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Print - 2005-03-12
Taiwan stocks nudge up, tech majors aided by Intel

Taiwan stocks nudge up, tech majors aided by Intel

Taiwan stocks nudged higher on Friday as big technology shares like TSMC took comfort from upbeat guidance from Intel Corp as well as gains in US counterparts after a drop in oil prices. The TAIEX share index finished with a slim 0.19 percent gain to 6,20
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
MoF reimbursing export development levy to EDF

MoF reimbursing export development levy to EDF

The Finance Ministry will reimburse the entire collection from the Export Development Surcharge to the Export Development Fund (EDF). The ministry earlier had provided only 50 percent of total collections to the EDF, which is presently Rs 1.4 billion. Thi
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Malaysian shares higher

Malaysian shares higher

Malaysian share prices closed 0.24 percent higher Friday but trade was thin as many investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the weekend, dealers said. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index rose 2.13 points to 901.45, again breaching the 900-points psycholog
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Hong Kong stocks end 0.25 percent higher, China Mobile leads

Hong Kong stocks end 0.25 percent higher, China Mobile leads

Hong Kong blue chip stocks rose 0.25 percent on Friday, boosted by better-than-expected earnings from China Mobile. The benchmark Hang Seng index closed 34.91 points higher at 13,890.93. It was up 1.17 percent over the week. Turnover was HK$15.33 billion
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Tokyo stocks close up amid record trading volumes

Tokyo stocks close up amid record trading volumes

Tokyo's Nikkei average closed up 0.5 percent on Friday amid record-high trading volumes as an upbeat outlook from Intel Corp buoyed local chip stocks such as Advantest Corp and economic optimism lifted brokers and real estate shares. Analysts said that in
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Seoul shares hit five-year high as techs rally

Seoul shares hit five-year high as techs rally

Seoul shares rose 2.4 percent on Friday to post their ninth consecutive winning week, as an upbeat outlook by US bellwether Intel Corp delivered a much-needed boost to struggling tech issues such as Samsung Electronics. A retreat in oil prices also helped
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Sri Lankan shares fall, small investors skim gains

Sri Lankan shares fall, small investors skim gains

Sri Lankan stocks closed slightly lower for the fifth straight session on Friday as small investors skimmed profits and foreign investors largely stayed away looking for market direction, brokers said. The key Colombo all-share index fell a provisional 0.
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Chinese shares inch higher

Chinese shares inch higher

China's shares edged up 0.3 percent on Friday as investors picked up bargain large caps such as top domestic TV maker Changhong, a day after the market posted its biggest single-day fall in nearly two months. But analysts said a faster-than-expected rise
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Hong Kong dollar little changed

Hong Kong dollar little changed

The Hong Kong dollar moved in a narrow range against the greenback on Friday with thin activity as players kept on the sidelines ahead of US trade data due later in the day. After shuffling between 7.7993 and 7.7998, the local currency traded at 7.7995/96
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Chinese yuan unchanged

Chinese yuan unchanged

The yuan ended unchanged at 8.2765 per US dollar on Friday, near the stronger end of its managed trading range. The one-year non-deliverable dollar forward discount versus the yuan was at 3,620 points, implying a rate of 7.916 yuan per dollar in 12 months
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Swiss franc near nine-week highs

Swiss franc near nine-week highs

The Swiss franc firmed against the dollar ahead of much-anticipated US trade deficit data on Friday, holding close to 9-week highs set in the previous session. The US currency has come under pressure ahead of the trade data amid expectations that the trad
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Dollar stuck near lows before US trade data

Dollar stuck near lows before US trade data

The dollar was mired near a two-month low against the euro on Friday as the market girded for US data expected to show a widening of the trade gap to a near record, magnifying worries about US deficits. The dollar recovered from an early dip after Federal
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Dollar falls, pressured from all sides

Dollar falls, pressured from all sides

The dollar fell against most currencies on Thursday on speculation the US trade deficit is widening and concerns some central banks are reducing their dollar holdings, but the currency ended off the day's lows. The massive US current account deficit hasn'
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Australian dollar at 79 cents

Australian dollar at 79 cents

The Australian dollar dipped below 79 US cents on Friday despite stronger-than-expected housing finance data as market sentiment soured after repeated failures to breach 80 cents. The Aussie recovered to $0.7898/7901 compared with $0.7957/62 late here on
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Asian currencies weaken on intervention fears

Asian currencies weaken on intervention fears

The Singapore dollar led Asian currencies lower on Friday on worries central banks may again step in after some intervened a day earlier to pull their currencies from multi-year highs to keep exports competitive. The Singapore dollar, which touched a 6-1/
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Streak and Blignaut lead Zimbabwe recovery

Streak and Blignaut lead Zimbabwe recovery

Heath Streak and Andy Blignaut punished an injury-hit South African bowling attack as Zimbabwe staged a recovery on the first day of the second Test at Centurion Park Friday. After being virtually down and out at 115 for seven, Zimbabwe reached a respecta
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Iranian Javed grabs yellow jersey in Tour de Pakistan

Iranian Javed grabs yellow jersey in Tour de Pakistan

Iranian rider grabbed the leaders yellow jersey after he won the 205km Karachi to Hyderabad first stage in the Tour de Pakistan International Cycle Race on Friday. He covered the distance in three hours, 42 minutes two seconds to lead the pack of 72-cycli
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Rigging scandal: first German player held

Rigging scandal: first German player held

A German soccer player has been arrested on fraud and organised crime charges in connection with a widening match-fixing case. Two referees have already been arrested in the worst scandal to hit German soccer in more than 30 years. Berlin state prosecutor
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Century gives Marshall world record

Century gives Marshall world record

Novice New Zealand Test batsman Hamish Marshall can claim a world record following his 146-run innings in the first Test against Australia here on Friday. When he was bowled between the legs by Shane Warne, as New Zealand were dismissed for 433 on day two
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Few takers for Calcutta Test tickets

Few takers for Calcutta Test tickets

The second cricket Test between arch-rivals India and Pakistan next week has failed to enthuse fans in this otherwise sports-crazy city due to the ongoing school and college exams and hot weather. Barely 5,000 of the 40,000 tickets up for sale for the gen
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
John Major honoured by India's leading cricket club

John Major honoured by India's leading cricket club

Former British prime minister John Major was on Friday made an honorary life member of the Cricket Club of India, one of the country's legendary sporting institutions. Major, a self-confessed cricket fanatic, was also presented a silver plate brought out
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
McGrath bowls Australia back into New Zealand Test

McGrath bowls Australia back into New Zealand Test

A mesmerising six-wicket spell of swing bowling from Glenn McGrath pulled Australia back into the first Test against New Zealand to wrap up the first innings at 433, with the tourists 141 for three in reply at the stumps here Friday. McGrath's six for 40
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Karatancheva beats German to book date with Davanport

Karatancheva beats German to book date with Davanport

Bulgaria's Sesil Karatancheva shook off a subpar serve that produced 16 double faults, advancing to the second round of the WTA Indian Wells event with a come-from-behind win over Marlene Weingartner. The 15-year-old Karatancheva dropped the first set in
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Inzamam, Youhana and Asim Kamal delay the inevitable

Inzamam, Youhana and Asim Kamal delay the inevitable

Fast bowler Laxmipathy Balaji and spinner Anil Kumble shared five wickets as India exposed Pakistan's batting limitations to move closer to winning the opening Test here on Friday. Pakistan had few in-form batsmen against a full-strength Indian attack as
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Gandhi followers descend on hermitage

Gandhi followers descend on hermitage

Hundreds of Indians and foreigners who consider Mahatma Gandhi their hero and role model descended on his former hermitage in west India Friday ahead of the re-enactment of his famous "salt march" 75 years ago. The 388 kilometre (241 mile) march, due to g
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Thousands march to support Carlos

Thousands march to support Carlos

Thousands of dancing, flag-waving Bolivians filled the streets on Thursday to support President Carlos Mesa, who nearly quit this week in frustration at road blockades set up by Indians who protest his rule. But protest leaders angrily vowed the blockades
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Nepal frees former Prime Minister, 17 others

Nepal frees former Prime Minister, 17 others

Nepal freed on Friday former premier Sher Bahadur Deuba and 17 other detainees held since King Gyanendra seized power last month, a party official said, amid mounting pressure on the nation to restore civil liberties. "Our party president Deuba and other
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
US backs economic incentives for Iran: Rice

US backs economic incentives for Iran: Rice

The United States, in a policy shift, will offer Iran economic incentives to abandon its suspected pursuit of nuclear weapons, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Reuters on Friday. "We will make clear that we will lift our objections to an Iranian a
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
US and EU launch joint strategy on Iran

US and EU launch joint strategy on Iran

The United States and Europe launched a co-ordinated drive on Friday to press Iran to abandon its most sensitive nuclear activity, which experts say could enable it to make the bomb. Washington was set to announce it would offer Iran economic incentives -
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Blair backs campaign to double African aid

Blair backs campaign to double African aid

British Prime Minister Tony Blair threw his weight Friday behind an ambitious campaign to double aid to Africa with an extra 25 billion dollars (19 billion euros) yearly, denouncing the "obscenity" of misery on the continent. "It is, I believe, the fundam
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Belgian plane sit-in ends

Belgian plane sit-in ends

An overnight sit-in on board a Lufthansa plane by 56 Iranian monarchist protesters ended peacefully at Brussels airport on Friday after Belgian police escorted them all off the aircraft. The unarmed group of men, women and three children refused to leave
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Rape defendant kills judge, two others in US court

Rape defendant kills judge, two others in US court

A man on trial for rape on Friday grabbed a deputy's gun and shot dead a judge and two other officials in an Atlanta courtroom before seizing a car at gunpoint to flee, witnesses and reports said. Police launched a huge manhunt in the Georgia city for Bri
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Silence, wreaths and tears as Spain remembers bombing victims

Silence, wreaths and tears as Spain remembers bombing victims

Traffic came to a halt and people stood still on Madrid sidewalks Friday as Spain showed its grief, solidarity and anger on the one-year anniversary of the March 11 train bombings that ranked as the country's worst-ever terrorist attack. The five-minute s
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Syrian troops quit north Lebanon

Syrian troops quit north Lebanon

The last Syrian troops in north Lebanon left for home on Friday, underlining Syria's diminishing role in its neighbour as a worsening political crisis threatened the timing of parliamentary polls due by May. Thousands of soldiers and hundreds of vehicles
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
US base rocketed in Afghanistan

US base rocketed in Afghanistan

Suspected Taleban militants Friday fired eight rockets at a US-led military outpost in south-eastern Afghanistan causing minor damage but no casualties, officials said. US military spokesman Sergeant Terry Somerville told AFP that the rockets caused damag
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Croatian president gets stolen painting as gift

Croatian president gets stolen painting as gift

When Croatian President Stjepan Mesic received a painting from two prominent Roma, he was happy to have his picture taken, but when it appeared in the press, the painter recognised it as one of hers that had been stolen. The shock sent painter Slavica Med
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
UK terrorism debate rages as suspects go free

UK terrorism debate rages as suspects go free

A British judge ordered foreign suspects held under discredited terrorism legislation freed on Friday while parliament was locked in round-the-clock debate to replace the laws before they expire. Cars were seen driving out of London's maximum security Bel
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Chavez backs Iran in nuclear row with US

Chavez backs Iran in nuclear row with US

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, whose country is a major US oil supplier, on Friday expressed his support for Iran's nuclear programme, which is opposed by the United States and Europe. "Iran has every right in the world, as do other countries, to devel
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Indian shares down

Indian shares down

India's key share index fell on Friday, giving up the weeks' gains, as investors turned edgy near all-time highs. The benchmark 30-share Mumbai Sensex fell 0.78 percent to 6,853.73 points, 95 points off the day's peak and further away from Wednesday's rec
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
US Stocks: Friday's unofficial close

US Stocks: Friday's unofficial close

US stocks fell on Friday after the government reported the US trade deficit widened more than expected, stoking investor fears of accelerated interest rate hikes and hurting rate-sensitive stocks. The US trade deficit widened to $58.3 billion in January,
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Bonds: autos advance, Nycomed plans takeover

Bonds: autos advance, Nycomed plans takeover

European corporate bonds rose in average value on Friday as auto bond spreads tightened, and Denmark-based drug firm Nycomed planned a 400 million euro high-yield bond to fund a take-over. The FTSE Euro Corporate Bond Index showed investment-grade corpora
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Bonds: autos advance, Nycomed plans takeover

Bonds: autos advance, Nycomed plans takeover

European corporate bonds rose in average value on Friday as auto bond spreads tightened, and Denmark-based drug firm Nycomed planned a 400 million euro high-yield bond to fund a take-over. The FTSE Euro Corporate Bond Index showed investment-grade corpora
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
FTSE breaks four-day losing streak, Whitbread jumps

FTSE breaks four-day losing streak, Whitbread jumps

Britain's blue chips closed higher on Friday, ending a four-day losing streak, with hotel and leisure group Whitbread the biggest gainer on the day. Shares in Whitbread scaled six-year highs and closed up 7.7 percent after it said it might sell all its lu
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Indian rupee stays higher

Indian rupee stays higher

The Indian rupee posted its best close in a month for a second day on Friday as a watchful central bank loosened its grip slightly towards the close, letting the local currency ride up a little on strong capital inflows. The rupee ended at 43.5600/5650 pe
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Sterling rebounds

Sterling rebounds

Sterling rebounded after worse-than-expected trade data in the United States on Friday, which also helped it recover from an eight-week low against the euro reached earlier in the session. But analysts said the reprieve would likely be only temporary as t
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Dollar hovers near two-month low versus euro

Dollar hovers near two-month low versus euro

The dollar hovered near a two-month low against the euro on Friday as markets awaited key data on the United States' trade gap. US trade figures, due at 1330 GMT, are expected to show the deficit widened to $56.5 billion in January, the second highest sho
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
London cocoa climbs

London cocoa climbs

London's cocoa market shot to the highest price in almost four months on Friday on speculation about political instability in top grower Ivory Coast, traders said. Liffe's benchmark May futures ended at 961 pounds a tonne, the highest close since 987 on N
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
EU food chief in 11th-hour bid to avert Russia ban

EU food chief in 11th-hour bid to avert Russia ban

Europe's food safety chief, nervous about Moscow's threat to ban all EU plant exports, will make a fresh offer to his Russian opposite number next week in a bid to end months of trade tension, diplomats said on Friday. Russia has blocked imports of a stri
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Oil back over $54 as IEA raises demand forecasts

Oil back over $54 as IEA raises demand forecasts

Oil prices rose back above $54 on Friday as the International Energy Agency said robust growth in the United States and China will pump up consumption even faster than expected this year. US light crude rose 71 cents to $54.25 a barrel after tumbling more
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Brazilian sugar leader warns of 'euphoria' risk

Brazilian sugar leader warns of 'euphoria' risk

Brazilian sugar and ethanol producers should not get carried away by firm prices and expected increased demand, especially for fuel ethanol, a leading industry official said on Thursday. "The sector is riding a wave of euphoria. But this could be dangerou
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
New York cotton at nine-month high

New York cotton at nine-month high

Cotton futures settled Friday close to a 9-month high on sustained speculative buying as the overall bullish mood in commodity markets is seen keeping fibre contracts buoyant, analysts said. The New York Board of Trade's key May contract gained 1.00 cent
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Speculators propel coffee to five-year peak

Speculators propel coffee to five-year peak

London's robusta coffee market stampeded higher on Friday as an unprecedented level of fund investment pushed prices to the highest for more than five years, traders said. Robusta, the variety commonly used in instant coffee, has doubled in price since ea
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Base metals off day's lows on weak dollar

Base metals off day's lows on weak dollar

Base metals on the London Metal Exchange (LME) were mixed on Friday but closed off the day's lows on dollar weakness, with zinc and aluminium briefly touching their multi-year peaks, traders said. Three months zinc ended up $10 at $1,440 a tonne from Thur
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
European gold hits fresh 2005 high

European gold hits fresh 2005 high

Gold carved out fresh highs for the year in Europe on Friday - in both dollar and euro terms - as the dollar sagged again following further widening of the US trade deficit. Gold peaked at $446.70 a troy ounce, its highest since early December. Spot price
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
US MIDDAY: cocoa rises on fund buying

US MIDDAY: cocoa rises on fund buying

New York cocoa futures surged to a 22-month high Friday on fund buying amid concerns about instability in top producer Ivory Coast, although profit-taking trimmed those gains just before the market had closed. "The fund buying started to dry up and you st
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
US MIDDAY: sugar higher on speculative and trade buying

US MIDDAY: sugar higher on speculative and trade buying

Raw sugar futures banked on speculative and trade buying to close Friday at a 6-week high, with the strong end to business seen buoying sweetener values into next week, analysts said. The New York Board of Trade's May raw sugar contract surged 0.20 cent t
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
US MIDDAY: wheat surges on investment funds

US MIDDAY: wheat surges on investment funds

Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures were sharply higher early on Friday as investment funds continued to invest in wheat and other commodities, traders said. As of 11:00 am CST (1700 GMT), CBOT March wheat was up 10-1/2 cents at $2.50-1/2. May was up 7 c
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
US MIDDAY: corn gains on relentless buying

US MIDDAY: corn gains on relentless buying

Persistent and near-relentless buying by investment funds boosted Chicago Board of Trade corn futures higher in early trade on Friday, traders said. "What can I say other than they're back and buying more," a veteran corn trader said. At 10:23 am CST (162
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
US MIDDAY: soya at 6-1/2-month high on investment funds

US MIDDAY: soya at 6-1/2-month high on investment funds

Another round of buying by investment funds boosted Chicago Board of Trade soyabean futures to double-digit gains and fresh 6-1/2-month highs in fast trading early on Friday, traders said. The speculative buying of commodities, including soya, continued o
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
US MIDDAY: copper lower on overseas arbitrage selling

US MIDDAY: copper lower on overseas arbitrage selling

US copper futures opened with steep losses Friday on some overseas arbitrage selling that pressured prices through some key technical support levels, market sources said. They added the weaker US trade deficit data failed to inspire funds to buy amid the
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
US MIDDAY: gold climbs on trade deficit data

US MIDDAY: gold climbs on trade deficit data

US gold futures climbed to 2005 highs early Friday, reversing an earlier decline, after a report showed the US trade deficit was wider than expected in January. By 11:14 am (1614 GMT), gold for April delivery at the COMEX division of the New York Mercanti
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
BRIDGE NOTES: A piece of brilliant defence by French team

BRIDGE NOTES: A piece of brilliant defence by French team

Placed in Group D of open team contest in the 12th World Bridge Olympiad held in Istanbul, Turkey in 2004, France had a good run of luck - so to say - until the middle of their rounds in the championship. The French team, winner of many a time European ch
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
SPORTS WORLD: Dramatic upsets unlikely by Pakistan

SPORTS WORLD: Dramatic upsets unlikely by Pakistan

So it's a good start for India to have consolidated their grip on the first of the three-Test series and put Pakistan on the defensive and restricted to a moderate total of 312 all out in the first innings. After winning the toss, Indian captain Sourav Ga
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
SPORTS WORLD: Pakistan demolish Thailand in tennis tie

SPORTS WORLD: Pakistan demolish Thailand in tennis tie

Confounding the pessimists, who had predicted a whitewash for Pakistan against the odds-on favourites, Thailand, the former had their crowning moment when they swept aside the latter in the Asia-Oceania Davis Cup Group I match at the Cosmopolitan Club of
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Beggary or mendicancy?

Beggary or mendicancy?

Even dictionary does not provide details or the meaning of this particular word. It gives a very brief meaning and gives alternate for this word. The fact is that there seems no conception of this word alone. No religion on the earth supported the idea an
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Potato storage management tips

Potato storage management tips

Proper storage management is critical to be benefited from the work and costs associated with producing a potato crop. Managing the storage as intensely as the field is necessary to obtain maximum output for better results, keep the following points in mi
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Of the late Zahida Parveen and her popular Kafis

Of the late Zahida Parveen and her popular Kafis

If memory does not fail me, it was in the third week of October 1951 when I first met late classical vocalist Zahida Parveen at her hujra in Bazaar Sheikhupurian in the Hira Mandi area of Lahore. The meeting was necessitated by the desire of a grou
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
LAHORE CULTURAL DIARY: Book fairs and prohibitive costs of books

LAHORE CULTURAL DIARY: Book fairs and prohibitive costs of books

A couple of book fairs, two exhibitions, one of paintings and the other of photographs, a theatre festival and a condolence reference for Mushfiq Khwaja, a prominent litterateur, were the main highlights of cultural activities in Lahore this past week.
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Restriction of rights in the name of modesty

Restriction of rights in the name of modesty

The South Asian region is the only area in the world where men outnumber women. The sex ratio is 105.7 men to 100 women. In Pakistan, women are not only subjected to financial discrimination, but they are also victims of inhuman customs and laws such as K
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
LITERARY NOTES: Joginder Paul's works in English

LITERARY NOTES: Joginder Paul's works in English

Joginder Paul refuses to age as a writer. The luminosity of his mind and the richness of his imagination has been enriching Urdu fiction for more than 50 years. And it could be said without any fear of contradiction that no other fiction writer of our tim
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
CAPITAL CULTURAL SCENE: The laughing shadow: Pakistani theatre

CAPITAL CULTURAL SCENE: The laughing shadow: Pakistani theatre

There is restlessness in the air and anticipation is for something new to arrive. A flicker of creativity produces a ripple effect in an otherwise Isloo's monotonous cultural scene. One only hopes that this flicker could transform forever into an 'enlight
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
CURRENT TOPICS: Sonia saga

CURRENT TOPICS: Sonia saga

Indeed truth is stranger than fiction. Otherwise can you imagine a girl from a small Italian village heading a foreign country of a billion people said to be the largest democracy in the world? When she came to London as au pair in her early twenties to l
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Gender equality and elimination of bias against women

Gender equality and elimination of bias against women

Gender equality and elimination of bias against women in the society seems to be the most important task of our government now-a-days. Everybody talks about women development and women empowerment may it be the parliament or a common man, but no one knows
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
NAB starts probe into misuse of powers

NAB starts probe into misuse of powers

National Accountability Bureau, Sindh has started investigations against high jail officials, including IG Prisons of Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and other Sindh jails. The investigations are being carried out against them on alleged charges of their invol
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Muazzam Ali laid to rest

Muazzam Ali laid to rest

Veteran journalist and founder of Pakistan Press International (PPI), and Chairman of Institute of Islamic Banking & Insurance, UK, Muazzam Ali, was laid to rest on Friday afternoon at DHA Phase-I graveyard here.0 The funeral prayers were held after Frida
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Northern bypass to have checkposts

Northern bypass to have checkposts

Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan directed the construction of check posts at every 45 Km of Northern bypass. He stressed maintaining strict watch on the crimes in border areas of the province, specially, on exit routes to check stolen vehicles. He is
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Istiqbal made NCEL chief

Istiqbal made NCEL chief

Board of Directors National Commodity Exchange Limited (NCEL) on Friday elected Pakistan Kuwait Investment Company (Pvt) Ltd Managing Director Istiqbal Mehdi as its Chairman. He has replaced Salim Chamdia, who had resigned from his Chairmanship in Decembe
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
'No change in KESC's existing technical team'

'No change in KESC's existing technical team'

The new management of the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC), Kanuz Al-Watan, has decided not to bring any change in the existing technical team so as to improve the power supply system. This was stated by Managing Director KESC, Brigadier Tariq S
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Arbab grieved

Arbab grieved

Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has expressed profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Syed Muazzam Ali, founder of PPI News Agency and a distinguished journalist. In a condolence message, the Chief Minister appreciated the outstanding
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Minister takes notice of forged teacher training degrees

Minister takes notice of forged teacher training degrees

The Sindh Minister for Education and Literacy Dr Hamida Khuhro has taken serious notice of issuance of fake teacher training certificates and degrees by private teacher training institutes, and asked the concerned authorities to withdraw registration of t
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Registration of cases against cops ordered

Registration of cases against cops ordered

The Lahore High Court on Friday ordered to lodge cases against policemen deployed at post Jaswana Bangla, Jaranwala, for illegal confinement of a citizen. LHC directed DPO Faisalabad to probe the matter and take action. The court passed order on habeas co
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Cholistan desert jeep rally from March 15

Cholistan desert jeep rally from March 15

Federal Ministry of Culture in collaboration with Punjab Ministry of Tourism Department is organising a three-day First TDCP Desert Rally in Cholistan from March 15. Addressing a press conference here Friday, the State Minister for Culture Sports and Yout
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
KWSB issues final notices to defaulters

KWSB issues final notices to defaulters

The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB) has issued final notices to defaulting water consumers who have been directed to pay their dues otherwise their water and sewerage connections will be disconnected immediately. A KWSB spokesman said that if any
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
VCOAS visits Corps Headquarters and PNS Shifa

VCOAS visits Corps Headquarters and PNS Shifa

Vice-Chief of Army Staff, General Ahsan Saleem Hayat on Friday visited Corps Headquarters and PNS Shifa in Karachi. On arrival he was received by Corps Commander Lieutenant General Syed Athar Ali. After meeting with officers of the Corps Headquarters, the
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Aid for democracy!

Aid for democracy!

At a Press conference in Washington Benazir Bhutto urged Bush to link aid with democracy. She wants it to be put on hold till full democracy is restored in Pakistan and General Musharraf gives way to a civilian President. Madam, aid is for the country and
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
VVIP security arrangements

VVIP security arrangements

Whenever there a VVIP security arrangement is made in Karachi, ordinary people are taken hostage at the gun-point by the law enforcing agencies. The city becomes a complete mess in terms of traffic congestion and people go through such level of discomfort
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Meerwala rape case

Meerwala rape case

The recent acquittal of five of the six men accused for the public gang rape of Mukhtaran Bibi by a division bench of the Lahore High Court, has not just horrified human rights activists and members of General Musharraf's silent majority, but many "Pakist
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Pharaoh curse haunts late British discoverer

Pharaoh curse haunts late British discoverer

Experts may have recently established that Tutankhamun was not assassinated after all but his death remains a mystery and his "curse" continues to hang over the head of late British archaeologist Howard Carter who discovered the legendary pharaoh's sarcop
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Likelihood of another civil war in Lebanon

Likelihood of another civil war in Lebanon

A demonstration organised by the Hezbollah movement brought a crowd estimated at between 500,000 and one million people into the streets of Beirut to oppose US intervention in Lebanon and denounce Washington's mounting threats to Syria. The crowd, drawn p
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
A new resolve to address drug addiction

A new resolve to address drug addiction

At its Wednesday meeting, the Federal cabinet decided to undertake fresh measures for the eradication of drug addiction, which, it noted, has already affected nearly four million people in this country. A cabinet committee has been formed to examine possi
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Opportunities of far reaching gains

Opportunities of far reaching gains

President Musharraf, while on board the aircraft on his return from an official visit to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, described his visit to the two countries as a success because it paved the way for strengthening of economic, trade and political ties. Eve
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
PGTA threatens countrywide strike

PGTA threatens countrywide strike

Pakistan Goods Transport Association (PGTA) has threatened to hold complete wheel jam in the country if their demands were not fulfilled before March 15. This was stated by PGTA leaders Chaudhry Mukhtar Ahmed and Muhammad Yousuf here while addressing a pr
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
PRCS delegation calls on President

PRCS delegation calls on President

A delegation of Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), led by its Chairman Lieutenant General Jahan Dad Khan (Rtd), called on President General Pervez Musharraf here on Friday. During the call, the members of the delegation briefed the President about the
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
Board formed to probe oil tanker blaze

Board formed to probe oil tanker blaze

Pakistan Navy on Friday set up a 'Board of Inquiry' to probe into the incident of outbreak of fire at its oil tanker 'PNS MOAWIN' while undergoing maintenance work at the PN Dockyard, Karachi. The board has been set up on the directives of Chief of the Na
Published 12 Mar, 2005 12:00am
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