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| October 21, 2008 | Tuesday | Shawwal 21, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Fed rolls out new aid to financial sector WASHINGTON: The US Federal Reserve reached deeper into the troubled financial system on Tuesday to offer help to money market mutual funds in its latest response to recent turmoil. Under a new program, the Fed offered cash for purchases of short-term debt, including certificates of deposit and commercial paper, issued by highly rated financial institutions. (Posted 23:32 PST)
Kazakhstan withdraws soldiers from Iraq ASTANA: Kazakhstan pulled its soldiers out of Iraq on Tuesday following a five-year stint designed to highlight the ex-Soviet nation's support for the Unites States. Although tiny, Kazakhstan's detachment of 29 sappers and engineers to Iraq in 2003 symbolised its efforts to forge closer ties with the West to balance off Russia's traditionally strong influence in the former Soviet Central Asia region. (Posted 23:11 PST)
NA committee recommends drastic cuts in foreign trips ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the Finance Committee of the National Assembly on Tuesday recommended drastic cuts in what was termed as ‘unnecessary’ foreign trips by parliamentarian delegations, keeping in view the overall financial crunch faced by the country. The meeting which was chaired by Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza reviewed expenditures for the current financial year and discussed in detail the fast eroding value of the rupee against the dollar. (Posted 22:53 PST)
Saudi Arabia indicts 991 over al Qaeda violence RIYADH: Saudi Arabia indicted 991 suspected al Qaeda militants for carrying out 30 attacks since 2003, Saudi media reported Tuesday. An Interior Ministry spokesman told Al Arabiya television that most of the indicted men are Saudi nationals. A statement from Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz said charges had been laid against the suspects, who have been handed over to the courts for trials. (Posted 22:52 PST)
Joint session activates parliamentary committee ISLAMABAD: The joint in-camera session of the two houses of parliament on Tuesday formed a 16-member bi-partisan parliamentary committee to draft a resolution for the formulation of a policy on national security and the war on terrorism. According to parliamentary sources, the committee has been given 24 hours for the completion of this task. The committee went into session at parliament house and was busy in proceedings till late in the evening. (Posted 21:28 PST)
Sarkozy calls for economic govt for eurozone STRASBOURG: French President Nicolas Sarkozy called Tuesday for an ‘economic government’ for the eurozone, working alongside the European Central Bank, despite German reticence. ‘It is not possible for the eurozone to continue without clearly identified economic government’ Sarkozy told the European Parliament in Strasbourg during a speech focused mainly on the global financial crisis. (Posted 20:27 PST)
Five security officers killed in southern Russia MAKHACHKALA, Russia: Five Russian security force officers were killed on Tuesday in clashes with rebels in the restive Dagestan region, a spokesman with the local interior ministry told AFP. ‘Four special forces officers were killed and six were injured’ in an operation south of the regional capital, after one policeman was killed in the same area when rebels opened fire on his car, the spokesman said. ‘A special operation is continuing to seize members of an illegal armed group,’ he added, requesting anonymity. (Posted 20:13 PST)
15 killed in militants-tribes clashes in Iraq HILLA, Iraq: At least 15 men were killed and 14 more wounded on Tuesday in fierce early morning clashes between insurgents and Sunni tribes in the central Iraq province of Babil, police and a medic said. The ferocious firefight came just two days ahead of a planned transfer of security control in Babil by US forces to Iraqi troops. (Posted 20:01 PST)
Qasim Zia unanimously elected by PHF congress RAWALPINDI: The 45th Congress Committee of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) which met on Monday unanimously elected Qasim Zia as the 22nd president of the federation besides approving a record budget of Rs 373.3 million. Speaking to the media, Qasim, a former PPP Punjab President and presently an MPA in Punjab Assembly, said after the committee meeting that being a former hockey player he would give more time to the national game than to politics. (Posted 19:30 PST)
Tour chiefs set for more innovation in 2009 PARIS: Tour de France chiefs are on Wednesday set to finally end months of waiting by unveiling the route that they hope will provide another exciting, albeit cleaner, race for the famous yellow jersey. In the months since Spaniard Carlos Sastre claimed overall victory, a host of stage and jersey winners - including Austrian Bernard Kohl and Stefan Schumacher of Germany - have been exposed as drugs cheats. (Posted 19:18 PST)
Airstrikes kill 11 militants in Bajaur KHAR: Pakistani helicopter gunships and fighter jets on Tuesday pounded militant hideouts in a tribal region near the Afghan border, killing 11 rebels, a security official said. The attacks took place in the Bajaur region, where Pakistani troops and militants have been engaged in fierce fighting since August. (Posted 19:16 PST)
Global markets encouraged by new US stimulus plan LONDON: World markets showed encouraging signs of recovery on Tuesday on hopes of another US economic stimulus package and a thaw in frozen credit markets, analysts said. Investors took their cue from Wall Street where stocks soared overnight as Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke threw his support behind another government spending package to kick-start the world's largest economy. (Posted 19:14 PST)
Pakistan, Bangladesh agree to promote cooperation ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bangladesh have expressed the desire to intensify bilateral cooperation in divergent fields particularly in the area of defence. The issue was discussed in a meeting between Federal Minister for Defence, Ch Ahmed Mukhtar and the visiting Chief of the Army Staff of Bangladesh, Gen Mueen U Ahmed. The dignities exchanged views on various aspects of defence cooperation and underscored the need for enhanced interaction between the Armed Forces of the two countries, beside promoting people-to-people contacts between the two Muslim countries. (Posted 18:47 PST)
Afghan journalist gets 20 years jail for blasphemy KABUL: Afghanistan's appeal court sentenced an Afghan journalist to 20 years in jail, commuting an earlier death sentence, for distributing an Internet article that said the Prophet Mohammad had ignored the rights of women. Perwiz Kambakhsh, 23, a reporter with the Jahan-e Now daily, was sentenced to death in January by a court in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. (Posted 18:31 PST)
300 suspected people expelled from N. areas, Gilgit PESHAWAR: Northern areas and Gilgit Police Tuesday expelled 300 suspected people from the area and recovered 450 vehicles. The step has been taken to ensure the security of Chinese workers and engineers working at Karakoram highway, a private TV channel quoted a police officer in Gilgit as saying. (Posted 17:51 PST)
Obama not a favourite in Pakistan LAHORE: Barack Obama may be winning in the US and most global popularity polls, but he's a loser in Pakistan. Dozens of students interviewed at two top universities by the Washington Times in this country's second-largest city, a cultural melting pot known for its liberal leanings, rejected Mr. Obama as ‘too aggressive,’ ‘irresponsible’ and an ‘enemy of Muslims’ whose stated policy toward insurgency-plagued areas would make a bad situation worse. (Posted 17:37 PST)
17 militants arrested, arms recovered DARA ADAM KHEL: Security forces arrested 17 militants including Uzbek nationals and recovered a huge cache of arms during a search operation in Dara Adam Khail. According to details, during the search operation, the forces arrested 17 militants from a home and majority of them were Uzbek nationals. (Posted 17:23 PST)
Inspired Vettori dashes Bangladeshi hopes CHITTAGONG: New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori dashed Bangladesh's hopes of a first major Test win on Tuesday with a fighting half-century as the tourists reeled in a mammoth target for victory in the first match. Vettori, who also took nine wickets, hit 76 to spare his team's blushes as the tourists reached the required 317 for seven wickets after tea on the last day. (Posted 17:22 PST)
Bangladeshi Afghan war veterans form political party DHAKA: A group of over 300 Bangladeshis who fought Soviet troops in Afghanistan in the 1980s have formed a political party and will contest polls in Bangladesh in December, their leader said Tuesday. Islamic Democratic Party (IDP) chief Kazi Azizul Haq said his party would maintain the country's secular legal system but promised to introduce an Islamic parallel for those who wanted to adhere to it. (Posted 17:15 PST)
Nuclear incident would make 9/11 insignificant SYDNEY: The world is on the brink of an avalanche in the spread of devastating weaponry, a new global non-proliferation group warned Tuesday, saying that a nuclear incident would dwarf the September 11 attacks. The Middle East, particularly Iran, is a potential tipping point, according to Gareth Evans, co-chair of the newly formed International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament. (Posted 17:08 PST)
Mullen warns Iraq on security deal BAGHDAD: US military chief Michael Mullen bluntly warned Iraq Tuesday that it risked security losses of “significant consequence” unless it approves an agreement on a legal basis for US forces there. Admiral Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also charged that Iran was working hard to scuttle passage of the so-called Status of Forces Agreement, or SOFA. (Posted @ 16:48 PST)
Saudi to put almost 1,000 in dock for Qaeda trials RIYADH: Saudi Arabia said it plans to put in the dock almost 1,000 defendants in the first trials of Al-Qaeda suspects after more than five years of deadly Islamist violence. “We have started to bring before the judiciary 991 people implicated in various incidents,” Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz told the official SPA news agency late on Monday. (Posted @ 16:35 PST)
Dhoni stumped by subdued Australia after crushing win MOHALI: India's stand-in skipper Mahendra Dhoni was surprised at Australia's lack of fight in the second test after the hosts clinched a record 320-run win on Tuesday to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series. Dhoni was also quick to hail his batsmen, particularly centurions Saurav Ganguly and Gautam Gambhir, and a bowling attack led by leg spinner Amit Mishra, who took seven wickets as a late replacement for injured skipper Anil Kumble. (Posted @ 16:19 PST)
Man of Pakistani origin found guilty in terror case COPENHAGEN: Two men have been found guilty in Denmark of preparing a terrorist attack. Hammad Khuershid, a Danish citizen of Pakistani origin, and Abdoulghani Tokhi, an Afghan, were arrested after conducting a small test blast with the same explosive that was used by suicide bombers who killed 52 commuters in London in 2005. (Posted @ 15:47 PST)
Growing suicide risk in the face of reality It’s a common observation that circumstances make people commit crimes. A man in distress, which often triggers fits of anger, stands more chances of committing serious offenses, but taking one’s own life is altogether a different issue. Views on suicide have been influenced by cultural views on existential themes such as religion, honour and the meaning of life. However, in Islam and Pakistani culture, suicide is considered a crime and the person who commits it is regarded as a coward. (Posted @ 15:44 PST)
Japan moves to extend Afghan naval mission TOKYO: Japan took a step towards extending its naval mission in support of US-led military operations in Afghanistan on Tuesday, when parliament's lower house approved a bill extending its mandate for another year. Prime Minister Taro Aso has campaigned to keep the mission going, saying Japan must back up its biggest ally and fulfill its global security responsibilities. (Posted @ 15:21 PST)
Wild boars threaten President’s House ISLAMABAD: The federal capital has become a high security zone in the wake of the prevailing situation, but when it comes to the protection of President’s House, no stone is left unturned to ensure foolproof arrangements. Though a strong contingent of security personnel is manning the President House, it still is not safe from intruders who manage to enter the Presidency through the back door. These intruders are none other than wild boars. (Posted @ 15:06 PST)
India, Pakistan resume Kashmir trade after 60 years ISALAMABAD: India and Pakistan began trading between their respective parts of Kashmir for the first time in six decades on Tuesday, raising hopes of a drop in tension in the disputed Himalayan region. A convoy of 13 trucks carrying mostly apples set off on a historic trip to Azad Kashmir from occupied Kashmir, with 14 trucks with Pakistani goods making the journey in the opposite direction. (Posted @ 13:18 PST)
Pakistani team inspects Baglihar dam NEW DELHI: A three-member Pakistani delegation headed by Indus Water Commissioner Syed Jamaat Ali Shah on Monday inspected the Baglihar dam in occupied Kashmir’s Jammu region and collected data of water inflow, outflow and storage capacity of the dam. Indian officials said the Pakistani team inspected the dam for five hours and recorded water levels, outflows and capacity of storage. (Posted @ 12:14 PST)
Police arrest Raj Thackeray in Mumbai MUMBAI: Police in the western Indian state of Maharashtra have arrested Raj Thackeray, the head of a local right-wing party after attacks on north Indian migrants, sparking protests around the state capital Mumbai. Raj Thackeray, who heads the small but vocal Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), was arrested earlier on Tuesday in Ratnagiri, a police spokesman said, and was being brought to Mumbai, India’s financial hub. (Posted @ 12:09 PPST)
India crush Australia by 320 runs in Mohali MOHALI: India recorded their biggest Test win by bundling Australia out for 195 runs in the second Test at Mohali. India now has a 1-0 lead in the four-match series, with the first match ending in a draw. Australia started day five on 141–5, needing another 375 runs to meet the 515-run target set by India. Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan took advantage of the conditions in the morning and claimed three wickets in the space of four deliveries, missing a hat-trick opportunity in the process. The other two wickets were claimed by rookie spinner Amit Mishra, who took a five-wicket haul in the first innings. (Posted @ 11:32 PST)
Security firms told to recruit locals KARACHI: The Sindh government has ordered the implementation of a 2002 decision pertaining to the recruitment of local people in security companies and providing them with necessary training. The government has also stressed the need to carry out a survey to find out the actual number of workers domiciled in Sindh among the present employees of security agencies. (Posted @ 11:15 PST)
Over 60 lockers broken open in another heist KARACHI: In a heist eerily similar to the one experienced by the same bank some time back, a pair of robbers broke open lockers of a Habib Bank branch on Sunday night and made off with cash and valuables worth millions of rupees. The two bandits wearing uniforms of HBL security guards bearing proper monograms came to the bank’s Faisal Cantonment branch situated on Sharea Faisal at around 8pm and knocked at the door. The suspects introduced themselves to the guard on duty as the bank’s employees, saying that they had been sent by the chief security officer for routine checks. (Posted @ 10:43 PST)
And our ghosts too Last week I had implored the powers that be in our own country and in Amreeka Bahadur too that unless we exorcised our devils we could not go to a better place than where we find ourselves today. As just one example I had taken up the very curious case of Aafia Siddiqui, but only in the context of the letter Her Excellency the US ambassador to the Land of the Pure had written to the Pakistani press. A letter that really boggled the senses senseless. (Posted @ 10:34 PST)
Sale of expired drugs on the rise in Sukkur SUKKUR: Substandard, expired and samples of drugs given free of cost to doctors by pharmaceutical companies, are being sold openly at majority of medical stores in the district and quacks’ business is spreading by leaps and bounds thanks to large-scale corruption among drug inspectors. A large number of drug wholesalers and retailers were involved in selling substandard and expired medicines and samples. (Posted @ 10:14 PST)
Protecting civilians Considering the deep roots that the Taliban have struck in the tribal and some settled areas of the north, it is clear that there is a need to retain the military option when it comes to eliminating the insurgents’ positions. However, the validity of strikes such as those witnessed in Barthana village, Swat, on Sunday must be questioned. Apparently more than 20 innocent civilians were killed in the Swat attack alongside 25 — as officially reported — militants, while several houses were damaged. (Posted @ 09:27 PST)
Lunar mission to boost India in Asian space race CHENNAI, India: India's space programme takes a giant leap Wednesday with the launch of its first lunar mission that marks promotion to the same league as regional powerhouses Japan and China. The unmanned lunar orbiting spacecraft Chandrayaan-1 is scheduled to blast off aboard an Indian-built rocket at 6:20 a.m. on Wednesday from Sriharikota on India's southeastern coast. (Posted @ 08:30 PST)
PML-Q protest and walk out of joint in-camera session ISLAMABAD: The PML-Q’s lawmaker’s protest and a token walk out from the joint in-camera sitting of both houses of parliament on Monday marred the general debate that was entered the crucial stage where both sides of the divide needed a consensus on national policy on war on terrorism. The N-league and MQM also supported the PML-Q in its protest against publicizing of FIR on basis of slain PPP leader Benazir Bhutto to what was termed as a deliberate attempt to disrupt the close to consensus atmosphere in the house which could have culminated at passage of a unanimous resolution paving the way for drawing a new policy on national security strategy. (Posted @ 05:18 PST)
Cannibal chef jailed for 30 years LONDON: A chef who murdered a lover and ate part of his flesh after cooking it with fresh herbs and olive oil was jailed in Britain for at least 30 years on Monday. Sentencing Anthony Morley to life, British judge James Stewart said the murder was one of the most gruesome he had ever encountered and reminiscent of a scene from a work of fiction. (Posted @ 04:47 PST)
Civilian casualties rise due to military operation MINGORA: At least seven civilians including a woman and two children were killed and 13 others received serious injuries when artillery shells hit different residences at Shah Dehri in the troubled Kabal area here on Monday. The security forces denied the killing of civilians and stated that seven militants were killed in clash with security personnel at Shah Dehri. (Posted @ 04:38 PST)
Symbian pins hopes on open-access future LONDON: Users of the Symbian mobile phone operating system, meeting in London this week, hope that making the software freely available will help it regain momentum in the battle with new rivals like Apple and Google. The two-day conference is the first since Nokia, the world's largest mobile phone maker, announced in June it would buy out its partners in UK-based Symbian for $410 million and make its software royalty-free to all phone makers. (Posted @ 03:30 PST)
AIDS virus may cause clots, early death WASHINGTON: The AIDS virus, HIV, may cause blood clots and other problems with blood vessels that can kill patients prematurely even if they are relatively healthy, researchers reported on Monday. They found that patients given breaks from their HIV prescriptions had higher levels of blood proteins associated with inflammation, an often dangerous immune response. (Posted @ 03:08 PST)
HEC in economic crisis due to lack of funds ISLAMABAD: The government has again put Education Commission (HEC) in economic crisis by not releasing development grant worth Rs4 billion which was due early this month, a well placed official told Dawn. The government had already conveyed to the HEC’s officials that it would not be able to provide the required funding for the ongoing second quarter of the current financial year and a cut of 50 per cent is expected to be imposed, the official said. (Posted @ 02:57 PST)
Israel FM slams swastika image of Pope JERUSALEM: Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Monday condemned a photomontage of Pope Benedict XVI with a swastika displayed on his chest which was published on a website run by supporters of her Kadima party, a close aide said. Livni, who has been tasked with forming a new Israeli government after the resignation of outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, asked for the image to be removed but distanced herself from the website, aide Amir Goldstein said. (Posted @ 02:09 PST)
Former chief justice visits Supreme Court ISLAMABAD: After much a do, deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry entered the Supreme Court premises here Monday for the first time since his sacking on November 3 last year when former President Pervez Musharraf proclaimed emergency. Justice Iftikhar also announced to disclose many things on the first anniversary of the emergency. The deposed chief justice was speaking at the Supreme Court Bar Association where he had gone on the invitation of association’s President Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan to attend their meeting and to avail a picture opportunity with the outgoing executive committee members. (Posted @ 02:07 PST)
Turkish court starts hearing high-profile coup case SILIVRI: A shadowy right-wing group went on trial in Turkey on Monday on charges of trying to topple Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's government. Eighty-six people, including retired army officers, politicians, lawyers and journalists, are accused of planning assassinations and bombings to sow chaos and force the military to step in. (Posted @ 12:03 PST)
Founder: Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah
Editor: Abbas Nasir
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