Apex court seeks text of Mirza’s statements

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry has directed Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) to obtain detailed text of the robust statement of senior Sindh minister Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza which the latter stated addressing a press conference in Karachi on Sunday afternoon, TrendPK reported.

SC is all set to hear suo motto case concerning fresh spate of violence and target killings in metropolis at its Karachi Registry today (Monday).

Meanwhile, stern security arrangements have been adopted in and around SC’s Karachi building to ensure peaceful and secure hearing of the case.

According to details, routes, leading to registry building, have been clogged with mammoth containers while heavy police and Rangers’ contingents have been put in place in the area. TrendPK

Mubarak on phone from Sharm: source

CAIRO: Egypt’s deposed President Hosni Mubarak is taking telephone calls in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, said a source who spoke to him Tuesday.

“He’s fine,” the source said. “He is at his residence in Sharm el-Sheikh with his family. He is receiving telephone calls. I spoke to him at 3 o’clock (1300 GMT) this afternoon.”

Speculation about Mubarak’s health has swirled since he was forced to resign Friday.

The Saudi-owned daily Asharq al-Awsat reported that Mubarak was ailing and had refused to travel abroad for treatment.

“What is certain is that his state of health is declining drastically. In addition there is information that he is refusing to receive the required medical treatment,” Asharq al-Awsat said in its online edition, quoting a former security official affiliated to the Egyptian military high command.

A military source told Reuters Mubarak was “breathing” but would not give details about his status.

The Higher Military Council took over Egypt when Mubarak resigned Friday following an 18-day revolt against him.

Asharq al-Awsat said Mubarak, 82, had refused advice to travel to Germany for treatment, quoting its source as saying: “He has asked those around him to allow him to die in his country, and I believe this is just a matter of time.”

Mubarak underwent gallbladder surgery in Germany last year. Rumors about his health have been rife since then.

While still clinging to office, Mubarak said in his final speeches to the nation that he would die in Egypt. Agencies

French pensions protests intensify

PARIS: French protestors Thursday blocked transport hubs and fuel depots as unions met to decide on a next day of nationwide action against President Nicolas Sarkozy’s bid to raise the retirement age.

With no fuel left in more than a quarter of French petrol pumps, police are playing what unions have described as a game of cat and mouse with protestors at depots and refineries in a bid to prevent the country grinding to a halt.

The head of the powerful CGT union Bernard Thibault said that faced with government “intransigence” there was “no reason to stop these protests” and “we recommend further action from next week.”

“We have to continue with the most massive actions possible,” he told RMC radio. Unions are to meet in the afternoon to decide on holding further mass rallies, possibly on Tuesday, a week after the last protest.

More than a million

China rate hike prompts Asia stocks slowdown

Most Asian stocks slipped Wednesday on fears of a slowdown in the Chinese economy after Beijing announced its first interest rate rise in three years.
Traders grew concerned that any easing in the world’s second biggest economy could hurt the exports of other countries looking to China’s growth as the key to recovery from the global downturn. Tokyo tumbled 1.65 percent, or 157.85 points, to 9,381.60 and Hong Kong had slipped 0.65 percent by the break.Sydney was 0.66 percent, or 30.8 points, lower at 4,624.9, with resources firms hit as they rely heavily on Chinese demand.Shanghai was 1.16 percent up in the afternoon and Seoul rose 0.71 percent, adding 13.12 points to end at 1,870.44. The People’s Bank of China announced late Tuesday it would raise the benchmark one-year lending and deposit rates by 25 basis points each, as Beijing tries to contain inflation and soaring property prices. It was the first rate rise since December 2007.

Israelis wary ahead of Ahmadinejad border tour

METULLA: Israelis were on Thursday warily watching their northern border for a rare opportunity to see up close the arch-enemy of the Jewish state — Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The Iranian president, who is on a two-day trip to Lebanon, was expected to make a controversial tour of the southern border region during the afternoon which has been slammed by the United States and Israel as “provocative”.

The border region, a stronghold of the Shiite militant group Hezbollah, is often seen as the frontline in a proxy war between Israel and Iran.

While Israeli leaders slammed the visit as a provocation, for many ordinary people it presents a chance to glimpse the Iranian leader, a man deeply reviled in Israel for his questioning of the Nazi Holocaust and predictions of the Jewish state’s demise.

“It is a provocative and destabilising visit,” foreign

Israel PM convenes inner forum ahead of Arab summit

JERUSALEM: Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu was on Tuesday to convene ministers in his inner circle reportedly to debate extending the settlement freeze just days ahead of a key meeting of Arab foreign ministers.

“There will be a meeting of the seven,” a senior government official told AFP, referring to the Israeli premier’s Forum of Seven top ministers.

He refused to say what the ministers would discuss during the meeting, which is expected to take place during the afternoon.

Israeli media reports said the meeting was likely to focus on the issue of a 60-day extension of the settlement freeze in exchange for a US deal offering security and other guarantees, details of which were leaked by a top US analyst last week.

On Wednesday, Netanyahu was to meet with ministers in his 15-member security cabinet, the official said, again refusing to give details of

India hit back in first Australia cricket Test

MOHALI: India grabbed two big wickets in quick succession in the afternoon to restore balance in the opening Test against Australia on Friday.

Australia were comfortably placed at 154-1 following half-centuries from skipper Ricky Ponting (71) and opener Shane Watson (75 not out) before reaching 179-3 in their first innings at tea on the first day.

The tourists lost well-set Ponting and vice-captain Michael Clarke (14) in the space of 18 runs. The Australian captain was run out, while Clarke was caught at first slip off spinner Harbhajan Singh.

Watson, dropped on nought and 37, has so far hit seven fours in his 169-ball knock.

Ponting, averaging just 20.85 in 12 Tests in India before this match, looked set to play a big knock before he was run out by Suresh Raina’s direct-hit at the striker’s end from mid-wicket.

Words were exchanged between

Oil prices slide in Asian trade

SINGAPORE: Oil prices headed down in Asian trade Thursday despite a dip in US crude reserves as distillate and gasoline inventories unexpectedly rose, analysts said.

New York”s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in September, fell 22 cents to 82.25 dollars a barrel in the afternoon. Brent North Sea crude for September delivery shed 14 cents to 82.06 dollars.

Oil markets were hit by data from the US Department of Energy late Wednesday showing a sharp increase in US distillate and gasoline inventories even as crude stockpiles fell more sharply than expected, analysts said.

Indian forces, protesters clash in Kashmir

OCCUPIED SRINAGAR: Government forces fired warning shots and tear gas to quell protests against Indian rule that erupted Thursday in several towns in restive Kashmir, police said.

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Indian forces, protesters clash in Kashmir

Films competing at Venice Film Festival

VENICE: A list of the films in competition for the Golden Lion at the 67th Venice Film Festival, which will run from Sept.

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Films competing at Venice Film Festival

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