|
|
| November 18, 2006 | Saturday | Shawwal 25, 1427 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
British Prime Minister Blair arrives ISLAMABAD, Nov 18 (APP): British Prime Tony Blair arrived in Islamabad on a two-day visit to Pakistan. He is visiting Pakistan for the third round of "Bilateral Summit Consultation" that had been agreed during President Musharraf's visit to London in December, 2004. A Development Partnership Agreement is expected to be signed during the British prime minister’s visit under which the UK would enhance its development assistance to Pakistan from 236 million pounds to 480 million pounds to be utilized in the next three years. (Posted @ 21:46 PST)
OIC vows to 'break blockade' on Palestinians JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Nov 18 (AFP) - Members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference vowed Saturday to "break the blockade" gripping the Palestinian economy since Hamas swept to power earlier this year. The OIC meeting, called for by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to discuss Israel's ongoing offensive in Gaza, "decided to break the blockade imposed on the Palestinian people", a statement said, without elaborating. The decision came after the Arab League on Sunday said it would "break" the blockade and start stepping up payments. Participants condemned Israel's November 8 shelling of Gaza homes in which 19 civilians died as "a war crime and a crime against humanity". The US veto last week of a UN Security Council Resolution condemning Israel's killing of civilians "calls into question the efficacy of the American role" in Middle East peace efforts, the statement said. An international Middle East peace conference should be held "with a view to a just and overall peace" founded on "international resolutions, the principle of land for peace and the Arab peace initiative" of 2002 offering Arab recognition of Israel in return for lands captured in 1967, it said. (Posted @ 20:46 PST)
Pakistan has genuine needs of expanding civilian nuclear programme: Shaukat Aziz ISLAMABAD, Nov 18 (PPI) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Saturday said that Pakistan has its genuine needs of expanding civilian nuclear programme to meet its growing energy needs and will take every step to meet these demands. Talking to newsmen he said Pakistan is in process to set up nuclear reactors to generate power with the help of its friends and will continue this process to meet its genuine demands. Earlier, addressing students and teachers of female educational institutions of Islamabad Shaukat Aziz said the government is committed to give the women their due rights and termed the passage of women’s rights bill as a defining moment for women of Pakistan. (Posted @ 19:20 PST)
Asia-Pacific summit opens in Vietnam HANOI, Nov 18 (AFP) The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) annual summit opened Saturday in Vietnam, drawing leaders from 21 member economies including the United States, China, Russia and Japan. US President George W. Bush and other Pacific Rim leaders at the two-day meet hosted by Hanoi were set to push global and regional free trade drives and tackle security concerns topped by the North Korean nuclear crisis. APEC'S other members are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. (Posted @ 12:20 PST)
Three killed, dozens wounded in Israeli arrest raid in West Bank NABLUS, West Bank, Nov 18 (AP) Israeli troops conducting an arrest raid in the northern West Bank opened fire at a crowd of Palestinians, killing three people and wounding more than 30 others, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials. Palestinian witnesses said larger numbers of troops were moving into Qalqiliya as the operation continued. Also, overnight, Israeli launched three air strikes in Gaza City, witnesses said early Saturday. (First Posted @ 09:30 PST, Updated @ 10:45 PST)
Musharraf for efforts to develop knowledge-based economy LAHORE, Nov 18 (APP)- President General Pervez Musharraf Saturday called for developing knowledge-based economy through promotion of quality science and technology education in the country. "Only natural resources are not enough to make progress; We have to develop our human resource base to make country economically stronger," he said at the ground breaking ceremony of University of Engineering, Science and Technology (UEST) being set up with the assistance of University of Technology Graz (Austria. About 100 acres of land worth Rs six billion has been provided by Pakistan Army's Lahore Corps at Defence Housing Authority free of cost for the university. The university will initially have six major technologies viz Chemical Engineering and Bio technology, Civil Engineering and GEO-Sciences, Electrical Engineering ,Industrial Engineering,Mechanical/Mechatronics Engineering. It will Open with an intake of 250 students in October 2008, and within ten years, it will gradually expand to its full capacity of about 6000 students, including some 400 PhD students. (Posted @ 20:32 PST)
Politics of resignation is undemocratic act: Shaukat Aziz ISLAMABAD, Nov 18 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Saturday said the passage of Women Protection Bill was in the national interest and those who are using it for political gains are misusing the trust and confidence of the people. Referring to the threat of resignations by MMA from the Assemblies, the Prime Minister told newsmen during an informal chat that the politics of resignation is disgrace to the respect and dignity of the vote, he added. (Posted @ 20:14 PST)
Afghanistan urges regional front against militants NEW DELHI, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai Saturday urged the nations of central and south Asia to forge a united front against militant groups which, he said, posed the greatest danger to to the region's future. Afghanistan's stability was critical to security and prosperity in a region which contained major energy reserves and the booming Indian economy, Karzai told the opening of a conference on rebuilding his shattered country. (Posted @ 19:38 PST)
Lahoud pledges "national government" for Lebanon BEIRUT, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Lebanon's president Emile Lahoud, an opponent of the ruling majority, said on Saturday the country would have a "national government" no matter what the cost. He said the situation was "delicate because what is happening violates the Taif agreement and the constitution". The Taif agreement ended Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war. "I promise you that Lebanon will witness the establishment of a national government no matter what the cost and if that does not happen the price will be high, especially for future generations," Lahoud said in a statement. (Posted @ 19:34 PST)
Would-be suicide bomber kills himself in Afghanistan KHOST, Afghanistan, Nov 18 (AFP) - A would-be suicide bomber killed himself after residents and police cornered him just outside the eastern city of Khost on Saturday, police and witnesses said. (Posted @ 19:26 PST)
Federer beats Nadal to reach Masters final SHANGHAI, Nov 18 (AFP) - Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal 6-4, 7-5 to reach the Masters Cup final on Saturday. (Posted @ 19:24 PST)
Romanian president to visit Pakistan ISLAMABAD, Nov 18 (APP): Hamid Yar Hiraj, Minister of State for Commerce, had detailed discussions here with Mr Bogdan Pascu, Deputy Prime Minister of Romania, who is currently on an official visit to Pakistan, on various aspects of investment and trade between the two countries. On this occasion Mr Pascu mentioned that Rumanian President is due to visit Pakistan during the first quarter of 2007, when the agreed cooperation fields would be identified for increasing bilateral economic and trade relationship. (Posted @ 19:02 PST)
Balochistan receives rain for the third consecutive day QUETTA, Nov 18 (APP): Most parts of Balochistan including the provincial capital received heavy rain for the third consecutive day on Saturday. According to Met office 16 mm rain has so far been recorded in Quetta during the last two days; in Zhob 46 mm, Kalat 12.2 mm, Sibi 1.2 mm, Turbat 9 mm, Panjgur 3.7 mm and Dalbandin 12 mm. Met office has forecast more rain in Quetta and adjoining areas during the next 24 hours. (Posted @ 18:50 PST)
Nearly 60 killed, scores missing in Afghanistan floods HERAT, Afghanistan, Nov 18 (AFP) - Nearly 60 people are dead and dozens still missing days after flash floods in western province of Badghis, health minister Mohammad Amin Fatemi said Saturday as NATO choppers delivered medicines and other aid. Fifty-six bodies had been recovered in the Murghab district and eight in neighbouring Ghormach, he said adding that flood waters had damaged nearly 3,500 houses and killed around 2,300 heads of livestock. (Posted @ 18:36 PST)
Two killed in Gaza after UN urges end to violence GAZA CITY, Nov 18 (AFP) - Two Palestinians were killed Saturday as Israel pressed on with air and ground offensives in the Gaza Strip, a day after the UN General Assembly urged an end to the violence. Said Hahjuj, 20, a member of the DFLP, was shot dead in Umm Nasser, a Bedouin village on Gaza's northernmost border, while Thaer al-Masry, 16, was later also shot dead in the same village. Three other Palestinians were wounded, two of them critically. (First Posted @ 14:00 PST Updated @ 18:34 PST)
Tsunami victims clash with police in India's Andaman islands PORT BLAIR, India, Nov 18 (AFP) - Thirty-four people, including 13 policemen, were hurt after victims of the 2004 Asian tsunami went on a rampage in India's Andaman islands to demand permanent shelters, officials said Saturday. The clashes erupted after 900 homeless victims trooped down to the island's administrative headquarters to demand state-built shelters. They torched furniture and government vehicles and attacked a local police station, an official spokesman said. (Posted @ 18:32 PST)
Russia warns against pushing NKorea, Iran 'into a corner' HANOI, Nov 18 (AFP) - Russia Saturday warned the international community against pushing Iran and North Korea "into a corner" amid ongoing efforts to halt their nuclear ambitions. "I think the world community must go very carefully -- firmly but carefully -- on resolving the problem of the Korean peninsula and resolving the Iranian nuclear problem," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. "Because if we can now find a mutually acceptable accord, then this allows us to strengthen the non-proliferation regime," he told reporters at the APEC summit. "But if we push this or that situation into a corner, then the threat of proliferation significantly heightens." (Posted @ 18:30 PST)
Two children, three police killed in India's Assam GUWAHATI, India, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Two children were killed by police gunshots and three officers died of injuries in hospital after a mob ransacked and set on fire a police station in India's restive Assam state on Saturday, police said. At least 20 other persons were injured in the clashes at Moirabari in the district of Nagaon, 120 km east of Guwahati, the state's main city. (Posted @ 17:54 PST)
Four killed, five injured in wagon-tractor trolley collision MULTAN, Nov 18 (APP) Four wagon passengers were killed and another five sustained injuries when the vehicle collided with a tractor-trolley on Shujabad-Lodhran road, some 6 km from Shujabad city late Friday night. (Posted @ 15:50 PST)
Pakistan, China to sign contract next week to upgrade KKH ISLAMABAD, Nov. 18 (APP): Pakistan and China are likely to sign formal contract for up-gradation and expansion of Karakuram Highway (KKH) during the forthcoming visit of President Hu Jintao. (Posted @ 15:45 PST)
At least one solider dies in shooting at Madagascar's main airport ANTANANARIVO, Nov 18 (AFP) At least one soldier died in an exchange of gunfire Saturday on a military base at Antananarivo airport where a general and soldiers have been holed up since Friday calling for the president to resign, witnesses said. General Randrianafidisoa on Friday withdraw onto the military base with around 100 soldiers, calling on "all soldiers" from the Malagasy army to join him to force the resignation of President Marc Ravalomanana, who is standing for reelection in polls on December 3. The general's candidacy for the presidential election was declared invalid in October by the top constitutional court. (Posted @ 15:35 PST)
Twelve feared dead in Papua plane crash JAKARTA, Nov 18 (AFP) All nine passengers and three crew members were feared dead after a plane crashed in the mountains of the remote Indonesian province of Papua, airline staff said Saturday. The flight lost contact seven minutes before it was scheduled to land in Ilaga, Friday), a Trigana Air Service employee in Jakarta said. (Posted @ 15:30 PST)
APEC leaders say 'urgent need' to break trade deadlock HANOI, Nov 18 (AFP) Asia Pacific leaders called Saturday for an immediate resumption of stalled talks on tearing down global trade barriers, saying there was an "urgent need" to break the deadlock. "Each of us is committed to moving beyond our current positions," they said in a statement at a regional summit in Hanoi. (Posted @ 15:25 PST)
Israeli minister wants Hamas leaders 'sent to paradise' JERUSALEM, Nov 18(AFP) A far-right Israeli cabinet minister called Saturday for Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniya and other militant leaders to be sent to "paradise." "One should not attack the refugee camps where people live in misery, but rather attack the leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad," the newly-appointed Minister of Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman told public radio. "All must disappear and go together to paradise." (Posted @ 15:20 PST)
Britain's Brown visits troops in Iraq BAGHDAD, Nov 18 (AFP) Britain's finance minister Gordon Brown arrived in the southern Iraqi city of Basra on Saturday to visit British troops and hold talks with local leaders, the military said. "He is here and will spend a day with the troops and some Iraqi officials in Basra," military spokesman Lieutenant Commander Mike Baker told AFP. (Posted @ 14:45 PST)
US expects APEC statement on North Korea HANOI, Nov 18 (AFP) The White House said Saturday that it expected leaders of 21 Asia-Pacific countries meeting in Vietnam to issue a statement that would help efforts to rein in North Korea's nuclear weapons programs. "There is a statement, I think it's pretty well agreed," said US national security adviser Stephen Hadley at a briefing on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. He said there were "a couple" of issues remaining dealing with form, not substance. (Posted @ 14:15 PST)
Rice tells North Korea, Myanmar to follow Vietnam's example HANOI, Nov 18 (AFP) US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Saturday urged North Korea and Myanmar to follow the example of Vietnam and overcome their "adversarial" attitude. "The United States continues to look to the day when cooperation is possible with Burma and with North Korea," Rice told a forum on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Hanoi. "If the leaders of Burma and North Korea would follow the example of Vietnam and the example of other adversaries throughout history who have overcome their adversarial history... it will open a new path of peace and opportunity," she said. (Posted @ 14:05 PST)
Sri Lanka sea battle, six killed after mine blast COLOMBO, Nov 18 (AFP) Sri Lanka's navy and Tamil Tiger rebels Saturday claimed they had sunk each others' craft in a sea battle off the northwestern coast as six people were killed in a mine blast elsewhere. Tiger rebels also set off a powerful landmine in the northern district of Vavuniya Saturday, killing three soldiers and wounding three more, local police officials said. They said three students were killed and another 12 wounded following the blast near an agricultural school and believed that they may have been hit when troops opened fire at those suspected of detonating the mine. (First Posted@ 09:10 PST, Updated @ 12:50 PST)
Five shot dead, one policeman wounded in Thai south YALA, Nov 18 (AFP) Five people were shot dead late Friday and one policeman was wounded early Saturday in separate drive-by shootings by suspected militants in southern Thailand, police said. (First Posted @ 12:20 PST Updated @ 18:30 PST)
US will not tolerate nuclear proliferation by North Korea: Bush WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (AFP) US President George W. Bush warned Saturday that the United States and its allies will not tolerate transfers of nuclear technology by North Korea to hostile regimes and terrorist groups. In his weekly radio address, Bush said he indented to continue to cooperate on the North Korean nuclear issue with his counterparts in China, Russia, South Korea and Japan. "Our nations are speaking with one voice: North Korea must abandon its nuclear weapons programs, and we will not tolerate North Korea's proliferation of nuclear technology to hostile regimes and terrorist networks," the president said. He also underscored cooperation against terror groups, and the importance of trade. "America will remain engaged in Asia because our interests depend on the expansion of freedom and opportunity in this vital part of the world. Asia is important to America because prosperity in our country depends on trade with Asia's growing economies," said the president. (Posted @ 11:30 PST)
NATO chief calls for removal of troop restrictions in Afghanistan QUEBEC, Nov 18 (AP) NATO's chief on Friday urged lawmakers of alliance nations to lean on their governments to remove restrictions on troops operating in Afghanistan. Addressing the closing of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Quebec City, Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said that so-called national caveats - limitations put on the missions soldiers can undertake- are understandable, but ultimately divisive. There is a growing rift in the military alliance as Canadian, American, British and Dutch forces in southern Afghanistan bear the brunt of heavy fighting against Taliban insurgents. The French, German and Italian forces patrol relatively quiet sectors in the north, under self-imposed limitations that keep them out of combat operations. (Posted @ 11:25 PST)
Cheney rejects US 'retreat' from Iraq WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (AFP) Vice President Dick Cheney insisted Friday that US forces would not "retreat" from Iraq, despite strong pressure from Congress to set a timetable for withdrawal from the country. In a speech late Friday to a powerful conservative lawyers' association, Cheney said a retreat would encourage terrorist violence. "Some in our country may believe in good faith that retreating from Iraq would make America safer. Recent experience teaches the opposite lesson," he said. (Posted @ 09:30 PST)
UN urges Israelis, Palestinians to end all acts of violence UNITED NATIONS, Nov 18 (AFP) The UN General Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly passed a resolution urging an "immediate" end to all acts of violence by Israelis and Palestinians, including the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip and rocket firing into Israel. Some 156 countries, including the 25-member European Union, voted in favour of the Arab-sponsored resolution, while seven, including the United States, Israel and Australia, voted against and six, including Canada, abstained. The text also asks the UN secretary general to set up a fact-finding mission to probe the Israeli shelling of the Gaza town of Beit Hanun which killed 19 Palestinians, mainly children and women, last week. (Posted @ 09:15 PST)
North Korea in spotlight at China-Japan talks HANOI, Nov 18 (AFP) Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed Saturday to step up efforts to improve relations at talks here that also took in North Korea's nuclear drive. "China-Japan relations are moving to an important phase. It is important for the leaders of the two countries to lead our development to a right direction," Hu told Abe. "I want to make further efforts to enhance Japan-China ties to strategic, reciprocal relations," Abe said. The one-to-one was on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Hanoi. The leaders also discussed the crisis triggered by Pyongyang's October 9 nuclear test and efforts to restart stalled six-nation disarmament talks. "Everybody thinks that we should achieve the resumption of six-party talks through joint efforts," Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said after the meeting. (Posted @ 09:10 PST)
Founder: Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah
Editor: Abbas Nasir
The DAWN Group of Newspapers
Haroon House, Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road, Karachi 74200, Pakistan.
Phone:+92 (21) 111-444-777 Fax: +92 (21) 569-3995
webmaster@dawn.com
Make sure to reload these pages so you're viewing the current version.
|
|
|
Contributions |