NEWS PULSE: November 2011

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Dunya TV

US plans to vacate Pakistan air base
US urges Pakistan to review Bonn talks boycott
Clinton regrets Pakistan boycott of Bonn Moot
Wasim advocates one coach for Pakistan
India beat Windies by one wicket
Merkel very sorry about Nato attack, Pakistan's Bonn boycott
US military refuses to apologise over Nato attack
Cable operators to ban International news channels
Iranian protesters re-enter British embassy compound
Countrywide protests against NATO aggression
Zardari, Munter discuss Nato attack aftermath
3512 students get degrees in AJK varsity Convocation
Eight killed in Orakzai operation
NATO to retrain troops to stop killing civilians
Pakistan important to Bonn conference: Kabul

Posted:

According a UK news network, Washington is treading lightly not to aggravate an already fragile relationship that was bruised further by a NATO attack on a Pakistani military outpost last weekend that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers near the Afghanistan border. Pakistan demanded that the United States leave the Shamsi Air Base within 15 days and blocked ground supply routes through Pakistan to US forces in Afghanistan. Three sources, who declined to be identified because of the issue’s sensitivity, said US planning is under way to leave the base, a remote facility in Balochistan that has been a point of contention. The cross-border incident escalated tensions between the two countries and the US military is conducting an investigation to find out exactly what happened on the ground. The moves by the Pakistanis to block ground supply routes and the air base were not expected to significantly hinder US operations. One US government source said the United States has spent months preparing for a possible eviction from the Pakistan base by building up other drone launching and staging capability. Earlier this year, after the US raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, some Pakistani officials demanded that Washington vacate the Shamsi facility. At the time, however, US officials said that American personnel would remain at the base and would continue to conduct drone flights in pursuit of militants. But in one concession, the United States stopped conducting lethal drone operations from that base and limited operations to surveillance flights. US officials believe that this time Pakistan appears much more resolute about carrying out the eviction threat. Vacating the air base was seen more as an inconvenience rather than a critical blow to drone operations which the United States also conducts from Afghanistan and possibly elsewhere.

US urges Pakistan to review Bonn talks boycott

Posted:

It said it plays a key role in the future of its war-torn central Asian neighbour. Pakistan decided earlier Tuesday to boycott the December 5 Bonn conference as it widened its protest over lethal cross-border Nato strikes on Saturday that have exacerbated a deep crisis in US ties. “It’s important to note that this conference is… about Afghanistan, about its future, about building a safer, more prosperous Afghanistan within the region,” State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner told reporters. “It’s very much in Pakistan’s interest to attend this conference,” Toner said. Toner, who declined to be drawn on whether the United States regretted the decision in Islamabad, said Pakistan had not informed Washington directly of its decision because Germany is the host of the conference. But he repeated that “it’s in their interests, so we think… it’s important that they be there.”He added: “Pakistan has a crucial role to play in supporting a secure and stable and prosperous Afghanistan. “It’s absolutely critical that Afghanistan’s neighbours play a role in its future development,” Toner said. “Its relationship with Pakistan has been critical in that regard.”

Clinton regrets Pakistan boycott of Bonn Moot

Posted:

Speaking at an aid conference in South Korea, Clinton reiterated the US stance that the border killing of Pakistani soldiers was a "tragic incident" and pledged an investigation "as swiftly and thoroughly as possible." "Frankly this is regrettable that Pakistan has decided not to attend the conference in Bonn because this conference has been long in the planning," Clinton told reporters. "Pakistan like the United States has a profound interest in a secure, stable and increasingly democratic Afghanistan," Clinton said. Clinton voiced hope that Pakistan would find a "follow-up way" to take part in talks on Afghanistan s future. NATO air strikes killed 24 Pakistani troops on the Afghan border while violating international law, inflaming new tensions between Islamabad and the West.

Wasim advocates one coach for Pakistan

Posted:

The ex-skipper opposed three separate coaches for bowling, batting and fielding. Pakistan have been on hunt for a national team coach since Waqar Younis quit the post in September this year citing health problems. Former opening batsman Mohsin Khan has since led the team on an interim basis and has shown a willingness to continue. But the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formed a three-man committee to find a replacement for Younis, suggesting a foreigner would be better suited to the hot-seat. New PCB chief Zaka Ashraf has stressed the need for separate batting, fielding and bowling coaches in addition to a head coach, but Wasim cautioned against complicating team affairs. "I think the idea of separate coaches doesn t suit Pakistan," Wasim told AFP. "Pakistan need one head coach who should guide the team... in case the of too many coaches things will get complicated." The PCB committee had shortlisted five candidates for the post but progress has been delayed after Ashraf said he wanted separate coaches for each department. Sources within the PCB told AFP that former Australian batsman Dav Whatmore, who also guided Sri Lanka to World Cup glory in 1996, is favourite to take the post.

India beat Windies by one wicket

Posted:

Indian has taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The hosts reached the 212-run target with seven balls to spare in the day-night match, with Rohit Sharma top-scoring with an impressive 72. Brief scores: West Indies 211-9 in 50 overs; India 213-9 in 48.5 overs

Merkel very sorry about Nato attack, Pakistan's Bonn boycott

Posted:

The conference is due next week in the German city of Bonn on the future of Afghanistan. Merkel said Germany would still "see what could be done to change" Islamabad s decision to bow out of the international meeting, taken in protest at NATO air strikes which killed 26 Pakistani soldiers.

US military refuses to apologise over Nato attack

Posted:

Gen Martin Dempsey, the most senior figure in the US military has refused to apologise for an air strike at the weekend that killed 26 Pakistani soldiers. The Pakistan Army claimed the attack lasted almost two hours, and that it continued even after commanders on the ground contacted Nato to ask what was going on. In a TV interview, Gen Dempsey said he telephoned Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani and “expressed regret”. “They have reason to be furious that they have 24 soldiers dead and that what killed them was the ordinance of a partner,” he said. Asked if there was anything to apologise for, Gen Dempsey said: “absolutely not.” Gen Dempsey also admitted that the US relationship with Pakistan, viewed from the outside is “the worst it’s ever been.”

Cable operators to ban International news channels

Posted:

Pakistani cable television operators on Tuesday announced to block Western news channels as fury spread over a NATO attack that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. “We want to send them a strong message to stop this. If they don’t stop this, then it is our right to stop them,” Khalid Arain, president of the All Pakistan Cable Operators Association said in a live press conference. The BBC was the focus of criticism.

Iranian protesters re-enter British embassy compound

Posted:

The second entry came shortly after police had chased out a group of more than 20 demonstrators who had stormed the mission. The protesters back inside were scattering papers taken from the embassy and setting them on fire, witnesses told AFP. Police fired tear gas at the protesters inside the embassy grounds to disperse them, the Fars news agency reported. It added that several protesters had been injured, one critically, as had several officers. Tehran police chief General Hossein Sajadi-Nia was at the scene, ordering the protesters to end their action.

Countrywide protests against NATO aggression

Posted:

Different cities of Pakistan including Lahore, Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujranwala and Bahawalnagar witnessed protest rallies of students, doctors, lawyers, traders and different social and political parties. in Lahore, Punjab University students organised a protest rally from Institute of Communication Studies to Faisal Auditorium against the cowardly attack of NATO forces that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in Mohmand Agency. Hundreds of students participated in the rally. Protesting students demanded the government give up dual policy and adopt a clear policy over NATO aggression. Students warned the rulers of countrywide protest if a courageous policy was not adopted over the tragedy.

Zardari, Munter discuss Nato attack aftermath

Posted:

Pak-US bilateral relations in the aftermath of NATO’s attack on Pakistani posts were discussed during the meeting. President Zardari reportedly told the US envoy that the NATO attack on Pakistani forces in unacceptable and no one should consider Pakistan’s desire for peace its weakness. The meeting lasted for over an hour and Pak-US strained ties were discussed. Munter conveyed the Us administration’s message to President Zardari. The details of the message were not immediately released. President Zardari told Munter that Pakistan has rendered uncountable sacrifices in the war on terror and incidents such as the attack on Pakistani forces cannot be tolerated. He said the people are very upset over such attacks while all the political parties and the citizens of Pakistan are very concerned and worried. He said that Pakistan would never compromise its sovereignty and national security. Munter said that US admin was investigating the attacks on Pakistani posts. On the other hand, authorities in the political wing of the US Embassy in Islamabad had a meeting with Defence Council of Pakistan head Maulana Sami-ul-Haq. Sources said that US officials will also meet leaders of political parties as well in order to put a halt to decisive decisions such as closure of Shamsi airbase pending probe into the attack by the US admin.

3512 students get degrees in AJK varsity Convocation

Posted:

At least 3512 graduating students of M.A/M.Sc., B.A/B.Sc./B.ED, M. Sc. Agriculture, B.Sc., Agriculture, M.Sc. Engineering, B.Sc., Engineering, BS Geology, B.Sc., Home Economics, BBA,MBA,M.Com/MPA,BFA,B.S Ed and B.Com were awarded degrees. As many as 40 students were decorated with gold medals. While addressing the Convocation President AJ&K/Chancellor University Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan said, “If we really want to make progress, we will have to increase our higher education capacity by increasing the number of institutions of higher learning. At present, most of the students are denied admissions in the disciplines of their choice thus posing an alarming situation.” He said that our government has established two medical colleges at Muzaffarabad and Mirpur which will start functioning by this year providing an access for the students of the area to the medical education. The 3rd medical college will soon be established at Rawalakot. He informed that the Prime Minister of Pakistan has also announced the up-gradation of Rawalakot Campus of the University to a full-fledged University. The directive to this effect has also been issued and the establishment of the University is to be materialized in a couple of months. The Prime Minister of Pakistan has also announced the establishment of IT University at Kotli which will also be established in near future, he added. “I have arranged the adequate funding for Rawalakot Campus of the University. The mobilization advance will be released to the firm and construction work will be started soon”, he added. He thanked the Prime Minister of Pakistan for having shown keen interest in promoting higher education in the AJK. He urged the University to consider resource diversification as it cannot develop unless some alternate funding resources are explored. Nevertheless, while doing so, University should take into account the interests of all the stakeholders. He showed his satisfaction that University has established the ‘Students Support Fund’. He announced the grant of Rs.5, 00,000 for this fund. While talking about Kashmir issue, he maintained that “Kashmir Issue is a long standing issue and needs early solution as per aspirations and wishes of Kashmiri people. While negotiating this Issue, Kashmiris should be taken into confidence and involved in deliberations at all level. Without their participation, no durable solution to the Kashmir Issue can be found out”. While congratulating graduating Students and their proud parents, President said, “You have been awarded degrees, medals and transcripts by the University, yet the process of learning continuous, it is a never ending process. What seems an end is, in fact, a beginning the spirit needs several sorts of foods of which knowledge is only one”. The Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Habib-ur-Rehman Congratulated the graduating students and wished them a successful future. While addressing the students he said “The University is proud of your performance and achievements. I am certain that you will prove to be an asset to our nation and contribute towards the progress of the country”. He hoped that they would continue to display the same degree of commitment in the future.

Eight killed in Orakzai operation

Posted:

According to reports, the security forces pounded the hideouts of militants in Dabori area of Upper Orakzai Agency overnight killing eight militants and injuring several others. Forces destroyed two other sanctuaries during the onslaught.A troop was injured in the attack, reports said.

NATO to retrain troops to stop killing civilians

Posted:

NATO s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed the order had gone out to commanders, but would not confirm the deadline, nor release the full text of the internal letter leaked by Karzai s office. The move comes with NATO already facing uncomfortable fallout after an air strike killed 24 Pakistani troops near the Afghan border on Saturday. Karzai s office quoted a letter from force commander US General John Allen saying he had issued orders "for all units to conduct retraining on our methods of employing force against insurgents while protecting Afghan civilians." "No later than 5 December, units will confirm to me that they have complied with these orders," it said. The letter quoted Allen as saying that he had "initiated aggressive action" across the alliance force to investigate incidents of civilian casualties and to ensure they do not reoccur. An ISAF spokesman, Brigadier General Carsten Jacobson, confirmed that retraining had been ordered. "It is (in) the highest interests of ISAF to protect the civilian population so the commander of ISAF... took action in his orders to his commanders," he said. Another spokesman for ISAF, Lieutenant Commander Brian Badura, said it was not releasing the full text of the letter, which was intended to be an "internal document." There are around 140,000 foreign troops fighting a 10-year, Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan, with around 100,000 from the United States.

Pakistan important to Bonn conference: Kabul

Posted:

Kabul expressed hope that Islamabad could reverse a decision to boycott the talks. "We regard Pakistan as an important country in the region, we hope our Pakistani brothers will be there," foreign ministry spokesman Janan Mosazai told AFP of the December 5 conference on Afghanistan s future. Mosazai said the ministry had not received an official confirmation from Pakistan that it would not attend. But he added: "Our Pakistani brothers should remember that Bonn is an Afghan conference, it will be chaired and led by Afghans." A Pakistani government official told AFP on condition of anonymity Tuesday that the cabinet had decided not to attend the event amid a crisis over a NATO air strike near the Afghan border which killed 24 Pakistani soldiers Saturday.

DINA for the issue of November 30, 201

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D A W N I n t e r n e t N e w s A l e r t
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November 30, 2011 Wednesday Muharram 4, 1433
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The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news-service
from Pakistan's largest English language newspaper, the Daily
DAWN.

We encourage comments & suggestions. We can be reached at:

e-mail webmaster@dawn.com
WWW http://dawn.com
fax +92(21) 35693995
snail-mail DAWN Media Group,
Haroon House, Karachi 74200, Pakistan

(c) Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., Pakistan - 2011

The link at the end of each extract can be used to access the
complete story on DAWN - the Internet Edition.

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Munter assures Zardari of fair probe
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By Syed Irfan Raza
ISLAMABAD, Nov 29: US Ambassador Cameron Munter called on President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday and conveyed his government's resolve to conduct a fair and impartial inquiry into the killing of 24 Pakistani security personnel in unprovoked Nato air strikes in Mohmand Agency.

He informed the president that a senior air force officer had been appointed to hold the probe...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/30/munter-assures-zardari-of-fair-probe.html

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Cabinet endorses DCC decisions on Shamsi base, Nato supplies: Pakistan to boycott Bonn conference
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By Nasir Jamal
LAHORE, Nov 29: Pakistan decided on Tuesday not to attend the Bonn conference on Afghanistan's future next week in protest against the weekend Nato air strikes on military posts in Mohmand Agency.

The decision is being interpreted here as a direct snub to Washington because only on Monday a US State Department official had said it was important that "Pakistan attends this conference for the future and stability in Afghanistan"...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/30/cabinet-endorses-dcc-decisions-on-shamsi-base-nato-supplies-pakistan-to-boycott-bonn-conference.html

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Attack termed deliberate, unprovoked
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RAWALPINDI, Nov 29: Terming the air strikes on Pakistani posts by the US-led Nato forces an unprovoked act of blatant aggression, the Director General of Military Operations, Maj-Gen Ishfaq Nadeem, said on Tuesday that all coordination procedures were violated for carrying out the attacks.

"The positions of the posts were conveyed to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) through map references and it was impossible that they did not know these to be our posts," he said in a briefing for columnists, defence analysts and television anchorpersons here at the General Headquarters...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/30/attack-termed-deliberate-unprovoked.html

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SC to take up memo petitions tomorrow
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By Nasir Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, Nov 29: The Supreme Court constituted on Tuesday a nine-judge bench to take up on Dec 1 a set of petitions against the memogate scandal.

The petitions have been filed by PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and leaders of his party Ishaq Dar and Khwaja Asif, Barrister Zafarullah of the Watan Party and Advocate M. Tariq Asad. Notices have already been issued to the counsel for the petitioners and Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/30/sc-to-take-up-memo-petitions-tomorrow.html

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Ties retrievable, says US general
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By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Nov 29: As the United States appointed a one-star air force general to probe Nato air strikes that have further eroded US-Pakistan relations, the US military chief said on Tuesday he believed the relationship was still retrievable.

Also, preliminary investigation reports leaked to the US media on Tuesday, described the deadliest 'friendly fire' incident with Pakistan since the Afghan war began as a case of 'mistaken identity'. Apparently the Taliban lured Nato forces into attacking the border posts, which caused the death of 24 Pakistani soldiers over the weekend, the reports said...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/30/ties-retrievable-says-us-general.html

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SC rejects petitions against HBL sale
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By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Nov 29: The Supreme Court rejected on Tuesday a set of challenges to the sale of the Habib Bank Limited with an observation that allegations about non-transparent methods used in privatisation could not be established.

A three-judge bench comprising Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan said no violation of relevant rules had been established during the course of proceedings and the transparency issue did not arise in the entire transaction...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/30/sc-rejects-petitions-against-hbl-sale.html

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Karzai urges Pakistan to attend conference
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KABUL, Nov 29: Afghan President Hamid Karzai telephoned Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday to urge him to reconsider a boycott of the Bonn conference over the recent deadly Nato strike.

Mr Karzai's deputy spokesman Siamak Herawi told AFP that Pakistan was an important participant in the conference aimed at bringing peace after 10 years of war against the Taliban and expressed hope that they would ultimately attend...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/30/karzai-urges-pakistan-to-attend-conference.html

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12 killed as van catches fire
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By Amjad Iqbal
TAXILA, Nov 29: At least 12 passengers were burnt to death and seven others suffered severe injuries when a van going from Wah Cantonment to Rawalpindi burst into flames and overturned after hitting a tree along the GT Road on Tuesday morning.

According to DSP Mohammad Iqbal of the National Highway and Motorway Police, the van caught fire near Taxila after its CNG cylinder exploded. The driver lost control and the vehicle hit the footpath. It dragged onto the footpath for some distance and caught fire...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/30/12-killed-as-van-catches-fire.html

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Wapda to be exempted from hydel power cess
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By Khaleeq Kiani
ISLAMABAD, Nov 29: The government has decided in principle to exempt the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) from hydropower cess payable to the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) and plans to rescind an earlier notification imposing a charge of half a paisa per unit of electricity produced from water resources.

A senior government official told Dawn on Tuesday that the ministry of water and power had already sent a summary undoing its own decision to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) which was expected to meet in a couple of days...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/30/wapda-to-be-exempted-from-hydel-power-cess.html

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BBC, other channels face boycott
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LAHORE, Nov 29: The Cable Operators Association will stop relaying from Wednesday foreign channels telecasting programmes containing materials against Pakistan and its armed forces.

"We appeal to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to cancel landing rights of BBC London and other channels maligning the country," the association's president Khalid Arain said at a news conference at the Lahore Press Club on Tuesday...—Staff Reporter

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/30/bbc-other-channels-face-boycott.html

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Protest letter sent to UNSC
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UNITED NATIONS, Nov 29: Pakistan sent a letter to the presidents of the UN Security Council and the General Assembly on Monday protesting the attack of Nato/Isaf forces on Mohmand Agency which resulted in the loss of precious lives of 24 officers and men of Pakistan Army and injuries to several others.

Pakistan's UN Ambassador Abdullah Husain Haroon urged the presidents of the council and the assembly to circulate the letter as an official document...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/30/protest-letter-sent-to-unsc.html

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Karachi Stocks Up 12.79 Points:
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KARACHI, Nov 29: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 11506.94, up 12.79 points.
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Forex Update:
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KARACHI, Nov 29: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 88.5 to the US Dollar in the open market.
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Jackson doctor jailed

Conrad Murray, the US doctor convicted of the involuntary manslaughter of pop legend Michael Jackson, is sentenced to four years in prison.

For more details: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news

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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Mass killer Breivik ruled insane

Psychiatrists in Norway decide that Anders Breivik, self-confessed killer of 77 people in July's twin attacks, is mentally unfit for trial.

For more details: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news

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DINA for the issue of November 29, 2011

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D A W N I n t e r n e t N e w s A l e r t
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November 29, 2011 Tuesday Muharram 3, 1433
----------------------------------------------------------------
The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news-service
from Pakistan's largest English language newspaper, the Daily
DAWN.

We encourage comments & suggestions. We can be reached at:

e-mail webmaster@dawn.com
WWW http://dawn.com
fax +92(21) 35693995
snail-mail DAWN Media Group,
Haroon House, Karachi 74200, Pakistan

(c) Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., Pakistan - 2011

The link at the end of each extract can be used to access the
complete story on DAWN - the Internet Edition.

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Memogate probe by parliament committee
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Dawn Report
LAHORE / ISLAMABAD, Nov 28: The Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) headed by Senator Raza Rabbani will investigate the memogate affair and interrogate former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani who will not leave the country till the proceedings are completed.

This was stated by a deputy attorney general in the Lahore High Court on Monday when he appeared before Justice Umar Ata Bandial in connection with a petition seeking to place Mr Haqqani's name on the exit control list (ECL) and initiate high treason proceedings against him...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/29/memogate-probe-by-parliament-committee.html

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UAE mounts pressure to get airbase decision reversed
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Dawn Report
ISLAMABAD, Nov 28: The United Arab Emirates has dived into troubled Pakistan-US ties in a desperate effort to prevent them from unravelling and avert an immediate eviction of the Americans from the Shamsi airbase whose control they enjoy.

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Islamabad on Monday on an unscheduled trip and met President Asif Ali Zardari and Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/29/uae-mounts-pressure-to-get-airbase-decision-reversed.html

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Nato attack: Govt response leaves room for fence-mending
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By Baqir Sajjad Syed
ISLAMABAD, Nov 28: Two days into yet another crisis with the United States, the government was treading the predictable and well worn path on Monday.

Very little was heard from Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, while the civilian government swung into action on the diplomatic front, issuing warnings to the superpower through the media as well, though in private it was hinting that the incident did not spell the end of Pak-US relations as has been predicted in the aftermath of the Nato attacks on Pakistani border posts on the weekend....

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/29/nato-attack-govt-response-leaves-room-for-fence-mending.html

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Pakistan urged to attend Bonn moot
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By Our Correspondent
WASHINGTON: The US State Department urged Pakistan on Monday to attend next week's conference on Afghanistan's future in Bonn, Germany.

"It's important that Pakistan attends this conferences for the future and stability in Afghanistan," the department's spokesman Mark Toner told a briefing. "There is no suggestion of postponing the Bonn conference at this stage."..

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/29/pakistan-urged-to-attend-bonn-moot.html

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White House wants to 'carry forward' ties with Pakistan
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By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Nov 28: The White House said on Monday that it understood why Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said that there would be "no more business as usual" with Washington but it still wanted to carry forward this important relationship.

And the Pentagon said the US military would hold a separate investigation to determine what caused US and Nato aircraft to attack Pakistani positions. Nato is already holding an inquiry...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/29/white-house-wants-to-carry-forward-ties-with-pakistan.html

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Lenders want govt to reconsider Kalabagh project
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By Khaleeq Kiani
ISLAMABAD, Nov 28: International lenders have asked the government to 'reconsider Kalabagh dam' as a priority water sector project and introduce constitutional amendments in parliament for cost- and benefit-sharing of new reservoirs among relevant stakeholders.

According to a report of the water task force of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP), lending agencies and bilateral development partners have also advised the government to impose a surcharge of about one US cent per kwh of electricity and $5 on each irrigated acre to raise $1.7 billion (Rs150 billion) to fund a key component of a host of infrastructure projects for irrigation, flood control and hydropower generation...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/29/lenders-want-govt-to-reconsider-kalabagh-project.html

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SC to resume ZAB reference hearing on Dec 12
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By Nasir Iqbal
ISLAMABAD, Nov 28: The Supreme Court has decided to resume hearing on Dec 12 a presidential reference about revisiting the 1979 death sentence awarded to former prime minister and PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

The reference will be heard by an 11-judge larger bench under its advisory jurisdiction after a break of over five months...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/29/sc-to-resume-zab-reference-hearing-on-dec-12.html

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Anti-drug accord with Iran, Afghanistan
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KABUL, Nov 28: Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan on Monday agreed to bolster regional cooperation to combat drug smuggling at a time when the cultivation of illicit opium poppy is increasing despite the presence of US-led Nato forces in the country.

Afghanistan provides about 90 per cent of the world's opium, the raw ingredient used to make heroin, and the UN and Afghan government have long tried to wean the country off the lucrative crop...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/29/anti-drug-accord-with-iran-afghanistan.html

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China, Russia want Nato strikes probe
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BEIJING, Nov 28: China and Russia sought on Monday an 'earnest and meticulous' investigation into the Nato strikes that killed at least 24 Pakistani troops and the Organisation of Islamic Conference condemned the incident.

In Beijing, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said China was 'deeply shocked' by the Nato air strikes and demanded an investigation into the incident...

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/29/china-russia-want-nato-strikes-probe.html

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Karachi Stocks Down 153.99 Points:
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KARACHI, Nov 28: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 11,494.15, down 153.99 points.
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Forex Update:
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KARACHI, Nov 28: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at 88.4 to the US Dollar in the open market.
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Dunya TV

Rockets fired from Lebanon into Israel, no casualties: army
Fearing unrest, Israel delays work at holy site
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Green Australia attack to face New Zealand
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Euro rises against dollar on European debt hopes
Stocks soar after big holiday shopping weekend
Eurozone rescue fund to insure bonds
Some boys with autism have larger brains: study

Rockets fired from Lebanon into Israel, no casualties: army

Posted:

Several rockets fired from southern Lebanon landed in Israel overnight, but there were no casualties, Israel s army announced in a statement early Tuesday. After the rockets landed in the western Galilee region, the Israeli army retaliated, striking the area from where they had been launched, the army said, without offering further specifics. "The Israeli army considers that it is a serious incident and believes that it is the responsibility of the Lebanese government and the Lebanese army to avoid this kind of attacks," the statement added. Four rockets landed in Israel, according to a report on Israeli public radio. One caused minor damage, while another landed in a populated area but failed to explode. Local military commanders were assessing the situation but people in northern Israel, where the rockets landed, had not been told to go to air raid shelters, said an army spokesman.

Fearing unrest, Israel delays work at holy site

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Israel s prime minister intervened to halt renovation work on a pedestrian walkway adjacent to the most sensitive holy site in Jerusalem to avoid inflaming public opinion in the Arab world, an Israeli official said Monday. The renovation is meant to replace a rickety wooden ramp leading up to the enclosure known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as al-Aqsa. The ramp was meant to be temporary when it was constructed in 2004 to replace an earlier one that collapsed in a snowstorm, but fears of sparking Muslim anger have prevented any further work since then. The dismantling of the temporary walkway, which Jerusalem city officials have deemed potentially unsafe, was supposed to have begun in recent days, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the work postponed, Netanyahu told a security and foreign policy committee in Israel s parliament. He cited the recent anti-government unrest in neighboring Egypt, implying that anger there could be turned against Israel if his government were seen to be endangering a holy site that has repeatedly served as a flashpoint for violence. "It was my assessment that given the demonstrations in Cairo, on that specific day, that specific week it was not the time," Netanyahu told the committee, according to an official who participated in the closed session. He spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the subject. The official gave no date for the resumption of work. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation, the Israeli body directly responsible for the ramp, would not provide details on the project, and spokesmen for Netanyahu and Jerusalem City Hall declined to comment.

LA protesters defy eviction deadline

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Hundreds of anti-Wall Street protesters defied a deadline to leave a park near Los Angeles city hall Monday, remaining in place after a night of stalemate with only a few people arrested. Five people were detained as officers cleared the streets around the park to allow morning rush-hour traffic to flow freely, a spokesman said, but the two-month old encampment stayed. "It is not our intent to clear the park at this time," an officer told protesters over a loudspeaker. "It is only our intent to clear the street. Thank you in advance for your cooperation." "Right now we have no plans to go into the encampment," said Los Angeles Police Department commander Andy Smith. Hours before the midnight deadline, LA s mayor had said campers would be given enough time to leave and appealed to them to go peacefully, as the city seeks to avoid clashes with riot police seen elsewhere in recent weeks. While the park was ordered closed from midnight (0800 GMT), police were to "allow campers ample time to remove their belongings peacefully and without disruption," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said in a statement Sunday evening. "I am proud of the fact that this has been a peaceful, non-violent protest... because we have done things differently in Los Angeles. I trust that we can manage the closure of City Hall Park in the same spirit of cooperation." The Occupy Los Angeles movement was nearing a critical point in time after Villaraigosa on Friday ordered the protesters to leave the spot where they have been rallying since the start of October, citing public safety concerns. The group called a rally in front of city hall late Sunday -- and by early Monday there were more than 1,000 protesters -- organizers said 3,000 -- and some 500 tents. A group of 25 protesters from the Occupy San Diego camp came up to support the LA movement. "We stand in solidarity with OLA. We came to make a statement because we need change," Claudia Acevedo, 44, said. The mayor announced a series of measures to help the protesters close up their camp, including an extra 50 beds for homeless demonstrators at local shelters, and parking spaces nearby for them to load up their belongings.

Doctor says gangrene threat to Seif al-Islam wound

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Seif al-Islam, the son of slain Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi, could develop gangrene if his wound is not treated, the Ukrainian doctor who examined the high-profile captive said. "His injury is serious but when I saw him it was not gangrenous. If not treated it can become" so, said Andrei Murakhovsky, who dressed Seif s wounded right hand the day after his capture in southern Libya on November 19. Murakhovsky expressed concern over Seif s health after noting that he has not seen him since the initial medical visit on November 20. "I was called by the military council. I cleaned the wound and dressed it. But it needs to be dressed again. The military council chief said they will call me again... But they still have not (called)," Murakhovsky said. Seif sustained the injury to his right hand in an explosion a month before his capture, causing damage to his index finger and thumb, he added. A National Transitional Council (NTC) official, meanwhile, said Murakhovsky was the only doctor to have treated Seif since his capture. "It was the only time that a doctor visited him. It was Andrei (Murakhovsky). No doctor has visited him after that," said Ibrahim Turki, the NTC s health coordinator in the southern Libyan town of Zintan where Seif is being held. Gaddafi s son was seen by a team of representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross on November 22, a day after Murakhovsky, and a spokesman at the time said he "appeared to be in good health." The Red Cross officials met Seif for several hours in Zintan but refused to give details of the visit, saying only that the "organisation s findings" would be "shared with the detaining authorities only."

Boxing: Confident Khan ready for all comers

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Britain s Amir Khan is confident of victory next week against Lamont Peterson and ready if unbeaten rivals Floyd Mayweather or Tim Bradley come calling, but has no plans to fight friend Manny Pacquiao. "If I train hard and keep training the way I do, I don t think there s anybody out there who can beat me," Khan said on Monday. Khan, 26-1 with 18 knockouts, will defend his World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation light-welterweight titles on December 10 at Washington against hometown hero Lamont Peterson, 29-1-1 with 15 knockouts. "Our job is to beat him and move on to bigger and better things," Khan said. "This is going to take me from being a good fighter to a superstar. Beating Lamont Peterson will hopefully make me one of the best fighters in the world." A victory by Khan, who has won his past eight fights, likely would launch the 24-year-old Englishman into the welterweight division against such foes as Mayweather, who has yet to name an opponent for his planned fight on May 5. "We need a little more time to think about it, to look into it," Khan said. "I never shy away from any fight. If they put Floyd Mayweather in front of me, I ll be more than ready, but first I ve got Lamont Peterson to take care of." Mayweather s insistence upon tougher blood anti-doping tests, which helped scuttle a showdown with Pacquiao, is no worry for Khan, who faces random tests in Britain and knows them from his 2004 Olympic lightweight silver medal days. "If that fight did come off, I m happy to give them a test," Khan said. "I m a clean fighter. I m used to it." One fight Khan has no plans on making is against Filipino icon Pacquiao, who like Khan trains with Freddie Roach in Los Angeles, where the English pugilist has worked for almost two months and "Pac-Man" trained for his victory earlier this month over Mexico s Juan Manuel Marquez. "We won t fight each other. We have too much respect for each other," Khan said. "Me and Manny, we re cool. I was in his room the day before he fought Marquez." As for talk they might one day meet in the ring, Khan says: "We just laugh about it mainly." Roach sees many similarities in working with Pacquiao and Khan and sees little chance they would fight each other. "They have speed and power. They have good work ethic," Roach said. "They are great role models for everybody in the world. They are great at what they do because they work at it. "They are friends and they respect each other. I don t see it happening. There are a lot of other fights out there and we will look forward to them." The fight that might motivate Khan to stay in the 140-pound division would be rival champion Bradley in what would be a unification showdown. Khan taunted Bradley after his weigh-in for a Pacquiao undercard fight earlier this month, a fight Bradley took after saying no to facing Khan. "I just wanted to make him realize I m not scared. I want to make the fight," Khan said. "If that fight is there it s worth me staying in this division. If he will man up and fight me, I ll fight him anywhere. If not I ll go up. I just need new motivation. I want to face new fighters and have new motivation."

Nadal tired but ready for Davis Cup final

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Spain s top-ranked player had provoked alarm in his home country last week when he said he felt "less passionate for the game" after being eliminated from the ATP World Tour Finals. Following a practice session for the Davis Cup final which begins Friday, Nadal said Monday that his words had been exaggerated. "Things get blown out of proportion very often because conclusions are drawn far beyond the meaning of what s said," Nadal said. "It s true that this season has been tough. More than a lack of passion, it is a weariness from many years of playing at this level, week after week. "The important thing now is to work each day at 100 percent with the excitement needed to win the Davis Cup." The contest is a repeat of the 2008 final, when Spain won 3-2 on a hard indoor surface in Argentina despite missing Nadal because of injury. This time Nadal will lead a Spain team on the clay surface at Olympic Stadium which includes the fifth-ranked David Ferrer and probable doubles partners Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco. Argentina is seeking its first title in four attempts. Juan Martin del Potro and David Nalbandian could face Nadal and Ferrer in the singles rubbers. Juan Monaco, Juan Ignacio Chela and Eduardo Schwank fill out Argentina s provisional squad with captain Tito Vazquez needing to trim his team to four players before the Dec. 1 draw. "They have great players, all of which stand out on the circuit, so the only thing we can do is concentrate on reaching the final as prepared as possible and then hope our rivals don t have an inspired weekend," Nadal said.

Boxing: Haye in Klitschko talks

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Former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye confirmed Monday he is in talks about organising a fight with Vitali Klitschko in March. The British boxer officially retired in October but was known to be ready to fight again if the opportunity arose for him to avenge his July defeat by Wladimir Klitschko or take on his elder brother. "I haven t seen a contract but there s definitely talks going on," Haye told the BBC s Hardtalk programme. "I said before I retired I would love that fight and there s a date in March that s already been talked about." The Ukrainian brothers had claimed talks had been ongoing over a meeting with Vitali, the WBC champion, following Haye s unification loss to IBF/WBO champion Wladimir in Hamburg earlier this year. Haye himself had already stated he had merely "retired from fighting anyone without the Klitschko surname". A date in early March in Dusseldorf, Germany has long been talked about.

New sports minister pledges 'great' World Cup

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Brazil s new sports minister Aldo Rebelo pledged Monday that the South American country will put on a "great World Cup." Addressing corruption scandals and delays surrounding the 2014 World Cup, Rebelo spoke just days after Brazilian media reported that Ricardo Teixeira, the president of the 2014 World Cup organizing committee, is preparing to resign. Teixeira, a member of FIFA s executive committee, is being linked to an investigation of kickbacks at ISL, the marketing agency that owned World Cup television rights until its 2001 bankruptcy with debts of around $300 million. Rebelo was named in October to replace Orlando Silva, who resigned after being embroiled in his own corruption scandal. Rebelo spoke at the opening ceremony of Soccerex in Rio de Janeiro, a global trade show for the football industry. "It is not only the world of football that is going through tough times because of claims of corruption, problems with racism, intolerance," Rebelo told hundreds of delegates at the convention. "These facts are undesirable. These are things that are happening in the whole world." The minister s comments touched on problems surrounding Sepp Blatter, the embattled president of FIFA, who has been under growing pressure to reform football s world governing body following a series of scandals. FIFA has promised to publish Swiss court papers in December identifying senior officials who took payment from ISL. British broadcaster BBC has named the officials as Teixeira and his former father-in-law Joao Havelange, the longtime FIFA president who Blatter succeeded in 1998. Speaking on the sidelines after his address, Rebelo was asked about the tension between FIFA and Teixeira. He hinted new blood might be needed. "This is nothing new, this has always been my opinion," he said. "The renewal and rotating system in any institution is always a good thing for sport and democracy." Rebelo also addressed organizational problems in building infrastructure such as airports and stadiums and getting World Cup venues ready on time.

Green Australia attack to face New Zealand

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Australia will field their most inexperienced bowling attack in decades against a New Zealand team chasing their first Test victory in Australia for 26 years at the Gabba on Thursday. An injury crisis has decimated Australia s pace attack, with skipper Michael Clarke likely to rely on at least two Test newcomers to get the wickets against the Black Caps, who sit a lowly eighth in the world rankings. The sidelining of Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnston, allrounder Shane Watson and exciting youngster Pat Cummins forced selectors to choose Test debutants James Pattinson, Ben Cutting and Mitchell Starc along with new opening batsman David Warner. While one of the tyro pacemen is expected to be named 12th man, Peter Siddle will still lead the most inexperienced Australian Test attack since Merv Hughes and Bruce Reid made their debuts against India in 1985. Suddenly New Zealand, who have won on only three of their last 22 Tests and had been considered an entree to fourth-ranked Australia s four-Test home series against India next month, are injury-free and in scoring form. The Black Caps plastered an Australia A attack featuring Pattinson, Cutting and Starc for 890 runs in a high-scoring four-day draw last weekend, with three Kiwi batsmen, Jesse Ryder (175), Brendon McCullum (146) and captain Ross Taylor (138) hitting centuries. New Zealand s chances have improved of a first Test victory in Australia since the days of pace great Richard Hadlee, who spearheaded their last win, in Perth in 1985. The Australians, coming off a thrilling two-wicket win over South Africa in Johannesburg earlier this month to draw a two-Test series with the Proteas, will still start favourites to beat New Zealand at their Gabba fortress. Australia have not lost a Test at the Gabba ground since defeat to the formidable West Indies in 1988 and still boast an experienced batting lineup featuring Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Brad Haddin and Clarke. There will be interest in how Twenty20 specialist Warner handles his first Test opportunity, opening the Australian innings with Phil Hughes, who is still fighting to secure his place in the side after 15 Tests, following the controversial discarding of Simon Katich. Former selector and Test fast bowler Merv Hughes is looking forward to Warner, 25, employing his natural big-hitting game against the Kiwis.

US general to lead probe into Pakistan border attack

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The US military on Monday named an Air Force general to lead an investigation into allied air strikes that left 24 Pakistani soldiers dead and provoked outrage in Islamabad. Pakistan has reacted with fury and cut off crucial supply routes to NATO-led forces in Afghanistan after Saturday s incident near a checkpoint in the eastern Afghan province of Kunar. The chief of US Central Command appointed Brigadier General Stephen Clark, from Air Force Special Operations Command in Florida, as the investigating officer for the probe that will also include a NATO representative, officials said. The governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan "will be invited to participate," Central Command said in a statement. Central Command, which oversees US forces in the Middle East and Afghanistan, wanted to "include these government representatives to the maximum extent possible to determine what happened and preclude it from happening again." The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) sent an initial assessment team over the weekend to the border to look into the incident. Pakistan has charged the air strikes were unprovoked, while Afghan and Western officials reportedly say Pakistani forces opened fire first. Before Saturday s attack, US military officers had been working to shore up cooperation with Pakistani forces along the Afghan border. Communication between units on the border virtually broke down in the aftermath of a US raid in May that killed Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden at his Pakistani compound.

Oil prices rise on holiday sales, Europe hopes

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Oil prices climbed above $98 per barrel Monday after shoppers pumped up holiday retail sales in the US, and investors bet that Europe would find a last-minute solution to its financial crisis. Benchmark crude rose $1.44 to end the day at $98.21 per barrel in New York. Brent crude, which is used to price foreign oil including much imported by US refineries to make gasoline rose $2.26 to finish at $108.02 a barrel in London. Benchmark oil has recovered much of the ground it lost since Nov. 16, when it hit $102.59 a barrel. Prices rebounded Monday following strong holiday sales in the U.S, where shoppers spent nearly $1 billion more on Black Friday than they did a year ago. The robust weekend sales are a promising sign that consumers are opening their wallets a little wider. "The US is probably doing better than we gave it credit for," PFGBest analyst Phil Flynn said. "Consumers are buying more, and that s going to get manufacturers to produce more products, and it ll take more energy to make and distribute those goods." Meanwhile European leaders are considering new solutions to their credit problems, with little time to left to preserve the euro currency and perhaps head off a recession in the region. Among the ideas is a plan for eurozone countries with the best credit to pool their resources to assist the most indebted members of the 17-nation currency block. Some analysts say the euro could collapse in days, unless action is taken. Oil prices climbed along with a surge in world stock markets. Stock indexes in Italy, Germany and France rose more than 4 percent on Monday. In the US the Dow Jones industrial average, the Standard & Poor s 500 and the Nasdaq all rose more than 2 percent. In other energy trading, heating oil rose 4.26 cents to finish at $2.9699 per gallon, and gasoline futures rose 6.92 cents to finish at $2.5181 per gallon. Natural gas fell 17.8 cents, or 5 percent, to end the day at $3.3640 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Euro rises against dollar on European debt hopes

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Hopes rose Monday that the International Money Fund is putting together a $794 billion rescue package for Italy. Investors are hoping that European leaders will finally agree on a solution to the region s debt crisis. The euro rose to $1.3315 in afternoon trading Monday from $1.3230 late Friday. The euro fell to a 7 1/2-week low against the dollar Friday after Italian borrowing rates soared, a sign that investors were worried the country may not be able to pay its debts. In the US, the National Retail Federation said Sunday that 226 million shoppers visited stores and websites during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, up from 212 million last year. They also spent more. The average shopper spent $398.62, up from $365.34 a year ago. Traders felt more comfortable buying the euro and other high-yielding risky currencies since they view the increase in spending as a sign that the US might avoid another recession. In other trading, the British pound rose to $1.5513 from $1.5433. The dollar fell to 0.9228 Swiss franc from 0.9318 and to 1.0344 Canadian dollar from 1.0503 Canadian dollar. The dollar rose to 77.94 Japanese yen from 77.76 Japanese yen.

Stocks soar after big holiday shopping weekend

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A strong start to the US shopping season and fresh proposals for a far-reaching solution to Europe s debt crisis sent stocks sharply higher Monday. The Dow Jones industrial average soared 300 points at midday, making up more than half of the ground it lost last week. Initial reports show a record number of shoppers hit the mall or bought gifts online during the holiday weekend. Thanksgiving weekend is a make-or-break time for many retailers. For the past six years, Black Friday has been the biggest sales day of the year. The retail numbers add to a growing set of indicators, including steady drops in the number of applications for unemployment, that suggest the US is far from the second recession economists had begun to fear in August. "This goes in stark contrast to the gloom and doom that had been over markets," said Rob Lutts, president of Salem, Massachusetts-based investment firm Cabot Money Management. "A lot of the stocks I follow have been more oversold than any time I can remember in the last few years." Markets in Europe also rose sharply as leaders there discuss new approaches for containing the region s debt troubles. One plan calls for Europe s most stable economies jointly sell bonds to provide assistance to the region s most indebted members, like Greece and Portugal. Investors are hoping that the recent signs of deterioration in the debt crisis will finally get Europe s leaders to agree on a package of measures that can ease market concerns over whether the euro currency itself can survive. The Dow jumped 310 points, or 2.8 percent, to 11,541 at midday. The index plunged 564 points last week on fear that Europe s debt crisis was spreading to large countries like Spain and even Germany. Alcoa Inc. jumped 5.7 percent, the most of the 30 stocks in the Dow. The Standard & Poor s 500 rose 36, or 3.1 percent, to 1,194. The Nasdaq composite rose 87, or 3.6 percent, to 2,528. Banks had some of the biggest gains as investors became less fearful of an imminent freeze-up in Europe s financial system. Morgan Stanley jumped 5.4 percent and JPMorgan Chase & Co. rose 4 percent. Retailers also rose sharply. Macy s Inc. rose 6 percent and Best Buy Co. rose 4.2 percent. A record 226 million shoppers visited stores and websites during the four-day holiday weekend starting on Thanksgiving Day, up from 212 million last year, according to early estimates by The National Retail Federation released on Sunday. They spent more, too: The average holiday shopper spent $398.62 over the weekend, up from $365.34 a year ago. It s still unclear whether retailers  will be able to hold shoppers  attention throughout the remainder of the season, which can account for 25 to 40 percent of a merchant s annual revenue.

Eurozone rescue fund to insure bonds

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The 17-nation eurozone plans to use its bailout fund to insure bonds from financially troubled countries within the bloc by up to 30 percent, according to a new proposal. According to draft guidelines, bonds being issued in the future would receive fixed credit protection equal to 20 to 30 percent through the European Financial Stability Facility. The actual rate will be determined "in light of market circumstances." The guidelines said the the main objective is to allow member states to issue bonds "at sustainable rates maximizing EFSF capacity while providing a predefined degree of protection to investors." They were approved by the German Parliament s budget committee on Monday. The guidelines have been drawn up to increase the firepower of the bloc s €440 billion ($588 billion) rescue fund and prevent crisis situations in the future. "It is important that the resources available are sizable enough to counter doubts that the country has sufficient funds to meet its financing needs and to give market confidence," the guidelines state. "However, the tool should not merely be seen as a liquidity facility but as an effective and comprehensive crisis prevention tool." Despite market rumors that the bailout fund might fall short of the €1 trillion ($1.3 trillion) goal it hoped to reach through leveraging, the German government still believes it to be a reachable target, according to a German lawmaker, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Some boys with autism have larger brains: study

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Abnormal brain growth starting at four months of age occurs in a type of autism in which toddlers lose language and social skills they once had, according to a US study published Monday. The brains of boys with regressive autism grew six percent larger than typically developing counterparts and toddlers who showed signs of autism early in life, a form called early onset autism. The research, involving 180 subjects and described as the "largest study of brain development in preschoolers with autism to date," also found no evidence of a brain growth spurt in girls with autism. "This adds to the growing evidence that there are multiple biological subtypes of autism, with different neurobiological underpinnings," said co-author David Amaral, research director of the MIND Institute at University of California, Davis. Autism includes a wide spectrum of developmental differences and may range from mild social awkwardness to complete inability to communicate, repetitive movements, sensitivity to certain lights and sounds, and behavioral problems. As many as one in 110 children is diagnosed with autism, though its cause remains a mystery. The disorder is more common in boys than girls by a factor of four to one. Previous studies have suggested that clinical signs of autism tend to coincide with a period of abnormal brain and head growth that becomes apparent between the ninth and 18th month of life. However this study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences issue of November 29, is the first to show a difference in brain size between toddler boys with regressive versus early onset autism. "The finding that boys with regressive autism show a different form of neuropathology than boys with early onset autism is novel," said lead author Christine Wu Nordahl, a researcher at the MIND Institute. "Moreover, when we evaluated girls with autism separately from boys, we found that no girls -- regardless of whether they had early onset or regressive autism -- had abnormal brain growth." The findings showed that boys with regressive autism had a "pronounced increase" in head circumference beginning as early as four months of age and lasting through 19 months. The data was based on head circumference measurements taken from pediatric well-baby visits from birth through 18 months, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans done on all 180 participants at age three. The authors noted that the study was limited because it relied upon parental reports of when the children s autism began to appear. Previous research has "pointed out significant complexities in defining and measuring the onset of autism symptoms," with as many as 45 percent of kids in one study showing signs of autism on video that were not reported by parents. "The major finding of this study is that a subset of boys with regressive autism have normal head circumference at birth, which diverges from normality around four to six months of age, well before any loss of skills were documented," said the study, calling for more research. "Thus, rapid head growth beginning around four-six months of age may be a risk factor for future loss of skills."