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| April 04, 2008 | Friday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 26, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
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 Nearly half of Pakistanis ”food insecure” - WFP ISLAMABAD, April 4 (Reuters) Nearly half of Pakistan's 160 million people are at the risk of going short of food due to a surge in prices, the World Food Programme said Friday. The WFP survey covering the year to March showed the number of people deemed “food insecure” had risen 28 percent to 77 million from 60 million in the previous year. Sahib Haq, an official with the WFP's Vulnerability Analysis & Mapping Unit in Pakistan, said food prices rose at least 35 percent in the past year compared with an 18 percent rise in minimum wages. “There is a very big gap between the increase in prices and increase in wages ... the purchasing power of the poor has gone down by almost 50 percent,” Haq said. The price of wheat flour in January was between 24-25 rupees (38 U.S. cents) per kg in three of Pakistan's four provinces, compared with 15 rupees per kg in January 2007, the WFP said. Prices have since moderated to around 17 rupees but are expected to shoot up 40 percent or more in the coming months, according to grain industry officials. “There will be a big crisis,” Haq said. Prices for rice, vegetables and cooking oil have also risen sharply. (Posted @ 16:10 PST)  Martyrs never die: PM Gilani GARHI KHUDA BAKSH, Pakistan, April 4 (APP): “Martyrs never die”, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Friday adding that Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is alive and shall for ever remain young in the annals of history. He was talking to the journalists after offering Fateha at the Mazar of PPP's founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Ms Benazir Bhutto and other martyrs. He also said: “We pledge to make Pakistan a really democratic, prosperous, developed and peaceful country in accordance with the philosophy of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as pursued by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto”. Federal Ministers Sherry Rehman, Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Syed Naveed Qamar were also present on the occasion. (Posted @ 20:24 PST) No ambiguity on restoration of judges: Nawaz Sharif ISLAMABAD, April 4 (APP): Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif Friday said Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) were committed to restoring all deposed judges in line with the Murree Accord. “Definitely, the deposed judges would be restored within 30 days,” he said in an interview with a private TV channel. He said legal experts were preparing a draft resolution on the issue for the parliament. Replying to a question, he dispelled the impression that a constitutional amendment could be moved in the parliament under which a parliamentary committee would be formed to make a decision about restoration of November 2 judiciary. He however clarified that a constitutional amendment would be introduced in the parliament in the light of 'Charter of Democracy' with the aim of reviewing rules and regulations concerning appointment of judges and judicial independence. The PML-N chief said PPP and PML-N were unanimous on the proposed constitutional amendment in accordance with the CoD to further promote democratic norms in the country. (Posted @ 19:50 PST) Support to 'war on terror' to continue: Ahmed Mukhtar Sukkur, Pakistan, April 04 (PPI):- Federal Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar said Friday that reinstatement of deposed judges issue would be taken up after the formation of new provincial governments, while there was not harm in cooperating with President Pervez Musharraf provided he did not interfere in parliament's affairs. Talking to newsmen at the residence of PPP leader Islamuddin Sheikh he also said that PPP opted for cooperation with the MQM as part of the national reconciliation process. He said the coalition government would continue the 'war against terror' and hoped that peace would be securedin the tribal areas and massive development projects would soon start there. (Posted @ 20:04 PST) US will cooperate in expanding relations with Pakistan: State Department WASHINGTON, April 4 (APP) “We are looking forward to being able to continue our cooperation and work with Pakistan on a variety of issues from the fight against extremism, to economic and political development, and continuing the democratic process there,” the U.S. State Department said. Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey also reiterated Washington's position at the daily briefing that the country's internal political matters are for the Pakistanis to decide. “In terms of what happens internally in Pakistan's political system, as we've always said, these are issues for Pakistanis themselves to decide,” he said in response to a question about the future political course in Pakistan. (Posted @ 12:10 PST)  Pakistan arrests four Turkish al Qaeda suspects QUETTA, Pakistan, April 4 (Reuters) Pakistani security agencies have arrested four Turks with suspected links to al Qaeda, intelligence officials said Friday. The suspects were detained by paramilitary troops late Thursday as they were travelling on a bus from Balochistan province to Sindh province, the officials said. Interrogations revealed they were Turks, and three were carrying Turkish passports, although they all had fake identity cards. “They are between the age of 30 and 35 and were carrying identity cards showing them as Afghan refugees,” said an intelligence official who requested anonymity. A Frontier Corps official said the men were arrested in Dera Murad Jamali town after a tip-off, and had been handed over to an intelligence agency. (Posted @ 14:20 PST) India, Pakistan to hold fifth round of dialogue in April New Delhi, April 4 (PPI) India and Pakistan are to hold fifth round of composite dialogue when Foreign Secretary Shivshanakar Menon travels to Islamabad this month. India has proposed dates for talks at the level of foreign secretaries in April. The two countries are discussing dates, press reports here said. Menon will review progress of fourth round of composite dialogue with his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Mohammad Khan. They will discuss a host of bilateral and regional issues. Menon's visit to Islamabad, first by a top Indian official after an elected government takes charge, will be followed by a visit by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Islamabad in May-June. (Posted @ 12:40 PST) China, Pakistan military cooperation ''very long standing'' Beijing, April 4 (PPI):- Visiting Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir Friday expressed gratitude to Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy for whole-hearted support for implementation of ambitious F-22P frigate project of Pakistan Navy. He held talks with with Chinese Defence Minister General Liang Guanglie, Commander of PLA Navy Admiral Wu Shengli and other senior officials. The highlight of his visit is launch of first F-22P Frigate – PNS Zulfiqar at Hudong shipyard, Shanghai on April 7. Three of the four ships of this class will be built in China while the fourth will be built at Karachi Shipyard under transfer of technology agreement. Admiral Tahir said the project will act as catalyst for further cooperation in construction of naval ships. (Posted @ 19:54 PST) PM Gilani in Karachi; stresses harmony KARACHI, April 4 (APP) Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani Friday stressed upon developing political harmony in the country. “Politicians need to show maturity for betterment of people”, the Prime Minister said while talking to Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan and Chief Minister Justice (Rtd) Abdul Qadir Halepota at Governor House soon after his arrival here from Islamabad on his maiden visit after taking over the office of Prime Minister. He said the people of Pakistan have high hopes from the political leadership and “we need to come up to their expectations and aspirations.” He was pleased to note that the process of reconciliation has been well received by political forces as well as the business community of Pakistan. “This process will ensure political and economic stability leading towards development and prosperity”, he observed. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani later visited the mausoleum of the Quaid-i-Azam, laid floral wreaths at the mazar and offered fateha. He also recorded his impressions in the visitors' book. Talking to newsmen, the Prime Minister said: “I pledge here at the Mazar that we will serve this country and we will be successful in taking this country out of crisis”. He later flew to Larkana on way to Garhi Khuda Bux to join the death anniversary observance of the founder of the PPP Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. (First Posted @ 12:30 PST Updated @ 17:38 PST) Bus crash kills 15 people in eastern India KOLKATA, India, April 4 (Reuters) - At least 15 people were killed on Friday when a bus in which they were travelling veered off the road and plunged into a canal in eastern India, police said. The driver of the bus, carrying 50 passengers, lost control while overtaking another vehicle in a busy street of Kolkata. “The toll may rise later in the evening as we are looking for more bodies,” police said. (Posted @ 19:40 PST) Close aide of Maulana Fazlullah, six others nettedin Swat valley MINGORA, Pakistan, April 04(APP): Security Forces and district police Friday arrested seven suspected militants including Nasibzada, a close aide of cleric Fazlullah, from Mingora, Khwazakhela and Kabal areas in Swat valley. The administration announced relaxation in curfew from 6 am to 9 pm on Friday and all the shops and markets were opened and life was normal in the entire district. (Posted @ 18:44 PST) Fata problems needs multi-dimensional approach: Governor NWFP Peshawar, Pakistan, April 04 (PPI)- NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani Friday said that the problems in FATA were multi-dimensional and needed a multi-dimensional approach. The situation over there is very challenging and complex as the dynamics of the area are different, he said adding that he was confident that the way things were moving, we would be able to overcome these challenges. Talking to a group of 42 probation officers of Civil Services Academy, the Governor said the issues being faced in FATA and NWFP were a fall-out of the 30-year conflict situation in Afghanistan, which still remained in the grip of anarchy, war-lordism and international norco-mafia. In fact, he said, instability in Afghanistan had destabilized the entire region and the situation would not become stable unless peace and stability returns to Afghanistan. (Posted @ 17:02 PST) Cricket-South Africa 494-7 v India (76) Ahmedabad, India, April 4 (Reuters) - South Africa were 494 for seven in reply to India's first innings total of 76 when play was called off due to rain on the second day of the second test in Ahmedabad on Friday. Scores: South Africa 494-7 ( Kallis 132, AB de Villiers 217 not out) v India 76 (D. Steyn 5-23, M. Ntini 3-18). (Posted @ 16:50 PST) 
UN says 700 killed in Iraq Shiite clashes AMMAN, April 4 (AFP) - An estimated 700 people were killed and more than 1,500 wounded in the fighting between Iraqi government forces and Shiite militiamen last week, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq David Shearer told a press conference in Amman. “That could increase as facts and the numbers become more clear.” The fighting was triggered by an Iraqi offensive against Shiite militias in Basra, which set of a wave of clashes across the country. (Posted @ 16:48 PST) NATO summit generates 2,000 extra troops for Afghanistan BUCHAREST, Romania, April 4 (AP) - NATO leaders offered about 2,000 extra troops for the allied force in Afghanistan during the three day summit that ended Friday, officials said. Georgia offered 500 troops and Poland confirmed it would send eight badly needed helicopters and 400 more soldiers. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said publicly Thursday he would send 700 extra soldiers. Italy, Romania and Greece said they would add training teams for the Afghan army. The United States is the biggest contributor with 19,000 troops, followed by Britain with 7,750, Germany with 3,490 and Canada with 2,500. (Posted @ 16:42 PST) NATO, Russia agree land transit for Afghanistan BUCHAREST, April 4 (Reuters) - Russia agreed on Friday to allow NATO to use Russian land to deliver non-lethal supplies to alliance troops in Afghanistan, but not troops or air transit arrangements as initially sought by NATO. The deal was showcased at a summit between alliance leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bucharest as evidence of cooperation between the former Cold War foes, even though it fell short of NATO hopes. “It's been done. It will cover land transit of non-lethal equipment. Air transit is not for today,” a NATO spokeswoman said. (Posted @ 16:38 PST) Aide to Israeli security minister shot near Gaza ASHKELON, Israel, April 4 (Reuters) - A top aide to Israeli Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter was wounded by gunfire from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on Friday during a border tour with a delegation from Canada, medical staff said. Dichter was nearby but was not injured in the shooting. “I was standing with a group of about 20 people and suddenly fire was opened from the Palestinian side,” Dichter told reporters at Barzilai hospital in the Israeli city of Ashkelon where his aide was hospitalised. (Posted @ 16:00 PST)
Cricket-South Africa's Lorgat named new ICC chief NEW DELHI, April 4 (Reuters) South Africa's Haroon Lorgat has been appointed the new chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC), the governing body announced on Friday. The 47-year-old Lorgat will take over from current CEO Malcolm Speed after the governing body's annual conference starting on June 29, the ICC said in a statement. (Posted @ 16:00 PST ) Cricket: Pakistan's Akhtar appeals against ban KARACHI, April 4 (AFP) Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar Friday appealed against a five-year ban imposed by Pakistan's cricket authorities for violating the players' code of conduct by publicly criticising the board. “I have filed an appeal against the ban and hope that I will get justice,” Akhtar told AFP. The board's chairman, Nasim Ashraf. Thursday said: “if Akhtar appeals we will tackle the matter as per our rules. I have the right to be the chairman of the appellate committee but I withdraw from it and will form an independent committee.” (Posted @ 16:00 PST) Sarkozy ready to travel to Colombian border for Betancourt: French FM BUCHAREST, April 4 (AP) French President Nicolas Sarkozy is ready to travel to Colombia's border with his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez if it could help free rebel-held hostage Ingrid Betancourt, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Friday. In an interview with Associated Press, Kouchner also said France could temporarily take in freed Colombian rebels in its Caribbean territories as part of a deal to free Betancourt and other hostages. Betancourt, a former Colombian presidential candidate who also has French citizenship, may be within hours of death if she doesn't get a blood transfusion, her son has said. (Posted @ 14:15 PST) Suicide bomber kills 20 at Iraq funeral BAQUBA, Iraq, April 4 (AFP) A bomber detonated his explosive-filled vest in a crowd of people at a funeral in the Iraqi province of Diyala Friday, killing at least 20 people and injuring at least 23 others, local police officers told AFP. The chief of security operations in Diyala, Major General Abdul Karim al-Rubaiye, said 20 people were killed in the attack on the funeral of a policeman in the town of Al-Sadiyah, northeast of the provincial capital Baquba. (Posted @ 13:05 PST) Suicide bomb attack kills three police, one civilian in southern Afghanistan KABUL, April 4 (AP) A suicide bomber blew himself up near a police vehicle Friday on the outskirts of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province, killing three policemen and a civilian, provincial police chief Mohammad Hussein Andiwal said. The attack wounded three people, including a policeman and two civilian passers-by, Andiwal said. In eastern Kunar province, a truck supplying fuel to NATO troops hit a roadside bomb that killed an Afghan driver Thursday, said a statement from NATO's International Security Assistance Force. (First Posted @ 11:00 PST, Updated @ 13:05 PST) Earthquake of 6.4 magnitude shakes southern Iran TEHRAN, April 4 (Reuters) A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck southern Iran Friday, the IRNA news agency reported but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. IRNA said the quake occurred at 0035 GMT near the island of Hendourabi in the southern province of Hormozgan. (Posted @ 12:30 PST) Iran installs advanced nuclear centrifuges VIENNA, April 4 (Reuters) Iran has begun installing advanced centrifuges in its key uranium enrichment complex, accelerating activity that could give it the means to make atom bombs in future if it chooses, diplomats said Thursday. Iran has now assembled more than 300 centrifuges divided into two cascades (interlinked networks) to expand beyond 3,000, diplomats with access to intelligence told Reuters. “One of the two cascades is using the advanced model, the other the older one. There are more machines in the advanced cascade than the set of 164 typically used for the (older model),” said one of the diplomats, requesting anonymity. Iran's ambassador to the IAEA told Reuters he was unaware of new progress at the Natanz enrichment complex. The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, which has inspectors at Natanz, declined comment. (Posted @ 12:00 PST) Tornado hits Little Rock, Arkansas LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, April 4 (AP) A tornado hit parts of Little Rock and its suburbs Thursday, damaging businesses and downing trees and power lines. There were no immediate reports of injuries or fatalities, said Renee Preslar, a spokeswoman with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management. Another storm was reported later Thursday evening near Hot Springs, about 40 miles southwest of Little Rock. Preslar said the Hot Springs area experienced flash floods and some fires from lightning strikes. (Posted @ 11:25 PST) Sri Lanka military bombs rebels COLOMBO, April 4 (AFP) Sri Lankan war planes bombed inside Tamil Tiger territory in the north of the island Friday as security forces reported a further 21 rebels were killed in ground fighting, military officials said. The air force hit suspected positions of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the northern Wanni region, with the rebel deaths occurring in fighting on Thursday. Fighting was raging near the Catholic pilgrimage area of Madhu in the northwestern coastal district of Mannar, rebels and security forces said. (Posted @ 10:50 PST) Brazil police kill 14 in Rio shootouts RIO DE JANEIRO, April 4 (AP) Police killed at least 14 people in shootouts in Rio de Janeiro Thursday, including 10 suspected gang members who were gunned down in a raid targeting their leader, officials said. About 120 officers raided the Coreia shantytown in western Rio Thursday morning, recovering drugs and guns, said a police spokesman who requested anonymity. Three suspects were arrested, but the gang leader escaped, he said. Police said they found the bodies of 10 suspected gang members. Earlier Thursday, police killed an alleged car thief and three suspected drug dealers in two separate shootouts in the poor Rio suburb of Nova Iguacu. (First Posted @ 09:10 PST, Updated @ 10:25 PST) Roadside bomb kills US airman in Baghdad BAGHDAD, April 4 (AP) An American airman was killed by a roadside bomb in central Baghdad Thursday, the U.S. military said. The airman was on a patrol around noon when the attack occurred, a statement said. (Posted @ 09:55 PST) At least eight dead in US house fire NEW YORK, April 4 (AFP) Eight people were killed and another two were missing, presumed dead in a house fire in a rural area in the northeastern US state of Pennsylvania Thursday, police said. Police were still investigating the cause of the fire. (Posted @ 09:55 PST) 
Cricket- Sri Lanka 217-5 v West Indies - close PORT-OF-SPAIN, April 4 (Reuters) Sri Lanka were 217 for five at the close of play against West Indies on the rain-affected opening day of the second and final test in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad Thursday. Scores: Sri Lanka 217-5 (T.Dilshan 58 not out). (Posted @ 09:15 PST) 19 killed in Suriname plane crash PARAMARIBO, April 4 (AFP) Nineteen people including two children were killed Thursday when an airplane on a domestic flight crashed in the former Dutch colony of Suriname, President Ronald Venetiaan said. “From the 19, two are pilots and 17 are civilians,” Venetiaan told reporters at the military base adjacent to the Paramaribo airport. About an hour after taking off, the plane bound for Bennzborp town crashed in a mountainous region near the French Guiana border, the airline said. (Posted @ 09:15 PST) Karachi Stocks up 127.13 points: KARACHI, April 04: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 15472.45, up 127.13 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:05 PST) Forex update: KARACHI, April 04: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 63.35 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 16:05 PST)
Founder: Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah
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