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| January 25, 2006 | Wednesday | Zilhaj 24, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Turkish offer on Cyprus should be considered -Straw NICOSIA, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Britain lent its support on Wednesday to Turkish proposals to revive a long-stalled attempt to reunify Cyprus. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, sounding out prospects for resuming the talks, said the deadlock in the European Union member "served no one". "The current situation is bad for Cyprus, bad for the east Mediterranean and bad for the EU," he told a news conference in the U.N. controlled zone dividing the island's Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.(Posted @ 21:15 PST)
U.N. helicopter crashes in Darfur, one missing KHARTOUM, Jan 25 (Reuters) - One person was missing after a U.N. helicopter carrying 13 people crashed on Wednesday while evacuating aid workers in Sudan's troubled Darfur region, the United Nations said. A U.N. statement said none of the other passengers were seriously injured.(Posted @ 20:15 PST)
Davos forum opens DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 25(AFP) - Power brokers from the worlds of business and politics opened their annual Davos forum Wednesday, with a strong emphasis on Asia's emerging giants and concern over the health of the global economy. World Economic Forum this year is gathering more than 2,300 leaders, officials and executives for five days of high-powered networking. Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan will be a keynote speaker of the opening day, immediately after German Chancellor Angela Merkel formally kicks proceedings into gear."All people who are in charge of international issues can be found over the next three or four days here in Davos."(Posted @ 19:30 PST)
Australian Open tennis results - Day 10 MELBOURNE, Jan 25 (AFP) - Results from day 10 of the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park here Wednesday (x denotes seeding): Women's singles ( Quarter-finals) Amelie Mauresmo (FRA x3) bt Patty Schnyder (SUI x7) 6-3, 6-0; Kim Clijsters (BEL x2) bt Martina Hingis (SUI) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. Men's singles ( Quarter-finals} Nicolas Kiefer (GER x21) bt Sebastien Grosjean (FRA x25) 6-3, 0-6, 6-4, 6-7 (1/7), 8-6; and Roger Federer (SUI x1) bt Nikolay Davydenko (RUS x5) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/5).(Posted @ 18:30 PST)
Indian policeman kills four colleagues in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir , Jan 25(AFP) - An Indian policeman of the federal Central Reserve Police Force killed four of his colleagues and injured a fifth with his service rifle after getting into argument with them in occupied Kashmir, police said Wednesday. It was not immediately known what triggered the dispute. Authorities say such incidents are often triggered by intense stress suffered by security personnel in the face of danger and absence from families.(Posted @ 18:25 PST)
18 percent increase in resources of Sindh: Salman ISLAMABAD, Jan 25 (APP): Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Salman Shah has said that 18 percent increase has been made in the resources of Sindh in National Finance Commission Award without disturbing the formula of distribution from divisible pool. He told a private tv channel an increase of 51 billion rupees has been made in the resources of provinces due to this Award. He said an additional amount of Rs 18 billion would be given to Sindh province and its share would increase every year. Replying to a question he said no reservations from the Sindh province has reached so far.(Posted @ 18:15 PST)
Finnish peacekeepers attacked in Afghanistan, no one hurt HELSINKI, Finland Jan 25 (APP/AP) _ Gunmen attacked Finnish peacekeepers in northern Afghanistan Wednesday, but no one was hurt, Defense Ministry said. The seven-man intelligence patrol was attacked at about noon local time (0730GMT) in the region of Kunda Sang, near Maimana. No other details were immediately available. Finland has 27 peacekeepers in Afghanistan.(Posted @ 18:15 PST)
Rs.9318 m distributed among earthquake survivors: Siraj Peshawar, Jan 25 (APP): NWFP Senior Minister, Siraj-ul-Haq Wednesday informed provincial assembly that government has so far distributed Rs.9318 million as compensation amount among earthquake affected people in the province. Winding up the debate in the provincial assembly on post-earthquake relief and rehabilitation he said it was a gigantic task to evaluate losses but the government completed the process in a very short time and started distribution of compensation amount among the affected people. He asked MPAs to closely monitor the relief and rehabilitation work and notify irregularities.(Posted @ 17:43 PST)
Britain's Telegraph loses Galloway libel appeal LONDON, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper lost its libel appeal against maverick politician George Galloway on Wednesday over a story saying he had been "in the pay" of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. A High Court ruling in December 2004 ordered the paper to pay Galloway 150,000 pounds ($267,200) for the accusation, which the politician had always denied. (Posted @ 17:20PST)
Journalist killed in Iraq Jan 25, (Reuters) - An Iraqi television cameraman was killed in clashes between Sunni rebels and U.S. forces in the insurgent stronghold of Ramadi on Tuesday, witnesses said on Wednesday. Mahmoud Za'al, who worked for Baghdad TV satellite channel, was killed whilst filming an attack by U.S. forces in Ramadi. He was wounded and then killed moments later in a U.S. air strike. More than 70 foreign and Iraqi journalists have been reported killed since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. The real number is believed to be higher and the list does not include the many translators, drivers and other assistants said by media watchdogs to have died since the conflict began. (Posted @ 17:20PST)
Six killed in occupied Kashmir, top rebel held SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Jan 25(AFP) - Five militants and an Indian soldier were killed in revolt-hit occupied Kashmir and a top rebel commander was arrested, the police and army said Wednesday. Four militants died in two shootouts with the army in Udhampur and Kupwara districts late Tuesday, a police spokesman said in Srinagar. "The fighting erupted when soldiers raided rebel hideouts," he said. An Indian soldier and a militant were also killed in another gunbattle near the town of Tral, 40 kilometers south of Srinagar, on Wednesday, army spokesman Vijay Batra said. Security forces arrested a top rebel commander during a raid Tuesday in Anantag district, an army statement said.It said Wasim Malik, also known as Hamza, had been active with the region's most powerful militant group Hizbul Mujahedin since 1994. Police and troops have been staging raids on rebel targets as part of tightened security across the region before Republic Day celebrations Thursday. Kashmiri separatists and militant groups have called on Kashmiris to observe the occasion as a "black day" and to observe a one-day strike. (Posted @ 17:20PST)
India, Saudi Arabia sign pact on fighting terror, forge closer ties NEW DELHI, Jan 25, 2006 (AFP) - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah signed an agreement Wednesday to work together to fight terrorism.The pact was signed after the leaders held a 45-minute meeting. King Abdullah and Singh held talks on "a full range of bilateral relations as well as discussions of regional issues, international issues" and energy security, officials said. In addition to the accord on terrorism, the two sides also signed two agreements on investment and taxation, "laying the groundwork for closer economic relations," as well as one on sports. (Posted @ 17:20PST)
Palestinians cast votes as Hamas threatens Fatah rule RAMALLAH, West Bank, Jan 25, 2006 (AFP) - Palestinians voted in their first general election for a decade Wednesday, with the Islamists of Hamas presenting the Fatah party with an unprecedented challenge to its long grip on power. Around 1.35 million residents of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and annexed east Jerusalem were entitled to vote. Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas called the poll a decisive step on the road to independence, a view echoed by Israel's acting leader Ehud Olmert, who urged voters to shun "extremism", a reference to Hamas which is contesting a parliamentary election for the first time. Massive security was in place across the Palestinian territories when polls opened for a 12-hour period at 0500 GMT. Organisers put the turnout figure at 20 percent after the first three hours of voting. Former US president Jimmy Carter, heading a team of observers, declared that "everything is going easy" after he toured east Jerusalem. "We are so proud of what the Palestinians are doing today," he added.(Posted @ 16:33 PST)
53 dead from cold in Ukraine KIEV, Jan 25, 2006 (AFP) - Fifty-three people have died in Ukraine during the past 24 hours as a result of extreme cold, the health ministry said Wednesday, bringing to at least 130 the number of deaths since temperatures plunged last week. At least 538 people have been hospitalized as a result of the cold, most of them suffering from frostbite and various stages of hypothermia, the ministry said in a statement. (Posted @ 16:25 PST)
Rockets fired at Pakistani troops PESHAWAR, Jan 25 (AFP) - Suspected militants fired six rockets at Pakistani security forces early Wednesday in a remote tribal area bordering Afghanistan, but there were no casualties, an official said. "Six rockets fired by militants landed on an open space near Thal, southwest of Peshawar, where many troops are stationed. The rockets caused no damage or casualties," the official said. The incident comes amid high tensions in the semi-autonomous tribal regions following a US air strike targeting Al-Qaeda militants on January 13 that killed as many as 18 civilians. (Posted @ 16:20 PST)
Tigers end Sri Lanka peace talks in Geneva KILINOCHCHI, Sri Lanka, Jan 25, 2006 (AFP) - Tamil Tiger rebels Wednesday agreed to hold talks with the Sri Lankan government in Geneva in mid-February, a top Norwegian peace broker said here after hectic closed-door negotiations.The talks would focus on strengthening their ceasefire agreement after a surge in violence left 152 people dead since December, envoy Erik Solheim told reporters after a rare meeting with LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran. "We expect Geneva to be the venue for such a meeting," Solheim said. (Posted @ 16:10 PST)
Cricket-Pakistan call up Iqbal, Gul for final India Test FAISALABAD, Pakistan, Jan 25, 2006 (AFP) Pakistan on Wednesday included batsman Faisal Iqbal and paceman Umar Gul in a 16-man squad for the third and final cricket Test against India in Karachi. Chief selector Wasim Bari said both Iqbal and Gul were drafted in as cover for the injured captain Inzamam-ul Haq and pace spearhead Shoaib Akhtar for the decisive Test starting on Sunday. Shoaib Malik, whose father died in his hometown of Sialkot on Wednesday, was not considered for selection. Pakistan squad for third Test: Inzamam-ul Haq (capt), Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Faisal Iqbal, Shoaib Akhtar, Rana Naved, Danish Kaneria, Arshad Khan, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul. (Posted @ 14:15 PST)
Six killed in Balochistan landmine blast QUETTA, Pakistan, Jan 25, 2006 (AFP) A landmine exploded beneath a minibus in the remote village of Kharcha, 70 miles from the town of Dera Bugti in Balochistan, on Wednesday killing six passengers and injuring five, an official said. The blast happened at around 9:30 am, a district coordination officer said. (Posted @ 13:25 PST)
Aziz concludes U.S. visit, leaves for Pakistan WASHINGTON, Jan 25 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz left here late Tuesday evening for Pakistan, at the conclusion of his weeklong visit to the United States. He also held a meeting with Democratic Party leader, Senator John Kerry and a group of bipartisan senators, from where he drove to the airport for departure. (Posted @ 12:50 PST)
Grenade blast at Indian consulate in Afghan south KABUL, Jan 25 (Reuters) Unidentified attackers threw a hand grenade at the Indian consulate in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar while two grenades were thrown on streets in the capital, Kabul, security officials said on Wednesday. The grenade was thrown at the Indian mission in Kandahar from a speeding vehicle Tuesday. No one was hurt, said a deputy provincial police chief. Police said they had no idea who was responsible for the attacks. (Posted @ 10:45 PST)
Eight dead in multiple attacks by Maoist rebels in western Nepal KATHMANDU, Jan 25, 2006 (AFP) At least three security personnel, four Maoists and an Indian civilian were killed in simultaneous attacks on multiple targets by rebels in western Nepal, police said Wednesday. "The rebels attacked about half a dozen security positions in Nepalgunj at around 8:00 pm Tuesday night," Thapa said. Three security personnel were also injured, he added. Officers in police headquarters in Kathmandu declined to comment on the attacks and said that they were "still awaiting details." (First Posted @ 09:38 PST Updated @ 09:55 PST)
Suspected rebels bomb oil installation in India's northeast GUWAHATI, India, Jan 25, 2006 (AFP) Separatists in India's northeastern Assam state were suspected of carrying out an overnight bomb attack on an oil installation, officials said Wednesday, amid violence ahead of Republic Day. "There was a big blast near a crude oil storage site although the damage was minimal”, a police chief said. The facility belongs to India's state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, the country's largest company by market capitalisation. Police blamed the attack on militants of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). The fire from the blast was extinguished. ULFA rebels have not claimed responsibility for the attacks. (Posted @ 09:41 PST)
Actor Chris Penn dead, no sign of foul play-report LOS ANGELES, Jan 24 (Reuters) Actor Chris Penn has died in a Santa Monica residence, with no signs of foul play, a local ABC television affiliate reported on Tuesday. Penn, 43, was the brother of actor Sean Penn and starred in dozens of films. He played baby-faced criminal Nice Guy Eddie Cabot in director Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs" and starred along with his brother in the 1986 film "At Close Range." He also played Willard Hewitt in "Footloose" in 1984. (Posted @ 09:38 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 42.86 points: KARACHI, Jan 25: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 10213.26, up 42.86 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:18 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Jan 25: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 59.82 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:18 PST)
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