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| April 20, 2007 | Friday | Rabi-us-Sani 02, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Pakistan-Afghanistan talks to be held in Turkey ANKARA, April 20 (AFP) The presidents of Pakistan and Afghanistan will visit Ankara on April 29-3O for talks under Turkey's auspices aiming to cool tensions between the two states, the Turkish presidency said Friday. “The summit (between) Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and the visiting presidents will provide an exchange of views on Pakistan-Afghanistan ties and their repercussions on the region,” a statement from Sezer's office said. “The aim of the meeting is to serve regional stability and security.” (Posted @ 15:15 PST)
Pakistan: SC summons Defence, Interior secretaries, others in missing persons' case ISLAMABAD, April 20 (PPI) - The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to the Secretary Defence, Secretary Interior, Director General National Crisis Management Cell and Attorney General to appear in person on April 27 and inform the court about the whereabouts of over one hundred missing persons, who are believed to be in the custody of secret agencies. The Supreme Court bench comprised Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan. During the course of proceedings, Justice Javed Iqbal observed that a commission will be formed for the recovery of these missing persons if needed. He said the court has got 41 people recovered so far and all others will also be got recovered at any cost. (Posted @ 19:40 PST)
Pakistan calls for comprehensive counter- terrorism strategy CHENGDU, China, April 20(PPI): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Friday called for a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy to include military, political, economic and social dimensions. Addressing a seminar at Sichuan University of Chengdu province , he spoke on Pakistan's perspective on contemporary issues of peace, security and development. Shaukat Aziz said outstanding conflicts and disputes between states must be settled on the basis of equity and justice. There should also be a just and equitable economic order, he observed. On regional scenario, he said Pakistan is pursuing composite dialogue process with India with a view to resolving the Kashmir dispute in accordance with wishes of Kashmiri people. On Iran's nuclear issue he said Pakistan favours a peaceful and negotiated solution. Shaukat Aziz said Pakistan firmly believes in 'One China' policy and supports efforts that Beijing was making to achieve national unification. He also inaugurated Pakistan Studies Centre at Sichuan University. Later, addressing a business seminar here, he said Pakistan offers vast opportunities for investment in energy, engineering, oil, gas, automobile, infrastructure development, dams, IT, telecom, banking sectors. “. He said the proposed industrial zone to be set up by China in Pakistan is another hallmark of Pak-China friendship and will be first such project of China outside its territory. (Posted @ 18:54 PST)
President Musharraf to visit Poland, Spain, Bosnia & Herzegovina ISLAMABAD, April 20, (PPI) - President General Pervez Musharraf will pay an official visit to Poland, Spain and Bosnia & Herzegovina from April 22 to 29, Foreign Office said on Friday. (Posted @ 23:56 PST)
Bush: Iraq crackdown has early successes EAST GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan, April 20, (AFP) - US President George W. Bush said Friday it was too soon to judge a US-led security push in Iraq, but stressed already “the direction of the fight is beginning to shift.””There are still horrific attacks in Iraq, such as the bombings in Baghdad on Wednesday, but the direction of the fight is beginning to shift,” Bush said in a speech two days after those attacks killed more than 200 people. (Posted @ 23:22 PST)
Cricket: Australia make 348-6 against New Zealand ST GEORGE'S, Grenada, April 20, (AFP) - Australia made 348-6 off 50 overs in their World Cup Super Eights match against New Zealand at the Grenada National Stadium here on Friday. (Posted @ 22:25 PST)
Cricket: Bangladesh coach Whatmore quits BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, April 20 (AFP) - Dav Whatmore has decided to quit as Bangladesh coach but has agreed to stay on for the home series against India next month, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) media manager Rabeed Imam told AFP. (Posted @ 20:44 PST)
Cricket- Lara quits international cricket BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, April 20 (AFP) West Indies captain Brian Lara will bring the curtain down on his 17-year, record-breaking, international career Saturday when he leads the team in the last match of the world cup against England. “I have given this extensive consideration. I just want everybody to know that on Saturday I am bidding farewell to international cricket as a player,” Lara said after his team's 99-run win over Bangladesh in a Super Eights game here Thursday. The 37-year-old Lara, who made his debut in 1990, played 131 Tests, scoring 11,953 runs with 34 centuries. He holds the world record Test score of 400 not out. Lara has also played 298 one-day internationals, scoring 10,387 runs. (Posted @ 09:10 PST)
HUB-3 burnt to death at Kozi Top HUB, Balochistan, April 20 (PPI): Three persons including the driver were burnt to death when a truck carrying diesel tins from Gwadar to Karachi caught fire after it plunged into a deep ravine along Coastal Highway Friday. The mishap occurred near Kozi top as the driver lost control. (Posted @ 19:44 PST)
Bollywood's star couple marry MUMBAI, April 20 (AFP) - Bollywood stars Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan were married Friday in traditional Hindu ceremony, capping three days of celebrations for Indian cinema's hottest couple. The ceremony was restricted to around 100 close friends and family. Rai, 33, wore a traditional red saree for the ceremony, while the 32-year-old groom sported a traditional turban and sherwani coat. The only controversy came when a little-known Bollywood actress attempted suicide ahead of the wedding, claiming Abhishek had promised to marry her, police said Friday. Janavi Kapoor, who is in her mid-20s and goes by the screen name of Naina, turned up at a local police station Thursday night with a slashed wrist. She also asked to register a complaint against Bachchan, whom she says cheated on her.. We urged her to come back with her parents to register her case,” senior police inspector Pradeep Shinde of Juhu police station told AFP. (Posted @ 19:38 PST)
Cricket: Inquiry clears Pakistan of match-fixing ISLAMABAD, April 20 (AFP) - An inquiry into Pakistan's shock exit from the cricket World Cup has found no evidence that any players were involved in match-fixing, the head of the probe committee Ijaz Butt said Friday. “The inquiry has been completed and there is no evidence of match-fixing against any player,” Ijaz Butt told AFP. He said the report would be submitted to PCB chief Nasim Ashraf next week. (Posted @ 19:36 PST)
Cricket: Moores takes over from Fletcher as England coach LONDON, April 20 (AFP) - Peter Moores was Friday named as England's new head coach following the resignation of Duncan Fletcher in the wake of Michael Vaughan's side early elimination from the World Cup. Moores was previously head of England's academy set-up. (Posted @ 19:34 PST)
Cricket: India omit Tendulkar, Ganguly for Bangladesh one-dayers MUMBAI, April 20 (AFP) - India's cricket selectors on Friday dropped five World Cup flops, including veterans Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, for next month's one-day series in Bangladesh. Bowlers Harbhajan Singh, Ajit Agarkar and Irfan Pathan were the other casualties Ganguly were, however, selected for the two Test matches that follow the three one-day internationals on the 23-day tour of Bangladesh starting on May 10. Veteran leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who quit one-day cricket after the World Cup, was also picked for the Tests. Chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar insisted both Tendulkar and Ganguly were “rested”, saying they will be considered for the tour of England in July. (Posted @ 19:32 PST)
Prime Minister Aziz To Address Boao Economic Forum Boao, China, April 20(PPI): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz arrived here Friday to attend annual Boao Economic Forum meeting along with other world leaders. Pakistan will be discussed at the Forum this year. Prime Minister currently visiting China would be key note speaker at the Forum on Saturday. (Posted @ 18:44 PST)
First Dutch soldier killed in action in Afghanistan THE HAGUE, April 20 (APP/AFP) - A 21-year-old corporal became the first Dutch soldier to be killed in action in Helmand province on Friday when he stepped on a landmine during a foot patrol, the country's chief of defence staff General Dick Berlijn said adding that the exact details of the death were not yet known. (Posted @ 18:36 PST)
Gates warns Iraq US will not stay for ever BAGHDAD, April 20 (AFP) - US Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Friday urged Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to seek national reconciliation, and warned that American troops would not fight on in the country indefinitely. “Our commitment to Iraq is long-term, but it is not a commitment to have our young men and women patrolling Iraqi streets open-endedly,” Gates told reporters after meeting Maliki. Gates said that he had spoken to the premier about “reaching out to the Sunnis,” and told him that recent US troop reinforcements were designed to create space for political progress, not just to end the conflict. Gates also met top US generals and his Iraqi counterpart, Defence Minister Abdel Qader Jassim Mohammed, and afterwards defended the two-month-old “surge” strategy against critics outside Iraq who see it as a failure. “It's not a surprise that the results are mixed at this point,” he said, blaming the bombings on the Al-Qaeda network. “We expected tough times.” (Posted @ 18:30 PST)
U.S. forces kill two in Baghdad mosque clash BAGHDAD, April 20 (Reuters) - U.S. forces killed two gunmen after a patrol came under fire from a mosque in the Shi'ite neighbourhood of al-Bayaa in Baghdad on Friday, the U.S. military said. The clash lasted for about 90 minutes, and a source at Yarmuk hospital said six people were wounded in the attack, including a woman. (Posted @ 18:10 PST)
Two NATO soldiers killed in Afghan south KABUL, April 20 (Reuters) - Two NATO soldiers have been killed in separate bomb blasts in southern Afghanistan, the alliance said Friday but did not say where the incidents happened. (Posted @ 18:02 PST)
Gunmen attack convoy of Iraqi Shi'ite leader's son NAJAF, April 20 (Reuters) - The convoy of the son of powerful Iraqi Shi'ite politician Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim was attacked in the southern Baghdad district of Doura on Friday and six of his bodyguards were wounded, an official said. Ammar al-Hakim's convoy was fired on as it was travelling to Baghdad from Najaf. Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim is leader of the SCIRI, the biggest party in Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's national unity cabinet. (Posted @ 16:24 PST)
Israeli PM invites Jordanian king to Jerusalem JERUSALEM, April 20 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has invited Jordan's King Abdullah to visit the Jewish state as Israel and Arab governments edge toward new discussion of an Arab peace proposal, officials said Friday. No date has been set for the visit by the monarch, Israeli and Jordanian officials said. Israel's Maariv newspaper said Friday that Olmert invited Abdullah over the phone. Jordan was asked this week by the Arab League to try to persuade Israel to accept an Arab peace plan offering normal relations in return for land and a Palestinian state. Abdullah met Israel's acting president, parliamentary speaker Dalia Itzik, on Thursday in Amman, the first meeting by a top Israeli official with an Arab leader to discuss the latest initiative. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni also met her Jordanian counterpart in Amman earlier in the week. (Posted @ 16:02 PST)
Six killed, 13 injured in Muzaffarabad road accident MUZAFFARABAD, April 20 (APP) At least six people were killed and 13 others seriously injured when a Muzaffarabad-bound bus from Bulgran plunged into a deep ravine near the Bulgran village of Neelum Valley area Friday. “Six people died on the spot and 13 others were seriously injured when the bus carrying passengers skidded off the road and plunged into a deep ravine due to break failure”, police said. The injured were rushed to CMH and Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS). (Posted @ 14:48 PST)
Two killed in occupied Kashmir gunbattle SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, April 20 (AFP) Fresh gunbattles between militants and government troops in occupied Kashmir left two dead Friday and sparked a noisy demonstration, police and residents said. Indian soldiers killed two militants during an early morning skirmish in southern Pulwama, army spokesman A.K.Mathur said. Another battle on the outskirts of Srinagar sparked an anti-government demonstration after troops, backed by police, blew up a house where militants were reportedly hiding. Police said the militants managed to escape from the building, but residents insisted there were none there in the first place, shouted anti-government slogans and demanded compensation. (Posted @ 14:48 PST)
US marine killed near Baghdad BAGHDAD, April 20 (APP/AFP) A rocket attack on a US military base killed one marine and wounded two others, the military reported Friday. The projectile struck a forward operating base in the town of Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad late Thursday. (Posted @ 14:48 PST)
Latest Mogadishu violence kills 21 people MOGADISHU, April 20 (Reuters) Sporadic shelling and gunfire went on through the night in Mogadishu and residents Friday said latest fighting and a suicide attack at an Ethiopian base had killed at least 21 people and wounded another 101. In another incident, an Ethiopian truck hit a landmine in southern Mogadishu but details of casualties were not available. (Posted @ 12:31 PST)
Inquest into Woolmer's death postponed due to 'significant' developments KINGSTON, Jamaica, April 20 (AP) An inquest into the homicide of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer has been postponed indefinitely because of ''recent and significant'' developments in the case, the Jamaican government said Thursday. ''Due to recent and significant events concerning the death of Mr. Woolmer, the coroner has been advised that the inquest ... be postponed,'' Jamaica’s Justice Ministry said. ''These new developments are critical to the progress and results of the case.'' Officials will decide whether to hold the inquest after investigating the new developments, the statement said. (Posted @ 11:04 PST)
Two women shot dead in Thai south NARATHIWAT, Thailand, April 20 (AFP) Insurgents shot dead two women in southern Thailand late Thursday in a drive-by shooting, police said. The victims, aged 17 and 20, were gunned down while riding a motorcycle in Narathiwat province. Also in Narathiwat, militants set ablaze an elementary school early Friday, destroying a wooden building, while three Army rangers were hurt when a roadside bomb exploded late Thursday in nearby Yala province. (Posted @ 10:20 PST)
Severed heads delivered to Philippines military ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, April 20 (AFP) Al-Qaeda-linked extremists ordered civilians to deliver the severed heads of seven men to military outposts in the southern Philippine island of Jolo, the army said Friday. The six road workers and a fisherman were kidnapped in separate incidents Monday by Abu Sayyaf militants. On Thursday afternoon, the driver of a commuter minibus was flagged down and ordered to deliver a sack containing two heads to a military outpost in Parang town. A few hours later the other five heads turned up at an outpost in Indanan, the regional military spokesman said, after being delivered by local residents in another sack. (Posted @ 09:26 PST)
Strong quakes raise Japan tsunami fears TOKYO, April 20 (AFP) Two strong earthquakes rattled Japan's southernmost islands Friday, generating a temporary warning for a tsunami. An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 struck off Okinawa at 10:46 am, just an hour after another strong tremor registering 6.2 on the Richter scale. The Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami alert but lifted it about one hour later after no seismic waves hit. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties following the two quakes in Okinawa, a subtropical chain north of Taiwan, local government officials said. (Posted @ 09:10 PST)
Karachi Stocks down 39.21 points: KARACHI, April 20: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 12081.59, down 39.21 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:02 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, April 20: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.75 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:02 PST)
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