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| June 27, 2008 | Friday | Jamadi-us-Sani 22, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (06:00 GMT)
 PML-N, PPP win most seats in Pakistan by-election ISLAMABAD, June 27 (AFP) In the by-elections conducted Thursday Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won three out of five national assembly seats while the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) took the other two, official results showed. Meanwhile, out of the 23 provincial assembly seats up for grabs, the PML-N won eight seats and the PPP seven, the figures from the election commission showed. The Awami National Party won two seats while independents won the remaining six. (Posted @ 15:50 PST)  India, Pakistan settle Iran pipeline fee dispute NEW DELHI, June 27 (AFP) India and Pakistan have resolved commercial differences holding up a proposed multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline from Iran, oil ministers of both South Asian nations said Friday. The project, which aims to transport gas from Iran to Pakistan and India, was first mooted in 1994 but has been stalled by a series of disputes over prices and transit fees. “I am happy to report that as far as Pakistan and India are concerned, we have resolved all bilateral issues. There is no issue whatsoever that needs to be addressed now,” Pakistan's oil minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency. Qureshi made the announcement after talks with Indian Oil Minister Murli Deora. “We have reached an agreement on the principles of charging transit fee. India remains fully committed to the project,” the Indian minister was also quoted as saying by PTI. Qureshi also said Pakistan will “provide fool-proof security” for the planned 2,600-kilometre pipeline. (Posted @ 19:34 PST) US Senate approves $150 mln assistance for Pakistan WASHINGTON, June 27: The United States Senate approved a financial assistance of $150 million for Pakistan Friday, a private television channel reported. (Posted @ 21:04 PST) Nawaz Sharif vows to support deposed judges after securing most seats in Pakistan by-poll ISLAMABAD, June 27 (AFP): Former premier Nawaz Sharif pledged Friday after his party won the most seats in by-elections that he would keep pushing for the reinstatement of judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf. “We are grateful to God and to the people who voted for our party members for our victory in the by-elections,” Sharif told reporters while speaking after the funeral of a politician in northwest Pakistan. “We will continue to struggle for the reinstatement of the judges,” Sharif said. The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered voting to be postponed in a sixth parliamentary constituency while it decides whether to overturn a ban on Sharif contesting the poll. It has ordered Sharif to appear for the next hearing but he said he did not accept the judges because they were among those appointed under the PCO. “It is my party's decision that we will not appear before these judges,” he added. (Posted @ 15:55 PST) Pakistan, India agree to hold Foreign Secretary level talks on July 21 NEW DELHI, June 27 (APP) Pakistan and India have decided to hold Foreign Secretary levels talks here on July 21 to launch the fifth round of their more than four-year old Composite Dialogue. The decision came at the meeting between Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee here Friday. Addressing a joint press conference, Pranab Mukherjee announced that Pakistan chapter of Pak-India judicial committee will visit Indian jails next month. Qureshi said the environment is conductive to resolving outstanding issues and the people of both the countries support the peace process. All political players in Pakistan and India are also supportive of the peace process, he said. Qureshi said the secretary level talks will discuss Kashmir and other issues. The issues of Siachen and Sir Creek are resolvable, he said. “We should seize the opportunity to resolve all outstanding issues,” Qureshi emphasized. People of both the countries want peace and stability which is necessary for economic development of South Asia, he said. The two ministers expressed the common resolve to take the peace process forward. (First Posted @ 15:20 PST Updated @ 20:42 PST) Pakistan will not go soft on terror: Ambassador Haqqani WASHINGTON, June 27 (APP) The Pakistani people have spoken categorically against terrorism and the country will not go soft on its resolve to fight the menace during the transition period, Pakistan's ambassador to the United States Hussain Haqqani said. “Let me assure you that millions of people turned out on February 18 to vote against terrorism- we lost Benazir Bhutto, our icon of democracy- this campaign was as much for democracy as was for fighting terrorists. Therefore, nobody should think that Pakistan is going to go soft on terrorism just because it has a transitional government that is still trying to find its way,” the ambassador stated at a reception he hosted at the Pakistani embassy. Haqqani was confident that the US-Pakistan relationship would graduate into a strategic partnership, which will be long-term and wide-ranging. “Pakistan and the United States will remain allies and friends not because of the fight against terrorism but on the basis of shared values of democracy,” he said at the reception attended by senior State Department officials, and diplomats from several countries. Touching on Pakistan-Afghanistan relations in the context of challenges facing them, Haqqani said the two neighbors had difficulties in the past but “this time around it is our resolve that the two countries will work together as brothers to make sure that we are source of comfort and strength to each other rather than a source of trouble and violence for one another.” On Pakistan-India relations, he said Pakistan has the political will to overcome difficulties of the past. (Posted @ 16:30 PST) Militants release eight peace jirga abductees in Wana WANA, Pakistan, June 27 (APP): Eight abductees of a peace jirga were released by the militants here Friday. According to an APP correspondent, the eight people were among the 30 abducted from Jandola and Karri Wam, adjacent areas in South Waziristan Agency. The 22 other abductees were found dead on Thursday. The elders of Bhittani tribe had Thursday asked the local militants to release their tribesmen. (Posted @ 16:40 PST)  FM Qureshi meets Indian PM Manmohan Singh NEW DELHI, June 27 (APP) Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi called on Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here Friday. He discussed the composite dialogue process and regional and international issues with the Indian leader. (Posted @ 21:20 PST) President Musharraf meets General Kayani; discuss law and order situation in FATA RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani called on President Musharraf here at President’s Camp Office Friday. President Musharraf said the terrorists must be crushed with an iron fist, while the COAS General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani said Pakistan Army will follow the decision of the government with regard to launching a military operation. During the meeting, they discussed the law and order situation across Pakistan, including in FATA, tribal areas and the Pak-Afghan border. General Kayani briefed the President about Pakistan Army’s efforts regarding tackling the terrorism and extremism problem in FATA. President Musharraf said he will extend his utmost cooperation for strengthening democracy in Pakistan and “the allegations of my conspiring against democracy are baseless.” (Posted @ 20:58 PST) One US-led coalition service member killed, five wounded in western Afghanistan KABUL, June 27 (AP) The U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan said one of its service members was killed and five more wounded in an engagement in western Afghanistan’s Farah province Thursday. The coalition said the troops were on a reconnaissance patrol in the Gulistan district. Two Afghan army soldiers also were wounded. No other details were released. (Posted @ 20:38 PST) Oil jumps to new above $142 LONDON, June 27, (Reuters) - Oil leapt to a new record high above $142 a barrel on Friday, extending gains after surging nearly 4 percent in the previous session, as tumbling global stock markets helped to trigger a wider commodities rally. U.S. light crude for August delivery was $1.70 up at $141.34 a barrel by 1212 GMT, off a record high of $142.26. London Brent crude was $1.39 up at $141.22, off a record high of $142.13. (Posted @ 20:24 PST) Cricket: Australia win toss and bat against West Indies ST GEORGE'S, Grenada, June 27 (Reuters) Australia won the toss and elected to bat in the second game of the five-match one-day series against the West Indies at the National Stadium Friday. Teams: Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Shaun Marsh, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Cameron White, James Hopes, Luke Ronchi, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Bracken; West Indies: Chris Gayle (captain), Xavier Marshall, Andre Fletcher, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Keiron Pollard, Patrick Browne, Darren Sammy, Sulieman Benn, Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell. (Posted @ 20:08 PST) Pakistan urged to ensure rights as it faces Taliban ISLAMABAD, June 27 (Reuters) Hundreds of people in Pakistan have gone missing and women and girls have been left vulnerable to abuse as the government tackles militancy, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, said Friday. Arbour, visiting Pakistan this week to assess concern about judicial independence in her final trip in office, also said a dispute over judges risked paralyzing Pakistan's government. Arbour said the government was using different means to fight militancy and it had to decide if military action or negotiations were more effective but either way, the government had to ensure the protection of human rights. “We have seen human rights violations in the context of counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, including hundreds of unresolved cases of people disappearing,” she told a news conference. On the other hand, peace deals undermined state authority in areas controlled by militants, in particular leaving women and girls vulnerable, she said. “When peace agreements are reached the government has an obligation to ensure that the peace agreement is not at the cost of surrendering the fundamental human rights of those who then don't have the capacity to turn to the state for their protection,” she said. Arbour said an independent judiciary was a fundamental cornerstone of a functioning democratic society and a long-running judicial dispute risked paralyzing the government's ability to address other problems. “It is hijacking the rest of the government's policy agenda,” she said. “I urge them to reach a consensus as soon as possible. However, in the process of restoring the Supreme Court judges it will be important not to compromise in any way the long-term independence of the court and its remedial powers,” Arbour said. During her three-day visit, Arbour met President Musharraf, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and other ministers as well as representatives of civil society. (Posted @ 19:32 PST) PM Gilani vows to rebuild girls’ schools destroyed by militants ISLAMABAD, June 27 (APP) Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, strongly condemning the recent destruction of two dozen girls’ schools by militants in the name of Islam, has vowed to rebuild them to allow women’s education to flourish in the country. “I pledge to the people of Pakistan and especially our women that my government will redouble its efforts to banish illiteracy amongst women and empower them through education”, said the Prime Minister in a statement issued here Friday. He said he has directed the civil administration to apprehend those responsible for the destruction of the girls’ schools (in Swat area) so that they may face the full force of the law. Gilani said he is determined not to allow misguided elements to return our moderate and tolerant society back into the dark ages. He said “we are fully determined to move into the twenty-first century and enable both our men and women to avail the opportunities it offers.” The Prime Minister reiterated his resolve that the government will not falter in its commitment to the education and empowerment of women at any cost. (Posted @ 19:26 PST) Tens of thousands hit occupied Kashmir streets in protest SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, June 27 (AFP) Tens of thousands of people poured onto the streets of Srinagar Friday in some of the largest pro-freedom protests in the region in almost two decades. The demonstrations, which marked the fifth straight day of upheaval in the disputed Himalayan province, began as displays of anger over the transfer of land to a Hindu pilgrim body before growing into larger anti-India rallies. “It is one of the biggest pro-freedom marches I have witnessed,” said a resident of the Lal Chowk commercial area, one of several spots in Srinagar where thousands were gathered. Chanting “we want freedom” and “stop the sale of Kashmir”, the marchers passed through streets and tore down banners and billboards of pro-India parties as federal troops watched from a distance, witnesses said. Large numbers of armed security personnel patrolled sensitive areas of the city Friday. In the heart of the city police retreated before the swelling crowds. After Friday afternoon prayers, thousands of worshippers emerged from Srinagar's main mosque and also started marching towards Lal Chowk, with thousands more joining them along the way. On the outskirts of the city, police broke up half-a-dozen small protests by firing in the air and using tear gas. Police said they also used force in four other towns in the valley. Banks, post offices, schools and offices were closed in Srinagar Friday and there was little traffic. (First Posted @ 13:00 PST Updated @ 19:16 PST) Cricket: Umar Gul ruled out of Asia Cup with rib cage muscle injury KARACHI, June 27 (Reuters) Paceman Umar Gul was ruled out of the remainder of the Asia Cup one-day tournament because of a rib cage muscle injury, chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed said Friday. “Gul has been advised to rest for 10 days to two weeks so he won't be playing the remaining part of the tournament,” Ahmed told Reuters. Ahmed said Abdul Rauf, who has played one match this year, had been recommended to the Pakistan board as a replacement. “Gul complained of pain in his rib muscles and scans showed there is a problem for which he needs a rest,” he added. (Posted @ 19:12 PST) Powerful earthquake in Indian Ocean, no tsunami risk seen NEW DELHI, June 27 (AFP) A powerful earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale struck off India's Andaman islands in the Indian Ocean Friday, the US Geological Survey said. The USGS said the epicentre of the quake was 115 kilometres southwest of Port Blair, the capital of the islands. The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, however, said that “a destructive widespread tsunami threat does not exist based on historical earthquake and tsunami data.” (Posted @ 19:05 PST) WB approves $38 mln for Indus Basin Irrigation System ISLAMABAD, June 27 (APP): The World Bank approved a US$38 million IDA credit to the government of Pakistan to support the management and development of water resources in the Indus River Basin. This, along with urgent reforms, is critical to meet the long term impact of rising food and energy needs, said WB press release here on Friday. (Posted @ 18:08 PST) 70 Tibetans detained in Nepal capital KATHMANDU, June 27 (AFP) Around 70 Tibetan exiles were detained in Nepal's capital Friday for demonstrating outside a Chinese embassy building, police said. “Some 70 Tibetan protesters are in our custody. They will be released later in the evening,” said Kathmandu police official Ramesh Thapa. (Posted @ 17:40 PST) Rockets allegedly fired from Pakistan kill child in Afghanistan ASADABAD, Afghanistan, June 27 (AFP) Several rockets allegedly fired by militants in Pakistan at villages across the border in eastern Afghanistan killed a child and wounded 13 others Friday, officials said. One of a number of rockets apparently targeting a base of US-led troops landed near a house in Asadabad, the capital of eastern Kunar province, killing the child and wounding another five, provincial governor Fazlulah Wahidy said. Several other rockets hit Asmar district in Asadabad, wounding seven civilians, Wahidy said. “These rockets were fired from across the border. They fire the rockets and then escape,” Wahidy told AFP. Separately, ten rockets landed near the base of Afghan militia forces hired by US-led coalition troops in Khost province, wounding a soldier, provincial spokesman Khaibar Pashtun told AFP. “They fired rockets from within Pakistan,” Pashtun said. (Posted @ 17:22 PST) North Korea blows up nuclear cooling tower BEIJING, June 27 (AFP): North Korea on Friday blew up the cooling tower at its Yongbyon nuclear reactor, Xinhua news agency said, citing one of its reporters on the scene. The tower was blown up at 17:05 local time, the agency said in a report filed from Pyongyang. A US State Department official and some US technicians also witnessed the explosion, according to Xinhua. The step was meant to symbolize North Korea's commitment to nuclear disarmament, one day after it handed over details of its atomic programmes. (Posted @ 17:14 PST) Balochistan Assembly passes Rupees 60.279 billion budget for 2008-9 QUETTA, Pakistan, June 27 (PPI) Balochistan Assembly passed the annual budget for the year 2008-9 amounting to Rupees 60.279 billion here Friday. Of these Rupees 44.534 billion are for current expenditures and Rupees 15.745 billion for development expenditures during the new financial year. Finance Minister Asim Kurd Galloo presented 50 demands of grant before the House which were okayed. No cut motion was moved. Provincial Finance minister has announced Rupees 71.191 billion budget on June 21. (Posted @ 17:08 PST) Gunmen kill leading Iraqi judge in Baghdad ambush BAGHDAD, June 27: Gunmen shot dead a leading Iraqi judge in an ambush as he drove home in Baghdad, officials said on Friday. Kamel al-Shewaili, head of one of the capital's two appeals courts, was killed while driving along a road in eastern Baghdad on Thursday afternoon, a spokesman for the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council said. (Posted @ 17:02 PST) 14 killed as bus plunges into gorge in northern India NEW DELHI, June 27 (AP): Police say 14 people were killed when a bus plunged into a gorge in near Pauri town in Uttarakhand state on Friday. Police said that nine other were injured, five of them seriously, in the accident. (Posted @ 16:00 PST) Cricket: Procter defends 'fantastic' Pakistan security LAHORE, June 27 (AFP): Former South African all-rounder Mike Procter said Friday he saw no reason why Pakistan cannot host the Champions Trophy in September, describing security measures as “fantastic”. “I found Pakistan a safe place and have been here twice this year,” Procter, who is a match referee in the ongoing Asia Cup tournament in Pakistan, told AFP. Procter made the comments after players from Australia, New Zealand and England raised concerns about the security situation in the country. (Posted @ 15:25 PST) Two killed in Thai south NARATHIWAT, Thailand, June 27 (AFP) Suspected separatists shot dead two civilians in the latest attacks in southern Thailand, police said Friday. A 64-year-old village chief in Pattani province was killed in a drive-by shooting Friday morning, while in nearby Narathiwat a 36-year-old man was killed, police said. (Posted @ 15:15 PST) Pakistani Taliban publicly execute two alleged spies: officials KHAR, Pakistan, June 27 (AFP): Pakistani Taliban militants executed two Afghans in front of thousands of people on Friday near Khar, the main town of Bajaur Agency, an AFP correspondent and officials said. The militants beheaded one man and shot dead the other after accusing them of passing information to coalition forces in Afghanistan that led to a missile strike in Bajaur in May which killed 14 people. After the executions the Taliban started firing in the air in jubilation, but when some shots were fired from within the crowd it sparked a brief gunbattle in which eight people were hurt, the correspondent and witnesses said. (Posted @ 12:40 PST) Government to recover missing persons: Law minister Islamabad, June 27 (PPI):- Government is committed to recover the missing persons and all necessary steps will be taken in this regard, said Federal Law Minister Farooq H.Naek in a meeting with relatives of missing persons who called on him Thursday. Mrs. Amna Masood Janjua Chairperson Defense of Human Rights was also present in the meeting. The minister asked the delegation to furnish a complete list of their missing relatives and their particulars - names, professions, dates of missing and court proceedings. He also asked them to submit all the Supreme Court judgments about their missing relatives so that the case of missing persons is pursued in an organized way. He told the delegation that Government is introducing legal reforms to provide speedy and cheap justice especially to poor segment of society. For this purpose, Government proposes to set up Public Defender's Offices across the country to provide free legal aid to the poor, he added. (Posted @ 10:50 PST) Biden confident of bipartisan support for $ 15 billion Pakistan aid legislation WASHINGTON, June 27 (APP): Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph Biden, who plans to shortly introduce legislation on a $15 billion ten-year aid package for Pakistan, described the US-Pakistan relationship as the 'single-most important relationship to get right.' To be named after Senators Biden and Richard Lugar, the measure will help begin an era of 'new and long-term partnership' between the two nations, the key Democratic lawmaker said on Capitol Hill. “The single most important relationship for us to get right in the next five years is US-Pakistan relationship,” Biden said at an event organized by the Association of Physicians of Pakistani-decent of North America. He said the US administration and members of the House of Representatives have also indicated their backing for Biden-Lugar legislation, which envisages $ 1.5 billion annual assistance that will be unconditional “as long as they have democracy as imperfect or perfect as it might be.” “We have to change the transactional nature of the relationship - it is in the overwhelming interest of America that the relationship changed from a relationship based on personality to a relationship based on the people,” he added. (Posted @ 13:45 PST) Indo-Pakistan moot for resolving outstanding issues LONDON, June 27 (APP): The two-day Indo-Pakistan conference which began here Thursday stressed on the solution of all outstanding issues between the two countries through dialogue while including all the stake holders on the key question of Kashmir. Titled 'India-Pakistan: Designing a new future', the event has been organised at the Royal Society of Arts. Participants include politicians, scholars, opinion-makers, ex-military men and members of the civil society from both countries including former Indian Foreign Minister and leader of the Opposition Jaswant Singh, Lt.General (retd) Asad Durrani, former Finance and Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz, Senator Mushahid Husain, former Chief Minister of occupied Kashmir Farooq Abdullah, President, J & K Peoples Democratic Party, Mehbooba Mufti, General Secretary, Bharitya Janta Party Arun Jaitley, Congress Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi, British author Ziauddin Sardar, member of Indian Parliament Rajesh Pilot, former British High Commissioner to Pakistan Sir Hilary Synott, US diplomat Robin Raphel. The thrust of their discussion was on ensuring peace in the region, ending shared suspicion and distrust, opening borders to allow greater people to people contact and resolving Kashmir dispute to the mutual dissatisfaction of all the stakeholders. (Posted @ 13:40 PST) Zimbabwe votes in Mugabe's one-man election HARARE, June 27 (AFP) Zimbabweans began voting Friday in an election which was virtually certain to end in victory for President Robert Mugabe but dismissed by the opposition as meaningless after it boycotted the poll. The voters turnout represented only a fraction of those seen in the first round 13 weeks ago when opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai emerged as the winner. “Today is not an election. Today is a shameful humiliation, another tragic day in our nation's history,” Tsvangirai wrote in a letter to party supporters. (Posted @ 13:10 PST) Wimbledon: Pakistan’s Aisam and partner beaten in 2nd round LONDON, June 27 (APP)- Pakistan's Aisamul Haq and his Indian partner Rohan Bopanna made exit from the Wimbledon Championships after losing their second round men's doubles contest against the Spanish rivals Granollers-Pujol and Santiago Ventura 2-6, 4-6, 2-6 on Thursday. (Posted @ 10:45 PST) WB approves $ 38m for Pakistan water management WASHINGTON, June 27 (APP): The World Bank has approved a US$38 million IDA credit to the Government of Pakistan, to support management and development of water resources in the Indus River Basin. This, along with urgent reforms, is critical to meet the longer-term impact of rising food and energy needs. The credit carries a 0.75% service fee, a 10-year grace period, and a maturity of 35 years. (Posted @ 10:30 PST) US says ”emir” of al-Qaida in Mosul killed BAGHDAD, June 27 (AP) - Al-Qaida's top leader Abu Khalaf was killed along with two other extremists in a gunbattle Tuesday in Mosul, the U.S. military said Thursday. One of those killed was a woman who was shot as she tried to detonate the explosive belt of one of her dead comrades, the statement said adding that the third extremist was a Syrian known by his nickname Abu Khalud. According to the U.S., Abu Khalaf had been a deputy of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of al-Qaida in Iraq who was killed by a U.S. airstrike in Diyala province in June 2006. (Posted @ 10:25 PST) Spain scores three second-half goals to beat Russia 3-0 and reach Euro 2008 final VIENNA, Austria June 27 (AP) Spain scored three second-half goals Thursday to beat Russia 3-0 and reach the European Championship final, giving the team a chance to shed its status as football's biggest chokers. Spain face Germany in the final. (Posted @ 10:10 PST) Strong 6.1 quake shakes Tonga, no injuries or damage NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga, June 27 (AP) A strong 6.1 magnitude earthquake in South Pacific shook homes and other buildings in Tonga, but there were no immediate reports of injury or damage. The temblor struck midmorning Friday about 125 miles northeast of the capital, Nuku'alofa, and some 12 miles below the sea floor. (Posted @ 10:05 PST) Cricket-Sri Lanka beat UAE by 148 runs in Asia Cup Lahore, Pakistan, June 26 (Reuters): Sri Lanka beat the United Arab Emirates by 142 runs in the Asia Cup at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore on Thursday. Scores: Sri Lanka 290 for nine off 50 overs (Mahela Udawatte 67, Mahela Jayawardene 61); United Arab Emirates 148 all out off 36.3 overs (Amjad Ali 77; Ajantha Mendis 5-22). (Posted @ 09:55 PST) 3 US soldiers killed in Afghanistan KABUL, June 27 (AFP) Three soldiers in the US-led coalition and a local interpreter were killed following an attack on a patrol lin Sayed Abad District in Wardak province, some 50 kilometres south of Kabul on Thursday, a coalition statement said. “Severe blast and fire damage was inflicted on the vehicle; two of the deceased were recovered at the site while two sets of remains were located in a nearby field,” the coalition said. The nationality of the casualties was not revealed, but the vast majority of soldiers in the 22,000-strong coalition are American. (Posted @ 09:50 PST) Three US marines, two interpreters slain in Iraq BAGHDAD, June 27 (AFP) Insurgents killed three US marines and two interpreters on Thursday in Iraq's Anbar province, the American military said. The attack came after a suicide bomber killed 20 people in the town of Garma near Fallujah in the same province while another 18 people were killed in a car bombing in the city of Mosul. (Posted @ 09:35 PST) Field Hockey: South Koreans upset Dutch as Aussies win ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, June 27 (AFP) Australia moved atop the table of the men's field hockey Champions Trophy alongside Spain and Argentina after notching up a 3-1 win over Germany here on Thursday. In the day's other game, South Korea scored a shock 4-3 win over the Netherlands. (Posted @ 09:30 PST) US Senate approves Iraq, Afghanistan war funding WASHINGTON, June 27 (AFP) The US Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a compromise bill to free up 162 billion dollars for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the final congressional step before the bill goes to President George W. Bush for his approval. The legislation, which passed 92 votes to six after approval by the House of Representatives following weeks of haggling between Democrats and Republicans, would finance the military operations through mid-2009. Bush has indicated he will sign the legislation. (Posted @ 09:20 PST) Indonesia air force says three foreigners among 18 on missing plane JAKARTA, June 27 (AFP) Three foreigners are among 18 passengers and crew who are missing after a military transport plane went down Thursday in thick jungle in West Java, the Indonesian Air Force spokesman said Friday. “Twelve people are from the military and six are civilians including three foreign nationals from Britain, India and Singapore,” the spokesman said. (Posted @ 09:15 PST) Karachi Stocks down 98.89 points: KARACHI, June 27: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 12353.19, down 98.89 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:30 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, June 27: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 68.6 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 13:30 PST)
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