Iran to host conference in support of Palestine, Gaza in March
By IRNA,
Tehran : Iran’s Majlis is to host an international conference in support of Palestine and Gaza on March 4-5, it was reported on Monday.
According to the Majlis information website, the conference would be held with the participation of Iran’s senior officials as well as parliament speakers from a number of other countries and leaders of Palestinian groups.
Representatives from the pro-Palestinian international bodies are also to take part in the gathering, the report added.
Bangladesh not to allow terror activity on its soil
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bangladesh has assured India that it will not allow even "an inch of its territory" to be used by an Indian insurgent group or any other terrorist outfit.
"We will not let an inch of our territories to be used by anyone, either an Indian insurgent group or any other terrorist group," Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni told CNN-IBN in an interview in Dhaka.
Dhaka also underlined that it will do all it can to combat terrorism and expressed support for New Delhi's proposal of a South Asian task force to combat terrorism.
Bangladeshis can cast `no vote’ in poll
By IANS,
Dhaka : A voter in Bangladesh can cast a "no vote" in an election if he or she is dissatisfied with all the candidates.
This right was exercised during the ninth general election Dec 29 last year, but the total number of such votes was small, a media report said Friday.
A special cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday approved an ordinance, originally promulgated last year by then military-backed caretaker government.
The cabinet approved in principle the Representation of People Order (RPO) Ordinance, 2008.
Handcuffed militant blasts grenade at media meet in Bangladesh
By IANS,
Dhaka : An arrested Islamist militant being paraded before the media in Bangladesh threw himself on a pile of grenades on display and detonated one of them, killing himself and injuring 15 policemen and journalists, media reports here said Saturday.
The incident occurred Friday evening at Gazipur in Dhaka Division near the national capital as police officers were briefing the media on that morning's arrests of a group of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) operatives.
Palestinian leader says world is in support of Palestine
By IRNA,
Tehran : Leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) General Command Ahmed Jibril said on Tuesday that world nations support Palestinians, “this is the issue that the Israelis must know.”
He made the remarks at a day-long conference on violation of human rights by the Zionist regime in the Gaza Strip being held at the Esteqlal Hotel, northern Tehran, attended by a large number of domestic and international lawyers, judges and university professors.
Six killed, six Sri Lanka cricketers injured in Lahore terror attack
By IANS,
Lahore/Colombo : Six Pakistani policemen were killed and six Sri Lankan cricketers injured Tuesday when gunmen armed with automatic weapons attacked the visiting team's convoy as it headed for Lahore's Gaddafi stadium. A military helicopter later evacuated the cricketers as Sri Lanka cancelled its Pakistan tour.
Four suspects have been arrested from Lahore's Model Town area for their suspected involvement in the attack, with Geo TV saying: "Arms have been recovered from two of them".
Police said 12 terrorists were involved in the attack.
SAARC summit likely to be deferred: Report
By IANS,
Dhaka : The 16th SAARC summit is likely to be deferred to at least the first quarter of 2010 as the Maldives has expressed its inability to host the gathering this year after October, when its tourist season would be in full swing.
Economic recession is another reason that is deterring the Maldives, New Age newspaper said quoting diplomatic sources here.
Iran test fires new long-range missile: report
Tehran, March 8 (Xinhua) Iran has "successfully" test fired a new long-range missile, the country's English-language television station Press TV reported Sunday.
"Iran's defence ministry said it has successfully installed long-range (air-to-sea) missiles on some of its jet fighters," the report said, which did not say when the test was conducted.
"The ministry said Iranian experts have managed to build and test-launched the new missile to hit its naval targets within a range of more than 110 kilometres," the report said.
Nawaz Sharif is Pakistan’s most popular politician: report
By IANS,
London : Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has emerged as Pakistan's most popular and shrewd politician despite having been ignored by the US and Britain, a newspaper reported Tuesday.
The Daily Telegraph newspaper said Sharif's plans for a massive Long March last week so alarmed western governments that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton not only telephoned President Asif Ali Zardari twice, but also called Nawaz Sharif.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Monday he, too, had spoken to both men.
Pakistan has long road ahead to “full reconciliation”: US
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : The United States says Pakistan has a long road ahead to "full reconciliation" among various political actors so as to deal effectively with a major problem of terrorism facing it.
"There is a long road ahead before Pakistan has gotten to full reconciliation," State Department Spokesman Robert A. Wood told reporters Tuesday when asked what more political leadership in Islamabad needs to do.
No need to rename Little India, say Malaysian Indians
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) has lent support to a plea by sections of the ethnic Indian community not to re-name "Little India", a locality in Selangor state's Klang area that is famous as a tourism and shopping hub.
"There is no need for Little India in Klang to be re-branded as it is already a well-known tourism icon," Selangor MIC chairman G. Palanivel said Wednesday, warning that "the move to change its name will erase the area's identity".
He said the MIC was against the Klang Municipal Council's plan to rename the area Medan Kelana.
Sri Lanka, Pakistan seek closer ties
By IANS,
Colombo : Sri Lankan and Pakistani officials held talks here Sunday during which they pledged to boost cooperation in a wide range of areas, reports Xinhua.
Iraq moves to ban toy guns to protect kids
By IANS,
Washington: The Iraqi health ministry has urged the government to ban the sale of toy guns in the country as "they make it easier for a child to make the next step to real violence".
Israeli troops kill man mistaken for Hamas leader
By IANS,
London : Israel's military has expressed "regret" for having shot dead an innocent 67-year-old man in his bed, after he was mistaken for a Hamas leader, Sky News reported Friday.
UAE opens ‘green’ service station
By IANS,
Dubai : A government-owned oil company in Dubai has launched the first ever eco-friendly service station in the Middle-east.
Iraq war inquiry “discredited”, says STWC co-founder
By IRNA,
London : Co-founder of Stop the War Coalition John Rees said Friday that the Iraq Inquiry was being “discredited” by the non-disclosure of key documents.
ADB, Japan to help Bangladeshi women benefit from rural development
By NNN-ADB,
Dhaka : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Government of Japan will help Bangladesh strengthen measures aimed at ensuring rural women benefit from infrastructure projects.
‘It’s terrifying bomber was 14-year-old in school uniform’
By IANS,
Islamabad : The suicide bombing by a 14-year-old dressed in school uniform at a military training centre in northwest Pakistan is a "terrifying event", said a Pakistani daily Friday.
Mubarak insists staying in power
By IRNA,
Tehran : Hosni Mubarak, who has been ruling over Egypt for three decades, showed up at Egyptian state TV on Thursday, giving a live national TV address insisting on staying in power.
EU to impose sanctions on Libya
By DPA,
Brussels : European Union member states are to impose sanctions on Libya later Monday, following the UN Security Council's call for punitive measures, a spokeswoman said.
Gaddafi stashed away $2 bn in Canadian banks
By Gurmukh Singh, IANS,
Toronto : Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has stashed away more than $2 billion in Canadian banks, according to a media report here Monday.
Abu Dhabi’s first satellite to blast off March-end
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi: UAE's first satellite - Y1A - which is aimed to serve military, civilian and commercial purposes of the country, will blast off from France March 30 at 1 a.m.
Zardari condoles journalist’s death
By IANS,
Islamabad : President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed "deep grief and sorrow" over the abduction and murder of journalist Saleem Shahzad and ordered an investigation into the killing.
Egypt turns down IMF, World Bank loans
By IANS,
Cairo : Egypt has declined to take loans from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) presently, following cuts in budget deficit, Xinhua reported.
Balochistan to lay 5,500 km of optic fibre cables
By IANS,
Islamabad : About 5,500 km of optic fibre cables will be laid in Pakistan's Balochistan province as part of a major telecommunication project.
Four killed in Iraq violence
By IANS,
Baghdad : Four people were killed Monday in two separate incidents of violence in Iraq's Mosul city, Xinhua reported.
Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline to be ready by 2012
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline will be completed by 2012, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Asim Hussain has said.
Iran inaugurates biggest solar power plant
By IANS,
Tehran : Iran has launched its biggest solar power plant in the northeastern city of Mashhad, the IRNA news agency reported.
Four die in Dhaka lift collapse
By IANS,
Dhaka : Four workers died at an under-construction building in Dhaka, when a makeshift lift carrying them to the 13th floor plunged to the ground, reports said.
Explosion in Iran oil pipeline
By IANS,
Tehran : A major oil pipeline in southwestern Iran was shut down after an explosion Friday, a media report said. The cause of the blast was not immediately known.
Bangladesh signs rail restoration deal with Indian firm
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh Railway has signed a $15 million deal with an Indian firm for restoration of railway tracks in the country.
Tests conducted on Iran’s n-plant turbines
By IANS,
Tehran : The turbines of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant were successfully tested, the country's atomic energy chief said Wednesday.
Zardari to begin China visit Tuesday
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will begin his visit to China Tuesday, an official said Monday.
A Pakistani industrial unit that has Rs.110 bn liability
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Pakistan Steel Mills, the country's largest public sector industrial unit, is burdened with liabilities totalling a stupendous Rs.110 billion (Rs.11,000 crore).
Don’t deny access to Google: Pakistani court
By IANS,
Islamabad : Websites spreading religious hatred should be blocked, a Pakistani court directed, adding that access to Google and other search engines should not be denied.
Libyan liberation a great victory: NATO chief
By IANS,
Brussels : NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said the declaration of liberation in Libya marked a "great victory".
Pakistani kills eight of his family
By IANS,
Islamabad : A man in Pakistan gave an intoxicant to his parents and six siblings and then killed them by shooting them in the head.
Pakistan to have electronic media policy
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan, which has 85 channels, is formulating an electronic media policy, a minister said.
Pakistan blocks BBC
By IANS,
London : Pakistan has blocked the BBC over a documentary that questions Islamabad's commitment to the war against terror, the broadcaster said.
Pakistan cardiac drug that killed over 100 tainted: Report
By IANS,
Islamabad : One of the heart medicines that caused over 100 deaths in Pakistan's Punjab province was contaminated, said a media report citing a British laboratory report.
Four die as ambulance falls into canal in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : Four women were killed and five injured when their ambulance carrying a body plunged into a canal in Pakistan's Punjab province, police said.
Heavy snowfall in Pakistan province
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Murree region in Pakistan's Punjab province has witnessed heavy snowfall.
Iran not pursuing n-arms, says Khamenei
By IANS,
Tehran : Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that Tehran is not pursuing nuclear weapons.
Maldives ex-foreign minister passes away
By IANS,
Male : Former Maldivian foreign minister Fathuhullah Jameel passed away in Singapore at the age of 69, a media report said.
Two NGO workers killed in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : Two NGO workers were killed and one was badly injured in Pakistan's Quetta city Thursday after unidentified men opened indiscriminate fire at their vehicle.
Two killed in Karachi
By IANS,
Islamabad : Two people were killed in Pakistan's port city of Karachi Thursday, Geo News reported.
Police arrest HuJI leader from Dhaka
Dhaka : A leader of the banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad (HuJI) has been arrested in Bangladesh, police said.
Md. Ibrahim, 40, was nabbed from Sayedabad...
20 detained in anti-terror raids in Istanbul
Istanbul : Turkish police detained at least 20 people in an anti-terror operation in Istanbul on Wednesday.
The semi-official Anatolian news agency reported that the...
Bangladesh SC upholds Jamaat leader’s death sentence, strike called
Dhaka: Bangladesh's Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the death sentence of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojaheed for 1971 war crimes, a decision...
US plane turns back as passenger screams ‘jihad’
Washington: A United Airlines flight from Washington to Denver, with 39 people on board, turned back when a passenger ran towards the cockpit shouting...
Geelani’s no to Eid party an affront to Pakistan: Daily
Islamabad: Hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's refusal to attend an Eid Milan party hosted by the Pakistan High Commission in India is...
Pakistani Ambassador: Olympic torch relay underscores universality ogf games
By NNN-APP,
Beijing : Pakistani Ambassador Salman Bashir has said that the lighting of the Olympic flame and its relay across continents, underscores the universality of the games.
In a congratulatory message to the English language China Daily on its special supplement on Olympic Torch relay, the Ambassador underscores the universality of the games, which, he said will unite all peoples under the apt motto of “One World One Dream”.
Ban urges all members to attend Iraq Compact Annual Review Conference in May
By KUNA,
United Nations : Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has sent out invitations to all member states and regional organisations and institutions "strongly encouraging" them to attend the Iraq Compact Annual Review Conference scheduled for May 29 in Stockholm.
His spokesperson, Michele Montas, told the daily press briefing Thursday that the invitations were also extended by Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih, and by the Special Advisor to the Secretary-General, Ibrahim Gambari.
Egypt may restart its mission in Iraq
By Xinhua,
Cairo : Egypt is contemplating restarting its diplomatic mission in Iraq some three years after it pulled back the staff from Baghdad on security considerations, a senior official has said.
Mohammed Badreddin, Egypt's assistant foreign minister for Arab affairs, told reporters Saturday that Cairo was considering such a move as Baghdad is exerting pressure on Arab countries to upgrade their diplomatic representation in Iraq.
After a blast at the Jordanian embassy in Iraq in August 2003 that killed at least 17 people, many Arab diplomats chose to stay away from Baghdad.
Tamil daily’s closure prompts media freedom caucus
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Eight opposition MPs in Malaysia have initiated a caucus for media freedom after the government did not renew permission for the publication of Tamil daily Makkal Osai.
The move to form a Caucus on Freedom of Expression and Information Comes ahead of convening the 12th parliament next week.
"The home ministry should openly discuss its concerns regarding the Tamil daily," Charles Santiago, a Caucus member, said Monday.
French, Syrian FMs meet in Kuwait
By KUNA,
Kuwait : French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner held talks here Tuesday with his Syrian counterpart Walid Al-Muallem, the first of its kind since Paris decided to halt high-level contacts with Damascus last December because of Lebanese political crisis.
No details were available about the contents of the meeting, but a source close to the Syrian side confirmed the meeting to KUNA and said Al-Muallem would be holding a news conference later today.
Iran, IAEA determined to continue cooperation
By IRNA,
Tehran : Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will continue cooperation, said an Iranian nuclear official here on Wednesday.
"Iran and the IAEA will continue cooperation. As announced earlier, Tehran's policy is based on continuing cooperation with the IAEA within framework of the international body's regulations," said spokesman for the Iranian delegation to negotiations with the IAEA Deputy Chief for Safeguards Olli Heinonen, here on Wednesday.
MENA: Abbas, Mubarak to meet on developments in Palestinian territories
By Xinhua,
Cairo : Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who is due to arrive here Saturday afternoon, will meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, Egypt's official MENA news agency reported Friday.
Abbas would brief Mubarak his recent intensive meetings with U.S. President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington, as well as his meeting with President Vladimir Putin during his Moscow tour, Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Nabil Amr was quoted as saying.
We want to reach peace satisfactory to both Palestinians and Israelis – Abbas says
By NNN-WAFA,
Washington : President Mahmoud Abbas said that we are doing everything we can in order to seriously negotiate and reach a peace that would be satisfactory to both the Palestinian side and the Israeli side, a peace that would be promoted throughout the world.
In a press statement with US President George W. Bush in the White House, President added that we believe that you actually are truly seeking a true, genuine and lasting peace in the Middle East, and I am certain that you would like to see an agreement and settlement before the end of your term.
Gillani says his govt has ‘no problem’ with Musharraf
By NNN-PTI,
Islamabad : Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani has indicated that he intends to work with President Pervez Musharraf, saying he does not think that his government "will have any problem" with the former military ruler.
Gillani, who heads the new ruling coalition formed by the Pakistan People's Party and PML-N, also said he did not believe that Musharraf had any intention of using the President's controversial powers to dissolve the parliament and dismiss the prime minister.
Iran: President kicks off regional tour, heads for Pakistan
By NNN-IRNA,
Tehran : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad left for Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday morning at the first leg of his three-nation tour to regional states which would later take him to Sri Lanka and India.
The president is accompanied by his senior advisor, Mojtaba Samareh Hashemi, Head of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and Minister of Commerce Massoud Mir-Kazemi as well as a group of other senior officials.
Four Palestinians killed in Israeli military operation
By KUNA,
Gaza : Four Palestinians including three children lost their life during an Israeli incursion carried out early on Monday in the region of Beit Hanoun in the north of Gaza Strip, medical sources said.
The sources said a four-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl were killed in an Israeli artillery attack that targeted their house in the town of Beit Hanoun. Several other people were wounded in the bombardment.
Pakistanis, Bangladeshis blamed for British vote-rigging
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS,
London : The use of Biraderis - extended clan or tribal systems - by first generation Pakistani and Bangladeshi Muslims as well as their political masters is helping fuel widespread rigging of postal votes and other electoral malpractices in Britain, a report said.
Although the majority of those booked for electoral malpractices in Britain have been white males, the report by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, a national charity promoting democratic reform and constitutional change, says half of those convicted are Pakistanis and Bangladeshis.
Palestinian factions insist on reciprocal, comprehensive ceasefire with Israel
By Xinhua,
Cairo : Representatives of Palestinian factions on Tuesday asserted that they agree on a reciprocal and comprehensive ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Representatives of 12 Palestinian factions, including the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) and the Popular Struggle Front (PSF), made the remarks on the sidelines of separate talks with Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman earlier in the day.
German Defense Ministry reaffirms no plans to boost troop size in Afghanistan
By IRNA,
Berlin : The German Defense Ministry on Wednesday reiterated there were no plans to change the present military mandate in war-stricken Afghanistan.
Pointing to an ongoing debate on boosting the German troop size in Afghanistan, defense ministry spokesperson Thomas Raabe told journalists in Berlin that there was "no reason at all to speculate" on the issue.
The government is awaiting the outcome of the international Afghanistan conference in Paris, slated for June, and is adhering to the German parliamentary mandate which will expire on October 30, Raabe added.
Haddad Adel: IIPU an important center to connect Islamic parliaments
By IRNA,
Tehran : Majlis speaker said Islamic Inter-Parliamentary Union(IIPU) is now an important center to connect Islamic parliaments.
In a farewell meeting with outgoing Egyptian Secretary General of IIPU Ibrahim Oaf here Wednesday, Gholam Ali Haddad Adel said, "Victory of Islamic Revolution in Iran strengthened heartfelt ties of Iranians with other Muslims in the world."
Haddad said unity among Muslim nations is a part of Iran's foreign policy principles and we move toward such a goal.
Palestinians killed, wounded, arrested in Israeli incursion, attacks
By NNN-WAFA,
Gaza : A Palestinian died of his wound, two injured and three others arrested in attacks by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), medical sources said Friday.
Al-Shifa hospital said Usama al-Houbi was hit with a missile shrapnel when Israeli warplanes raided on Rafah, south Gaza Strip on Wednesday and died Friday of his serious wounds.
In BETHLEHEM, Israeli soldiers attacked a peaceful demonstration in the West Bank city of south Bethlehem, wounding two of the protesters, local sources said.
Pakistani militants free two workers of US-based NGO
By DPA,
Peshawar : Islamic militants Saturday released four people, including two workers of a US based non governmental organisation (NGO), who had been taken hostage a few days ago in Pakistan's tribal region bordering Afghanistan, officials said.
"All the four hostages were released through the mediation of a tribal Jirga (tribal elders' council) from Ambar area of Bajaur Agency," a local official told DPA.
US State Secretary to Middle East
By Prensa Latina,
Tel Aviv : US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is to arrive in this city Saturday to meet with Israeli political leaders, prior to an announced visit by President George W. Bush.
According to official sources, Rice will have dinner in Jerusalem with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and travel to the West Bank Sunday to hold talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the city of Ramallah.
Also on the list is a meeting with the main peace process negotiators: Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, and former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei.
Rice calls on Israel to remove more roadblocks
By NNN-KUNA,
Ramallah : US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called on Israel to remove more roadblocks.
"Not all roadblocks are created equal," she said here Sunday.
"We don't want to get into a numbers game where you just remove X number of roadblocks but it's not improving the lives of the Palestinians," said Rice who arrived here on Saturday evening to push forward the stalled negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).
Worlds oil Companies discuss in Houston rising energy prices
By KUNA,
Washington : US officials and the worlds top oil executives, including from Kuwait, met on Wednesday in Houston to discuss rising energy price and opportunities to explore new ways of energy sources.
Over 2,000 oil companies along with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy for Oil and Gas James Slutz, US Congressman and Chairman of Energy Committee Nick Lampson, OPEC representatives, and energy experts are meeting at Reliant Park in Houston, Texas for the 2008 Offshore Technology Conference.
Contrast between democracy and observing minorities’ rights in Israel
By IRNA,
Tehran : The main factor involved in violation of the minorities' rights in Israel should be sought in the type of democracy practiced in that regime.
Democracy as the rule of the people over the people, and the right for every member of a democratic society to have a share in deciding the fate of that society as a natural right, is not the definition to be sought in the governance method observed by the Zionist regime.
Arab FMs holds urgent meeting on Lebanon in two days – spokesman
By NNN-KUNA,
Cairo : Spokesman of the Egyptian foreign ministry Hosam Zaki said on Friday that an urgent meeting for Arab foreign ministers is expected to be held within the next few days to examine the current Lebanese crisis.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia had rendered a request to hold the meeting at the Arab League headquarters and to discuss the issue during an Arab foreign ministers council, Zaki noted, adding that the request was conveyed to the League's Secretary General Amr Moussa.
Israel resumes fuel shipments to Gaza
By Xinhua,
Gaza : Israel on Monday resumed fuel shipments to Gaza Strip after about a week of halting, Palestinian officials said.
Four tank trucks of industrial diesel were seen entering the Strip and going to the only power station there which was shut down on Saturday due to fuel shortage.
Mujahed Salama, director of the Palestinian Petroleum Agency, said that Israel started to pipe fuel into Palestinian depots at Nahal Oz crossing in eastern Gaza city.
Moscow hails Lebanon peace deal
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia welcomes the deal reached between Lebanon's Western-backed government and the Hezbollah-led opposition, and mediated by the Arab League, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
The sides agreed on Thursday to a new national dialogue to elect a president and form a unity government. Hezbollah agreed to end its blockade of Beirut airport and seaport and withdraw its gunmen from the streets.
OIC Chief saddens by devastating earthquake in China
By IINA,
Jeddah : The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu is deeply saddened by news of the heavy death toll and large-scale devastation caused by the earthquake that struck the Chinese province of Sichuan.
In a statement, the Secretary General appealed to OIC member States and civil society organizations to urgently come to the rescue of quake- survivors by providing them with the much needed relief assistance in these testing and difficult moments which require active solidarity from the international community.
Pakistani PM leaves for Egypt on 4 day visit
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistani Prime Minister SyedYousaf Raza Gilani left here Saturday for a four-day visit toEgypt.
Bush: Saudi Arabia’s gain in oil production “not enough”
By Xinhua,
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt : Saudi Arabia's recent gain in oil production is "something but it doesn't solve our problem" caused by skyrocketing oil prices, U.S. President George W. Bush said here Saturday.
Bush made the remarks to reporters after a meeting with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where he arrived earlier in the day to attend the opening session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East on Sunday.
Palestinians want regular army for their new free state – Israeli newspaper
By NNN-KUNA,
Gaza : Palestinians have expressed a demand a regular army be formed for the free Palestinian State sought after at the current negotiations, according to Israeli media.
"Behind closed doors, Israeli and Palestinian officials have confirmed ... PA negotiator Ahmed Qureia is demanding an army be built for future Palestinian nation," said Ynet news on its webpage Monday.
The article noted the demand comes "Despite previous understandings that a future Palestinian state would be demilitarized."
Lebanese Christian opposition leader threats to pull out of Doha talks
By Xinhua,
Beirut : Lebanese Christian opposition leader Gen. Michel Aoun has threatened to pull out of the Doha talks and return to Beirut "because the tide has turned in favor of the majority," local Naharnet news website reported on Monday.
Aoun, who is the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, made the threat because he accused the ruling March 14 coalition of seeking "to swallow half the Christian seats in Beirut to guarantee its victory in the next parliamentary elections."
India, Pakistan pitch in for anti-terror fight, economic diplomacy
By Manish Chand and Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Islamabad : Pushing economic diplomacy to the forefront, India and Pakistan Wednesday agreed to jointly combat terrorism and "to pick a stake in each other's economic development" and signed a pact on the release of their nationals imprisoned in either country.
The two sides formally concluded the fourth round of the Composite Dialogue after review by their foreign ministers and foreign secretaries and underlined political will and determination to resolve all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.
Report: Israeli officials deny full withdrawal from Golan
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israeli officials on Wednesday dismissed a statement by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem that Israel has promised to withdraw from the Golan Heights to the borders drawn before the 1967 Six Day War, local daily the Jerusalem Post reported.
Shortly after Israel, Syria and Turkey confirmed the existence of Ankara-mediated peace talks, Moallem said Damascus has received Israel's commitment for a withdrawal from the highland to the June 4, 1967 line.
Ban Ki-moon welcomes indirect peace talks between Syria, Israel
By APP,
United Nations : UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed Wednesday’s announcement that Syria and Israel have started holding indirect talks aimed at resolving their long-running conflict.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ban commended Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert “for taking this important step.” He also thanked Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his efforts.
Sacked judges to be restored: Zardari
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan's political roller coaster continues. Asif Ali Zardari, leader of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has declared finally that the judges sacked after President Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency last year would be reinstated.
The issue had threatened to split the ruling coalition. Zardari initially agreed to their reinstatement as part of a constitutional package to be introduced in parliament and then backed off.
Hamas invites Frensh FM to visit Gaza
By Xinhua,
Gaza : The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) ruling Gaza Strip called Saturday on French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner to visit the territory to learn about the suffering of its people.
Taher al-Nounou, a spokesman for the Hamas government in Gaza, told the press that the invitation "was motivated by France's moral stance" which was reflected throughout Kouchner's remarks.
$300mn UAE aid to Morocco to tackle rising energy prices
By IANS,
Casablanca (Morocco) : United Arab Emirates (UAE) will give Morocco $300 million in aid to help the northwest African kingdom tackle the impact of rising energy costs, WAM news agency reported Sunday.
UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has granted the aid to help ease the impact of rising energy prices, Morocco's ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation said in a statement Saturday.
Pakistani president summons parliament session on budget
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf summoned the National Assembly session on the federal budget that is likely to be presented in the parliament session for deliberation on June 7, said local private Dawn TV on Monday.
But the TV channel did not elaborate on whether Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari would bring the proposed constitutional amendment to the parliament session.
New Lebanese President hold coordination talks with caretaker PM
By NNN-KUNA,
Beirut : Newly-appointed Lebanese President Michel Suleiman has held talks with caretaker Prime Minister Fuad Al-Siniora on the forecast line-up of a new cabinet.
Emereging from the meeting Tuesday, Al-Siniora said the parliamentary majority would agree on the nominee to serve as the next prime minister, adding that his talks with the president dealt with admininstrative affairs.
The president has set next Wednesday as the date for parliamentary consultations in preparation for appointing a new prime minister.
Iraqi forces capture suspected Iranian-backed militia leader
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : Iraqi security forces captured a suspected leader of 300 Shiite militiamen backed by Iran in northern Baghdad, a U.S. military statement said on Tuesday.
Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) detained a mid-level leader of Special Groups, which refer to Shiite militia extremists funded, trained and armed by external sources, specifically by Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force operatives, and two other militiamen in the Shiite neighborhood of Shu'la on Sunday, the statement said.
Iranian soldiers kill nine drug traffickers
By Xinhua,
Tehran : In an armed confrontation in Iranian southern province of Kerman, nine drug traffickers were killed by Iranian soldiers, Fars news agency reported on Tuesday.
The report, which quoted a military news release in Kerman, said in the confrontation, the soldiers succeeded in blowing up a land cruiser which was carrying the nine traffickers, some gallons of gasoline and weapons.
The report said the soldiers got the information in an intelligence operation earlier that a group of the armed bandits would pass through a desert area in Kerman province.
Pakistani Islamic group rejects U.S economic curbs on leaders
By IRNA,
Islamabad : A Pakistani Islamic group Wednesday rejected American financial sanctions on its leaders and said they do not have any assets in the United States.
The US treasury Tuesday imposed sanctions on four leaders of the Pakistan-based militant group, 'Lashkar-e-Tayyeba', describing the group "a murderous al-Qaeda affiliate".
The group had changed the name of 'Lashkar-e-Tayyeba' to 'Jamaat Al-Dawaa' after it was banned by Pakistan in 2002.
The United Nations also banned the group for its links with Al-Qaeda in 2005.
Over 500 persons effected by dengue in Shabwa
By SPA,
Shabwa, Yemen : A medical source said on Friday more than 500 persons have been affected by a dengue fever outbreak in Shabwa province, south-east of the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, Saba reported.
Deputy Director of the Health bureau in Shabwa Ahmed Saeed said the spread of dengue fever has increased in the province during the past two days, affirming the epidemic had infected more than 500 persons.
But he mentioned any deaths were not registered due to the illness.
Russia says no reasons to suspect Iran’s nuclear aspirations
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Moscow has no reasons to suspect Iran in secret attempts to develop nuclear weapons, Russia's prime minister said on Saturday.
"I do not think the Iranians are seeking to develop a nuclear bomb," Vladimir Putin said in an interview with the French Le Monde newspaper.
50 injured in blasts in Bangladesh’s capital
By Xinhua,
Dhaka : Over 50 persons were wounded in series of blasts inside a hotel in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka early Monday, private televisions channels ATN and Ntv reported.
The Ntv said blasts occurred in three rounds, the first one was at around 10 p.m. Sunday night and the last one at around 1:30 a.m. Monday morning.
The television quoting fire service officials as saying the cause of the blasts could not be told without investigation, but they suspected it might be due to blast in gas pipeline and short circuit of electricity.
Roadside bomb blast kills 2 Afghan policemen
By Xinhua,
Kabul : Two Afghan policemen were killed as a roadside bomb struck their vehicle in Afghanistan's central-eastern Ghazni province, said the interior ministry Thursday.
"Two policemen were killed and two others were injured as a remote-controlled roadside bomb hit their vehicle in Ghazni city, the capital of Ghazni province," the ministry said in a press release.
The police van was destroyed in the bombing.
“Several” Taliban killed in central Afghanistan: Coalition
By KUNA,
Kabul : The US-led coalition troops claimed killing several Taliban during an operation in central Afghanistan.
A statement from the coalition forces' Bagram base on Saturday said the militants were eliminated in an operation in Tagab district of the central Kapisa province.
Several militants were killed and another three arrested in Tagab district after the militants attacked the troops with small and heavy arms. The troops were conducting operation in the area.
The troops responded to killing all those involved in the attack against the coalition troops.
Kuwait donates USD 1.5 million to UNRWA
By NNN-Petra,
Amman : Kuwait has donated USD 1.5 million to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to support the Palestinian people.
Kuwaiti Ambassador to Jordan Sheikh Faisal Al Hmoud Al Sabah delivered the Kuwaiti donation to the UNRWA deputy commissioner-general in Amman Tuesday.
Kuwait's donation showed its keenness in providing help and aid to Palestinian refugees at all UNRWA operation sites in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon in order to respond to their humanitarian needs and ease their sufferings, the ambassador said.
Jordanian court decides to jail three Hamas-linked suspects
By Xinhua,
Amman : Jordan's State Security Court has sentenced three Hamas-linked suspects prison terms ranging from five to 15 years, local daily Jordan Times reported on Friday.
According to the charges sheet, the three were members of the hard-line Palestinian faction of Hamas and stood accused of smuggling weapons from Syria and undergoing military training there with the aim of staging attacks on Jordanian targets including intelligence personnel.
Pakistan renames Islamabad airport after Benazir Bhutto
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistan Friday renamed the Islamabad International Airport as Benazir Bhutto International Airport.
The decision was made on the eve of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's birth anniversary Saturday.
Bhutto was killed at the gate of Liaquat Bagh park in the city of Rawalpindi Dec 27 last year after addressing an election rally.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani also named the General Hospital in Rawalpindi as Benazir Bhutto Hospital.
Militants kill 11 in Pakistan’s tribal region
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Eleven kidnapped tribesmen were killed by militants in northwestern Pakistan's tribal region on Monday, local TV reported.
The militants killed the eleven tribesmen of Tori tribe after torturing them in Kurram tribal agency, Geo TV channel said.
The tribesmen were abducted four days ago, and the tortured dead bodies were found in the tribal region on Monday.
The Tori tribe has vowed to stage a protest against the killing.
19 killed in fresh violence in Pakistan
By DPA,
Islamabad : At least 19 people were killed and more than a dozen injured in fresh clashes in militant-dominated north-west Pakistan, media reports said Tuesday.
Fierce fighting erupted between troops loyal to top Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud and pro-government tribesmen Monday when militants attacked the members of a peace committee in the town Jandola, the gateway to the restive South Waziristan tribal district.
Up to 12 people were killed and 10 wounded in ensuing gun battles that continued during the night, the English-language Dawn News television channel reported.
Preparations underway for African Summit in Sharam-al-Sheikh
By SPA,
Cairo : Permanent representatives of the African union's member states began here today a preparatory meeting for the African summit due to be inaugurated next Monday in Sharam-al-Sheikh.
The recommendations and resolutions of the preparatory meeting will be submitted to the executive council of the African foreign ministers, due to be held on Friday and Saturday.
US senior diplomat stresses Iraq”s national security
By KUNA,
Damascus : Visiting US Secretary department coordinator for Iraqi refugees Ambassador James Foley, has stressed his country's commitment to ensuring Iraq's national security.
Foley told reporters after talks with Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Al-Meqdad here today that talks have focused on the situation regarding Iraqi refugees in Syria.
The US official noted that his visit to Damascus comes amid the framework of a tour of countries in the region that started with a trip to Turkey and Jordan and will include Lebanon and ends in Geneva.
US lawmakers demand direct access to A. Q. Khan
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Four key US lawmakers have asked the Bush administration to seek direct access to disgraced Pakistani scientist A. Q. Khan to best deal with the ramifications of his infamous nuclear black market.
"It is in the interest of the United States, Pakistan, and indeed the rest of the world, that the full actions of A. Q. Khan become known so that we can best deal with the ramifications," the four said in a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Thursday.
Peshawar not Srinagar that we want to capture: Taliban
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has denounced reports that it planned to attack Peshawar, saying the North-West Frontier Province capital "is not Srinagar that we want to capture it".
In a statement, the chief of the Taliban militants, Baitullah Mehsud, accused the government of sponsoring propaganda about an impending attack on Peshawar to justify new military operations against his men, The News reported Saturday.
Bush acknowledges challenge in Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Washington : U.S. President George W. Bush acknowledged the challenge facing the U.S. military in Afghanistan Wednesday, saying June is a "tough month" there.
Speaking at a White House news conference, Bush said the rising U.S. casualties in Afghanistan can be attributed to the fact "that our troops are taking the fight to a tough enemy."
He also said June was "tough for the Taliban," too, since U.S. and coalition forces launched more attacks against the insurgents there.
Iranian FM says he will reply to nuclear offer “very soon”
By Xinhua,
United Nations : Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Wednesday that he will soon reply to the package of incentives offered by six major countries.
"Very soon I will respond to the letter given to me by the six foreign ministers," he told a press conference at the UN Headquarters.
On June 14, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana handed the offer to Iran on behalf of France, Britain, Russia, China, the United States and Germany.
French FM sees continuing dialogue with Iran on nuclear issue
By John Keating, KUNA,
Paris : French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said here Monday that he did not see the dialogue ending with Iran after reception of a letter from Iranian authorities which is expected in France later Monday afternoon.
The French Minister explained that he has not had the opportunity yet to read the Iranian letter which has been transmitted to Chief of the EU foreign policy Javier Solana and the other five members of the Six major nations addressing the Iranian issue.
Hamas condemns Israeli charity shutdown
By NNN-KUNA,
Gaza : The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has denounced Israeli closure of its charitable institutions in the West Bank.
Israeli forces on Monday shut down Hamas-linked charities in the West Bank. Documents and computers were confiscated in the operation in the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
Similar crackdowns were launched around Al-Khalil, or Hebron, Qalqilya and Ramallah areas and the campaign is now being extended.
Explosion in Gaza kills 2
By SPA,
Gaza City, Gaza Strip : An explosion went off early Tuesday at a Hamas training camp in Gaza, killing two members of the group and wounding three, a Palestinian health official and Hamas said.
The Israeli military said it was not involved, according to a report of the Associated Press.
The blast came during a three-week-old truce between Gaza's Hamas rulers and Israel.
Israeli army lifts curfew on West Bank village
By SPA,
Al-Quds city : Israel's army says it has lifted a two-day curfew on the West Bank village of Naalin.
The army imposed the curfew on Sunday after violent protests against Israel's West Bank separation barrier.
Naalin residents say the barrier will cut through their village land, the Associated Press reported.
The curfew prevented residents from leaving their homes or traveling in and out of their village. Journalists also were barred from entering.
Iran test-fires long range missile
By IRNA,
Tehran : The promoted long range Shahab-3 missile was successfully test-fired on Wednesday during a naval wargame in the Persian Gulf waters.
The 1,000-kg missile was test-fired on the third day of a naval wargame launched by navy forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) dubbed 'Payambar-e A'zam' (the Great Messenger).
UN to set up commission to probe Bhutto assassination
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Friday the United Nations would form a commission to probe the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, according to a TV report.
Qureshi, after holding a meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York, told reporters that Ban had assured him of setting up a commission to probe Bhutto's assassination, Geo TV said.
Benazir Bhutto, former leader of opposition Pakistan Peoples Party, was killed Dec 27 last year at the Liaquat Bagh park in Rawalpindi.
Four PKK rebels killed in clash in SE Turkey
By Xinhua,
Ankara : Four rebels of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) were killed in an operation staged by Turkish security forces in southeastern Turkey, a Turkish military statement said on Monday.
The Turkish security forces encountered four PKK militants in a mountainous area near Beytussebap town of Sirnak Province later Sunday and called on them to surrender, Turkey's General Staff said in a statement posted in its website.
President: Iran rejects preconditions for nuclear talks
By Xinhua,
Tehran : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tehran will not accept any preconditions for nuclear talks with EU foreign policy Chief Javier Solana, the English-language satellite channel Press TV reported Tuesday.
"Tehran welcomes negotiations but will not accept the precondition set by the West - the suspension of uranium enrichment," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying on Monday evening.
Afghan leader blames Pakistan for attacks
By ANTARA News/AFP,
Kabul : Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Monday directly accused Pakistan`s intelligence agency of being behind a recent wave of deadly attacks by militants in Afghanistan.
Karzai was reacting to a spate of recent attacks, including a suicide bombing in Uruzgan Sunday that killed 24 Afghans and another on the Indian embassy last week that killed more than more than 40 people.