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January 13, 2009

Tuesday

Muharram 15, 1430

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

Israeli forces squeeze Gaza, death toll exceeds 950 Tuesday, 13 Jan, GAZA: Israeli forces pushed closer to the heart of the city of Gaza on Tuesday and Israel's top general said 'there is still work ahead' against Hamas in a devastating 18-day-old offensive. The Palestinian death toll rose to 952, Gaza's Health Ministry said, counting some 400 women and children among those killed in the Israeli campaign. Israel says 10 Israeli soldiers and three civilians hit by Hamas rockets have died. Explosions and heavy machinegun fire echoed through the city of 500,000 after Israeli tanks moved nearer to its densely populated downtown area but did not enter, residents said. (Posted @ 23:43 PST)

Accident kills 18 near Buner Tuesday, 13 Jan, BUNER: Eighteen people were killed when a pick-up truck overturned into a roadside ravine in a hilly area at Dankol on the border between Buner and Shangla districts Tuesday. The sole survivor is an eight-year-old child. The nazim of a nearby union council of Sorae, Mujahid Khan, confirmed the number of casualties in the accident stating only a child had survived. The deceased belong to Dankol, a hilly area in the adjacent Shangla district. (Posted @ 23:13 PST)

Lebanese composer Mansour Rahbani dies Tuesday, 13 Jan, BEIRUT: Lebanese composer Mansour Rahbani, well-known in the Arab world along with his brother Assi for their role in musical and theatrical revival, died on Tuesday following a bout of pneumonia. He was 83. 'We have lost the last of the great ones,' Lebanese poet and playwright Paul Shawul told AFP. 'Mansour has joined his second half, Assi,' he added, referring to the death of his brother in 1986. Assi Rahbani was married to legendary Lebanese singing diva Fairuz, for whom the two men composed many songs and plays — widely popular with Arab audiences. Mansour usually wrote the lyrics to the songs and Assi composed the tunes. (Posted @ 22:28 PST)

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s brother released Tuesday, 13 Jan, PESHAWAR: Shahabuddin Hekmatyar, younger brother of Hizb-i-Islami Afghanistan’s Chief Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who was reportedly picked up by intelligence agencies some months ago, has reached home. His family sources revealed he was picked up from an area near Tehkal University Road on August 16. It was reported he was living in Shamshato suburbs which earlier had a refugee camp. He was reportedly a businessman and had nothing to do with the Hizb-i-Islami. The source said Mr Shahabuddin being a businessman was leading an ordinary life. He said it was not yet known as to who had picked him up because he is avoiding talking about his disappearance. The source said it was yet to be confirmed as to what was the purpose of keeping him for so many months. (Posted @ 22:07 PST)

Gilani pledges cooperation with India over Mumbai ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said the Government was carefully examining the ‘information’ about Mumbai mayhem received last week and was prepared to cooperate with India to uncover full facts. Giving a policy statement in the National Assembly, he said the results of the investigations would be shared with India in due course of time.(Posted @ 21:36 PST)

Biden meets al-Maliki to discuss US troop withdrawal BAGHDAD: US Vice President-elect Joe Biden met Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad on Tuesday to discuss withdrawing US troops, seen as a major challenge for the incoming US administration.'Senator Joe Biden asserted the importance of cooperation ... to implement the foreign troop withdrawal agreement signed by the two countries,' Maliki's office said, referring to a deal that requires US troops leave Iraq by the end of 2011.(Posted @ 19:50 PST)

PCB in ‘terrible financial position:’ Ijaz Butt SLAMABAD: Pakistan cricket is on the verge of bankruptcy and needs concrete efforts to restore its coffers after Australia and India cancelled their tours, a top official said on Tuesday.India last month refused to send its team to Pakistan amid heightened tensions following the November attacks on its financial hub Mumbai, which New Delhi has blamed on militants based across the border.(Posted @ 19:45 PST)

Tribesmen block NATO supply route at Chaman QUETTA: Tribesmen continued to block the southwestern supply route for NATO forces in Afghanistan at Chaman to protest the killing of one of their members in a raid by Pakistan's anti-narcotics force.Trucks and other vehicles were blocking the main Quetta-Chaman highway, forcing about 100 trucks carrying NATO supplies to park, according to the region's deputy police superintendent, Mohammad Qasim.(Posted @ 19:00 PST)

Clinton vows 'smart mix' of diplomacy and defense WASHINGTON: At the threshold of the world stage as America's next top diplomat, Hillary Rodham Clinton is vowing to renew US leadership through a 'smart power' mix of diplomacy and defense.In remarks prepared for delivery at her Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday, President-elect Barack Obama's choice to be secretary of state also promised to push for more US partnerships around the globe.(Posted @ 19:00 PST)

Shares rebound after bailout fund launched KARACHI: Pakistan shares rebounded from early losses to close up 0.3 per cent Tuesday after the government launched its much-awaited market investment fund at mid-session, dealers said.The Karachi Stock Exchange's benchmark KSE-100 index finished the session up 17.65 points, or 0.27 per cent, at 6,059.09. Volume was at 165.31 million shares.(Posted @ 18:50 PST)

Afghan, NATO forces kill 12 insurgents KANDAHAR: Troops killed 12 Taliban insurgents in southern Afghanistan and shot dead a would-be suicide attacker apparently planning to attack a patrol, officials said Tuesday.The insurgents were killed late Monday when troops called in air strikes during a battle in Helmand province, said the Afghan army general in the area, Muhaidin Ghori.'NATO forces bombed Taliban positions and killed 12 Taliban insurgents,' Ghori told AFP.(18:50 PST)

Somali pirates release Turkish ship ISTANBUL: A Turkish chemical tanker hijacked off the coast of Yemen last year has been released by its Somali hijackers, a source from the company which owns the ship said on Tuesday. The Karagol, with 14 Turkish crew on board, had been transporting more than 4,000 tonnes of chemicals to the port of Mumbai when it was seized on Nov. 12.'The ship was released last night and everyone on board is fine ... The pirates were persuaded to let them go,' the source from YDC Maritime Co told Reuters, declining to specify whether a ransom was paid.(Posted @ 18:50 PST)

Ethiopian troops quit main bases in Mogadishu MOGADISHU: Ethiopian troops supporting Somalia's Western-backed government quit their main bases in Mogadishu on Tuesday, witnesses said, heralding an uncertain new chapter for the anarchic country.Many residents were overjoyed by the departure of soldiers they saw as occupiers, even though some analysts fear it will leave a power vacuum and trigger more violence by Islamist rebels who have been battling the government and each other.(Posted @ 17:45 PST)

Europe gas halted as Russia-Ukraine deal falters MOSCOW: Russia's natural gas supplies bound for a freezing Europe were halted on Tuesday only a few hours after starting again as an EU-brokered accord between Russia and transit state Ukraine broke down.Ukraine state gas company Naftogaz said it was blocking transit of the gas through its territory because Russian energy giant Gazprom was imposing 'unacceptable' conditions for the transit.(Posted @ 17:30 PST)

Pakistan state not linked to Mumbai attack: Miliband NEW DELHI: Britain's Foreign Secretary said on Tuesday that he believed the Pakistan state did not direct the Mumbai attacks, contradicting accusations from the Indian government that state agencies were involved.'I have said publicly that I do not believe that the attacks were directed by the Pakistani state and I think it's important to restate that,' David Miliband told a news conference after talks with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee.(Posted @ 17:00 PST)

Ethiopian troops quit main bases in Mogadishu MOGADISHU: Ethiopian troops supporting Somalia's Western-backed government quit their main bases in Mogadishu on Tuesday, witnesses said, heralding an uncertain new chapter for the anarchic country. Many residents were overjoyed by the departure of soldiers they saw as occupiers, even though some analysts fear it will leave a power vacuum and trigger more violence by Islamist rebels who have been battling the government and each other. (Posted 17:41 PST)

Pakistan state not linked to Mumbai attack: Miliband NEW DELHI: Britain's Foreign Secretary said on Tuesday that he believed the Pakistan state did not direct the Mumbai attacks, contradicting accusations from the Indian government that state agencies were involved. 'I have said publicly that I do not believe that the attacks were directed by the Pakistani state and I think it's important to restate that,' David Miliband told a news conference after talks with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee. (Posted 16:57 PST)

Malaysia cite internal strife, pull out of Pakistan tour KARACHI, Jan 12: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) suffered yet another blow on Monday when Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) turned down its invitation to play a series in Pakistan. This was announced by PHF spokesman on Monday after the federation received an official word from Malaysia which said that the MHF only refused the tour due to their internal problems.(Posted 15:18 PST)

India to tour Sri Lanka next month COLOMBO: India will travel to Sri Lanka for a five-match limited overs series next month after canceling its scheduled tour of Pakistan. Sri Lanka cricket media manager Shane Fernando said the tour, including a Twenty20 match, will be played in the early weeks of February, but dates and venues are yet to be finalized. (Posted 14:28 PST)

New Zealand beat Windies to take rain-hit series WELLINGTON: New Zealand beat West Indies by nine runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method in the rain-disrupted fifth one-day international at Mclean Park in Napier on Tuesday to win the series 2-1. Chasing 294 for victory after Chris Gayle's 135 and Shivnarine Chanderpaul's 94 had lifted the visitors to 293 for nine, New Zealand were 211 for five after 35 overs when players left the field in heavy rain. (Posted 14:14 PST)

Iran says it has uncovered US-backed plot TEHRAN: Iran has arrested four Iranians accused of involvement in a US financed plot aimed at toppling its Islamic system of government, the judiciary said on Tuesday, Reuters reported. The announcement came a week before the inauguration of Barack Obama as US president. In a shift from George W. Bush’s approach, he has pledged to increase diplomatic efforts to engage Iran and talk directly to its leaders.(Posted 14:04 PST)

Pakistan state not linked to Mumbai attack: Miliband NEW DELHI: Britain's Foreign Secretary said on Tuesday that he believed the Pakistan state did not direct the Mumbai attacks, contradicting accusations from the Indian government that state agencies were involved. 'I have said publicly that I do not believe that the attacks were directed by the Pakistani state and I think it's important to restate that,' David Miliband told a news conference. (Posted 13:57 PST)

Militants attack NATO truck depot in Peshawar: police PESHAWAR: Taliban militants launched a rocket attack on a NATO supply depot in Peshawar early Tuesday, torching one truck and damaging three others, police told AFP. The attack on the outskirts of the city was the first since Pakistan launched a massive military operation late last month in the rugged Khyber tribal region bordering Afghanistan to clear militants from the area. (Posted 10:29 PST)

Israel, Hamas locked in fierce Gaza City clashes GAZA CITY: Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen fought fierce night-time clashes around the Gaza Strip early on Tuesday, as a war on Hamas that had killed more than 900 Palestinians entered its 18th day. Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, told AFP its forces had destroyed two Israeli tanks in the Gaza City neighbourhood of Zeitun, using rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). (Posted 08:56 PST)

Prosecutors to appeal judge's ruling on Madoff NEW YORK: Federal prosecutors said on Monday they will appeal a judge's decision that allows accused swindler Bernard Madoff to stay in his Manhattan apartment under house arrest. ‘The government intends to appeal the (magistrate) court's order to the district court,’ Acting US Attorney Lev Dassin said in a letter to US Magistrate Judge Ronald Ellis. (Posted 05:21 PST)

Israel testing ‘extremely nasty’ weapon in Gaza OSLO: Israel is testing a new ‘extremely nasty’ type of weapon in Gaza, two medics charged as they returned home to Norway Monday after spending 10 days working at a hospital in the war-torn Palestinian territory. ‘There's a very strong suspicion I think that Gaza is now being used as a test laboratory for new weapons,’ Mads Gilbert told reporters at Oslo's Gardermoen airport, commenting on the kinds of injuries he and his colleague Erik Fosse had seen while working at the Shifa Hospital in Gaza. (Posted 05:16 PST)

UN chief demands immediate truce in Gaza UNITED NATIONS: UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday demanded an immediate end to the fighting in the Gaza Strip, as he prepared to travel to the Middle East in hopes of speeding a truce between Israel and Hamas. ‘My message is simple, direct and to the point: the fighting must stop,’ Ban said in his first press conference of the year.(Posted 04:29 PST)

Burris approved for Obama's old Senate seat WASHINGTON: US Senate officials on Monday approved Roland Burris to fill the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, which would give Democrats 58 of the Senate's 100 seats, their biggest majority since 1981. Barring unanticipated objections from Senate Republicans, Burris, appointed to the seat by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, could be sworn in within days. (Posted 04:19 PST)

Army deployed to enforce Hangu ceasefire KOHAT: A complete ceasefire was enforced after militants got assurance from tribal elders, ensuring a safe exit from the Hangu district on Monday. The army entered the city at 11:00am on Monday and took full control of the area. Heavily armed troops were patrolling the bazaar and established check points to face any untoward incidents.(Posted 03:37 PST)

563 Pakistanis to be deported from Oman RAWALPINDI: A ferry carrying nearly 563 Pakistani illegal immigrants arrested in Oman on charges of illegal entry and working without permission, is likely to arrive in Karachi this week, Dawn has leant. In addition to the 563 Pakistani illegal immigrants, there were 1200 more Pakistanis who were suspected of staying illegally in Oman and have been in the custody of Royal Oman Police (ROP) who have been investigating them, the source said. (Posted 02:46 PST)

President says Pakistan will produce indigenous fuels ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday said the government will provide complete secure environment for the foreign investors intending to start different projects in Pakistan. Talking to a German delegation at President House, the president said economic reforms of the country were creating an enabling environment for the private sector to become an engine of growth. The delegation of a leading industrial group of Germany was led by Dr. Olaf Berlien. (Posted 02:33 PST)

NA passes resolution condemning Gaza attacks ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution condemning the Israeli aggression in the Gaza strip and calling upon the international community to help bring the atrocities to an immediate end. The resolution, tabled by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan, said the Israeli military offensive and continued siege of Gaza were in contravention of international law and international humanitarian law. (Posted 02:03 PST)

Indian PM extends ‘good wishes’ to Pakistani leaders ISLAMABAD: Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has extended a message of ‘good wishes’ to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani for the year 2009 amid severe tension between the Pakistan and India that emerged after Mumbai attacks in November last. ‘President Asif Ali Zardari will reciprocate the positive gesture of Indian Prime Minister soon,’ Spokesman for the President Farhatullah Babar told Dawn on Monday. (Posted 02:02 PST)

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