US carries air raids on Iraq on fifth anniversary of occupation
By IRNA
Baghdad : The US conducted air raids strikes on Iraq Friday as a clear sign of its refusal to go ahead with Iraqi reconstruction.
Political observers say that US should have speeded up reconstruction drive in Iraq and that military crackdown will not solve the Iraqi problem mainly emanated from shortages in Iraqi people's livelihood.
In Basra, the conflict has put the city into a state of virtual siege, with electricity and drinkable water cut off in most neighborhoods.
Kashmiris’ wishes paramount while resolving issue: Pakistan PM
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS
Islamabad : Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani said Saturday that his government wants the Kashmir issue to be resolved in accordance with UN resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people.
The prime minister was announcing his government's priorities after the vote of confidence from the National Assembly or the lower house of parliament.
"I want to assure my sisters and brothers in Kashmir that their sacrifices will not be ignored and Pakistan will make every effort to resolve the issue in accordance with their wishes," Gillani said.
Iraqi PM says militias in Basra worse than Al-Qaeda
By NNN-KUNA
Baghdad : Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki said Saturday Shiite militants in southern Iraq were worse than Al-Qaeda organization, a remark showing his determination to crack down on outlawed militias in Basra coupled with Maliki's calls on tribes to join the fight.
Al-Maliki, a Shiite himself, was speaking in a meeting with tribal leaders in Basra who voiced full support for the Prime Minister in his endeavor to impose order in the southern city.
British forces set up checkpoint near Basra
By SPA
Basra, Iraq : British forces set up a Checkpoint at a bridge outside Basra on Sunday.
Reuters quoted Witnesses as saying that the British troops in 8-10 armoured vehicles had set up the checkpoint at the Zubair bridge south of the city and were checking cars heading into Basra.
Britain withdrew its forces from Basra in December and a remaining contingent of 4,100 troops has largely kept to a base outside the city during the past six days, in which government troops have battled militia forces.
Israeli government continuing West Bank construction
By SPA
Tel Aviv : A dovish Israeli group says construction in West Bank settlements has continued despite Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
'Peace Now' group says in a new report Monday that more than 500 buildings are under construction in settlements. The group says Israel's Defense Ministry has approved nearly 1,000
new housing units in the West Bank.
French PS: No to Troops to Afghanistan
By Prensa Latina
Paris : The French Socialist Party (PS) announced vote of censure against the government for its decision to strengthen troops in Afghanistan and other aspects of its administration.
Socialist sources from the National Assembly remarked that after Tuesday's parliamentarian debate around sending about 1000 additional French soldiers to Afghan territory, the vote of censure will be submitted including economic and social criticisms.
Pakistan rejects Afghanistan statement on nuclear waste
By IRNA
Islamabad : Pakistan on Wednesday termed as baseless a statement from an Afghan cabinet Minister that Pakistan had dumped nuclear waste in southern Afghanistan during Taliban period.
Afghanistan Parliamentary Affairs Minister Farooq Wardag has been quoted as saying that Pakistan had buried nuclear waste in Kandahar and Helmand when Taliban were ruling the areas.
"Afghan minister statement regarding dumping of nuclear waste by Pakistan in Afghanistan was baseless," Foreign Ministry spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said.
Death toll rises to 20 in Diyala suicide bombing
By Xinhua
Baghdad : The toll from the suicide bomb attack on mourners in Diyala province on Friday rose to 20 killed and 30 people injured, a provincial police source said.
"Our latest reports said that 20 people were killed and 30 others wounded," Lieut. Col. Ali Salim told Xinhua by telephone.
A suicide bomber blew up his explosive vest among a crowd of people at a cemetery in the town of al-Sadiyah, northeast of the capital city of Baquba, Salim said.
The mourners were burying a policeman killed a day before in Diyala violence, he said.
Clashes between Israeli forces, Jihad activists in S. Jenin
By KUNA
Gaza : Clashes broke out early Friday between Israeli forces and Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad, in southern Jenin, northern West Bank.
The brigades, in a statement, said a group of its activists were stationed at the borders of Qabatya village, southern Jenin, were able to stand up to Israeli tanks that executed an incursion into the eastern area of the town and its old district, leading to the eruption of violent clashes.
Ahmadinejad: A promising year ahead for Iranian nation
By NNN-IRNA
Tehran : President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday that the government should employ all its capabilities to implement a development program based on justice nationwide.
Addressing the country's governor generals, he said all ministries and provincial organisations should spare no efforts to serve people and adopt initiatives to this end.
"We should witness implementation of our programs and
materialisation of our goals on the 30th anniversary of victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran," pointed out the president.
600 Afghans killed by mines, explosives in 2007: UN
By DPA
Kabul : More than 600 Afghans were killed by landmines and explosives last year, the UN Mine Action Programme in Afghanistan said Friday.
Mine initiatives had cleared more than one billion square metres of land across Afghanistan, one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, the group said.
More than 350,000 anti-personnel mines, 19,000 anti-tank mines and millions of pieces of other explosive elements have been destroyed, it said in a statement.
Abducted students freed in Iraq
By DPA
Baghdad : University students abducted in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul Sunday have been released by the army, the defence ministry said.
All 42 students who were abducted by gunmen have been freed by Iraqi forces in an operation launched shortly after the kidnapping, the ministry source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
Earlier Sunday, gunmen seized the students from the University of Mosul who were on a bus on the main highway between Baghdad and Mosul, the capital of the northern province of Nineveh.
Palestinians to have say in any settlement with Israel – Abbas
By NNN-KUNA
Ramallah : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has stressed that a peaceful settlement with Israel will not be "at any cost", pledging at the same time that Palestinians will have their say in any settlement reached.
Abbas made the remarks during his reception of a number of Fatah leaders in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, who recently won elections.
The Palestinian president urged them to hold Fatah's sixth general conference despite all obstacles, the Palestinian Radio said Sunday.
High ranking Taliban commander arrested in S. Afghanistan
By Xinhua
Kabul : Afghan police have captured a high ranking Taliban commander named Abudl Jabar in southern Afghanistan province of Kandahar, said a Interior Ministry statement released here on Sunday.
Abdul Jabar, arrested on Saturday, was the deputy of notorious Taliban leader Mansoor Dadullah who was already arrested in February by authorities in Pakistan, the statement added.
Taliban outfit have yet to make any comment.
Iraq: 3 killed, 4 wounded in Basra blast
By SPA
Baghdad : Iraqi security forces say a large explosion has demolished a building in the southern city of Basra, killing at least three militants and wounding four.
British military spokesman Maj. Tom Holloway says it's not clear what caused Monday's blast but insists no British, U.S. or Iraqi forces were involved, the Associated Press reported.
An Iraqi police official and witnesses say those killed were gunmen using the abandoned house as a base, and that the building was destroyed in an air strike.
Pentagon files charges again an Afghan detainee in Guantanamo
By KUNA
Washington : The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) declared on Monday charges against a Guantanamo detainee from Afghanistan.
"Mohammed Kamin provided material support to terrorism by joining the terrorist organization al Qaeda and receiving training at al Qaeda training camps on making remote detonators for improvised explosive devices (IEDs)", said the Pentagon in a statement.
A Palestinian and an Israeli soldier killed in Gaza clashes
By SPA
Gaza City, Gaza Strip : A member of Palestinian "Hamas" group and an Israeli soldier were killed Wednesday in clashes in the southern Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military confirmed one soldier was killed and Two others were slightly wounded in the course of a brief operation in the area. Troops exchanged fire with Palestinian armed men, and Israeli aircraft struck twice against fighters who approached the border fence with Israel, it was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
Hamas said one of its fighters was killed in the operation, which concluded by early morning.
Pakistani agents plug 75-kg heroin pipeline to Malaysia
By P.Vijian, NNN-Bernama
New Delhi : Pakistani narcotics agents have plugged a 75kg heroin pipeline, routed through domestic airports, to Kuala Lumpur over the past three months, triggering a nagging suspicion that the South Asian region has become a playground for international drug barons.
Having noted an increase in drug trafficking activities to Malaysia, Thailand and China, the Pakistani Ministry of Narcotics Control says traffickers are now changing their routes.
Israeli missile targets Palestinians in eastern Gaza — sources
By KUNA
Gaza : A Palestinian was injured early on Sunday after a missile fired by Israeli ground forces targeted Shejaeya district in eastern Gaza.
Palestinian security sources said the Israeli forces stationed at Nahal Azor, eastern Gaza, launched a missile towards a number of Palestinian citizens on Al-Mantar Street in Shejaeya, where one of them was injured. The sources added that ambulances rushed to the site and medics transferred the injured Palestinian to the Al-Shefa Hospital in Gaza to receive treatment.
Pakistan panel to review criminal case rulings since 1947
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan is going to set up a commission that will allow people to file appeals on cases decided by courts since 1947, the year the country was born.
Hosni Mubarak may resign Thursday evening: BBC
By DPA,
London : Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak may resign Thursday evening and hand over power to Vice President Omar Suleiman, BBC reported.
Libyan protesters defiant against Gaddafi’s security forces
By DPA,
Cairo/Tripoli : Clashes continued across Libya Tuesday as forces loyal to leader Muammar Gaddafi fought to regain control over areas taken over by protesters.
UN Human Rights Council appoints Libya inquiry commission
By DPA,
Geneva: The UN Human Rights Council named Friday the members of a special commission that will investigate abuses during the ongoing political unrest in Libya.
Major dispute over Libya strategy set to mar NATO talks in Berlin
By IRNA,
Berlin : Deep differences over the western Libya strategy is to overshadow a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Berlin on Thursday and Friday.
Pakistan considers doing away with all subsidies
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan's finance ministry has proposed the withdrawal of all subsidies from the next fiscal year due to the prevailing economic situation, a media report said Wednesday.
Anti-Islamic Dutch MP seeks Muslim immigration ban
By Gurmukh Singh, IANS,
Toronto : Europe's openly anti-Islamic parliamentarian, Dutch MP Geert Wilders, riled many Canadians Sunday when he said Canada should ban immigration from Muslim nations.
17 killed in Iraq bomb blast
By IANS,
Baghdad : At least 17 people were killed and over 50 were injured Friday when a roadside bomb exploded in Iraq's Tikrit city, Xinhua quoted a police source as saying.
Pakistan, China agree on intelligence cooperation
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan has assured China of full cooperation in providing intelligence about the activities of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Dawn News reported Tuesday.
Pakistan, US ties must go beyond counter-terror: Gilani
By IANS,
Islamabad : Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday said the relationship between Pakistan and the US must go beyond coordination on counter-terrorism.
Myanmar to take back refugees from Bangladesh
By IANS,
Dhaka : Myanmar has agreed to take back all its citizens lodged in two refugee camps in eastern Bangladesh, Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes said here Saturday.
Challenges ahead for Libyans: Experts
By IANS,
Washington : After the death of Libya's deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi Thursday, the country faces challenges in the days ahead, experts said.
Bangladesh keen to send workers to Libya
By IANS,
Dhaka : The Bangladesh government is keen to send thousands of workers to Libya after the death of Muammar Gaddafi, a minister said.
Haqqani network leader held in Afghanistan
By IANS,
Kabul : A leader of the Haqqani network was detained in Afghanistan Wednesday, Afghan forces and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.
Afghanistan, China sign ink oil pact
By IANS,
Kabul : Afghanistan and China Wednesday signed an agreement on oil production here.
10 killed in Baghdad bombings
By IANS,
Baghdad : At least 10 people were killed in bombings in the Iraqi capital Thursday, the interior ministry said.
Pakistanis avoid paying taxes, admits daily
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistanis are deeply wedded to tax avoidance, said a daily that added were it to be better managed there will be "no need to pass around the begging bowl as we do".
Blasts target rail tracks in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : Fourteen low-intensity bombs were detonated on rail tracks in southern Pakistan's Sindh province, a media report said Monday.
Taliban suspends peace talks with US
By IANS,
Kabul : The Afghan Taliban has suspended preliminary peace talks with the US, according to a statement released Thursday by the outfit.
Six die in Pakistan bombing
By IANS,
Islamabad : Six people were killed and over 50 injured in a huge blast that targeted a passenger bus in Pakistan's Balochistan province, a media report said.
4,000 bottles of liquor seized in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : More than 4,000 bottles of foreign branded liquor valued at Rs.20 million (around $220,000) has been seized in the Pakistani city of Karachi.
Iraq war was biggest mistake of US: Albright
By IANS,
New Delhi : Former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright Tuesday said that the war on Iraq was the US's "biggest mistake".
India, Bangladesh to discuss terrorism, border crimes
Agartala : Arms and drug smuggling, terrorism, circulation of fake currency notes and border crimes are among the issues to be discussed when border...
India-Arab nations keen to pave new path for economic ties
By Biswajit Choudhury,
New Delhi : Projects worth billions of dollars, notably in energy, railways and finance were discussed at the two-day India-Arab Partnership Conference...
Pakistan to try 3,300 terror suspects in military courts
Islamabad : Around 3,300 people accused of being hardcore terrorists will be tried in special military courts in Pakistan over the next two years...
36 killed in clashes with IS in Iraq
Baghdad : A total of 36 people were killed in attacks and clashes with the Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq's eastern province of...
Pakistan army chief warns India ahead of talks
Islamabad : Days before the visit of Indian Foreign Secretary S.Jaishankar, Pakistan Army Chief Gen.Raheel Sharif Thursday warned India of a "befitting response" to...
Explosion targets Israeli foot forces Gaza — statement
By KUNA,
Gaza : Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad organization, claimed responsibility Monday for detonating anti-personnel explosives targeting Israeli foot forces in al-Buraij refugee camp in central Gaza Strip.
"The explosion occurred at dawn and was followed by intensive fire against the Israeli troops," the brigades said in a statement, noting that the operatives made direct hits causing casualties among the Israeli soldiers.
Iraqi shot by British soldier to get 2 million pounds payout
By NNN-KUNA,
London : A young Iraqi man accidentally shot by a British soldier will receive 2 million pounds, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.
The commercial TV station "Channel 4 News" reported, late on Monday, that the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was set to receive the payout after suffering severe spinal injuries which left him paralysed.
The sum is far higher than anything paid to any British troops injured in Iraq and is likely to reopen the controversy over the compensation levels for wounded service personnel, commentators said.
Report: Iraqi Sunni bloc to return to Maliki’s gov’t
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : The major Sunni Arab political bloc, Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF), agreed to return to the Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi news agency Voice of Iraq (VOI) reported on Wednesday.
"The IAF has decided to return to the cabinet, but it is too early to name the bloc's ministries or the candidates for those ministries," Dhafir al-Aani, a lawmaker with the IAF bloc, was quoted as saying.
Eight persons killed, two dozens injured in Pakistan
By SPA,
Islamabad : At least eight persons were killed and nearly two dozen others injured when a boiler exploded in a sugar mill in Pakistan's Sindh province Thursday, police said.
The incident took place in the Abadgar Sugar Mills of Tando Muhammad Khan.
Eight people died on the spot while the condition of seven injured persons is critical.
The wounded persons were shifted to the hospitals of Tando Muhammad Khan and Hyderabad.
Pakistan’s government plans to export 3 million tons of surplus rice
By SPA,
Islamabad : The government is planning to export 3 million tons of surplus rice during the current financial year, earning $1.8 billion, an official said.
Total exportable surplus from 2007-08 rice crop is estimated at 3 million tons, Qadir Bux Baloch, Agriculture Development Commissioner, said.
He added that out of 3 million tons exportable rice 1 million tons Basmati and 2 million tons Irri would earn foreign exchange of $1 billion and from basmati while US $ 0.8 billion from other rice.
Top rebel leader, 12 insurgents captured in Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : Afghan troops have arrested 12 Taliban insurgents, while a top rebel was captured in Uruzgan province in the southern part of the country.
Troops with support from the US-led coalition forces have arrested a dozen Taliban insurgents in operations in Khost province in the east and Nimroz province in the southwest, a statement from the US-led coalition forces said Thursday.
The military operations were carried out Wednesday.
Cuba to start oil exploration in Gulf of Mexico
By IANS,
Havana : Spurred by experts' reports that Cuba is sitting on oil, the government has decided to start drilling in the Gulf of Mexico next year, Spain's EFE news agency reported Thursday.
"We are currently studying the seismic activities in the Gulf of Mexico and next year we would start petroleum exploration there," the official daily Juventud Rebelde Wednesday quoted Industry Minister Yadira Garcia as saying.
Following initial seismic reports suggesting that the island may have huge oil reserves, international oil firms have shown special interests in the area.
Iran wary of the heavy burden of refugees
By NNN-IRNA,
Tehran : Iran is wary of heavy burden illegal immigrants imposed on national budget as Interior Minister Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi on Saturday put the figure of refugees in Iran at three million.
Pour-Mohammadi He said that two million immigrants have entered the country illegally.
Sadr threatens ‘open war’
By IRNA,
Baghdad : Iraqi cleric Moqtada al Sadr has threatened "open war" if the crackdown by Iraqi and US forces against his loyalists continues.
The statement ratchets up the tension between the cleric and Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki.
The US troops have launched a major military offensive on Sadr's Mehdi Army militia and Maliki threatened to bar the cleric's mass movement from political life.
Bahrain air set to start India flights
By NNN-PTI,
Dubai : Bahrain Air will begin operating flights to India, with the launch of flights to Kochi in Kerala from May 26.
The operations to Kochi on May 26 will start with three flights a week and become a daily service from October this year, the airline's Managing Director Ibrahim Al Hamer said.
"We are looking forward to support from the 280,000-strong Indian community, which is the single largest expatriate group in Bahrain," he was quoted as saying in Gulf Daily News.
Bangladesh not recognising problem of migration – Indian FM
By NNN-PTI,
New Delhi : Expressing concern over the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants coming into India, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Wednesday charged the Bangladesh Government with refusing to recognise the problem.
"The problem is genuine. Unfortunately, Bangladesh Government refuses to recognise the problem. If we do not recognise the problem, how will we solve it," he told reporters here.
Mukherjee, who was interacting with journalists at an orientation programme on Parliamentary reporting, said there are many reasons behind Bangladeshis migrating to India.
Indonesia calls for UN action on high food prices
By DPA,
New York : Indonesia said Wednesday that the UN should adopt measures against rising food prices to prevent a full-scale crisis worldwide.
Jakarta's UN Ambassador Marty Natalegawa said there had been piecemeal reaction to world food prices but not yet concerted short-term or long-term plans to deal with the issue.
"We need a holistic approach involving the UN, and we as governments have to come up with solutions," Natalegawa said.
Indonesia is currently a UN Security Council member.
Iraqi forces not ‘fully operational’, says Britain
By DPA,
London : Iraqi forces involved in the recent fighting in the southern port of Basra are "still months away from becoming fully operational," Britain's Defence Secretary Des Browne said Thursday.
Browne, confirming an earlier government decision to put the planned withdrawal of 2,500 British troops from Basra on hold, said cuts would be made only "if the conditions allow".
However, Britain was still hoping to reduce its 4,100-strong force, based at Basra airport, during the next regular six-monthly rotation of forces, Browne told parliament.
Turkish leader arrives in Damascus
By SPA,
Damascus, Syria : Turkey's Prime Minister arrived in Damascus Saturday for talks with Syria's leader on rising prospects for Syrian-Israeli peace, the Associated Press reported.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was originally here to open a Syrian-Turkish business forum. But his visit has gained added significance with Syrian President Bashar
Assad's announcement that he received an Israeli offer of a full withdrawal from the Golan Heights in return for a peace treaty.
Malaysia: labour and human rights of non-citizens must be protected
By NNN-Bernama,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia : The labour and human rights of non-citizens -- migrant workers, asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons --must be safeguarded, regardless of their immigration status in the country.
Migration Working Group (MWG) co-ordinator Alice Nah listed out common violations of labour and human rights as cheating by agents; wrongful arrest and detention; unpaid wages; wrongful dismissal; and wrongful deduction of wages, among others.
She urged the government to ensure that the right to redress for all non-citizens was protected.
Australian soldier killed in clash with Taliban in Afghanistan
By KUNA,
Sydney : Taliban militants have killed an Australian soldier and wounded four others in an armed clash in Afghanistan, a senior military official said on Monday.
Defence Force head Air Chief Marshall Angus Houston said in a statement that the 27-year-old soldier lost his life in a fierce clash with the militants that involved automatic guns, rockets and hand-grenades. Four Australian soldiers were also wounded in the firefight that broke out while the force was on a patrol mission.
Candidates for upcoming elections in Kuwait pursue campaign
By KUNA,
Kuwait : Candidates campaigning to win seats in the National Assembly affirmed that dialogue between the executive and legislative authorities must be based on constructive basis and called for instilling patriotism in the conscience of the generations.
Bassam Al-Bassam, a nominee in the second constituency, affirmed at his campaign rally, held late on Sunday, necessity of constructive dialogue between the two authorities, as well as mutual respect of opinions between the lawmakers and the executives, for sake of promoting the democratic process in the country.
Iranian President starts Pakistan visit
By SPA,
Islamabad : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived Monday in Pakistan for a brief visit.
Ahmadinejad is to meet with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani during the hours-long stopover on his way to Sri Lanka, the Associated Press reported.
A key subject is expected to be the pipeline, which Pakistan and India are considering building to import natural gas from Iran.
Ahmadinejad: Iran, Pakistan to finalize peace pipeline project
By IRNA,
Tehran : President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday high ranking Iranian and Pakistani officials are to finalized Peace pipeline project soon.
In an exclusive interview with Pakistan's state TV channel, the Iranian president referred to fruitful talks with Pakistani officials and expressed the hope that the legal issue of gas deal between the two countries would be resolved very soon.
Mideast peace must include solution for Palestinian refugees: Ban Ki-moon
By APP,
United Nations : A sustainable peace in the Middle East will have to factor in a viable and just solution to the Palestinian refugee issue, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said.
“The Palestinian people’s desire or right to live a normal daily life in their own sovereign land remains undiminished, as do the individual and collective rights of Palestine refugees,” Ban said in a message to a UN meeting convened in Paris to assess the condition of the refugees and examine the role of the world body in alleviating their plight.
300 killed in Iraqi Shia bastion in April
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : The death toll in clashes between the Shia militia and the US-backed Iraqi forces in the capital's Sadr City area climbed to more than 300 in April, sources said Wednesday.
Women and children were among the victims of the clashes in the stronghold of Mahdi army militia, loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, the sources told Xinhua.
Up to 321 people were killed and some 834 wounded in the clashes in the slum of Sadr City in April, according to the ministry database.
Hamas lifts ban on pro-Fatah newspaper
By Xinhua,
Gaza : A Hamas court on Thursday allowed a Palestinian newspaper to resume distribution in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip after nearly three months of banning.
Following the decision, the Ramallah-based al-Ayyam daily will appear in the newsstands in Gaza Strip after 78 days of absence.
On Feb. 12, Hamas' first instance court ruled that the newspaper, loyal to rival Fatah party, is not allowed to be distributed in Gaza for the newspaper published a cartoon that Hamas considered harming the parliament it leads.
GCC Defense consultative meeting concludes
By KUNA,
Doha : The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Joint Defense Consultative Ministerial Council concluded a meeting on Tuesday on finding ways to improve military development and coordination among the GCC countries.
The two-day meeting discussed a proposed item presented by the Custodian of the Two holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul-aziz on upgrading the joint military Gulf Peninsula Shield.
Kuwait was represented by First Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
Iran, Algeria sign cultural accord
By NNN-IRNA,
Tehran : Iran and Algeria have inked an agreement on expansion of cultural cooperation between the two states.
The agreement was signed by Iran's Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad-Hossein Saffar-Harandi and his visiting Algerian counterpart, Khalida Toumi.
During the ceremony Wednesday, the Iranian minister said culture is a key to all closed doors.
Fresh US-Iran talks halted, not dead: Iraqi minister
By DPA,
Baghdad : The latest round of talks between the US and Iran over Iraqi security has been stalled against the backdrop of rising tension between both countries but would be held at the right time and place, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference, Zebari said the Iraqi government has not asked either country to hold the fourth round of talks.
"There is growing tension in the area," Zebari said, adding that neither Washington nor Tehran has rejected the idea of holding talks.
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.
Lebanon Mediators to Qatar
By Prensa Latina,
Cairo : The team of Arab League mediators for the crisis in Lebanon will meet in Doha, Qatar, prior to their Beirut visit.
The Qatar round is aimed at adopting a common stand on Lebanon, which has has been immersed in a political crisis since November 2007 due to disagreement between the Parliament majority and opposition over appointing a president.
In Doha, the Arab League team led by Qatar Premier and Foreign Minister Hamad Bin Yasem Bin Yaber al Zani plans to meet with Lebanese Parliament President Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Fuad Siniora..
Seven million poor in Yemen; says will not achieve MDG in 2015
By NNN-SABA,
Sana'a : Yemen said on Friday it faces difficulties in achieving the goals "Millennium Development" in 2015 despite poverty rate had declined from 40.1 percent to 34.8 percent of the 22 million population.
In its annual report, Social Affairs and Labour Ministry pointed out the high rate of population growth had kept the number of poor people at approximately seven million people, noting the decreased of poverty level is still simple comparing with the objectives of Millennium Development.
Its first goal requires reducing the number of poor people to half.
Jordan to set up joint border free zone with Iraq
By Xinhua,
Amman : Jordan is ready to establish a joint free zone at the Karama border with Iraq to facilitate increasing flows of goods on border, said an official of Jordan's free zones authorities after a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart.
The free zone is expected to cover a few hundred dunums (1 dunum = 0.1 square km) of land bordering Iraq, said Mahmoud Qteishat, director general of Jordan's Free Zones Corporation, added that "As long as the security on the road from Amman to Baghdad keeps getting better, business will improve."
Kuwaiti leadership receives cables of condolences from Turkey
By KUNA,
Kuwait : His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received a cable on Friday from Turkish President Abdullah Gul in which he expressed his sincere condolences on the passing of His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.
His Highness the Amir sent a cable in response, in which he thanked the Russian president for his heartfelt sentiments.
Food Crisis Challenges Governments
By Prensa Latina,
Kuala Lumpur : The urgency for overcoming inflation and solving the food crisis represents a challenge for many governments, affirmed Malaysia prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Local commentators emphasized the message of the head of the federal government to celebrate the recent 62nd anniversary of his National Organization Party of United Malaysians (UMNO).
Abdullah Badawi highlighted the need to concentrate financial resources in a direction that will protect the population, prevent the food crisis and reduce inflation.
Israeli police due to question Olmert over reported bribes
By KUNA,
Gaza : Israeli police will question Prime Minister Ehud Olmert this week after obtaining evidence about his involvement in financial corruption cases, Israel Radio said on Saturday.
The radio said the interrogation of Olmert would be conducted before a scheduled testimony by the US millionaire businessman Morris Talansky, suspected of having secretly paid illegal money to Olmert in exchange for personal favors.
Police asked Olmert's lawyer, on Friday, to set a date for interrogating his defendant as soon as possible.
Jordanian-flagged ship may be hijacked off Somali coast
By Xinhua,
Amman : A Jordanian-flagged ship might have been seized by pirates off Somali coast, the official Petra news agency reported Saturday, quoting Transport Minister Alaa Batayneh.
The vessel, "Victoria," owned by a United Arab Emirates company, was sailing from India to Somali capital Mogadishu with 4,200 tons of sugar, which was humanitarian aid from Denmark, Batayneh said.
Authorities lost contact with the vessel Saturday morning where 12 crew members from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Tanzania were on board, he said.
Palestine President’s intention to resign unfounded – Presidental spokesman
By NNN-WAFA,
Ramallah : Palestine Presidency Spokesperson Nabil Abu Rdeina denied on Sunday evening news that President Mahmoud Abbas has threaten to resign, affirming that such statements are unfounded.
Abu Rdeina told WAFA that President Abbas would continue exerting efforts to achieve the dream of the Palestinian people in establishing the independent state, with Jerusalem as its capital.
Meanwhile in Egypt's SHARM EL-SHEIKH, President Mahmoud Abbas called on Sunday on the USA to be unbiased, siding with the international legitimacy and not to negotiate on Palestine behalf.
Yemen Is One Of Major Countries Receiving Refugees: FM
By Bernama,
Sana'a : Foreign Minister Abu Baker al-Qirbi confirmed that Yemen faces exceptional situation since early 1990s because of continuous streaming of refugees from African Horn, saying that Yemen is one of major countries receiving refugees, Yemen News Agency (Saba) reported.
"Yemen has forgiveness policy towards refugee applicants, especially Somalis because of deep links between the two peoples," said al-Qirbi in the opening ceremony of the Regional Conference on Refugees Protection and International Migration held here on Monday.
Five injured in Pakistan blast
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : A blast took place in northwestern Pakistan injured five people, TV channel Dawn News reported Tuesday.
The explosion occurred when an army truck goes by at Kohat town in North West Frontier Province (NWFP), said the report.
The blast was triggered by an improvised explosive device and four security personnel and a civilian suffered injuries.
No group claimed responsibility for the blast.
Afghan FM concerned over reported peace talks between Islamabad and militants
By Xinhua,
Kabul : Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta on Tuesday expressed concern over reported talks and a possible peace deal between Pakistani government and militants.
"Talks with extremist groups would not benefit peace in both Afghanistan and Pakistan," Spanta told newsmen here after returning from a visit to the United States.
He said that such talks and peace deal with militants in the past had negative impacts for both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Lebanese rivals reach deal to end crisis
By DPA,
Beirut/Doha : Lebanese rivals have reached an agreement at dawn Wednesday to end the political crisis in Lebanon after five days of talks in Doha and a president is scheduled to be elected either Thursday or Friday, sources at the talks in Doha said.
Ali Hassan Khalil, a member of the opposition, confirmed to DPA "that a solution has been reached and it will be announced at a press conference in Doha Wednesday".
Khalil said that army commander Michel Suleiman will be elected at a parliament session by the end of this week.
Hotel Guests In Bangladesh To Reply Mandatory Questions Before Checking-in
By Bernama,
Dhaka : Bangladesh's Home Ministry is going to introduce some new rules for hotel guests that will make it mandatory for them to provide 24-personal information before checking in, a senior official said Wednesday.
The senior official of the Bangladesh Home Ministry said the country is going to introduce the rules to curb increasing criminal incidents in the country.
He said many local and foreign criminals, particularly robbers use hotel as a base for their operations.
Pakistan calls for addressing root causes of conflicts
By NNN-APP,
United Nations : Pakistan has called for identifying and addressing the root causes of disputes in an effort to lay the foundation for sustainable peace and development in states recovering from conflicts.
“Experience has shown that the biggest and most ominous gap in peace-keeping and peace-building strategies is the failure to comprehend and address the root causes of conflicts,” Ambassador Munir Akram told the UN Security Council on Tuesday.
Police questions Olmert over bribery, Talansky money Friday
By KUNA,
Gaza : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is to be questioned by Police Friday over suspicions of involvement in bribery and financial corruption.
Radio Israel Thursday said police so far thinks it is probable the premier received money in violation of law from US Jewish businessman Morris Talansky, and that there is mounting evidence in this regard.
Olmert would be questioned 10 a.m. at his residence in Jerusalem.
Committee of supporting Syrian prisoners calls to release Al-Weli
By NNN-SANA,
Qunaitera : The committee of supporting Syrian prisoners in the Israeli prisons called the United Nations and its various humanitarian and juristic associations and organizations to interfere immediately to exert pressure on Israel in order to release the Syrian Prisoner Sitan Nimr al-Weli and all Syrian prisoners in the Israeli prisons.
Al-Weli was recently submitted to a surgery in al-Afola Hospital then the Israeli authorities carried him to al-Ramla Prison in spite of his bad health situation and his need to an intensive health care.
GCC states” diplomats celebrate 27th anniversary of establishing bloc
By Abdel Razzak Al-Hezami, KUNA,
Riyadh : Consulates of member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have organized a celebration marking the 27th anniversary of the GCC under sponsorship of Makkah Amir, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal.
Kuwaiti Consul in Jeddah Ali Al-Haifi told KUNA the celebratory gathering, held last night, was the first time to be organized in the Red Sea city.
Tehran calls for demolition of all nuclear weapons
By IRNA,
Tehran : Iran's envoy in the European bureau of the UN in Geneva said full demolition of the nuclear weapons is the only real guarantee for getting rid of the their danger.
Iran's Ambassador and permanent representative in the European bureau of the United Nations in Geneva Ali Reza Mo'ayyeri delivering a speech in the UN Disarmament Conference underlined importance of the body as the sole source for multilateral negotiations on disarmament in the world.
Remote-control bomb blast kills child, injuries 2 in S Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : A bomb explosion triggered by a remote control in Kandahar province of southern Afghanistan Friday left one child dead and two other civilians injured, the police said.
The bomb attached to a bicycle exploded in Arghandab, a district north of the provincial capital Kandahar city, where usually local families go for Friday picnics, Sayed Aqa Saqib, provincial police chief, told Xinhua.
There has been no responsibility claim yet but Saqib blamed "Afghanistan's enemy", which is referred to anti-government militants, for the blast.
Foreigner among eight killed in Denmark’s Pakistan embassy: Advisor
By IRNA,
Islamabad : At least eight people, including a foreign, were killed when a car bomb exploded near the Denmark Embassy in Islamabad, the Interior Advisor said.
Rehman Malik said policemen and private security guards deployed for security of the embassy were among those killed.
The bomb exploded at the main gate of the embassy at 1:20 pm. The blast badly damaged building of the embassy, according to witnesses.
Rehman Malik said the car used in the blast was registered in Islamabad and a high level inquiry has been ordered.
Bangladesh to create seven million new jobs
By Xinhua,
Dhaka : Bangladesh's caretaker government will create more than seven million new jobs in the next three years to reduce poverty in the country, a senior official said Wednesday.
The new target has been set to fulfill the objectives of the second version of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), which will come into effect July 1, an official of the planning ministry said.
In March 2003, Bangladesh presented its first three-year plan to achieve sustainable economic growth, tackle poverty and initiate social development projects.
New Envoy Haqqani and Secretary Rice discuss advancing US-Pakistan ties
By NNN-APP,
Washington : Pakistan’s new ambassador to the United States, Husain Haqqani and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice discussed advancing wide-ranging relationship between the two countries at a meeting here Tuesday afternoon.
During the 30-minute meeting, they discussed matters of common interest to both nations.
Ambassador Haqqani’s meeting with Dr Rice marked the first one-on-one contact between the top American diplomat and a senior Pakistani official since the inception of a new government in Islamabad following its parliamentary polls early this year.
Turkish authorities find 82 kg of explosives in SE
By KUNA,
Istanbul : Turkish authorities found 82 kilograms of explosives in the southeastern part of the country, saying Friday that members of the Kurdish Workers Party had planted them there.
The Security Directorate said the explosives were hidden at a farm in Diyarbakr, of Kurdish majority, adding that the bomb squad had neutralized the explosives after first evacuating the area.
Turkey had come under a number of attacks, where in 2003 a blast in Istanbul targeted two synagogues, the British Consulate and a British bank, killing 58 people.
ILO, FAO launch joint website to showcase their activities
By IRNA,
Tehran : Two United Nations agencies dealing with labour and agriculture launched over the weekend a new website designed to highlight the many areas in which they work together, including youth employment, safety and health and crisis management.
The website: "Food, Agriculture and Decent Work" (www.fao-ilo.org) describes the cooperation and activities of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 10 major fields and provides links to related information sources.
Lebanese president says no difficulties face new cabinet forming
By Xinhua,
Beirut : Lebanese President Michel Suleiman on Sunday announced that forming the new cabinet is not facing difficulties, local Naharnet news website reported.
Suleiman, who paid a "non-political" visit to Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir at the Maronite Church's seat in Bkirki, made the remarks after the visit, said the report.
The president also paid tribute to the recent statement by Maronite Bishops saying it reflected a feeling of "national responsibility," noting that the Bishops had called for "real partnership in managing the nation."
Toy bomb explosion kills four children in Pakistan
By KUNA,
Islamabad : Four children were killed in a Pakistani northern valley when a toy bomb exploded on Monday, police said.
Children in Chitral valley were playing with a toy, they found in a field, when it exploded with a huge bang, local news channels quoted police sources as saying.
They said the explosion killed four children on the spot.
Police said that it has cordoned off the area and is conducting investigations.
Building peace is harder than fighting in Afghan town
By DPA,
Gereshk (Afghanistan) : Two shots ring out in the darkness as the Danish army jeeps crawl through an unlit, heavily rutted alley - a perfect site for an enemy ambush or a strike by suicide bombers known to be at large in the town.
The patrol commander quickly establishes the source: One of his men fired warning shots at a minivan as it approached without headlights and failed to heed torch signals to stop. One bullet blew out a front tyre while fragments of the other ricocheted into the Afghan driver's foot.
Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs receives British Ambassador
By KUNA,
Kuwait : Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Khaled Sulaiman Al-Jarallah received British Ambassador in Kuwait Stuart Laing on Wednesday, during which the two discussed bi-lateral ties between both countries and the latest developments in the region.
The Undersecretary also later received German Ambassador to Kuwait Dr. Michael Worbs, to discuss the Berlin Ministerial Conference to be held on 24 June aimed at supporting Palestinian security institutions.
The meeting also discussed regional and international developments.
Taliban vow to avenge US attack that killed 11 Pakistani soldiers
By DPA,
Islamabad : Taliban militants Thursday pledged to take revenge for the US airstrike that destroyed a Pakistani army post near the Afghan border and killed 11 paramilitary troops this week.
"We have the right to defend our country. Any aggression by NATO forces inside Pakistan will be responded with full force," said Asad, a spokesman for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
‘Syria ready to seize chance to make peace with Israel’
By IANS,
New Delhi : Syria, which last month announced resuming indirect contacts with Israel, has said it is ready to "seize any opportunity to make peace" but is not willing to give up an "inch of territory".
Syria had "always pursued just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the Madrid (conference in 1991) terms of reference and on basis of United Nations Security Council resolutions", visiting Syrian Minister for Expatriates Bouthaina Shaaban told reporters here Monday, a day before Syrian President Bashar al-Assad comes to India for a five-day visit.
Afghan, NATO operation begins to retake Taliban-held villages
By DPA,
Kabul : Afghan and NATO officials said they launched an operation Wednesday to push out Taliban militants who recently took over several villages in southern Afghanistan.
Hundreds of Taliban fighters took over the villages in Arghandab district in southern Kandahar province, posing a threat to Kandahar city 20 km south and strategic links from the capital Kabul to the southern and western provinces of the country.
The Afghan-led operation supported by Canadian soldiers began Wednesday morning, Mark Laity, spokesman for NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said.
Dubai Ports World buys majority stake in Spanish port
By IANS,
Dubai : The United Arab Emirates-based marine terminal operator Dubai Ports World (DP World) has announced the purchase of a 60 percent stake in a company holding exclusive concession for a container terminal in northern Spain, WAM news agency reported Thursday.
The privately owned company - Contarsa Sociedad de Estiba (Contarsa) - holds the concession for Tarragona container terminal, which is located on the Mediterranean Sea near Barcelona and serves the hinterland of northern and central Spain.
Basic facts about Yemen
By Xinhua,
Sana'a : Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping will pay a visit to Yemen on June 24 to 25 at the invitation of Yemeni Vice President Abdal-rab Mansur al-Hadii.
The following are some key facts about Yemen in southwest Asia:
Bordering Saudi Arabia on the north, Oman on the east, the Red Sea on the west and the Gulf of Aden on the south, the Republic of Yemen covers an area of 555,000 square km with the capital city of Sana'a.
It has a population of 21.6 million, mostly Arabs. Arabic is the official language.
Hamas: Gaza crossings closure violates ceasefire
By Xinhua,
Gaza : Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement on Wednesday said Israel's decision to shut crossing points into Gazabreaches the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire deal.
"Before the Egyptian side, Israel pledged not to close the crossing points and to ease the siege," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoom said in a statement.
Gaza crossings remain closed, Hamas says closure violates truce
By Xinhua,
Gaza : Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Thursday ordered commercial crossing points into the Gaza Strip to remain closed for a second day and Gaza ruler Hamas said the decision violates an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire.
Israel's official radio reported that the closure will be placed until further evaluating the security conditions after the Islamic Jihad (Holy War), a small Palestinian group in Gaza, fired rockets into Israel on Tuesday.
Pakistan: conflict disrupting life, displacing people in northern areas
By NNN-IRIN,
Peshawar : Ahsan Khan, 35, has lived in Peshawar almost all his life. He never imagined he would one day consider moving away - but that day has come.
Because of ongoing hostilities between militants and government forces, the young businessman, his wife and two small children are seriously considering leaving the capital of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).
“There is just too much uncertainty. We now really fear extremist militants may one day walk into Peshawar,” Ahsan told IRIN.
Iraq to scrap security contractor immunity
By IRNA,
Baghdad : The US has agreed to scrap immunity for foreign security guards in Iraq, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said.
Foreign firms employing thousands of guards won huge contracts in Iraq after the 2003 US-led invasion, but were not subject to Iraqi or US military law.
Iraqi frustration became fury last year when guards killed 17 people in a day.
The firm involved in the 2007 killings - Blackwater - was one of the biggest security contractors in Iraq and which protects US diplomats.
28 killed, 141 wounded in blast in Afghan capital
By SPA,
Kabul, Afghanistan : A suicide car bomb exploded outside the Indian Embassy in central Kabul on Monday, killing 28 people and wounding 141, officials said.
The massive bomb exploded near a row of metal turnstiles outside the embassy, where dozens of Afghan men line up every morning to apply for visas. The embassy is located on a busy, tree-lined street near Afghanistan's Interior Ministry in the city center, the Associated Press reported.
Swap will not begin unless Israel gets report on missing pilot — radio
By KUNA,
Gaza : Israel will not give green light to the prisoners-swap with Hezbollah until it receives a satisfying report on a missing Israeli pilot,a spokesman of the Israeli government said Wednesday.
The announcement came after an Israeli official signed the swap agreement in Germany.
No returning to cabinet till judges restored: Nawaz
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has made it clear that it would return to the cabinet of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani only after the reinstatement of the Supreme Court judges who had been sacked after an emergency was imposed last November.
PML-N chief and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif made his party's position clear when Gilani telephoned him Sunday to take him into confidence over a proposed cabinet expansion.
NATO targets militants in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad/Brussels : NATO forces have attacked targets inside Pakistan after coming under fire from militants in the country's North Waziristan region, the alliance has announced.
The attack with helicopter gunships and artillery came after NATO Task Force (TF) Currahee in Afghanistan's Paktika province "received multiple rocket attacks from militants inside Pakistan on July 15", a statement posted on the NATO website said.
Iraq Occupying Troops for Joint Operations
By Prensa Latina,
Baghdad : The occupying troops' command in south of Baghdad announced joint operations with the national forces to stop the increasing activity of rebels, basically against security personnel.
The spokesman from the Multinational Forces in the south of the country Chris Ford told reporters that the joint operations will begin Friday in al-Latif area, at 9 miles northern Basora, which province is at 366 miles southern Baghdad.
Israel increases fuels amounts into Gaza
By Xinhua,
Gaza : A Palestinian official said on Saturday that Israel has actually increased the amounts of diesel and gasoline allowed into the Gaza Strip, but kept the same limited amounts of cooking gas.
Mahmoud al-Shawa, chief of Gaza Stations Union said in a statement that Israel on Friday added 400 thousand liters of diesel to the previous amount of diesel which is 800 thousand liters.
Illegal kidney trade thrives in Pakistan
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Islamabad : In what seems to be a sub-continental malaise, illegal trade in kidneys is thriving in Pakistan, like it does in parts of neighbouring India.
For many poor Pakistanis, selling a kidney has become a major "business" to meet their expenses and to pay off their loans, hospital sources and civil society organizations say.
Under the law, trade in human organs is illegal but, going by figures provided by different hospitals, an average of 30 people, including women, throughout the country sell their kidneys every month under the guise of "donations".
Bangladesh condemns Bangalore blasts
By NNN-PTI,
Dhaka : Bangladesh today condemned the Bangalore bombing in the "strongest terms" calling it an act of "mindless terrorism."
"All Bangladeshis condemn the bombing in the strongest terms. These were acts of mindless terrorism, and such crimes never pay," Foreign Adviser of the interim government Iftekhar Ahmed Chowhdhury said in a statement.
"Our sympathies are with the families of the bereaved and with the government and the people of India."
A series of explosions on Friday rocked India's IT hub killing two persons and injuring 12 others.
Egypt arrests three Palestinians involved in Gaza bombing
By Xinhua,
Gaza : The Egyptian security forces arrested at the Gaza-Egypt border three Palestinian suspects who were involved in Friday's bombing attack on a Hamas car, a pro-Hamas daily said Sunday.
The pro-Hamas daily "Palestine" quoted high-ranking security sources in Gaza as saying that the Egyptian security forces arrested three Palestinians who were trying to cross the borders on Saturday night to escape to Egypt.
Iran talks of ‘double standards’ at IAEA
By IANS,
Vienna : Iran, one of the 35 members of the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Friday raised "serious concern" at the "double standard policy" of the US during the discussion on India's safeguards agreement.
While recognising India's right to develop peaceful uses of nuclear energy, Tehran's representative said the American stand has undermined the "credibility, integrity and universality" of the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Rushdie threatens to sue ex-bodyguard for ‘defaming’ him
By IANS,
London : Salman Rushdie has asked a London publisher to withdraw a book by a former Special Branch bodyguard who claims the author behaved badly and arrogantly toward policemen protecting him from assassins following an Iranian death sentence on him.
"He is portraying me as mean, nasty, tight-fisted, arrogant and extremely unpleasant. In my humble opinion I am none of those things," the award-winning author told The Guardian newspaper in comments reported Friday.
Indian and Afghan leaders decry terrorism
By SPA,
New Delhi : The leaders of India and Afghanistan on Monday decried last month's bombing of New Delhi's mission in the Afghan capital, the Associated Press reported.
Indian Prime Minster Manmohan Singh said Monday that India would give another US$450 million to aid in the rebuilding of Afghanistan.
He called the bombing an attack on the friendship between India and Afghanistan and pledged that we will not allow terrorism to stand in our way.
Israel to release 150 Palestinian prisoners by end of August
By NNN-WAFA,
Ramallah : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has given his undertaking to free 150 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
Head of the PLO's Negotiations Affairs Department Saeb Erekat told reporters following President Mahmoud Abbas' meeting with Olmert in Jerusalem Wednesday that Israel would free the prisoners as a "goodwill gesture to President Abbas."
He said that the two leaders reached the decision on the release of the Palestinian prisoners at the meeting, noting that it would take place by the end of August.