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50 killed in suicide bombing in Baluchistan
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Qatar theatre car bombing kills Briton
USA not to blame Pak for Khan’s network
Protests planned during Modi’s UK visit
Woman who embraced Queen Elizabeth dead
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50 killed in suicide bombing in Baluchistan
Islamabad, March 20 The powerful blast occurred last night during the annual pilgrimage of the shrine, built in memory of Pir Rakhel Shah, revered as a saint at Darbar Fateh Pur, in Gandhawa town of Jhal Magsi district, 300 km from Baluchistan capital Quetta. Media reports here said that 50 persons were killed and over 100 injured, but officials put the toll at around 32. The explosion took place outside the shrine where food was being distributed to people, reports from Quetta said, adding thousands of pilgrims had come to the shrine. Quoting officials from Quetta, Pakistan’s local Geo TV reported that it was a suicide bomb attack. Some reports said the Baluchistan National Army (BLA), claiming to be fighting for the rights of Baloch people, claimed responsibility for the bombing, but officials here do not rule out the involvement of banned sectarian outfits. Baluchistan, which has been in the grip of violence for the past several months, has witnessed sectarian strife involving banned extremists groups of Shias and Sunnis. Sayed Kamal Shah, a close relative of the custodian of the shrine, was quoted here as saying that he feared the death toll could go upto over 100. Meanwhile, Federal Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao, announced here that army has been deployed in the troubled Sui town as a security measure. Reports also said another bomb blast took place near a camp of the paramilitary forces Frontier Corps at Turbat Kechh district, resulting in disruption of power supplies.
— PTI |
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Quake rocks Japan
Tokyo, March 20 The magnitude 7.0 quake, which hit about 70 km off the coast of Kyushu island at 10:53 a.m. (0723 IST), was centered at an “extremely shallow” depth below the ocean floor, the Meteorological Agency said. Officials reported water and gas main breaks and power blackouts. Railways and high-speed bullet train service were halted after the earthquake triggered an automatic safety system, public broadcaster NHK TV reported. Telephone service in the area was jammed. About 100 residents of Genkai, a tiny island off the coast of Kyushu, evacuated their homes after buildings collapsed and roofs caved in and village officials requested emergency help from Japanese troops. Minutes after the quake, the meteorological agency warned of possible tsunami waves and urged people near the sea to move to higher ground. But within an hour, the agency said there was no danger of tsunami. “There may be some disturbance of the ocean’s surface, but we aren’t worried about tsunami damage,” the Meteorological Agency’s Masahiro Yamamoto said. Dozens of aftershocks — one of a magnitude of 4.2 — followed the initial quake. The authorities ordered buildings in Fukuoka city, about 899 km southwest of Tokyo, to be evacuated, and warned of landslides around Fukuoka, Saga and Nagasaki prefectures. At least 155 persons, most in hard-hit Fukuoka prefecture, were injured by the quake, with some struck by toppling cabinets, items falling off shelves or shattered glass. — AP |
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Qatar theatre car bombing kills Briton
Doha, March 20 A Qatari official investigating the blast said a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle into the theatre near a British school in the capital Doha yesterday, badly damaging the playhouse.
— Reuters |
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Rice meets Chinese President, Premier
Beijing, March 20 Ms Rice’s tour would be helpful for China and the United States to strengthen coordination in some issues of common concern and would promote the China-US constructive and cooperative relations, Mr Hu said after a meeting with the visiting dignitary. The visit by Ms Rice, at the begining of President George W. Bush’s second term, indicates the importance Washington attached to developing Sino-US relations, said Mr Hu, also General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission. Ms Rice said she came here to “emphasise how important the United States considers” the constructive relationship with China, which was growing and deepening. The two sides would discuss many important issues during this visit, she said, adding people around the world were watching the “remarkable transformation” that is going on in China.
— PTI |
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USA not to blame Pak for Khan’s network
Washington, March 20 In return, Pakistan will extend full cooperation in probing the network’s links to other states and non-state actors. This also means that if at some stage US investigators feel they need to have direct access to Dr Khan, Pakistan should provide such an access. The outlines of this policy, which was apparently also discussed during US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s recent visit to Islamabad, appear in recent briefings by State Department officials. “We have a good understanding about how that network came about, how it operated and we certainly don’t see any connection with the leadership of Pakistan,” said State Department’s deputy spokesman Adam Ereli while explaining the US position on the alleged link between the Khan network and the Pakistani government. Refuting the allegation often levelled in the US media that Pakistan was not cooperating with the US investigation into the network’s activities, Mr Ereli said, “We certainly did not have an idea of the full scope or nature of this activity until the Pakistanis revealed what was going on.” But when asked if the USA had abandoned its quest to question Dr Khan, the deputy spokesman said, “We will continue to follow up and work with the Pakistanis on efforts to completely dismantle that network in terms of details on how we are to do that (probe), I am not a position to tell you.” At the same briefing he also expressed US worries over the alleged links between Iran and the Khan network. Asked why the Pakistanis should provide answers that could embarrass them, the official said, “We believe that Pakistan takes seriously its commitment to dismantle the Khan’s network.” |
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Protests planned during Modi’s UK visit
London, March 20 This was announced at a public meeting organised last night by the organisations — AWAAZ and South Asia Watch.
— PTI |
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Woman who embraced Queen Elizabeth dead
Washington, march 20 So when Queen Elizabeth II and first lady Barbara Bush popped in for a visit in 1991, Frazier didn't think it was a big deal when she wrapped her arms around the dignitaries. She didn't know - and friends aren't sure she would have cared - that the Queen didn't do hugs and that such intimate touching was a serious breach of royal etiquette. In the Frazier household, hugs went hand-in-hand with the offer to sit for a while and have something to eat or drink. Frazier became a spokeswoman for a community that was overrun by drug violence associated with crack cocaine, like many across the country. Frazier (81) died March 12 after a long illness. As friends and family members gathered on Friday at St. John Baptist Church to say goodbye, they celebrated her way. There were hugs all around, friends who showed up with food and fond remembrances of an incident that, for a moment, drew international attention and a moment of levity when it was sorely needed. ‘‘There was a shooting every single night in this area,'' said former D.C. Council member H.R. Crawford, who represented Ward 7 at the time. The hugs with the Queen and the first lady ‘‘brought more positive attention to this area than any other day. This woman changed things.’’ The pictures in the obituary programme show Frazier hugging a smiling Queen Elizabeth, then smiling alongside Crawford as she received an award, then outside her home waving to adoring fans and neighbours who were happy to see someone they knew capture the limelight. — By arrangement with the Los Angeles Times-Washington Post |
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