PAK DESI NEWS

KIEV: The ministry of health says that 25 people have died and over 240 were injured during the clashes between police and protesters in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. The violence on Tuesday was the worst in nearly three months of anti-government protests that have paralysed Ukraine's capital in a struggle over the identity of a nation divided in loyalties between Russia and the West, and the worst in the country's post-Soviet history. Amid cries of ''Glory to Ukraine!'' and with flaming tires lighting up the night sky, thousands of riot police armed with stun grenades and water cannons attacked the sprawling protest camp in the center of Kiev. With the boom of exploding stun grenades and fireworks nearly drowning out his words at times, opposition leader Vitali Klitschko urged overnight the 20,000 protesters to defend the camp on Independence Square that has been the heart of the protests. The Ukrainian president is blaming opposition leaders for ...

SINGAPORE: Oil prices in Asia was mixed on Wednesday with extreme US weather and renewed conflict in South Sudan providing support to prices amid pressure to lock in profits from recent gains. New York's main contract West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for March gained 29 cents in late morning trade to 102.72 while Brent North Sea crude eased 26 cents to 110.20 for its April delivery. WTI had surged 2.13 while Brent crude gained 1.28 in closing deals on Tuesday.

M UMBAI: Indian police killed seven Maoists Tuesday during an operation hailed as a victory for security forces in a rebel stronghold known as the “Red Corridor”. Police came under attack in a jungle area of Gadchiroli district in the western state of Maharashtra, sparking an exchange of fire between the two groups, said local police spokesman Joshi. “They came under fire in the early morning. There were no injuries sustained by police, and the identification of the dead bodies is going on,” Joshi said. “The combing operations of the area have intensified.” Gadchiroli police chief Muhammad Suvez Haque said officers believed a Maoist divisional commander was killed in the firing, after which weapons including an AK-47 and rifles were recovered from the rebels. “This is a great achievement for the police forces as Maoists have been involved in several violent activities in the Gadchiroli area for many years,” Haque said. The Maoists have become a potent insurgent force, dem...

ISLAMABAD: Despite former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s appearance Tuesday in a special court constituted in the federal capital to try him for treason charges, the former president was not indicted today, media repor ted. Musharraf in his stance before the court maintained that the jurisdiction of the special court should be decided prior to his indictment. The special court adjourned the hearing till Friday and will announce its verdict regarding if the former president should be tried in a military court. Over 1,000 security personnel were deployed to provide Musharraf security along his route from the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) to the special court. Earlier, the Special Court had reserved its verdict for conducting the treason trial of former president Gen. (retd) Pervez Musharraf under the Army Act. Musharraf had been  summoned by the special court on February 18.

RAJANPUR: Rajanpur near kotla eesan on indus highway a passenger coach collided with tractor trolley, causing more than 42 injured in which 6 are in critical condition. In detailed a passenger coach going to karachi from Peshawar collided with tractor trolley coming from opposite direction, resulting in more than 42 passengers injured in which 6 are in serious condition. Rescue teams shifted injured to hospital and minor injured were discharged after treatment.According to the sources over speeding caused the accident. 

ISLAMABAD: Two former prime ministers of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led government, Yousuf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervez Ashraf, appeared on Tuesday before an accountability court in Islamabad for the hearing of the case related to the controversial appointment of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority’s (Ogra) former chairman Tauqeer Sadiq, Media reported. During today's hearing, both the accused were provided with a copy of the references filed against them. Moreover, Yoususf Raza Gilani submitted an application for his exemption from appearing before the court which was accepted. The court adjourned the next hearing of the case until Mar 5. On Jan 24, National Accountability Bureau had filed a reference, over the appointment of Tauqeer Sadiq as Ogra chief, against the two former prime ministers in an accountability court.

PESHAWAR: A security official was killed on Tuesday as a result of firing on a security forces checkpost by militants in the South Waziristan tribal region, Media reported. According to military sources, unidentified militants opened fire on a security forces checkpost which killed one soldier named Mehrab khan, belonging to Sanghar sindh. The incident of firing on a check post came at 11:10 pm last night in Ladha area of North Waziristan. “A soldier embraced shahdat (martyrdom) due to terrorist fire last night on a security forces checkpost in Ladha,” a senior security official said. Ladha is a key subdivision of the South Waziristan tribal region. South Waziristan and North Waziristan are two of seven semi-autonomous regions in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) governed by tribal laws.