|
| May 29, 2007 | Tuesday |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Imam-e-Kaaba arrives LAHORE, May 29, Imam of Kaaba Al-Shaikh Dr Abdur Rehman Al-Sudais arrived in Lahore on a three-day state visit to Pakistan on Tuesday evening. He was accorded a warm welcome at the Lahore Airport. President PML Ch Shujaat Hussain, Punjab Chief Minister Ch Pervaiz Elahi, senior officials, eminent ulema and elite of the town greeted him at the Airport from where he was taken to State Guest House. (Posted @ 22:26 PST)
Govt asks SC to take note of proceedings of Saturday Seminar ISLAMABAD, May 29 (PPI) Pakistan’s Interior Ministry in a letter requested Registrar Supreme Court to bring before the Acting Chief Justice the violation of the instructions of the apex court during proceedings of the seminar held on Saturday last. In his weekly news briefing Tuesday, Interior Ministry secretary Javed Iqbal Cheema said the court had permitted the seminar on the condition that the occasion will not be used for political purposes and character assassination. However, both conditions were violated by some speakers of the seminar who made derogatory speeches against the state institutions and even against former judges of the superior judiciary. He said the registrar has been requested to place the matter before the Acting Chief Justice and hoped that the court will take cognizance of it. (Posted @ 22:18 PST)
Bangladesh detains more political and business leaders DHAKA, May 29 (Reuters) - Bangladesh detained more political and business leaders early on Tuesday as part of a crackdown on corruption ahead of long-delayed elections, officials said. They included retired air vice-marshal Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, a former home minister in the government of ex-prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and Sheikh Selim, a relative of Khaleda's rival, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and once a minister in her government. Also detained in the latest hunt was Abdul Awal Mintoo, a leading businessman and former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Altaf Hossain and two other former ministers were sent to jail on Tuesday. Awami League and Khaleda's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said about half a dozen other politicians, including two city mayors, were also picked up on Tuesday. (Posted @ 22:12 PST)
Baghdad: 41 killed, 109 injured in two bomb blast incidents Baghdad, May 29 (Reuters) - At least 41 people were killed and 109 injured in two major bomb blast incidents in Baghdad on Tuesday. At least 23 people were killed and 68 others wounded when a powerful bomb in a parked bus exploded in central Baghdad, police said. Another 18 people were killed and 41 wounded when a car bomb exploded in a busy market of a mainly Shi'ite neighbourhood in southwestern Baghdad, police added. Meanwhile, the bodies of 21 people were found shot dead in two different districts of Baquba, 65 km north of Baghdad, police said. Police also retrieved the bodies of five men, two of whom were decapitated, from the Tigris river in the town of Suwayra, 40 km south of Baghdad. Separately, gunmen killed Mahmoud Hakim Mustafa, the editor-in-chief of Hawadith weekly newspaper, on Monday near his home in Kirkuk, police said. (Posted @ 22:10 PST)
Four people killed in Pakistan militant clash QUETTA, Pakistan, May 29 (Reuters) - Four people were killed and seven wounded on Tuesday in a gunfight between Pakistani security forces and militants in Dera Allahyar district in the province of Baluchistan, police said. The gunfight broke out when security forces acting on a tip-off raided a militant hideout, said police officer Sohail Sheikh. “They opened fire on security forces in an attempt to flee and unfortunately two civilians were killed,” he said. Two militants were also killed. Three militants and four passersby were wounded, Sheikh said. (Posted @ 22:06 PST)
Two more U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq - military BAGHDAD, May 29 (Reuters) - Another two U.S. soldiers have been killed in Iraq, the U.S. military said on Tuesday, bringing to 114 the number killed in May . Eight soldiers had earlier been reported to have been killed on Monday, following a helicopter crash from ground fire and ambush of the rescue team. That brings the US army casualties to 10 during the last 24 hours. (Posted @ 22:04 PST)
Five Britons kidnapped in Baghdad, UK says LONDON, May 29 (Reuters) - Britain confirmed on Tuesday that five British nationals had been kidnapped in the Iraqi capital. “I can confirm that a group of five British nationals were abducted this morning in an incident at the Finance Ministry in central Baghdad,” a Foreign Office spokesman told Reuters. “At this stage we can't confirm any personal details,” he added, declining to comment on reports that several of the Britons were security contractors. (Posted @ 22:00 PST)
Car bomb kills one, wounds eight near Peshawar high court PESHAWAR, Pakistan, May 29 (AFP) - A man was killed and eight people wounded Tuesday when a car bomb exploded outside the gates of the Peshawar high court, sparking a protest by hundreds of angry lawyers, officials said. The car, a small Suzuki, was parked in a bay opposite the court building. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the blast, but lawyers at Peshawar High Court said it was an attempt to sabotage a movement opposing the suspension of chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. “ It was a car bomb, we have started investigations,” senior police officer Iftikhar Khan said. Eight men and a six-year-old boy were wounded, two critically, in the explosion, medics said. Police said one of the critically wounded men, who worked at the court, died later in the hospital. Bomb disposal squad chief Hukam Khan said the bomb contained three kilograms (6.6 pounds) of “high quality explosives” and was placed on the front seat of the car. “Our initial assessment is that it was a time-bomb,” he said. NWFP information minister Asif Iqbal Daudzai said the bombing was part of a “conspiracy to destabilise” the provincial government, which is led by an alliance of hardline Islamic parties. About 250 black-suited lawyers chanting anti-government slogans later staged a protest outside the court, where they blocked traffic and staged a sit-in on the main road. “This bomb blast is designed to intimidate the lawyers,” said Latif Afridi, president of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association. He said the authorities had failed to increase security despite the fact that last week an anonymous telephone caller had claimed that two suicide bombers dressed as lawyers had entered the court. Police found nothing at the time. (Posted @ 20:36 PST)
Indian soldier killed in occupied Kashmir clash SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, May 29 (AFP) - Suspected militants Tuesday shot dead an Indian soldier during a clash in the region of Machil, 180 kilometres north of Srinagar. The trooper died when soldiers intercepted a group of militants who escaped after the shootout, a police spokesman said. (Posted @ 20:34 PST)
Sindh Assembly not allowed to discuss Karachi killings, session prorogued amid uproar Karachi, May 29 (PPI): The Sindh Assembly session, requisitioned by the opposition to discuss the issue of May 12 carnage in Karachi was prorogued on Tuesday after commotion in the house and exchange of hot words between opposition and treasury benches. Chaos marred the proceedings soon after its start with the recitation of Holy Quran at 10:30am. and was prorogue at about 10:58am. amid uproar and noisy scenes. (Posted @ 20:24 PST)
Need stressed to build capacity of judges on social issues Karachi, May 29 (PPI): Justice Saleem Akhtar, Director General, Sindh Judicial Academy, and former judge of Supreme Court, has underlined the need to build the capacity of judges to enhance their knowledge on social issues like violence against women and children. “It needs to improve the process of access to justice in the country for the weak segments of society considering it their human rights,” he said while speaking at a Capacity Building Workshop for members of Judiciary and Jail officials. Lawyers for Human Rights & Legal Aid (LHRLA team consisting of Zia Ahmed Awan , Musarat Perveen, and Bushra Syed gave detailed presentations on the issues of violence against women and children, their trafficking and impediments in access to justice. Zia Awan revealed that as many as 50,427 women were subjected to violence across the country during last seven years while 27,030 children were victimized during the same period. Zia Awan said the victims of domestic violence have virtually no access to judicial protection because the officials at all the levels do not consider it a matter for the criminal courts. Justice Tipu Sultan and Justice Fahim also spoke. About 21 judges from all districts of Karachi and superintendents of women and juvenile jails attended the workshop. (Posted @ 20:22 PST)
Seventeen persons killed in Rajasthan in police firing NEW DELHI, May 29 (APP): Seventeen persons were killed and several injured when police opened fire in Rajasthan's Dausa, Karauli and Bundi districts on thousand of protestors of the Gurjar community demanding Scheduled Tribe status in respect of jobs etc.. On the call of the Gurjar Action Committee, the protestors blocked traffic along parts of Jaipur-Agra, Jaipur-Ajmer-Jodhpur and Jaipur-Bundi-Sawai Madhopur highways. Media reports quoting senior police officials said four persons were killed in Bundi district while three bodies were found from the Jaipur-Agra national highway area at Peelplikheda village, about 165 km from Jaipur, in Dausa, and in neighbouring Karauli. Two policemen were also missing in Dausa. Three bodies were found in Gangapur city, Bayana and Mahua in Dausa and neighbouring Karauli districts and four bodies in Bundi have been sent for postmortem. In a bid to control the situation, six columns of the Army were rushed from Jaipur to march on the National Highway near Dausa, State Home Secretary V S Singh said. Army was also alerted in other areas. The protestors pelted stones on the police, dug up roads and damaged national highway, reports said. (Posted @ 20:20 PST)
President Assad tops 97 percent in Syria vote DAMASCUS, May 29 (APP/AFP) - Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has won a second seven-year mandate after netting 97 percent of the vote in a referendum boycotted by the opposition, officials announced on Tuesday. (Posted @ 20:18 PST)
PM Aziz to hear public grievances on Wednesday ISLAMABAD, May 29 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will receive direct telephone calls on Wednesday from the general public regarding their grievances to provide them relief at the earliest. A phone 111-144-145 has been installed at the Prime Minister's Secretariat and he will receive the calls at 11:30 am. (Posted @ 20:14 PST)
Counsel of Justice Iftikhar concludes arguments on maintainability of petition ISLAMABAD, May 29 (APP): The counsel of Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry Tuesday completed his arguments before a 13-member bench of the Supreme Court on the question of maintainability of the judge's petition challenging composition and powers of the Supreme Judicial Council. The counsel, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, took four days to complete his arguments. The full court headed by Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday will reassemble on Wednesday. Lawyer Ahsan said the petition of his client was maintainable even in the presence of Article 211 and 248 of the constitution. He contended that the President could be impleaded in person even in the presence of Article 211 and 248 of the constitution. He said Supreme Court is the only forum for remedy which has powers of judicial review (jurisdiction) for this petition. Citing judgements of the Supreme Court in cases of Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Mian Nawaz Sharif and many others in the past, Aitzaz Ahsan said that the apex court had exercised its powers of judicial review even in petitions in which presidents were made respondent in person. Justice Faqir Mohammad Khokar observed that there was a lot of difference between dissolution of assembly and sending a reference to the Supreme Judicial Council. “These are two different things.” Here the reference was prepared by the Federal Government and the President forwarded the same under Article 209 of the Constitution under the advice of the Federal Government, Justice Khokhar said. Ch.Aitzaz Ahsan contended that in the present case the President did not confine himself to act as a post office. He alleged that the President had called the petitioner and asked him to resign. Therefore there was involvement of the Referring Authority who could be impleaded in order to respond himself to various questions raised in the petition, he argued. As per decision of the full court, Fakhar-ud-Din G.Ibrahim will start his arguments from Wednesday on the issue of maintainability of the petition. Counsels of the Supreme Court Bar Association and Pakistan Bar Council, Rashid A.Rizvi and Hamid Khan respectively, will start their arguments on Thursday. Barrister Zafarullah and Shoaib Shaheen will argue on Friday. Mujeeb Pirzada will start his arguments on Monday. Posing a question to Ch.Aitzaz Ahsan, Justice Khokar said, “Here, we are not concerned about the protection of action of the President under Article 248 (1) of the constitution. We are concerned with whether the President can be impleaded or not.” Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday asked Sharifuddin Pirzada and Malik Mohammad Qayyum, counsels of the Referring Authority and the Federation respectively, regarding use of right of reply. They said, “Yes we have serious grievance over the issue of impleading the President and we will use right of reply after the completion of arguments by the counsels of the petitioners.” Both the counsels have already given their stance that under Article 211 and 248 of the Constitution the President cannot be impleaded in person due to the immunity available in these Articles. Ch. Aitzaz Ahsan informed the full court during the proceedings that an affidavit of his client concerning the events from March 9 to 13 had been submitted to the office of the court. (Posted @ 20:10 PST)
SHC transfers petition pertaining to May 12 incidents before full bench KARACHI, May 29 (APP)- A division bench of High Court of Sind comprising Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Gulzar Ahmed Tuesday transferred a petition pertaining to May 12 incidents in Karachi before a full bench of SHC. The petitioner, Iqbal Kazmi sought the court's directives for removal of the official concerned from their respective offices on their failure to ensure security and peace in city on May 12. An identical petition about May 12, incidents was already being heard by a full bench of SHC. The suo moto proceeding was initiated by Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed by converting a report about May 12 incidents into constitution petition moved by Incharge Registrar of SHC at a full court meeting of the judges here on May 22. The bench has transferred the petition of Iqbal Kazmi before the full bench. (Posted @ 19:38 PST)
Miss Japan crowned Miss Universe 2007 MEXICO CITY, May 29 (AP) - Riyo Mori, a 20-year-old dancer from Japan who hopes to someday open an international dance school, was crowned Miss Universe 2007 Monday night. Miss USA Rachel Smith, who slipped and fell to the floor during the evening gown competition and was jeered by the Mexican audience during the interview phase, was the contest's fourth runner-up. Mori nervously grabbed the hands of first runner-up, Natalia Guimaraes of Brazil, just before the winner was announced. She was trembling in awe as the diamond-and pearl-studded crown was placed on her head. Also finishing in the top five were second runner-up Ly Jonaitis of Venezuela and third runner-up Honey Lee of Korea. The winner travels the world for a year on behalf of charities and pageant sponsors. Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza of Puerto Rico crowned her successor at the end of the two-hour telecast with the headpiece valued at US$250,000 (euro186,000). (Posted @ 19:24 PST)
Pakistani minister says political crisis won't hinder foreign investment KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 29 (AP) - Pakistan's political crisis may be making a lot of “noise” in international circles, but it has not hurt foreign investment, Zahid Hamid, Pakistan's Minister of Privatization and Investment, told reporters during a visit to Malaysia on Tuesday. “We continue to retain the interest of foreign investors. The momentum that we have gained will continue into the future.” Central bank data earlier this month showed foreign investment into Pakistan totaled US$5.3 billion (euro3.9 billion) between July 2006 and April 2007, the first 10 months of the current financial year ending June 30. That was a 56 percent increase from foreign investments of US$3.4 billion (euro2.6 billion) in the same period of the previous financial year. Hamid insisted that Pakistan's steady growth, which averaged 7.5 percent the past three years, and consistent financial policies should ensure that foreign investors are not scared away by the crisis. “They call it political noise that is taking place, but that political noise is not considered, at least in the opinion of the financial experts, to have a direct bearing on future economic outlook,” Hamid said. “We're attracting broad-based investment in all sectors.” Pakistan's big lure has been the financial business sector following its successful privatization, Hamid said. “Five years ago, 80 to 85 percent of banks were in the public sector, and now the reverse is the case,” Hamid said, adding that Pakistan's banking industry has been growing by between 25 percent and 30 percent annually. The telecommunications industry is also thriving, with more than 1.5 million new mobile phone subscribers each month, he said. Hamid also voiced confidence that there will be “competitive bidding” for the state's plans to sell 51 percent of its remaining stake in Pakistan State Oil Ltd. Bidding will be held in June, Hamid said, noting the sale has drawn interest from British Petroleum PLC, Malaysia's government-owned Petronas and Switzerland's Vitol S.A. (Posted @ 19:16 PST)
9 villagers and 2 police officers killed in clashes in India JAIPUR, India, May 29 (AP) - Clashes between police and stone-throwing villagers who blocked highways in northwestern India on Tuesday left at least 11 people dead, officials said. Nearly 20,000 villagers blocked the roads to press officials to classify them as being on the lowest rung of India's complex social ladder so they could get government jobs reserved for such groups, said Madhukar Gupta, an administrator in Jaipur district. Villagers surrounded police who tried to break up the protest. Police opened fire, killing nine people, Gupta said. Two police died in the ensuing melee. Five villagers and one police officer died in clashes in two villages in Rajasthan state. The violence later spread to another village 180 kilometers northwest of Jaipur, where four people and one police officer were killed. State authorities have rushed the army and police reinforcements to prevent further violence in the area. (Posted @ 19:12 PST)
Lawyer for Pakistan's suspended chief justice accuses president of 'personal malice' ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, May 29 (AP) - President Gen. Pervez Musharraf holds “personal malice” against Pakistan's suspended chief justice and wanted him removed from office, a lawyer for the judge told the Supreme Court Tuesday. Lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan alleged that President Musharraf wanted to “humble, humiliate and subjugate” Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry The president's prime concern is not properly investigating the charges that led to Chaudhry's March 9 suspension, “but just to remove the chief justice from his office,” Ahsan said at the latest hearing on a petition challenging the ouster. “This is the personal malice I'm alleging,” Ahsan told the court. “The malice is of the president.” He said he would provide evidence of malice later in his arguments. Ahsan filed a written affidavit in which Chaudhry described a March 9 meeting in which he said Musharraf and the bosses of his intelligence services pressured him to resign. But Chaudhry was quoted as saying he rejected Musharraf's offers of another job and told him: “I wouldn't resign ... I am innocent.” “This ignited the fury” of Musharraf, said the affidavit, a copy of which was made available to The Associated Press. “He stood up angrily and left the room.” Chaudhry said he was detained for more than five hours at Musharraf's office and was allowed to go home after an acting chief justice was sworn in. While leaving, Chaudhry said the Military Intelligence head told him: “This is a bad day, now you are taking a separate way.” The intelligence official was not identified by name. Chaudhry said he believes his official residence in Islamabad has been “bugged” and that intelligence agents “keep an eye on those who come and visit me.” In his arguments, Ahsan claimed that the president has “grilled” Chaudhry rather than just conveying the allegations against him from the government to the Supreme Judicial Council _ a separate panel of top judges assigned to examine the charges. “If the president had acted constitutionally, he should have been a post office,” Ahsan said. (Posted @ 19:06 PST)
At least 22 killed, 55 injured in central Baghdad blast-police BAGHDAD, May 29 (Reuters) - At least 22 people were killed and 55 others wounded in a bomb explosion in a parked bus in central Baghdad on Tuesday, police said. The blast was near a major intersection in Tayaran Square, a busy commercial area usually filled with markets. Many day labourers, mostly poor Shi'ites, also often wait in the area for work. (Posted @ 18:40 PST)
End attacks on us, say Indian Christians NEW DELHI, May 29 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Indian Christians, some shouting “hallelujah”, held a noisy but peaceful protest in New Delhi on Tuesday, demanding the federal government stop hardline Hindu groups from attacking them. Christian groups have reported dozens of attacks on priests and institutions over the past year by right-wing groups, said to be linked to the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP. “This season of attacks on Christians must come to an end,” Joseph D'Souza, president of the All India Christian Council, said at the demonstration. “Come to your senses, prime minister,” shouted protesters, some holding placards which read: “We are less than 2.5 percent of the population, why target us?” (Posted @ 18:36 PST)
Pakistani lawyer accuses Musharraf of judge malice ISLAMABAD, May 29 (Reuters) - A lawyer for Pakistan's suspended chief judge Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry said on Tuesday President Pervez Musharraf acted out of malice when he confronted the judge nearly three months ago and tried to persuade him to resign. Lawyers for Chaudhry summed up their argument on Tuesday and for the first time released details of what happened to Chaudhry when Musharraf tried to persuade him to resign on March 9. Chaudhry's lawyer, Aitzaz Ahsan, told the court Musharraf was motivated by personal malice when he summoned Chaudhry and grilled him at the army chief's headquarters. “The president has no authority to call the chief justice and grill him ... It was his personal malice against the chief justice,” Ahsan said. In an affidavit presented to the court, Chaudhry said Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the heads of three security agencies had confronted him. Musharraf and two of the security chiefs had insisted that he resign. Chaudhry said he was kept against his will for hours but he denied wrongdoing and refused to resign. (Posted @ 18:34 PST)
Eight US soldiers die in Iraq 'copter crash, ambush BAGHDAD, May 29 (Reuters) - Two U.S. military personnel were killed when their helicopter came down under enemy fire north of Baghdad and six more died when a column of vehicles heading to the crash site was ambushed on Monday, the U.S. military said on Tuesday. The helicopter came down in Diyala province “There was ground fire involved but we don't know how the helicopter went down,” a spokesman said. He said a quick reaction force had been dispatched to secure the crash site. Six soldiers were killed when their vehicles were hit by roadside bombs. Militants have employed similar tactics in the past -- shooting down a helicopter and then ambushing the rescue force. (Posted @ 18:24 PST)
Seventeen die in bus-van collision in Karnataka ISLAMABAD, May 29 (APP) - Seventeen persons were killed and fourteen injured in a collision between a private bus and a van carrying a marriage party at Mullu Rothela in Urfi district of Karnataka on Tuesday. Police said the seventeen people died on the spot, AIR reported. (Posted @ 17:18 PST)
PM Aziz for close coordination between fiscal, monetary, exchange rate policies to sustain economic growth momentum Islamabad, May 29 (PPI): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Tuesday stressed need for close coordination between fiscal, monetary and exchange rate policies in order to sustain momentum of economic growth in the country. Addressing members of the Monetary & Fiscal Policies Coordination Board in Islamabad, he said wide-ranging structural reforms, fiscal discipline consistencies and continuity in policies have contributed to marked improvement in productivity. He said the economy has grown by 7.02 percent during current fiscal year as against 6.61 percent in previous year, and per capita income has crossed US$900 reaching $925 in current fiscal as against $833 last year. He hoped to achieve 23.52 million tons wheat production in the country this year which was highest ever in the history of the country. (Posted @ 17:12 PST)
Sri Lankan capital on alert after bomb blasts kill 11 COLOMBO, May 29 (AFP) - Troops and police stepped up security in the Sri Lankan capital on Tuesday after two bomb blasts by suspected Tamil Tiger rebels in the past 24 hours killed 11 people, officials said. A blast Monday evening at the edge of the capital claimed at least eight lives, caused huge traffic jams in the morning. Another 38 people, including six police commandos, were still in hospital after surviving the bomb targeting a police vehicle. Just before the search got underway Tuesday, another blast in the island's north killed three people. (Posted @ 16:44 PST)
Bomb kills nine Nepalis KATHMANDU, May 29 (AFP) - A bomb exploded on Tuesday killing nine a family of five and four guests inside a house in the remote village of Gothadi in Palpa district, 160 kilometres from Kathmandu, officials said. “We don't know how the bomb went off inside the house. It might have been left behind by the Maoists during the insurgency,” they said. (Posted @ 16:38 PST)
Car bomb wounds nine near Peshawar high court PESHAWAR, Pakistan, May 29 (AFP) - A car bomb exploded outside the gates of Peshawar High Court Tuesday, wounding nine people, two critically, and sparking a protest by hundreds of angry lawyers . “ It was a car bomb, we have started investigations,” senior police officer Iftikhar Khan said. Bomb disposal squad chief Hukam Khan said the bomb contained three kilograms (6.6 pounds) of “high quality explosives” and was placed on the front seat of the car. “Our initial assessment is that it was a time-bomb,” he said. NWFP information minister Asif Iqbal Daudzai said the bombing was part of a “conspiracy to destabilise” the provincial government, which is led by an alliance of hardline Islamic parties. About 250 black-suited lawyers chanting anti-government slogans later staged a protest outside the court, where they blocked traffic and staged a sit-in on the main road. “This bomb blast is designed to intimidate the lawyers,” said Latif Afridi, president of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association. “But their morale is high and such tactics cannot scare them.” He said the authorities had failed to increase security despite the fact that last week an anonymous telephone caller had claimed that two suicide bombers dressed as lawyers had entered the court. Police found nothing at the time. (First Posted @ 11:23 PST Updated @ 16:32 PST)
Four Germans kidnapped in Baghdad BAGHDAD, May 29 (AFP) - Four Germans, an economist and his three bodyguards, working for the Iraqi finance ministry were kidnapped at gunpoint in Baghdad on Tuesday by men wearing national police uniforms, a security official said. (Posted @ 16:13 PST)
Yar'Adua sworn in as Nigeria's president ABUJA, May 29 (AFP) - Umaru Yar'Adua was sworn in Tuesday as Nigeria's president, succeeding Olusegun Obasanjo who stepped down after eight years in office. (Posted @ 16:12 PST)
Suicide car bomb kills at least 12 in Baghdad BAGHDAD, May 29 (AFP) - A suicide car bomb exploded in a busy Baghdad square near a police patrol on Tuesday, killing at least 12 people, according to security and defence officials. Baghdad's nearby al-Kindi hospital reported receiving 12 dead from the blast, including a woman, and 33 wounded. The bomber was targeting a passing police patrol and killed at least one officer and wounded two others in the crowded Tayaran Square. (Posted @ 16:11 PST)
Strong quake hits northeast Indonesia JAKARTA, May 29 (AFP) - A strong 6.1-magnitude undersea quake struck at 6:36 pm (0936 GMT) just 40 kilometres southeast of Labuha town on Bacan island in North Maluku province off northeast Indonesia Tuesday but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency here said. (Posted @ 16:10 PST)
Ex editor of Dawn Tahir Mirza dies KARACHI, May 29: Mr. Tahir Mirza, a former editor of daily ‘Dawn’ died in Karachi Tuesday afternoon after protracted illness. He was about 61. His body will be flown to Lahore where burial will take place on Wednesday upon the arrival of his daughter from abroad. Mr. Tahir Mirza was born in November 1936 and was graduated from the University of Lucknow. He started his journalistic career as a Reporter with English daily of Dhaka, came over to Lahore in the early sixties and worked for the Civil and Military Gazette and later with the Pakistan Times. He was also associated with the daily Khaleej Times of Dubai for several years before returning to Lahore in 1994 to serve as the Resident Editor of daily ‘Dawn’ there. Mr. Mirza was also the Dawn special representative at Washington from July 2000 until he returned to Karachi to serve as the assistant editor of daily ‘Dawn’ in August 2002. He served as Editor Dawn from September 2003 to June 2006 when he resigned on account of failing health. (Posted @ 16:08 PST)
Ex editor of Dawn Tahir Mirza dies KARACHI, May 29: Mr Tahir Mirza, a former editor of daily ‘Dawn’ died in Karachi Tuesday afternoon after protracted illness. He was about 61. His body will be flown to Lahore where burial will take place on Wednesday. (Posted @ 15:04 PST)
Soldier killed in fighting at besieged Lebanon camp NAHR AL-BARED, Lebanon, May 29 (AFP) A soldier was killed in sporadic fighting in Lebanon Tuesday on the ninth day of a deadly showdown between the army and the Fatah al-Islam activists. The soldier was killed outside the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared in northern Lebanon. (Posted @ 14:46 PST)
Three Kurdish rebels killed in clash in eastern Turkey ANKARA, Turkey, May 29 (Reuters) Turkish troops killed three separatist Kurdish rebels in a clash in eastern Turkey’s Van province late Monday, officials said Tuesday. (Posted @ 12:51 PST)
Six killed in clash in northwestern India JAIPUR, India, may 29 (AP) Police clashed with villagers blocking a highway in northwestern India Tuesday, and at least six people were killed, including a policeman, an official said. Nearly 20,000 villagers blocked the road to press the officials to classify them as being on the lowest rung of India's complex social ladder so they could get government jobs reserved for such groups, said Madhukar Gupta, an administrator in the Jaipur district. (Posted @ 12:49 PST)
Fresh blast kills three more in Sri Lanka COLOMBO, May 29 (AFP) Three people were killed in a powerful explosion in northern Sri Lanka’s Vavuniya, 260 kilometres north of Colombo Tuesday, police said. “We believe that those killed were trying to rig up a Claymore mine,” a police source in the area said, adding that at least two of the victims appeared to be members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). (Posted @ 12:21 PST)
Car bomb outside Peshawar High Court injures at least seven PESHAWAR, Pakistan, May 29 (AP) A car bomb exploded in the parking lot of the High Court building in northwestern Pakistan Tuesday, injuring at least seven people, police said. The blast happened in Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province, and most of the injured were passersby, a local police official said. (Posted @ 11:23 PST)
Two shot dead in Thai south NARATHIWAT, Thailand, May 29 (AFP) Insurgents shot dead two men in southern Thailand, police said Tuesday. A 54-year-old local government employee was shot dead at his home in Narathiwat province Monday evening, local police said, while a 29-year-old man was killed in a drive-by shooting in nearby Pattani. (Posted @ 11:12 PST)
Maoist rebels ambush Philippine troops, eight wounded MANILA, May 29 (Reuters) Eight Philippine soldiers were wounded when communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels ambushed a military convoy in the north late Monday, army battalion commander in the province of Aurora, Lieutenant-Colonel Joselito Kakilala, said Tuesday. (Posted @ 10:03 PST)
China bus plunge kills seven children BEIJING, May 29 (Reuters) A minibus plunged off a cliff in central China Monday, killing seven of 21 children on board, Xinhua news agency said. The minibus was hit by a truck loaded with bricks in Macheng in Hubei province, Xinhua said. Fourteen children were injured. (Posted @ 09:43 PST)
Israel kills two Hamas militants in Gaza raid GAZA, May 29 (Reuters) Israeli troops shot and killed two Hamas militants Tuesday in a gunbattle that broke out during a cross-border raid into Gaza to search for gunmen, medics said. Hamas confirmed the incident and said its gunmen were involved in the shootout with Israeli troops less than a mile inside the central part of the Gaza Strip. (Posted @ 09:42 PST)
Another suicide reported in Japanese scandal TOKYO, May 29 (AFP) A Japanese official, linked to the disgrace behind the suicide of the farm minister a day earlier, killed himself Tuesday, officials and reports said. Shinichi Yamazaki, former head of a public corporation handling forestry work, was found dead in the parking lot of his condominium building Tuesday, a fire department spokesman said. Jiji Press and Kyodo News said the 76-year-old Yamazaki apparently jumped to his death from his home in Yokohama. (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
British soldier killed in Afghanistan LONDON, May 29 (AFP) A British soldier was killed as a result of enemy action Tuesday in the southern Helmand province of Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence in London said. (Posted @ 09:25 PST)
6.1 Quake hits PNG's New Britain island SYDNEY, May 29 (AFP) A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck the Papua New Guinea island of New Britain Tuesday, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake hit 58 kilometres southwest of the regional town of Rabaul at 11:03 am, and was centred 128 kilometres below the earth's surface. No reports of damage or injuries were immediately received. (Posted @ 09:23 PST)
Philippine police chief shot dead outside home MANILA, May 29 (AFP) Unidentified gunmen shot dead a municipal police chief in front of his home near the Philippine capital Tuesday, investigators said. Superintendent Bernie Banalo, police chief of Cabuyao town, was gunned down in Santa Rosa, south of Manila, police investigators said. (Posted @ 09:21 PST)
Insurance companies launch new products By Dilawar Hussain
KARACHI, May 28: Adamjee Insurance Company Limited (AICL) launched “livestock insurance” on Thursday last. Looking at the advertisement in newspapers, one was compelled to ask company officials: “Suppose the impoverished looking peasant, riding the buffalo were its owner, would he be able to pay premium for insurance of his cattle?”
Mr Yahya Hamid head of product development at AICL responded: “In paying premium he would surely lose something, but if his big fat buffalo were to die or be stolen, he would be left with nothing”. But that was just a simple idea. The dimensions of the new product introduced by the company are far bigger and wider, he said.
“Livestock insurance” is the second retail product of the company; earlier it had introduced travel insurance with the brand name “Fasley Asaan”. The largest non-life insurance company is also to enter the lucrative “life insurance” business by the end of this year. The company official said that talks for a joint venture with a foreign insurer were in advanced stages.
Other big insurance companies are also striving to be bigger. Market analysts believe that going forward insurance sector could also see consolidation as witnessed in the banking sector, with lean and thin forced to leave the scene.
Most analysts consent that insurance sector could be one of the major beneficiary of the upcoming budget. They believe that the extension of capital gains tax exemption for another year would be formally announced, which would enable insurance companies to boost their income and hence profitability.
“The government is likely to approve new insurance policy and tax incentive package in FY08 budget,” says Hettish Karmani, head of research at Atlas Capital Markets in his pre-budget report.
And Ali Hussain, head of research at InvestCap mentions in his ‘budget outlook’ regarding insurance sector, possibilities of “introduction of fiscal (tax) incentive to promote micro-insurance in the rural areas to enhance penetration of insurance business to rural areas (where majority of our population resides) who are not yet exposed to the benefits of insurance services”.
Ovais Siddiqui, head of research at JS Global, stated in a report on AICL plan to enter livestock insurance that the segment holds great promise for Adamjee, because of its sheer size and its significant growth.
As per 2006 census, the livestock animals in the country stood at 146.9 million, Ovais stated, estimating the value of livestock market to be of the size of staggering Rs2.5 trillion.
Further, the analyst may have startled many who scarcely gave a thought to the fact that: “Last year, the value of milk (being the primary output of this sector) produced was higher than the combined value of wheat and cotton crops”.
The JS Global report mentioned three various dealing channels which the management was considering to better approach livestock farmers. Those included: The company could have some arrangement with banks to get their livestock loans insured. The government was stated to be encouraging banks to lend more to agriculture sector, where banks have been traditionally hesitant to get into.
“However, we expect the government to announce some tax incentives in budget FY08 to encourage banks to expand their agriculture loan portfolio,” says the analyst, adding: “This augurs well for livestock insurance as banks could use it to lower their credit risk in lending to livestock sector”.
The second approach could be to offer insurance to those farmers who supply raw milk to UHT milk-producing companies, like Nestle or Engro. Alternatively, it could be offered through those companies.
The third channel would be approaching large-scale business of livestock farmers, who face significant business risk in terms of death and theft of animals.
European shares flat PARIS, May 28: European shares were flat on Monday in thin volumes and struggling for direction with many major European markets as well as Wall Street closed for public holidays.
Markets in Britain, Germany and Switzerland were closed, while French, Spanish, Italian and Swedish bourses were open. France Telecom climbed 0.5 percent after the country's biggest telecoms operator announced a formal review of bids for part or all of its Orange unit in the Netherlands.
French aerospace and telecoms equipment firm Safran added 3.3 per cent after the company said it plans to split up its Sagem communications unit in a move that could pave the way for an asset sale. France's CAC 40 index shed 0.1 per cent, while Spain's IBEX 35 rose 0.1 per cent.
Shares in Nordic markets owner OMX surged 6 per cent to 211.5 crowns after UK newspaper the Sunday Times said Dubai International Financial Centre, the owner of the Dubai stock exchange, is mulling a rival bid to Nasdaq's agreed $3.7 billion offer for OMX.—Reuters
SC directs singer Ibrar-ul-Haq to submit amended version of objectionable song in two weeks ISLAMABAD, May 28 (APP): A two-member bench of the Supreme Court comprising Acting Chief Justice Javed Iqbal and Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan Monday directed singer Ibrar-ul-Haq to submit an amended version of his objectionable song within a period of two weeks. It discharged notice to the singer after assurance by him to comply with the directive. The bench directed the singer not to use such wording in his songs in future which could cause embarrassment to anyone. The case was taken up by the bench after the Supreme Court took suo-moto notice of a column published in an Urdu daily that carried a complaint from a girl that the song using the name “Parveen” which was also her name had caused embarrassment to her. (Posted @ 21:26 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 |