Today in picture

Aid women killed in Afghanistan :

Taleban gunmen have shot dead three female international aid workers and their local driver near the Afghan capital Kabul.
The three International Rescue Committee (IRC) workers were a Canadian, a British-Canadian and a Trinidadian-American.
Five gunmen carried out an ambush in Logar province and opened fire with Kalashnikovs, a wounded survivor said.
A Taleban spokesman described the aid workers as foreign spies.
Aid agencies are frequently targeted in the Afghan conflict, with convoys attacked and staff abducted or killed.

Musharraf urges 'reconciliation' :

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has said the country needs political stability for economic development and to fight militancy.
Speaking on the eve of Pakistan's Independence Day, Mr Musharraf said: "Differences should be buried."
His comments came amid increasing pressure on him from the ruling coalition to step down or face charges of corruption and abuse of power.
Mr Musharraf has clung to power despite the defeat of his allies in elections.
"I appeal to all elements to adopt an approach of reconciliation so that there is political stability and we can firmly confront the real problems facing the country," Mr Musharraf said in a TV address ahead of Thursday's Independence Day celebrations.

Russia begins Georgia handover :

Russian troops have begun handing over control of the area around the town of Gori to Georgian security forces.
But a Russian general in the area said Moscow's troops would remain nearby for several days, apparently to remove weaponry and unexploded ordnance.
Overnight the US secretary of state urged Moscow to meet its own pledge to pull troops out of Georgia altogether.
Georgia launched an attack on the rebel region of South Ossetia from Gori and the town has remained a key flashpoint.
Russian troops headed towards the town after they moved against Georgian forces in South Ossetia, sparking a rapid retreat by Georgian forces and civilians on Monday.

Independence day being celebrated with national spirit across Pakistan :

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s 61st Independence Day is being celebrated across the country with great zest and festive fervor here on Thursday. Special prayers were offered for the development of the country in Morning prayers. The central ceremony was held at Jinnah Convention Center in Islamabad where Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani hoisted the flag.Also present in the occasion were Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Senate Chairman ... Full Story

China tops medal table, Japanese swimmer sets record :

Beijing: China is still on the top in points table in Beijing Olympics as Japan's Kosuke Kitajima won the men's 200- meter breaststroke on Thursday morning for his second gold medal of the Beijing Olympics.Also a winner in the 100 breaststroke on Monday, Kitajima lowered his own Olympic record by nearly a second to 2 minutes, 7.64 seconds. He won both breaststroke events at the 2004 Athens Olympics as well."I am so relieved," said Kitajima, also the world record holder. "I was going to improve my time a bit more, but I guess that to win this race is more important than to set a good time."While, China has successfully maintained his top position in Olympics village.

Rupee plunges to new low :

KARACHI: The value of rupee against dollar kept shrinking for the third day in a row, as inter-bank trading closed here at Rs75.15 to a dollar, the lowest thus far.Money market dealers said that the inter-bank trading yesterday had wrapped up at Rs73.75, while today it went swirling beyond Rs75 and wrapped up at Rs75.15, on the other hand, dollar in open market selling at Rs76.Invest Capital analyst Khurram Shahzad said that the institutions and individual investors preferring to hold back dollar due to the onrush of dollar purchasers, while the speculative elements were also seen playing the market. He said that the speculators have intensified their activities due to the existing political instability in the country and thus aggravating the importers’ ordeals. Analysts said that the situation demanded further measures to be taken by the State Bank.

Bush throws support behind Georgia :

WASHINGTON: U.S. President George W. Bush Wednesday demanded Russian troops leave Georgia as he dispatched Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the country in a strong show of support for his pro-West ally. "The United States of America stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia, insists that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia be respected," Bush said in a brief White House statement. Standing with Rice and US Defense Secretary Robert Gates at his side in the White House Rose Garden, he scolded Moscow for its attacks on Georgia and warned it had put Russia's post-Cold War embrace by the West "at risk."

"To begin to repair the damage to its relations with the United States, Europe, and other nations, and to begin restoring its place in the world, Russia must keep its word and act to end this crisis," he demanded. Bush said he had reports of Russian actions "inconsistent" with Moscow's statements that it had halted military operations and agreed to a French-brokered provisional ceasefire in the Russian-Georgian conflict. "We expect Russia to meet its commitment to cease all military activities in Georgia, and we expect all Russian forces that entered Georgia in recent days to withdraw from that country," he warned.

Unilateral action is not allowed in FATA: PM

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said Thursday he told US that nobody would be allowed to launch any unilateral operation in FATA.

Addressing the 'Independence Day' ceremony at Jinnah Convention Center, Prime Minister urged the people to work jointly with government for growth and development of the country.About missing persons, he said government was trying to get all missing persons released. He said PEMRA Ordinance has been tabled in the Parliament. "Crop Insurance Programme will be launched for farmers, he said, adding government will pay the premium of small farmers." Prime Minister Gilani further said loadshedding would be fully removed from the country in two to three year. Benazir Bhutto had made a promise to resore all deposed judges which, he said, would soon be fulfilled.

The prime minister said government was facing unjust criticism as it was only four-month old.