Malaysia to spend $778 million on food security
By IINA,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysia will spend 2.49 billion ringgit ($778 million) this year to increase food production, a top minister said amid soaring costs globally for staple items like rice.
Two Gaza rockets hit southern Israel
By SPA,
Tel Aviv : The Israeli army says a rocket fired from Gaza fell next to a Jewish seminary in southern Israel and damaged the building, the Associated Press reported.
No one was hurt in Saturday's rocket strike in the border town of Sderot. The army says a second rocket fell in the courtyard of Sapir College in Sderot.
PML-N ministers to pull out of Pakistan’s cabinet
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Nawaz Sharif, chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) announced Monday that the PML-N ministers would resign...
Iran president sacks interior minister
By RIA Novosti,
Tehran : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Saturday sacked the country's Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi, according to a news report.
State-run IRNA news agency reported that a caretaker interior minister has been appointed.
"The president has appointed Mahdi Hashemi as caretaker interior minister," the report said.
Hashemi will remain in his post until a candidate nominated by Ahmadinejad has been approved by the Iranian parliament.
French FM to visit Palestinian territories, Israel later this week
By KUNA,
Paris : French Foreign Minister Beranrd Kouchner will be paying the Palestinian Territories and Israel a visit on the occasion of the international investors conference, which is due in Bethlehem on May 21, it was announced here Monday.
The three-day conference, of which the Palestinians are seeking about USD two billion in development projects, will be attended by a large number of potential investors in an aim to boost the Palestinian economy.
Four Afghan soldiers injured in suicide strike
By DPA,
Kabul : A suicide bomber wounded four Afghan army soldiers in south-eastern Afghanistan, while 10 Taliban militants were killed elsewhere in the country, officials said Monday.
The suicide bomber, who had tied explosives around his body, attacked a group of Afghan army soldiers in Barmal district, near the border with Pakistan Monday morning, Colonel Mohammad Gul, army spokesman in the region said.
He said that the bomber died in the attack and four army soldiers were "slightly wounded".
Hamas delegation to brief Palestinians on Gaza ceasefire talks
By Xinhua,
Gaza : Hamas delegation will return to Gaza on Thursday after talks with Egyptian officials about a proposal for a ceasefire with Israel.
Ismail Radwan, a spokesman for Hamas, said the delegation will hold internal talks with Hamas leaders after it returns from Cairo" before briefing the Palestinian people on the results of lull talks."
The delegation was intended to get Israel's response to the Egyptian-brokered truce which is expected to last for six months in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
UAE, Spain sign trade pacts
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Spain have agreed to bolster their relations and signed three pacts of cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, WAM news agency reported Monday.
The agreements between the two countries were signed after the opening session of the Emarati-Spanish Business Forum, which was inaugurated by Spanish King Juan Carlos here Sunday.
Moussa extols Arab efforts for Lebanon as successful
By KUNA,
Damascus : Visiting Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa on Monday commended common Arab action on Lebanon as "successful" and having made a major achievement.
Moussa was speaking to reporters following a meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem.
Fruitful Arab efforts for Lebanon would lead to more favorable points and activities on other Arab fronts, he said.
Moussa hailed the Syrian role in the settlement of the Lebanese standoff.
"No buts, the Syrian role was important and decisive," he said.
US wants Pakistani coalition government to remain intact
By KUNA,
Islamabad : The US wants coalition government of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) to remain intact after the two parties developed differences over Musharraf deposed Judges with PML-N pulling out his men from the federal cabinet in protest.
The visiting three-member US congressional delegation headed by Adam Schiff, arrived here Sunday night, Monday held extensive meetings with President Pervez Musharraf, PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, and PML-N members as well as other government officials.
Palestine Fears More Israel Attacks
By Prensa Latina,
Ramallah : The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) said on Thursday it fears that the Israeli political crisis, due to corruption scandals, will lead to more attacks against the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Saeb Erekat, main advisor and head of the PNA peace negotiating team, said they fear "the crisis translating into more detentions, attacks, and incursions."
Olmert invites Abbas to meet before his U.S. visit
By Xinhua,
Jerusalam : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert requested Friday for a meeting between him and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in coming days, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported on its website.
Olmert's office made the request as the premier will leave for Washington on Monday, where he is scheduled to meet with U.S. presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain.
Suicide attacks target Afghan towns, several rebels killed
By IANS,
Kabul : Two suicide attacks killed an Afghan child and wounded more than 20 others, while the US-led coalition troops killed more than a dozen Taliban insurgents in the southern region, officials said Wednesday.
A suicide attacker attacked a convoy of NATO forces in Spin Boldak district in southern Kandahar province Wednesday morning, killing himself and a child and wounding four others, said Abdul Razaq, the border police commander in the region.
Several Pakistani troops die on border
By IINA,
Islamabad : At least 18 people are reported to have been killed in clashes on the Pakistan-Afghan border. Ten of the dead were reported to be Pakistani troops killed by an apparent missile strike by US or Nato-led forces, launched from Afghanistan. Eight Taleban militants were also killed in the fighting, a Taleban spokesman said. None of the Pakistani, Afghan or US militaries, or Nato, have yet officially commented on the incident.
Bangladesh for boosting bilateral trade with Ghana
By Xinhua,
Dhaka : Bangladesh President Prof. Dr Iajuddin Ahmed Wednesday underscored the need for frequent exchange of business and official delegations and holding trade fairs to boost bilateral trade and economic relations between Bangladesh and Ghana.
He made the suggestion when newly appointed non-residential Ambassador of Ghana to Bangladesh John Bentum-Williams presented his credentials to him here, private news agency UNB reported.
Suicide attack kills 10 civilians in Afghanistan
By DPA,
Kabul : A suicide bomber killed at least 10 civilians and wounded six in the southern Afghan province of Helmand Friday, while two US-led coalition troops were killed in the same province, officials said.
Helmand police chief Mohammad Hussein Andiwal said the attacker detonated his explosive device as a convoy of foreign forces was passing in Gereshk district.
He said the injured people were also civilians,adding, "there is no further detail about any foreign troops casualties."
Former Musharraf ally MQM ready for his impeachment
By IANS,
Islamabad : Indicating the new direction Pakistan's political scene is taking, a former ally of beleaguered President Pervez Musharraf says it will support the move to impeach him if all those who had previously tampered with the constitution are similarly punished.
One British soldier killed in S Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
London : British Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday that one British soldier was killed in a firefight in southern Afghanistan.
The soldier from 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment was killed on Tuesday morning during a firefight in Helmand province, the ministry said in a statement.
"He was on a deliberate operation against the Taliban in the Upper Sangin Valley when he was fatally wounded," said the ministry, adding that next of kin had been informed.
Israeli parliament greenlights bill on Golan referendum
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israeli parliament on Monday greenlighted a bill requiring any concession of sovereignty land to be decided by a referendum or a two-thirds majority of the legislature.
Sixty-five lawmakers voted for and 18 against the motion in the first reading, which stipulates that any government decision to cede land must be brought before the parliament, the Knesset, and if the Knesset approves it, a referendum will be held within 180 days.
G-8 Muslim Developing Countries hold meeting
By SPA,
Kuala Lumpur : High-ranking officials of a group of Eight developing Muslim countries began a meeting today to prepare the agenda of the Group's Sixth summit.
At a meeting held here today, the officials reviewed the decisions earlier take at their previous meeting held in the Indonesian Bali Island, in addition to
the agenda which will be discussed at the Group's upcoming ministerial meeting and its summit.
Malaysia will undertake the chairmanship of the forthcoming summit.
Al-Assad stresses necessity of intensifying efforts to realise Palestinian unity
By NNN-SANA,
Damascus : President Bashar al-Assad has stressed the necessity of intensifying efforts to realise Palestinian unity, saying that "national unity among Palestinians is the only way for them to regain rights and achieve aspirations in the establishment of a Palestinian independent state with Jerusalem as its capital."
Al-Assad held two meetings with President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas on the situation in Palestine and the peace process.
Australia condemns Indian embassy attack in Kabul
By Xinhua,
Canberra : The Australian government on Tuesday condemned a suicide bombing of the Indian embassy in Afghanistan, sending its sympathies to India and Afghanistan over the attack which killed more than 40 people.
A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into the Indian embassy in Kabul on Monday, killing 41 people and wounding nearly 150 others.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said the Australian government "condemns the car bomb attack ... and extends its deep sympathies to the Afghan government and people and to the Indian government and people."
22 PKK rebels killed in operation in SE Turkey
By Xinhua,
Ankara : A total of 22 rebels of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) were killed in the operations staged by the Turkish security forces in Sirnak province in southeastern Turkey in the past four days, a Turkish military statement said on Tuesday.
Iran registered as tourism hub on WTO list
By NNN-IRNA,
Tehran : The Islamic Republic of Iran has been registered as a tourism hub on the list of the World Tourism Organization (WTO).
Announcing this, the executive advisor to Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) noted that some 2.370 foreign tourists have travelled to Iran during March 2007- March 2008.
Mohammad Ali Pakseresht stated that the figure indicates a 26 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
Iran becomes the top donor to Sri Lanka
By NNN-Govt Portal,
Colombo : Iran, which granted USD 450 million to build the Uma Oya hydropower project and upgrade the Sapugaskanda oil refinery, has emerged as Sri Lanka 's biggest donor this year, officials said.
In the five months to May, Sri Lanka received USD 1.05 billion in foreign aid, of which project loans accounted for USD 959 million and grants for USD 90 million, the Treasury said in its mid-year fiscal report.
Report: Total to continue projects in Iran
By Xinhua,
Tehran : A senior official of French energy giant Total said that its company is interested in continuing cooperation with Iran in its oil and gas sectors, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Tuesday.
In a letter to Iranian Oil Minister Gholam-Hossein Nozari, Total Chief Executive Christophe de Margerie rejected recent reports on Total's withdrawal from South Pars gas field, describing them as political propaganda, Mehr news agency quoted an unnamed Total official as saying.
Pakistani govt ready to fight dengue threat: minister
By NNN-APP,
Islamabad : The Federal Minister for Health Ms Sherry Rehman has taken a strong note of the reports of the presence of a confirmed case of dengue fever in Islamabad.
Expressing concern at the prospects of the outbreak of the disease in the Capital, the Federal Health Minister ordered immediate measures to combat the disease.
“The government is determined to prevent the spread of disease this year. Unlike the past, we will not let it become a serious threat to the public health this time.”
Arab FMs criticize ICC prosecutor’s charges against Sudanese president
By Xinhua,
Cairo : Arab foreign ministers on Saturday lashed out at accusations made by the International Criminal Court's (ICC) chief prosecutor against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, describing the move as "unacceptable" and "unbalanced."
Wrapping up an emergency meeting of the Arab League (AL) here late Saturday, the Arab foreign ministers adopted a draft resolution on the current dispute between Sudan and the ICC.
Iran’s Security Official talks with top Chinese, Russian negotiators
By SPA,
Geneva : Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili in separate meetings with the top Chinese and Russian nuclear negotiators on Sunday called for final settlement of Iran's nuclear dossier which was discussed with representatives of Group 6+1 in Geneva.
Group 6+1, which included high ranking representatives from Britain, Germany, France, China, Russia and the US and EU top negotiator Javier Solana, met with the Iranian envoy on Saturday and discussed various issues such as Iran's modality plan for continued talks.
`Death deprived Mahatma Gandhi of Nobel Peace Prize’
By IANS,
Dhaka : Mahatma Gandhi did not get the Nobel Peace Prize in 1948, the year he was supposed to after being shortlisted five times, because he was assassinated, said Ole Danbolt Mjos, the chairman of the Nobel Prize Committee.
Mjos confirmed this matter, on the committee's records, during his current visit here as the guest of Bangladesh's Nobel Peace Laureate and rural banking pioneer, Muhammad Yunus.
His reply as to why Gandhi did not get it posthumously was "not unequivocal", said The Daily Star Tuesday.
Several militants killed in Afghanistan — coalition
By KUNA,
Kabul : The US-led coalition troops announced Wednesday the killing of several militants during an operation in Maidan Wardak province of Afghanistan in an operation conducted in Said Abad district, along the Kabul-Kandahar Highway.
"Coalition forces searched several compounds in Said Abad targeting a Taliban commander suspected of conducting attacks on coalition forces, including the June 26 attack in Wardak resulting in the deaths of three coalition service members and an Afghan interpreter," said a coalition statement.
‘Pakistani banks fleecing depositors’
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistani banks are taking advantage of a weak regulatory framework to form cartels and rake in windfall profits, a new report says.
"The most important issue is that Pakistan has one of the highest interest rate spreads in the world," said Hamid Siraj of the non-profit NGO Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) while commenting on the report, Dawn newspaper based here reported Saturday.
CRCP and the Asia Foundation have jointly authored the report, titled "Consumer financing in Pakistan: issues, challenges and way forward".
Pakistan army again open fire on Indian side
By IRNA,
Srinagar, India : Pakistani forces again opened firing on Indian troops in the Nariya post, in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, Wednesday.
No casualty reported so far.
Earlier, on Monday evening at least 12 Pakistani troops crossed into Indian territory and opened fire in the Lepa Valley of Nawgam sector in Kupwara district killing an Indian jawan.
Indian forces returned the fire driving the intruders back.
Four of the intruders were reportedly killed in the exchange of firing.
Main authority should be stronger than provincial councils – Iraqi PM
By NNN-KUNA,
Baghdad : Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki said he supported the establishment of provincial councils and independent governments in provinces as long as they did not have a higher authority than the central government.
Kuwaiti PM arrives in Cambodia for official visit
By Xinhua,
Phnom Penh : Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah arrived here Sunday for a three-day official visit at the invitation of his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen.
Hun Sen hosted a red-carpet ceremony at the Phnom Penh International Airport to welcome the Kuwaiti premier.
During his visit, Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is scheduled to hold talks with Hun Sen and Chea Sim, President of the Cambodian Senate, said a press release from the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Iran optimistic over future talks with G5+1
By NNN-IRNA,
Tehran : The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hassan Qashqavi, has said that Iran is optimistic about its future talks with the Group 5 1 over the country's peaceful nuclear programme.
Speaking to reporters at his weekly press briefing Monday, Qashqavi said that Iran's nuclear talks with the West should continue respecting the absolute rights of the Iranian nation.
"Any agreement or understanding should be reached through dialogue with respect to the absolute rights of the Iranian nation and through a constructive and positive strategy," Qashqavi stressed.
IAEA head to visit Iran over uranium enrichment
By RIA Novosti
Tehran : The head of the UN nuclear watchdog will arrive in Tehran Friday on a two-day visit to discuss Iran's controversial nuclear programme, Iranian media said Tuesday.
Mohamed El Baradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), will meet high-ranking Iranian officials in an attempt to push for further details on Iran's past and present nuclear activities, the media cited an IAEA spokesperson as saying.
Hamas leader sets terms for resumption of dialogue with Abbas
By Xinhua
Gaza : Ismail Haneya, a senior Hamas leader and the deposed Palestinian prime minister, on Saturday set terms for the resumption of dialogue with President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah movement.
"Stopping all security coordination and cooperation with the occupation forces (Israel) is a condition to resume the dialogue," Haneya told a crowd of pilgrims who had recently returned to Gaza from Saudi Arabia.
Pakistani troops and militants clash, leaving 30 dead
By SPA
Islamabad, Pakistan : Suspected militants ambushed a military convoy in northwestern Pakistan on Monday, sparking a clash that left 23 fighters and seven troops dead, the army said.
The fighting occurred in Mohmand, a tribal region near the border with Afghanistan, said Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad, the army's top spokesman, according to a report of the Associated Press.
Palestinians, Israelis agree on continuing meetings away from media
By NNN-KUNA
Ramallah : Palestinian and Israeli negotiators have agreed on the continuation of bilateral meetings between them, the Israeli radio reported.
The radio said Monday that during the meeting, that lasted for two and half hours, the two sides agreed on holding regular meetings away from the media.
The two sides began their first meetings after the visit to the region of US President George W.Bush to discuss the final status issues of Jerusalem, borders, refugees and water.
Egypt, Turkey call for peaceful solution to Iranian nuclear dispute
By Xinhua
Cairo : Egypt and Turkey on Tuesday called for a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear standoff, warning against the use of force, the Egyptian official MENA news agency reported.
At a joint press conference with visiting Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said details on the Iranian nuclear file are not available when commenting on U.S. President George W. Bush's remarks that Iran's nuclear program was posing a threat to the region.
Arab summit to be held in Damascus in March
By NNN-KUNA
Cairo : Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa has said that the next Arab summit will be held in Syria in March.
In a joint press conference Monday with the current chairman of the League's Council, Algerian Abdulqader Al-Hajjar, Moussa pointed out that the latest developments in Lebanon, the Palestinian territories and Iraq would be discussed on the level of representatives and ministers pending the summit in Damascus.
Blair to concentrate on Mideast peace in Davos
By NNN-KUNA
Geneva : Quartet Special Envoy to the Middle East Tony Blair has said that he will concentrate in Davos on how to bring peace to the Middle East.
Blair said, in his capacity as co-chair of the 38th Economic Forum Conference which commenced Wednesday in Davos, that he would also discuss how to bring along investments to the Palestinian territories, an issue he described as being of considerable importance.
He would also discuss the issue of climate change and other topics, he said at the opening press conference of the Davos meeting Wednesday.
New Iran sanctions impose travel and export bans
By Xinhua
United Nations : Iran could face travel restrictions and bans on some of its citizens and an expansion of asset freezes imposed under two earlier UN Security Council resolutions, according to a new draft resolution circulated Friday.
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Britain, China, France, the US and Russia - plus Germany had agreed on the proposal during a meeting in Berlin Tuesday.
Sudan’s President Al-Bshir leaves for AU summit in Addis Ababa
By NNN-SUNA
Khartoum : President Omer Al-Bashir of Sudan leaves here Tuesday for Addis Ababa to attend the African Union (AU) Summit, which begins in the Ethiopian capital on Thursday.
President Al-Bashir will also participate in the summit meeting of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) in Addis Ababa on Wednesday.
Pakistan PM to visit Yemen, Saudi Arabia from Friday
By NNN-APP
Islamabad : Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro will be leading an important trade delegation to Yemen and Saudi Arabia from Friday, aimed at further strengthening ties, particularly economic and commercial cooperation with these countries.
In a briefing here Wednesday, Foreign Office Spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said the Prime Minister would visit Yemen at the invitation of his Yemenese counterpart.
Four anti-Qaida fighters killed in N Iraq
By Xinhua
Tikrit, Iraq : Four fighters affiliated to Awakening Council groups, who fight al-Qaida militants in Iraq, were killed and nine others injured in a bomb attack in Salahudin province on Saturday, a source from U.S. and Iraqi liaison office said.
The attack occurred in the morning when a roadside bomb detonated near the fighters' vehicle while patrolling in Tal-Muhammad village in the al-Shirqat town, 70 km north of the capital city of Tikrit, the source from the Joint Coordination Center in the province, told Xinhua.
Rice heading for London talks on looming Afghan crisis
By IRNA
London : US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is traveling to London next week to discuss the looming crisis in Afghanistan, it was reported Saturday.
Her visit comes amid the escalating row over Nato troop reinforcements and growing concern that the entire international stabilisation strategy is in danger of failing.
According to the Guardian newspaper, Rice will also be talking to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Foreign Secretary David Miliband about finding a new candidate for a proposed UN "super-envoy" to coordinate aid efforts.
Explosion at Israeli shopping center kills 3
By SPA
Tel Aviv : A suicide attack at a shopping center in the southern Israeli city of Dimona killed three people and wounded five others, Israeli police said.
Israeli police said they suspect a pair of suicide bombers were involved, according to a report of CNN.
Palestinian missiles continue targeting S. Israel
By KUNA
Gaza : Palestinian groups continued Thursday to fire missiles at Sderot settlement in southern Israel.
Fatah's military wing, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, announced in a press release that it launched two locally-made "Shihab" missiles at the settlement, located east of Gaza Strip.
It stressed that the attack came in retaliation for the Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people.
Meanwhile, Eziddin Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, claimed responsibility of launching two "Qassam" missiles at the same settlement Thursday morning.
At Least 22 Killed in Northern Iraq
By Prensa Latina
Baghdad : Several clashes between rebels and groups allied to the Iraqi government caused at least 22 dead people in Mosul, said Fawaz al Jarba, head of so-called Awake Council in this Iraqi city Sunday.
Al Jarba stated the anti-governmental groups attacked the towns of Khamis Tilul and Al Madina where they faced the members of the Awake Council.
The structure links communities with war directly, and faces Iraqi groups against each other.
Bush calls for end to violence in Sudan
By Xinhua
Washington : The US will continue its efforts to end violence in the western Sudanese region of Darfur, President George W. Bush has said.
"We will continue to deliver humanitarian aid. We will continue to enforce sanctions, tough sanctions, against the Sudanese government officials, rebel leaders, and others responsible for violence," Bush said at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art Thursday.
Creating jobs the greatest challenge for Arab economies – World Bank official
By NNN-KUNA
Cairo : Creating new job opportunities for youth is the greatest challenge faced by Arab economies, said World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa Daniela Gressani on Saturday.
In an interview published in Al-Ahram Al-Arabi magazine, she said the success of the Arab region depended on the creation for jobs for youth, underscoring the importance of quality education and a suitable investment climate in creating jobs for young Arabs.
Pakistan supports “Kosovars’ legitimate aspirations”
By IRNA
Islamabad : Pakistan has said it "understands and support the legitimate aspirations of the Kosovars and the need for peace in Kosovo and the region."
A Foreign Ministry statement Pakistan is watching the developments in Kosovo carefully.
Sharif to support Bhuttos party without being part of cabinet
ISLAMABAD, Feb 26 (KUNA) Pakistans second largest political party Tuesday announced it would support slain Benazir Bhuttos party, the main winner of Feb 18th elections, without becoming part of the cabinet as it would require oath-taking from President Musharraf under his amended constitution.
Bahrain to deport foreign workers who go on strike
By Aroonim Bhuyan, IANS
Dubai : Bahrain will immediately deport foreign workers who go on strike and the employer will be issued new visas to replace the visas of those deported.
"A visa to replace him (the striking worker) will be given directly to the contractor to ensure that his work is not affected, to allow him to bring a replacement as soon as possible," Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Bahrain's labour ministry undersecretary, told the Gulf Daily News.
Israeli troops kill 2 militants in West Bank
By RIA Novosti
Gaza : Israeli forces have killed two militants in the West Bank town of Nabulus, local radio said on Thursday.
The Fatah militants were killed in the Balata refugee camp in the east of the town as Israeli troops returned fire.
Israeli jet bombs Palestinian house in Jabalya camp
By KUNA
Gaza : An Israeli warplane bombarded a house of a Paletinian in Jabalya town northern Gaza Strip on Thursday causing human casualties, eyewitnesses said.
They told KUNA the Israeli jet bombed the house of Abdulkareem Khella and caused complete destruction as well as causing casualties among those who were inside the house.
The Israeli F-16 jet unleashed one missile at the house before leaving the scene.
Ambulances rushed to the scene to transfer the victims, said the witnesses.
Ahmadinejad pays landmark visit to Iraq
By Xinhua
Baghdad : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad paid on Sunday a landmark visit to Iraq, the first foran Iranian president since Iran's Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Ahmadinejad was received by his Iraqi counterpart Jalal Talabani in his residence at the edge of the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad, which houses the Iraqi government offices and foreign embassies, including the U.S. one.
EU condemns “disproportionate” use of force by Israel in Gaza
By SPA
Brussels : The European Union on Sunday condemned what it called disproportionate use of force by the Israeli military in Gaza after 54 Palestinians were killed in the highest single day toll since fighting erupted in 2000, AP reported.
In a statement, the EU urged Israel to halt activities that endanger civilians saying they were contrary to international law.
It also called for an immediate end to Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli territory and insisted that the peace process should not be interrupted.
OPEC set to keep oil output unchanged
By RIA Novosti
Abu Dhabi : OPEC ministers will opt to keep crude output unchanged at their meeting in Vienna on Wednesday, the Saudi oil minister told a national newspaper.
The U.S., the world's largest oil importer, has called for a production rise to ease its economic difficulties.
Al-Hayat quoted Ali al-Naimi, the most influential minister in the cartel, as saying: "The situation on the oil market is stable. There is no need to interfere with the market."
Top Chinese political advisor calls for prosperity in Muslim region
By NNN-Xinhua
Beijing : Top Chinese political advisor Jia Qinglin called for prosperity in the northwestern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Monday.
Jia, chairman of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks when deliberating the government work report together with deputies to the 11th National People's Congress, the national legislature.
Olmert: Israeli, Palestinian negotiators to meet
By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will meet later on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told a joint news conference with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Jerusalem.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who heads the Israeli negotiating team, will continue the negotiations with the Palestinian side led by Ahmed Qurei, Olmert said.
The negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians have shown little sign of progress since they were launched at a U.S.-hosted peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland in November.
US, Bahrain sign nuclear energy sharing agreement
Washington, March 25 (DPA) The US and Bahrain have signed an agreement to cooperate in the development and sharing of nuclear energy technology, the US State Department said.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Minister Sheik Khalid signed the agreement Monday. The State Department said that the agreement highlights Bahrain's commitment as a model nation in the Middle East on nuclear issues in contrast to Iran.
Ministerial meeting in preparation for Arab economic summit in Damascus
By NNN-SANA
Damascus : Discussions of the Preparatory Ministerial Committee for the Arab Economic, Development and Social Summit due in Kuwait next year focused here on the practical and preparatory steps which were adopted to make the economic summit a success in serving the Arab interest and achieving the Arab economic integrity.
International outcry over release of anti-Islam film
By IRNA
Vienna : The release of a controversial Dutch film critical of Islam on Friday brought international condemnation as most Muslim organizations in the Netherlands termed it "racist".
The film by Geert Wilders, a member of Parliament who campaigns against immigration, was posted on the Internet on Thursday night and combines images of terrorist acts with readings from holy Quran.
Called "Fitna," the film also features one of the Danish cartoons whose publication sparked violent protests in several countries two years ago.
Jailed Hindu leader not to be freed
By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : Jailed Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader M. Manoharan will not be released though he has been elected to the Malaysian parliament, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar has said.
This is because Manoharan, one of the many who took to the streets alleging discrimination against the largely Hindu Tamil minority, was detained under the Internal Security Act.
"We have to give priority to public safety and peace and will give due consideration (to his release) only if there is no threat to national security," The Star newspaper Saturday quoted Albar as saying.
First statesmen in Damascus for Arab summit
By Prensa Latina
Damascus : The first heads of State or their representatives arrived in the capital of Syria, Damascus on Friday to attend the 20th Arab League Summit, a forum in which the absence of some statesmen is associated to strong US pressures.
Comoros Union President Ahmed Abdalah Mohamed Sambi was the first statesman welcomed in this capital by Syrian governor Bashar Al-Assad.
Also here are Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Algeria's Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Iraq's Adel Abdul-Mehdi, Yemen's Abdulah Saleh Al-Bar, as well as top authorities.
Putin calls for preserving territorial integrity of Iraq
By Xinhua
Moscow : Russia calls for preserving unity and territorial integrity of Iraq and restoring the country's sovereignty in full upon completion of the military presence, President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday.
Syrian President Cheers Raul Castro, Fidel Castro
By Ulises Canales, Prensa Latina
Damascus : Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent a message of greetings to his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro and the Revolution"s historic leader Fidel Castro.
Al-Assad met Saturday for nearly 45 minutes with Cuba Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, who traveled to Syria to attend the 20th Arab League Summit on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
The statesman expressed gratitude for Cuba"s historic solidarity with Syria and the cause of the Arab peoples, while praised the Caribbean nation"s performance as the current NAM leader.
Blast wounds three Dutch Nato-soldier in Afghanistan
By ANTARA News/Reuters
Amsterdam : Three Dutch soldiers from NATO-led forces in Afghanistan were hospitalized on Sunday after their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device near the town of Tarin Kowt, the Defence Ministry said.
One soldier lost both his legs in the explosion and his condition was critical, the ministry said in a statement posted on its Web site.
"It is sad to conclude that terrorists, who intend to block a peaceful and energetic Afghanistan, use this kind of cowardly method," said Dutch Finance Minister Eimert van Middelkoop.
Pakistan military appoints new intelligence chief
By Xinhua
Islamabad : Pakistan's army chief General Ashfaq Kayani has appointed new chief of the Military Intelligence(MI), the military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas confirmed on Thursday.
Abbas told Xinhua that Major General Mohammad Asif replaced Major General Nadeem Ejaz as the MI director general, and the new MI chief will take the post Friday.
Ejaz, appointed MI chief by then army chief Pervez Musharraf in 2006, has been posted as the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Bahawalpur of Pakistan's Punjab province.
Chinese, Pakistani FMs agree to shore up all-around cooperation
By NNN-Xinhua
Beijing : Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi agreed with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi Wednesday to shore up all-around cooperation between the two nations.
In their telephone conversation, Yang first congratulated Qureshi, who was sworn in as Pakistan's foreign minister Monday.
China and Pakistan are traditionally good neighbors, and to further deepen their all-weather friendship and shore up all-around cooperation are the common wishes of both sides, the two ministers agreed in the conversation.
US will cooperate in expanding relations with Pakistan
By APP
Washington : The United States has signaled its readiness to work with the new Pakistani government in carrying forward bilateral cooperation in a wide array of fields, including continuation of the democratic process in the country.
“ We are looking forward to being able to continue our cooperation and work with Pakistan on a variety of issues from the fight against extremism, to economic and political development, and continuing the democratic process there,” the State Department said.
Iraq PM offers immunity, freeze of raids against militiamen
By Xinhua
Baghdad : Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki offered Friday nationwide immunity and freeze of raids on militiamen who lay down their arms, Iraqi official television reported.
"In order to give a chance to those who repented, raids in all areas will stop and immunity will be granted to whoever wanted to lay down their arms," the television quoted a statement by Malikias saying.
Maliki's statement did not mention the Mahdi Army militia, loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, or put a timeframe for his new measures.
World Health Day to focus on Climate Changes
By SPA
Riyadh : The International Health Day will be observed around the world on Monday with a primary focus on 'Protection of the Health from Climate Changes'.
Dr Tawfiq Khoja, the Director General of the Executive Bureau for the Council of the GCC Health Ministers, said in a statement to SPA that the contemporary world has been witnessing remarkable climatic changes which have an impact on the human health.
He noted that an expected increase of climatic temperatures in 2100 will range between 4.1 and 8.5 compared to the temperature in 1990.
Oman’s sultan meets U.S. Defense Secretary on co-op
By Xinhua
Abu Dubai : Oman's Sultan Qabus bin Said met visiting U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in the Omani capital Muscat on Saturday, news reaching here said.
During the meeting, the pair reviewed "aspects of existing cooperation between the two friendly countries in various fields," the official Oman News Agency (ONA) said, giving no further details about the meeting.
Asia-Middle East dialogue serves common interest of the two regions – Egypt
By NNN-KUNA
Sharm El-Sheikh : Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit has hailed the second ministerial meeting of the Asia-Middle East Dialogue (AMED II) as a "positive step towards enhanced dialogue between nations of both regions."
"The just-ended event laid the groundwork for practical, profound and lasting dialogue to serve the common interests of the nations of the two regions," Abul-Gheit said in a press briefing here Sunday.
Tehran, Washington may soon hold new talks on Iraqi security
By RIA Novosti
Tehran : Iran is studying a U.S. proposal to hold a fourth round of talks on Iraqi security in the near future, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday.
The new round was originally scheduled for mid-February, but has been postponed twice for "technical reasons."
"We have received an official request from the United States to hold a new round of talks on Iraq and we are studying this proposal," Mohammad Ali Hosseini told a news conference in Tehran.
Lebanese speaker “stunned” by French FM remarks
By Xinhua
Beirut : Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri was "stunned" by the comment of French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner who accused him of closing down the parliament and of "lacking freedom to move," Al-Akhbar daily reported on Wednesday.
Berri, a main leader of Lebanese opposition bloc, is carrying out Arab and international contacts to assure a new round of dialogue among Lebanese rival groups.
Taliban owns Afghanistan suicide attack
By Xinhua
Kabul : Taliban has claimed responsibility for Thursday's suicide attack in southern Afghan city of Kandahar, which killed at least eight civilians.
A caller who identified himself as Qari Yusuf Ahmadi and claimed to be a Taliban spokesman told Xinhua that a suicide bomber named Ahmadullah Khan from Kandahar city carried out the attack targeting NATO forces.
The attack injured 26 people and destroyed two vehicles, besides killing eight peole.
Arab League to pursue mediation in Lebanese standoff – Moussa
By NNN-KUNA
Cairo : Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Moussa has here to pursue mediation in the Lebanese political standoff in the coming period.
"The Arab Summit, held in Damascus in late March, assigned the Arab Foreign Ministers Council to solve the presidential crisis in Lebanon," he said in statements to the press Thursday.
13 gunmen killed in overnight clashes in eastern Baghdad
By SPA
Baghdad : The U.S. military says security forces have killed at least 13 militants in overnight clashes in Eastern Baghdad.
It says Abrams tanks and drone-launched Hellfire missiles were used to quell attacks on U.S. and Iraqi soldiers, according to a report of the Associated Press.
But Iraqi police and hospital officials say seven civilians died when U.S. helicopters fired on homes and shops in Baghdad's eastern district of Sadr City early Saturday.
24 Taliban killed in clashes, air strikes in Afghanistan
By SPA
Kandahar, Afghanistan : A provincial official says Afghan and foreign troops have killed 24 Taliban militants during an operation in southern Afghanistan, the Associated Press reported.
Ghulab Shah Alikheil says the joint forces clashed with the militants in two areas of southern Zabul province.
Alikheil said eight other militants were wounded in Friday's clashes and airstrikes.
Alikheil says there were no casualties among Afghan and foreign troops.
Taliban claims responsibility for twin blasts in E Pakistan, warns of more attacks
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)spokesman Maulvi Umar Thursday claimed responsibility for two blasts in eastern Pakistan, private TV channel Ary One World reported.
Maulvi Umar also asked the security forces to stop their operations in the northwestern part and tribal areas, said the report.
He warned that more attacks would be conducted in other places if the operations were not terminated.
Up to 45 people were killed and 60 others injured in two suicide blasts in Wah Cantt in Punjab province on Thursday, the state-run PTV reported.
Iraq, U.S. eye troops withdrawal by end of 2011
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : Iraq and the U.S. negotiators have reached a draft agreement on a proposed withdrawal timetable and other issues on the U.S. military presence in Iraq beyond 2008, CNN reported Friday.
Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Haj Hamoud, who is also Iraq's chief negotiator, told the channel that the U.S. troops would completely pull out by the end of 2011.
He also said the U.S. troops would stay clear of Iraqi cities by June 2009.
Iraq takes over security of Anbar province
By Xinhua,
Ramadi (Iraq) : Iraqi forces Monday took over the responsibilites for security of the western province of Anbar from US troops, the provincial government said.
In a televised ceremony held in the provincial capital city under strict security, the US military authorities and the provincial government signed the handover document.
Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, Iraq's National Security Advisor, announced the security transfer, saying "the Anbar province which once was one of the hottest areas in Iraq is celebrating today the transfer of security file."
Sectarian clashes in Pakistan claim 90 people: state TV
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Fresh sectarian clashes in a Pakistani tribal region has claimed lives of over 90 persons, state television has reported.
Around 200 others have also been injured in rival tribes in Kurram Agency near the Afghan border, PTV reported.
The fighting between Turi and Bangash tribes erupted again on Saturday and continued Monday morning after a few days' lull despite a unilateral announcement of ceasefire by the Turi tribe in reverence for Ramazan, local media reported.
Three civilians among 28 killed in Pakistan
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Al least 28 people, including three civilians, were killed as security forces pounded militants' hideouts in Pakistan's northwestern tribal region Wednesday, the Dawn News reported.
The security forces pounded militants' hideouts with jets in Bajaur tribal agency in North-West Frontier Province, killing 28 people, including three civilians, said the report.
Backed by gunship helicopters, the Pakistan Army and paramilitary Frontier Corps Tuesday launched a joint major and first-ever ground operation against militants in the tribal agency bordering Afghanistan.
Pakistani president condemns mosque blast, pledging anti-terrorism
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has strongly condemned the attack on a mosque in the northwest and reiterated his commitment to fight terrorism with full force, state media reported on Thursday.
At least 25 people were killed and over 50 wounded when unidentified miscreants hurled hand grenades at a mosque in lower Dir district of North West Frontier Province.
The lower Dir district is bordering with Afghanistan and Bajaurtribal agency, where Pakistan's security forces are conducting military operation against local Taliban militants.
Iran refutes media hype over alleged missing uranium
By NNN-IRNA,
Tehran : The alleged disappearance of uranium at Iran's nuclear facilities is a media hype, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said.
He was commenting on the allegation made by the Daily Telegraph.
"Iran's all nuclear materials in Isfahan and Natanz nuclear facilities are under the supervision of and sealed by the International Atomic Energy Agency," Qashqavi said Monday.
He said even IAEA's spokesperson Melissa Fleming has denied the London-based daily's claim by releasing a statement on Sunday.
Suleiman: Lebanon likely sets diplomatic ties with Syria before year-end
By Xinhua,
Beirut : Lebanese President Michel Suleiman Wednesday said that Beirut and Damascus were likely to exchange ambassadors by the end of 2008, local Daily Star reported Thursday.
Suleiman's remarks came during a meeting with a delegation from the French-Lebanese Friendship committee at the presidential palace, in the presence of French ambassador to Lebanon Andre Parrant.
The President praised the French role in improving relations between Lebanon and Syria.
Pakistan human rights body asks UN help to avert humanitarian crisis
By DPA,
Karachi : Pakistan's leading human rights body has called for an immediate United Nations intervention to avert an unfolding humanitarian disaster in the country's north due to a prolonged war with Islamic militants.
"Around 800,000 have been displaced and they are living without food and shelter. It is unlikely (to be able) to fathom the full magnitude of the human toll," said Iqbal Haider, co-chairperson of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) at a joint press conference with the leaders of another rights organization, People's Resistance (PR).
Yemen received 2220 refugees from Somalia in September
By NNN-SABA,
Sana'a : Yemen received during the first quarter of September about 2220 refugees from the Horn of Africa, most of them are Somalia’s and Ethiopians.
In a statement to the weekly Newspaper September 26, security authorities expected the continuation the flow of displaced persons during September and October on a daily basis due to of the unstable security situations in Somalia.
Israeli PM Olmert hands in formal resignation
By DPA,
Jerusalem : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert handed in Sunday evening his resignation to President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem, after serving in the office for 33 months.
Earlier in the day, the premier told his cabinet he was planning on handing in his mandate, following the election last week of Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni as the new leader of his ruling Kadima Party.
"This is not an easy decision and not a simple one," Olmert said to his ministers, adding that "I think I am acting in a suitable, statesmanlike and responsible manner, as I promised the Israeli public."
Australian FM says to renew aid offer to Pakistan
By Xinhua,
Canberra : Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said on Monday his country will renew its offer of counter-terrorism assistance to Pakistan after the suicide truck bombing of an Islamabad hotel which killed at least 53 people.
Smith told ABC Radio while in New York for the opening of the United Nations General Assembly that he would hold formal bilateral talks with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi this week.
It is Indian independence day once again in Dubai
By Aroonim Bhuyan,IANS,
Dubai : Even as winds of gloom swept across the world's financial markets, a group of Indians in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) celebrated India's independence day here at a golf course.
"India's independence is something so big that we cannot limit the celebrations to a single day," India's Consul General in Dubai Venu Rajamony said at a function here organized by the Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC), Sharjah chapter, to mark the 61st anniversary of India's independence at the end of the annual Indian Independence Golf Tournament.
Pakistani PM Gilani meets Japanese counterpart in Beijing
By NNN-APP,
Beijing : In a meeting held with the Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso on the sidelines of ASEM Summit in Beijing, Saturday, the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani thanked the former for Japan’s doubling of its official development assistance for Pakistan to US$ 479 million in 2007 and the grant assistance through UNHCR for the internally displaced persons in Pakistan, this year.
Palestinian militants fire dozens of rockets at southern Israel
By RIA Novosti,
Gaza/Tel Aviv : Palestinian militants launched more than 40 rockets at southern Israel early on Wednesday in response to Israeli army raids on the Gaza Strip making a four-month ceasefire increasingly fragile.
Israeli troops clashed with Hamas militants on Tuesday night, killing one gunman, after they entered Gaza to destroy a tunnel, which Israel said Hamas planned to use to kidnap its soldiers.
In response to the Israeli operation and an airstrike that killed five Palestinians in southeast Gaza, Hamas fired rockets into southern Israel.
ONGC Videsh strikes oil in Egypt
By IANS,
New Delhi : A consortium led by ONGC Videsh (OVL) has struck oil in an Egyptian block, which is estimated to have reserves of 800 barrels of oil per day.
An OVL statement Thursday said the discovery in well North Ramadan-2 (NR-2) is the second oil find in the block.
The first discovery was made in another well, NR-1A ST1, which produced about 3,000 barrels of oil per day during the testing phase.
The second discovery was made after drilling NR-2 at a depth of 11,700 feet.
Missile attack kills 4 in NW Pakistan
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : At least four people were killed in a missile attack in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, private TV channel Geo reported.
Some unknown militants fired a missile in Andi Khel area of Frontier Region of Bannu district in North West Frontier Province, killing four persons and injuring several others, said the report.
The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Security forces cordoned off the area after the incident.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Pakistan”s lower house condemns US attacks
By KUNA,
Islamabad : The National Assembly of Pakistan Thursday strongly condemned the US attacks in bordering tribal region while the Foreign Office lodged a formal protest.
Speaking on the point raised by several legislatures during Thursday's Assembly session, Minister for Provincial Coordination, Mian Raza Rabbani, said that Pakistan was a sovereign state, which can defend its territorial integrity.
Bangladesh’s Jamaat alter ego of India’s BJP: media report
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) is the "politico-ideological alter ego" of India's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a Dhaka newspaper said Thursday, cautioning against their brand of religion-based politics in South Asia.
The New Age newspaper attacked the Indian party, but made no reference in an editorial to other religious bodies and political parties at home or in Pakistan that were created on the basis of the "two-nation theory" reinforced by JeI chief, Motiur Rahman Nizami.
Iraq’s main parliamentary alliance splits after speaker quits
By DPA,
Baghdad : Iraq's main Sunni parliamentary alliance, the Iraqi Accord Front (IAF), split Wednesday, a day after the resignation of the parliamentary speaker Mahmoud Mashaddani.
Iraqi National Dialogue Council (INDC), to which al-Mashhadani belongs, withdrew from the IAF because the alliance had "failed to fulfil its duty," INDC chief Khalaf al-Alyan said.
Gaza hospitals fail to cope with injured from Israeli airstrikes
CAIRO, December 29 (RIA Novosti) - Gaza hospitals have insufficient facilities to care for all the victims of ongoing Israeli airstrikes, the Egyptian media said on Monday citing a UN humanitarian organization.
According to the international organization's report, all the hospitals in the Palestinian coastal enclave, including private clinics, have beds for a total of 2,000 people. In addition, medical facilities lack medicines and equipment.
India, Pakistan swap nuclear lists amid Mumbai tensions
By IANS,
New Delhi/Islamabad : Amid simmering tensions over the Mumbai terror attacks, India and Pakistan Thursday stuck to their nearly two-decade old agreement of exchanging lists of their nuclear installations on the first day of the new year - a practice aimed at protecting the sites in case of a war.
Gaza will become Zionist cemetery, warns Iran speaker
By IINA,
Tehran : Iran's Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said the resistance of the Palestinian people will turn the Gaza Strip into a Zionist cemetery. Addressing lawmakers prior to the open session of parliament on Sunday, Larijani took aim at the Israeli ground invasion of Gaza. He said the destruction of medical centers in Gaza is the visible expression of crime against humanity. "Fortunately, the Zionists are confronted by the Palestinians' defense and sustained serious losses. The Zionists should bear in mind that Gaza will become their cemetery," Larijani added.
Differences in Malaysian opposition over Islamic law
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Differences have cropped up in Pakatan Rakyat (PR), Malaysia's opposition alliance, over the desirability of introducing Islamic laws in a multi-religious society, with one of its ethnic Indian leaders opposing it.
Lawyer-lawmaker Karpal Singh, chairman of Democratic Action Party (DAP), one of the PR constituents, has lashed out at the alliance chief Anwar Ibrahim, saying his assertion that Islamic hudud laws apply only to Muslims "is a fallacy", The Star newspaper reported Friday.
Iran pledges to fully cooperate with IAEA
By IANS,
Berlin : Iran has reiterated that it will continue cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in resolving the country's nuclear controversy, the official IRNA news agency reported Friday.
"The bilateral coperation between Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog will proceed based on earlier agreed modalities," Iran's parliament speaker Ali Larijani said after meeting with the IAEA chief, Mohammad ElBaradei, on the sidelines of the 45th Munich Security Conference.
Zillur Rahman is new Bangladesh president
By Xinhua,
Dhaka : Zillur Rahman was declared the president of Bangladesh Wednesday.
Bangladesh's Election Commission declared the senior leader of ruling Awami League Zillur Rahman to be the country's new president as he was the only presidential candidate. He was declared elected unopposed.
Australian soldiers kill Afghan children in Taliban clash
By DPA,
Sydney : Five Afghan children were killed when Australian soldiers shot back after coming under fire from Taliban insurgents in southern Afghanistan, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) said Friday.
"Current reporting indicates... sadly, local nationals including five children killed, and two children and two adults injured," the ADF said in a statement.
A suspected Taliban insurgent was also killed.
About 1,000 Australian troops are stationed in Uruzgan in southern Afghanistan.
Iran confirms trial run of Bushehr NPP to go ahead by yearend
TEHRAN, February 17 (RIA Novosti) - Tehran hopes a trial run of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran will take place before the end of this year, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.
"The work to complete the construction of the nuclear power plant is proceeding as planned," Hasan Qashqavi said, citing Russian officials.
He added that Iran did not anticipate any "emergencies" that could prevent the plant's operation.
Pakistan rejects international concerns over Islamic laws
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistan Thursday rejected international concerns over the introduction of an Islamic judicial system in parts of its North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) as "speculative".
"There are some reactions including in NATO. These are mostly speculative," Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said at his weekly press briefing, when his attention was drawn to criticism from some Western nations.
Islamic courts will be set up in the Malakand division under an agreement between the NWFP government and the outlawed Tehrik Nifaz-e-Shariat-e- Muhammadi group.
Terrorist safe havens in Pakistan most worrisome: US
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : The havens carved out by the Taliban and other insurgents in Pakistan have become the "most worrisome" part of the US-led war in Afghanistan, says US Defence Secretary Robert Gates.
Washington had a similar perch in Pakistan when US and Pakistani officials supported Afghanistan's mujahideen rebels against the Soviet Union in the 1980s - "and let me tell you, it made a big difference", he said Sunday.
"I think as long as they have a safe haven to operate there, it's going to be a problem for us in Afghanistan," he told NBC's "Meet the Press".
Iran’s supreme leader grants amnesty to 950 prisoners
By IANS,
Tehran : Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has granted amnesty to 950 prisoners earlier convicted by various courts in the country, IRNA reported Tuesday.
The decision was made on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Prophet of Islam March 15.
The pardon was made at the request of Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi.
The Islamic Republic of Iran usually grants pardon or commutes the punishment of those convicted by the country's tribunals during the Iranian national or religious events.
Muslims proud of Iran’s achievements: Tajik minister
By IRNA,
Tehran : Tajikistan's Minister of Education Abdujabbor Rahmonov said on Wednesday that Muslims of the world are proud of Iran's achievements in the fields oif technology and science.
Rahmonov made the remarks in a meeting in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe with the secretary of an exhibition which is to be held in Tajikistan by Iran on May.
The exhibition is to start its work in Dushanbe on May 18 to put on display Iran's latest educational, research, cultural and technological achievemtns.
India seeks Kuwaiti funds, signs three pacts
By Manish Chand, IANS,
Kuwait : India Tuesday sought Kuwaiti investments in infrastructural projects ranging from petrochemicals to power and signed three pacts in areas of culture, education and science and technology.
Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari met Amir Of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and discussed with him a range of bilateral, regional and global issues, including expansion of economic ties, the financial meltdown and enhancing cooperation in combating terrorism.
US President leaves Iraq after surprise visit
By ANTARA,
Baghdad : U.S. President Barack Obama left Baghdad on Tuesday after a four-hour visit during which he met with Iraqi leaders and addressed the U.S. troops.
During his first visit to Iraq, Obama met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and inspected the U.S. military base, Camp Victory, on the outskirts of Baghdad.
He told his troops in the military base to be critical in next 18-month period of their mission in the war-torn country.
Nine Pakistanis released without charge, to face deportation
By Dipankar De Sarkar,IANS,
London : Nine Pakistani men, whose arrest over an alleged terrorist bomb plot in northwest England led to a row between Britain and Pakistan, have been released without charge.
They were among 12 men who were arrested by British police April 8 after raids on houses in the cities of Manchester, Liverpool and Clitheroe.
Two of the men are still being questioned while a third had been handed over to the custody of the UK Border Agency three days after the arrests, made over what Prime Minister Gordon Brown had described as a "very big terrorist plot".
Five injured in Pakistan blast
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Five people were injured Thursday in a blast in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, a media report said.
The blast occurred on Hangu road in Kohat town, Geo TV reported.
Ethnic Indian speaker ejected from Malaysian state assembly
By IANS,
Ipoh (Malaysia) : Perak state legislature in Malaysia Thursday witnessed ejection of the speaker and installation of another, both ethnic Indians, amid day-long chaos.
The Perak assembly adjourned after ugly shouting and the ejection of Speaker V. Sivakumar, who was carried out by policemen.
R. Ganesan, a former legislator belonging to the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) and the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN), was installed in his place.
Al Qaeda declares support for uprising in southern Yemen
By DPA,
Sana'a (Yemen) : The leader of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has declared his group's support for the revolt by secessionist groups in southern Yemen.
"We in the Al Qaeda organisation support what you are doing to reject the oppression practiced on you and to resist the regime and defend yourselves," Nasser al-Wahishi said in an audio file posted on Jihadist web sites Wednesday.
Obama urges action on Mideast peace
By DPA,
Dresden (Germany) : US President Barack Obama Friday said the time was ripe to take action to push forward the Middle East peace process.
"The moment to act is now," the president told a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel after talks in the East German city of Dresden.
"We want to try to clear some of the misunderstandings so that we can have frank dialogue," Obama said referring to talks between Israelis and Palestinians. "To do this we need strong partners."
US House links aid to Pakistan with fight against terrorism
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : The US House of Representatives has passed a bill proposing to triple US non-military aid to Pakistan to $1.5 billion a year but linking military assistance to Islamabad demonstrating a sustained commitment to combating terrorist groups.
Sharif wins hijacking case, may run for office
By IANS,
Islamabad : Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif was on course to run for public office again after the Supreme Court Friday discharged him in a 10-year-old case in which he was accused of trying to hijack a plane to prevent army chief Pervez Musharraf from returning home.
A five-member bench said there was no evidence to support the charge against Nawaz Sharif, who Musharraf toppled in 1999 after accusing him of preventing his plane flying from Sri Lanka from landing in Karachi.
24 kids die after taking paracetamol in Bangladesh
By IANS,
Dhaka : A private pharmaceutical firm in Bangladesh was ordered to be sealed after 24 children died on consuming paracetamol suspension, an official said.
The drug administration ordered the firm to suspend manufacturing and marketing of their products including vitamin and paracetamol suspension, New Age said Thursday.
The government ordered a seven-member committee to probe the cause of deaths.
Tehran frees prisoners, but not reformist officials: Report
By DPA,
Tehran: No reformist officials were among the 140 prisoners released by Iranian authorities, the Etemad newspaper reported Wednesday.
According to official statistics, more than 1,000 people were arrested in protests over alleged fraud in the June 12 presidential election. Of these, about 300 are still in jail.
At least 20 people were reported killed during the street protests.
Apart from demonstrators, journalists and dissidents, a number of former reformist ministers and parliamentarians were also jailed.
Pakistan checking reports on Baitullah Mehsud’s death
By DPA,
Islamabad : A Pakistani security official said late Wednesday the intelligence agencies were trying to confirm reports that Taliban head Baitullah Mehsud had died in a suspected US missile strike that killed his wife in tribal region near Afghan border.
"We have been busy for hours to check the information coming from the area that Baitullah also died with his wife," a local intelligence officer said on condition of anonymity.
"Whether confirmation or disconfirmation will definitely be available in next couple of hours," he added.
US support for war in Afghanistan at all-time low
By DPA,
Washington : Support for the war in Afghanistan has fallen to an all-time low in the United States, according to a national poll published Tuesday by CNN.
Fifty-seven percent of those questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey said they opposed the war, while 42 percent backed the mission. The number of respondents against the war is up by 11 percentage points since April and was the highest in a CNN poll since the conflict began in October 2001.
Afghan opium production declines 10 percent in 2009: UN report
By DPA,
Kabul : Opium production is down by 10 percent while the area under poppy cultivation in Afghanistan fell 22 percent in 2009, a new UN report said Wednesday.
However, the war-shattered Afghanistan still remains the world's largest supplier of the drug, producing 6,900 tonnes of opium, from which heroin is derived.
"World demand for opium remains stable (at around 5,000 tonnes per year), which is several thousand tonnes lower than what Afghanistan produces every year," a report from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), released in Kabul Wednesday said.
Polish soldier killed, five wounded in Afghanistan
By DPA,
Warsaw : One Polish soldier was killed and five others were wounded Friday after a bomb exploded near a Polish convoy in eastern Afghanistan, local media reported.
This was the 11th Polish soldier to die in the NATO mission, and the first to die in a KTO Rosomak (Wolverine) armoured vehicle.
"It's a very primitive weapon, but unfortunately very deadly," Dariusz Kacperczyk, Operational Headquarters spokesman, told TVN 24 about the planted bomb that went off while the Polish soldiers were on patrol.
Iran to submit new nuclear proposals package
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Iran will present its new "nuclear package" to the Iran Six on Wednesday, the country's media quoted Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki as saying.
Iran Six, a group of international mediators comprising the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany, held a meeting in Frankfurt last week to discuss Iran's nuclear program. The group has threatened to impose new sanctions the Islamic Republic if it refuses to halt its nuclear activities.
Pakistan arrests Taliban spokesman in Swat valley
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan's military said Friday it has arrested a Taliban spokesman in the Swat valley, where troops have spent five months fighting Islamist insurgents.
Muslim Khan was captured with four colleagues including key militant commander Mehmood Khan, Geo news channel reported, citing army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas.
Muslim Khan had a bounty of Rs.10 million ($122,000) on his head for involvement in terrorist activities. Mehmood Khan also had a bounty of Rs.10 million on his head.
Further details of the arrests were not immediately disclosed.
Turkey may buy 120 fighter jets for $13 bn
By Xinhua,
Istanbul : Turkey may purchase 120 new-generation fighter jets against the previously decided 100 such fighters at a total cost of $13 billion, a media report said Thursday.
"We may buy 120 JSF aircraft, instead of 100," Murad Bayar, head of the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries, was quoted by Daily News newspaper as saying.
The report added that the purchase of these F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) depends on the availability of finance.
Egypt doubts soon resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks
By RIA Novosti,
Cairo : The Egyptian foreign minister said he doubts that the peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis would be resumed in the nearest future.
"I strongly doubt that the talks between the two sides will resume soon," Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit said after his meeting with the White House Mideast envoy, George Mitchell, in Cairo.
The top Egyptian diplomat said that Mitchell, who is currently on a Mideast tour, is only forming a platform for the resumption of talks.
‘Road to stability in Afghanistan runs through Pakistan and India’
By IANS,
Washington : As the Obama administration reviews its Afghanistan strategy, a leading US daily suggests that Washington needs to understand that the road to stability in Afghanistan runs through Pakistan and India.
The devastating terrorist attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul last week signals a new sense of urgency to the Obama administration's deliberations over Gen. Stanley McChrystal's assessment of the war in Afghanistan, an opinion piece in Christian Science Monitor said.
McChrystal is the top commander of US and allied forces in Afghanistan.
Four bodies found at Lebanon air crash site
By DPA,
Beirut : Four bodies have been recovered from the crash site of the Ethiopian Airlines plane that went down off the coast of Lebanon early Monday with 90 people on board, army sources said.
The aircraft, carrying 83 passengers and seven crew, crashed into the sea four minutes after taking off from Beirut's international airport, Transport Minister Ghazi Aridi said.
Lebanese army and rescue units were carrying out the search for survivors alongside a force from UN Maritime Task Force, which include two German boats.
Blair criticised for lack of remorse over the Iraq war
London, Jan 30, IRNA – Former prime minister Tony Blair has been widely criticised for showing a lack of remorse when giving evidence at the Iraq inquiry and leaving significant questions unanswered in leading Britain into the 2003 war.
Blair was heckled after spending Friday resolutely defending his controversial decision to join the US in invading Iraq, insisting he did not deceive the British public, that he was right to start the war and that he would do the same again.
Civilians killed in NATO assault in Afghanistan
By IANS/AKI,
Kabul : At least 12 civilians were been killed during a NATO forces' offensive in southern Afghanistan, an official said.
The victims died after a rocket hit their house late Sunday, the second day of Operation Moshtarak, which is seeking to wrest control of Marjah and neighbouring areas in southern Helmand province.
The assault, one of NATO forces' biggest against the Taliban since the Afghan war began in 2001, is mainly centred on Helmand province.
US condemns Pakistan bombings
By IANS,
Washington : The US Friday condemned the bombings in Pakistan's Lahore city that left 48 people dead, saying there is no justification for killing innocent people.
"The coordinated multiple attacks in Lahore demonstrate the suffering that violent extremist elements are willing to inflict on the people of Pakistan, people who only wish to go about their daily lives in peace," Xinhua reported quoting Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Internal divide in India over talks: Qureshi
By IANS,
Islamabad: India is facing an internal divide on the issue of talks with Pakistan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said here Thursday.
Talking to journalists ahead of the Pakistan-US strategic dialogue in Washington March 24, Qureshi asserted that there was no clarity in India over effective engagement with Pakistan.
"Pakistan is a responsible country and we have no need for any certificate," he said.
Pakistan puts Buddhist tourism back on track
By IANS,
Islamabad : Tourism in Pakistan, affected by Islamist violence since 9/11, is expected to get a boost with the promotion of the major Buddhist heritage site that cradled the first century Gandhara civilisation.
Led by monks from Thailand, the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) is on its first official visit to the country for promotion of the site. Its main attraction is Taxila or Takshashila university that dates back to the reign of the Kushan dynasty. It was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1980.
Pakistan Army to compensate families of airstrike victims
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Pakistan Army will compensate families of people killed in airstrikes in northwestern Khyber Tribal Agency, Xinhua reported.
Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Wednesday offered apologies to the families of people killed during airstrikes against militants in Tirah valley of Khyber Tribal Agency.
The army said a total compensation of 20 million rupees (about $238,000) would be paid to the relatives of the victims.
15 militants killed in Pakistani air strikes
By DPA,
Islamabad : At least 15 militants were killed as fighter jets hit their hideouts in Pakistan's northwestern tribal areas, an official said Thursday.
The attacks struck suburbs of Dabori in Orakzai district, where government forces launched an operation in March to recapture the area from Al Qaeda and Taliban rebels.
Air support was called in to hit four or five hideouts from where militants were launching attacks on ground forces, a security official said on condition of anonymity.
UN demands impartial inquiry into Gaza flotilla deaths
By DPA,
New York : The UN Security Council called Tuesday for an impartial inquiry into the Israeli commando raid on a flotilla of aid ships for Gaza, which left nine activists dead.
The statement - after a night of talks and wrangles - called for the investigation to be "prompt, impartial, credible and transparent".
Turkey, the majority of whose citizens appear to be the victims of the attack, was the most trenchant in criticising Israel in the debate.
Israelis shot people in forehead, says Pakistani
By DPA,
Islamabad : A Pakistani journalist who was captured during a naval attack on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla alleged Wednesday that Israeli soldiers were shooting people in cold blood.
Talat Hussain, one of the 124 people arriving in Jordan following their release by Israeli authorities, claimed that the commandos "shot people in the forehead".
"I witnessed myself the first Israeli assault on the ship. There was no weapon on the ship," Hussain told Aaj news channel by phone from Jordan.
Three Pakistanis on Gaza flotilla return home
By IANS,
Islamabad : Three Pakistanis, including prominent TV anchor Talat Hussain, who were detained after an Israeli raid on a Gaza aid convoy, have returned home to a warm welcome.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik, relatives of the freed men, civil society representatives and journalists from the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi were on hand to greet them at the Benazir International Bhutto Airport late Thursday and showered them with rose petals, Geo News reported.
UAE seeks investment in non-oil sector
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has decided to promote investment in non-oil sectors to boost the country's economic diversification process.
The decision to place the emphasis on goods, resources and services was set to bring about a further increase in the non-oil-related contribution to the GDP of the country, said Minister for Foreign Trade Sheikha Lubna bin Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi.
"The UAE always works to bolster revenue sources via diversification and is attracting most of the foreign investment flows to the region," she said.
Man survives extraction of iron rod in Dubai
By DPA,
Dubai : An Indian man in Dubai survived a massive surgery to remove a two-metre-long iron rod that penetrated him in an accident, daily newspaper Emirates Today reported Thursday.
The iron rod fell 10 stories before it hit 34-year-old construction worker Saran Kumar Monday, penetrating his shoulder, passing through his abdomen and out of his thigh.
The rod broke through his diaphragm, a lung, and passed through his colon and bladder.