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| February 21, 2007 | Wednesday | Safar 3, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
India, Pakistan sign nuke deal NEW DELHI, Feb 21 (AFP) India and Pakistan signed Wednesday a deal to reduce the risk of a nuclear arms accident. The New Delhi signing ceremony took place in public after Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Pakistani counterpart, Khurshid Kasuri, held an hour and 45 minutes of talks. “The holding of the joint commission meeting as scheduled is a reaffirmation of the commitment of both India and Pakistan to the dialogue process,” Mukherjee told reporters.“You have also witnessed the signing this morning of the agreement between India and Pakistan on reducing the risk of accidents relating to nuclear weapons.” (First Posted @ 12:10 PST Updated @ 15:30 PST)
Pakistan, India to discuss troop pullout from Siachen NEW DELHI, Feb 21 (AFP) Pakistan and India will hold fresh talks on withdrawing troops from a strategic glacier in disputed Kashmir that is billed as the world's highest battlefield, the two sides said Wednesday. “We have both agreed that the directors general of military operations will meet ... we have suggested some dates,” Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri told reporters after talks with his Indian host, Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee. “I spoke to his excellency (Mukherjee) about that (Siachen glacier) and as soon as the dates are agreed we will be very happy for that meeting to take place,” Kasuri said. “The discussions have taken place both at the civil and military level,”Mukherjee said, adding Pakistan had suggested another meeting at the military level. “The date will be sorted out later,” he said.(Posted @ 15:30 PST)
Kasuri calls on Manmohan Singh NEW DELHI, Feb 21 (APP) Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri on Wednesday called on Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and discussed bilateral relations including the Kashmir, Siachin and Sir Creek issues. During the hour-long talks, which also included a one-on-one meeting, they discussed the peace process and underscored the need to carry it forward. Singh also offered condolences and expressed his sympathies for the victims of the Samjhota Express blasts. (Posted @ 22:10 PST)
Spanish soldier killed, two hurt in Afghanistan MADRID, Feb 21 (AFP) A Spanish soldier serving with NATO forces was killed and two others wounded in an “attack on a convoy” at Shindand, south of Herat, the Spanish defence ministry said Wednesday. Their vehicle “apparently hit a mine,” the ministry said, revealing that four Spanish armoured vehicles had been providing back up to Italian troops without giving further details on the mission. (Posted @ 22:00 PST)
Missile shield in Poland, Czech Republic to counter Iran: Rice BERLIN, Feb 21 (AFP) US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said here on Wednesday that a planned missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic was designed to counter a threat from Iran. “We have a growing Iranian missile threat and we need to be able to deal with that,” Rice told reporters ahead of a meeting in the German capital of the Quartet for Middle East peace. Rice dismissed suggestions that the planned shield posed a threat to Russia. (Posted @ 21:56 PST)
Failure in Afghanistan would threaten US, Europe: adviser BRUSSELS, Feb 21 (AFP) US National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley on Wednesday urged NATO members to increase spending on alliance efforts in Afghanistan, warning that failure of the mission there undermines European and US security. Hadley, who held talks in Brussels with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, said failure in Afghanistan would be a “tragedy” and called for increased funding for the operation. (Posted @ 21:54 PST)
US army Blackhawk makes 'hard landing' in Iraq BAGHDAD, Feb 21 (AFP) A US army Blackhawk transport helicopter made what a military spokesman described as a “hard landing” north of Baghdad on Wednesday, without hurting any of the crew. Iraqi police officers said the chopper came down in fields near the town of Tarmiyah. (Posted @ 21:50 PST)
Groundbreaking Danish artist dies COPENHAGEN, Feb 21 (AFP) Carl Henning Pedersen, one of Denmark's most famous painters and a founder of the COBRA art movement, has died aged 93, an official said Wednesday. Pedersen's works are known for their bright, expressionistic imagery. He was often described as a painter of fantasy and fairytale. (Posted @ 21:46 PST)
Al-Jazeera journalists released after Taliban ordeal KABUL, Feb 21 (AFP) One British and three Afghan journalists working for Al-Jazeera television were captured by Taliban in Helmand province, held overnight and released Wednesday, one of the team members said. (Posted @ 21:42 PST)
President Musharraf directs check on price hike RAWALPINDI, Feb 21 (APP) President General Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday directed the government to control price hike and inflationary trends, and stressed the need for sustaining the economic growth rate through regular monitoring. He was speaking here at a presentation made by the Ministry of Finance to prepare a ten-year roadmap for the country's economic development. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also attended the meeting. The meeting was informed that since December the inflation has dropped from 8.9 percent to 6.6 percent while the food related inflation has declined to 7.7 percent from 12.7 percent due to increased supply situation. The President gave directions to diversify the country's industrial sector by developing the engineering sector and “viewing the industry beyond textiles.” He also called for developing the livestock and dairy sector through value addition. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the Foreign Direct Investment was likely to touch the US 6 billion dollars mark in the current year that was far higher than the US 3.8 billion during last year. (Posted @ 21:34 PST)
Gunmen kill two persons in Waziristan Agency WANA (South Waziristan), Feb. 21 (APP) Unknown gunmen shot dead a local tribal leader in Tank district on Wednesday and fled the scene. In another such incident, unknown gunmen opened indiscriminate fire on a man in front of his house in South Waziristan Agency and killed him on the spot. (Posted @ 20:20 PST)
India's Congress loses regional party support LUCKNOW, India, Feb 21 (AFP) A major regional party in India's largest state withdrew support for the Congress party-led federal government Wednesday as part of a battle for advantage in upcoming local polls. The Samajwadi Party, which holds power in Uttar Pradesh, said its 38 members of the lower house of federal parliament would no longer support the federal coalition from outside in confidence votes. They said the move came after the Congress party recommended the president dissolve the state government for lack of a majority. (Posted @ 19:40 PST)
Three thousand new Jewish homes being built: watchdog JERUSALEM, Feb 21 (AFP) More than 3,000 Jewish settlement housing units are being built in the occupied West Bank where the Jewish population is growing steadily, Israel's anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now said Wednesday. In its annual report on settlements -- considered illegal under international law -- the organisation said the largest sites of construction were in Maale Adumim, east of Jerusalem, Modiin Illit and Beitar Illit. In addition, another 90 caravans were added to wildcat outposts -- which unlike full settlements are not authorised by Israel -- and of which permanent construction is taking place in 30, Peace Now said. (Posted @ 19:34 PST)
Cricket: India stars stripped of new World Cup uniforms NEW DELHI, India, Feb 21 (AFP) India's cricketers were on Tuesday ordered to discard their new World Cup uniforms, 24 hours after they paraded the specially designed kit with much fanfare. The International Cricket Council (ICC) informed the Indian board that only uniforms approved and supplied by the sport's world governing body can be worn at the World Cup in the Caribbean. (Posted @ 19:26 PST)
Mine blast kills three people in Sri Lanka COLOMBO, Feb 21 (AFP) At least three people, including a policeman, were killed and 16 wounded Wednesday in a mine attack in eastern Sri Lanka, police said. (Posted @ 19:04 PST)
Quake measuring 5.9 hits eastern Turkey ISTANBUL, Feb 21 (AFP) An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the open-ended Richter scale shook the town of Sivrice in the eastern Turkish province of Elazig on Wednesday, the Kandilli Observatory here reported. No casualties or damage was reported from the area. (Posted @ 18:26 PST)
Denmark to withdraw all troops from Iraq in August COPENHAGEN, Feb 21 (AFP) Denmark will withdraw all of its 460 troops stationed in Iraq in August, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced on Wednesday. (First Posted @ 15:50 PST Updated @ 18:24 PST)
British troop levels to drop by 1,600 in Iraq: Blair LONDON, Feb 21 (AFP) British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced Wednesday that British troop numbers in southern Iraq would be reduced from 7,100 to 5,500 in the months ahead. The forces could be reduced below 5,000 later this year, he said, adding that British troops would remain in Iraq as long “as we are wanted and have a job to do”. (First Posted @ 10:25 PST Updated @ 18:20 PST)
Blair condemns India train attack as 'nihilistic terrorism' LONDON, Feb 21 (AFP) British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Wednesday denounced a firebomb attack on a train that killed 68 people from India and Pakistan as “nihilist terrorism” as he expressed his sympathies to families. “What's interesting is... that this (train) was a symbol of Hindus and Muslims working together,” Blair told the parliament. “It was a wicked act in itself but it took on a particular proportion of tragedy and evil by the nature of the attack and what it was directed towards…This type of nihilistic terrorism is with us the world over and is the reason why we should stand up to it.” (Posted @ 18:02 PST)
Seven UN police injured in fresh Timor violence DILI, Feb 21 (AFP) Seven international UN police officers were injured on Wednesday in fresh violence in the East Timor capital, the UN envoy to the country said. (Posted @ 17:12 PST)
Cheney warns against retreat from Iraq ABOARD THE USS KITTY HAWK, Feb 21 (AFP) US Vice President Dick Cheney warned Wednesday against “retreat” from Iraq. “I want you to know that the American people will not support a policy of retreat,” Cheney said on the USS Kitty Hawk based in Yokosuka, Japan. “We want to complete the mission, we want to get it done right, and we want to return with honour,” he said. (Posted @ 16:30 PST)
Car bomb kills 13 in Najaf NAJAF, Iraq, Feb 21 (AFP) A suicide car bomber attacked an Iraqi police checkpoint in Najaf city on Wednesday, killing at least 13 people and wounding dozens more, police said. The dead included seven policemen, three women and three children, police added. (First Posted @ 13:55 PST Updated @ 15:45 PST)
Chlorine truck explodes in Baghdad, killing two BAGHDAD, Feb 21 (AFP) A tanker truck carrying chlorine exploded in western Baghdad on Wednesday, killing two people, wounding seven and intoxicating 35 others, security and medical sources said.(Posted @ 15:45 PST)
OIC Ministerial meeting in Jeddah today ISLAMABAD, Feb 21 (PPI) An emergency Ministerial meeting of the OIC is being held in Jeddah on Thursday to discuss Israeli action against the Al-Aqsa mosque. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khusro Bakhtiar will represent Pakistan at the meeting.(Posted @ 13:55 PST)
ERRA not to be disbanded before 2010: NA informed ISLAMABAD, Feb 21 (APP): Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) is to stay till 2010 and will not be disbanded before that time, Minister for Kashmir Affairs Tahir Iqbal informed the National Assembly Wednesday. During the Question Hour, he said that the land for shifting of three worst earthquake affected cities - Muzaffarabad, Balakot and Bagh - is being acquired where construction will be completed in another five years. The minister said the construction of the houses in the earthquake affected areas will be completed by the end of 2008. He said Rs 50 billion has been earmarked this year for the construction of houses and those whose lands were also destroyed in the earthquake will be given additional Rs 75,000.So far, he added, Rs 170 billion has been spent in the affected areas, out which Rs 34 billion was given for the construction of houses. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sher Afgan said out of the 3.5 million earthquake affectees, only 33,000 displaced persons at present were lodged in camps. He informed the House that ERRA was not constructing the houses rather it was the responsibility of the affected persons who have been given cash for the purpose.(Posted @ 13:55 PST)
Iranian president says nuclear work will go on TEHRAN, Feb 21 Reuters) - Iran will press ahead with its nuclear programme, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on the day of a U.N. deadline for Tehran to freeze its uranium enrichment activities. “We ... will continue our work to reach our right (to nuclear technology) in the shortest possible time,” the student news agency ISNA quoted Ahmadinejad as saying in the northern town of Siahkal. “Obtaining this technology is very important for our country's development and honour. It is worth it to stop other activities for 10 years and focus only on the nuclear issue,” Ahmadinejad said. The U.N. Security Council, which in December banned transfers of technology and expertise to Tehran's nuclear programme, may weigh broader sanctions if Tehran, as expected, does not stop enriching uranium for atomic fuel by Wednesday.(Posted @ 13:50 PST)
Israeli forces kill Islamic Jihad man JENIN, West Bank, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Israeli undercover forces killed an Islamic Jihad commander in the West Bank on Wednesday, the militant group said identifying him as .Mahmoud Abu al-Jahim. Witnesses said Jahim was driving his car when undercover troops surprised him and sprayed the vehicle with bullets.(Posted @ 13:45 PST)
Russia wants Abbas and Olmert to negotiate directly MOSCOW, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Israel and the Palestinians should open direct negotiations on the political future of Palestine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said ahead of a big power meeting on the Middle East on Wednesday in an interview with the government daily Rossiskaya Gazeta. “Contacts that would not deal solely with the opening of one checkpoint or another checkpoint, but aim to negotiate what the quartet has called the political horizon of Palestine,” he said.. Lavrov also said Russia wanted the quartet to back the coalition deal between Abbas and Hamas and lift economic sanctions.(Posted @ 13:45 PST)
Kashmir group denies role in India train bombing SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Feb 21 (AFP) –Lashkar-i-Taiba Wednesday denied involvement in this week's bombing of a cross-border India-Pakistan train, saying its activities were confined to the restive occupied Kashmir where it was fighting against the Indian rule. Lashkar issued the denial in a statement published Wednesday on the website of Greater Kashmir, a regional English-language daily. “We don't believe in such brutal acts and killing of innocents; our activities are confined to Jammu and Kashmir where mujahideen (holy warriors) are fighting occupational forces,” Abdullah Gaznavi, the group's spokesman, said in the telephoned statement. “It's the handiwork of the Indian agencies and the Shiv Sena,” Gaznavi charged.(Posted @ 12:00 PST)
US soldier killed in Anbar fighting BAGHDAD, Feb 21 (AFP) - A US soldier was killed while fighting in Al-Anbar, the military said Wednesday.The soldier died “while conducting combat operations,” a statement said.(Posted @ 11:00 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 58.31 points: KARACHI, Feb 21: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 11521.49 , up 58.31 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, Feb 21: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.65 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:20 PST)
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