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| November 15, 2006 | Wednesday | Shawwal 22, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Pakistan approves women's rights bill ISLAMABAD, Nov 15 (AFP) Pakistani lawmakers Wednesday approved a women's rights bill amending harsh Islamic laws on rape and adultery, despite fierce opposition from hardliners who said the change would promote "free sex". The bill scraps widely-criticised laws dating from 1979, which say that women must produce four Muslim male witnesses as evidence of rape or potentially face adultery charges themselves. "This law will protect the rights of the women," Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told the national assembly -- the lower house of parliament -- adding that it conformed with the Holy Quran and other Islamic holy texts. Lawmakers from fundamentalist Islamic parties delivered fiery speeches then stormed out of the assembly before the vote, shouting anti-government slogans. "The passage of this bill will turn Pakistan into a free-sex society," said Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of the opposition and secretary general of the country's biggest alliance of religious parties. "It will distort the image of Pakistani women internationally," he added. "It may not be as good as a complete repeal of the Hudood ordinances but it is a step towards dismantling anti-women and anti-minority laws," said Farhatullah Babar, a spokesman for the Pakistan People's Party of former premier Benazir Bhutto. (First Posted @ 14:00 PST Updated @ 19:10 PST)
India and Pakistan agree on anti-terror, nuclear safety measures NEW DELHI, Nov 15 (AP) _ India and Pakistan agreed on measures to combat terrorism and prevent a nuclear conflict in South Asia at the two-day Secretary level talks which concluded Wednesday. Pakistani Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammed Khan told newsmen Wednesday that during two days of talks, Indian officials had given him no evidence of Pakistani links to the Mumbai bombings, but ``there is something about other blasts.'' He did not elaborate. He said the two sides agreed to set up a three-member committee to exchange information on terror threats, and added that a Foreign Ministry official from each side would work with the group. Khan also said that the two sides had prepared a deal intended to limit the risk of an inadvertent nuclear conflict. The nuclear safety deal would be signed at a later date, he said, without providing any details of the agreement.(Posted @ 15:45 PST)
Olmert tells defense minister to retaliate against rocket fire LOS ANGELES, Nov 15 (AFP) Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert Wednesday instructed his defense minister to "act against" Palestinian rocket attacks following the death of an Israeli woman in one attack. (Posted @ 22:00 PST)
Israeli boy seriously wounded in second rocket attack JERUSALEM, Nov 15 (AFP) A 17-year-old Israeli boy was seriously wounded Wednesday in a second rocket attack by Gaza militants on the southern town of Sderot, following earlier salvoes that killed a woman, the army said. The rocket exploded near a police station, it said. Earlier rockets fired fired at Sderot killed a 57-year-old woman and seriously wounded a 24-year-old man. (Posted @ 22:00 PST)
Soldier in Iraqi gang rape case pleads guilty FT. CAMPBELL, Ky., Nov 15 (Reuters) Spc. James Barker, one of four U.S. soldiers accused of raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl before murdering her and her family, pleaded guilty to the charges on Wednesday at the start of his court-martial at a Kentucky military base. (Posted @ 22:10 PST)
Six US troops killed in Iraq BAGHDAD, Nov 15 (AFP) Insurgents have killed six US troops in Iraq, including three US marines and a soldier in the province of Al-Anbar, the military said Wednesday. The four in Anbar were killed due to "enemy action" Tuesday, while in Baghdad, two soldiers were killed Tuesday when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb during "combat operations". (Posted @ 22:00 PST)
Six climbers missing after avalanche in Nepal KATHMANDU, Nov 16 (AFP) One Briton, two Swedes and three Nepalis are missing after an avalanche hit a climbers' camp in eastern Nepal, tourism officials said late Wednesday. "A private helicopter searched the area where the men went missing twice on Wednesday, but did not find the men," Lok Bahadur Khatri, an official at the ministry of tourism said. An avalanche hit the camp at 6,400 metres (20,992 feet) on Nepal's Mount Ama Dablam at around midnight on Monday. The men in the camp were asleep when the avalanche struck, officials said. (Posted @ 22:00 PST)
Five killed in Chakwal road accident CHAKWAL, Nov 15 (APP)A coach carrying students to Rawalpindi for an examination to select Lady Health Visitors (LHVs) collided with a truck near Bhakery on Chakwal-Rawalpindi road on Wednesday, killing at least four students and the driver and injuring 22 others, police said. Dr.Sadia, Incharge Nursing School Chakwal was among seriously injured. (Posted @ 19:55 PST)
Yousuf grabs Veterans World Snooker crown KARACHI, Nov 15 (APP): Pakistan's former world amateur champion Muhammad Yousuf added another feather in his crown when he won the Seniors Masters World Snooker Championship in Amman (Jordan) when he beat Glen Wilkinson of Australia 5-4 after an exciting final on Tuesday night. Muhammad Yousuf won the world amateur title in Johannesburg in 1994 and Asian championship in Karachi in 1998. Naveen Perwani featuring in the main championship, went down fighting against Attahist Mahatti of Thailand in the quarterfinal 6-5 after a tough fight. Naveen, who was leading 3-2 at one stage lost by 66-59, 12-69, 04-75, 60-48, 59-54, 10-95, 31-57, 63-50, 02-95, 57-42, 1-69 score line. (Posted @ 19:55 PST)
8.1 quake near Kurile Islands, tsunami warning in Japan TOKYO, Nov 15 (Reuters) An 8.1 magnitude earthquake was recorded in the Kurile Islands and a tsunami warning issued for the eastern part of Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, on Wednesday. (Posted @ 19:55 PST)
Bush leaves Moscow after talks with Putin MOSCOW, Nov 15 (Reuters) President George W. Bush left Moscow on Wednesday and headed for Singapore after an airport meeting with President Vladimir Putin which was to cover trade and sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme. (Posted @ 19:50 PST)
3 people killed in suicide attack on funeral service in Baghdad BAGHDAD, Nov 15 (AP) A suicide bomber drove his car into a tent where a funeral was being held in the neighbourhood of Dora in southern Baghdad on Wednesday, killing three people and wounding 15, police said. (Posted @ 19:50 PST)
About 70 kidnap victims released in Iraq BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) About 70 victims of a mass kidnapping at an office of the Higher Education Ministry have been released, a ministry spokesman said on Wednesday. Interior and Defence ministries had insisted that only 40 to 50 people were kidnapped but Minister Abed Theyab claims that as many as 150 people were abducted. (First Posted @ 10:25 @ PST Updated @ 19:30 PST)
Insurgents kill more than 20 in Iraq BAGHDAD, Nov 15 (AFP) Insurgents killed at least 22 people across Iraq on Wednesday, including 15 in two car bombings in the capital, security officials said. Twelve people were killed in a car bomb blast at a Baghdad petrol station which wounded dozens of others. Another car bomber blew himself up in southern Baghdad's Al-Dura district, killing three and wounding another 12. In Baghdad's Yarmuk neighbourhood, gunmen killed the manager of a petrol station and a official working for the city council and in Mosul, gunmen killed a female Iraqi journalist and her driver, police said. Two civilians were also shot dead by gunmen in Baquba, and a traffic policeman was killed in Kirkuk, police said. (Posted @ 19:00 PST)
Bangladesh opposition suspends blockade DHAKA, Nov 15 (AFP) Bangladesh's opposition said Wednesday it had suspended a national transport blockade and other protests but vowed to resume them next week if the country's chief election commissioner was not replaced. (Posted @ 19:00 PST)
Qatar's emir criticises Western attitudes to Hamas STRASBOURG, Nov 15 (AFP) Qatar's emir, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, criticised Western countries Wednesday for their attitude toward the embattled Palestinian government led by the Hamas. "The Palestinian government, formed by Hamas in accordance with the free will of the Palestinian people, should have the opportunity to work for the people who elected it," he told the European Parliament. But "instead of rewarding the Palestinian people for practising democracy, something rarely witnessed in our region, they have been punished for it," with an international embargo, he said. "Is this not a double standard: to demand free elections, and then object to the results?" said the emir, the first Gulf nation head of state to address the European assembly in Strasbourg. (Posted @ 18:50 PST)
Suspected rebels blow up pipeline in India's northeast GUWAHATI, India, Nov 15 (AFP) Separatist guerrillas Wednesday blew up a crude oil pipeline in India's oil-rich state of Assam, their fourth attack in a week, police said. There were no casualties but the explosion disrupted oil supplies. "The impact was so severe it created a big crater and damaged four meters of pipeline," a senior police official said by telephone. On Sunday last also, another oil pipeline in eastern Assam was blown up, forcing a three-day shutdown of the pipeline. (Posted @ 18:50 PST)
US, Iraqi forces arrest top Qaeda operator BAGHDAD, Nov 15 (AFP) US and Iraqi forces on Wednesday arrested a top operator f Al-Qaeda in Iraq, interior ministry spokesman Major General Abdel Karim Khalaf told AFP. In an overnight operation, US forces parachuted on the house of Abdullah Juburi in Arab Jubur, an area on the southern outskirts of Baghdad, Khalaf said. US military did not comment on the operation. (Posted @ 17:00 PST)
Pakistan, France sign 40 mln Euro agreement for houses reconstruction in quake-areas ISLAMABAD, Nov 15 (APP): Pakistan and France signed a financing agreement of Euro 40 millions Wednesday to support rural housing reconstruction sector of the earthquake-affected areas. Half of it will be utilized in the rural housing sector and remaining half will be used to fund the environment sector (water and sanitation). (Posted @ 16:50 PST)
Cricket-PCB doping appeals commission adjourned until Sunday LAHORE, Nov 15 (Reuters) The commission formed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to hear the appeals of fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif against their doping bans has adjourned the hearing of the case until Nov. 20. "The proceedings have been adjourned as Shoaib Akhtar's lawyer has asked for some documents related to the case," head of the commission, retired judge Fakhruddin G Ebrahim told reporters on Wednesday. (Posted @ 16:40PST)
Cricket-Joyce called into England Ashes squad SYDNEY, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Irish-born uncapped batsman Ed Joyce was called into the England Ashes squad touring Australia on Wednesday as a replacement for Marcus Trescothick, who left the team and returned home because of a stress-related illness.(Posted @ 16:10 PST)
Russian soldier killed in bomb explosion in Chechnya ROSTOV-ON-DON, Nov 15 (AP) _ A roadside bomb exploded as a group of Russian Interior Ministry troops was carrying out search operations in southern Chechnya on Tuesday, killing one of the soldiers, the Ministry said.(Posted @ 15:45 PST)
Chinese president departs for visit to 4 Asian nations, APEC summit< BEIJING, Nov 15 (AP) _ Chinese President Hu Jintao departed Wednesday for state visits to four Asian nations, starting with Vietnam, where he is to attend the APEC summit later this week. After Vietnam, Hu will go to Laos, India and Pakistan. Hu arrived in the central Vietnamese city of Danang Wednesday. At the Nov. 18-19 summit in Hanoi, he is expected to push for greater APEC cooperation and for the restarting of the Doha round of WTO trade talks, according to Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai. Hu will also meet U.S. President George W. Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe separately on the summit's sidelines. Hu is scheduled to visit Laos from Nov. 19 to Nov. 20, India from Nov. 20 to Nov. 23 and Pakistan from Nov. 23 to Nov. 26.(Posted @ 15:33 PST)
Indian troops kill eight militants in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Nov 15 (AFP) - Eight suspected militants were shot dead by troops in occupied Kashmir Wednesday in gunbattles, police said. Seven were killed in three separate gunbattles when army and police launched searches in the district of Kupwara, an official said adding that two Indian soldiers were also injured. The eighth militant was shot dead during another gunbattle in the south, he said but gave no details.(Posted @ 15:15 PST)
Suicide bomb explodes in Afghan butchery, wounds butcher KABUL, Nov 15 (AFP) - A suicide bomber detonated explosives strapped to his body after being chased by police through a bazaar in northern Afghanistan on Wednesday, wounding a butcher. "The bomber was spotted by police and as they tried to get him he ran and entered a butcher shop and killed himself. Only one butcher was wounded," Parwan police chief said.(Posted @ 14:52 PST)
Rice refuses to compare war in Iraq with Vietnam RAMSTEIN, Germany, Nov 15 (AFP) US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, on Tuesday refused to compare the war in Iraq with Vietnam. "First of all, historical parallels of that kind are I think not very helpful, and I don't think they happen to be right," Rice told journalists in the plane taking her to Vietnam before it made a stopover at the US air base here. "This was a different set of circumstances with different stakes for the United States and a different kind of war." She also refused Tuesday to make a link between the lack of progress in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the unrest in Iraq. Regarding the North Korea nuclear crisis, she said there was no need for a five-way meeting on North Korea's nuclear program on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum. "I think that the need for such collective meetings is simply not there because what we really do is preparing for the next round of the six-party talks," Rice said.(Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Iraqi police find 10 bodies south of Baghdad BAGHDAD, Nov 15 (Reuters) Police found 10 bodies in the town of Latifiya, 40 km south of Baghdad, police said on Wednesday.(Posted @ 11:40 PST)
US denies rift with Blair on Syria, Iran WASHINGTON, Nov 15 (AFP) The White House Tuesday rushed to deny claims of a diplomatic rift with its closest European ally Britain, after Prime Minister Tony Blair mooted a "partnership" with US foes Iran and Syria. Blair on Monday laid out a "whole Middle East strategy" involving a push for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, a plan for Iraq and a "strategic" choice of cooperation or isolation to be offered to Iran. President George W. Bush's spokesman Tony Snow however said Tuesday that suggestions in the US and British media that Blair's remarks signalled cracks between Downing Street and the White House were mischaracterizations.(Posted @ 09:10 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 55.39 points: KARACHI, Nov 15: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 10813.93 , down 55.39 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Nov 15: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.75 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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