Gulf oil revenues to cross $600 bn annually: report
By IANS,
Dubai : Gulf oil revenues are set to cross $600 billion annually in the next two years though the countries in the region will have to live with high inflation rates, according to a new report.
Oil production will rise to 20 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2010 from 17.5 million currently, pushing oil revenues beyond the $600-billion mark, according to the Bahrain-based investment bank Gulf Finance House’s (GFH) Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Economic Outlook for the third quarter of 2008.
Thirteen civilians, ten militants killed in Sawat operation
By KUNA,
Islamabad : At least 13 civilians and ten militantss were killed in the ongoing security forces operation against local Taliban militants in Pakistan's northern Sawat valley.
Security forces and militants are still exchanging heavy fire in Sawat and both sides are using heavy weapons and mortar shells, said security officials on Thursday.
Officials told KUNA that mortar shells hit two small houses in Kabal and Devali areas that killed at least 13 people from two families, including women and six children, while five people were wounded.
Roadside bomb kills two people in Baghdad
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : A roadside bomb explosion struck an Iraqi army patrol in eastern Baghdad on Monday, killing two people and wounding 22 others, an Interior Ministry source said.
The bomb explosion hit the military patrol in Palestine Street near Mustansriyah University, killing a soldier and a civilian, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Nine soldiers and 13 civilians were wounded by the blast which damaged a military vehicle and several nearby civilian cars, the source said.
Mullah Omar Operates Taliban From Pakistan
By Bernama,
New Delhi : Taliban's reclusive leader Mullah Mohammad Omar is believed by Afghan and Western officials, to be running the militant organisation from his base near Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province in Pakistan.
Mullah Omar runs a shadow government, complete with military, religious and cultural councils, and has appointed officials and commanders to virtually every Afghan province and district, just as he did when he ruled Afghanistan, the Taliban claim, PTI quoted the New York Times as saying Monday.
US to study Iran’s response to nuclear offer
By Xinhua,
Washington : The US will study Iran's response to an incentives offer by world's major powers to halt its nuclear programme, the State Department has said.
"We're going to take a look at it," State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos told reporters Tuesday, adding, the US received a copy of the Iranian response by e-mail from the office of the European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
Malaysian PM assures govt will not ignore issues faced by non-Muslims
By NNN-Bernama,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has assured that the government will not ignore issues faced by non-Muslims in the country, especially problems pertaining to religion and faith.
The government is concerned about issues raised by non-Muslims, through organizations like the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST), and has promised that these problems will be attended to by the relevant authorities.
UAE releases over 80 prisoners
By IANS/WAM,
Ajman : The rulers of the emirates of Ajman and Umm Al Qaiwain have ordered the release of more than 80 prisoners in total ahead of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Kofi Annan quits as UN-Arab League envoy
By IANS,
Geneva : The UN-Arab League joint special envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan has announced about leaving his post, BBC reported Thursday.
Pakistan wants cordial relations with India, says Ashraf
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has reiterated his country's resolve to find a negotiated settlement to all disputes with India.
Egyptian president condemns anti-Islam film
By IANS/AKI,
Rome : Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi Friday condemned the controversial US film that has stoked protests across the Middle East, saying it was an "aggression" on Islam.
UAE, New Zealand army chiefs hold talks
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi: The chief of staff of the UAE Armed Forces Thursday met New Zealand's chief of defence force and reviewed cooperation in military affairs.
Pakistani TV reporter shot dead
By IANS
Islamabad: Unidentified gunmen shot dead a reporter of a Pakistani TV channel in southwestern Balochistan province Saturday evening, police said.
UAE, El Salvador ink air services agreement
By IANS/WAM,
Dubai : The UAE and El Salvador Tuesday signed an agreement on air services.
Both sides agreed to designate airlines that will have the right to perform scheduled services.
UAE, Guinea hold talks
By IANS/WAM,
Dubai: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Guinea have held discussions for boosting their relations, especially in higher education and scientific research.
Education is now compulsory for Pakistani children
By IANS,
Islamabad: Pakistan has made education free and compulsory for children aged between five and 16.
Worried over fallout, Omar prays for Gaza peace
By IANS,
Srinagar : Worried over the possible fallout of the Gaza violence in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday hoped a truce takes effect there at the earliest.
Iran tests suicide drones
By IANS,
Tehran : Iran has tested unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs) including suicide drones, Xinhua reported.
Jordan denies giving military training to Syrians
By IANS,
Amman : Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour has rejected reports that military training is being provided to Syrians in Jordan, the state-run Jordan Television reported.
Avoid travel to Lebanon: UAE tells its people
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi : The UAE's ministry of foreign affairs has advised Emirati citizens not to travel to Lebanon due to the current situation in the region.
EU gives $85 mn humanitarian aid to Syria
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Brussels : The European Commission announced Sunday the allocation of an additional 65 million euros ($84.5 million) in humanitarian aid to war-torn Syria.
Indian man, daughter in Bahrain forced to live out in the open
By IANS,
Dubai : An expatriate Indian man and his three-year-old daughter in Bahrain have been forced to rough it out in the open for the last six months after a business deal went sour.
Israel to keep preventing arms transfer to Hezbollah
By IANS,
Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his government remains committed to prevent transfer of the advanced weaponry to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Six killed in Syrian car bomb blast
By IANS,
Damascus : A booby-trapped car went off Monday evening in Syria's central city of Homs, killing at least six people and injuring 30...
Taliban commander killed in Afghanistan
By IANS,
Kabul : A Taliban commander named Mullah Zahid was killed Friday in Afghanistan's Kunar province, police said.
"A group of Taliban rebels under Mullah...
Musharraf appears in court for treason trial
By IANS,
Islamabad : Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf appeared Tuesday amid tight security in a special court in Islamabad formed to hear high treason...
10 killed in Iraq violence
By IANS,
Baghdad: At least 10 people were killed while as many injured in two separate incidents of violence in Iraq, police source said.
In Diyala...
Tebbit Test for Kashmiris who applaud Pakistan cricket team?
By Saeed Naqvi,
Across its six columns on page one last Wednesday, The Indian Express screamed: “For ‘cheering’ Pakistan in India Match, University in Meerut suspends 67 Kashmiri students.”
Laws prohibiting underage marriage un-Islamic: Pakistan panel
Islamabad : A prominent Islamic panel, responsible for giving legal advice on Islam to the Pakistan government, Tuesday ruled that laws prohibiting marriage of...
Palestinians not to extend peace talks with Israel
Ramallah: The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) decided Wednesday not to extend the current US-mediated peace talks with Israel, that are set to end...
Kabul guest house attackers killed, all foreigners rescued
Kabul : The Kabul police rescued all foreigners trapped inside a guest house attacked by the Taliban Friday, an interior ministry official said, adding...
Egypt court upholds 3-year jail sentence for activists
Cairo: An Egyptian court Monday upheld jailing three activists to three years for organising protests without permission.
Ahmed Maher, founder of the April 6 Movement,...
Iraqi forces battle Sunni militants in northern Iraq
Baghdad : Iraqi security forces backed by Shiite militia are still fighting Sunni militants to take control of the city of Tal Afar in...
Rajya Sabha disrupted over demands for debate on Gaza
New Delhi : The Rajya Sabha was disrupted again Friday as the opposition continued to create an uproar demanding a discussion on the on-going...
Modi welcome to visit Pakistan anytime, says envoy
New Delhi : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be welcome whenever he chooses to visit Pakistan, said that country's envoy here Friday.
Pakistan High...
Turkey’s Erdogan or Erdogan’s Turkey?
By Mohammad Behzad Fatmi,
The Republic of Turkey has been a turbulent democracy since its very inception. The country has witnessed a number of coup d’état and continuous military dominance over elected governments resulting in limited civilian liberty, rare tolerance for dissent and utter disregard to the rule of law. It was in the year 2002 when the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power with the promise and apparent determination to strengthen democracy, rule of law and freedom in the countrywhich gave hope to the people.But today after more than a decade, the country is standing at the same position (in a different form though), if not worse.
Pakistan court will not intervene in present crisis
Islamabad : Pakistan Supreme Court Monday said the ongoing political crisis in the country should be handled by the government and decided not to...
Kerry to arrive in Middle East
Washington : US Secretary of State John Kerry is scheduled to arrive in the Middle East Tuesday to garner support for efforts to combat...
GCC chif expresses displeasure, concern over aggressive remarks by Iranian official
By NNN-KUNA,
Riyadh : Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Abdurrahman Al-Attiya denounced recent statements made by a prominent Iranian official, expressing deep dismay and concern of the Council over such statement, describing it as "hostile and dangerous".
Al-Attiya in a statement quoted by Saudi Press Agency (SPA), and was broadcas late yesterday, Thursday, expressed "deep dismay and concern of the Gulf Cooperation Council" regarding statements by Iranian Assistant Minister of Foreign for Research Affairs Manuchehr Mohammadi against Gulf monarchies".
Iraq’s Islamic Party leader assassinated
By IINA,
Baghdad : A car bomb in an Iraqi market has killed at least 18 people and wounded at least 25 others. The explosion in Tal Afar in the north of the country on Friday took place at about 6.30 pm. The blast occurred in the Wahda commercial district less than 30 minutes after the expiration of a vehicle ban to prevent bombers from targeting weekly Islamic services, a security official said. Tal Afar is near Mosul, about 240km northwest of Baghdad, where US-led forces have recently been focusing their battle against fighters opposed to the US presence in the country.
Palestinian refugees and right of return are red lines – Erekat
By NNN-Petra,
Ramallah : Head of the PLO Negotiations Affairs Department Saeb Erekat has said that Palestinian refugees and right of return are red lines for the Palestinian Authority as well as other standards such as Jerusalem, borders, settlements and water.
In special statements to PETRA here Thursday, Erekat said that the Israeli media tries to mislead public opinion especially the United States by implying that Israel wants to achieve peace especially with the Palestinians.
Over 3 dozen militants killed in S Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : The U.S.-led Coalition forces and Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) have eliminated more than three dozens of militants over two days of fierce fighting in southern Afghanistan, said a Coalition statement released here on Friday.
Several groups of militants engaged ANSF and Coalition forces reconnaissance patrol with machine guns, RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenade) and small arms, the statement said.
Pakistan ruling coalition denies rift over judges
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan's ruling coalition denied Wednesday it was split over the restoration of Supreme Court judges sacked nine months ago and said an announcement giving them their jobs back was likely Friday.
A two-member committee of Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfanday Wali Khan and Jamait Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) head Maulana Fazlur Rehman met here to finalize the modalities to restore the judges the posts taken away by then president Pervez Musharraf in November last year.
10 Afghan civilians killed by roadside bomb
By SPA,
Kabul, Afghanistan : An Afghan police chief says a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan has killed 10 civilians.
Matiullah Khan says the civilians were riding in a small bus when the bomb exploded Saturday in the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province.
In neighboring Helmand province, meanwhile, provincial police Chief Mohammad Hussein Andiwal says a battle between Taliban fighters and Afghan police on Friday killed 17
militants.
More than 3,500 people _ mostly militants _ have died in insurgency-related violence this year, according to an Associated Press count.
Israel frees Palestinian prisoners
By IRNA,
Ramallah : Israel on Sunday released nearly 200 Palestinian prisoners in what it calls a goodwill gesture to bolster Palestine Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas.
Some of the Palestinians have been in prison for three decades.
They were freed at the Beituniya checkpoint near Ramallah, from which they were to be taken to Abbas's presidential compound for an official celebration, Palestinian Prison Affairs Minister Ashraf al-Ajrami.
He said that the prisoners underwent routine medical examinations on Sunday and met Red Cross representatives.
Bahrain banking sector posts strong growth in first half of 2008
Dubai, Aug 28 (IANS) Bahrain's banking sector continued to show dynamic and confident growth in the first half of 2008, according to that Gulf nation's leading economic authority.
In a statement issued in Manama, Bahrain's Economic Development Board (EDB) stated that during the period, the banking sector posted very strong financial results with a number of new banks being granted licences by the country's financial services regulator, the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB).
US commandos kill 20 in Pakistan: official
By DPA,
Islamabad : US commandos killed at least 20 people including women and children in a cross-border raid Wednesday in Pakistan's tribal region, a high-ranking government official said.
"Innocent citizens of Pakistan including women and children were martyred," Owais Ahmed Ghani, the governor of the North-Western Frontier Province, said in a statement.
According to Ghani, commandos based in Afghanistan supported by three helicopter gunships carried out the "outrageous" attack in the Angor Adda area of the South Waziristan tribal district.
Zardari gets highest votes; to be Pakistan’s next President
By NNN-APP,
Islamabad : Asif Ali Zardari Saturday secured the highest number of votes from the National Assembly and the Senate to become Pakistan’s next President.
Amidst vociferous slogans of “Jeye Bhutto” and “Zinda hae BiBi zinda hae” the Chief Election Commissioner announced the unofficial result according to which Zardari secured 281 votes, against 111 of Justice (Retired) Saeeduzaman Siddique and 34 of Mushahid Hussain Sayed, out of 436 total votes, of which ten were invalid.
He also sweeped the polls in the provincial assemblies of NWFP, Sindh and Balochistan.
14 killed as US drones target top Taliban leader Haqqani
By NNN-PTI,
Islamabad : Fourteen people, including three women, were killed and 20 others injured in missile strikes by suspected unmanned US drones on a seminary linked to top Taliban Commander Jalaluddin Haqqani in Pakistan's restive North Waziristan tribal region on Monday.
Explosions were resounded in the area as six to seven missiles hit the seminary and nearby houses in the region often suspected to be the haven for top Taliban and Al Qaeda leaders.
Five Saudis arrested for Al Qaeda propaganda
By DPA,
Riyadh : Saudi Arabian police have arrested five men on charges of being involved in preparing internet propaganda in support of Al Qaeda, the Arabic television station al-Arabiya has reported.
According to a statement released by Saudi Arabia's interior ministry, three Saudi nationals, a Syrian and an Egyptian were charged with "spreading misleading propaganda on the internet".
Saudi Arabia has battled with a home-grown insurgency by Al Qaeda.
NAM countries announces support for Israeli nuclear inspection
By NNN-KUNA,
Vienna : Member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) have announced their support for an Arab proposal to be presented at the 52nd International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conference in Vienna, calling on Israel to join the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NNPT).
Cuban envoy Norma Goicochea Estenoz is reported to have sent a message regarding the issue to IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei last Friday.
The 52nd IAEA is to discuss the Arab proposal and will be entitled "Israel's Nuclear Capabilities."
Pakistan Slams US, NATO Incursions
By Prensa Latina,
Islamabad : Pakistan Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, called today for the immediate cease of border violations by US and NATO troops deployed in Afghanistan.
He also emphasized the need for greater cooperation and understanding between all parties involved in the crusade against terrorism and rebel fighting in the region.
Gilani welcomed British Secretary of Justice, Jack Straw, visiting the country, and said that Pakistan's armed forces are able to handle insurgency within their own territory.
New health cover policy for visitors to Dubai from Sep 20
By Aroonim Bhuyan, IANS,
Dubai : Immigration authorities here will not accept health insurance policies held by visitors from Sep 20 if these do not comply with the new norms, a senior official said here.
In a statement here, Mohammad Al Mari, director of Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD), said the decision has been taken in a bid to offer the best health insurance coverage for all types of visa holders.
New UN resolution on Iran under discussion: US
By DPA,
Washington : The five key members of the UN Security Council and Germany were meeting Friday in Washington to discuss Iran's failure to cooperate with UN demands that it dismantle its nuclear programme.
The talks could include discussion of another possible set of resolutions against Iran, said US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.
The meeting comes just days before next week's UN General Assembly debate among heads of state, when US Jewish organisations were planning a major rally Monday against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad outside the UN.
UAE condemns suicide attack in Islamabad
By Xinhua,
Abu Dhabi : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) condemned the suicide blast in Pakistani capital Islamabad Saturday that killed dozens of people.
"The UAE strongly condemns this heinous crime, committed by terrorists this evening in Islamabad and led to losses in lives and properties," the foreign ministry said in a statement late Saturday.
Suicide bombing in Pakistan kills 12
By DPA,
Islamabad : At least 12 people were killed and more than 30 injured Monday in a suicide bomb attack at the house of a lawmaker in Pakistan's Punjab province, the police said.
The explosion occurred when Rashid Akbar Nawani, a member of lower house of Pakistan's parliament, the National Assembly, was meeting his supporters at his residence in Bhakkar district, some 325 km west of provincial capital Lahore.
Pakistan investigates suicide bombing at legislator’s house
By DPA,
Islamabad : Police Tuesday investigated the crime scene at the residence of a lawmaker in central Pakistan where an overnight suicide bombing killed at least 20 people and wounded 60 others, officials and media reports said.
A young suicide bomber blew himself up Monday after sneaking into the family home of Rashid Akbar Niwani, in Bhakkar town in Punjab, the country's most populous province. Niwani is a member of the lower house of Pakistan's parliament.
Hamas delegation heads for Cairo with no reservations
By Xinhua,
Gaza : A senior Hamas leader on Tuesday said a delegation from his movement is leaving to meet Egyptian officials in Cairo Tuesday without holding any reservations.
"There are no provisos in what Hamas carries to Cairo; we are going to see what the Egyptians will propose," said Mahmoud Zahar,former Hamas foreign minister in Gaza.
Afghanistan security situation may worsen: US military chief
By DPA,
Washington : The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff in Afghanistan, Admiral Mike Mullen, has said the situation in the country will worsen, according to reports Friday.
In light of the poor economic situation and an intensifying Taliban insurgency, he told US media: "I would anticipate next year would be a tougher year."
"The overall development is not going in the right direction," he said, according to the New York Times.
India, Pakistan to discuss Kabul bombings Friday
By IANS,
New Delhi : India and Pakistan will hold a special meeting of the joint anti-terror mechanism here Friday that will focus on the alleged complicity of the spy agency ISI in the bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul over three months ago.
Vivek Katju, special secretary in charge of political and international organizations in the external affairs ministry, will hold talks with the Pakistani delegation led by Aizaz Ahmad Choudhry, additional secretary in charge of South Asia, the foreign office announced here Wednesday.
Ex-President warns of negative consequences of economic tsunami
By NNN-IRNA,
Tehran : Iran's former President Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani here Friday warned against more negative effects of the ongoing `economic tsunami', which has gripped the world.
"The economic crisis gripping the world is very serious; We should not think that the event worldwide is in our favor; So, we should not be happy over the crisis; Rather, we should be careful that effects of the economic tsunami is managed properly," said Ayatollah Rafsanjani in his second Friday prayers sermon here at Tehran University campus.
Islamic Jihad calls for halting negotiations, assessing Gaza lull
By Xinhua,
Gaza : An Islamic Jihad leader on Saturday called on Palestinian factions to assess ceasefire with Israel andurged president Mahmoud Abbas to halt negotiations with the Jewishstate.
The six-month ceasefire, started in Gaza Strip in June, "must be fully reviewed as it endangers the Palestinian people's struggle instead of achieving anything good," said Nafez Azzam, anIslamic Jihad leader based in Gaza.
Seven killed in suicide attack on police chief office: state TV
By IRNA,
Islamabad : A suicide bomb attack in a Pakistan's northwest city on Friday killed at least seven people and injured several others, state television reported.
Two police men were among those killed in the blast in Mardan, a city 60 kilometers northeast of Peshawar, the provincial capital of North West Frontier Province, PTV reported.
Private television put the death toll at 9, including four policemen and five civilians.
Doctors said that 20 injured were brought to Mardan District Hospital.
Several injured are in critical condition, they said.
Pakistan steps up relief efforts in quake-hit region
By DPA,
Islamabad : Pakistani authorities Friday switched their focus from rescue efforts to providing relief aid for thousands of earthquake survivors, who are spending cold nights under the open skies, officials said.
Soldiers aided people in remote villages ravaged by the shallow 6.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the northern and central parts of the gas-rich Balochistan province early Wednesday.
Two days after the tragedy, the official death toll stood at 225 but the provincial Chief Minister Aslam Raeesani said it might cross 300.
Emir of Qatar receives GCC Defense Ministers
By SPA,
Doha : Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar received here today Prince Abdurrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; other GCC defense ministers, and Secretary General of The Gulf Cooperation Council Abdurrahman Hamad Al-Atiyyah who are attending their 7th meeting of the GCC Joint Defense Council.
The GCC is made up of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.
Terrorism threatens Gulf as much as it does India: PM
By Aroonim Bhuyan, IANS,
Muscat : Terrorism on land and sea threatens the Gulf region as much as it does India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here Sunday.
Stating that there are many reasons for India to work closely with the Gulf nation of Oman to ensure a stable and prosperous region, Singh said: “Piracy, criminal activities and terrorism on our land and seas threaten the Gulf countries and India as well.”
Olmert: Israeli army prepared for clashes with Hamas
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israeli outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Tuesday that the confrontation with Hamas is unavoidable and Israeli army is prepared for it.
"The situation between us and Hamas is one of an inevitable clash. It's only a question of 'when' not 'if,'" Olmert said during a visit to the headquarters of Israel Defense Forces' (IDF)Gaza Division.
His tour was accompanied by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and several top military commanders, according to a press release from the Prime Minister's Office.
US Bombs Pakistan Family
By Prensa Latina,
Islamabad : At least 11 members of a family in Garyom, Pakistan, died Friday after their home was bombed by US drone planes, reported Geo News TV.
Local sources cited by Geo News noted that the Predator model plane used by CIA launched three missiles against the home of a man called Mir Gul.
Other people were wounded in the attack.
Similar bombings have killed dozens of people, including women and children in the last few weeks, emphasized Geo News.
White House welcomes Iraqi cabinet’s approval of security pact with U.S.
By Xinhua,
Washington : The United States on Sunday hailed the approval by Iraq's government of a military pact that requires the withdrawal of all U.S. troops by the end of 2011, saying it was "an important and positive step."
"We welcome the Iraqi Cabinet's approval of the agreement today. This is an important and positive step," said National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
Arab countries moving in the right direction to achieve strong Arab culture
By NNN-SANA,
Damascus : Ministers participating in the Arab Ministers of Culture Conference, which kicked off here Sunday, have affirmed the importance of holding the conference, coinciding with the "Damascus, Arab Capital of Culture 2008" festivities.
Taliban running out of places to hide: US Army commander
By Lalit K. Jha, IANS,
New York : With the Pakistan army aggressive in its operation against the militants on its side of the border, the Taliban are running out of places to hide, says a US Army commander in charge of operations in Afghanistan.
Iran coperating with IAEA to maintain safety of Bushehr power plant
By NNN-IRNA,
Tehran : IAEA's Representative to Iran Christer Viktorsson has said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is now fully cooperating with the IAEA to maintain safety of the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
He made the remark in his address to the First International Seminar on Nuclear Power Plant, Environment and Sustainable Development here on Sunday.
Cooperation between the IAEA and Iran on the security and safety of Bushehr nuclear power plant is in line with existing protocols and agreements, he said.
Iraq pullout in 16 months: Obama
By IANS,
Chicago : US president-elect Barack Obama reiterated Monday that all American combat troops would be withdrawn from Iraq in 16 months, even while residual forces could remain longer.
"At the same time, I will listen to my commanders on the ground," Obama maintained at a press conference here at which he introduced his national security team. Hillary Clinton, who has been named the new Secretary of State, stood to Obama's left.
Obama said the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) agreed to between the US and Iraq had made the 16-month timeline possible.
Pakistan must cooperate in terror probe: Rice
By IANS,
London : The United States has told Pakistan it expects nothing short of complete cooperation in the investigations into last week's macabre terror attacks in India's Mumbai city, Pakistan's Online news agency reported Tuesday.
"What we are emphasizing to the Pakistani government is the need to follow the evidence wherever it leads," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday.
Pakistan’s refusal to handover terrorists expected: BJP
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday said Pakistan's refusal to handover 20 "most wanted" individuals to India was on expected lines and demanded that the government build international pressure on Pakistan through the United Nations to secure the suspects.
China calls for India-Pakistan dialogue after Mumbai attacks
By Xinhua,
Beijing : China Thursday called for dialogue between India and Pakistan to clear the confusion after last week's terror attacks in Mumbai to maintain peace and stability in South Asia.
China firmly opposes terrorism and it is in the best interest of India and Pakistan to strengthen dialogue and bilateral cooperation, foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters.
"It is in line with the requirements for regional peace and stability and the common expectation of the international community," he said.
Fatal Blast Kills 16 in Pakistan
By Prensa Latina,
Islamabad : At least 16 dead and 75 wounded were the tolls of a car bomb blast at a packed market in Peshawar, capital of Pakistani Northwestern Border province.
The TV channel Dawn said the explosion occurred amid purchases for the Muslim celebration Eid ul Adha at a narrow street leading to the historic Qissa Khwani bazaar.
Peshawar Mayor Ghulam Ali said the blast hit power lines, leaving the area in deep darkness while it destroyed one building and six houses, so the toll may still grow since some victims are trapped under the rubble.
Israel’s foreign minister asks to reconsider Gaza ceasefire
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni Sunday called for more discussion among Israeli leaders about whether to continue the ceasefire with Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip.
"The ceasefire agreement will end shortly, and is not being honoured by the Palestinian side. At the moment, we need renewed thought on whether we will act," The Jerusalem Post quoted Livni as saying at the weekly cabinet meeting.
The Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that took effect on June 19 is on the verge of collapse following a wave of violence since Nov 4.
US-India, Pakistan-China alliance visible after Mumbai: Nepal Maoists
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : The ruling Maoist party of Nepal has warned that the Mumbai terror attacks would escalate greater tensions in South Asia pitting a strengthening India-US alliance against Pakistan, the alleged home of the terrorists, and its ally China.
"After the Mumbai attack and tensions escalating between India and Pakistan, the South Asian region is again becoming a hotspot in world politics," warned the Maoist-affiliated Red Star fortnightly that hit the stands this week.
Eid spirit prevails in Egypt
By NNN-KUNA,
Cairo : Millions of Egyptian crammed the country's mosques early on Monday performing Eid Al-Adha prayers and congratulating each others on the happy occasion.
Religious scholars called for Muslims' unity on the annual occasion.
Meanwhile, managers of cinema theatres braced for hosting movies' fans with planned show of a host of newly-produced films, while thousands living abroad flocked back home by air for the occasion.
Authorities have decided to release 649 prisoners for the eid.
Pakistani delegation may visit India for Mumbai attack probe
Islamabad, Dec 9 (Xinhua) A high level Pakistani delegation is likely to visit India for the Mumbai terror attack probe, media reports said quoting Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir Monday.
Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir proposed this while briefing the Indian high commissioner in Islamabad, Geo TV reported.
According to Geo TV, the Indian diplomat was informed that the Pakistan government had initiated investigations of its own into the allegations concerning the involvement of any individual or entity from Pakistan in the Mumbai attacks.
Terrorists wanted to stir trouble between India, Pakistan: Rice
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : The first goal of Mumbai terror attackers was probably to stir up trouble between Pakistan and India because terrorists are undoubtedly unnerved by their increasingly good relations, according to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
"These terrorists are undoubtedly unnerved by the increasingly good relations between Pakistan and India, really going back before the civilian government" but certainly since President Asif Ali Zardari came into power, she said in an interview on CBS News Radio.
British involvement in Iraq war “shameful and disastrous”
London, Dec 11, IRNA , A senior British columnist has described the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq in 2009 as a "dishonour and the end of the most shameful and disastrous episode in modern British history".
Seumas Milne, from the Guardian, said on Thursday that the Iraq war was in clear violation of international laws.
Militants torch Afghanistan-based coalition forces’ trucks in Pakistan
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Militants in northwestern Pakistan early Saturday torched 25 trucks transporting supplies for the Afghanistan-based coalition forces.
The militants used patrol bombs to set fire to the trucks sitting at a freight terminal in Peshawar, capital of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), the News Network International news agency quoted police as saying. The attackers fled after the attack.
UN condemns using children as suicide bomber by Taliban
By Xinhua,
Kabul : The UN Sunday strongly denounced the reported use of children by Taliban insurgents as suicide bombers in Afghanistan.
"I strongly condemn the attack where a young boy was allegedly used as a suicide bomber against British forces in Sangin district of Helmand (province)," a statement quoted Kai Eide, special envoy of Secretary General Ban ki-Moon, as saying Sunday.
President, PM vow to safeguard Pakistan’s defence
By IRNA,
Islamabad : President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani here Monday expressed resolve to safeguard country's defense and security and that Pakistan will itself investigate elements posing threats in this regard.
The Prime Minister held an important meeting with the President here at Aiwan-e-Sadar where Advisor to Prime Minister on National Security Mehmood Ali Durrani was also present.
The meeting discussed Pak-India tension, violation of Pakistan's air space, war on terror and the country's political situation besides other issues.
Middle East, North Africa most dynamic satellite markets: Study
By IANS,
Dubai : The Middle East and North Africa have become one of the most dynamic emerging markets for satellite broadcast, according to a new study.
Nearly 100 percent of satellite transponders in the region are being used, the study conducted by Euroconsult and the London Satellite Exchange, said.
The upward trend of the satellite market was stimulated by the growing demand from the media, telecom, and military users in the region, WAM reported Sunday.
Earthquake hits Iran
By SPA,
Tehran : An earthquake measuring 4.2 on Richter scale shook the vicinity of Jam city in Bushehr province, southern Iran, Sunday night, Iran's news agency "IRNA" reported.
The Geophysics Institute of Tehran University registered the quake.
The epicenter of the tremor has been an area located 52.26 degrees in longitude and 28.04 degrees in latitude.
There are no reports of any casualty or damage to the property caused by the tremor.
Iran is often shaken by quakes of varying magnitudes as it sits on some of the world's most active seismic fault lines.
British minister calls for removal of illegal Israeli settlements
London, Dec 24, IRNA ,British Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East Bill Rammell toured the southern West Bank city of Hebron on Monday and called for removal of illegal Israeli settlements in the city.
"I saw the facts in Hebron and witnessed the tyranny of settlers against its people," Rammell was quoted by a British Foreign Office statement as saying.
"British Minister of state for Middle East Bill Rammell called for removing settlements that according to international law are considered illegal," the statement said.
Analysts rule out possibility of Pak-India war despite tension
Islamabad, Dec 24, IRNA ,Senior Pakistani analysts on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of war between India and Pakistan despite the high tension between the two countries, adding that India is just building pressure on Pakistan.
Talking to IRNA they said that war would be disastrous for the whole region and would only serve the interests of the militants.
Pakistani political/defense analyst Lt Gen (Retd) Talat Masood viewed that the chances of war are very remote though Indian attack cannot be completely ruled out.
India should pursue ‘no war, no peace’ policy with Pakistan
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
The Mumbai massacre has falsified the long-held belief in India that it is the rogue elements in the army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) which are behind the terrorist attacks. Since Pakistan itself has been a victim of terrorism, the theory of loose cannons had gained credibility.
Obama receives briefing on India-Pak troop build-up
By NNN-PTI,
Washington : US President-elect Barack Obama, who is keeping a close tab on India-Pakistan ties in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror strikes, has received security briefings on the reported build up of troops on the Indo-Pak borders.
Obama, who is spending Christmas vacation in Hawaii, received the briefing on the latest situation in South Asia on Saturday from White House officials.
Israel must end ‘unlawful’ attacks, says Amnesty International
London, Dec 29, IRNA ,Amnesty International Monday expressed its horror at Israel's ongoing slaughter of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, calling for an end to the massacre and for Gaza's emergency needs to be met.
"The horrific death toll risks growing due to the unavailability of adequate medical care for the hundreds of injured," the London-based human rights group said three days after Israeli air attacks killed over 300 Palestinians.
All Palestinian factions to meet in Ramallah tonight
RAMALLAH, Dec 29 (KUNA) -- Representatives of all Palestinian factions, including the advesaries Fatah and Hamas, will hold a meeting at headquarters of the Palestinian authority here later tonight, a lawmaker announced.
10 killed as Israel strikes more targets in Gaza
By DPA,
Gaza/Tel Aviv : Israel pounded more targets in Gaza, as a massive military operation aimed at curbing rocket and mortar attacks from the strip entered its fourth day Tuesday.
Palestinians reported at least 10 dead in the latest strikes, bringing the toll of Operation Cast Lead to at least 360, with more than 1,600 injured.
But a defiant Hamas, three days into the offensive and showing that it still had long-range rockets in its arsenal, stepped up its own attacks reaching deeper into Israel than had previously been targeted.
Government committed to protecting journalists: Sherry Rehman
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Pakistani government is committed to the protection of journalists and there would be no violation of media freedom and independence during its term, Information and Broadcasting Minister Sherry Rehman has said.
"The fundamental difference between an authoritarian system and a democratic structure is that democracies endeavour to strengthen institutions that support a representative order," Online news agency quoted her as saying on a report analysing media freedom in Pakistan in 2008.
130 Hamas fighters killed in ground offensive: army
By ANTARA News,
Jerusalem : The Israeli army claimed on Tuesday that it had killed 130 Hamas fighters since launching a ground offensive in Gaza at the weekend.
"In the last two days at least 130 Hamas terror operatives were killed in battles with IDF ground forces in the Gaza Strip," an army spokesman was quoted by AFP as saying.
The claim could not be immediately verified.
Israel poured ground forces into Gaza late Saturday, a week after unleashing a massive air and naval bombing campaign against Hamas targets in the enclave aiming to stop rocket fire.
Malik ‘mishandled’ Ajmal case, must resign imediately: Berney
By NNN-PTI,
London : Observing that the "mishandling" of the issue of Ajmal Iman's nationality by the government had brought bad name to Pakistan, leading human rights activist Ansar Burney has demanded the immediate resignation of Interior Ministry Chief Rehman Malik.
Militants kill govt. official in Pakistan
By KUNA,
Islamabad : Local Taliban militants Thursday killed a government official and a suspected informant for the US intelligence in Pakistani tribal belt bordering Afghanistan.
A local senior government official was killed when militants attacked his vehicle in Dosli area of North Waziristan tribal agency, security officials told KUNA.
They said militants sprayed bullets at his vehicle, killing the official and his driver on the spot.
‘NSA sacking has tarnished Pakistan’s credibility’
By IANS,
Islamabad : The sacking of Pakistan's national security adviser for owning up the nationality of the sole terrorist arrested during the Mumbai carnage has tarnished the country's credibility and raised questions about the government's ability to keep top officials on a common platform, the country's media said Saturday.
The dismissal of Maj. Gen. (retd) Mehmud Ali Durrani "does little good to Pakistan. Its credibility, which is already not high, has been damaged further", The News said in an editorial headlined "Truth and lies".
130 migrants survive after ship sinks off Yemen
By DPA,
Sana'a (Yemen) : At least 130 passengers managed to swim ashore after a ship with around 300 Somali and Ethiopian migrants capsized off the coast of Yemen Saturday, Yemeni coast guard officials said.
A coast guard official in Red Sea port of Houdieda said 130 people managed to swim ashore or were rescued by coast guard teams and local fishermen.
Three bodies have been recovered so far, the official, who asked not to be identified, told DPA.
He said the wooden ship hit a reef in a storm, tearing a hole in its hull.
Jordan sends 261 aid convoys to Gaza since Israeli attacks
By Xinhua,
Amman : Jordan has sent over 200 aid convoys to the Gaza Strip since December 27, when Israel launched intensive offensive against the enclave, local daily The Jordan Times on Wednesday quoted an official as reporting.
A total of 261 aid convoys have been dispatched to Gaza ever since the war, said spokesperson with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO) Mohammad Kilani.
On Tuesday, 20 trucks carrying bottled water, sugar, food parcels, blankets, mattresses and medical supplies crossed the King Hussein Bridge, added the official.
India seeks strong action against Pakistan-based terrorism
By IANS,
New Delhi : India Thursday said that it wants "strong action", apart from "solidarity and sympathy", from the world community against terrorism.
"We have been saying this always that terrorists are coming from across the border and they are a threat to India. I am happy at least they (the US) have realised this,"
Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Thursday.
Fatah, Hamas trade crackdown accusations against their members
By Xinhua,
Gaza : Rival Hamas movement and President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement exchanged accusations on Saturday that each groups is cracking down on the others' members in Gaza and the West Bank.
The renewal of rivalry between the two groups mounted as Israel ended one week ago, a 22-day large-scale military offensive on the Gaza Strip, where thousands of people were killed and wounded.
Pakistan protests US drone attacks
ISLAMABAD, Jan 24 (KUNA) Pakistan Saturday lodged strong protest with the United States over the latest missile attacks on its territory, which came only days after Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the US.
President Asif Ali Zardari met with the US ambassador, Anne Patterson, and strongly condemned the unilateral US missile attacks, official sources told KUNA.
At least twenty people including near ten Arab militants were killed Friday evening in two US missile attacks in South and North Waziristan tribal agencies.
Gaza’s schools reopen, but fear remains
By Shabtai Gold and Saud Aburamadan, DPA,
Gaza : Across the Gaza Strip Saturday, Palestinian children walked to and from school for the first time since Israel's three-week offensive which wrecked havoc across the enclave and killed over 1,300 people.
Three boys in the second grade, Muhammed, Ramzi and Abed, played in front of the United Nations' school for refugees, which they attend, glad to see each for the first time in a month.
"I am happy to be back with my friends," said Ramzi, wearing his bright blue school shirt and hugging his two buddies around the shoulders.
Dhaka to upgrade highway link with Chittagong
By IANS,
Dhaka : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government is poised to resume a project to upgrade the highway linking the national capital with Chittagong port city to speed up movement and curb accidents.
The four-lane highway is to eventually link to the Asian Super Highway, The Daily Star newspaper said Wednesday.
The government has decided to seek international invitation for pre-qualifying tender for it, due to cancellation of the immediate past bids.
UN chief Ban calls for urgent aid to Gaza
By DPA,
Davos : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Thursday called on the international community to provide quick assistance for the people in conflict-torn Gaza Strip.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, in Switzerland, Ban issued a so-called flash appeal for urgently needed assistance worth $613 million in order to help the 1.4 million Gaza residents.
"Everywhere I went, I saw evidence for critical humanitarian needs," Ban said in reporting on his recent fact-finding visit to the Gaza Strip after the intense three-week Israeli air strikes.
Kyrgyzstan to demand closure of US base on its territory
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Kyrgyzstan will demand the closure of a US military base on its territory that is used to support anti-terrorism operations in neighbouring Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has said.
"The Kyrgyz government has taken a decision to terminate the rent of the base," Bakiyev told a news conference after holding talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
At least 30,000 die in road accidents annually in Indonesia
By Xinhua,
JAKARTA : Indonesian Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal said that at least 30,000 people are killed in road accidents in Indonesia every year.
"The figure was taken from the statistics," the minister told a hearing with the House of Representatives here on Thursday.
The minister said that seeing the big number of victims in road accidents, the relevant agencies should develop synergy in order to help increase safety in roads.
Spokesman: Hamas delegation to return Cairo for more consultations over truce with Israel
By Xinhua,
GAZA : Hamas said Thursday that its delegation, which is leaving Egypt to return Gaza later in the day after talks with Egyptian officials over a possible truce with Israel, would be back to Cairo on Saturday for more consultations.
Hamas spokesman in Gaza Fawzi Barhoum said in a statement that "a deal on a truce was not reached because the Israeli offer we received through the Egyptian mediator links between the case of (captured Israeli soldier) Gilad Shalit and ending the blockade and reopening Gaza crossings."
Seven police officers killed in Pak attack
By IINA,
Lahore : Police in Pakistan say seven officers have been killed in an attack on a checkpoint in Mianwali in Punjab near restive North-West Frontier province. Residents in the town heard gunfire and an explosion as the checkpoint building was attacked before dawn. Two policemen were shot dead, and the other five died in the explosion. A police spokesman said the attack "appears to be part of terrorist activity being carried out by militants across the country".
Multiple blasts in Kabul, three killed
By IANS,
Kabul : Suicide bombers and Taliban gunmen stormed Afghanistan's justice ministry and two other places in Kabul Wednesday, leaving at least three attackers dead, media reports said.
Xinhua reported that the first explosion targeted a police vehicle in Khair Khana district north of Kabul. The second took place in downtown Kabul, according to a police official.
Four Taliban gunmen also entered the justice ministry, close to the Presidential Palace, causing "multiple casualties", a Xinhua reporter at the site reported. Sporadic firing rang out.
Pakistan serious about Mumbai probe: Minister
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan said Thursday it was "serious" about prosecuting the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks and that the actions taken so far would prove its "sincerity".
"We are serious (about the probe) and all the action taken so far will prove our sincerity," Interior Minister Rehman Malik said at a press conference here.
"We want to bring to justice the culprits and we thus need evidence. This evidence should stand the test of the court. The evidence should speak for itself," Malik maintained.
US weapons given to Afghan army missing
By Xinhua,
Washington : A large quantity of weapons given to the Afghan army by the US have been missing, officials said.
The US congressional auditors said Thursday in a report that nearly 87,000 pieces of weapons, including rifles, pistols, machine guns, grenade launchers, shotguns and mortars were missing.
The weapons are among about 240,000 small arms and other items, including 2,410 highly prized night vision devices that were given to the Afghan security forces by the US military.
Muslim world urged to compete with West’s technological monopoly
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Three Pakistani intellectuals stressed on Monday the need for greater cooperation among Muslim countries to compete with the tsunami of Western technology.
Their remarks came while they were commenting, in an interview with IRNA, on the latest scientific achievement made by Iranian scientists who have recently sent successfully the country's data-processing satellite, Omid, into the orbit.
‘Shariat deal proof of Pakistan military’s defeat’
By IANS,
Islamabad : A deal to enforce Shariat laws in parts of Pakistan's restive northwest is proof of the military's defeat against Taliban militants operating in the area and has "implications" for other parts of the country, an editorial in a leading English daily said Tuesday.
"The fact is that this deal shows that the Pakistan military has in fact been defeated by the militants; that we are now incapable of retaining control of vast tracts of our own territory," The News said in an editorial headlined "Shariah in Swat".
At least 100 missing as trawler capsizes in Bangladesh
By Xinhua,
Dhaka : At least 100 people were missing Thursday morning when a trawler capsized on a river in Bangladesh's southern Barisal district, the police said.
The accident took place some 169 km from the Bangladesh capital.
"We've come to know that over 100 passengers are missing. A body of a woman was pulled out from the water," district police chief Tawfiq Mahbub Chowdhury said.
Police officer Sekandar Ali said the boat capsized at around 6.50 a.m.
Bangladesh Rifles has a 200 year history
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh's border guards Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), whose troopers mutinied in Dhaka Wednesday, has a military history going back more than 200 years.
Today a paramilitary force guarding the country's 4,427 km long border, the Bangladesh Rifles was raised in 1795 as the Ramgarh Local Battalion.
In 1799, the force established the first camp, Special Reserve Compaq, in the lush green Peelkhana area outside Dhaka, the BDR website said.
It now has an estimated strength of 67,000 men, who are headed by a director general drawn from the Bangladesh Army.
Hamas calls on Gaza donors to recognise its legitimacy
By DPA,
Gaza : The Islamic Hamas movement Monday called on the international community to recognise its legitimacy as the ruler of Gaza Strip.
Speaking as international donors began a conference to discuss the reconstruction of the salient of Israel's recent offensive, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum urged the participants to "deal with the legitimacy (of Hamas) if they were interested in the Palestinian people's interest".
"Bypassing the Palestinian legitimacy that exists in Gaza is like walking to the wrong address ... to hinder the reconstruction," he said.
Conspiracy theories abound post-Lahore attack
By IANS,
Islamabad : Did the police in Pakistan's Punjab province warn that Indian spy agency RAW would stage an attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team? Was the attack linked to the action being taken against jehadi outfits in the wake of the Mumbai mayhem?
This apart, who was the unknown individual who made a telephone call that prompted a change in the route being taken by the bus carrying the Sri Lankan players, taking them directly in the line of fire of the attackers?
Malaysian Indian Congress chief likely to get walkover
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysian Indian Congress' long-time president S. Samy Vellu may get a walkover in next month's election for the top party post as his lone rival was unlikely to get the minimum votes required to file nomination papers.
Vellu's grip on the party's apparatus remains total, media reports said Monday.
"It looks like a foregone conclusion, a week before nominations close for the MIC presidential race," The Star said.
Seven suspected terrorists arrested in Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : Seven suspected terrorists have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the deadly terror attack on the Justice Ministry in February, a newspaper reported Thursday.
"These seven terrorists after organising the attack on Justice Ministry fled to Logar province and all of them have confessed their involvement in the gruesome incident," Daily Arman-e-Millie quoted National Security Directorate (NSD) spokesman Syed Ansari as saying.
Logar province is about 60 km south of Afghan capital Kabul.
‘Sleepless nights for Zardari, Musharraf’
By IANS,
Islamabad : For once, both Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and his predecessor seem to be in the same boat, spending sleepless nights over the reinstatement Saturday of sacked Supreme Court chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhury.
Zardari would be fearing a review of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) Musharraf had enacted in 2007 granting Zardari, his slain wife Benazir Bhutto and a host of Pakistani politicians immunity from the corruption cases pending against them.
The NRO had also permitted Zardari and Bhutto to return home from exile in October 2007.
Former Iranian president wants troops out of Afghanistan
By DPA,
Sydney : Former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami has urged Australia and other western nations to withdraw from Afghanistan, news reports said Wednesday.
"We see that some troops are coming all the way from the other side of the world to establish peace and security there," Khatami told students at the Australian National University in Canberra. "We tell them, leave them alone, they would not cry any more."
Khatami is on an visit to Australia sponsored by Melbourne's La Trobe University.
Malaysia’s Hindraf activists face trial
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Fifty one sympathisers of banned Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), including lawmaker N. Gobalakrishnan, will be tried next month in a Malaysian court as 14 pleaded guilty for damaging public property and participating in an illegal gathering in 2007.
They would all be tried by a court from May 11, a bench of the sessions court in Shah Alam ruled Tuesday.
Gilani invites PML-N to rejoin his government
By IANS,
Islamabad : Efforts to persuade opposition leader Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML) to rejoin the federal cabinet received a major boost Wednesday with Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani formally inviting the party to return.
Gilani extended the invitation during a meeting here with Sharif's younger brother Shahbaz Sharif, who on Monday was restored as the chief minister of the Punjab province.
"It has been reliably learnt that Prime Minister Gilani invited the Pakistan Muslim League-N to rejoin the federal cabinet," Geo TV reported.
Malaysian premier unveils new cabinet line-up
By DPA,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak Thursday announced a new cabinet line-up of 28 ministers and 40 deputy ministers who he said represented the government's focus on reforms and change.
The cabinet includes Human Resource Minister S. Subramaniam and Federal Territory Deputy Minister M. Saravanan.
The new cabinet is slightly smaller than the 31-minister strong administration of Najib's predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
World-wide condemnation follows Ahmadinejad rant
By DPA,
Geneva/Washington : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's strong rhetoric against Israel at a racism conference in Geneva Monday triggered a world-wide round of denunciations as a number of countries walked out on his speech in Geneva.
In Jerusalem, an angry Israeli President Shimon Peres called Ahmadinejad's remarks "a disgrace." He warned that allowing the Iranian leader to speak "constitutes an acceptance of racism, rather than the fight against it".
He noted that Ahmadinejad has called for "the annihilation of Israel and denies the Holocaust".
Pakistan moves troops as Taliban invade another district
By DPA,
Islamabad : Taliban militants clashed with Pakistani security forces Thursday as they moved into the northwestern district of Buner, said an official, as Western leaders worried over the mounting threat to the Pakistani government.
The movement of eight platoons of Frontier Constabulary seems to have failed in blocking the Taliban who reportedly have invaded another neighbouring district of Shangla.
Pakistani Taliban suspend peace talks in Swat valley
By DPA,
Islamabad : A pro-Taliban cleric suspended talks with Pakistani authorities Monday, a day after paramilitary troops began an offensive against the militants in the restive north-western region.
The new push began early Sunday in Lower Dir district, part of the Malakand Division where the regional government introduced Islamic sharia law this month under a truce with Taliban.
"No peace negotiations will take place with the government until a halt in the Dir operation," said Amir Izzat Khan, a spokesman for hardline cleric Sufi Mohammad, who brokered the peace pact.