PM Gilani leaves for China today

ISLAMABAD: Prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has left for China today. He will participate in the seventh Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM7) summit in Beijing.where he will also meet with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh. The other engagements of the Prime Minister during his two-day stay in the Chinese capital will be his sidelines meetings with other world leaders who will be here for the summit including Prime Minister of Malaysia, Prime Minister of Italy and German Chancellor. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is also likely to have brief interaction with Chinese leaders, President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao.

LHC issues notice to chairman Wapda

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued notice to chairman Wapda against on a petition filed against imposing Neelum-Jehlum surcharge on industrial units. Pakistan Paper Board and other industrial units filed the petitions. LHC has also approved the petition against raise in electricity tariffs on March 1 2008 for formal hearing.

23 killed in Bajaur Agency operation

KHAR: Gunship helicopters have started shelling in charming, Cheenar, Kohi and Babarha areas of Nawagai Tehsil destroying various underground hideouts and bunkers of militants. Security forces in their latest crack down killed 5 militants while 18 militants were killed in the last night operation in Mamund Tehsil. Security forces by heavy artillery shelling and Mortar Guns pounded militant positions through out the night in Charmang, Cheenar, Hashim, Kohi and Babarah areas of Bajaur Agency. Security forces backed by Heavy artillery, Tanks and Armed Personal Carriers are marching towards important areas of Tehsil Khar some 18 kilometers from Headquarter Khar. Security forces have taken control of Loysam and the surroundings areas, where militants were having a strong hold.

Govt wants to resolve NAPA issue through dialogue: Shazia Mari

KARACHI: Sindh minister for information Shazia Mari said that the government is not against the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) but the Hindu Gymkhana is owned by the Hindu community. She said that the NAPA can continue its work at the same place or at any other substitute place. Shazia Mari said this in an exclusive talk with Geo News in the Media Forum held under the ministry for population welfare here at a local hotel. She said that the government does not want to compel any but it also wants to resolve the issue of the building, where the NAPA came into existence, through dialogue. Shazia Mari further said that the doors of the government are open all time for dialogue with the NAPA management. Minister for population welfare Jam Mehtab Daher also addressed the forum.

German FM to visit Pakistan tomorrow

Monday, October 27, 2008

ISLAMABAD: German Deputy Chancellor and Foreign Minister Dr Frank Walter Steinmeier will arrive in Pakistan tomorrow (Tuesday) to discuss the situation in Afghanistan and various bilateral matters, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Sunday.

Dr Steinmeier will be heading a delegation comprising economic experts, businessmen and journalists, and will meet Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and President Asif Ali Zardari during the day-long visit, the FO said.

The German minister, who earlier visited Pakistan in May 2007, will be the second high profile German official, after the country’s defence minister, to visit Pakistan in the last two months.

Germany is Pakistan’s largest trading partner in Europe and the fourth largest importer of Pakistani products. Germany is also a member of the Friends of Pakistan forum. The FO said the visit was expected to enhance bilateral co-operation in various fields and was an expression of Germany’s commitment to augment relations with Pakistan.

Germany is playing a significant role in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan and is actively involved in several socio-economic development assistance projects in the North West Frontier Province and Northern Areas of Pakistan. Germany is also providing Pakistan’s renewable energy sector with technical expertise and funding.

A significant Pakistani community lives in Germany and a large number of Pakistani students are getting higher education in German universities.

No gas load shedding in Balochistan and Sindh: SSGC

Monday, October 27, 2008

LAHORE: The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) will continue uninterrupted gas supply to its consumers in Sindh and Balochistan despite a shortage of gas being faced by the country, Geo News quoted SSGC spokesman Inayatullah as saying on Sunday. According to the channel, the spokesman said that if needed “the SSGC will also provide gas to the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines”, adding that all arrangements had been finalised in this regard. He clarified that the SSGC was not considering any load shedding programme for the domestic and industrial consumers of Sindh and Balochistan. He said the Karachi Electric Supply Company was not being supplied 19 million cubic feet gas owing to the annual maintenance work at the SSGC gas field. He said that the supply had been restored now.

Senate committee chief demands cut in oil prices

Monday, October 27, 2008

ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Interior Chairman Talha Mahmood demanded on Sunday that the government reduce oil prices, as petroleum prices had fallen internationally.

He said people were already suffering due to the unbridled increase in the prices of daily necessities and massive unemployment. Talha said it was very unfortunate that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) had failed to take any appropriate steps in this regard despite the fact that oil prices in the international market had gone down by $70 per barrel. He said price hike and inflation were adding to miseries of the people. He said OGRA should be abolished and another price control mechanism and regulatory system should be put in place immediately.

Security high alert in Capital

Monday, October 27, 2008

ISLAMABAD: Security was put on red alert in Islamabad on Sunday after a report about the entry of two explosive-laden vehicles into the federal capital, a private TV channel reported. According to the TV channel, large contingents of police had been deployed at all entry and exit points of the city after receiving information that two Mehran vehicles packed with explosives had entered the capital, adding that police had started checking vehicles following a directive from Interior Adviser Rehman Malik.

Strong quake shakes Afghanistan

Monday, October 27, 2008

KABUL/TEHRAN: A strong earthquake of magnitude 5.6 struck north-eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, but caused no casualties or damage, a government official said.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said on its website the quake’s epicentre was at a depth of 208 km (130 miles).

The quake occurred at about 6 am local time and was also felt in the capital, Kabul, some 260 km (160 miles) from the epicentre lying to the south of the city of Faizabad of northeastern Badakhshan province.

Mountainous Afghanistan is an earthquake prone country.

Earthquakes in northern Badakhshan province killed thousands of people in the late 1990s.

In 2002 at least 1,500 people were killed when a series of quakes of between magnitude 5 and 6 struck northern Baghlan province in the Hindu Kush mountains, destroying the district capital of Nahrin. reuters

An Iranian official says nine people were wounded after an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 hit southern Iran.

The quake is part of a series of tremors that has jolted the area over the past months

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2 die in Quetta bomb blast

QUETTA: Two persons have been killed in a bomb blast near city Nazim office here on Monday.

According to police sources, a bomb blast occurred outside city Nazim office near Liaquat Bagh in which two persons were killed and several injured. The blast also damaged the nearby buildings and vehicles parked in the area. Police have cordoned-off the area after the blast.

Ambulances and fire tenders have reached the scene and rescue operations underway. The injured have been shifted to hospital.

http://www.geo.tv/10-27-2008/27655.htm

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Magnitude 6.5 quake jolts Queeta, many houses collapse

QUEETA: A strong earthquake jolted Queeta with magnitude 6.5 on Richter scale that left many houses collapsed however no loss of life was reported in preliminary reports here on early Wednesday. The epic center was 500 km away from Peshawar, capital city of NWFP. Meanwhile, some houses in adjoining areas were reportedly demolished due to quake that trigged panic among masses. Many security forces opened aerial fire to alert people who were sleeping here. Atleast 15 people have been died till the filing of this report.

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EC postponed local bodies by-elections

ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) postponed local bodies election scheduled to be held on November 17 in all four provinces. According to sources of EC, the elections on district, taluqa and town levels have been postponed because of law and order situation in Punjab, Sindh, and Frontier and hajj season. Earlier, Balcohistan government had announced the postponement of elections due to earthquake.

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Martial law imposed in country on Nov 3: Justice Iftikhar

RAWALPINDI: Deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said that November 3, 2007 is an important day in the country’s history.

Addressing the lawyers’ convention here on Monday, deposed chief justice said that lawyers and civil society had launched a movement for supremacy of law and constitution on March 9, 2007, adding Almighty gave success to the movement.

Justice Chaudhry termed the November 3, 2007 action as a martial law in the country. He noted there was a difference in November 3 and previous martial laws. No Assembly has endorsed the martial law enforced on November 3, he added.

“I am confident that present assembly will not endorse this martial law,” said deposed chief justice, adding government, opposition, lawyers, politicians and other section of the society have now realized that supremacy of law and constitution is must for the country.

He further said that it was very unfortunate that democratic governments could rule the country for 24 years only. Judiciary was also responsible for backing the dictatorship in the country, he said.

He revealed that former premier Shaukat Aziz had conveyed to him about former president Pervez Musharraf’s anger on verdict given in Steel Mills case. The deposed chief justice said that he had replied that verdicts would be given according to the law and constitution only.

He said that media highlighted the verdict of Pakistan Steel Mills in a positive manner due to which the credibility of Supreme Court was restored. “Whatever happened to me in the Army House is nothing new for people,” he said.

Justice Chaudhry said that Supreme Court gave its verdict on July 20, 2007 after which all government’s hopes attached to the top court faded away. “I was conveyed through some friends that rulers wanted to restore good ties with me,” he said, adding I was also told that Musharraf wanted to meet me, but I turned down his request several times.

Deposed chief justice further said Musharraf made several attempts to meet me which continued from July 20 to November 3, 2007. During this period, he said, four important cases were admitted to the Supreme Court including return of exiled leaders, voters’ lists case filed by slain PPP leader Benazir Bhutto, president’s case and fourth case was about his uniform.


The News.

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Obama says recession will worsen without bold action

Obama, who takes office on Jan. 20, has promised to set a new course for the economy and to move quickly to toughen the financial regulatory system.

“I don't believe it's too late to change course, but it will be if we don't take dramatic action as soon as possible,” Obama said in excerpts from a speech to be delivered later on
Thursday. “If nothing is done, this recession could linger for years. The unemployment rate could reach double digits.”

The Democratic president-elect will deliver his remarks at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, at 1600 GMT.

As he prepares to take over from Republican President George W. Bush, Obama is about to inherit an economy that has been in recession for more than a year.

The package will include tax cuts and money for the building of new roads, bridges and schools. It would also pay for renewable energy projects, aid to cash-strapped state governments and enhanced unemployment benefits.

Obama hopes to secure passage of the economic plan by mid-February.

“For every day we wait or point fingers or drag our feet, more Americans will lose their jobs,” he said in the speech excerpts. “More families will lose their savings.”

On Wednesday, a report on the U.S. budget outlook painted a bleak picture that might add to Obama's challenges in pushing his plan through Congress.
DAWN


UN agency suspends Gaza operations over Israeli fire

GAZA: A United Nations aid agency said on Thursday it suspended all of its operations in the Gaza Strip because of the risk posed by Israeli forces in the territory.

An Israeli tank shell on Thursday killed two Palestinian forklift drivers in a convoy for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the UN said.

Schools run by UNRWA have also been hit by Israeli fire, killing more than 45 Palestinians, medical officials in Gaza said.

'UNRWA decided to suspend all its operations in the Gaza Strip because of the increasing hostile actions against its premises and personnel,' Adnan Abu Hasna, the agency's Gaza-based spokesman, said.

He did not say how long the suspension would last.

UN spokesman Richard Miron said the Israeli army had been notified in advance about the UNRWA convoy, which was hit as it approached the Erez crossing with Israel.

After the incident, all convoys to Erez and the Kerem Shalom commercial crossing were suspended.

Kerem Shalom has been the main crossing point used for bringing humanitarian supplies into Gaza.

'This underlines the fundamental insecurity inside Gaza at a time when we are trying to address the dire humanitarian needs of the population there,' Miron said.

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Obama names top intelligence chiefs

WASHINGTON: US president-elect Barack Obama on Friday named retired admiral Dennis Blair to be the country's top spymaster as his director of national intelligence and Leon Panetta as the new head of the CIA.
'Good intelligence is not a luxury. It is a necessity,' Obama said as he unveiled his nominations to the two key posts.
'The men and women of the intelligence community have been on the front lines in this world of new and evolving dangers. They have served in the shadows, saved American lives, advanced our interests, and earned the respect of a grateful nation.'
Illinois lawmakers impeach tainted governor Blagojevich
The Illinois House of Representatives on Friday impeached the state's corruption-tainted governor accused of trying to sell president-elect Barack Obama's senate seat for personal gain.
Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich's case will now head to the state senate which will conduct a trial to determine if he should be removed from office.
'With 114 people voting yes, one person no, the House does adopt House resolution 1671,' said House Speaker Mike Madigan.
'Governor Blagojevich is hereby impeached.'
Blagojevich has vehemently proclaimed his innocence and said he 'can't wait' to clear his name in court. But he refused to defend himself in front of an impeachment inquiry which on Thursday recommended his impeachment.
His office did not immediately return a request for comment Friday. It issued a statement Thursday saying the impeachment proceedings 'were flawed, biased and did not follow the rules of law.'
'When the case moves to the Senate, an actual judge will preside over the hearings, and the governor believes the outcome will be much different,' the statement concluded.
Dawn

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Never give someone "all your love"--Save it for the Lord Above.

Seven killed in Siberian helicopter crash
MOSCOW: A helicopter carrying a group of Russian officials on a hunting trip has crashed in South Siberia's mountains, killing seven people, officials said Sunday.
The victims included Alexander Kosopkin, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's representative in the lower house of Russian parliament, and several other federal and local officials. Medvedev sent his condolences to Kosopkin's family, the Kremlin said.
The Mi-171 helicopter was carrying 11 people when it went missing Friday in the Altai region near the border with Mongolia. Rescuers located the wreckage Sunday after an extensive search.
Four people survived the crash, government emergency agency spokeswoman Irina Andrianova said. None were believed to have life-threatening injuries.
The helicopter was owned by Gazpromavia, an airline which belongs to Russia's state gas monopoly Gazprom.
The RIA-Novosti news agency said a pilot who survived the crash walked up to 25 miles (40 kilometers) across the rugged snowy mountains to a border checkpoint where he reported the location of the crashed helicopter.
Andrianova confirmed that border guards found one of the crew members, but she couldn't confirm he walked such a long distance.
Yelena Kobzeva, a spokeswoman for the Altai regional administration, said the helicopter apparently had crashed because of an engine failure. The twin-engine Mi-171 is an upgraded version of the Mi-8, a mainstay of Russian military and civilian aviation.
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Crowd tries to attack US Consulate in Karachi
KARACHI: Police say a crowd tried to attack the US Consulate building in Karachi during an anti-Israel protest, but security forces managed to repel them.
Police say they fired tear gas shells and baton charged the crowd, forcing it to disperse.
Pakistan has witnessed several protests against Israel due to its strikes on the Gaza Strip.
Police official Ameer Sheikh says that during Sunday's protest, hundreds began marching toward the consulate. He says some were carrying bricks and sticks.
Roads to the consulate building were blocked off. But the crowd managed to shove aside some metal barriers several hundred meters away.

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Never give someone "all your love"--Save it for the Lord Above.

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.
No damage or injuries have been reported in the protest, which started Sunday.
Tribal elder Abdul Qahar Wadan said the tribesmen were prepared to keep up the blockade until their demands were met.
'We will not let anybody open the highway until a judicial inquiry is ordered into the raid and a criminal case is registered against the officials involved in it,' Wadan told The Associated Press.
Most NATO supplies travel through the famed Khyber Pass to the north, where they have been attacked by Taliban militants, although a smaller number get to Afghanistan by a second land crossing at Chaman.

Dawn

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Never give someone "all your love"--Save it for the Lord Above.