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| October 02, 2006 | Monday | Ramazan 8, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
India trying to divert attention: FO ISLAMABAD, Oct 2 (APP): Pakistan on Monday termed India's allegations of ISI’s involvement in Mumbai blasts as propaganda and an effort to divert attention from India’s own indigenous elements behind such terrorist acts. Foreign Office spokesperson, Tasnim Aslam, at a weekly briefing said "if India feels it has some information suggesting links here then we will take action and help India in investigation", adding that Pakistan has not yet received any evidence from India. Aslam said both the foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India were in contact with each other and they would likely meet after Ramazan. She however did not give any dates. In reply to a question, she said the core issue of Kashmir has not been put on the backburner. "Terrorism is a problem that affects us all, including Pakistan, India and other countries and there is no connection between the two," she said. Regarding Amnesty International’s report citing disappearance of Pakistani citizens, she said "decisions are taken in larger public interest as it has to take into account, both the right of the people to freedom and right of the life of majority of the people." On handing over suspected terrorists to United States, she said, the first priority was to hand them over to their country of origin, but if the countries refuse, they were handed over to the Untied States. She said the reward money of capturing such terrorists was meant only for individuals and not the government. Responding to reports about Afghan President Hamid Karzai's statement on religious seminaries in Pakistan, she said the government was already working on a Madrassa reform project. (Posted @ 16:22 PST)
Pakistan, U.S. sign letter of acceptance for F-16s ISLAMABAD, Oct 2 (Reuters) Pakistan and United States signed a letter of acceptance for a multi-billion dollar package to supply the Pakistan Air Force with F-16 warplanes on Saturday at a ceremony in Rawalpindi, an air force spokesman said on Monday. A statement issued by the Pakistan Air Force, however, did not mention what conditions were being set by the United States on use and maintenance of the planes. It said that the United States will supply 18 new F-16 aircraft, as well as an unspecified number of upgraded second-hand F-16s. The United States will also sell Pakistan missile weaponry and other support infrastructure, and upgrade Pakistan's present fleet of 34 old-model F-16s. (First Posted @ 16:26 PST Updated @ 19:30 PST)
Pakistan must learn to live without Inzamam: Woolmer LAHORE, Oct 2 (AFP) Pakistan's cricket coach Bob Woolmer Monday urged his young side to learn to live without banned captain Inzamam-ul-Haq at this month's Champions Trophy. "Obviously losing Inzamam is a big loss, both as a player and as captain, but in a way at some stage Pakistan will have to learn to live without Inzamam," Woolmer said. "What happened at The Oval and in the last week's hearing is now behind us. We are now focusing on cricket, with Younis Khan stepping in as captain, and whoever steps in as Inzamam's replacement has a big challenge," he said. Woolmer said the Champions Trophy would be good for Pakistan. "Various teams treat this biennial event in a different way. You have a good chance to assess what other teams are doing six months before the World Cup so it's a great test," he said Woolmer. Woolmer reckoned paceman Mohammad Asif, who suffered back trouble last week, would be fit before the team's departure. (Posted @ 18:12 PST)
Police report deaths in Pennsylvania school shooting NEW YORK, Oct 2 (Reuters) Several people were shot and killed by a hostage taker who opened fire at an Amish school in Pennsylvania on Monday, police said, in the third fatal shooting at a U.S. school in a week. The exact number of the causalities was not known at this point, police said. (Posted @ 22:26 PST)
SC directs health ministry to check spread of spurious drugs ISLAMABAD, October 02 (Agencies) The Supreme Court on Monday gave a two-month deadline to the federal health ministry to check the spread of spurious drugs in the country. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry directed the health ministry to immediately convene a meeting of the provincial health secretaries in order to ensure that existing drug laws are implemented in letter and spirit. It also directed the ministry to ensure compliance with a legal requirement under which the presence of a licensed pharmacist is a must at each and every drug store. The court also issued directives for submission of challan against a pharmaceutical company that was allegedly involved in the production of a counterfeit medicine. The Supreme Court had taken suo motu notice on the application of one Dr Shams uz Zaman Soomro who had presented a fake injection of a multinational company to the court. (Posted @ 22:20 PST)
PM Aziz approves setting up of a regulatory authority on drugs ISLAMABAD, Oct 02 (Agencies): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz approved Monday the setting up of an autonomous Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA) to ensure the supply of quality drugs to the people and streamline the registration of drugs. Aziz made the announcement while chairing a meeting at the PM's House. (Posted @ 22:12 PST)
PM Aziz meets former caretaker PM Qureshi ISLAMABAD, Oct 02 (Agencies): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Monday met former caretaker prime minister of Pakistan, Moeen Qureshi, here who had called on him at the Prime Minister House. Aziz highlighted the various reforms initiated by his government in financial services, agriculture, industry, governance, and justice and security fields. Qureshi, who now heads the Emerging Markets Partnership (EMP) group, informed Aziz of his group’s plans to invest in infrastructure, IT and energy sectors though the various funds EMP manages the world over. (Posted @ 22:10 PST)
Three women of Pakistani origin murdered in Norway OSLO, Norway, Oct 2 (AP) Three women of the same Pakistani origin family were gunned down late Sunday in their apartment in an Oslo suburb, police said Monday. The 30-year-old brother of the three sisters, aged 13, 24 and 27, was arrested hours later as a possible suspect after a tip was received from another family member, police said, adding that investigations were still continuing. (Posted @ 21:16 PST)
Putin warns Bush of 'third country' interference in Georgia MOSCOW, Oct 2 (AFP) Russian President Vladimir Putin warned his US counterpart George W. Bush of the danger of third countries encouraging "destructive policies" in Georgia, the Kremlin said Monday. In a telephone conversation Monday, Putin "underlined the unacceptability and danger to the peace and stability of the region of any actions by third countries that could be interpreted by the Georgian leadership as encouraging their destructive policies," the Kremlin said in a statement. (Posted @ 20:14 PST)
Georgia hands Russian 'spies' to OSCE TBILISI, Oct 2 (AFP) Georgia turned four Russian officers accused of spying over to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe here on Monday, a witness on the scene reported. A Georgian official read a statement to each of the four officers outside the prosecutor's office informing them that they were being expelled from the country on suspicion of espionage and would not be permitted to return. (Posted @ 20:08 PST)
NATO reports drop in Afghan clashes after deal with elders KABUL, Oct 2 (AFP) British NATO forces made a deal with Afghan tribal elders who said they would get Taliban fighters out of Helmand province’s Musa Qala district, leading to a sharp drop in clashes with rebels, a NATO spokesman said Monday. The Taliban were not party to talks leading to the deal and it would not see the withdrawal of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops, the spokesman said. "The situation in Musa Qala has now improved with very few incidents, normal life is returning to the town, shop stalls are reopening," the spokesman said, adding that similar deals in other areas were not ruled out. (First Posted @ 16:46 PST Updated @ 20:02 PST)
Kosovo massacre trial opens involving former Serb policemen BELGRADE, Serbia-Montenegro, Oct 2 (AP) Eight former Serbian policemen went on trial in Belgrade on Monday on charges related to one of the worst massacres of the Kosovo war. The eight are accused of executing 48 ethnic Albanian civilians, including 14 children, two infants, a pregnant woman and a 100-year-old woman in Suva Reka in March 1999. Their bodies were later dumped in a mass grave at a police training camp near Belgrade, where they were discovered in 2001. Monday's proceedings were the first here in connection with the mass graves of Kosovo victims found in central Serbia after former President Slobodan Milosevic was ousted in 2000. (Posted @ 19:56 PST)
Turk troops kill two Kurdish rebels DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Oct 2 (Reuters) Turkish troops killed two guerrillas of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) on Monday, security sources said, in the first report of a fatal clash since the outlawed group declared a unilateral ceasefire. Military operations were continuing, sources said. (Posted @ 19:40 PST)
Rebel groups kill 40 in Darfur LONDON, Oct 2 (Reuters) Up to 40 people were killed in clashes between rebel groups in south Darfur Friday, forcing foreign aid workers to abandon the Greida refugee camp, the Guardian newspaper reported on its Web site on Monday. Fighters loyal to the Justice and Equality Movement, one of two rebel factions that did not sign a May peace agreement, used mortars and heavy machines to attack men from a faction of the Sudan Liberation Army, which signed the deal, the report said. (Posted @ 19:34 PST)
Screeching mobiles will give thieves ear bashing LONDON, Oct 2 (Reuters) A new service that makes mobile phones emit a piercing electronic scream if stolen and automatically blocks access to sensitive data was launched in Britain on Monday. With the product, which is designed for application on smart handsets, a signal is sent to the phone as soon as it is reported stolen. The entire phone's data --- like contact numbers, emails or images -- is wiped out after storing it in a central computer and an ear piercing alarm sets off on the stolen phone set that can be shut off only by taking out the phone’s battery. (Posted @ 19:26 PST)
Two U.S. scientists win Nobel for gene work STOCKHOLM, Oct 2 (Reuters) Americans Andrew Fire and Craig Mello won the 2006 Nobel Prize worth $1.37 million for medicine on Monday for their groundbreaking discovery of how to "silence" genes. Fire, 47, and Mello, 45, showed through experiments with nematode worms that a particular form of ribonucleic acid, or RNA -- the cellular material that transmits genetic information -- can "silence" or switch off targeted genes in a process known as RNA interference (RNAi). They published their findings in 1998. This technology has become a hot area of research for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, who view it as a promising new way to tackle a range of conditions. (Posted @ 17:54 PST)
Rice seeks Saudi help to stabilize Iraq SHANNON, Ireland, Oct 2 (Reuters) U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Monday she plans to ask Saudi Arabia to do more to help stabilize Iraq. "I want the Saudis' involvement in the stabilization of Iraq. I want the Saudis' involvement in the stabilization of Lebanon through resources and political support," she said, adding "they have actually been very helpful in trying to get Sunnis involved in the (Iraqi) election". Speaking as she flew to the Middle East, Rice said she planned during her trip to talk to U.S. allies in the region about how they can assist the Iraqi and Lebanese governments as well as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (Posted @ 16:44 PST)
One British soldier killed, another hurt in Basra LONDON, Oct 2 (Reuters) A British soldier was killed Sunday and another wounded in Basra, the Ministry of Defence said on Monday. (Posted @ 16:36 PST)
Gunmen kidnap 14 in Baghdad BAGHDAD, Oct 2 (Reuters) Gunmen kidnapped 14 people from a computer store in central Baghdad on Monday, an Interior Ministry official said. (Posted @ 16:34 PST)
Ten killed in Iraq violence BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) At least 10 people were killed Monday in attacks across Iraq, while authorities found at least 50 bodies in and around Baghdad. Three people were killed and 8 wounded in a roadside bombing in Baghdad's downtown Al-Nasir Square around midday, police said. Elsewhere, a police patrol was ambushed in southern Iraq’s al-Hay area, by gunmen who killed two officers and injured three. An Iraqi army officer was killed and two were injured in the western Baghdad neighbourhood of Yarmouk when a roadside bomb exploded next to their patrol, police said. Another roadside bomb in north-eastern Baghdad injured three civilians. (First Posted @ 13:00 PST Updated @ 16:04 PST)
Hamas-led government stops work after assault on offices GAZA CITY, Oct 2 (AFP) The Hamas-led Palestinian government announced that work would come to a halt in all ministries Monday after its headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah were stormed by protestors Sunday. The government "has announced the suspension of work in government institutions because of the attacks against the seat of government in the West Bank and attempts to kidnap officials," a spokesman said. (Posted @ 14:40 PST)
Grenade attack kills child, injures 16 people in northeastern India GAUHATI, India, Oct 2 (AP) A young man on a motorcycle tossed a hand grenade at people celebrating Durga Puja, an important festival in eastern India, killing an 8-year-old child and wounding 16 others, including five policemen around midnight in Dhemaji, a town 550 kilometers north of Gauhati, the capital of Assam, police said Monday. Police blamed the rebel United Liberation Front of Asom for the attack. (Posted @ 14:35 PST)
17 dead as mini-bus swept off Philippine bridge ILOILO, Philippines, Oct 2 (AFP) 17 people were killed and 23 others were missing Monday after a bus was swept off a bridge by a swollen river in the central Philippine, police said. The bus, carrying 40 passengers, had attempted to cross a bridge near Igbaras town in Iloilo province during torrential rain brought on by the approach of a new tropical storm, police said. But the swollen river engulfed the bridge and swept the bus away. (Posted @ 14:20 PST)
Tamil Tigers kill police officer in Sri Lanka COLOMBO, Oct 2 (AP) Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels on Monday shot and killed a police officer in eastern Sri Lanka’s Ampara district, the government said. There was no immediate comment from the rebels. (Posted @ 13:30 PST)
Italian police arrest six Algerian 'international terror' suspects ROME, Oct 2 (AFP) Italian police Monday dismantled what they called a terrorist cell, arresting six Algerians accused of "association with criminals in aid of international terrorism” in a dawn raid in the northern city of Milan, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. (Posted @ 13:05 PST)
Rival factions clash in Gaza despite appeals GAZA, Oct 2 (Reuters) Rival Palestinian forces exchanged fire in the Gaza Strip on Monday, residents said, despite appeals for calm from President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. There were no immediate reports of casualties. (Posted @ 12:05 PST)
Three US Marines killed in western Iraq BAGHDAD, Oct 2 (AP) Three US Marines were killed during operations in Iraq's western Anbar province, the US military command said Monday. (Posted @ 11:40 PST)
Suicide bomber targets NATO convoy in Kabul, six wounded KABUL, Oct 2 (AP) A suicide bomber blew himself up next to a NATO convoy in Kabul on Monday, wounding three soldiers and three civilians, officials said. (First Posted @ 11:20 PST, Updated @ 11:35 PST)
All 155 people on Brazil jetliner died in Amazon crash; smaller plane involved in mishap lands safely BRASILIA, Brazil, Oct 2 (AP) There were no survivors among the 155 people aboard the Brazilian jetliner that crashed deep in the Amazon jungle on Friday, but the smaller plane involved in the mishap and carrying Americans, landed safely at a nearby air force base, authorities said. Seven passengers and crew aboard the executive jet heading to the United States included Joe Sharkey, a journalist for The New York Times. They said they felt a bump, the plane shook and the pilot took manual control for the landing. The New York Times reported that Sharkey sent an e-mail to his wife saying: ``Neither of the pilots (of the smaller plane) can understand how a 737 could have hit us without them seeing it.'' (Posted @ 10:13 PST)
Bomb blast in southwestern Pakistan damages police building, no one hurt QUETTA, Pakistan, Oct 2 (AP) A bomb blast shattered window panes and damaged walls at a police radio control room in Khuzdar town, 300 kilometers southwest of Quetta, early Monday, but no one was hurt, area police chief Pervez Zahoor said. The homemade bomb was hidden in a plastic shopping bag and planted outside the police building. It left cracks in the walls of the police radio room and shattered window panes at the police facility and several nearby homes. In another incident a shepherd died in a land mine explosion in Sui, and two small, homemade bombs rocked Quetta on Sunday night. The bombs shattered window panes and created panic in two separate residential neighborhoods of Quetta but injured no one. (Posted @ 09:55 PST)
Rumsfeld says he won't resign MANAGUA, Oct 2 (AFP) US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Sunday that President George W. Bush had given him his personal support and that he will not resign despite a new wave of criticism set off by a book by US journalist Bob Woodward. (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Philippines wants to break impasse in talks with Muslim rebels MANILA, Oct 2 (AFP) The Philippine government is determined to break a deadlock in talks with Muslim separatist rebels to prevent an outbreak of violence, an adviser to President Gloria Arroyo said Monday. Government negotiators are "now back at the drawing boards to study options," Arroyo's representative to the talks Jesus Dureza said in a statement. "I know the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) wants peace for the Bangsamoro (indigenous Muslim) people in the south," Dureza said. "It may not be easy. But President Arroyo and the whole nation are determined to seek the path to peace," he said. (Posted @ 09:30 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 103.76 points: KARACHI, Oct 2: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 10616.24, up 103.76 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:00 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Oct 2: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.65 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:00 PST)
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