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| July 08, 2008 | Tuesday | Rajab 4, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (06:00 GMT)
 Pakistan working for world peace, stability: PM KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 8 (APP):- Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday said Pakistan is working for the world peace and stability by playing the role of frontline state in war against terrorism and extremism. “We are working for the whole humanity and peace in the world...the world needs to support us,” he said at a joint press conference along with the D-8 leaders at the conclusion of 6th D-8 Summit. He said his government was following a three-pronged strategy to deal with the menace of terrorism comprising dialogue with peaceful and non-militant tribals as well as increased focus on socio-economic uplift of the areas bordering Afghanistan. He however made it clear that the government would not talk to the militants or those who do not lay down arms. Gilani mentioned the presence of three million Afghan refugees on Pakistani soil as one of the causes of the problem. He also said Pakistan was taking all necessary steps to check illegal movement across the Pak-Afghan border but stressed it was difficult to stop the movement across the 2,000 kilometer long porous border. The Prime Minister stressed upon the D-8 countries to shift their focus on agriculture in view of the surging food prices in the world. Earlier, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia told the media that D-8 summit was very successful as the member states discussed and agreed to enhance trade and economic cooperation within the grouping of eight developing nations. (Posted @ 20:40 PST)  Pakistan PM denies involvement in Afghanistan attack KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 (AFP) Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday denied any involvement in the suicide car bomb attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul.Gilani said it was not in Pakistan's interest to destabilise Afghanistan and vowed to fight terrorism with an “iron fist”, saying his country had suffered more than any other from the scourge. “Why should Pakistan destabilise Afghanistan, because it is in our interest (to have) a stable Afghanistan and we want stability in the region,” he told reporters at the D8 summit of developing nations. When asked who might be responsible for the suicide blast, he said: “Maybe there are those who want to destabilise the region and those who are a threat (to the world).” (Posted @ 18:35 PST) Police probe multiple blasts in Karachi KARACHI, July 8 (AFP): Police on Tuesday probed a string of blasts which killed one person and wounded 37 in Karachi Monday. Five men were being questioned Tuesday after they were arrested in connection with the blasts, said Babar Khattak, the police chief of Sindh province. “We have detained five people from different parts of the city after our investigators got some leads about their involvement in the blasts,” Khattak told AFP. “We cannot disclose to which group they belong or what we have recovered from them,” he said. Police said the blasts were likely to be an attempt to stir up ethnic tensions in the city because most happened in areas populated by Pashtuns. (Posted @ 09:25 PST)  PM Gilani says will fight terrorism with 'iron fist' KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 (AFP): Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani said Tuesday Pakistan had suffered more than any other from terrorism and that it would fight the scourge with an “iron fist”. “The world is facing today the menace of extremism and terrorism which has affected our socioeconomic development,” he said in a speech to a summit of the D8 group of developing countries. “Pakistan has suffered the most due to this curse,” he said, pointing to the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto last year which was just one of many acts of violence to hit the country. “However, such cowardly acts will never dampen our firm resolve to fight terrorism and extremism with iron fist,” he said. Gilani also said Pakistan was committed to a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict with India over Kashmir. “We have made positive progress in recent years in our dialogue with India,” he said. “We are seeking a peaceful resolution for all our outstanding issues including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. (First Posted @ 10:50 PST, Updated @ 11:05 PST) Blasts aimed at triggering ethnic strife: Sindh Home Minister KARACHI, July 8 (APP): Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza Tuesday said that Monday's bomb blasts were aimed at triggering ethnic strife in the city but the people had foiled this conspiracy. Addressing a press conference at Central Police Office Tuesday morning, the minister said that the blasts were carried out by helmet-wearing terrorists riding on three motorcycles. He said that a team is investigating into bomb blasts under the supervision of DIG Saud Mirza and four suspects have been apprehended and are being interrogated. (Posted @ 15:45 PST) FM leaves for New York Islamabad, July 08 (PPI)- Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Tuesday left for New York to have consultations with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Pakistan's request for international inquiry under the UN into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. During his stay in New York, he will also address a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan on 9th July, and pay a day long visit to Washington on July 11 to meet US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, members of the Congress, senior US officials, and representatives of the Pakistani community. (Posted @ 16:30 PST) Azerbaijan reiterates support to Pakistan's principled stance on Kashmir ISLAMABAD, July 8 (APP): Azerbaijan has reiterated its support to Pakistan's principle stand on Kashmir issue just as Pakistan has supported Azerbaijan on the issue of Armenia. The policy statement was made by the Speaker of Azerbaijan's Parliament, Ogtay Asadov, while talking to the visiting Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, at Baku on Tuesday. (Posted @ 16:50 PST) Left-wing parties storm out of Indian coalition NEW DELHI, July 8 (AFP): A bloc of Indian left-wing and communist parties announced Tuesday they were pulling out of the country's coalition government in protest against a nuclear energy deal with the United States. “We have decided to ask the president for an appointment so that we can formally withdraw support tomorrow,” top Marxist leader Prakash Karat told reporters. The decision, however, is not expected to cause the collapse of the Congress-led government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who last week managed to secure the support of the Samajwadi Party. (Posted @ 15:10 PST) Iraq to reject US deal without pullout timetable NAJAF, Iraq, July 8 (AFP) Iraq on Tuesday said it will reject any security pact with the United States unless it sets a date for the pullout of US-led foreign troops, a proposal turned down by US President George W. Bush. “We will not accept any memorandum of understanding if it does not give a specific date for a complete withdrawal of foreign troops,” Muwaffaq al-Rubaie, Iraq's national security advisor, told reporters in the holy city of Najaf. Rubaie, after paying a visit to revered Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, said it was proving “very difficult” to set such a date. But “the Iraqi government has spoken about its date, and the foreign party has spoken about its date,” he said. On Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told Arab ambassadors in Abu Dhabi that he was seeking a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops as part of a security agreement with Washington. “The direction we are taking is to have a memorandum of understanding either for the departure of the forces or to have a timetable for their withdrawal,” Maliki is quoted as saying. The White House reacted later on Monday by saying it was not negotiating a “hard date” for a US withdrawal from Iraq but it did not rule out “time-frames” discussions with Baghdad. The security pact, also known as Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), has to be signed by July 31 according to a previous agreement between Bush and Maliki. (Posted @ 21:20 PST) Rice signs missile defence deal in Prague PRAGUE, July 8 (AFP) US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed a missile defence deal with the Czech Republic on Tuesday, describing it as a step forward for global security despite staunch Russian opposition. (Posted @ 21:15 PST) NATO soldier, four Afghan police killed in attacks ASADABAD, Afghanistan, July 8 (AFP) A NATO-led soldier and four Afghan police were killed Tuesday in new attacks, officials said. The ISAF trooper was killed when a roadside bomb struck a convoy in Kunar province. Four other ISAF soldiers were wounded, it said. Separately, two policemen were killed in fighting with Taliban insurgents in Ghazni province on Tuesday, a provincial spokesman said. Five militants were also believed to have died in the hour-long battle but their bodies were removed from the scene, he told AFP. Two other policemen were killed in a similar incident in the neighbouring province of Paktika. (Posted @ 21:10 PST) G8 leaders avoid mention of Zimbabwe sanctions TOYAKO, Japan, July 8 (AFP) - Leaders of the Group of Eight powers avoided any mention of imposing further sanctions against the regime of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe in a statement issued Tuesday at their summit. (Posted @ 20:50 PST) SL planes bomb rebel position; 23 killed in ground fighting COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, July 8 (AP) Sri Lankan fighter planes bombed a Tamil Tiger base in the rebel-controlled Kilinochchi district Tuesday and the rebels ambushed an army patrol killing two soldiers in the country's war-ravaged north, the military said. The attacks came a day after ground battles along the front lines of the civil war killed 19 rebels and two soldiers, according to the military. (First Posted @ 18:05 PST Updated @ 19:30 PST) Iran's president sees no possibility of war with US or Israel KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 (AP): Iran's president said Tuesday he did not see any possibility of a war between his country and the United States or Israel. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he believed Washington and Tel Aviv have been “focusing on propaganda and psychological war” against his country. “I assure you that there won't be any war in the future,” Ahmadinejad told a news conference. But he predicted Israel's “regime” would collapse without the need for any Iranian action. (Posted @ 18:45 PST) ICC to invest US$300 million to develop cricket DUBAI, July 8 (AP): The International Cricket Council will invest US$300 million (euro190 million) to develop the sport in countries that are not full members of the council. “(It's) the biggest investment in global development by any sport outside football,” Haroon Lorgat, the ICC CEO said, adding that he wants “to see results that challenge world cricket's existing order.” (Posted @ 18:45 PST) Sri Lanka replace Zimbabwe with 2009 tour of England LONDON, July 8 (APP/AFP) Sri Lanka will play two Tests and three one-day internationals in England next April and May, stepping into the fixture gap created by England's decision to break off cricket relations with Zimbabwe. Dates for the tour were announced on Tuesday by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). (Posted @ 18:10 PST) Oil dives below $139 on easing storm concerns LONDON, July 8 (Reuters) Oil fell below $139 on Tuesday, dropping by more than $6 this week, due to easing concerns over an Atlantic hurricane and the falling price of refined products. U.S. light crude fell $2.69 to as low as $138.68 a barrel, the lowest since June 26. It was trading $2.22 lower at $139.15 by 1137 GMT. London Brent crude was trading $2.27 down at $139.60. (Posted @ 18:05 PST) ”D8” developing nations adopt trade blueprint: official KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 (AFP): Leaders from the D8 group of developing nations Tuesday adopted an ambitious 10-year blueprint to substantially increase trade between their countries. “The leaders have agreed to the roadmap,” a Malaysian official told AFP. The trade agreement, to run from 2008 to 2018, details economic and business activities that member nations will pursue over the next decade. “It is a guideline for a vision and framework for enhancing cooperation. It covers sectors from investment, agriculture, energy, tourism, transportation, banking and finance,” he elaborated. To further promote economic ties, the D8 members agreed Tuesday to simplify visa procedures for business people from member nations. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani urged the D8 countries to quickly implement trade and customs agreements aimed at promoting economic cooperation, which were also inked here. “Early implementation of these agreements will give impetus to promotion of intra-D8 trade, which is at present only 60.5 billion dollars,” he said. (Posted @ 16:05 PST) G8 says soaring oil, food prices threaten economy TOYAKO, Japan, July 8 (AFP): Leaders of the Group of Eight powers warned Tuesday that soaring oil and food prices pose a “serious challenge” to stable worldwide economic growth. “The world economy is now facing uncertainty and downside risks persist,” the G8 said in a joint statement. “We express our strong concern about elevated commodity prices, especially of oil and food, since they pose a serious challenge to stable growth worldwide, have serious implications for the most vulnerable and increase global inflationary pressure,” the statement said. The G8 also urged emerging economies with large current account surpluses to allow flexibility in their currencies, in a thinly veiled call on China to allow a stronger yuan. “In some emerging economies with large and growing current account surpluses, it is crucial that their effective exchange rates move so that necessary adjustment will occur,” the G8 said in a joint statement. (Posted @ 12:00 PST) G8 agrees on 50 pct emission cuts by 2050 TOYAKO, Japan, July 8 (AFP): The Group of Eight powers agreed at a summit Tuesday to set a global target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent by 2050, they said in a statement. In a breakthrough on the highly-contentious issue, the G8 leaders also agreed each to set aggressive mid-term targets on cutting emissions blamed for global warming. “We seek to ... consider and adopt in the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) negotiations, the goal of achieving at least 50 percent reduction of global emissions by 2050, recognizing that this global challenge can only be met by a global response,” they said. The group called for all major economies to respond to the global challenge of climate change by rising to their “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.” The deal was first announced by G8 summit host, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, just before the release of the official statement. However, each nation will be allowed the freedom to set its emissions targets to take into account the differences between major developed economies and developing economies. “Each of us will implement ambitious economy-wide mid-term goals in order to achieve absolute emissions reductions,” the leaders said. (Posted @ 13:30 PST) India name squad for Sri Lanka Tests MUMBAI, July 8 (APP/AFP) - India on Tuesday named a 16-man squad for the upcoming three-Test series in Sri Lanka. It is: Anil Kumble (capt), Virender Sehwag (vice-capt), Gautam Gambhir, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Venkatsai Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Parthiv Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Rudra Pratap Singh, Munaf Patel, Pragyan Ojha. (Posted @ 16:35 PST) Rice attacks Russia over Georgia tension PRAGUE, July 8 (AFP) -US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice attacked Russia for adding to tension in Georgia as she landed in Prague on Tuesday at the start of a three-country European tour.“We have said both Georgia and Russia need to avoid provocative behaviour but frankly some of the things the Russians did over the last couple of months added to tension in the region,” Rice said. “Georgia is an independent state. It has to be treated like one,” she added. (Posted @ 16:55 PST) Mirwaiz deplores human rights violations in occupied Kashmir ISLAMABAD, July 8 (APP):- Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq presided over an extraordinary meeting of the APHC Executive Council and later told newsmen that peace and security of South Asia is linked with the resolution of Kashmir dispute in accordance with Kashmiris' aspirations. Condemning the burning of Shrine Jenab Sahib in Soura on Saturday by the occupation authorities, the APHC Chairman said, “History is testimony to the fact that how attempts have been made to damage our religious places.” “This is a serious issue. We want independent, fair and speedy investigation into the incident,” he added. Denouncing the attacks on Muslims by Hindu fanatics in Jammu region, Mirwaiz said that the occupation authorities have given free hand to communal forces to attack Muslims, KMS reported. About the resignation of the puppet Chief minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, the APHC Chairman said:“The writing on the wall is very clear for New Delhi. PDP, NC and Congress don't represent aspirations of Kashmiris. Nobody here is bothered about fall of so-called government,” he said. (Posted @ 16:45 PST) Four contractors killed in Iraq BAGHDAD, July 8 (APP/AFP) - A roadside bomb killed four contractors and wounded eight other people near Mosul, the US military said Tuesday. The attack targeted a convoy on Monday, the military said but did not specify whether the contractors were Iraqis or foreigners, or whether they were security or civilian contractors. (Posted @ 16:35 PST) Blast kills two Palestinians in Gaza GAZA, July 8 (Reuters): Two Palestinians were killed and two others were wounded Tuesday in an explosion that ripped through a Hamas training camp in the central Gaza Strip, security officials and medics said. A Palestinian security source said the blast appeared to have been an accident involving explosives rather than an Israeli attack. (Posted @ 13:20 PST) Three policemen killed in Russia's northern Caucasus MOSCOW, July 8 (Reuters): Three policemen were shot and killed early on Tuesday in Baksan, a small town in Russia's North Caucasus region of Kabardino-Balkaria, Interfax news agency said quoting local law enforcement officials. “Criminals attacked a highway patrol post situated in the so-called Baksan circle and shot dead three members of the police with an automatic weapon,” police said. (Posted @ 13:05 PST) Two killed in insurgent attack on Somali town MOGADISHU, July 8 (AFP): Militants shelled the Somali town of Baidoa overnight, killing two government soldiers and wounding seven others, officials and residents said Tuesday. The attack was claimed by the Shebab movement and targeted the presidential palace in Baidoa, 250 kilometres northwest of Mogadishu and home to the country's transitional parliament. “Two soldiers were killed and seven others admitted to hospital after a mortar shell struck a tent where they were sleeping near the presidential palace,” government security official Hussein Mohamed Moalim said. (Posted @ 12:55 PST) Church of England votes in favour of women bishops LONDON, July 8 (AFP): The Church of England voted late Monday to allow women bishops, British media said, despite fears the move will prompt a major split after more than 1,300 clergy threatened to leave if it was passed. The General Synod, the church's legislative body, held the crunch vote at a meeting in York, northern England, following a passionate eight-hour debate which pitched conservatives against liberals. The vote took place across the three houses of the General Synod. Bishops voted to bring forward legislation to ordain women bishops by 28 to 12, clergy were in favour by 124 to 44 and laity by 111 to 68. The Church of England, led by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, is the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion, which has about 77 million followers. It first ordained women priests in 1994 amid a storm of controversy. (Posted @ 11:10 PST) 15 dead or missing in landslides in southwest China BEIJING, July 8 (AFP): Up to 15 people were dead or missing after torrential rains in southwest China triggered landslides in mountainous areas toppling houses and burying villagers, the Xinhua News Agency said Tuesday. Nine people were confirmed dead and six others were missing since the rains last week set off mud and rock slides engulfing the Liangshan prefecture in Sichuan province, Xinhua said. Six of the confirmed fatalities occurred in Long'en village which was swamped by 223 millimetres of rain over the five-day period. (Posted @ 09:55 PST) Three Saudis killed in an explosion in southern Bishah province RIYADH, July 8 (AP): Three Saudi men were killed and another seriously wounded in an explosion Monday in the southern Saudi province of Bishah, a security official said. The explosion was caused by a projectile that was probably left over by the army, which used to carry out exercises in the desert area, the official said. (Posted @ 09:10 PST) Serbian parliament elects pro-EU government BELGRADE, July 8 (AFP): Serbia's parliament approved late Monday a new government that has made membership of the European Union its foreign policy priority. After a day-long debate, 127 of 164 deputies present at the session voted for the new cabinet led by Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, while 27 MPs were against. Ten deputies did not vote. (Posted @ 09:10 PST) Karachi Stocks down 65.14 points: KARACHI, July 08: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 11813.24, down 65.14 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:15 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, July 08: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 73 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:15 PST)
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