Paki Gallery

Car bomb kills Afghan provincial intelligence chief

KUNDUZ: A car bomb killed the head of Afghanistan’s intelligence service in the northern Kunduz province on Thursday morning, the latest in a string of high profile assassinations, a spokesman for the Kunduz police chief said.
Three civilians were also wounded by the blast from the bomb planted in the car of Payenda Khan, head of the National Directorate of Security in Kunduz, police spokesman Sayed Sarwar Husaini said.
source:Dawn news.

US Congress leaders agree on path to trade deals

Congressional leaders said on Wednesday they have agreed upon a path to approve three long-delayed free trade agreements and a program to help US workers who lose their jobs because of foreign competition.
“My staff and (Senate Republican Leader Mitch) McConnell’s staff have been in discussions for weeks over the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program and the three outstanding FTAs,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in a statement.
“We believe those discussions have provided a path forward in the Senate after we return for passage of the bipartisan compromise on the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, followed by passage of the three FTAs,” Reid said.
US Trade Representative Ron Kirk also said he was “very pleased Senators Reid and McConnell have agreed on a path forward” for the trade deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama and the TAA.
In a separate statement, House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner welcomed the deal reached by Reid and McConnell.
“I look forward to the House passing the FTAs, in tandem with separate consideration of TAA legislation, as soon as possible,” Boehner said in a statement.
“The Administration looks forward to working with leaders of the Senate and House after Congress returns in September to secure approval of these important initiatives for America’s working families,” Kirk added.
A Republican aide said the White House had insisted on passage of the TAA in exchange for sending the free trade agreements to Congress for votes.
The deal between Reid and McConnell shows there are votes to pass the pacts and the retraining program, the aide said.
Senate Republicans will be able to offer amendments to TAA, but the expectation is they will be defeated, the aide added.
Each of the three pacts was signed more than four years ago and the White House had hoped to win their approval before Congress left on its August break.
Boost to Exports/Jobs
But the bitter fight over raising the debt ceiling, as well as a disagreement over the TAA program, prevented action on the pacts, which together are expected to boost US exports by about $13 billion and help create or maintain 70,000 jobs.
Meanwhile, a rival deal between the European Union and South Korea went into force on July 1 and another pact between Canada and Colombia takes effect later this month.
Leaders of key House and Senate committees responsible for moving the trade deals said they were prepared to act quickly.
“Working together to enact this package into law needs to be a top priority when we return in September,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, a Democrat.
“Washington must act and act now; we cannot afford to let these trade agreements languish any longer,” said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, a Republican.
Many Republicans question the cost and effectiveness of TAA, while Democrats see it as a vital part of the US social safety net to help workers disadvantaged by trade.
The deal reached by McConnell and Reid calls for separate consideration of TAA, but Reid made clear he did not support movement of the trade deals until TAA is approved.
“I agree with the Majority Leader that we have a path forward on TAA and the Free Trade Agreements,” McConnell said in a joint statement with Reid.
“I have long supported passage of the long-delayed FTAs, and I know that I speak for many on my side of the aisle that we are eager to get moving and finally pass them. Although I do not personally support TAA, I know there is bipartisan support for this program,” McConnell said.
Senator Orrin Hatch, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, also welcomed the agreement and urged President Barack Obama to send the trade deals to Congress for approval “as soon as possible.”
“Every day that passes puts American exporters at an international competitive disadvantage and delays the creation of tens of thousands of jobs for American workers,” he said.
source:Dawn news.

Chopper crash kills 10 in Indonesia: officials

JAKARTA: A helicopter crash in central Indonesia killed 10 people including at least two Australians employed by Melbourne-based Newcrest Mining, officials said Thursday.
The company said two South Africans were also killed but Indonesian officials insisted all four foreigners who perished in the accident were Australians, citing the passenger list.
Six Indonesians also died when the chopper went down in heavy rain Wednesday afternoon shortly after taking off from Manado on Sulawesi island, local officials said.
“The helicopter crashed in a mountainous area and it was raining when the accident happened,” transport ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan told AFP.
An Indonesian man who was found alive at the crash scene on Thursday morning later died of his injuries, raising the toll to 10, officials said.
Search and rescue workers discovered the badly damaged wreckage in dense forest about 10 kilometres from Manado, North Sulawesi province.
The Bell 412 aircraft was flying to Newcrest’s Gosowong mine on the island of Halmahera, some 2,400 kilometres northeast of the capital Jakarta, Australia’s largest gold producer said.
The helicopter was chartered by PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals, a joint venture between Newcrest Mining Ltd. and Indonesian company PT Aneka Tambang.
Newcrest said the cause of the crash was not yet known.
“There were 10 people on board the helicopter, which was transporting eight employees and contractors to the mine and there were two crew,” said the Australian Stock Exchange-listed Newcrest.
Senior executives were en route to Manado, along with PT Halmahera Minerals director Iwan Irawan, with work at the Gosowong mine suspended, added the company, one of the world’s lowest-cost gold producers.
“Newcrest and Aneka Tambang express their deepest sadness and condolences to family, colleagues and friends of the passengers over this tragic event,” said Newcrest chief executive Greg Robinson.
Newcrest, which has around 5,100 employees and is among Australia’s top 20 companies by market capitalisation, added that counselling and support services were being made available to family and employees.
The company operates across Australia as well as in Indonesia.
source:Dawn News.

Pakistan reach South Asian football semis

LAHORE: Four goals by Mohammad Bilal and two by Sher Ali helped Pakistan U-16 team reach the semi-finals of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship after earning a convincing 6-0 win against Maldives in their second Group ‘A’ match in Kathmandu.
According to the information released by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Pakistan led the first half 1-0 as Bilal put his side ahead from a Mansoor Khan corner in the 19th minute.
The second half saw full domination of Pakistan as Bilal slammed his second goal in the 56th minute followed by Sher Ali’s goals in the 79th and 80th minutes to make it 4-0.
In the 84th minute, Bilal completed his hat-trick with a superb solo run making it 5-0. Bilal then added his fourth goal in the 88th minute to complete the tally.