the Jan.25 polls would not take place if Israel barred voting in East Jerusalem. U.S. President George W. Bush's administration urged Israel to let Palestinians in East Jerusalem vote. Israel has threatened to bar balloting in East Jerusalem, which it annexed in the 1967 Middle East war in a move not recognised internationally, because of the candidacy of Hamas. Jerusalem has been at the heart of the Middle East conflict. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as capital of a state they hope to build in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. (Posted @ 09:20 PST)
200 feared dead in Indonesian landslide: police JAKARTA, Jan 4 (AFP) - Some 200 people are feared dead in a landslide triggered by heavy rains that buried scores of houses in the village of Cijeruk, about 370 kilometres east of Jakarta,early Wednesday, police said. "We suspect there are about 200 people in 120 houses buried in the mud," local chief of police operations Budi said, adding that about 150 police and soldiers were now carrying out rescue operations. (Posted @ 09:10 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 86.75 points: KARACHI, Jan 4: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 9853.65, up 86.75 points from Tuesday's close. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:19 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Jan 4: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 59.92 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:19 PST)
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