Israel’s expulsion of human rights envoy is dangerous: UN
By DPA,
New York : Israel's decision to expel a US expert on human rights was a "dangerous" move that contravened mandates given to rights advocates working for the UN, president of the UN General Assembly said Monday.
Richard Falk was detained at Jerusalem's airport Sunday and then deported back to the US. Falk's mandate given by the 192-nation UN assembly is to assess the situation in Palestinian-occupied territories.
The Israeli foreign ministry Monday said Falk was "unwelcome in Israel".
Poll: Palestinians, Israelis seek more active U.S. role in moderating conflict
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Most Palestinians and half of Israelis hope the United States to play a more active role in moderating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to a latest poll published Tuesday.
The poll was conducted by the Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah.
Earthquake hits Iran
By SPA,
Tehran : An earthquake measuring 4.2 on Richter scale shook the vicinity of Jam city in Bushehr province, southern Iran, Sunday night, Iran's news agency "IRNA" reported.
The Geophysics Institute of Tehran University registered the quake.
The epicenter of the tremor has been an area located 52.26 degrees in longitude and 28.04 degrees in latitude.
There are no reports of any casualty or damage to the property caused by the tremor.
Iran is often shaken by quakes of varying magnitudes as it sits on some of the world's most active seismic fault lines.
Dhaka steps up vigilance along border with India as bombs, explosives seized
By NNN-APP,
Dhaka : Bangladesh Monday put all border outposts of paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) on high alert with neighbouring India as police retrieved a powerful bomb on a timer and two hand bombs in southwestern bordering district of Jessore on Monday.
Explosive experts were called in immediately to defuse them, police guarding the spot said.
Abbas calls for Security Council meeting on Gaza situation
By DPA,
Ramallah : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called Saturday for the UN Security Council to hold an urgent meeting to stop the Israeli air and ground offensives on the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said in a statement that Abbas called on the Security Council to convene immediately "to halt and stop the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip."
"President Abbas intensified his contacts with Arab and foreign countries to stop the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip without any preconditions," Erekat said.
New rockets fired from Lebanon at Israel
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : A second barrage of rockets were launched from Lebanon on northern Israel, Israeli media reported on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, four Israelis were wounded by rockets launched from southern Lebanon on northern Israeli towns of Naharia and Galeli, pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV reported.
Pakistani media mourns Muhammad Najeeb
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Pakistani media Friday paid homage to Muhammad Najeeb, the IANS Islamabad correspondent who died Thursday after a heart attack. One report called him a "much-valued friend of the media community".
Najeeb, 41, was Thursday afternoon rushed to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) where, according to a report in The News Friday, "he allegedly expired for want of emergency treatment".
His wife and three sons - Saad, 12, Hassan, 10, and Sheheryar, 5 - survive Najeeb. He was the youngest of three brothers and three sisters.
Iraq’s provincial elections: A test of fragile calm
By DPA,
Baghdad : As voters prepare to go to the polls Jan 31, Iraq stands balanced on a knife-edge as the streets are safer now than they have been at any time since the country slid into civil war in 2005.
When Iraqis vote in 14 of the country's 18 provinces to choose the provincial councils that will govern them, the country could make a great step forward in drawing a line under the recent years of bloodshed. Or, many Iraqis say, if the polls are viewed as unfair, the country could tip back into carnage and chaos.
Special envoy has no mandate to deal with Kashmir: US
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : The United States has made it clear that its newly appointed special envoy on Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, has no mandate to deal with Kashmir and his sole job is to help bring stability to Afghanistan.
"His mandate is to go out and try to help bring stability to Afghanistan, working closely with Pakistan to try to deal with the situation in the FATA region," Pakistan tribal belt along their porous border that has become a terrorist safe haven, State Department acting spokesman Robert Wood said Tuesday.
Bangladesh’s new president to be elected on Feb. 16
By Xinhua,
Dhaka : The newly elected members of parliament will elect Bangladesh's new president Feb 16, the election commission of the country announced Thursday.
Md. Humayun Kabir, Secretary of the Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC), issued a notification Thursday, announcing the schedule of the presidential election, BEC spokesman S.M. Asaduzzaman said.
As per the schedule, Feb 8 is the last date for filing nomination and Feb 11 is the last date of withdrawal of nomination, the official said.
Israeli troops killed Gaza children carrying white flag, witnesses
Gaza City, Feb 2, IRNA -- International organizations, citing videos and witnesses say Israel has committed crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza.
Human Rights Watch and other groups allege that Israel's tactics for achieving a military advantage in Gaza led to disproportionate death and suffering of a civilian population that was denied medical care, refuge and electricity, especially in the urban warfare in and around Gaza City.
"Gaza became a kind of free fire zone for the Israelis," said Fred Abrahams, senior emergencies researcher for Human Rights Watch.
U.S. soldier dies in Iraq
By Xinhua,
BAGHDAD : A U.S. soldier has died as a result of a non-combat related incident in Iraq, the U.S. military said on Monday.
A military statement said a soldier assigned to Multi National Division - Baghdad (MND-Baghdad) was killed on Sunday without saying how or where exactly the incident occurred.
MND-Baghdad is also known as Task Force Baghdad, whose major area of responsibility is the city of Baghdad.
The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, the statement said, adding that the incident is under investigation.
Pakistan serious about Mumbai probe: Minister
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan said Thursday it was "serious" about prosecuting the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks and that the actions taken so far would prove its "sincerity".
"We are serious (about the probe) and all the action taken so far will prove our sincerity," Interior Minister Rehman Malik said at a press conference here.
"We want to bring to justice the culprits and we thus need evidence. This evidence should stand the test of the court. The evidence should speak for itself," Malik maintained.
US weapons given to Afghan army missing
By Xinhua,
Washington : A large quantity of weapons given to the Afghan army by the US have been missing, officials said.
The US congressional auditors said Thursday in a report that nearly 87,000 pieces of weapons, including rifles, pistols, machine guns, grenade launchers, shotguns and mortars were missing.
The weapons are among about 240,000 small arms and other items, including 2,410 highly prized night vision devices that were given to the Afghan security forces by the US military.
Obama assures Karzai of Afghan commitment in first phone talk
By DPA,
Kabul : US President Barack Obama assured his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai, of the US commitment to the fight against terrorism in the region during their first telephone talk since Obama's inauguration, the Afghan president's office said Wednesday.
The two presidents Tuesday night talked about a review of US policy in the fight against insurgency in Afghanistan and Pakistan, preparations for the Afghan presidential election and enhancing Afghan security forces, Karzai's office said in a statement.
At least 100 missing as trawler capsizes in Bangladesh
By Xinhua,
Dhaka : At least 100 people were missing Thursday morning when a trawler capsized on a river in Bangladesh's southern Barisal district, the police said.
The accident took place some 169 km from the Bangladesh capital.
"We've come to know that over 100 passengers are missing. A body of a woman was pulled out from the water," district police chief Tawfiq Mahbub Chowdhury said.
Police officer Sekandar Ali said the boat capsized at around 6.50 a.m.
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.
Turkey denies US request to establish sea base
ANKARA, Feb 20 (KUNA) -- Turkey Friday denied the US asked Ankara to establish a sea base after Kyrgyzstan announced closure of the US air base in the Central Asian Republic.
"We have not received any request in this regard up until now," Turkish army spokesman General Metin Gurak told a weekly press briefing. He, however, did not deny press reports that the US might ask for the sea base.
Gurak declined to comment if the US asked Turkey to establish a sea base near the Black Sea city of Trabzon to replace the Manas air base in Kyrgyzstan.
Khaleda-led opposition returns to Bangladesh parliament
By IANS,
Dhaka : The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Monday joined the ninth parliament, ending its row of 17 working days with the speaker over seating arrangements in the house.
The party led by two-term former prime minister Khaleda Zia said it was joining the house following an assurance after prolonged negotiations from Speaker Abdul Hamid of "respectable seating arrangements in the House", Star Online reported.
Hamas calls on Gaza donors to recognise its legitimacy
By DPA,
Gaza : The Islamic Hamas movement Monday called on the international community to recognise its legitimacy as the ruler of Gaza Strip.
Speaking as international donors began a conference to discuss the reconstruction of the salient of Israel's recent offensive, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum urged the participants to "deal with the legitimacy (of Hamas) if they were interested in the Palestinian people's interest".
"Bypassing the Palestinian legitimacy that exists in Gaza is like walking to the wrong address ... to hinder the reconstruction," he said.
Control, arrest and punish terrorists, Gordon Brown tells Pakistan
By IANS,
London : British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for terrorists in Pakistan "to be brought under control, arrested and brought to trial".
Speaking after Tuesday's terrorist attack wounding six Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore, Brown also revealed that the "vast majority" of Al Qaeda militants are now in Pakistan, not Afghanistan.
Iraq dismisses 1,300 security members after clashes in the south
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : The Iraqi government decided to dismiss more than 1,300 soldiers and policemen because they refused to fight Shiite militiamen during recent clashes in southern Iraqi cities, a security source said on Sunday.
Up to 921 soldiers and policemen, including 37 senior officers, have been fired from their jobs in the Iraqi police and army units in the southern city of Basra, where the U.S.-backed Iraqi security forces fought Mahdi Army militia, loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, Interior Ministry spokesman Major Gen. Abdul Kareem Khalaf said.
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.
Called Bengalis, Malaysian Sikhs walk out of function
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : A group of Malaysian Sikhs walked out from a function when Perak state's chief executive referred to them as Bengalis.
Perak's Mentri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin made the gaffe Sunday when he wished the Tamil community "Puthandu Vazth-uka" or Happy New Year followed by "Happy Vasakhi to the Bengali community".
"For generations, Sikhs have bit their lips when mistakenly referred to as Bengalis. Many usually excuse the gaffe by ordinary folk who do not know any better," media reports from the Perak capital Ipoh said.
Iraq’s neighbors discuss need to maintain security
By SPA,
Damascus : Iraq's neighboring countries discussed on Monday the current security situation in Iraq and the requirements to maintain stability in the country during the closing of their second annual meeting in Syria.
Representatives of the United Nations Security Council and representatives of the Organization of Islamic Conference also participated in the meeting of Iraq's neighboring countries, the German news agency "DPA" reported.
Pakistan, Turkish air forces to conduct joint exercise: official
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Air forces of Pakistan and Turkey will conduct joint exercises this month, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said on Monday.
"The Exercise would be conducted in Pakistan during the month of April," a PAF statement said." "To benefit from the expertise and professional experiences of each other, PAF and the Turkish Air Force (TuAF) are conducting a Joint Exercise 'Indus Viper-2008' in Pakistan," it said.
The statement said that a contingent of TuAF fighter aircraft and personnel will undertake joint planning and execution of various combat missions in the exercises.
Pakistan, Afghan forces exchange fire over wheat flour smuggling
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistani and Afghan border security forces exchanged fire on Monday after the Pakistani forces tried to stop 'smuggling of flour' to the neighboring country, officials said.
Officials at the Pakistani border city of Chaman in southwestern Balochistan said that both sides started firing at 7:15 a.m. which continued till 11 a.m.
There was no report of any casualty.
The firing was stopped after senior officials of the two countries held talks, officials said.
Pakistani parliament seeks UN inquiry into Bhutto’s assassination
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistani Parliament on Monday adopted a unanimous resolution, seeking inquiry into the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto who was killed in firing and suicide attack on December 27th.
Benazir was assassinated in the city of Rawalpindi shortly after she addressed a big election rally.
The resolution was moved by the Law Minister Farook H Naek, which was passed unanimously by the lower house of the parliament.
Bengali new year celebrated in Bangladesh amid tight security
By NNN-Xinhua
Dhaka : The Bengali New Year is celebrated Monday across Bangladesh, especially in capital Dhaka, with a festive atmosphere.
Tens of thousands of people in masks and traditional dress, mostly students of the Dhaka University, held a colorful parade through the university, ushering in good spirits for the new year and vowing to defeat any ill-will.
At the forefront of the parade were precisionists carrying symbolic figures of the owl, tortoise, tiger and elephant.
Death toll rises to 40 in Iraq’s Diyala car bombing
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : The death toll from a car bomb explosion in the city of Baquba, the capital of Diyala province on Tuesday, rose to 40 with some 70 others injured, a provincial police source said.
"The latest reports said that up to 40 people were killed and some 70 others injured by the Baquba car bombing," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Earlier, the source put the toll at 12 killed and more than 40 others wounded.
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.
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.
No American official has access to Pakistan’s nuclear program: FM
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistan Foreign Minister told the Parliament on Friday that no American official has been placed to have access to the country's National Command Authority (NCA).
Local media has reported that the US State Department has sought the accreditation of an official to be posted at the American embassy here with the NCA, the body that controls Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.
"Pakistan will not permit this," Qureshi told the National Assembly, lower house of the parliament.
Pakistani Ambassador: Olympic torch relay underscores universality ogf games
By NNN-APP,
Beijing : Pakistani Ambassador Salman Bashir has said that the lighting of the Olympic flame and its relay across continents, underscores the universality of the games.
In a congratulatory message to the English language China Daily on its special supplement on Olympic Torch relay, the Ambassador underscores the universality of the games, which, he said will unite all peoples under the apt motto of “One World One Dream”.
Carter, exiled Hamas leader meet in Damascus on peace efforts
By Xinhua,
Damascus : Visiting former U.S. President Jimmy Carter met with exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Damascus on Friday and discussed the peace efforts in the region.
The talks between Carter and Meshaal focused on three basic topics, namely the fate of Israeli captive Gilad Shalit, the situation in Gaza and the lift of the siege there, deputy chief ofthe exiled Hamas politburo Moussa Abu Marzouk told reporters.
GCC, US joint military exercise to held April 20
By NNN-KUNA,
Abu Dhabi : The (Hasm Al-Oqban 2008) joint GCC-US military exercise will be held Sunday with the participation of the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the USA while Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Jordan will act as observers.
According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the exercise would last for two weeks and is going to include workshops and meetings that would boost military cooperation between the US and the GCC states.
Britain extends conditional support to Pakistan’s dialogue plan with militants
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Britain supports Pakistan's reconciliation process with the militants "but the talks should beheld with those who wanted to surrender or lay arms", British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said.
Miliband arrived in Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on a two-day visit for talks with the new government.
The new provincial government has formed a committee of senior officials to hold dialogue with the militants in the Swat valley and tribal regions.
Pakistan supreme court abolishes clause demanding parliament members to be graduates
By NNN-Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistan's Supreme Court decided to abolish a law which requires the National Assembly and Provincial Assembly members to be university graduates.
A seven-member bench comprising Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar gave the verdict on Monday after hearing the arguments in the petition challenging the condition for graduation to contest the elections.
U.S. reports new Gulf confrontation, Iran denies
By Xinhua,
Washington : U.S. officials said Friday that a vessel contracted by the U.S. Navy in the Gulf fired warning shots on two Iranian fast boats Thursday, but Iran denied the claims .
The U.S. ship Westward Venture, contracted by the U.S. Military Sealift Command to carry military cargo to Kuwait, fired upon the boats after attempts to get the Iranian boats' attention failed, FOX News quoted Pentagon sources as saying.
A U.S. navy security team, armed with M16 rifles and machine guns, was onboard the Westward Venture at the time the warning shots were fired.
Two Turkish soldier killed in clash with PKK rebels
By Xinhua,
Ankara : Two Turkish soldiers were killed in an operation staged against the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party(PKK) in southeastern Turkey on Friday, the General Staff said in a statement.
Two soldiers were killed in a clash with PKK rebels in Mount Cudi region in southeastern province of Sirnak on Friday, said the statement.
Israelis and Palestinians engaged in most intensive talks in 8 years – UN
By NNN-WAFA,
United Nations : Assistant-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Angela called Thursday on the Palestinians and the Israelis to bring about a progress in their talks so as to reach a peace treaty just ahead the end of 2008.
Extremists Distory Islam’s Nice Image, Says Iran Minister
By Bernama,
Moscow : Iran represents a version of Islam that is free of deviation, against extremist tendencies, and opposed to people's falling preys to satanic traps, said its Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad-Hossein Saffar-Harandi.
He, who is in Moscow on Friday to attend at Iran's first ever Culture Week in Russia, added that the genuine version of Islam practiced and defended in Islamic Republic of Iran has serious barriers with the deviated versions such as those practiced by Taliban or Al-Qaeda.
Suicide bomber kills at least 16 in eastern Afghanistan
By RIA Novosti,
Kabul : A suicide bomber blew himself up on Tuesday in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 16 people and injuring over 40, the local Tolo TV channel said.
The attack came after militants had fired shots and rocket-propelled grenades at a police station in the town of Khogyani. The suicide bomber then detonated his device in the middle of a crowd as civilians fled the fighting.
Turkey planning missile defence network
By RIA Novosti,
Ankara : Turkey is planning to build its own long-range missile defence network by 2010.
The missile shield would include at least eight anti-missile batteries meant to protect strategic targets from theatre-range ballistic missiles.
The project includes an initial off-the-shelf procurement of four batteries in a tender that will be announced in the near future, ANKA news agency said.
US air strikes kill 14 people in Sadr City
By IRNA,
Baghdad : US air strikes on Sadr City on Saturday killed at least 14 people.
Hospital officials said they had received 14 bodies and treated 25 wounded following air raids on residential areas.
It was not immediately clear if they were gunmen or civilians.
Two rockets hit al-Sadr hospital in the densely populated shanty town on Saturday, wounding 20 people, including women and children, and damaging a number of ambulances in the compound.
Iran has called on warring parties to sit at negotiating table to end hostility.
Mosul operation will be swift, says Iraqi minister of interior
By KUNA,
Baghdad : Iraqi Minister of Interior Jawwad Al-Bolani said Friday evening the planned military operation targeting Al-Qaeda organization in the northern city of Mosul would be very swift.
"President Jalal Talabani asserted that the country was passing through a critical period in its efforts to assert its stature," Al-Bolani told reporters following his meeting with Talabani.
The meeting was also attended by leaders of the security agencies.
Fuel shortages, rising food prices hampering UN aid efforts in Gaza, W.Bank
By APP,
United Nations : Fuel shortages and rising food prices are placing heavy burdens on the UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees and forcing it to cut back on life-saving activities in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, its spokesperson said.
MNF affirms anti-terrorism cooperation with foreign intelligence
By NNN-KUNA,
Baghdad : The Multi-National Force's (MNF) Major-General Kevin Bergner has affirmed here that exchange of intelligence information with neighbouring states with Iraq has occurred in order to crack down on Qaeda operations.
Bergner said in a joint press conference with Iraqi spokesman Dr Tahseen Al-Sheikhali Wednesday that about 50 terrorists were arrested in the city of Mosul north of Iraq, adding that the exchange of information led to an improvement in anti-terrorism operations.
Lebanese Army deployed in Mount Lebanon
By NNN-KUNA,
Beirut : The Lebanese army has been deployed to the area of Aitat and other towns in Aley, Mount Lebanon.
Security sources told KUNA that the army was deployed after the Mount Lebanon areas witnessed three hours of intense fighting which claimed Sunday the lives of six people.
Pro-government Druze leader Walid Jumblatt stated that the clashes would lead to more tension between the Druze and Shiite sects, adding that he had assigned head of the Democratic bloc Talal Arsulan to negotiate with the opposition's gunmen.
Iran starts nuclear talks with IAEA
By SPA,
Tehran : Iran on Monday started nuclear talks with a delegation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Tehran, 'ISNA' news agency reported.
This round of talks is headed by Iran's IAEA envoy Ali-Asqar Soltanieh and IAEA regional Chief Herman Nackaerts and is being held at Iran's Atomic Energy Organization.
Israel kills two Palestinians in Gaza
By SPA,
Gaza : The Israeli army killed a gunman and a Palestinian civilian on Wednesday in separate incidents in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, medical workers said.
The gunman was killed by an Israeli air strike during a ground raid near Khan Younis, in the southern part of the territory, the medical workers said. An Israeli military spokeswoman confirmed the strike, according to a report of Reuters.
Blast heard in NW Pakistan, 5 injured
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : A blast took place in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday morning and five people were injured, local TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.
The explosion occurred when an army truck goes by at Kohat town in North West Frontier Province, 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.
Palestinian rocketeers target Israeli town
By KUNA,
Gaza : A Palestinian faction said on Tuesday its gunners targeted the Israeli town of Sderot with missiles.
Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad in Palestine organization, said in a statement it was responsible for unleashing three "Quds" missiles in the direction of the town.
The gunners who fired the missiles narrowly escaped a retaliatory Israeli air strike in the north of Gaza Strip.
A spokesman of the Israeli Army confirmed that two missiles harmlessly crashed close to Sderot early today.
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.
Ban Ki-moon welcomes indirect peace talks between Syria, Israel
By APP,
United Nations : UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed Wednesday’s announcement that Syria and Israel have started holding indirect talks aimed at resolving their long-running conflict.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ban commended Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert “for taking this important step.” He also thanked Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his efforts.
Bahrain Elected to Human Rights Council
By SPA,
United Nations : The United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly on Wednesday elected 15 out of 26 member states from five regions vying through a secret ballot for a seat on its Human Rights Council, an international body that address human rights issues.
Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste were both defeated in the Asian category by Bahrain, Japan, South Korea, and Pakistan.
Britain and France defeated Spain for a European seat.
Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine beat the Czech Republic in the Eastern Europe category.
Saad Hariri tipped to become Lebanon’s new prime minister
By DPA,
Beirut : Saad Hariri, head of the anti-Syrian majority in the Lebanese parliament, was tipped Friday to become the next prime minister after the election of army commander Michel Suleiman as president.
Former president Amin Gemayel, who has close ties to the pro-Western majority, nominated Hariri to take over from Fouad Seniora.
"Since he is the head of the largest parliamentary bloc it's only normal that he (Hariri) becomes the prime minister," Gemayel told DPA.
$300mn UAE aid to Morocco to tackle rising energy prices
By IANS,
Casablanca (Morocco) : United Arab Emirates (UAE) will give Morocco $300 million in aid to help the northwest African kingdom tackle the impact of rising energy costs, WAM news agency reported Sunday.
UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has granted the aid to help ease the impact of rising energy prices, Morocco's ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation said in a statement Saturday.
U.S. soldier killed in bomb attack north of Baghdad
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : An American soldier was killed on Monday by a roadside bomb explosion in Salahudin province north of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
The soldier died as a result of fatal wounds sustained from the blast in the province, the military said in a brief statement.
Two more soldiers were wounded by the blast and were evacuated to a military medical facility for treatment, the statement said.
The name of the deceased soldier is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, it added.
Iran conservatives support ex-nuclear chief for post of speaker
By Xinhua,
Tehran : Iran's majority conservatives on Sunday elected Ali Larijani, former top nuclear negotiator, as the candidate for speaker in the new parliament.
The conservatives chose Larijani by 161 votes against 50 for the outgoing speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Larijani quit as top nuclear negotiator last year and was elected to parliament in March.
Conservatives secured a majority in the new parliament, winning69 percent of the 290 seats in elections in March.
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.
British defense secretary urges combined efforts along Pak-Afghan border to combat extremism
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : It will require determined efforts on both sides of the Afghanistan and Pakistan border to tackle the challenges to global security presented by violent extremism, the visiting British Defense Secretary Des Browne said here on Monday.
Browne made the remarks while holding a series of talks with Pakistan Defense Minister Chaudry Ahmad Muktar, the Chief of the Army Staff General Kayani, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Committee Major General Tariq Majid.
NATO commander says Pakistan sovereign, hopes for agreement enforcement
By NNN-APP,
New York : Acknowledging Pakistan’s sovereignty over its areas, a senior NATO commander in Afghanistan has expressed the hope for enforcement of any peace agreements in the country’s areas along restive Afghan-Pakistani border.
“Pakistan is a sovereign country. Our interest from NATO’s perspective is that whatever agreements are made will hopefully be enforceable,” U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey J.
Schloesser told Newsweek. At the same time, the new NATO commander favored talks with legitimate tribal leaders in Afghanistan.
Gilani seeks more US aid for Pakistan
By IANS,
New York : Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani has urged the US to increase economic and defence aid to help strengthen his country's newly elected democratic government.
Gillani told the Wall Street Journal that he made his case for further aid during a recent meeting in Egypt with President George W. Bush. However, he did not specify how much more in assistance he asked for.
Gillani said further aid was needed to help provide political and economic stability as the nation seeks to fight terrorism after getting a democratically elected government.
IAEA sets ‘new trap’ for Iran, says former president
By DPA,
Tehran : Iran's former president Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani Friday accused the UN nuclear watchdog of setting a "new trap" in its nuclear dispute with Tehran.
In its latest report, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran had failed to provide explanations for intelligence indicating it may have pursued a nuclear arms programme.
The report renewed "baseless claims from the past" and "is a new trap for Iran because we have already clarified all outstanding issues with the IAEA," Rafsanjani told a Friday prayer ceremony.
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.
IAEA to discuss tougher report on Iran’s nuclear issue
By Xinhua,
Beijing : An upcoming meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is expected to focus on a latest report on the Iranian nuclear issue, which struck a tougher tone than before.
The report, prepared by IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei, was submitted last week to the United Nations Security Council and the IAEA Board of Governors, which will start a five-day meeting in Vienna Monday.
Iraq says agreement talks with U.S. still in early stage
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : The Iraqi government said Sunday that its negotiations with the United States over their future relations are still in the early stage and the sovereignty will not be sacrificed.
The remarks came amid strong voice in Iraq against a planned agreement, which is expected to enable the U.S. a long-term military presence here.
The two sides intended to wrap up by the end of July the negotiations which commenced early this year.
Pakistan pays Rs.25 bn to clear oil companies’ bills
By IANS,
Islamabad : With Pakistan freezing domestic prices of petroleum products, the government has been forced to give state-owned oil marketing companies Rs.25 billion to enable them to clear their bills.
The government has frozen domestic prices for a fortnight, the second time it is doing so.
Ruling on headscarf must be respected — Turkish chief of staff
By KUNA,
Istanbul : Turkish Chief of Staff, General Yasar Buyukanit, said Friday the constitutional court's annulment of the parliament's decision to allow Muslim women to wear the "hijab" (headscarf) at universities must be respected, reminding that the country was a secular, democratic state.
Yesterday, the Turkish constitutional court ruled out amendments ratified by parliament to lift the ban on wearing the headscarf at universities and educational institutions.
Musharraf dismisses resignation reports
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Saturday dismissed as baseless rumours of his resignation and said that they have created panic among the people.
"I have not decided to resign. I will remain in Pakistan. I do not have any house outside Pakistan. Rumors about my resignations are rubbish," Musharraf told a group of senior reporters in a programme broadcast live on TV.
"Someone reported that a plane has landed in Islamabad to take me out of Pakistan. But where is the plane?" he asked.
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.
Israeli soldiers kill 2 militants in Gaza
By Xinhua,
Gaza : At least two Palestinian gunmen were killed on Thursday when they tried to storm an Israeli army post in northern Gaza Strip, emergency officials said.
Fighters from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement and the National Resistance Brigades of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) attacked the post in Beit Lahiya town and exchanged fire with Israeli forces, the two groups said in a joint statement.
Hamas dismisses Rice visit as useless
By Xinhua,
Gaza : Islamic Hamas movement on Sunday slammed the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Israel and the West Bank, calling it as useless and a waste of time.
Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman in Gaza said in a written statement sent to reporters that the visit of Rice and her meetings with Palestinian officials "won't bring anything good for the Palestinian people."
"Rice came to the region to exert pressure on President (Mahmoud) Abbas and to spoil the efforts aiming at launching a Palestinian comprehensive dialogue," said Barhoum.
Sarkozy proclaims friendship with Israel, need for Palestinian state
By AFP,
Tel Aviv : French President Nicolas Sarkozy proclaimed his friendship for Israel at the start of a three-day visit on Sunday but also said Israeli security depended on the creation of a Palestinian state.
UN nuclear team to inspect bombed Syria desert site
By AFP,
Damascus : Senior UN atomic experts are set to begin a three-day visit to Syria on Sunday to inspect a mysterious site bombed by Israel last year amid US allegations that it was a nuclear facility.
The team led by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) deputy chief Olli Heinonen left Vienna in the morning but there was no immediate indication in Damascus about their arrival as Syria kept the visit under tight wraps.
Roadside bomb attacks decline in Iraq
By Xinhua,
Washington : Roadside bomb attacks at the Iraq-based U.S. troops declined by nearly 90 percent from the last year, according to a newspaper report on Monday.
The USA Today report was released as one more American soldier was killed and five others wounded in an ambush in Baghdad.
Citing the Pentagon records and interviews with military leaders, the report said that a total of 11 U.S. troops were killed in May by roadside bomb blasts, compared to 92 in the same month last year.
382 illegal migrants arrested in UAE
By IANS,
Sharjah : As part of a drive against illegal migrant workers into the United Arab Emirates (UAE), authorities here have arrested 382 people, WAM news agency reported Tuesday.
Abdullah Ali bin Sahoo, director of the Department of Naturalisation and Residency, said the immigrants have been arrested for violating the country's entry and residency laws.
Sahoo said the department would "continue the inspection campaign to bring violators to book".
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.
Suicide bomber kills 15, wounds 17 west of Baghdad
By Xinhua,
Ramadi, Iraq : A suicide bomber blew himself up at a gathering of tribal leaders and local officials in Anbar province on Thursday, killing 15 people and wounding 17 others, a provincial police source said.
The attacker blew up his explosive-belt in the building of the municipal council of the town of Garmah, near the city of Fallujah, when Sunni Arab tribal leaders and local officials were holding a meeting there, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Pakistan, India Agree to Foster Peace
By Prensa Latina,
New Delhi : Pakistan and India agreed fostering a dialogue for peace between the two countries Friday, with the meeting between the Foreign Affairs Ministers of both nations, Mahmoud Qureshi and Pranab Mukherjee respectively.
Pakistani Foreign Affairs Ministry Qureshi arrived in New Delhi Friday for a three-day visit to improve bilateral relations, fostering the peace dialogue and discuss on bilateral cooperation.
Jordan, Britain sign nuclear co-op memorandum
By Xinhua,
Amman : Jordan entered into a preliminary nuclear accord on Sunday with Britain in a bid to take advantage of the latter's expertise to facilitate its civil nuclear program, a senior Jordanian official said.
Chairman of Jordan Atomic Energy Commission Khalid Touqan told reporters that the U.K. and Jordan have agreed in a memorandum to join efforts to promote "the establishment of a reliable source of nuclear fuel for future civilian light water nuclear reactors" in the energy scarce kingdom.
Taliban frees two abducted Pakistani journalists
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Taliban insurgents Saturday freed two journalists from their captivity in a tribal region in northwestern Pakistan, News Network International news agency reported.
Pir Zubair Shah, a part-time employee of The New York Times and Akhtar Somroo, photographer for the newspaper, were abducted Friday by Taliban insurgents in Mohmand Agency.
The report quoted a Taliban spokesman as saying that the journalists had been freed after preliminary questioning.
Seven killed in suicide blast at Indian embassy in Kabul
By DPA,
Kabul/New Delhi : At least seven people were killed in a suicide attack Monday morning that targetted the Indian embassy in the Afghan capital, officials said.
Five people died on the spot while two succumbed to their injuries in hospital after a suicide bomber blew up his explosives-packed car, according to the Afghan defence ministry.
The attack took place near to the interior ministry, said Zemarai Bashary, interior ministry spokesman.
Car bomb kills 15, wounds 20 outside Indian Embassy in Kabul
By RIA Novosti,
Kabul : A car bomb went off outside the Indian Embassy in Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Monday killing 15 people and wounding over 20, a source in the country's interior ministry said.
Police say the blast was a suicide attack. No terrorist group has yet claimed responsibility.
The Indian Embassy is located opposite the Interior Ministry, but the explosion went off to the side of the building, where people were queuing to receive Indian visas.
French FM sees continuing dialogue with Iran on nuclear issue
By John Keating, KUNA,
Paris : French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said here Monday that he did not see the dialogue ending with Iran after reception of a letter from Iranian authorities which is expected in France later Monday afternoon.
The French Minister explained that he has not had the opportunity yet to read the Iranian letter which has been transmitted to Chief of the EU foreign policy Javier Solana and the other five members of the Six major nations addressing the Iranian issue.
Israel officially confirms signing of prisoners swap deal with Hezbollah
By KUNA,
Gaza : Israel has officially confirmed the signing of a deal to exchange prisoners with Hezbollah, the Israeli radio reported on Monday.
The radio quoted sources in the Cabinet of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as saying that Ofir Dekkel, the official in charge of the file of prisoners and missing soldiers, and the UN envoy Gerhard Conard signed the deal.
Muslim D-8 Group urges quick resolution of Food Problem
By SPA,
Kuala Lumpur : The leaders of the Group of the eight Muslim developing countries (D-8) urged today the governments to work for solving the problem of food, and said failure to resolve this problem would have disastrous repercussions.
Addressing the summit's inaugural session, Malaysian Prime Minister
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi underscored the importance of regional and international cooperation for confronting the problems of oil and food.
The group is comprised of Malaysia, Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Nigeria, and Turkey.
Explosion in Gaza kills 2
By SPA,
Gaza City, Gaza Strip : An explosion went off early Tuesday at a Hamas training camp in Gaza, killing two members of the group and wounding three, a Palestinian health official and Hamas said.
The Israeli military said it was not involved, according to a report of the Associated Press.
The blast came during a three-week-old truce between Gaza's Hamas rulers and Israel.
Terrorism cannot be fought only by using force: Gilani
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has spoken of "a new, multi-pronged strategy" to combat terrorism at home, making it clear that it could not be won only by using force.
Stressing the need for a political dialogue with the pro-Taliban tribals and militants who have been battling the government for long, Gilani told the New Straits Times: "The fight against terrorism cannot be won merely through short-term military, legislative or administrative measures."
Obama, shifting focus from Iraq, eyes more troops for Afghanistan
By NNN-APP,
New York : Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has said he would, if elected, send “at least two additional combat brigades” to fight in Afghanistan and pull out the bulk of US forces from Iraq by mid-2010
“Ending the war (in Iraq) is essential to meeting our broader strategic goals, starting in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the Taliban is resurgent, and al-Qaeda has a safe haven,” Obama wrote in a New York Times article on Monday.
Philippines likely to reopen embassy in Baghdad
By Xinhua,
Manila : The Philippines is likely to reopen its embassy in strife-torn Iraq within the year as the situation there continues to improve, an official from the country's Department of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.
The decision to reopen the embassy in Iraq would depend on security reports from the U.S. government intelligence, Philippine TV network GMA News Reported, citing Jesus Yabes, assistant Foreign Secretary for the Middle East and African affairs.
Military decoration recommended for Kabul attack victims
By IANS,
New Delhi : The four Indians killed in the terror attack outside the Indian embassy in Kabul last week have been recommended for the Kirti Chakra, the country's second highest military decoration for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield, an official said.
The Four Indians - defence attaché Brig. R.D. Mehta, press counsellor V. Venkat Rao and security personnel Roop Singh and Ajai Pathania - were among the 54 people killed in the July 7 attack, in which about 140 people were injured.
U.S. troops capture suspect linked to Iranian-backed Shiite militants
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : U.S. soldiers captured a suspected propaganda specialist affiliated to Iranian-backed Shiite militiamen during a raid on his house in southeastern Baghdad on Monday, the U.S. military said.
Based on intelligence reports, the troops raided the house of the suspect who believed to be affiliated with the Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq in the Baghdad al-Jadida neighborhood, or New Baghdad, a military statement said.
Coalition soldier, several militants killed in Afghanistan
By KUNA,
KabulA soldier of the US-led coalition troops died of wounds he had suffered during a roadside bomb blast in Helmand province of Afghanistan. A statement from the coalition forces' Bagram base said the soldier died this (Monday) morning. His identity and nationality were not released. Earlier in the day, the NATO-ISAF had also announced the death of one of its soldiers in fighting in the southeastern province of Khost.
Coalition operation eliminates several militants in C Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : Several militants were killed Tuesday during a U.S.-led Coalition forces operation to disrupt militant activities in central Afghan province of Wardak, said a Coalition statement released here on Wednesday.
Coalition forces searched several compounds in Sayed Abad district 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, the statement said.
Hamas launches crackdown against Fatah following Gaza blasts
By Xinhua,
Gaza : Hamas forces launched a crackdown on supporters and charities linked to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement in Gaza Strip early Saturday following a mysterious blast that killed a number of Hamas people.
Among the detainees was a colonel working in the pro-Abbas intelligence service and a cameraman works for the German ARD television.
PKK deny link to Turkey bombings
By DPA,
Ankara : A senior Kurdish separatist figure Monday denied that the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) had carried out a bomb attack in Istanbul Sunday night that killed 17 people and left more than 150 injured.
"This is a dark incident... This incident has no connection to the Kurdish freedom struggle. They cannot make a connection with the PKK," Zubeyir Aydar, a former Turkish parliamentarian who is now head of the political section of the PKK, told the PKK-inked Firat news agency.
Pakistan, USA reiterate commitment to jointly fight against terrorism, extremism
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistan and USA have reiterated their commitments to fight together against terrorism and extremism and work for the strengthening democracy.
At a joint news conference in Washington on Monday, after one and a half hour meeting at Oval Office, the US President George W Bush assured Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani that his country would continue its full support to the promotion of democracy and security of Pakistan.
Yousaf Raza Gilani said that majority of Pakistanis are patriotic and a handful of extremists are destabilizing the situation.
Egypt reopens Rafah crossing for Gaza patients
By Xinhua,
Gaza : Palestinian security sources of Hamas' interior ministry said Tuesday that Egypt reopened Rafah border crossing to allow 28 Gaza patients to enter Egypt for urgent medical treatment.
Earlier on Monday, Egypt has opened the crossing on the border with southern Gaza Strip for more than 40 Palestinians, who were stranded at the Egyptian side of the crossing, to cross into the strip, the sources added.
OIC expresses concern over military takeover in Mauritania
By NNN-KUNA,
Riyadh : Secretary-General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has expressed concern over the military takeover staged against the democratically-elected goverrnment in Mauritania Wednesday and detention of the president and prime minister by the army officers.
He said in a statement that he was particularly dismayed by this development as Mauritania had been exhibiting exemplary development towards the entrenchment of democracy and rule of law in the country with the visible positive role and support of its armed forces.
Yusuf Estes explains Islam’s beauty
By IINA,
Jeddah : Prominent American Islamic scholar and a preacher from Texas Yusuf Estes said that the strident smear campaign against Islam and Muslims following September 11 terror attacks in the United States encouraged many American men and women to study and embrace Islam. “They are doing the job for us,” Estes, himself a convert, said while delivering a lecture on “The Beauty of Islam” at the Saudi German Hospital Auditorium here on Friday night. However, he reminded Muslims of their big responsibility in spreading the message of Islam among others.
Kuwait to participate in higher defense session in Paris
By IANS,
Paris : The Fourth international session on the Asia-Middle East region will kick-off here Tuesday at the Higher Institute for Defense Studies, with the participation of several Gulf states, including Kuwait, the French Foreign Ministry announced.
The session, which will be entitled "The factors of instability: which security tools?" is being held as a result of an initiative taken by the French Foreign Ministry with the cooperation of the Defense Ministry.
Pakistan, Turkish air forces to conduct joint exercise: official
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Air forces of Pakistan and Turkey will conduct joint exercises this month, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said on Monday.
"The Exercise would be conducted in Pakistan during the month of April," a PAF statement said." "To benefit from the expertise and professional experiences of each other, PAF and the Turkish Air Force (TuAF) are conducting a Joint Exercise 'Indus Viper-2008' in Pakistan," it said.
The statement said that a contingent of TuAF fighter aircraft and personnel will undertake joint planning and execution of various combat missions in the exercises.
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.
Iran’s army powerful deterrent to enemies: president
By IANS,
Tehran : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in an obvious warning to the West, Thursday said the country's armed forces would react to any threat of aggression.
Addressing a military parade marking the National Army Day here, the president said: "No major power is able to jeopardize the Iranian nation's security and interests of its people. Iran's army, the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij would respond strongly to even the minimum aggression."
Captured UK sailors were not in Iraqi waters, documents confirm
By IRNA,
London : Fifteen British sailors and marines captured by Iran last year were not in Iraq's maritime territory as the UK government claimed, official documents released under the Freedom of Information Act confirm.
The sailors were apprehended in March 2007 because the US-led coalition designated a sea boundary for Iran's territorial waters without telling the Iranians where it was, according to internal Ministry of Defence (MoD) briefing papers.
UN approves Iran’s proposal on combat trafficking antiquities
By NNN-IRNA,
Vienna : Iran's proposal on combat against trafficking antiquities was approved by the 17th session of UN Crimes Commission.
Iran's proposed resolution, passed during the last session of the commission, underlined the need for preserving antique objects as parts of the common human heritage.
It also said that serious measures should be taken to stop the organized groups trafficking the antiquities.
The five-day session, inaugurated in the Austrian capital city on Monday, concluded its work Friday evening.
Two Iranians shot dead by Azerbaijani border guards
By RIA Novosti,
Baku : Azerbaijani border guards shot dead early on Tuesday two Iranians who illegally entered the country with the aim of smuggling alcohol back into Iran, Azerbaijan's Interior Ministry said.
The ministry's press service said three Azerbaijani accomplices met the Iranians near the border to hand over the goods. On being apprehended by border guards, the Iranians opened fire, and were killed in the return fire.
The three Azerbaijanis escaped, but were later detained in a search operation, the statement said. An investigation into the incident is underway.
Isreali warplanes voilate Lebanese airspace
By KUNA,
Beirut : Several Israeli warplanes have violated Lebanese airspace and flew over several Lebanese territories, Lebanese security sources said.
Sources told KUNA Wednesday Israeli fighter jets flew over Tyre and the town of Rashaya, as well as the Western Bekaa region at low altitudes.
The sources added warplanes violate Lebanese airspace almost daily in stark violation of Lebanese sovereignty and UN resolution 1701.
Halt in Gaza aid unacceptable – Russia FM
By NNN-KUNA,
Moscow : The Russian Foreign Ministry criticized on Friday the suspension of food supplies to Palestinian refugees, saying it may lead to famine and more tension.
"The termination of supplies threatens spread of hunger and a sharp rise in internal tension. Moscow believes that such actions, which may be regarded as collective punishment of the civilian population, must be avoided," Boris Malakhov, deputy spokesman for the ministry, told the press.
Second Arab Conference on intellectual property to kick off Saturday
By NNN-KUNA,
Cairo : The Arab League will play host on Saturday to the Second Arab Regional Conference on the Teaching of Intellectual Property Law in the Arab World.
The conference is being co-organized by the league's IP unit, the Arab Lawyers Union (ALU), the IP Regional Institute of Egypt's Holwan University in cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the Cairo-based league said in a statement on Friday.
Oil reserves may not be as high as estimated, warns second district candidate
By KUNA,
Kuwait : Candidate running for the 2008 parliamentary elections in the second constituency, Mansour Muhareb, said Kuwait stood before a great challenge, that of the volume of oil reserves the country sat on.
Speaking at the inauguration of his campaigning headquarters in Abdullah Al-Salem Area Wednesday evening, he said there was speculation over the fact that Kuwait did have 99 billion barrels of reserve oil that would last 140 years, and that the number could in fact be much lower.
Ailing Palestinian refugee leaves old house key to grandsons to symbolizes right of return
By Saud Abu Ramadan, Xinhua,
Gaza : Ailing 87-year-old Abu Mohammed Abu Assi, a Palestinian refugee from al-Shatee (Beach) Refugee camp in western Gaza City, has made his will, leaving his only property and a key of return to his grandsons.
"The key symbolizes the right of return for them and for all refugees worldwide," said frail Abu Assi, who is originally from Hamama, a village near Gaza and now inhabited by Jews.
On Thursday, Palestinians commemorate their Nakba, or catastrophe in Arabic language, as Israelis mark the 60th anniversary of the creation of a statehood.
Fatah al-Islam threatens fighting against “humiliation” in Lebanon
By Xinhua,
Beirut : Fundamentalist Sunni group Fatah al-Islam, defined by Lebanese government as a terrorist group, has vowed to confront those "bowing the heads of the Sunni in Beirut" with "bloodshed," pan-Arab Al-Hayat daily reported Thursday.
In an indirect reference to Shiite Hezbollah group, Fatah al-Islam said in a statement what happened in Beirut, "the killing, burning and humiliation to our Sunni people is not justified or accepted."
Diplomat: Iran staunch supporter of Palestine
By IRNA,
Beijing : Iran's Ambassador to China Javad Mansouri said Friday that Iran will remain supporter of Palestine under any condition.
"Palestine belongs to whole the world of Islam. Muslim nations defend the Palestinians' cause and the Islamic Republic of Iran too will remain supporter of Palestine under any condition," said Mansouri in an address to a group of people at Palestine Embassy in Beijing on the 60th anniversary of Palestine occupation.
Mansouri said Muslim nations should close ranks to foil plots of the world arrogance and Zionism.
Tehran agrees with Solana’s visit on nuclear proposal
By Xinhua,
Tehran : Tehran Wednesday agreed "in principle" to EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana's visit to deliver a promoted incentive package to Iran, reported the official IRNA news agency.
Foreign Minister Manouchrhr Mottaki was quoted as saying that Solana has sent us a message asking us to let him to travel to Iran to deliver the package and "we have agreed in principle with the visit."
The date "will be announced when it was fixed," said Mottaki.
Sources: Abbas intends to reshuffle Palestinian gov’t
By Xinhua,
Ramallah : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas intends to reshuffle acting government of Salam Fayyad by adding more members from his Fatah movement, sources said on Tuesday.
The sources, quoted by local Palestinian news agency Sama, reported that Abbas ordered lawmakers from Fatah to hold discussions over reshuffling Fayyad's government by replacing some ministers and adding more ministers from Fatah.
France strongly denies secret contacts with Hamas
By KUNA,
Paris : The French Foreign Ministry on Tuesday emphatically denied rumours of secret contacts held with the Islamist movement, Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip and which is listed as a "terrorist organization.
" Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascale Andreani said that there was "no official contact" and "no negotiations with Hamas." The official said that a former French ambassador to Iraq and former Director of the Foreign Ministrys Middle East and North Africa department had had "individual" contact with Hamas within the framework of "research" he was doing.
Iran hiding information about nuclear activities: US
By DPA,
Washington : A new UN report shows that Iran "willfully" withheld information about its effort to develop technology that could lead to the building to nuclear weapons, the US said Tuesday.
"The Iranians have been wilfully non-cooperative. And you can read that in the report," US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. "It's disturbing."
The UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released a report Monday saying Iran has failed to adequately answer questions based on intelligence that shows the Islamic state may have sought nuclear arms.
U.S. marine disciplined for missionary conduct in Iraq
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : The U.S. military in Iraq said Friday it has removed a marine from duties for his handing out coins with Bible words to Iraqi Muslims.
The U.S. military said in a statement that it is looking into complains from Fallujah residents that U.S. soldiers have been handing out coins with a Bible verse written in Arabic.
The statement said a marine has been removed from his duties, but noted it was an isolated incident and that there was no collective drive to influence the local Muslim population.
Hamas warns of carrying out escalatory actions to break the sieget
By Xinhua,
Gaza : The Islamic Hamas movement threatened on Saturday to carry out new escalatory measures to break a blockade imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip since the movement took control of Gaza last June.
"The threat to carry out measures to break the siege came after the Egyptian efforts to reach a truce with Israel had failed," said Hamas spokesman in Gaza Sami Abu Zuhri.
Muslim scholars meet in Saudi for inter-faith dialogue
By DPA,
Mecca : Muslim religious scholars, intellectuals and media figures from around the world were to meet Wednesday in the Islamic holy city in Saudi Arabia to lay out the basis for dialogue with other faiths.
The three-day inter-faith conference will be opened by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who had announced in March for the first time plans for dialogue between Muslims, Christians and Jews.
Berlin pledges 420 million euros for rebuilding Afghanistan
By IRNA,
Berlin : The German government has pledged 420 million euros for the Afghan reconstruction process over the next two years ahead of Thursday's Afghanistan Compact meeting in Paris, according to a foreign ministry press statement released Wednesday.
Germany is the fourth largest-donor nation in the war-stricken country.
The conference in the French capital aims to raise more than the 10.5 billion US dollars pledged at the London donors conference two years ago.
Malaysian PM to hand over premiership to his deputy
By Xinhua,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Friday that he had reached an agreement with his deputy Najib Tun Razak to hand over the premiership to the latter at the right time, Malaysia's national news agency Bernama reported.
Badawi made this remark during a tour to Malaysia's northern state of Kelantan, as some people, including some leaders of local branches of the ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO), were still suspicious of the relationship between him and Najib, Bernama said.
Militants, Afghan civilian killed in Coalition forces operation
By Zhang Yunlong, Xinhua,
Kabul : An anti-insurgents operation of the U.S.-led Coalition forces have left several militants killed and one female civilian dead in eastern Afghan province of Paktia, a Coalition statement issued here Friday said.
The Coalition forces while searching compounds in Zurmat district Thursday to target two militant leaders were engaged by armed militants, it said.
"The force responded with small-arms fire and air strikes, killing several militants and a woman who was located with the attacking militants in the building," it said.
Israel arrests seven Palestinian in West Bank
By Xinhua,
Ramallah : Israeli army arrested seven Palestinians in West Bank cities early on Thursday, Palestinian security sources said.
The detentions took place in Nablus, Ramallah, Jenin and Jericho, the sources added.
At dawn, the Israeli army stormed Nablus and arrested three residents during raids and searching operations in houses, said the sources.
Israeli sources said the detainees were taken for interrogation because they were wanted by the security services.
Israel denies negotiations with Palestinians in Washington in July
By NNN-KUNA,
Ramallah : Israel has denied that it will hold talks with the Palestinian side next month in Washington.
"Not true," said Israel's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ari Mickey Sunday, in response to the recent statement by Ahmad Qurei, head of the Palestinian negotiating team, to the Palestinian newspaper Al-Ayyam that his team had received an invitation to visit the United States next month to meet with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to assess the course of negotiations between the Israeli and the Palestinian sides.
Britain to double its assistance to Pakistan
By DPA,
Islamabad : Britain announced Thursday it will double its financial aid to militancy-hit Pakistan, making it to 480 million pounds (about $950 million) by 2011.
The announcement was made by British Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander, who signed an agreement to this effect with the Pakistani government in Islamabad.
The programme, largely meant to eliminate poverty and improve the social sector, would also focus on development in Pakistan's tribal areas, which have seen a steep rise in Islamic militancy.
Iran test-fires long range missile
By IRNA,
Tehran : The promoted long range Shahab-3 missile was successfully test-fired on Wednesday during a naval wargame in the Persian Gulf waters.
The 1,000-kg missile was test-fired on the third day of a naval wargame launched by navy forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) dubbed 'Payambar-e A'zam' (the Great Messenger).
Barak labels UN resolution 1701 as failure
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday criticized that the United Nations resolution 1701 that ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war failed to stop the Hezbollah guerrilla group from arming itself with Syrian assistance.
"Security Resolution 1701 did not work, doesn't work, and is a failure," Barak was quoted by Israel Army Radio as saying during a Labor faction meeting.
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 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.
3,000 detained workers in UAE freed, set to resume work
By IANS,
Dubai : United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities Wednesday ordered the release of around 3,000 expatriate workers, a vast majority of them Indians, who were detained July 4 for their involvement in a violent strike.
"Following police investigations, the release of all the workers, except for eight, has been ordered today (Wednesday)," a diplomatic source told IANS.
"The workers are likely to resume work at their site in Ras Al Khaimah tomorrow," the source said.
The eight detained include seven Indians and one Bangladeshi.
Arab League seeks compromises in Sudan-ICC crisis
By DPA,
Cairo : In an effort to avoid possible prosecution of the Sudanese president on genocide charges, an Arab League committee formed during an emergency meeting Saturday is trying to draw up a conciliatory statement to solve the crisis between Sudan and the International Criminal Court (ICC), diplomatic sources said.
The cirsis erupted when ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo asked the court Monday to issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on suspicion of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
UN-AU Darfur mediator arrives in Khartoum
By NNN-KUNA,
Khartoum : Joint mediator of the UN and African Union (AU) to Darfur Djibril Yipene Bassole arrived here Saturday for talks with Sudanese officials on the situations in the troubled province, and Khartoum's efforts to enforce peace and stability in the western province.
Minister of state at the Sudanese foreign ministry Ali Karti told reporters Bassole's two-day visit, the first since assuming his mediator's post, was to get acquainted with the situation in general in Darfur.
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.
24 killed, 62 injured in three suicide bomb attacks in Baghdad
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : Up to 24 people were killed and some 62 others injured in three suicide bomb attacks, targeting Shiite pilgrims in central Baghdad on Monday, an Interior Ministry source said.
The source confirmed to Xinhua that a total of 24 people were killed and 62 others injured, most of them were Shiite pilgrims.
The attacks took place in the morning when three women suicide bombers struck groups of Shiite pilgrims in the neighborhood of Karrada, the source said.
Emirates gets its first Airbus A380 giant airliner
By Aroonim Bhuyan, IANS,
Dubai : The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) national carrier Emirates airline Monday took possession of the first of the 58 Airbus A380 jumbo aircraft it had placed orders for.
Emirates chairman and chief executive officer Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum attended the function to take possession of the aircraft at Airbus's Jurgen Thomas A380 Delivery Centre in Hamburg, according to an Emirates statement here.
"We have stood firm on our commitment to the A380," Sheikh Ahmed said while accepting the aircraft.
Musharraf to attend Beijing Olympics opening ceremony: spokesman
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will be visiting China to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on August 8, the Foreign Ministry said Monday.
Briefing newsmen in Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said the President will visit China at the invitation from the Chinese Government.
The President will also hold meetings with the Chinese leadership including President Hu Jintao, the spokesman said.
IAEA official due in Tehran Thursday – spokesman
By NNN-IRNA,
Vienna : The United Nations nuclear watchdog's deputy director general, Olli Heinonen, is to visit Iran on Thursday, an IAEA spokesman said.
Talking to IRNA Wednesday, the spokesman did not say how long Heinonen would stay in Iran.
Heinonen is the International Atomic Energy Agency's deputy director-general for regional department of safeguards operation.
He visited Iran in May.
Afghan intelligence agents free German hostage
By DPA,
Kabul : An Afghan-German businessman kidnapped in Kabul was freed by Afghan agents, a spokesman of the country's intelligence service said Thursday.
"Our agency was informed of the case yesterday and our forces conducted an operation last night, freeing the hostage and arresting three of the kidnappers," Sayed Ansari, a spokesman for the National Directorate of Security, told DPA.
Another source from the same spy agency, who did not want to be named, said that the man was freed from a house in Bagram district in northern Parwan province, 50 km from Kabul.
Obama says Israel construction plans ‘unhelpful’
By DPA,
Jakarta: US President Barack Obama Tuesday said newly published Israeli plans to build over 1,300 homes on Palestinian land would not help efforts to reach peace in the Middle East.
Pakistan to enlarge pictorial warning on cigarette packs
By IANS,
Islamabad: The Pakistan government will increase the size of the pictorial health warning on cigarette packets from 30 to 50 percent, a media report said Tuesday.