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| November 20, 2008 | Thursday | Ziqa'ad 21, 2008 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Oil dives below $50, investor confidence sinks Thursday, 20 Nov, LONDON: Oil plunged below $50 a barrel on Thursday, deepening losses over the previous four sessions as battered financial markets reflected ever lower confidence in the world economy and evidence mounted of falling fuel demand. US crude fell $3.71, to $49.91 a barrel by 1402 GMT, the weakest level since January 2007. London Brent crude shed $3.10 to $48.62 a barrel. (Posted @ 20:07 PST)
Bajaur suicide blast kills at least four Thursday, 20 Nov, KHAR: A suicide bomber killed at least four people when he blew himself up on Thursday at a mosque in a restive Pakistani region bordering Afghanistan, officials said. 'The blast took place in the mosque run by an anti-militant tribal elder, Haji Rehmatullah,' local police official Fazal-i-Rabbi told AFP. (Posted @ 19:58 PST)
Suicide blast kills three Afghans Thursday, 20 Nov, KHOST: A suicide truck bomb exploded outside a government compound in Afghanistan Thursday, killing three people and wounding several more including two foreign troops, officials said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack in the Dowmand district of the eastern province of Khost. Two policemen guarding the gate of the district government compound were killed in the blast and several wounded, district chief Lutfullah Babakar Khil said. (Posted @ 19:11 PST)
Abdul Qadir appointed new PCB chief selector Thursday, 20 Nov, ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's cricket board on Thursday appointed former leg-spinner Abdul Qadir as head of its selection committee, an official said. The 53-year-old takes over from former fast bowler Salim Jaffer, who was made head of an interim selection committee last month. ‘Qadir will be our new chief selector,’ Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt told reporters, adding that other members of the selection committee will be announced shortly. (Posted @ 19:07 PST)
France announces 20 bln euro investment fund Thursday, 20 Nov, MONTRICHARD: President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday unveiled a 20-billion-euro investment fund to shore up key French companies hit by the economic crisis and protect them from foreign predators. The amount announced was far below the 100 billion euros (125 billion dollars) initially floated as the planned startup capital last month when Sarkozy announced his French version of a sovereign wealth fund. (Posted @ 18:32 PST)
India beat England in weather-hit third ODI Thursday, 20 Nov, KANPUR: India claimed a 16-run win over England under the Duckworth-Lewis method in a weather-hit third one-dayer on Thursday, taking a 3-0 lead in the seven-match series. India, chasing England's 240 all out, were 198 for five after 40 overs when poor light forced the players off the field to abruptly end what was developing into a keen finish. (Posted @ 18:22 PST)
Taliban threatens revenge over drone raids Thursday, 20 Nov, MIRANSHAH: A Pakistani Taliban commander warned on Thursday there would be reprisals by militants across the country if the US carried out further drone attacks in the tribal territory. Hafiz Gul Bahadur announced the decision at a Taliban council meeting in North Waziristan tribal district which borders Afghanistan, his spokesman said. (Posted @ 17:33 PST)
Protest lodged with US ambassador over strikes Thursday, 20 Nov, ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Thursday US drone attacks in Pakistani territory were ‘intolerable’ as Islamabad lodged a protest with Washington over the latest strike. Speaking in parliament, Gilani condemned the latest US spy drone attack at Bannu district in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday which killed six people, including a major AlQaeda operative. (Posted @ 16:30 PST)
Jets, artillery kill 17 militants in Bajaur: official Thursday, 20 Nov, KHAR: Pakistani jets and artillery killed 17 people, including some Uzbek commanders, as they pounded suspected Taliban and Al Qaeda hideouts in a tribal area, officials said Thursday. The rebels were killed in overnight jet attacks and Thursday morning artillery and mortar bombardments at four places in Bajaur district, part of the troubled region bordering Afghanistan, government and security officials said. A security official said the dead included four Uzbek commanders, who were trained Al Qaeda militants involved in the recent killings and abductions of members of a tribal force known as a lashkar, which was formed last month to help purge the area of insurgents. (Posted @ 14:32 PST)
End of TV strike spells relief for Indian soap fans Thursday, 20 Nov, MUMBAI : Shooting of dozens of Indian television soap operas, hugely popular in South Asia, resumed on Thursday after a television industry workers' union called off a strike on an assurance of better pay and work conditions. The strike ended after a compromise was reached late on Wednesday, welcome news for viewers subject to re-runs of popular soap operas, and broadcasters faced with plunging viewership and nervous advertisers. (Posted @ 15:23 PST)
Sri Lanka army captures more Tiger defences Thursday, 20 Nov, COLOMBO: Sri Lankan security forces on Thursday captured a key defence line of Tamil Tiger rebels after six days of intense fighting that left ‘scores’ of guerrillas dead, the defence ministry said. Government troops took a near five-kilometre front from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) following a new thrust that began on Saturday, the ministry said. (Posted @ 12:02 PST)
Seven dead in army-PKK clashes in east Turkey Thursday, 20 Nov, TUNCELI: A Turkish army officer and two soldiers were killed along with four Kurdish separatist rebels in clashes in eastern Turkey on Wednesday, security sources said. Five soldiers were wounded as Turkish security forces, backed by helicopters, fought the guerrillas of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in the mountainous region of Agri near the border with Iran late on Wednesday, the sources said. (Posted @ 11:17 PST)
One killed, 22 wounded in Bangkok blast Thursday, 20 Nov, BANGKOK: One protester was killed and 22 wounded on Thursday in a blast at a Bangkok demonstration site, police said, raising fears that political violence is resuming after a brief lull for a royal funeral. The explosion hit at 3:28 am (2028 GMT Wednesday) in front of a stage at the prime minister's Government House offices, which anti-government protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have occupied since late August. (Posted @ 10:18 PST)
One dead as torrential rains hit Australia state Thursday, 20 Nov, CANBERRA: Torrential rains killed a woman and troops were deployed to help thousands of people after storms and flash floods hit Australia's Queensland state overnight, just days after cyclonic weather battered the tropical region. The woman was swept away in her four-wheel-drive as storms dumped 250 millimetres (9.8 inches) of rain over the capital Brisbane and cities to the west in just six hours, prompting police to evacuate houses threatened by landslides. (Posted @ 10:10 PST)
Big guns fire on international friendly night Thursday, 20 Nov, PARIS: England’s young generation laid the foundations for a 2-1 triumph over bitter rivals Germany on Wednesday while old nemesis Diego Maradona enjoyed a winning start as Argentina coach with a 1-0 victory in Scotland. On a busy night of international football, world champions Italy had to come from behind to draw 1-1 with Greece, France’s stuttering form continued with a 0-0 draw in Paris against Uruguay while European champions Spain signed off their memorable 2008 with a 3-0 home success over Chile. (Posted @ 08:55 PST)
Aafia case highlights 'dark side' of counter-terrorism Thursday, 20 Nov, NEW YORK: The 'dark side' of US counter-terrorism took center stage Wednesday in the case of Pakistani-born neuroscientist Dr Aafia Siddiqui, who is accused of attacking US officers in Afghanistan, AFP reported. A New York federal judge referred to allegations that the accused, Aafia Siddiqui, was abducted and tortured by US or allied forces prior to her extradition from Afghanistan in August. Siddiqui, 36, is undergoing psychiatric treatment at a government center in Texas and, according to her lawyer, suffers hallucinations featuring her dead, or missing children. (Posted @ 08:05 PST)
Girls’ primary school destroyed by militants Thursday, 20 Nov, MINGORA: Four militants and two women were killed and several others sustained injuries while another girls’ school was destroyed in Bar Bandai in Swat valley on Wednesday. Military sources said the security forces pounded militant hideouts killing four miscreants and injuring several others in the ongoing search operation in restive Swat region. Curfew was imposed in the troubled areas of Kabal tehsil. (Posted @ 04:47 PST)
Wall Street sinks to lowest level since 2003 Thursday, 20 Nov, NEW YORK: Stocks plunged to their lowest level in five-and-a-half years on Wednesday as investors girded for a lengthy economic downturn and automotive executives predicted a far-reaching calamity without a government lifeline. Shares of General Motors Corp plummeted to the lowest in 66 years and Ford hit a 26-year low, but the pain was spread well beyond the automotive sector. Financial shares fell by double-digit margins as a meltdown in the commercial real estate market fanned fears of another wave in the credit crisis. (Posted @ 04:04 PST)
Militants’ hideouts pounded with heavy artillery shelling Thursday, 20 Nov, CHARSADDA: The security forces pounded suspected militant hideouts in Shabqadar and disputed villages near Mohmand border with heavy artillery shelling on Wednesday. However no casualty was reported. The security forces targeted suspected locations of militants with mortar and cannon shells in disputed villages near Mohmand region border on the eighth consecutive day with some intervals. However, tense calm prevailed in the area. Curfew was relaxed and Peshawar-Bajaur road was partially opened for traffic. But the Shabqadar-Michini road was closed for all kind of vehicular traffic. The police once again did not take part in the operation on Wednesday in protest against what they called the security forces firing on the policemen. (Posted @ 04:04 PST)
India blows up pirate boat; tanker owners in talks Thursday, 20 Nov, MOGADISHU: An Indian warship blew up a pirate ship in the Gulf of Aden and gunmen from Somalia seized two more vessels despite a large international naval presence off their lawless country. Pirates have taken a Thai fishing boat, a Greek bulk carrier and a Hong Kong-flagged ship heading to Iran since Saturday's capture of a Saudi supertanker carrying $100 million of oil, the biggest ship hijacking in history. (Posted @ 03:41 PST)
Tom Daschle named as Obama's health secretary Thursday, 20 Nov, CHICAGO: US President-elect Barack Obama selected Tom Daschle, a heavyweight former senator, to be his health secretary on Wednesday, while former President Bill Clinton took steps to help secure his wife the nation's top diplomatic job. Daschle, who served almost two decades in the Senate and was majority leader from 2001-2003 while Democrats controlled the chamber, is a high-profile pick for the lower-profile department of health and human services, reflecting the priority Obama intends to put on health care reform. (Posted @ 03:18 PST)
‘Armed resistance is the only way': Baloch leaders Thursday, 20 Nov, QUETTA: Baloch leaders vowed to continue their struggle for self-determination saying that Pakistani assemblies cannot resolve the problems being faced by baloch people. Speaking at a public meeting in New Kahan camp area on the eve of first death anniversary of late Baloch leader Nawabzada Balaach Marri, here on Wednesday. ‘Armed resistance is the only way to achieve our goal,’ they said, adding that the sacrifices rendered by Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, Nawabzada Balaach Marri and other baloch people is way thought adopting that baloch people could continue their struggle. (Posted @ 02:42 PST)
CII refuses review on recommendations Thursday, 20 Nov, Islamabad: The Council for Islamic Ideology, sticking to its guns on its recommendations for proposed reforms in the Muslim Family Laws, said there is no need of a second review. 'Recommendations were prepared and finalized after extensive discussions within the council in accordance with the concept, teachings and injunctions of Islam,' said Director General Research CII Dr. Syed Nasir Zaidi. (Posted @ 02:26 PST)
Prime Minister orders import to avert looming oil crisis Thursday, 20 Nov, ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani has allowed the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) to import 25,000 metric tons of petrol and 50,000 metric tons of high speed diesel (HSD) to avert an expected shortfall of petroleum products in the country, it is learnt. The decision in this regard has been taken on Monday during a meeting of the members of the Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC) with the prime minister. (Posted @ 01:52 PST)
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Editor: Abbas Nasir
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