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| August 16, 2007 | Thursday | Sha’aban 2, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Musharraf to abide by commitments on election, uniform; Boucher ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (APP): The United States Thursday said it was confident that President Pervez Musharraf will abide by the commitments made about holding of free and fair election and doffing his uniform. “Yes there is a definite commitment ... for making a stable transition from the military rule to a duly elected government,” US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher told reporters at a press briefing at the end of his two-day visit. He said the United States was very supportive and shared the goals of the government of Pakistan of opening up of media, civil society, creation of economic opportunities, better health and education for the people of Pakistan. Asked whether any assurances were made about the issue of uniform, Boucher said the President has made public commitments that he will deal with the issue in accordance with the law and the constitution. Referring to his meetings with the representatives of several political parties Boucher said the US does not favour any particular political party, and the only objective was to encourage and strengthen democracy in Pakistan. Responding to a question about the telephone call made by Secretary Condoleeza Rice to President Musharraf when rumours were rife of emergency rule, he said: “we have a relationship where our leaders talk frequently. When something is going on, they pick up the phone, call each other, interact, talk to those directly involved in decision making.” Asked about statements by US officials of an action in Pakistan's tribal areas if there was “actionable intelligence”, he said: “We are partners with Pakistan in the war against terrorism. We act together...we work together.” The two countries will cooperate if there was actionable intelligence, he added. Boucher defended the recent Pakistan-specific US legislation, saying it will help the administration convince the Congress about Pakistan's role in countering terrorism .He said there was not enough appreciation in the United States for all the efforts Pakistan was making in the war against global terrorism. “We are going to have no problems in putting together a good report for our Congress on what Pakistan is doing to fight terrorism ... will point out the steps taken, the sacrifices made,” Boucher said. (Posted @ 20:46 PST)
Pakistan govt asked to submit Sharif exile documents ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (AFP) - Pakistan's Supreme Court Thursday asked the government to submit documents relating to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's seven-year exile, which he has appealed, an official said. The documents relate to conditions under which Sharif and his family members went into exile after he was toppled from power in a 1999 coup, the official said.“The government will hopefully submit documents concerning the agreement and the conditions under which the Sharif family went into exile by August 22,” Attorney General Malik Mohammad Qayyum said after the hearing was adjourned. The documents are supposed to be submitted by that date, with the hearing set to resume on August 23. Nawaz Sharif was prime minister from 1990 to 1993 and 1997 to 1999. Nawaz Sharif and his younger brother Shahbaz, the former chief minister of Punjab, are challenging their exile in the Supreme Court, hoping it is overturned so they can return to Pakistan. The application is being heard by a bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. “The court has asked the government to submit the documents before the next hearing,” Qayyum said. The documents will provide details of the agreement and conditions for the Sharif family's exile, he said. “The issue is currently being discussed with a third friendly country,” he said, without naming Saudi Arabia. Earlier, the court rejected a government request for a one-month adjournment due to the “involvement of a very friendly third country” and “sensitivities” relating to the case. “The government should bring the documents today and we can discuss them tomorrow,” Sharif's lawyer Fakharuddin Ibrahim told the court. Nawaz Sharif and another former premier, Benazir Bhutto -- who is living in self-imposed exile due to corruption charges -- have both said they would return to Pakistan for elections due by early next year. Nawaz Sharif still officially heads his faction of Pakistan Muslim League, while Benazir Bhutto is the leader of the centrist Pakistan People's Party.(Posted @ 15:45PST)
Pakistan's top judge says Shahbaz Sharif free to return ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug 16 (AP) - Pakistan's top judge on Thursday said Shahbaz Sharif, brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who is seeking supreme court's approval to return from exile along with his sibling, is free to come back to the country. Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry's comments were made from the bench during a hearing on the Sharif brothers' case. The CJ, who is heading a five-member bench in the case, said a 2004 ruling that Shahbaz Sharif could not legally be kept out of Pakistan was still in effect. “The judgment clearly states that the petitioner is the citizen of Pakistan and can come back to his country,” the CJ said . “All the authorities in the country are bound to obey the judgment of the court,” he said. Shahbaz Sharif had tried to return to Pakistan in 2004, after the Supreme Court ruled he was free to return but he was detained by authorities when he arrived in Lahore and was put on a plane out of the country the same day. Justice Chaudhry said the 2004 Supreme Court ruling under which Shahbaz Sharif tried to return was still “very much intact.” (Posted @ 18:10 PST)
SC maintains 30-day timeframe for EC to complete voter registration ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (APP): The five-member of the Supreme Court headed by chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Thursday directed the Election Commission to follow the 30-day span given by it for registration of left-out eligible voters, particularly women in FATA and remote areas. It adjourned the hearing for six weeks and a date for next sitting will be fixed by the office. The court had on August 10 given the 30-day time while hearing a petition filed by Pakistan People's Party chairperson and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto through her lawyer, senator Latif Khosa. On Thursday the bench directed the Election Commission to update the voter lists by October 3 and provide copies of the same to all political parties, stake holders and others interested in obtaining the copies. Attorney General Malik Mohammad Qayyum apprised the court of the discussions held on August 11 with the Chief Election Commissioner and his officials by representatives of political parities. Malik Qayyum said that about 90,000 enumerators would be deployed to go door to door for registration of left-out voters. The Chief Justice said that the voter lists of 2002 should be followed and only the left out voters should be registered which is not a difficult task. Latif Khosa, counsel of Benazir Bhutto, informed the court that the plan made by the Election Commission was not feasible as majority of the voters were living in far-flung and inaccessible areas. The CJ observed that access to every place in the country was possible. Justice Javed Iqbal observed that it would require a long time if all reservations of PPPP were to be removed. The Attorney General admitted mistakes in the newly prepared voter lists as pointed out by the Chief Justice. Shahid Aamir, counsel of NGO Pildat, informed the court that 85 per cent women voters had not been registered in FATA and same was the ratio in the NWFP. Chief Justice Chaudhry observed that the petition would not be disposed off till the process of registration of all left-out voters was completed. (Posted @ 18:14 PST)
SHC directs for amendment in Prison Act to hold jail authorities responsible for production of UTPs before courts KARACHI, Aug 16 (APP)- A division bench of High Court of Sindh comprising Chief Justice Sabihuddin and Justice Faisal Arab directed the authorities to amend Rule 173 of Prison Act to hold the jail authorities responsible for the production of Under Trial Prisoners (UTPs) in pending cases before the respective courts. The bench was hearing a suo motto court reference initiated by CJ Sabihuddin on a report moved before him by the a judge of trial court, Zafar Ahmed Sherwani, who pointed out several irregularities in Central Prison Karachi. Special Home Secretary, Sindh, Rasheed Alam contended that 20 prisons vehicles were already handed over to Superintendent of Police (Security ) while more will also be provided in September this year. Inspector General of Prison, Yameen Khan submitted that some 855 UTPs were being produced daily from various jails before the respective courts in Karachi and further improvement was possible, if administrative powers of the system were given to the IG Prison. The bench adjourned the proceedings till September 4. (Posted @ 18:50 PST)
Pakistan forces kill 10 militants ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (AFP) - At least 10 militants were killed and a dozen wounded Thursday in clashes with Pakistan's armed forces in a remote tribal region bordering Afghanistan, the military said. Troops backed by helicopter gunships battled militants after a military convoy came under attack in northwestern Pakistan. “Ten miscreants were killed and 12 were wounded when security forces retaliated using gunship helicopters,” military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said. The military convoy had come under attack on the Jandola road near Wana, the main town in South Waziristan tribal district. General Arshad said the helicopters were called in after militants took up positions in the surrounding hills after being engaged by security forces. “They are still holed up and firing at security forces. The operation is continuing,” he said Adding that gunfire was also coming from some houses along the mountain slopes. “It is tough terrain, we are exercising maximum care to avoid any collateral damage,” Arshad said. (First Posted @ 19:56 PST Updated @ 21:04 PST)
2 soldiers killed, six other people injured in Pakistan tribal violence ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug 16 (AP) - Separate bomb attacks Thursday in Pakistan's tribal region near Afghanistan killed two soldiers and wounded six other people, officials said. Assailants detonated a roadside bomb near a military convoy in the Spinwam area of North Waziristan, killing two soldiers and wounding four others, said military spokesman Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad. Six suspected militants were arrested, he said. In Bajur, another tribal area north of North Waziristan, prominent pro-government tribal elder Nawabzada Shamsul Wahab and his driver were injured when a remote-controlled bomb went off near his car in the town of Khar, said Arshad Naveed, a local official. In South Waziristan, militants attacked a military convoy, drawing fire from security forces, General Arshad said. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Pakistan has deployed some 90,000 troops to its border regions near Afghanistan to track down militants. (Posted @ 18:02 PST)
Peru quake kills at least 450, injures over 1,500 PISCO, Peru, Aug 16 (AFP) - A 7.7-magnitude earthquake rattled Peru for two terrifying minutes late Wednesday, killing at least 450 people and injuring over 1,500 others as the government declared a state of emergency on Thursday. The towns of Pisco, Chincha, and other areas in Peru's southern coastal region were in ruins. Buildings collapsed, major highways were torn asunder and power lines knocked out by the massive quake. “We have hundreds of dead lying in the streets, injured in the hospital. It is totally indescribable,” said Juan Mendoza, the mayor of Pisco -- one of the towns hardest hit by the quake. “Seventy percent of the town is devastated,” Mendoza said. (First Posted @ 17:24 PST Updated @ 23:36 PST)
No progress in Taliban hostage talks GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Aug 16 (AFP) - Talks Thursday between Afghanistan's Taliban and a South Korean delegation trying to free 19 hostages ended with the militants reporting no progress. The two sides met for three hours in the small town of Ghanzi, south of Kabul, said a Taliban spokesman and a representative of the ICRC that has been facilitating the meetings. Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi said “ so far our demand (about release of eight Taliban prisoners) has not been accepted and there has been no development in the negotiations.” A Red Cross official said it was not immediately clear if there would be a new round of discussions on Friday. (First Posted @ 19:18 PST Updated @ 21:10 PST)
US President ultimate authority on foreign policy : State Department WASHINGTON, Aug 16 (APP): Reminding that US president is the ultimate authority on foreign policy matters a State Department spokesman has said the Administration will work with Congress to overcome any hurdles on the American assistance to Pakistan. Spokesman Sean McCormack was speaking after Pakistan Wednesday conveyed its concern to visiting top American official for South Asia Richard Boucher in Islamabad over a recent legislation that attaches conditions to future US assistance for the country. “We believe that Pakistan has been a good ally in the war on terror,” he said while responding to a question at a daily briefing. “And in terms of the (Capitol) Hill and any restrictions they may have placed on aid to Pakistan, you know, of course, we're going to work with the Hill on what it is --- in terms of their point of view. But of course the President is the ultimate authority on how to conduct American foreign policy.” (Posted @ 20:44 PST)
Kashmiris want solution as per their aspirations: Yasin ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (APP):Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Yasin Malik, has said that sacrifices rendered by Kashmiris have proved that Kashmiris are not cowards and want resolution of Kashmir issue according to their wishes and aspirations. Addressing a public gathering in Handwara, he said, “Kashmiris are not violence mongers, but Indian rigidity forced them to take up arms,” KMS reported. He said India should acknowledge ground realities and include Kashmiris in the ongoing dialogue process with Pakistan without any delay. (Posted @ 20:26 PST)
Afghan, U.S. forces assault al Qaeda in Tora Bora KABUL, Aug 16 (Reuters) - U.S. and Afghan air and ground forces pounded al Qaeda militants for a second day on Thursday in the Tora Bora mountains close to the Pakistan border. Pakistan has deployed a “limited number” of regular army troops in Kurram tribal region in its side of the Tora Bora range, a security official said. “It has been done over the past three days and it was done in coordination with allied forces in Afghanistan,” he said. “We have made all arrangements to block any infiltration of militants from the other side. So far there has been no attempt of any infiltration.” (Posted @ 16:54 PST)
Musharraf rallies support for re-election ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (Reuters) - President Pervez Musharraf Thursday flew to the central city of Faisalabad to rally support from legislators belonging to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) to support his bid for five more years in power. “The President told the parliamentarians that he is going to contest the election in uniform and it is fully according to the law and constitution,” Minister for Textile Industries Mushtaq Ali Cheema told Reuters, after Musharraf met with more than 100 legislators from the national and provincial Punjab assemblies. “We assured full cooperation and support to him and told him we stand by him,” he said. President Musharraf plans more meetings in other parts of the country to rally support in the PML-Q. (Posted @ 19:38 PST)
US urges Pakistan leaders to explore political deal WASHINGTON, Aug 16 (Reuters) - The United States has urged President Pervez Musharraf to explore some kind of political arrangement with opposition politicians, a U.S. official said Thursday. “There are elections coming up in Pakistan and there is a moderate centre in Pakistani politics and that moderate centre has an interest in seeing the political and social reforms that Musharraf put in place continue,” said the official, who asked not to be named. The official was commenting on a New York Times report that the Bush administration is quietly encouraging Musharraf to share power with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, citing U.S. and Pakistani officials. The official declined to say whether the Bush administration was encouraging a Bhutto-Musharraf deal but made clear that it wanted to see “moderate” forces in Pakistan strengthened. Asked if the United States risked appearing to prop up a military ruler who seized power in a bloodless 1999 coup but is regarded as a vital ally by the Bush administration, the official said any deal was up to the Pakistanis to work out. “These are political arrangements that are going to either happen or not happen based on the interests and desires of the Pakistani parties,” he said. “We can encourage parties to look at where there are overlapping interests. Any decisions are going to be made by the (Pakistani) parties involved.” (Posted @ 19:34 PST)
U.S. Army suicide rate hits 26-year high in 2006 WASHINGTON, Aug 16 (AP) - Ninety-nine U.S. soldiers killed themselves last year, the highest rate of suicide in the Army in 26 years, a new report says. More than one out of four soldiers who committed suicide did so while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, according to a report scheduled to be released Thursday. Iraq was the most common deployment location for U.S. soldiers who either attempted suicide or committed suicide. The 99 suicides included 28 soldiers deployed to the Iraq and Afghan campaigns. (Posted @ 19:52 PST)
Death toll from Iraq bombings jumps to 400 BAGHDAD, Aug 16 (AFP) - The death toll from four suicide truck bomb attacks in northern Iraq on Tuesday has risen to 400, a top official said Thursday, making it by far the deadliest attack since the fall of Saddam Hussein four years ago. “More than 400 people were killed and the toll is expected to rise,” the director of operations at the interior ministry, Major General Abdel Karim Khalaf, told AFP. Khalaf said the four suicide bombers packed two tonnes of explosives into their lorries, unleashing massive devastation on members of the ancient Yazidi religious sect in the northern province of Nineveh on Tuesday. The new toll was announced as rescuers pulled corpses from the rubble two days after the bombings, as teams of army, police and civilians clawed through the carnage of pancaked homes in the villages of Al-Qataniyah and Al-Adnaniyah. (Posted @ 19:14 PST)
Tarbela, Mangla reservoirs achieve maximum levels ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (APP): Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has said that Tarbela and Mangla reservoirs achieved their maximum levels on Thursday. The water level at Tarbela Dam touched 1548 feet on Thursday against the dead level of 1369 feet. The water level at Mangla Dam was recorded at 1202 feet which was 162 feet higher than the dead level of 1040 feet. (Posted @ 18:40 PST)
Efforts underway for recovery of abducted FC personnel SOUTH WAZIRISTAN AGENCY, Pakistan, Aug 16 (APP): Political authorities and elders of South Waziristan Agency including elected representatives have expedited efforts for recovery of the abducted 15 personnel of Frontier Constabulary (FC). In this connection a grand jirga of tribesmen was held at Political Katchery of South Waziristan (Tank) on Thursday. The jirga was attended by Political Agent South Waziristan, Hussain Zada, MNA, Maulana Mehraj-ud-Din Qureshi, Assistant Political Officer, Khaista Rehman, DCO Tank, Syed Mohsin Shah, SP Police Tank, Mumtaz Zareen and representatives of different tribes including Bittani to which abducted officials belong. Speaking on the occasion, MNA Maulana Mehrajud Din assured the jirga that hectic efforts were underway to recover abducted personnel and in this connection 90 percent results have been achieved. Maulana Muzaffar Shah Bittani said his tribe will wait and see the outcome of ongoing efforts of the political administration and if necessary the Bittani tribe will chalk out it own course of action for the recovery of abducted FC officials. (Posted @ 18:32 PST)
Withdrawal of Indian troops from occupied Kashmir urged ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (APP): Chairman of Kashmir Committee in the National Assembly, Hamid Nasir Chatta, Thursday urged that India should withdraw troops from occupied Kashmir and repeal Kashmir specific draconian laws to provide relief to Kashmiris. Kashmir was not a territorial problem but a human rights issue and the presence of 600,000 troops in the held valley was an evidence of repression and aggression by India in Kashmir, he said in remarks to Pakistani envoy designate to Italy, Tasnim Aslam. Mr Chatta said that peaceful resolution of Kashmir is in the interest of India, Pakistan, Kashmiris and the world at large adding that Kashmir dispute was the core issue between India and Pakistan which must be resolved according to the wishes of Kashmiri people. The ambassador designate assured him that she will do her best to muster the support on the issue in the country of her assignment. (Posted @ 18:28 PST)
Aisam-Rohan in SF of Bronx Classic in New York LAHORE, Aug 16 (APP)- Pakistan's no.1 tennis player Aisamul Haq Qureshi and his Indian counterpart Rohan Bopanna made their way to the semifinals of the doubles event of the Bronx Tennis Classic defeating German/Czech combination of Denis Gremelmayr and Lukas Rosolbeing 6-4,6-4 (10-4) at Crotona Park in New York. Earlier in the quarterfinals Aisam and Rohan defeated the French pair of David Guez and Nicolas Tourte 6-2, 7-6(1). (Posted @ 18:18 PST)
Pakistan's Airblue to buy up to 14 new aircraft KARACHI, Pakistan, Aug 16 (AP) - Pakistan's private airline Airblue plans to buy between eight and 14 new passenger jets, with the company choosing between Airbus A320s or new generation Boeing 737s, the airline said Thursday. The company will decide within the next two months, Airblue Chief Operating Officer Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told reporters. The deal is expected to be worth between $400 million and $700 million, he said. “The airline needs short- to medium-haul aircraft,” he added. Airblue currently flies to seven Pakistani cities, as well as to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Manchester in Britain. It currently operates six A320s. (Posted @ 17:34 PST)
Indian lawmakers opposed to US-India nuclear deal disrupt Parliament NEW DELHI, Aug 16 (AP) - Lawmakers opposed to nuclear deal with the United States angrily demanded India's prime minister resign Thursday, saying he had misled them about the pact. Rowdy lawmakers from the Hindu nationalist opposition and communist parties that support the government but oppose the deal gathered in the centre of the lower and upper houses, shouting, “stop lying, stop selling the country” and forcing both chambers to adjourn. At issue was a statement Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made earlier this week saying India could still test nuclear weapons under the deal, while the U.S. State Department said late Wednesday that any weapons test by New Delhi would kill the deal. (Posted @ 17:32 PST)
20,000 migrant workers flee occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Aug 16 (AFP) - Some 20,000 migrant labourers have fled insurgency-hit occupied Kashmir in the past three weeks after militants told them to leave amidst allegations of raping and killing, officials said Thursday. The mainly Hindu migrants, who work as low-paid masons, carpenters, painters and barbers, began leaving last month when two of them were accused of raping and killing a teenage Muslim girl. “Some 20,000 non-locals have already left and this exodus may continue,” said Governor S.K. Sinha. Newspaper reports say there are over 100,000 non-local labourers in occupied Kashmir.(Posted @ 16:30PST)
China, Russia, Central Asian leaders meet in security summit; Pakistan seek SCO membership BISHKEK, Aug 16 (AFP) - Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russia's Vladimir Putin, together with the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, gathered Thursday in Kyrgyzstan for the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is attending the summit with observer status and is keen to win full membership. Others applying for SCO membership are India and Pakistan, who sent lower-level representatives to Bishkek, and Mongolia, whose president was due to meet with Putin on Thursday. The leader of gas-rich, reclusive state of Turkmenistan was also attending as a guest. On the eve of the summit, Hu and Bakiyev signed agreements aimed at encouraging a recent surge in bilateral trade, and on fighting what was termed as terrorism in eastern Kyrgyzstan, where refugees from China's Muslim Uigur minority have previously sought shelter.After his stop in Russia for the military exercises on Friday, Hu will complete his tour with a trip to oil-rich Kazakhstan.(Posted @ 16:20PST)
Cricket: Inzamam to play for Yorkshire LONDON, Aug 16 (AFP) - Pakistan's former skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq is to play for Yorkshire for the rest of this season, the English county side announced Thursday. He will replace team-mate Younus Khan, who is leaving to link up with Pakistan ahead of next month's ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa. “His involvement with Yorkshire means that his first-class career is still very much alive,” the Yorkshire statement added. Inzamam has played 119 Tests for his country and 378 ODIs.(Posted @ 16:10ST)
India test flies combat helicopter BANGALORE, india, Aug 16 (AFP) - India carried out the first flight Thursday of a weaponised combat helicopter. The multi-role helicopter, equipped with “fire-and-forget” air-to-air missile capability and advanced avionics, was test-flown in Bangalore in the presence of senior Indian military officers and reporters. The new-generation, all-terrain, all-weather helicopter comes with systems that provide high-performance visual imagery of terrain and targets in complete darkness, allowing the best use of its weapons systems, officials said adding that more trials were needed before the weaponised version is delivered to the military.(Posted @ 16:05PST)
US signs $ 30 bln Israel arms package JERUSALEM, Aug 16 (AFP) - The United States signed a deal on Thursday to boost its military aid to Israel to 30 billion dollars over the next decade.(Posted @ 15:50Pst)
Hamas detains Palestinian attorney general GAZA CITY, Aug 16 (AFP) - Hamas detained the Palestinian attorney general, who is close to the rival Fatah movement, in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, witnesses said.(Posted @ 15:35PST)
US missile defence threatens Asia: Iran BISHKEK, Aug 16 (AFP) A proposed US missile defence shield in central Europe would threaten Asia, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday at a regional summit in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek. “Such a plan goes beyond threatening one country. It concerns most of the continent, Asia,” he said at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), according to a translation by organizers. According to Ahmadinejad, the six countries of the SCO, including China, are among those threatened.(Posted @ 14:05 PST)
Car bomb strikes market district in central Baghdad, killing at least nine BAGHDAD, Aug 16 (AP) A car bomb struck a market district during rush hour in central Baghdad Thursday, killing at least nine people and wounding 17, police said. The car was parked in a lot above a row of stores near the busy Rusafi square when it exploded about 9 a.m., a police officer said. A huge fire broke out in the seven-story building and smoke billowed into the air.(Posted @ 11:05 PST)
Australian PM defends decision to sell uranium to India SYDNEY,Aug 16(AFP): Australian Prime Minister John Howard Thursday defended his government's decision to lift a ban on uranium sales to India even though New Delhi has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Howard who said he would discuss the deal with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh later in the day,said safeguards to prevent the use of the nuclear fuel in weapons would be put in place.(Posted @ 10:30 PST)
Magnitude 6.7 quake strikes Solomon Islands SINGAPORE, Aug 16 (Reuters) A magnitude 6.7 quake struck the Solomon Islands to the northeast of Australia Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey said on its Web site. The USGS, monitored in Singapore, said the quake's epicentre was about 2 km under the sea and occurred 75 km west-south-west of Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands.(Posted @ 14:50PST)
13 dead as Japan endures hottest ever day TOKYO, Aug 16 (AFP) The temperature hit a record high in Japan Thursday, with the extreme summer heat killing at least 13 people across the nation this week, officials said. The mercury shot up to a record 40.9 degrees Celsius in Tajimi city in the central prefecture of Gifu Thursday afternoon, according to the weather agency.(Posted @ 13:55 PST)
N. Korea floods kill 214 dead, 80 missing BEIJING, Aug 16(AFP): Floods in North Korea have killed at least 214 people and left another 80 missing, an international relief group in Pyongyang said Thursday, citing government figures.(Posted @ 11:45 PST)
U.S. South swelters under record-setting temperatures; seven dead in Memphis MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Aug 16 (AP) The American South sizzled beneath a relentless sun for a sixth straight day. Officials in Memphis said two more people had died of the heat, raising the city's death toll to seven in a little more than a week. Much of the Southeast was under a heat advisory as temperatures topped 100 degrees (38 Celsius) for the 10th consecutive day in places, fuelling brush fires and increasing the number of people seeking medical help. The high of 105 (40.6 Celsius) in St. Louis broke a 71-year-old record.(Posted @ 09:20 PST)
Quake wakes Tokyo TOKYO, Aug 16 (AFP) A 5.3 magnitude earthquake jolted Tokyo and nearby areas early Thursday, waking residents from their beds and triggering a series of aftershocks. The earthquake had its epicentre located 30 kilometres below sea level and off the coast of Chiba prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. It struck at 4:15 am, swaying buildings in central Tokyo and neighbouring China. “We have no reports of damage from the quake ... although one person was slightly injured” in Chiba prefecture, local police said. Train services were also briefly disrupted. The tremor was followed by several aftershocks. (Posted @ 08:45 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 77.95, points> KARACHI, Aug 16:At the close of Karachi stock exchange the KSE-100 index was at 12708.65, down 77.95 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:00 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Aug 16: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.85 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:00 PST)
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