- DAWN - RSS Feeds; October 07, 2008

October 07, 2008

Tuesday

Shawwal 7, 1429

Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)

Salarzai jirga declares area cleared of militants KHAR: A jirga of the Salarzai tribe in the Bajaur tribal region has declared that the area has been cleared of militants and asked the government to set up check posts to reestablish its writ. The jirga held in Pasht on Tuesday was attended by prominent elders and ulema (religious scholars) of the Salarzai tribe who signed a written agreement not to allow local and foreign militants in their area. It was decided that lashkar (militia) would continue its activities against pro-Taliban militants. (Posted 23:39 PST)

Three blasts in Lahore, at least five hurt Three blasts of low-intensity were reported in Lahore on Tuesday evening. Unconfirmed reports say that at least five people were injured. (Posted 23:00 PST)

State Bank says high call rates due to Eid KARACHI: The central bank said on Tuesday the pressure on money market rates in recent days was mainly due to people withdrawing cash to pay for festivities and charity donations at the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramazan. Governor Shamshad Akhtar, governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, said in a statement that the country's banking system was resilient and could withstand different types of market shocks and the adverse macroeconomic situation. (Posted 22:46 PST)

Sindh govt to lift ban on flour transportation KARACHI: The government of Sindh has decided to lift ban on the flour transportation in Sindh province and will ask Punjab government to provide flour to overcome the recent flour shortage. This was stated by Provincial Information Minister Sindh, Shazia Atta Marri while talking to journalists after the meeting of Sindh Cabinet here on Tuesday. (Posted 22:15 PST)

Tata Motors to make Nano cars in Gujarat MUMBAI: Tata Motors Ltd will make its ultra low-cost Nano car in western Gujarat state, Chairman Ratan Tata said Tuesday, days after India's top vehicle maker pulled out of West Bengal because of violent protests. The plant to be built at Sanand, near Ahmedabad, will be located on about 1,100 acres (and have an initial capacity of 250,000 units, which can be expanded to up to 500,000 cars per year, Tata said. (Posted 20:47 PST)

Dubai property developers unveil huge new projects DUBAI: Property developers in Dubai remain upbeat about the growth of the sector, which has seen prices rocket in recent years, despite warnings of overheating and the global financial turmoil. With housing prices tumbling in the United States, Britain and other Western countries, real estate developers in the booming Gulf city state rolled out multi-billion-dollar projects this week. (Posted 20:36 PST)

548 Indonesians killed in Eid holidays road exodus JAKARTA: At least 548 people died and 702 were seriously injured on Indonesian roads during an annual mass exodus to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, police said Tuesday. Every year millions of people in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation head from cities to hometowns and villages to celebrate the Eid al-Fitr holidays that mark the end of the fasting month. (Posted 20:27 PST)

Shoaib in, Yousuf out for Canada T20 LAHORE: Controversial paceman Shoaib Akhtar was included in a 15-man Pakistan squad for this week's Twenty20 tournament in Canada but star batsman Mohammad Yousuf was left out, selectors said on Tuesday. The selection of the 33-year-old Akhtar came after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) softened its stance on a demand for payment of a seven million rupees (90,000 dollars) fine. (Posted 20:03 PST)

Iraq FM says 'very close' to security pact with US BAGHDAD: The United States and Iraq are now ‘very close’ to an agreement on the presence of American troops in the country beyond 2008, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said on Tuesday. ‘There have been new ideas and new language that could be acceptable, but no final decision has been made. This needs some bold political decisions now,’ Zebari told reporters in Baghdad's highly-fortified Green Zone. (Posted 19:53 PST)

Iranian jets forced US warplane to land in Iran TEHRAN: An Iranian news agency said on Tuesday that a US military aircraft had violated Iranian territory unintentionally and had been forced to land in Iran. The semi-official Fars News Agency did not say when the incident happened. (Posted 19:15 PST)

Nawaz Sharif offers to broker Afghan talks ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) chief Nawaz Sharif is willing to broker talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, his spokesman said Tuesday, amid reports that Sharif is already playing a key role. The offer came after a Pakistani newspaper reported that Sharif, in conjunction with Saudi Arabia, is helping to seek a settlement between the hardline Taliban and the US-backed regime of President Hamid Karzai. (Posted 18:49 PST)

Turkey threatens Iraq raid after Kurdish rebel attack ANKARA: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened Tuesday to launch a raid into northern Iraq as warplanes bombed Kurdish rebel targets across the border after a deadly attack killed 17 troops. Describing Turkey's position as one of self-defence, Erdogan said his government was determined to crush the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), using all available means, including a possible cross-frontier operation. (Posted 18:21 PST)

Asfandyar offers militants peace talks PESHAWAR: Having escaped assassination by a suicide bomber last week, Asfandyar Wali Khan in northwest Pakistan said on Tuesday he was ready to negotiate with militants so long as they laid down arms. ‘I want to make it clear that I can't negotiate at gunpoint,’ Wali Khan, head of the ruling party in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), told a news conference in Peshawar. (Posted 18:13 PST)

Ijaz Butt appointed new PCB chairman ISLAMABAD: Former test wicketkeeper batsman Ijaz Butt has been appointed the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, a PCB official said on Tuesday. 'Yes, Mr. Ijaz Butt has been appointed by the president as new chairman of the cricket board,' PCB's Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi told The Associated Press. (Posted 17:45 PST)

World Bank chief says G7 is obsolete WASHINGTON: The Group of Seven rich nations is no longer effective and should be replaced by a steering group that includes emerging economic powers like China, India and Brazil, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said on Monday. In a speech ahead of meetings of G7 finance leaders in Washington this weekend, Zoellick said the global financial crisis was a “wake-up call” that required broader cooperation across more countries. (Posted 17:18 PST)

Discoveries in subatomic physics wins Nobel STOCKHOLM: Two Japanese and an American have won the 2008 Nobel Prize for discoveries in the world of subatomic physics, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced on Tuesday. American Yoichiro Nambu of the University of Chicago won half of the prize for the discovery of a mechanism called spontaneous broken symmetry in subatomic physics. (Posted 17:13 PST)

Beijing demands return of Uighars from Guantanamo BEIJING: China on Tuesday demanded the repatriation of Chinese Muslims held by the United States military at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. The United States is holding 17 ethnic Uighurs from western China at the naval prison. Their lawyers say US authorities have cleared the Uighers of suspicion of being terrorists, but that they do not want to send the Chinese Muslims to China for fear they will be tortured. (Posted 17:01 PST)

Pakistan probes sectarian link to Bhakkar blast MULTAN: Pakistani police on Tuesday said a Shia lawmaker whose house was targeted in a suicide attack had earlier received threats from a sectarian militant group linked to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. At least 22 people were killed and 62 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up in the outhouse of PML-N leader Rashid Akbar Niwani on Monday. (Posted @ 16:05 PST)

Pakistan to deport 60,000 Afghan refugees KHAR: Pakistan has ordered around 60,000 Afghan refugees to leave a troubled border tribal area where security forces are battling Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants, AFP reported on Tuesday. The deportation order for the displaced Afghans in the lawless northwestern region of Bajaur came after a deadline set for them to go back to their homeland expired on Sunday, security officials said. (Posted @ 15:57 PST)

Honda drivers pray for rain in Japan TOKYO: Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button are praying for rain this week, believing it will boost Honda's chance of scoring precious points at the Japan Grand Prix to brighten up a disappointing season. “I hope the track will be a little bit wet so we can get some more points with the cars,” Barrichello said in Tokyo ahead of Sunday's race at Fuji Speedway. (Posted @ 15:44 PST)

Authorities lift curfew in Occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR: Schools, businesses and government offices reopened on Tuesday and vehicles were back on the streets in Occupied Kashmir as authorities lifted a two-day curfew from the troubled Himalayan region. Government forces removed steel barricades and layers of razor wires from the roads across the Kashmir Valley and thousands of Kashmiris flooded the streets of Srinagar buying food and other essentials. (Posted @ 15:26 PST)

Liverpool steal late victory as Chelsea retains leads LONDON: Chelsea stayed top of the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Sunday while Liverpool kept pace after an astonishing comeback earned them a 3-2 win at Manchester City. First half goals by Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka steered Chelsea to a routine win and put them on 17 points from seven matches, the same as Liverpool who trailed 2-0 before a Fernando Torres double and Dirk Kuyt’s stoppage time winner. (Posted @ 14:55 PST)

Odds stacked against Australia BANGALORE: If statistics and experience alone won cricket matches, world champions Australia would be regarded as no-hopers in the Test series against India starting on Thursday. At least 12 in the 15-man touring squad have a combined tally of only 130 Tests between them, the same number that India captain Anil Kumble has played and 20 fewer than batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar. (Posted @ 13:21 PST)

Fifa president seeks stricter rules for foreign owners BRUSSELS: Sepp Blatter wants stricter rules on foreign ownership of European clubs which has left soccer exposed amid the economic downturn, the FIFA president said on Monday. “There must be better control of football's finances especially in the difficult financial climate we are facing,” Blatter told reporters at the European Parliament. (Posted @ 13:13 PST)

ECB chairman confident over Stanford match LONDON: England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke expressed confidence Monday over the world’s richest cricket match, the 20-million dollar Stanford Super Series clash against the West Indies. The opening match between England and the Stanford Superstars side in Antigua on November 1 has been thrown into jeopardy by a dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and their sponsors Digicel, which is currently the subject of arbitration proceedings in London. (Posted @ 12:55 PST)

Govt urged to release promised legal aid KARACHI: Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, who has been mobilising support for her younger sister facing trial in a New York court, has urged the Pakistan government to release the promised fund to meet her legal expenses and reiterated the demand for her early repatriation. Addressing a news conference at the Karachi Press Club on Monday, Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, accompanied by Secretary General of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Iqbal Haider, thanked the government for its efforts towards the release of Dr Aafia’s son and expressed hope that the government would also help in securing the release of her two other children, who were allegedly kidnapped and brutalized in captivity by the Americans. (Posted @ 12:09 PST)

SBP injects Rs54bn into banking system KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan on Monday injected Rs54 billion into the banking system to save it from the extreme credit crunch and unexpected high call money rates, ranging from 32 to 40 per cent. The first full day banking, after Eid holidays, opened with a severe shortage of liquidity which pushed up inter-bank money rates much higher than the expectations of banks. (Posted @ 11:58 PST)

Bandits loot Rs15 mn from Karachi bank KARACHI: A policeman and a bandit were wounded when gunmen robbed Rs15 million from private security guards at the Water Pump intersection on Monday. The heist, said to be one of the biggest in the city’s recent history, occurred when cash was being shifted from a bank into an armoured vehicle of the Phoenix Security Company, police said. (Posted @ 11:18 PST)

US supports Taliban return to power WASHINGTON: The United States said on Monday it’s 'very supportive' of an Afghan reconciliation effort that could bring the Taliban back into the government in Kabul after severing their ties with al-Qaeda. A CNN report claimed that the Taliban had already agreed to dump al-Qaeda, a militant group the United States blames for sponsoring the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States. (Posted @ 09:55 PST)

All a matter of form, is it? Is our country and all who sail in her just there as a matter of form? Does Rehman Malik, the unelected minister of interior and senior-most member of the cabinet, and his out of control empire say(s) things just for form’s sake? Why, only two days ago the news was flashed on our TV screens telling us that three, not one, not two, not four, but exactly three tractor-trolley loads of explosives were seized somewhere within the precincts of Islamabad the Beautiful. Upwards of 800 kilos we were told had been confiscated. (Posted @ 09:24 PST)

Elders refuse to form Lashkar in Landi Kotal LANDI KOTAL: Elders of Kukikhel and Shinwari tribes in Khyber Agency have refused to adhere to the government demand about the formation of a tribal Lashkar in their respective areas. Khyber Agency political administration convened a jirga of Shinwari elders at the Jirga Hall on Monday which was attended by nearly one hundred local elders. (Posted @ 09:13 PST)

Fed, Treasury confront financial crisis WASHINGTON: The Federal Reserve and the US Treasury, armed with new emergency powers, announced measures Monday to tackle a rapidly escalating financial crisis as panicked investors fled stock markets. The central bank and Treasury said they were studying the possibility of making unsecured loans in an effort to keep credit flowing in the financial system. (Posted @ 08:51 PST)

Nigerian conflict a warning for Big Oil in Iraq BAGHDAD: Recurrent violence in oil-rich parts of Nigeria may provide a sobering lesson for oil companies hoping to work in Iraq — a place that is much more dangerous despite the fact that attacks are at their lowest level in more than four years. Representatives of 34 international oil companies and Iraqi officials are to meet in London on Monday to discuss the bidding process for eight enormous oil and gas fields. If the contracts are approved, they could lead to the biggest foreign stake in Iraq since the industry was nationalized more than 30 years ago. (Posted @ 08:44 PST)

Thai Police attack anti-government protesters BANGKOK: Thai police fired tear gas to try and disperse thousands of anti-government protesters massing outside parliament on Tuesday, injuring at least ten people, police and medical officials said. Police fired off the rounds at about 6.20am (2320 GMT Monday) after rumours circulated that authorities would break up the fresh rally, state-run television channels reported. (Posted @ 08:27 PST)

Jamat-e-Islami protest against PPP govt's failures HYDERABAD: Ameer Jamat-e-Islami Sindh chapter, Moulana Asadullah Bhutto has said that his party has launched a train march from Peshawar today against the price hike, rampant lawlessness, massive unemployment, military operation in the northern areas, American aggression against Pakistan and other issues. Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Monday, he said, the main objective of the train march was to highlight the problems confronting the country and the masses. (Posted @ 05:49 PST)

ANP stresses military operations in NWFP PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party (ANP) has sought assurances from the highest level of political and military leadership on the seriousness of the fight against terrorism. ANP leaders say the outcome of its meetings and discussions currently being held in Islamabad with senior political and military leadership would largely determine the fate of its government. (Posted @ 05:24 PST)

Dow dives below 10,000 amid recession fears EW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks slid for a fourth straight day on Monday, leaving the Dow below 10,000 for the first time in four years, on fears the global economy was hurtling into recession despite government efforts to contain the fast-spreading financial crisis. The steep declines came in the first full session since the US Congress approved a $700 billion bailout of the financial industry, as lending came to a virtual halt and investors shifted their focus to the crumbling outlook for the economy and profits. (Posted @ 05:03 PST)

Protests held against PPP leaders for victimization DADU: Supporters of Dadu Ittehad Panel (Jatoi group) staged demonstration in Mehar on Monday to protest against PPP MPA Fayaz Butt and his supporters for occupying a patrol pump and other property of Sikandar Butt. Butt alleged that PPP leaders and MPA Fayaz Butt were victimizing the Dadu Ittehad Panel leaders and pressing them to change their loyalty from the former minister Liaquat Jatoi group to PPP. (Posted @ 04:49 PST)

Protests against Katchi Abadi regularisation NAUSHAHRO FEROZE:The activists of Jeay Sindh Mahaz took out a rally in Moro on Monday demanding of the Sindh government to withdraw its announcement about the regularisation of 450 katchi abadis in Karachi. JSM (J) activists led by their leaders, Mohammad Hashim Khoso, Ahmed Khan Chandio and Sikandar Jarwar, took out a rally from Shaheed Abdul Razzaq Soomro chowk and after marching through Shahi Bazaar, National Highway and other roads, reached opposite local press club where they observed token hunger strike. (Posted @ 04:32 PST)

China cancels military contacts with US in protest WASHINGTON: China has abruptly canceled a series of military and diplomatic contacts with the United States to protest a planned $6.5 billion package of US arms sale to Taiwan, American officials told The Associated Press on Monday. Beijing has notified the US that it will not go forward with several senior level visits and other cooperative military-to-military plans, said Marine Maj. Stewart Upton, a Defense Department spokesman. (Posted @ 04:13 PST)

Protection of new NATO members divides allies WASHINGTON: NATO's top commander wants to begin military planning to protect newer members of the alliance but allies are divided amid concerns over Russia's reaction, US defense officials said Monday. NATO lacks contingency plans to defend all its newer members from attack, a fact that suddenly became an burning issue for the Baltics and eastern European members after Russia's military intervention in Georgia in August. (Posted @ 02:41 PST)

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