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| January 07, 2008 | Monday | Zilhaj 27, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
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Satellite Parameters for DAWN NEWS Satellite: Intelsat 10, Band -C Downlink Frequency: 4126.05 Mhz Symbol rate: 3255 Ks/s FEC: 3/4 Polarization: Horizontal 
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Pakistan, Iran to ink gas pipeline agreement next week ISLAMABAD, Jan 7 (APP): Pakistan and Iran are likely to ink Gas Sale Purchase Agreement regarding Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project by next week, Caretaker Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Ehsanullah Khan told a press conference Monday adding that the prices of gas will be linked with Japanese Crude cocktail Oil. He said the project would be operational by 2012 enabling the country to save over one billion dollars per year. He said Pakistan would welcome India joining the IPI project. Replying to a question, he said that the government was in contact with Turkmenistan on another gas supply project and the date for talks would be finalised soon.(Posted @ 18:54 PST)
Militants kill 8 tribal elders in northwestern Pakistan ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Jan 7 (AP) - Suspected militants fatally shot eight tribal leaders involved in efforts to broker a cease-fire between security forces and insurgents in Pakistan's volatile northwest, authorities said Monday. The tribal leaders were killed in separate attacks late Sunday and early Monday in South Waziristan, a mountainous region close to Afghanistan, a security official and the military said in a statement. The insurgents killed three of the men in a market in Wana, the region's main town, while the other five were killed in attacks on their homes, a security official and an intelligence official said. The men were scheduled to meet each other Monday in Wana to discuss the negotiations, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. However, the military said in a statement that the eight tribesmen died in a single attack on the peace committee's offices in Shakai.(Posted @ 18:53 PST)
Blast close to security forces camp injures six in Swat PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Jan 07(APP): An explosion ripped through the main gate of old Frontier House at Kabal Ground on Siadu Sharif road in Mingora city of Swat valley on Monday, injuring five security personnel and a passer-by. According to official sources, an explosive-laden Datsun parked close to the main gate was most probably detonated by miscreants through remote control. Police said no evidence of a suicide attack was found. Security forces are stationed at the Kabal ground in connection with the operations in the Swat district. In another blast, 18 shops were blown up by miscreants in Jorre area in Buner district at 3.40 a.m., causing substantial damage, official sources and witnesses said. The shops were mainly of spare parts and repair for vehicles including denting and painting.(Posted @ 19:04 PST)
Bhutto aide demands wide-ranging UN probe into her assassination ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Jan 7 (AP) - Assassinated opposition leader Benazir Bhutto's supporters demanded Monday that a U.N. committee be set up with a sweeping mandate to investigate her killing and events leading up to it. “This was not just a Pakistani issue. It is an issue that will reverberate not just in the region, it will reverberate in the world,” said Sherry Rehman, spokeswoman for Bhutto's party at a news conference in Karachi. She said the government had failed to properly investigate an Oct. 18 suicide bombing attack on Bhutto's homecoming parade in Karachi that killed about 150 people and that failure led to the successful assassination two months later. She reiterated accusations that authorities did not give Bhutto proper security.(Posted @ 20:40 PST)
Nawaz Sharif demands reinstatement of judges Lahore, Jan 7 (AP) - Former Prime Minister and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif Monday urged President Pervez Musharraf to reinstate the judges he dismissed during a six-week state of emergency that ended last month. Addressing a Press conference he also called on Musharraf to resign, and for a national unity government to be formed to run the elections in a free and fair manner. “If he stays in power then nobody can save the country from complete destruction,” he said. “They are planning massive rigging in polls and I want to make it clear that this would be disastrous for Pakistan.”(Posted @ 20:39 PST)
PM directs provinces to ensure undisrupted supply of wheat, flour Islamabad, Jan. 07 (PPI)- Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro Monday directed the Provincial governments to ensure uninterrupted supply of wheat and wheat flour to overcome the crisis. Chairing a high level meeting he directed the provincial governments to specifically ensure that wheat is not smuggled out of the country. Minister for Food and Agriculture Prince Essa Jan said that 32,000 tones of wheat have been released to the four provinces to meet the crisis, while supply of atta to the utility stores has been increased from 50,000 to 100,000 tones per month. He said the crisis will be overcome within three days. He also said the country had a stock of 1.5 million tones of wheat while more is being imported and 900,000 tones of wheat will arrive on 15th of this month, and another 600,000 tones by the end of this month.(Posted @ 19:13 PST)
British detectives visit morgue in Bhutto probe ISLAMABAD, Jan 7 (AFP) - British detectives investigating the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Banazir Bhutto examined Monday the partial remains of 23 people killed in the suicide blast, officials said. “The team visited the mortuary where they examined unidentified limbs, took photographs and collected samples of shreds and pieces collected from the blast site,” a Pakistani security official told AFP, requesting anonymity. They also took a statement from Deputy Superintendent Police Ishtiaq Shah who was wounded in the attack and was being treated in Rawalpindi’s Combined Military Hospital. The British detectives, who arrived last week, inspected the crime scene and Bhutto's car over the weekend but they have made no statements to the media. Meanwhile, Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari, returned to Pakistan on Monday after visiting his children and mother-in-law in Dubai, PPP officials said.(Posted @ 17:59 PST)
Five security officials killed, 18 injured in Pakistan road accident BAHAWALPUR, Pakistan, Jan 7 (APP): Five security officials died and eighteen other injured when their truck turned turtle near Chanan Pir Cholistan in Punjab province on Monday. According to police the accident occurred when a truck carrying security officials was coming from Cholistan when near Chanan Pir it overturned due to breaking of its steering rod.(Posted @ 17:29 PST)
SC accepts plea over establishment of FHC ISLAMABAD, Jan 7 (APP): A three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar Monday accepted the request of the main petitioner for withdrawing his plea against establishment of the Federal High Court (FHC) in Islamabad. Hassan Nawaz, the petitioner who had sought intervention of Lahore High Court against the establishment of Federal High Court, appeared before the Apex court on Monday and said that he wanted to withdraw the case. Attorney General, representing Federation, said that when the case was withdrawn, then there was no need for further proceedings. The plea was granted.(Posted @ 17:16 PST)
Benazir’s assassination: rally in Balochistan Quetta, Pakistan,Jan 7 (AP) - About 2,000 supporters of the All Parties Democratic Movement, a coalition of small opposition parties that have called for a boycott of upcoming parliamentary elections, held a protest in the town of Chaman near the Afghan border, chanting “Arrest the killers of Benazir Bhutto” and “Death to fraudulent elections.” Protesters also denounced the government for a scarcity of flour and electricity. Rallies were scheduled for later Monday across the country, said Shahid Shamsi, a spokesman for Jamaat-i-Islami, Pakistan's largest Islamic group, which is also part of the anti-Musharraf coalition. (Posted @ 16:40 PST)
CPI seeks inclusion of Kashmiris in talks ISLAMABAD, Jan 7 (APP): Communist Party of India has sought involvement of people of Jammu and Kashmir in the dialogue process between India and Pakistan for the speedy resolution of the vexed Kashmir dispute. Addressing a press conference, secretary of CPI Shameem Faizee said that solution of the Kashmir problem should be sought with the involvement of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, KMS reported. “Dialogue process between the two countries needs to be strengthened,” he said.(Posted @ 17:39 PST)
Snowfall on third consecutive day in Pakistan’s NAs GILGIT, Pakistan, Jan 7 (APP):- Snowfall and intermittent light rain continued over hilltops while Skardu, Hunza, Astor, Khaplu, and other upper parts of Ghizer also received heavy snowfall for the third day Monday. The traffic between Hunza and Sust remained suspended. However, no road blockade between Gilgit and Rawalpindi was reported. The scheduled flights between Gilgit and Islamabad were also suspended due to bed weather.(Posted @ 20:45 PST)
Kenya's Kibaki invites rival Odinga for talks NAIROBI, Jan 7 (Reuters) Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has invited his rival Raila Odinga to talks on Friday aimed at ending a political crisis that has killed hundreds.President Kibaki has invited Odinga for a meeting on the stoppage of violence in the country, consolidation of peace and national reconciliation,” Kibaki's office said in a statement, adding that the meeting was scheduled for Friday at 2.30 p.m. (1130 GMT). The statement said five other members of Odinga's OrangeDemocratic Movement (ODM) were also invited to the talks, along with several religious leaders.ODM officials could not immediately be reached for comment.(Posted @ 23:13 PST)
Heavy snowfall in Iran linked to 21 deaths TEHRAN, IranAt least 21 people have been killed and 88 others injured in Iran in accidents related to heavy snowfall and strong winds, state media reported Monday. Iran has suffered from the most serious snow storms in a decade since Saturday _ forcing schools and government offices to close, blocking major roads and leading to the cancellation of all domestic and international flights.As much as 55 centimeters (22 inches) of snow has fallen in areas of northern and central Iran, said meteorologist Ali Abedini. Heavy snow also blanketed the capital of Tehran on Sunday, the second time in a week.“At least 21 people have been killed and 88 others injured ... as a result of heavy snow,” state-run radio reported. “Some died of the severe cold, some were buried under avalanches and others died after their cars overturned on snow-covered roads.”The cold weather has caused problems for residents in western Iran, with about a dozen towns suffering from gas cuts due to a surge in demand and a cut in gas exports from Turkmenistan.Government officials have urged citizens to reduce their notoriously high consumption of gas to ensure there are no further cuts or shortages.(Posted @ 23:12 PST)
US warns Iran of possible 'dangerous incident' WASHINGTON, Jan 7 (AFP) - The White House on Monday sternly warned Iran against “provocative actions that could lead to a dangerous incident,” after a stand-off between US and Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz. “We urge the Iranians to refrain from such provocative actions that could lead to a dangerous incident in the future,” US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in a terse statement. Pentagon officials said Iranian speedboats swarmed three US navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, radioing a threat to blow them up and raising tensions ahead of President George W. Bush's trip to the Mideast. The Strait of Hormuz is the outlet on the Gulf through which much of the world's oil flows.(Posted @ 21:24 PST)
Death toll from South Korean warehouse fire rises to 40 SEOUL, South Korea, Jan 7 (AP) - A fire tore through a South Korean refrigeration warehouse under construction south of the capital Monday, killing 40 people, injuring 10 and sending toxic fumes into the air, officials said late Monday adding that no more bodies were expected to be found at the site of the blaze in Icheon, about 80 kilometers south of Seoul.The exact cause of the fire was not known, but officials said that workers were injecting urethane foam into the walls of the facility in its basement when the fire started. A total of 10 people were injured.(Posted @ 20:21 PST)
Up to 1,000 killed in Kenyan crisis-Odinga NAIROBI, Jan 7 (Reuters)- Up to 1,000 people may have died in more than a week of riots and post-election violence in Kenya, opposition leader Raila Odinga said on Monday. The head of the African Union (AU), Ghanaian President John Kufuor, is due to land in Nairobi on Tuesday. Odinga said Kufuor could begin chairing talks on Wednesday. Odinga called off nationwide protests by supporters to create a “peaceful atmosphere” for the talks while his rival President Mwai Kibaki summoned parliament to meet on Jan. 15. The imminent arrival of the AU chief was a “major, major breakthrough” and “very significant move”, Odinga told Reuters. Odinga rejected an official government death toll of nearly 500 and said “closer to a thousand” people may have died.(Posted @ 20:21 PST)
US envoy says Kenyans have been 'cheated' NAIROBI, Jan 7 (AFP) - US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer said on Monday that the Kenyan people had been cheated by their leaders following a disputed presidential election. “They've been cheated by their political leadership and their institutions,” Frazer told reporters on her third day in Nairobi, where she has conducted intensive consultations aimed at resolving the post-election crisis in Kenya.(Posted @ 20:09 PST)
Two Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan OTTAWA, Jan 7 (AFP) - Two Canadian soldiers were killed late Sunday when their light armoured vehicle rolled over while crossing difficult terrain in Nalgham, in Zhari district, 40 kilometers southwest of Kandahar City, the defence ministry said Monday. Their deaths were not the result of enemy activity, the ministry said.(Posted @ 20:07 PST)
7 killed, 20 injured in bus crash in Utah MEXICAN HAT, Utah, Jan 7 (AP) - A charter bus rolled off icy roads in far southeastern Utah, killing seven and injuring about 20 passengers, a newspaper reported Monday. About 80 passengers were on board the bus when it crashed Sunday.(Posted @ 18:31 PST)
Major fire spreads at Iraq's biggest oil refinery BAIJI, Iraq, Jan 7 (Reuters) - An explosion at a fuel storage tank caused a huge blaze at Iraq's largest refinery on Monday, injuring at least 36 workers, and the fire was spreading, witnesses said. A Reuters cameraman at the Baiji refinery complex, said he had seen at least one dead body and had counted at least 36 others suffering from burns. “This is the biggest fire I have ever seen at Baiji refinery,” said an engineer who said the explosion started in a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) unit. The refineries at Baiji have capacity of 310,000 barrels a day.(Posted @ 18:21 PST)
20 killed in Baghdad bombings; 12 bodies found BAGHDAD, Jan 7 (Reuters) - - Two suicide bombers struck in a Sunni Arab district of Baghdad on Monday, killing at least 14 people including the leader of the area's neighbourhood patrols, police said. Separately, a bomb hidden in a street vendor's cart killed four people and wounded 16 others in the Karrada district of central Baghdad, while two more roadside bombs wounded four people in the same district, police said. Meanwhile, a couple and their son the were killed inside their private car when gunmen attacked them near Hawija, 70 km southwest of Kirkuk, police said. Five blindfolded, handcuffed bodies with gunshot wounds to the head were found in a town southeast of Baquba, 65 km north of Baghdad; six bodies were found in Baghdad and one body was found in Mosul, police said. Earlier Sunday, a roadside bomb killed one U.S. soldier and wounded three others when it struck their vehicle during a combat operation in southern Baghdad , the U.S. military said.(Posted @ 18:15 PST)
Sri Lanka fighting kills 23 rebels, 1 soldier COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Jan 7 (AP) - Gunbattles between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels killed 23 insurgents and one soldier in intensifying violence in Sri Lanka's embattled north, bringing the death toll for three days of fighting to 72, the military said Monday. (Posted @ 16:52 PST)
Suicide bomber wounds five Afghan police KABUL, Jan 7 (Reuters): A suicide bomber Monday severely wounded five Afghan policemen in an attack in Kandahar province, a provincial official said. A border police official said the bomber approached the vehicle on foot in Spin Boldak. Meanwhile, two soldiers from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) were killed in a vehicle accident also in Kandahar, a military statement said Monday. Other sources said the two soldiers were Canadians. (First Posted @ 12:40 PST; Updated @ 14:10 PST)
Angry cricket fans protest against India's defeat NEW DELHI, Jan 7 (AP) - Angry Indian cricket fans held street demonstrations and burned effigies of two cricket umpires on Monday, blaming poor decisions for their team's defeat in the second test against Australia, while criticizing a three- test match ban handed to spin bowler Harbhajan Singh for racially abusing Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds.(Posted @ 17:10 PST)
Cricket: India suspend Australia tour pending appeal SYDNEY, Jan 7 (Reuters): The Indian cricket board (BCCI) has suspended its team's tour of Australia pending the outcome of an appeal for banned spinner Harbhajan Singh. “The Board will appeal to the International Cricket Council to review the decision of the Match Referee and suspend its operation till the appeal is disposed of,” the BCCI said in a statement released Monday. The Indian team were due to travel to Canberra on Monday to prepare for their next tour match but returned to their hotel rooms after boarding their bus. (Posted @ 12:05 PST)
Strong quake sparks fires in Indonesian town JAKARTA, Jan 7 (AFP): A strong 6.2-magnitude quake struck Indonesia's Papua province on Monday, damaging houses and sparking fires, an official and residents said. The earthquake hit eight kilometres northwest of the town of Manokwari, prompting residents to leave their homes and other buildings, ElShinta news radio said. A local police officer said the earthquake triggered fires in a densely populated area of the town. (First Posted @ 09:15 PST, Updated @ 10:50 PST)
Bus accident kills 10, injures 50 in China BEIJING, Jan 7 (AP): At least 10 people were killed and 50 injured early Monday when a speeding bus hit a tanker truck on an expressway in southern China and then collided with a second bus, state media said. The mishap occurred on an expressway in the coastal city of Zhanjiang in Guangdong province, the official Xinhua News Agency said. (Posted @ 09:45 PST)
NATO says two civilians killed in Afghanistan KABUL, Jan 7 (AFP): Two civilians, one a child, were found dead and five others wounded after a clash between insurgents and NATO forces in southern Afghanistan, the alliance said Sunday. The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said troops were attacked by the rebels late Friday. They found the civilians when they returned to the scene of the violence in Uruzgan province on Saturday. Three of the wounded were children, it said in a statement. (Posted @ 09:35 PST)
Churches, monastery bombed in Iraq MOSUL, Jan 7 (AFP): A series of bombs exploded outside churches and a monastery in the city of Mosul on Sunday, in an apparently coordinated attack wounding four people and damaging buildings, police said. The first explosion struck outside the Chaldean Church of St Paul in Mosul in the early afternoon. A few minutes later four civilians were wounded when a bomb planted in a parked car went off outside the Assyrian shurch of the Virgin Mary in the city. A bomb also exploded outside a monastery in the centre of Mosul, shattering windows and damaging its entrance gate. Two hours later, two bombs exploded outside the Chaldean shurch of Maskanta in Mosul without causing casualties. (Posted @ 09:30 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 96.20, points: KARACHI, Jan 07: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 14163.40, down 96.20, points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Jan 07: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 61.8, to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:17 PST)
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