 |
|
|
Iran test-fires more missiles
Zardari to expand cabinet
House resumes meeting as Madhesis join in
India denies attack on consulate in Afghanistan
Kanishka convict gets bail after 20 years |
|
|
|
|
Tehran, July 10 Speculation that Israel could bomb Iran has mounted since a big Israeli air drill last month. U.S. leaders have not ruled out military options if diplomacy fails to end the nuclear row. Iran has responded by saying it will strike back at Tel Aviv, as well as US interests and shipping, if it is hit. Tehran insists its nuclear programme has only civilian goals. State TV and radio reported that the new missile tests took place during the night into Thursday. “Deep in the Persian Gulf waters, the launch of different types of ground-to-sea, surface-to-surface, sea-to-air and the powerful launch of the Hout missile successfully took place,’’ state radio said without giving further details of Iranian satellite channel Press TV said Hout was a torpedo. “Iran’s Revolutionary Guards test more missiles in Persian Gulf,’’ the Press TV reported in a brief headline. The reports followed remarks yesterday night by guards’ air force commander Hossein Salami, who had told state television that a ‘’night missile manoeuvre’’ was taking place. But he gave no details at the time. Press TV said the new missile tests were part of an ongoing military manoeuvre. — Reuters
|
|
Zardari to expand cabinet
PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, who is expected to meet Asif Ali Zardari when he visits London during the next couple of days, is not likely to return to Pakistan "any time soon".
Zardari had called Prime Minister Raza Gilani and several other senior PPP ministers to Dubai where he reportedly discussed the possible expansion of the federal cabinet. There are speculations that apart from eight ministers from the PPP, Zardari is also contemplating adding a couple of MQM ministers in the federal cabinet. The implications of the long absence of both top figures in national politics for the continuing political impasse on the judges' issue will manifest in the coming days. Sources in London said while there was no "give" by the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) on the judges' issue, pressure from within the PML-N was mounting for rejoining the federal government. A compromise on the judges' issue that the PPP could be willing to live with is the restoration of the judges with the exception of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, accompanied by the retention of the three judges, possibly on an ad hoc basis. There will also be a tacit understanding that the "settled issues" will not be reopened, including the National Reconciliation Ordinance. It was obvious that the lawyers' movement had lost its momentum after the inconclusive "long march" in Islamabad. Meanwhile, about two hundred lawyers staged a rally outside the Supreme Court on Thursday for restoration of the judges. It was for the first time that they shouted slogans against Asif Zardari who had successfully blocked the move to restore the judges. It was also the first time since November 3 emergency that the government allowed any demonstration outside the Supreme Court premises.
|
|
House resumes meeting as Madhesis join in
The political deadlock that had surfaced in Nepal as the Madhes-based parties began to disrupt the regular meeting of the Constituent Assembly- that also functions as Parliament- for the past 14 days has been relaxed from Wednesday. Immediately after the session began, the government tabled a Bill to amend the interim constitution in Parliament, in a bid to pave the way for the new government to be formed under the Maoist leadership and elect the President, the Vice-President of the country and introduce a new budget for the upcoming fiscal year that starts from Tuesday.
After holding a series of parlays among the ruling seven-party alliance and Madhes-based parties, the regular meeting of Parliament that had remained stalled for 14 days due to protests by Madhes-based parties, began last night. Lawmakers belonging to six Madhes-based parties- the Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF), the Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) and the Sadhawana Party - had stalled the regular meeting of Parliament, demanding implementation of the agreement reached in the past between the government and the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF). Despite the fact that all lawmakers from the Madhes-based parties walked out of the meeting stating that the government decision to table a supplementary Bill to amend the interim constitution in Parliament had failed to incorporate the spirit of the agreement reached with the UDMF. Prior to boycott of the meeting, Madhesi leaders warned the government that they would resume fresh movement in Madhes - southern plains - if the government refused to declare the entire Madhes region (22 districts) as a single autonomous province by amending the interim constitution.
|
|
India denies attack on consulate in Afghanistan
New Delhi, July 10 A section of the Pakistani press had reported that suspected Taliban elements had attacked the Indian consulate in Jalalabad and killed six persons, including two Indians. “There was no such attack and these reports are part of a mischievous campaign,” the sources said.
— PTI
|
|
|
Kanishka convict gets bail after 20 years Toronto, July 10 Inderjit Singh Reyat (55) has been behind bars for two convictions related to the terror attack and an explosion the same day at Narita airport in Japan. He had completed his sentence in February but remained in custody awaiting his trial for perjury, which will begin in January. Reyat was charged two years ago with perjury for allegedly lying 27 times during his September 2003 testimony at the Air India trial in which two other suspects Ajaib Singh Bagri and Ripudaman Singh Malik were acquitted, sparking outrage among the victims’ families. Appeal Court Justice Anne Rowles yesterday overturned Associate Supreme Court Justice Patrick Dohm’s decision in March denying Reyat bail on the grounds that it would undermine public confidence in the system. The conditions of Reyat’s release were kept secret, though Attorney-General Wally Oppal described them as "extremely strict." But media reports said Reyat would have to raise $500,000 bail before he was released from jail. "I think it is safe to say that they are about as strict as you can get. I am not prepared to go any further than that. But I think the public should know that," Oppal said. "We’re disappointed," Opal said, adding a decision on whether to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada will be made by the special prosecutor in charge of the case. The ruling also drew flak from relatives of the victims.
— PTI
|
UK varsity apologises for honouring Dalai Lama
Ban Ki-moon welcomes G-8 statement Pakistan rejects foreign troops on its soil UN welcomes G-8 statement 
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Rushdie wins Best of Booker