|
|
| February 15, 2007 | Thursday | Muharram 26, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Bush exhorts NATO to provide more troops WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (AP) President George W. Bush on Thursday called on NATO nations to send additional troops to Afghanistan. “When our commanders on the ground say to our respective countries 'We need additional help,' our NATO countries must provide it,” Bush said in a speech at the American Enterprise Institute. “As well, allies must lift restrictions on the forces they do provide so NATO commanders have the flexibility they need to defeat the enemy wherever the enemy may make its stand.” Bush said that listening to his request is not only an obligation nations make as part of NATO, but is also crucial to their own security.(Posted @ 22:00 PST)
Law reform bill 2007 approved in NA ISLAMABAD, February 15 (Agencies): The National Assembly has approved the Law Reforms Bill with overwhelming majority here Thursday. Syed Zafar Ali Shah moved the amendments. Matters related to civil and criminal law, power of attorney, cattle theft and the procedure to settle the dispute through alternative means was approved. This act will be named as law reforms act-2007. As per bill a police officer if found involved in carrying out investigation dishonestly will be liable to be punished for 3 years imprisonment and penalty. The jail term has been enhanced from 3 years to 5 years for the police officers who will be found responsible for keeping any one in habeas corpus. The cattle lifters will be liable to punishment of 7 years imprisonment. Double cost of stolen cattle will be paid to the owner.(Posted @ 22:00 PST)
Cooperation vital to bring peace in region: Aziz ISLAMABAD, Feb 15 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday reiterated Pakistan's commitment towards peace and security in the region, calling for closer collaboration among regional countries. “We feel the world needs to get together...the challenges we face require cohesion, cooperation and closeness in what we do,” he told participants of the two-day roundtable conference. Aziz also spelt out a four-point strategy being pursued by Pakistan to promote peace and prosperity in the region. Aziz agreed with Prince Hasan bin Talal on the threats and “widescale destruction” that would occur if Iran's nuclear issue was not addressed.(Posted @ 21:55 PST)
Govt committed to holistic defence of country: PM ISLAMABAD, Feb 15 (APP) Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday said that the government is committed to a holistic defence of the country that can be achieved only through economic sovereignty, a smooth political process, good relations with neighbors, a friendly international environment and good governance. He was talking to Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Ehsan ul Haq here at the PM House. Matters pertaining to national security and overall defence came under discussion during the meeting.(Posted @ 21:50 PST)
Uplift of rural areas high on government agenda: PM Aziz ISLAMABAD, Feb 15 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday said that the uplift of rural areas in the country continues to be a major part of development efforts and steps were being taken to increase the income of the farming community. He said this while talking to a delegation from Thatta led by Syed Ejaz Ali Sherazi, Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh for Forest and Wildlife.The prime minister said the rural areas are receiving increased government attention for the construction of roads and the provision of electricity, gas, clean drinking water and other civic facilities. He said Thatta is an important district of Sindh and the government has provided substantial funds for development projects there.(Posted @ 21:50 PST)
Cricket-Pakistan recalls Salman Butt in World Cup reserves KARACHI, Feb 15 (Reuters) Pakistan named discarded opener Salman Butt on Thursday among five reserve players for next month's World Cup in the West Indies. The Pakistan Cricket Board said pacers Mohammad Sami and Shahid Nazir, allrounder Azhar Mahmood, wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider and Butt had been placed on the reserves list. PCB director operations, Saleem Altaf, added “Shoaib (Akhtar) is also returning from London on Friday. He will also have the dope tests the same day”.(Posted @ 21:45 PST)
Govt tells court 33 missing people traced ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Feb 15 (AP) Pakistan's government told the country's highest court Thursday that it had found 33 of 43 missing men whose families suspect they were held incognito by the country's intelligence agencies. Attorney General Mukhdoom Ali Khan told the court that authorities had traced 33 of the men and that they had either been freed or were still being held for suspected links with militants. The court adjourned the hearing until March 8 to enable Khan to come up with information on the remaining 10 people.(Posted @ 21:35 PST)
Chirac takes center stage at Africa-France summit CANNES, France, Feb 15 (AFP) France's President Jacques Chirac urged African leaders Thursday to strengthen democracy and the rule of law. “The stability of states depends above all on the democratic timetable and holding regular elections. Crises often take root during contested elections that tarnish the legitimacy of the newly-elected,” Chirac said at the opening of the Africa-France summit. Chirac also asserted that France would maintain high levels of aid to the continent, with two-thirds of all foreign assistance to be earmarked for Africa by 2012.(Posted @ 20:25 PST)
US commander lauds Pakistan aid against terrorism ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Feb 15 (AP) U.S. Central Command chief Gen. John Abizaid held a farewell meeting Thursday with President Gen. Pervez Musharraf here and hailed his forces' cooperation with the U.S. in its fight against terrorism, the Pakistani military said. Abizaid “expressed deep appreciation of the excellent cooperation between the armed forces of Pakistan and the United States in the fight against international terrorism,” a military statement said.(Posted @ 19:55 PST)
Italian PM Prodi wants close partnership with India NEW DELHI, Feb 15 (AFP) Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi called Thursday for a stronger partnership with India, praising an economy which is expanding at about nine percent. “Italy is looking at India with a deep, deep attention and friendship. I see fraternity also and the expectation is really to accompany the fantastic growth and the change of this country with a strong sense of unity,” he told reporters before heading off for talks with his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh.(Posted @ 19:25 PST)
Strike shuts down Kathmandu KATHMANDU, Feb 15 (AFP) An ethnic minority group demanding better representation staged a general strike Thursday closing down much of the Nepali capital. Schools and businesses were shut and traffic kept out of the usually congested centre of Kathmandu, reporters said. The strike was called by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities.(Posted @ 19:20 PST)
OIC mulls Muslim peacekeeping force KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 (AFP) The 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) said Thursday there was growing support within its ranks to form a Muslim peacekeeping force.“At the moment we do not have a mechanism (for a peacekeeping force) but I think there is a demand,” said OIC secretary general, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu. Lawmaker and parliamentary speaker from Burkina Faso, Toure Solimane, told AFP OIC peacekeepers would provide a better alternative to resolving conflicts in OIC member countries such as Iraq.(Posted @ 19:20 PST)
Egypt detains 72 opposition activists CAIRO, Feb 15 (AFP) Egyptian police arrested 72 members of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood in nationwide dawn raids on Thursday, a security source said. “They were arrested for belonging to an illegal organisation, and police found secret documents in their possession,” the source said. (Posted @ 15:35 PST)
Bangladesh bars corrupt politicians from polls DHAKA, Feb 15 (AFP) Bangladesh unveiled tough new emergency rules Thursday barring corrupt politicians from elections and confiscating their properties if they fail to come clean.“If any person is convicted of a case under these (emergency) rules or has appealed against his sentence, he will be disqualified to contest any elections including the parliamentary polls,” the home ministry said in a statement. The government also empowered magistrates to confiscate or freeze assets and properties of a corrupt person if they do not match his actual income, the ministry said, amending emergency power rules. (Posted @ 15:30 PST)
Explosive damages restaurant in Albania where opposition leader dined TIRANA, Albania, Feb 15 (AP) An explosive device damaged pizzeria Te Joni, a restaurant in the Albanian capital early Thursday, only minutes after the opposition Socialist Party leader Edi Rama and other parliamentarians had left, police said. (Posted @ 14:35 PST)
Pakistani air force jet crashes, pilot ejects safely, no injuries on ground ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Feb 15 (AP) A Pakistan air force jet crashed Thursday after hitting a bird as it approached an air base for landing, a military spokesman said. No one was hurt. The pilot of the Chinese-made F-7 fighter ejected safely before it crashed within the perimeter of the base in Karachi, Cmdr. Sarfaraz Ahmed Khan said. No injuries were reported on the ground. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Four U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq BAGHDAD, Feb 15 (Reuters) Four U.S. soldiers were killed by roadside explosions during combat operations in Iraq's Diyala province Wednesday, the U.S. military said. Three soldiers died when bombs exploded near their vehicles northeast of Baghdad. A fourth died later of his wounds in hospital. Two other soldiers were wounded in the attack, a U.S. military statement said Thursday. (Posted @ 13:30 PST)
Four killed in India Maoist violence RAIPUR, India, Feb 15 Reuter) - A policeman was killed defusing a bomb and Maoist guerrillas killed three members of a government-backed militia in overnight clashes in revolt-hit Chhattisgarh state, police said on Thursday. (Posted @ 12:25 PST)
Iraq suicide attack kills 11 RAMADI, Iraq, Feb 15 (AFP) A suicide car bomber attacked an Iraqi police station in the western city of Ramadi, killing 11 people including four police and wounding 21 others Wednesday, the US military said Thursday. Iraqi medical and security sources in the city said the police station was severely damaged in the blast. They said the local police chief was among those killed, but that was not confirmed in the US statement. (Posted @ 12:25 PST)
OIC lawmakers meet in Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 (AFP) - Lawmakers from member states of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) met Thursday to discuss a range of issues affecting Muslims worldwide, with a focus on Middle East flashpoints. OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu is expected to address the 170 delegates from 36 of the grouping's 57 nations at the opening session of the two-day meeting hosted by current OIC chair Malaysia. The protection of the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, Islam's third holiest shrine, and the conflict in Iraq were set to dominate discussions, according to a draft agenda obtained by AFP. The council was expected to issue a declaration at the end of the meeting on Friday. (Posted @ 12:10 PST)
Two dead as South Korean ship sinks TOKYO, Feb 15 (AFP) At least two crewmen from Myanmar were killed when a South Korean cargo ship sank in bad weather off the Japanese coast, officials said Thursday. Another crew member was in critical condition while six others were still missing. The Zenith Light, which had 11 crew on board, issued a distress signal Wednesday and later sank 23 kilometres off the coast, a Japan Coast Guard official said. (First Posted @ 09:05 PST, Updated @ 11:30 PST)
Ex-aide says Rice misled U.S. Congress on Iran WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (Reuters) A former aide accused Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Wednesday of misleading Congress on the issue. Flynt Leverett, who worked on the National Security Council when it was headed by Rice, said a proposal vetted by Tehran's most senior leaders was sent to the United States in May 2003 and was akin to the 1972 U.S. opening to China. Speaking at a conference on Capitol Hill, Leverett said he was confident it was seen by Rice and then-Secretary of State Colin Powell but “the administration rejected the overture.” Rice's spokesman denied she misled Congress and reiterated that she did not see the proposal. (Posted @ 11:00 PST)
Philippine Airlines aircraft overshoots runway; no injuries reported MANILA, Philippines, Feb 15 (AP) A Philippine Airlines aircraft, carrying 113 passengers and six crew members, overshot a runway while trying to land at the domestic provincial airport in Tacloban city, 580 kilometers southeast of Manila Thursday, but there were no injuries, the company's spokesman said. (Posted @ 10:55 PST)
Senators introduce bill to restrict use of cluster munitions WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (AFP) Democratic senators introduced legislation Wednesday that would bar US use of cluster bombs in or near civilian areas or that have a “dud rate” of one percent or greater. Human rights groups urged speedy action on the bill sponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein of California and Patrick Leahy of Vermont. The bill would restrict funding for the use, sale or transfer of cluster munitions unless their submunitions have a failure rate of less than one percent, or unless the president grants a waiver on national security grounds. (Posted @ 10:00 PST)
Clinton to Bush: no attack on Iran without Congress approval WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (AFP) US Senator Hillary Clinton warned President George W. Bush Wednesday against going to war against Iran without the approval of Congress. Clinton said in the Senate the Bush administration would be wrong to assume it could attack Iran based on the 2001 Congress resolution allowing force against those responsible for the September 11 attacks and a 2002 vote authorizing war against Iraq. While Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on the United States to be as “flexible” with Iran on its nuclear programme as it had been with North Korea, Russian news agencies reported Wednesday. (Posted @ 09:55 PST)
Truck loaded with passengers crashes in southern Philippines, killing nine COTABATO, Philippines, Feb 15 (AP) A truck loaded with people lost control while negotiating a curve along a southern Philippine road, killing nine passengers and injuring seven Thursday, an official said. The fatalities, including two children, were thrown off the 10-wheeler truck when it crashed along Quezon Avenue in Cotabato city, about 890 kilometers southeast of Manila, Mayor Muslimin Sema said. (Posted @ 09:35 PST)
Four killed by blast on fishing boat near Uruguay MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, Feb 15 (AP) An explosion on a fishing boat in Montevideo's port killed four people Wednesday, officials said, adding they were investigating the cause of the blast. (Posted @ 09:30 PST)
Top candidate in Russian regional election shot MAKHACHKALA, Russia, Feb 15 (Reuters) Eduard Khidirov, a top candidate in a Russian regional election was shot and wounded Wednesday as he was returning home after appearing on television in a live campaign broadcast, police said. (Posted @ 09:10 PST)
Series of quakes rock Indonesia JAKARTA, Feb 15 (AFP) A series of moderate earthquakes rocked Indonesia early Thursday, seismologists said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. A 5.5-magnitude quake, in the Nias region, hit at 3:46 am. It was centred 206 kilometres southwest of Sibolga, on Sumatra, at a depth of 30 km, the US Geological Survey said. Earlier, another 5.5-magnitude quake struck nearby at a depth of just 4.7 km. And a 5.2-magnitude quake struck off Indonesia's North Sumatra at 3:11 am, 115km southwest of Banda Aceh. (Posted @ 08:50 PST)
Japanese whaling ship on fire in Antarctic waters WELLINGTON, Feb 15 (AFP) One crewman was missing after fire erupted on a Japanese whaling ship in icy Antarctic waters Thursday. The Nisshin Maru sent out a distress call before dawn, saying most of the crew had abandoned ship, with a few staying on board to fight the fire. (Posted @ 08:40 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 13.01 points: KARACHI, Feb 15: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 11467.77, up 13.01 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:15 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Feb 15: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.75 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:15 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 |