Tourist visas not possible in near future: Pakistan envoy
Kolkata : Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit on Tuesday ruled out possibilities of initiating tourist visas between India and Pakistan "very soon",...
Musharraf embarks on 6-day visit to China on Thursday: spokesman
By IRNA
Islamabad : Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf embarks on a six-day state visit to China starting from Thursday to discuss bilateral relations, regional and international issues besides talks to further strengthen defence cooperation, the Foreign Ministry said.
President Musharraf will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao in the city of Sanya and will hold separate meetings in Beijing with Premier Wen Jiabao and other Chinese state leaders, Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said.
Emirates gets its first Airbus A380 giant airliner
By Aroonim Bhuyan, IANS,
Dubai : The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) national carrier Emirates airline Monday took possession of the first of the 58 Airbus A380 jumbo aircraft it had placed orders for.
Emirates chairman and chief executive officer Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum attended the function to take possession of the aircraft at Airbus's Jurgen Thomas A380 Delivery Centre in Hamburg, according to an Emirates statement here.
"We have stood firm on our commitment to the A380," Sheikh Ahmed said while accepting the aircraft.
Assad reappoints Halqi as Syrian prime minister
Damascus : Syrian President Bashar al-Assad named Wael al-Halqi as prime minister Sunday and assigned him with the task to form a new government...
Arab envoys suggest Ban visit Gaza, Holmes there in mid February
By KUNA
United Nations : A delegation of Arab envoys met with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon late Tuesday to brief him on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and to urge him to intervene as Secretary-General of the world body and member of the Quartet.
Algerian envoy Youcef Yousfi, the Arab group's current chairman, told reporters following the meeting that the delegation suggested to Ban to increase the UN role within the Quartet and invited him to visit Gaza to see for himself the suffering of the civilians due to the Israeli blockade.
Inquest opens in UK’s heaviest loss of life in Afghanistan
By IRNA,
London : The delayed inquest into 14 British soldiers killed in Afghanistan, when a Nimrod reconnaissance plane crashed in nearly two years ago, formally opened Wednesday with a cockpit recording of moments before the aircraft burst into flames.
The explosion, which resulted in the heaviest single loss of life for British forces since the Falklands war, happened minutes after the spy plane refueled near Kandahar on September 2 2006.
Gulf region to have single currency
By DPA,
Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) : Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) finance ministers have approved proposals to set up a monetary union, but the timing of the launch of a single currency was not revealed.
"We have an agreement to set up the monetary union and the monetary council, as well as the basic structure," Qatari Finance Minister Youssef Kamal, who chaired the meeting of GCC countries in the Western Saudi city of Jeddah, told reporters Wednesday.
2 NATO soldiers killed, 4 wounded in bombing of Afghan government office
By SPA
Kabul : A suicide attack on a government office guarded by Afghan and NATO troops in eastern
Afghanistan killed four people, including two alliance soldiers, AP quoted officials as saying Tuesday.
Eight people also were wounded when the bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into the gates of the building in the Yaqoubi district of Khost province on Monday, causing a guard post to collapse and trapping soldiers inside, officials said.
Obama condoles families of Pakistan air crash victims
By DPA,
Washington : US President Barack Obama offered his "deepest condolences" to the families of the 152 people who were killed in a Pakistani airline crash Wednesday.
An Air Blue flight went down in poor weather about 20 km from Islamabad, killing everyone on board - including two Americans.
"I extend my deepest condolences to the families and friends of all who died in today's tragic crash of Air Blue flight ED202 near Islamabad," Obama said in a statement.
Bring in Hamas, International Herald Tribune
By IRNA
Paris : Last October, a bipartisan group of eminent former senior government officials, including Brent Scowcroft, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Lee Hamilton and Paul Volcker, urged President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice not to entertain the fantasy that an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord can be negotiated with Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, without the participation of Hamas, International Herald Tribune said on Wednesday.
Saudi king to host 1,400 Haj pilgrims
Riyadh : Saudi Arabia will host 1,400 pilgrims from more than 70 countries to perform Haj rituals in the final month of the Islamic...
UAE’s Noor Islamic Bank posts $23 mn profit
By IANS/WAM,
Dubai : Dubai-based Noor Islamic Bank has posted a net profit of 85 million dirhams (about $23 million) in the first half of this year.
British serviceman killed in Afghanistan
By KUNA,
London : A British serviceman has been killed and two others injured in an explosion in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) said Monday. The three had been returning from operations when their vehicle was caught in a blast north of Sangin, Helmand province. It brings to 97 the number of UK troops killed in operations in the country since 2001. More than 7,000 British troops are deployed in Afghanistan, mainly in the troubled Helmand province.
Shoaib may face cheating case ahead of marriage with Sania
By IANS,
Hyderabad: Indian tennis star Sania Mirza's marriage with Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik next month is not likely to be a smooth affair with Malik facing the threat of legal action for allegedly cheating a girl after marrying her.
A day after Sania Mirza announced her decision to marry Malik next month, the past has returned to haunt the former Pakistani captain.
Sixteen Afghan civilians reported killed in airstrike
By SPA,
Kandahar/Kabul : At least 16 civilians, including women and children, were killed in an airstrike by NATO-led forces in Afghanistan's eastern Nuristan province, officials said Saturday.
Tamim Nuristani, the governor of the province, said the civilians were killed as they were travelling out of the area after an announcement by security forces that civilians should leave ahead of an operation against Taliban insurgents.
Family killed in Iraq’s Diyala province
By SPA
Baghdad : A bomb attack on Saturday killed three people and injured one, all from the same family in the province of Diyala, some 60 kilometres north of the Iraqi capital, dpa quoted media reports as saying.
A bomb went off on the main road in Muqdadiyah in the northern province, killing three members of an Iraqi family and injuring the father, security sources told the Voices of Iraq (VOI) news agency.
Eight killed in security clash in Afghanistan
Kabul:At least eight militants were killed and 11 others injured in a military operation in eastern Afghanistan, authorities said Tuesday.
"Afghan security forces conducted a...
US forces rescue six more Iranian sailors
By IANS,
Washington : US forces have rescued six more Iranian sailors in distress after freeing 13 Iranians from pirates earlier this week, the Pentagon said Tuesday.
Muslim League factions intensify poll campaign
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS
Islamabad : With only a week left for parliamentary elections, the two factions of Pakistan's founding party Muslim League have intensified their campaign - by hurling accusations at each other.
The Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q), also known as the Quaid-e-Azam faction, named after the country's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah's national title, is a breakaway faction of the PML-Nawaz of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Khamenei endorses Ahmadinejad as Iranian president: Report
By IANS,
Tehran : Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has endorsed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for his second term in office, a media report said Monday.
Ahmadinejad was declared the victor of the June 12 election with almost two-thirds of the votes, Press TV reported.
Ahmadinejad will be sworn in as president Wednesday in a ceremony in the parliament.
He will then have two weeks to introduce his cabinet to law-makers for their approval.
Iraq expects increase in oil production
By IANS,
Baghdad : Iraq's oil production will increase by about six million barrels per day (bpd) by 2015 from its current production of 3.4 million bpd, the Iraqi oil minister said Wednesday.
13 killed in Afghan roadside bombing
By IANS,
Kabul : Four women and nine children - members of the same family - were killed Thursday in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan, police said.
Eight militants killed in Afghanistan
By IANS,
Kabul : Afghan and NATO-led troops killed eight militants in Afghanistan Wednesday, police said.
The killings were reported from Nahri Sufi village in Kunduz province, Xinhua quoted a police officer as saying. Three militants were injured in the operation.
Kuwait condemns Israel’s human rights violations against Palestinians
By NNN-KUNA,
Geneva : Kuwait condemned late Friday Israel's human rights violations in Palestinian territories and its failure to include these violations in the reports submitted to the international community.
This came during an interjection by Kuwait's permanent mission to the UN in Geneva, made by Councellor Najib Al-Bader, during a work-team session of the Universal Periodic Review stemming from the Human Rights Council, tasked with reviewing a report submitted by Israel.
Eight-year-old Saudi girl wants to divorce 50-year-old husband
By IANS,
Riyadh : An eight-year-old girl, who has been married to a man in his 50s, has filed for divorce at a Saudi court here, media reports said.
The child's mother is pushing for the marriage to be annulled, though the father opposes the move, Saudi newspaper al-Watan said. Her father had married the girl to the man without her knowledge, BBC reported, quoting the newspaper.
Child-protection groups say children are often given away in return for hefty dowries. Activists have called for an end to the practice.
Iran accuses US of invading Afghanistan, Iraq
By IANS,
Tehran : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Wednesday accused the US of invading Afghanistan and Iraq on the pretext of Sep 11 terror attacks, repeating his doubts over the veracity of the incident.
Addressing a large gathering Wednesday in the central city of Qom, Ahmadinejad said over one million people have so far been killed in occupied Iraq and tens of thousands of civilians have been massacred in Afghanistan after US forces invaded the two countries, reported the Iranian news agency IRNA.
Shah Rukh to pay airfare to receive Malaysia’s ‘Datuk’ honour
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will fly down to Malacca to receive the traditional Malaysian title of 'Datuk', akin to the British knighthood, but the actor will be paying his own airfare.
"His fans can also come and see him there if they want to," Chief Minister Mohammed Ali Rustam said, confirming that Shah Rukh would attend the ceremony.
New draft UN resolution on Iran rules out military force-Russia
By RIA Novosti
New York : The UN Security Council will not sanction using force against Iran over its controversial nuclear program, including a draft resolution that could be adopted Saturday, Russia's envoy to the UN said Friday.
Members of the Security Council held further talks Thursday on a draft UN resolution against Iran over its refusal to stop uranium enrichment. The draft text was agreed by the Iran Six -- the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany - in Berlin on January 22.
Pakistan starts evacuation of nationals stranded in Libya
Islamabad : Pakistan has evacuated hundreds of its nationals stranded in Libya in view of the deteriorating security situation there, officials said Thursday.
Thousands of...
Russia to donate 10 MiG-29 fighter jets to Lebanon
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia will supply 10 used MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter planes to Lebanon free of charge, the head of the federal military cooperation service has said.
The export price for a new MiG-29 is around $30 million.
Mikhail Dmitriyev Wednesday said that all the aircraft would be repaired and modernised "to export standards" before delivery.
He said Russia and Lebanon were holding talks on a deal for the Arab country to buy Russian military hardware.
Egyptian mediators, Jihad delegation meet on inter-Palestinian dialogue
By Xinhua,
Cairo : Egyptian officials held talks on Monday with a visiting delegation of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement on the resumption of an inter-Palestinian reconciliation dialogue.
The meeting between Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman and the Jihad delegation led by its Secretary General Ramadan Shallah focused on ways of healing the current rift among Palestinian groups, the Egyptian MENA news agency reported without elaboration.
Qatar to be stripped of 2022 World Cup: FIFA whistleblower
London: Qatar are likely be stripped of the 2022 World Cup, according to a FIFA whistleblower who was a former senior figure in the...
Several militants killed in Afghanistan
By DPA
Kabul : An air strike by international forces killed at least three armed militants in southern Afghanistan, while coalition forces killed several militants and detained four others in a second raid in the same region, officials said Thursday.
A group of militants was spotted by an international military aircraft in Arghandab district of Kandahar province Wednesday, said Amanullah Khan, a police official in the province.
"The aircraft attacked the insurgents and according to the information we got from the area, three armed militants were killed," he said.
US urges restoration of talks on Iraq: envoy
By IRNA,
Tehran : Iran's Ambassador to Baghdad, Hassan Kazemi-Qomi said on Saturday that Washington has recently asked Tehran to start new round of talks on Iraq through Swiss embassy in Tehran.
Talking to reporters, he voiced Tehran's readiness to continue talks in order to help resolve the existing problems facing the Iraqi people.
The Iranian and US officials have so far held three rounds of talks on Iraq situation on May 28, July 24 and August 6, 2007 respectively.
Somalia bombing kills 30, maims many
By IANS,
Mogadishu : At least 30 people were killed Tuesday when a suicide bomber detonated a car packed with explosives near the education ministry in the Somalia capital, Xinhua reported.
Two years after: Israelis seek early justice
By IANS,
New Delhi : Israel has asked India that the terrorists who attacked an Israeli diplomat's wife in Delhi two years ago be brought...
15 leopards rescued in Dubai
By IANS/WAM,
Dubai : Fifteen leopards smuggled from Somalia have been rescued in Dubai, a top official said.
Dubai's ministry of environment and water made the seizure at the Aweer quarantine as the consignment did not bear any official documents or health certificates, Abdullah Salem Al Jana'n, executive director at the ministry's agricultural affairs and livestock department, said.
The ministry will take care of the leopards, he said, adding that the weight of the leopards vary from two to 250 kg.
Pakistan: schools in Lahore face bomb threats ahead of polls
By NNN-IRIN
Lahore : As uncertainty continues in the run-up to next week's potentially violent elections in Pakistan, a new wave of fear and panic has been created by a series of threats to schools in Lahore, the capital of the Punjab Province.
Within three days, at least eight schools in the city have received bomb threats, forcing premises to be evacuated.
Downed Malaysian plane had clean bill of health
Kuala Lumpur : The Malaysian aircraft that went down over Ukraine had a "clean bill of health", a media statement said here Friday.
As many...
U.S. alleges Iran’s parliamentary elections results are “cooked”
By Xinhua
Washington : The United States is skeptical strongly about the fairness of Iran's parliamentary elections that began on Friday, claiming any outcome of the vote would be "cooked."
"In essence the results are cooked," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Friday of the poll. "They are cooked in the sense that the Iranian people were not able to vote for a full range of people."
McCormack made the allegation days before Iran makes an official announcement about the elections.
Kuwait too plans to become global financial centre
By IANS,
Dubai : Kuwait is planning to turn itself into a global financial centre with the capacity to attract top foreign trade and investment.
The Gulf state's next five-year plan - from 2009-10 to 2013-14 - would be aimed at allowing the private sector to spearhead an economic revival that would pivot around increasing the rate of competition among businesses, Kuwait's State Minister for Housing and Economic Development Moudhi Al-Humoud told the official Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
Lebanese army repels IS attack
Beirut : The Lebanese army has prevented terrorists of the Islamic State (IS) group from infiltrating the northeastern Lebanese town of Wadi Rafeq where...
Vatican cardinal calls Gaza “big concentration camp”
By ANTARA News/Reuters,
Rome : Pope Benedict`s point man for justice and peace issues on Wednesday issued the Vatican`s toughest criticism of Israel since the latest Mideast crisis began, calling Gaza a "big concentration camp".
Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Vatican`s Council for Justice and Peace, made his comments in an interview in the Italian online newspaper Il Sussidiario.net.
Altaf warns against Talibanisation of Karachi
By IANS,
Karachi : Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has cautioned the residents of this bustling Pakistani commercial capital against attempts to Talibanise the metropolis and urged the president and the prime minister to take corrective measures to prevent this.
"The people of Sindh will never allow Karachi to become a Taliban-controlled city," he declared Sunday while addressing party workers here on the telephone from London, where he lives in exile.
Iraqis fed up with bloodshed, UN should undertake responsibility
By IRNA,
Baghdad : Iraqi people are fed up with further bloodshed and carnage in their country and the United Nations should assume its responsibility of stopping humanitarian crisis there.
The US and British forces conduct indiscriminate bombardment of residential areas on Basra and Sadr City killing innocent children and youth.
Mubarak meets Lebanese premier on political crisis
By Xinhua
Cairo : Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak held talks with visiting Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora on the latest developments in Lebanon, the official MENA news agency reported.
After talks with Mubarak Sunday, Seniora said it was natural to come to Egypt and consult with Mubarak when Lebanon is in a critical stage.
Seniora said Lebanon believes in the need to move forward with the presidential election process, voicing his hope to reach an agreement on a three-point Arab initiative to help resolve the Lebanese political crisis.
Jewish terrorist leaflet unearthed from 60 years ago
By IRNA,
London : A Jewish terrorist threatening to kill British soldiers serving in Palestine during the creation of Israel 60 years ago has surfaced at an auction in Shropshire, central England, it was reported Saturday.
The discoloured document, penned by Irgun terrorist group led by future Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin, urged UK troops to either leave the mandated country or be killed.
Over 200,000 vulnerable Afghans to receive winter aid from UN agency
By IRNA,
Tehran : The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its partners have started to deliver supplies to help an estimated 200,000 Afghan returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) get through the country's harsh winter, said a press release issued by the United Nations Information Center here on Wednesday.
Over 147,000 blankets, more than 80,000 plastic sheets, 32,000 jerry cans, 46,000 items of warm clothing including 18,000 pairs of shoes and 30,000 pairs of socks have been purchased and sent to UNHCR's regional offices for country-wide distribution.
Chinese engineer abducted, released in Pakistan
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : A Chinese engineer, who was abducted by the Taliban in August last year, has been released, officials said Sunday.
The engineer arrived at the Chinese embassy here Sunday after he was released Saturday by the Pakistani Taliban insurgents in the northwestern part of the country.
China's envoy to Pakistan Luo Zhaohui met Long Xiaowei and offered him greetings. Luo also thanked the Pakistani authorities for securing Long's release.
Israeli attack on Iran will be big mistake: ElBaradei
By DPA,
Berlin : Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has warned that any Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities would be a great mistake.
"It would be utterly mad to attack Iran. That would turn the region into one giant fireball and the Iranians would immediately begin to build the bomb... supported by the entire Islamic world," ElBaradei said in an interview with German news magazine Der Spiegel published Saturday.
‘Iran to respond agressively if attacked’
By IANS,
Tehran : An Iranian military commander has warned that the army would respond very aggressively to any attack on the country or its nuclear facilities, official IRNA news agency reported Friday.
"Any (military) act on Iran will be considered as the start of an war," General Mohammad-Ali Jaafari, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, said Thursday, adding that the army would respond aggressively to such attacks.
Iraqi forces kill 20 militants in Basra
By DPA
Baghdad : At least 20 members of the Jund al-Samaa militant group were killed and 35 detained in armed clashes with Iraqi security forces in the southern city of Basra, media reports said Saturday.
Iraqi forces Friday killed and detained 55 militants during clashes with the Jund al-Samaa, a religious armed group that aims at taking power over the city of Najaf, 180 km south of Baghdad, the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) said.
Security forces destroyed the group's meeting point in al-Zahraa district in central Basra.
Jaswant Singh not going to Pakistan, says son Manvendra
By IANS,
New Delhi : Former Indian external affairs minister Jaswant Singh, sacked from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for his bestseller book on Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah, has no intention of visiting Pakistan and has not even applied for a visa.
Setting at rest speculation that Jaswant Singh was going to Pakistan, his son Manvendra Singh said: "He has not even applied for a visa."
Netanyahu admits Israel’s aggressiveness: PM
Jerusalem: Israel inevitably resorts to "aggressive" military action sometimes to maintain security and quiet on its northern frontier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted Wednesday...
Anonymous philanthropist donates $130 for Bangladeshi cyclone affected people
By Xinhua
Dhaka : An anonymous philanthropist donated 130 million U.S. dollars for Bangladeshi cyclone-affected people through Islamic Development Bank (IDB).
Local newspaper The Independent reported Monday the mysterious donor wanted to use the funds through the IDB.
Bangladeshi caretaker government Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, while meeting with the visiting IDB mission Sunday, thanked the IDB for taking the responsibility of managing the funds, and also wanted IDB to extend his thanks to the unnamed philanthropist.
UN Sec Gen asks for “immediate, permanent” end of Gaza seige
By IRNA,
United Nations : Secretary General of United Nations Ban Ki-moon here Wednesday asked for putting an immediate and permanent end to inhumane siege of Gaza Strip.
Ki-moon said, “The entire Gaza passages should be opened aimed at providing a remedy of the ailing Palestinian economy.”
He reiterated, “The situation at the Palestinian side of the border passages is truly intolerable and it is necessary that Israel should alter its policy regarding the passages into a more lenient one.”
International squash event postponed after Lahore attack
By IANS,
Karachi : Pakistan's squash fraternity received a setback Thursday when a world ranking tournament which was to be played in Islamabad next month was postponed following an attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore earlier this week.
"Following Tuesday's attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, the Professional Squash Association (PSA) has acted speedily to postpone the next major PSA Tour event to be staged in Pakistan," a PSA statement said.
Swine flu treatment available at all UAE hospitals: Officials
By IANS,
Dubai : Swine flu treatment is now available at all government-run and private hospitals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), WAM news agency reported Friday.
The announcement was made by the health ministry after a meeting of the Technical Health Committee for Combating H1N1 virus here Thursday.
Mahmoud Fikri, chairman of the committee, said UAE Health Minister Hanif Hassan has outlined the need for following up all details related to H1N1 virus and its resistance.
15 soldiers killed in Iraq attack
By IANS,
Baghdad : Fifteen soldiers were Tuesday killed in an insurgent attack at their base in Iraq's northern province of Nineveh, a provincial police...
Taliban announces ceasefire for Pakistan polls
By Muhammad Najeeb
Islamabad, Feb 14 (IANS) The Taliban in Pakistan has announced a ceasefire ahead of the Feb 18 parliament polls, saying no attacks will be carried out on any election facility or rally.
"We announce ceasefire in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) and tribal areas during elections," an organization named 'Taliban Ittehad' or Taliban Alliance said in a message released to the media.
The message signed by Maulvi Umer of the Taliban Alliance said that from South Waziristan to Swat in NWFP they will not attack any people or election facility.
Turkish army launches ground incursion into Iraq
By Xinhua
Ankara : Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has launched a cross-border ground operation in fight against the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in the north of Iraq.
This is the first cross-border ground operation of Turkey since the Turkish government gave the authority for the army to launch cross-border ground operations in fight against the PKK militants in the north of Iraq last November.
Move to prosecute al-Bashir unlawful: Sudan envoy
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Sudan's envoy to Russia Shol Deng Alak Friday said the International Criminal Court's (ICC) move to prosecute his country's President Umar al-Bashir was illegal, against the international law and eroded trust in international justice.
ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo last Monday accused Bashir of being behind the attacks on three ethnic groups in Darfur and requested an arrest warrant on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
Pakistani media targeted over Zardari ‘shoe attack’ reports
By IANS,
Karachi: A TV channel's broadcast was blocked and copies of at least two newspapers were burnt in different parts of Pakistan after they reported a "shoe attack" on President Asif Ali Zardari during an address in Birmingham, the channel said Sunday.
Offices of many cable operators in Karachi have been set ablaze by activists of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for transmiting Geo News, the channel said.
PPP leaders and government officials issued warnings to cable operators against the continuation of the Geo News transmission.
Abbas authorizes Egypt to talk with Hamas
By Xinhua
Gaza : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah movement authorized Egypt to hold talks with rival Hamas faction on several issues, an aide to Abbas said on Saturday. The issues include reinforcing a ceasefire between armed Palestinian groups in the Hamas-ruled Gaza and Israel, according to Nabil Shaath, Abbas' representative in Egypt.
9/11: Pakistan reaches out to US through advertisement
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan has placed an advertisement in the US media to reach out to America on 9/11.
Bangladesh-India standoff over oil exploration in Bay of Bengal
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh has deployed two war ships in the Bay of Bengal after a standoff with India over hydrocarbon exploration in the waters, according to a media report quoting a navy official.
The row began as three survey vessels backed by the Indian Navy started exploration early Thursday, eight nautical miles inside what Dhaka claims is its maritime territory near the Fairway Buoy navigation channel around Block 14 in the southwest of the Bay.
TTP meet to discuss extension of ceasefire
Islamabad : The members of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) shura are holding a meeting Monday ahead of the next round of peace talks with...
Exhibition on Pak products attract big crowd
By APP
London : A two-day exhibition and sale of fabric, home ware, fashion wear, jewellery, carpets and gifts by Pakistan’s women entrepreneurs opened here on Friday at the Kensington Great Hall, Central London, and drew a big crowd which came to see the country’s wide range of products.Titled as ‘From Loom to Luxury’, the exhibition reflected the quality of manufacturing rooted in the rich heritage of Pakistan. It is being participated by 55 women entrepreneurs.
11 civilians killed in mortar attacks in Egypt
Cairo: At least 11 civilians were killed and six others injured on Wednesday evening as mortar shells hit two houses in North Sinai province...
Bangladesh opposition parties intensify anti-government stir
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh Sunday braced for another round of agitation by opposition parties who have re-united to demand the release of arrested top Islamist leaders.
Opposition leader and former prime minister Khaleda Zia Saturday night had a discussion with leaders of Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ), a conglomerate of Islamist parties and gave a five-day ultimatum to the government to release three top officials of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), the country's largest Islamist party.
Arab League Chief visits Khartoum Oct. 15
By NNN-KUNA,
Cairo : Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa visits Khartoum next Wednesday for talks with Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir and other senior officials to follow up the resolution of the dispute between Sudan and the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Moussa will be visiting Sudan as part of the Arab League's endeavors to find a solution for the ICC chief prosecutor's request of an arrest warrant against Al-Bashir, head of Moussa's office Hesham Yusuf said in a statement on Saturday.
US conducts raid against insurgents in Syria
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : US security forces have raided hideouts of insurgents in Syria to stop cross-border attacks by militants on Iraqi positions, officials said.
"The US raid on the Syrian side of Iraq's border was targeting the hideouts of terrorists who are carrying out cross-border attacks," Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh, said.
Syrian media earlier reported that at least eight civilians were killed Sunday when helicopter-borne US troops attacked a militants' hideout in a Syrian village along the border with Iraq.
Nobel Laureate Yunus to appear in ‘The Simpsons’
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh's Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus has lent his voice for a special episode of "The Simpsons" to popularise Grameen Bank's micro-credit schemes.
The special episode of "The Simpsons" will be aired Oct 3 this year in the US. It will focus on Grameen Bank's micro-credit schemes, The Daily Star newspaper said Monday.
The Simpson family is one of the best-selling animated TV series which is popular all over the world and recognised as one of the world's most enduring cultural icons.
Declare Pakistan a terrorist state, demand Indian Americans
By Lalit K Jha, IANS,
United Nations : Braving chilly winter, agitated Indian Americans gathered in front of the UN headquarters in mid-town Manhattan Friday afternoon to demand the world body declare Pakistan a terrorist state.
Merkel to join Islamic rally for ‘tolerance’
Berlin: German Chancellor Angela Merkel will attend a rally called by Islamic groups, for an "open and tolerant Germany" Tuesday, following last week's terrorist...
Pakistan reduces LPG prices
By IANS,
Islamabad: Pakistan has reduced LPG prices by Rs.27 per kg, a media report said Friday.
Can Sarkozy trigger changes in Israeli-Arab relations?
By Zhang Yanyang, Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Is French President Nicolas Sarkozy able to trigger a revolutionary change in local geopolitics or will he join the line of dignitaries who failed to leave an imprint on Israeli-Arab relations?
Pakistani Minister appreciates arrangements at the polling stations
By NNN-APP
Islamabad : Federal minister for Information and Broadcasting Nisar A Memon Monday appreciated the arrangements made at the polling stations for the people to cast their votes.
Talking to PTV, after visiting different polling booths in Islamabad, he lauded the arrangements made by the Election Commission of Pakistan.
He also appreciated the security arrangements made by the government for smooth conduct of the elections.
He said, major political parties are participating in the elections.
Sri Lanka Foreign Minister leaves for Egypt to attend AMED
By NNN-Govt Portal
Colombo : Minister of Foreign Affaires, Rohitha Bogollagama will leave for Egypt to attend the Second Ministerial Meeting of the Asia Middle East Dialogue (AMED).
The meeting will take place from 5th – 6th April 2008 at Sharam El Sheikh.
AMED is a high profile Summit which is expected to be attended by nearly 20 Ministers of Foreign Affairs, mainly from Asia and the Middle East as well as political dignitaries, senior policy makers, corporate leaders, diplomatic corps and intelligentsia among others.
Big powers increase insecurity in Iraq and Afghanistan:FM
By IRNA,
Tehran : Foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki said failed policies of the big powers have caused insecurity and instability in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In a meeting with new representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Tehran, Mottaki said, "Unfortunately, international approaches and big powers' interference in Afghanistan and Iraq have not solved their problems."
According to Foreign Ministry Media Department on Saturday, Mottaki said the situation has caused continuation of misery among peoples of these two nations.
Osama was hale and hearty, says wife
By IANS,
Islamabad : Osama bin Laden, who was shot dead by US forces May 2, was hale and hearty and was "not on dialysis", the Al Qaeda leader's wife has told investigators.
Pakistan condemns Quran burning incident
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan has condemned the burning of the Quran in the US, saying such an act was a threat to religious harmony, according to a media report.
UK for “free and fair” elections call to Pakistan
By KUNA
London : Britain Monday urged Pakistan to press ahead with "free and fair" elections in the wake of the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Britains Foreign Secretary David Miliband told the House of Commons the delay in holding elections as a result of the assassination last month was "regrettable".
But the period between now and February 18 must be used to build confidence in the democratic process.
Greek ship latest victim of Somali piracy
By DPA,
Nairobi : A Greek ship has become the third vessel seized by Somali pirates since they took control of a Saudi supertanker over the weekend in their most daring raid yet, a maritime official said Wednesday.
Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme said he had received reports that a Greek ship was taken Tuesday along with some 25 crew members. There was no information on the ship's name, cargo or destination.
Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre, said Wednesday he could not confirm the report.
Delay in Gilani flight departure being probed
By IANS,
Islamabad : A committee has been formed to probe why the departure of Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's US-bound special flight from London Sunday was delayed by an hour.
The committee, comprising representatives of the Pakistan High Commission in London and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), will also "fix responsibility" for the delay, Dawn said Tuesday in a dispatch from London.
Court dismisses cases against Islamabad protesters
Islamabad : A Pakistani court Wednesday quashed all cases registered against the protesters of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) who...
Seven militants killed in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : Security forces killed seven militants Saturday in fighting in northwest Pakistan, a media report said.
One killed, 17 injured in Hadramout camp attack
By NNN-SABA,
Sayoun : At least one Yemeni soldier was killed and 17 people were wounded as an explosive-laden car rammed into a camp affiliated with the Central Security Forces in the eastern province of Hadramout.
The attack caused damages to the camp and some nearby buildings, a security source has said.
Hadramout governor Saleh al-Khanbashi described the attack which targeted on Friday a camp of the Central Security in Sayo'un city as a criminal terrorist act, threatening those who are behind this coward act that they will be tracked down and brought to justice.
Presidential spokesman: Egypt not allow Rafah incident to repeat
By Xinhua
Cairo : Egypt will never allow the incident of Rafah crossing along the Egyptian-Gaza border to happen again, Egyptian presidential spokesman Suleiman Awad said on Sunday.
In sympathy with the humanitarian suffering of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Egypt chose to allow the massive flow of Gazans into the country in the past 11 days, Awad was quoted by the official MENA news agency as saying.
Dhaka’s dependence on foreign aid to continue
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh will remain dependent on foreign aid to finance its development projects for at least three more years, according to both official and independent reports.
Besides slow development and charges of mismanagement of development funds, the country has to face a volatile global commodity market, fuel price hike, natural calamities and climate change prospects that cause food shortages.
The recent per capita debt is $151, or more than 10,000 taka, the Equity and Justice Working Group, an NGO, said its recent study titled "Drowning with Debt or Development".
Pakistan PM calls security conference to discuss tensions with India
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has summoned a security conference to be held Dec 2 to review the situation arising out of the attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai, an official here said Sunday.
Gilani has invited some political leaders to attend the conference to discuss the strategy to deal with the situation, a spokesman for the prime minister said.
Earlier, his spokesman said that Gilani had cancelled a trip to Hong Kong to concentrate on addressing growing tensions with India after the Mumbai terror attacks.
Eighteen US marines killed, injured in attack on MNF base in Kirkuk
By NNN-KUNA,
Baghdad : Eighteen US marines were killed and injured in an attack on a Multi-National Force (MNF) base in Kirkuk, northern Iraq.
A statement by the MNF said that a suicide bomber drove a vehicle, rigged with explosives, into the base and detonated his lethal charge leading to the casualties Sunday.
A US soldier met his fate during the incident. The injured were rushed to field infirmaries for treatment.
With the new casualties, the US has lost 4,094 soldiers since the operation Iraqi freedom began in March 2003.
Ten US marines have so far been killed in June.
China sincere in helping Pakistan: Official
By IANS,
Islamabad : China is sincere in helping out Pakistan in its economic development and all possible support was being provided in this regard, a top Chinese official has said.
Will not send US troops back to Iraq: Obama
Washington: US President Barack Obama said Friday he will not send US troops back to Iraq to help fight Islamist militants.
"We will not be...
White House Backs Turkey’s Refusal to Negotiate with PKK
By SPA
Washington : The White House said Thursday it was closely monitoring Turkey’s military campaign against separatist Kurdish fighters based in northern Iraq and strongly backed Ankara’s refusal to negotiate with the rebels.
Spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters Washington was “encouraged” by talks between Ankara and Baghdad about efforts to “beat back” fighters from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
What Musharraf’s exit means for India
By Manish Chand, IANS,
New Delhi : With the resignation of Pervez Musharraf as president of Pakistan, there is a growing feeling here that Islamabad is likely to be more hawkish on the Kashmir issue and its preoccupations with internal politics may affect the pace of the peace process between the two countries.
Pakistan media abuzz with ‘Shoania’ news
By IANS,
Karachi: The forthcoming wedding of Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and India's tennis star Sania Mirza has stirred media frenzy here with TV channels and newspapers full of juicy gossips.
On Thursday, �The News' - Pakistan's mainstream English language newspaper - coined the name �Shoania' for the pair on the lines of Brangelina that refers to the Hollywood supercouple consisting of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and Abhiwarya for the Bollywood couple of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai.
US missile attack kills four in Pakistan
By KUNA,
Islamabad : At least four people were killed and several others were wounded Thursday in a US missile attack on a Pakistani tribal agency bordering Afghanistan.
At least two guide-missiles hit a vehicle and a house in Karri Kot area of South Waziristan tribal agency, security sources told KUNA.
They said the attack killed at least four people and wounded several others.
Pakistan strongly condemns Kabul attack
By NNN-Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the attack on the ceremony commemorating the 16th anniversary of the Afghan nation.
In a statement issued here Sunday, Gilani said that Pakistanis were greatly relieved that no harm had come to Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
"We express our deep sorrow over the reported death of one person and injuries to eleven as a result of this dastardly attack," he said.
Hamas slams Abbas for criticizing its rule of Gaza
By Xinhua,
GAZA : The Islamic movement of Hamas Monday slammed the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for criticizing the movement's political attitudes of ruling the Gaza Strip.
Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman in Gaza made the accusation in a statement in response to Abbas' Sunday remarks during his two-day visit to Egypt that there is no dialogue with those who do not recognize Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.
Sixteen killed in Bangladesh bus crash
By SPA
Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh : At least 16 people were killed when a bus hit a roadside pole carrying
electric power lines and caught fire near the Bangladeshi resort town of Cox's Bazar on Thursday, police said.
More than 20 other people injured in the accident, which happened about 375 km (234 miles) southeast of the capital Dhaka, have been taken to hospital.
The victims, mostly factory workers, were travelling to Cox's Bazar from the port city of Chittagong for a picnic, police said. Thursday is a public holiday in Bangladesh.
A Pakistani train that broke down seven times
By IANS,
Islamabad : The ill-health of Pakistan Railways was highlighted when a train broke down seven times and reached its destination a staggering 35 hours late.
Bahrain launches single e-ID for government services
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : A single electronic identity card that can be used to access an array of government services, while being assured of security against online theft, has launched in Bahrain.
India awaiting Pakistan response on list of most wanted
By IANS,
Mumbai : India Tuesday said it was waiting for a response from Pakistan over the extradition of 20 most wanted criminals who are said to be in that country and underlined that the international community was firmly behind New Delhi in the wake of the Mumbai attack.
“We issued a demarche (Monday). We are waiting for a response from Pakistan,” External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said here.
"International community is behind us, including the newly elected US president Barack Obama," said Mukherjee.
Kuwait Embassy at Sydney granted a certificate of appreciation
By NNN-KUNA,
Sydney : Minister responsible for multicultural affairs, John Hargreaves on Tuesday presented to the embassy of Kuwait a certificate of appreciation for its productive efforts in the National Multicultural Festival in Canberra.
The certificate, signed by Hargreaves, was granted to Kuwait for its participation in the festival, where its pavilion attracted considerable crowds, displaying publications and documentaries on Kuwait, in addition to photo's on the different stages of the country's history.
The untold story of Egyptian women’s rights
By Rasha Dewedar
In a report published last month on violent crimes committed against women in 2009, Karam Saber Ibrahim, Executive Director of The Land Center for Human Rights, a Cairo-based non-governmental organisation, spoke of a belief that some Egyptians continue to hold, that "women are fundamentally lacking.... They are not complete, because they are not men."
UN Agency Rejects Hamas’ Offer of Sixteen Seized Convoys
By SPA
United Nations : The United Nations will not accept sixteen humanitarian aid convoys seized by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, the U.N. spokesperson’s office told SPA on Monday.
Agence France-Presse reported that a Hamas spokesman said that the aid was seized to prevent it reaching the Jordanian Red Crescent society offices in Gaza. The Red Crescent operates under the authority of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah party was ousted from power in Gaza by Hamas.
What happened to Bush in Iraq was loud cry against occupiers – Lebanese Hezbollah
By IRNA,
Beirut : Lebanese Hezbollah here Monday night issued communique announcing that Iraqi reporter Montazer al-Zeidi's move against (US President) George Bush before the eyes of world nations was loud cry of Iraqi nation against occupiers.
According to IRNA correspondent in Beirut, we read in a part of the communique, "The brave move of al-Zeidi, the best title for which can be the good bye kiss, was the loud cry of the Iraqi nation and the entire oppressed nations against occupation, oppression, and injustice."
‘Pakistan shouldn’t have bartered self-respect under US pressure’
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan should not have succumbed to American pressure to "barter its self-respect" by taking Indian assistance for flood relief when the Kashmiris' "hugely successful" struggle is being repressed, an editorial in a Pakistani newspaper said Sunday.
Don’t distort language, Bangladesh court tells media
By IANS,
Dhaka : Radio and television channels have been told by a court not to distort Bangla and other foreign languages in their broadcasts, a media report said.
15 killed in Pakistan bus accident
By IANS,
Islamabad : At least 15 people died in northern Pakistan Monday night when their bus fell into a ravine.
No one killed in Karachi blast: Police
By IANS,
Karachi : No one died or was injured in a blast near a government registration office in Pakistan's port city of Karachi Saturday, police said.
Over 21,900 Durga Puja marquees come up across Bangladesh
By IANS,
Dhaka : Over 21,900 `mandops' (marquees) have come up across Bangladesh as Hindus Thursday began Durga Puja celebrations. The number of marquees was higher than last year, a media report said.
President Mohammed Zillur Rahman of the Muslim majority nation described Bangladesh as "a bright example of communal harmony" and in a message on the occasion urged that all must work together to "uphold the tradition".
U.S. officials: Iran’s response to int’l offer unacceptable
By Xinhua,
Washington : U.S. officials said on Tuesday Iran's response to an incentives offer by world major powers to halt its nuclear program is unacceptable.
Pakistan bans mobile phones during official meetings
By IANS,
Islamabad : Fearing information leaks, the Pakistani government has barred the use of mobile phones during official meetings.
Indians top Bahrain’s expat labour list
By IANS,
Dubai : Nearly 32,000 Indian workers have registered with Bahrain's Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) over the weekend at a labour enrolment festival.
Indians, at 31,734, topped the list of over 60,000 expatriate workers who have registered with the LMRA at the festival, which ends on June 21 at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, less than a month ahead of new labour laws coming into effect in that Gulf nation.
Israel responsible for situation in Palestinian areas: Tutu
By DPA,
Gaza : Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu said Thursday that Israel bears responsibility for the situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
He slammed Israel's closure of the salient, and also criticized militants who fire rockets at the Jewish state.
Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, he told a news conference in Gaza City, "has affected all aspects of life, mainly hospitals and roads."
Pakistani PM: National Security Advisor sacked in national interest
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Prime Minister Yousuf Raza GilaniFriday said the National Security Advisor Mahmud Ali Durrani was sacked in the country's best interest and for good governance.
He made the remarks when talking to reporters after attending a seminar on "Democracy in Pakistan."
Gilani dismissed Durrani on Wednesday after Durrani told media that a preliminary investigation by Pakistan had established that Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone attacker captured by India for the Mumbai attacks, was a Pakistani national.
Sisi says army will not rule Egypt if he wins presidency
Cairo : Egypt's former military chief and presidential candidate Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said Monday that the military will not rule Egypt if he wins the...
Pakistani kills son, daughter
By IANS,
Islamabad : A man fatally stabbed his son and daughter following an argument with his wife in Pakistan's Punjab province.
Sharif committed to improving India-Pakistan ties: Envoy
New Delhi : Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was committed to normalisation of relations with India on the basis of mutual interest and respect,...
Bangladesh: Chief Advisor inaugurates first Hajj flight
By NNN-BSS,
Dhaka, Bangladesh : The first hajj flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited left here on Friday for Jeddah.
A chartered 747-aircraft of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd carrying 512 hajj pilgrims departed Zia International Airport for Jeddah on Friday afternoon.
Chief Adviser o Bangladesh Carataker government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed inaugurated the first Biman hajj flight at a simple ceremony at the airport.
Three rebels killed in Philippines
Manila: At least three rebels were killed Tuesday when they stormed a police station in Philippines, an official said.
"Rebels onboard a truck and a...
Abbas meets Bush at Sharm El-Sheikh
By KUNA,
Gaza : The President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas meets here Saturday American President George W. Bush in Sharm El-Sheikh for the second time in less than a month.
According to local radio stations, Palestinian negotiator Dr.Saeb Ereikat stated that President Abbas and Bush will be discussing Israeli-Palestinian negotiation issues including continued settlement activity in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Palestine Fears More Israel Attacks
By Prensa Latina,
Ramallah : The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) said on Thursday it fears that the Israeli political crisis, due to corruption scandals, will lead to more attacks against the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Saeb Erekat, main advisor and head of the PNA peace negotiating team, said they fear "the crisis translating into more detentions, attacks, and incursions."
Fatah armed wing warns Hamas to stop Gaza arrests
By Xinhua,
Ramallah : The armed wing of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement Al-Aqsa Brigades called on Hamas movement to halt arrests of its members in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
Abu Mahmoud, the group's spokesman in the West Bank, told reporters that Fatah movement would carry out serious actions against Hamas members in the West Bank, if Hamas forces do not stop cracking down on Fatah movement and its institutions in the Gaza Strip.