Haiti cholera reaches Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has detected its first case of cholera, following the outbreak of the disease in neighbouring Haiti last month. The patient is a Haitian migrant who had recently returned from his homeland, the health minister said.

The Dominican authorities had stepped up border controls and health checks to try to stop cholera from spreading from Haiti.

More than 1,000 Haitians have died of the disease.

Dominican health minister Bautista Rojas said the patient, a 32-year-old Haitian construction worker, was being treated in isolation in the eastern town of Higuey.

Like Haiti, the Dominican Republic had not had a confirmed case of cholera in more than a century until this year.

In Haiti, the government says 1,034 people have died and the disease is still spreading rapidly

Eurozone ministers to 'intensify' work to help Ireland

His statement came at the end of an emergency meeting of eurozone ministers and financial institutions in Brussels.

Finance ministers from all the 27 European Union countries are set to meet shortly.

Tuesday's emergency talks came against a background of renewed financial market turmoil.

At the centre of this has been the markets' fear that the governments of the weaker eurozone countries - particularly the Irish Republic - would not be able to afford to repay their huge debts.

Mr Rehn said that "the Irish authorities are committed to working" with the EU, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund to calm market turmoil.

A statement by the eurogroup following its meeting praised Ireland's efforts to combat its problems: "The Eurogroup welcomes the significant efforts of Ireland to deal with the challenges it faces in the budgetary, competitiveness and financial sector areas."

'Short and focused'

The statement said the Irish government would engage in a "short and focused consultation" with the Commission, the ECB and the IMF in order to determine the best way to provide any necessary support.

It concluded by adding "We confirm that we will take determined and co-ordinated action to safeguard the financial stability of the euro area, if needed, and that we have the means available to do so".

The IMF welcomed Ireland's decision to allow a "short and focused consultation" to decide if the country needs a budget bailout.

Mr Rehn called Ireland the most pressing challenge of today, adding that there was "an intensification of preparations of a potential programme in case it is requested" but the meeting proposed no concrete course of action.......

SKA, parts of KP celebrate Eid Tuesday

Updated at: 0501 PST, Wednesday, November 17, 2010 ISLAMABAD: Eid-ul-Azha was celebrated Tuesday in Saudi Arabia and parts of Khybar Pakhtunkhah with full devotion and enthusiasm. According to Geo News, after Hajjis completed last rituals of Hajj in Makkah like rami (stoning the devil), they sacrificed their animals (qurbani) to revive Sunnat-e-Ibrahimi. They have also shaved their heads off and changed “Ahram” as part of Hajj’s essential rite. After that they did sa’hi and returned back to Mina. The Hajjis also offered namaz-i-eid in Masjid-e-Nabavi. Bohri community of Karachi also celebrated Eid on Tuesday with religious fervor and offered Eid prayers.

PC to meet on judges’ appointment Nov 22

Updated at: 0103 PST, Wednesday, November 17, 2010
ISLAMABAD: Meeting of the Parliamentary Committee (PC) has been convened on November 22 to discuss issues pertaining to judges’ appointment at higher judiciary, Geo News reported.

Secretary PC Raja Mohammed Ameen told Geo News, the session of PC has been scheduled to kick off at 1.30pm at Parliament House.

The meeting would discuss the recommendations forwarded by Judicial Commission (JC).

It is pertinent to mention that JC had nominated Justice Ijaz Chaudhry for the position of Chief Justice in Lahore High Court (LHC).

Nationwide Eid-ul-Azha today,Eid day in pakistan

Updated at: 0402 PST, Wednesday, November 17, 2010
ISLAMABAD: The nation is celebrating Eid-ul-Azha with religious zeal and religious fervour today (Wednesday) across the country. The Muslims will throng to mosques and Eidgahs to offer Eid prayers countrywide. The biggest Eid congregation in the federal capital will be held at Shah Faisal Mosque.

Special prayers will be offered for strengthening national solidarity, prosperity, integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan and the liberation of all occupied Muslim territories, including held Jammu and Kashmir.

Scholars from different schools of thought will deliver special sermons to highlight the significance of the day and the purpose of the sacrifice rendered by Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) centuries ago.

The state-run and the private channels have chalked out special programmes for the auspicious occasion.

After Eid prayers, camels, cows, goats and sheep will be sacrificed to revive the Sunnah of the Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim (AS).

A large number of people migrated to their hometowns to mark the Eidul Azha. Scores of congregational prayers will be held early in the morning followed by slaughter of sacrificial animals for the next three days till Friday before sunset.

In Karachi, the biggest congregation will be held at Nishter Park. Besides, a number of Eid prayer’s congregation will be held across metropolis wherein religious scholars will deliver special sermons in accordance with the day.

In Lahore, the mass congregation will be held at the historic Badshahi Mosque where more than one lakh people will offer Eid prayers.

Other congregation will be held at Data Darbar, Jamia Naeemia, Mansoora and open places. Special prayers will be offered for national integrity and solidarity and for the liberation of occupied Muslim territories including Indian-occupied Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the sale of sacrificial animals could not pick momentum this year because of price hike as most people stayed away from buying animals.

The city district governments of the major cities finalised arrangements for cleanliness during the Eid days as majority of the people throw offal of the sacrificial animals on roads and streets.

However, special instructions given to the staff of Solid Waste Management (SWM) to continue patrolling on the city roads to lift the waste and to keep the city clean.

Govt withdraws two weekly holidays

Updated at: 2001 PST, Tuesday, November 16, 2010
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has approved to end two weekly holidays from November 27, Geo News reported on Tuesday.

According to the spokesman for the PM House, the decision to end weekly two holidays was made after consultation with the provincial governments and respective ministries.

Earlier, the traders’ community and provincial governments had said that they were facing problems owing to two weekly holiday, while the ministry of water and power had pointed out that in winter season there was no need of two day weekly off.