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| November 16, 2006 | Thursday | Shawwal 23, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Pakistan tests intermediate-range missile ISLAMABAD, Nov 16 (Reuters) Pakistan successfully test-fired an intermediate range, nuclear-capable Hatf 5 (Ghauri) ballistic missile on Thursday, the military said. The missile had a range of 1,300 km, it said. "Pakistan can be justifiably proud of its defence capability and the reliability of its nuclear deterrence," Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who watched the test, was quoted as saying. "Pakistan believes in peace that comes from a position of strength and operational readiness," he was quoted as saying.(Posted @ 10:15 PST)
Chaudhry Shujaat submits draft bill to further protect women's rights ISLAMABAD, Nov 16 (APP): President of ruling Pakistan Muslim League Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain Thursday submitted a draft bill to speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain seeking an end to un-Islamic customs and traditions which has been a cause of exploitation of women in Pakistan. "This is a follow up of the Women Protection Bill, which was passed by the National Assembly on Wednesday, in which we seek to not only empower women but also give them their due rights," Shujaat said after presenting the draft bill to the Speaker. The draft bill seeks an end to vani (marrying off women against their will as compensation in murder cases), forced marriages and marriage to the Holy Quran, denying women their right in inheritance, selling of women and barter marriages. It also makes giving three divorces to woman a cognisable offence. The notary public who signs the document of three divorces and the person who writes such a stamp paper will also be considered as equal partners in the crime. Recommendations of Ulema have also been incorporated in the bill which is expected to be taken up in the next session of the National Assembly as Private Member's Bill. (Posted @ 16:50 PST)
Pakistan's Musharraf spares Briton from hanging ISLAMABAD, Nov 16 (AFP) - Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Thursday commuted the death sentence of a British man, Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao told AFP. Mirza Tahir Hussain, 36, will instead be given a life sentence for the 1988 murder of a taxi driver, he said. Hussain's lawyer Khalid Ranjha, also a former law minister under Musharraf, said: "He should be freed now. He has served his life sentence already." (Posted @ 16:44 PST)
Prince Charles pleased Pakistan sparing Briton's life LONDON, Nov 16 (AFP) - Britain's Prince Charles welcomed a decision by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday commuting the death sentence on a Briton, after intervening in the case, a royal aide told AFP Thursday. "The prince is not going to make any personal comment but he's very pleased with the decision," a spokeswoman for his office said. Charles made a personal appeal to Musharraf not to execute Mirza Tahir Hussain during a visit to Pakistan last month. British Prime Minister Tony Blair also asked the president not to carry out the death sentence. Hussain, 36, from Leeds, northern England, was convicted of the 1988 murder of a taxi driver. He will now be given a life sentence but could be eligible for release because of the time he has already served in prison. A spokesman for Britain's Foreign Office in London said the government had not been officially notified of the decision but was encouraged by the reports. (Posted @ 15:50 PST)
Iraqi education minister quits until hostages crisis over LONDON, Nov 16 (AFP) - Iraq's minister of higher education Abed Dhiab al-Ujaili confirmed Thursday he was stepping down temporarily after the mass kidnappings of his employees, adding there was currently "no effective government" in Iraq. His action came two days after dozens of staff were kidnapped from the education ministry, with Ujaili telling BBC radio that around 70 of them have been freed while around 40 remain missing. "I'm very much concerned about their welfare. There are rumours and news that some of them have been killed," he added. Even those who have been freed, he pointed out, "say they have been treated very badly," suffering broken limbs. (Posted @ 16:42 PST)
Middle East peace begins with Palestine: Mahmoud Abbas RAMALLAH, West Bank, Nov 15 (Reuters) The creation of a Palestinian state through negotiations with Israel is the key to achieving a wider peace in the Middle East, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday. "This is the hour of truth, because peace in this region will not be achieved except by Israel's full withdrawal from the Arab and Palestinian territories that were occupied in (the Middle East war of) 1967," Abbas said in a speech. "I appeal to the Israelis: Do not waste this chance for peace. Enough with the shedding of the blood of our sons and yours," he said.(Posted @ 10:15 PST)
Pakistan urges India to move on Siachen glacier BRUSSELS, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The chief of Pakistan's armed forces said on Thursday India had to move to solve the stand-off over the North Kashmir Siachen glacier, a day after Pakistan suggested a possible interim solution. The Siachen glacier is the world's highest battlefield, where thousands of troops are holed up in freezing temperatures and more soldiers have died due to weather than to fighting. India has refused to withdraw its troops from the glacier until Pakistan accepts the positions held by the two sides in the icy, barren region. (Posted @ 23:50 PST)
25 people wounded as Muslims, Hindus clash in southern India HYDERABAD, India, Nov 16 (AP) _ Police fired in the air and used batons Thursday to disperse rioting groups of Hindus and Muslims who had clashed over a razed mosque in southern India, wounding at least 25, police said. A group of Muslims had set municipal vehicles on fire and stoned houses of local politicians from the ruling Congress party after a mosque in the town of Tadipatri was demolished to make way for a new highway, said local police chief Stephan Ravindra. Hindu Congress supporters retaliated, throwing two small homemade bombs at the Muslim mob before police intervened by firing five shots in the air and charging the crowd with batons, Ravindra said. At least 25 people were injured, some of them in the clashes and some when police charged the rioters, he said. (Posted @ 21:18 PST)
Mild quake jolts Pakistan coastal area ISLAMABAD, Nov 16 (AFP) - An earthquake measuring magnitude 5.3 jolted the coastal region of southwestern Pakistan Thursday but there were no immediate reports of any casualties, officials said. Tremors were felt in the town of Turbat, in Baluchistan province, at 2:36 pm (0936 GMT), seismological department official Mohammad Akram said. Its epicentre was located about 370 kilometers (230 miles) south of Turbat in the Arabian Sea's Owen fracture zone, he said. A devastating 7.6-magnitude earthquake in northwestern Pakistan and Kashmir killed some 74,000 people and displaced 3.5 million in October last year. (Posted @ 20:10 PST)
Iran gave $120 mln to Hamas govt - Palestinian FM TEHRAN, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Iran has donated $120 million to the Palestinian Hamas-led government and has said it is ready to give more, Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar said on Thursday. (Posted @ 19:44 PST)
Pakistan and Russia agree to promote relations in various fields including defence ISLAMABAD, Nov 16 (APP): Pakistan and Russia Thursday agreed to further expand cooperation in various fields including trade, economic, oil and gas and defence. Foreign Ministers Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri and Sergey Lavrov talking to newsmen said they also discussed Pakistan-India relations, war against terror, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Middle East process, Iraq, Iran etc. Sergey Lavrov said they agreed to launch the mechanism to activate Pakistan-Russia Joint Governmental Commission to promote economic and trade relations. "We also welcome Russia's strong political and economic interest in Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline and are considering Russian participation in the project," Kasuri said. (Posted @ 18:54 PST)
France, Italy, Spain working on Mideast initiative: Chirac GERONA, Spain, Nov 16 (AFP) - France, Spain and Italy are working on a joint initiative for Middle East peace, French President Jacques Chirac speaking at a Franco-Spanish summit Thursday said. (Posted @ 17:34 PST)
France bans smoking in public from February PARIS, Nov 16 (AFP) - The French government on Thursday published a decree banning smoking in public places from February but giving bars, restaurants and nightclubs a reprieve till January 2008. In schools and colleges the ban will also cover playgrounds, gardens and other exterior spaces. (Posted @ 17:28 PST)
Cricket-Australia name five pace bowlers in first test squad SYDNEY, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Australia have included five pace bowlers and a specialist all-rounder in a 13-man squad for the first Ashes test against England at Brisbane on Nov. 23. Australia squad - Ricky Ponting (captain), Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Shane Warne, Stuart Clark, Glenn McGrath, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait (one to be omitted). (Posted @ 16:52 PST)
Russia wins women's volleyball title OSAKA, Japan, Nov 16 (AP) _ Russia defeated favourites Brazil Thursday to win the women's volleyball world championship. Russia won 15-25, 25-23, 25-18, 20-25, 15-13. (Posted @ 16:48 PST)
Bush seeks 'concrete steps' from North Korea SINGAPORE, Nov 16, 2006 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush urged North Korea on Thursday to take "a peaceful path" to ending the tense crisis over its nuclear weapons program and prove its good faith by taking concrete steps.In the keynote speech of a week-long trip to Asia, Bush also urged regional leaders to make it clear to Pyongyang that transferring nuclear know-how to other states or terrorist groups "will not be tolerated." (Posted @ 15:47 PST)
Four US soldiers killed in Iraq BAGHDAD, Nov 16 (AFP) Insurgents killed four more US soldiers in Iraq in a roadside bombing and small arms fire attacks, the military said Thursday.Two soldiers were killed on Wednesday and two more wounded when a roadside bomb struck their vehicle in Diyala province. A soldier was also killed in Diyala in a small arms fire attack Wednesday, while another was shot dead in Baghdad on Tuesday in a similar attack. (First Posted @ 12:30 PST, Updated@ 15;00 PST)
Blast in northern Sri Lanka kills civilian, injures six COLOMBO, Nov 16 (AP) A roadside blast in northern Sri Lankan town of Jaffna Thursday killed one civilian and injured six others, the military and a hospital worker said.(Posted @ 15:00 PST)
Saddam defence accuses court of obstructing appeal AMMAN, Nov 16 (AFP) Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's defence team has accused the court which sentenced him to death of "obstructing" their efforts to prepare his appeal after it failed to provide them with copies of the verdict."Our representative in Baghdad reported that the court has not yet provided him with copies of the verdict," issued on November 5, Saddam's lead Iraqi lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi said in a statement dated Wednesday.(Posted @ 14:10 PST)
Ahmadinejad says Iran ready for 'final nuclear step' TEHRAN, Nov 16 (AFP) President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday said Iran was ready to take the "final step" in its nuclear programme. "The enemies of the Iranian people must know that the Iranian people have taken their decision and will resist until the end," the Mehr agency quoted him as saying in a speech in Baneh in Kurdestan province. "In the nuclear case we are ready to take the final step and I hope that by the end of the year (Iranian year to March 2007) we will be able to hold the great celebration of Iran's nuclear right," he added.(Posted @ 14:00 PST)
North Korea must show will to abandon nuclear arms: U.S. HANOI, Nov 16 (Reuters) The United States on Thursday said it wants a clear sign North Korea will take concrete steps toward giving up giving up its nuclear weapons programmes as they prepare for the next round of talks on the issue."I do think that, after having set off a nuclear test, the North Koreans need to do something to demonstrate that they actually are committed to denuclearisation that goes beyond words," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said. Speaking to reporters at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Vietnam, Rice said there was deep skepticism among the group's 21 members that North Korea actually intended to abandon the pursuit of nuclear weapons. Asked if she would put off talks until North Korea would take certain steps to show its commitment to denuclearisation, Rice said: "I don't think it makes sense for us to have talks unless we think that it's going to be fruitful. It certainly doesn't make sense just to go back to talk." Rice made the remarks after having breakfast in Hanoi with more than a dozen foreign ministers attending the APEC meetings. (First Posted @ 09:10 PST, Updated@ 13:45 PST)
Palestinian rockets explode in southern Israel JERUSALEM, Nov 16 (AFP) Two rockets fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip exploded in southern Israel on Thursday, an army spokesman said.One of the rockets caused damage to a building in a kibbutz while the second projectile fell in open fields, army radio reported. No one was wounded.(Posted @ 12:25 PST)
Twelve killed in Baghdad BAGHDAD, Nov 16 (AFP) A series of morning attacks on Thursday in Baghdad killed at least 12 people, including nine bakers shot dead by gunmen who stormed their bakery in east Baghdad's Zayuniyah neighbourhood, security sources said. Two more employees of the bakery were wounded. In another attack, a car bomb went off near a court in Palestine Street, killing two civilians and wounding another five. A civilian was also killed when a bomb on a bicycle went off near a petrol station in Baghdad's Al-Amel neighbourhood. Nine people were wounded in that incident. (First Posted @ 11:00 PST, Updated@ 12:15 PST)
Palestinian activist killed by Israeli army in West Bank NABLUS, West Bank, Nov 16 (AFP) Israeli troops early Thursday killed a Palestinian activist belonging to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), in a refugee camp near Nablus in the north of the West Bank, Palestinian security officials said.(Posted @ 10:50 PST)
Six major powers fail to bread deadlock on proposed UN sanctions UNITED NATIONS, Nov 15 (AFP) Six major UN powers on Wednesday failed to break the deadlock in their bid to agree on a package of targeted sanctions against Iran over its refusal to suspend nuclear fuel work. "We did not make any progress today," US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton told reporters after envoys of the six powers wound up their sixth informal session in three weeks on a European draft resolution urging nuclear and ballistic missile-related sanctions against Iran. The meeting at France's UN mission in New York was attended by ambassadors from Germany and the UN Security Council's permanent members.(Posted @ 10:50 PST)
Over 20 hurt as turbulence hits Taiwan plane SEOUL, Nov 16 (Reuters) Over 20 people aboard a Taiwanese airliner were hurt when the plane descended quickly and hit turbulence just prior to landing at an airport on South Korea's Cheju Island Thursday, aviation officials said.(Posted @ 10:25 PST)
China coal mine accident death tolls rise to 81 BEIJING, Nov 16 (Reuters) All 34 coal miners trapped underground on Sunday in north China after explosives caught fire have been confirmed dead, state media said Thursday, bringing the death toll from two recent accidents to 81.The miners suffocated after more than four tons of illegally stored explosives caught fire, generating toxic gas, at the Nanshan Colliery in Shanxi province.(Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Turkish army suspends relations with France over Armenian question ANKARA, Nov 16 (AFP) The Turkish army has suspended its military relations with France in retaliation for a French parliamentary bill which would make it a crime to deny that the World War I massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turks constituted genocide, the army chief said late Wednesday. Turkey has warned that bilateral ties will suffer a great blow if France adopts the bill, which foresees one year in jail for anyone who denies that Armenians were the victims of genocide by Ottoman Turks between 1915-17. The bill was approved by the lower house of the French parliament last month but still needs the approval of the Senate and the president to take effect.(Posted @ 09:10 PST)
Kabila wins DRCongo poll KINSHASA, Nov 16 (AFP) The incumbent Joseph Kabila has won the presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Independent Electoral Commission said Wednesday, announcing provisional results.(Posted @ 09:05 PST)
Israel raids Gaza Strip after rocket death, two Palestinians wounded GAZA CITY, Nov 16 (AFP) Israeli warplanes carried out five raids on the Gaza Strip late Wednesday and early Thursday, Palestinian security officials said, adding that two Palestinians were wounded when the Israelis targeted a house in Shatti refugee camp in the north of the Gaza Strip.(Posted @ 09:00 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 38.66 points: KARACHI, Nov 16: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 10850.52 , up 38.66 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Nov 16: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.9 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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