Top German MP backs Afghan deployment
By IRNA
Berlin : A senior German legislator of the co-ruling Social Democratic Party broke ranks with the country's leadership by supporting US and NATO calls for the deployment of German combat troops throughout Afghanistan, the daily Bild newspaper reported Monday.
IAEA chief warns against military action to solve Iranian nuclear issue
By Xinhua
Cairo : Visiting UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei on Monday warned against a military action to solve the Iranian nuclear issue, the Egyptian official MENA news agency reported.
In an interview with Egyptian TV, ElBaradei, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said a military strike to settle the Iranian nuclear issue would complicate the situation and send the Middle East region into a vicious cycle of violence.
Pakistan on important journey to complete democracy: minister
By NNN-APP
Islamabad : Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Senator Nisar A. Memon said the nation was on important journey to complete democracy and all stakeholders must play their active role in the upcoming general elections and making it a successful.
Taking to PTV Thursday, the Minister expressed satisfaction over the electioneering that was getting momentum day by day across the country.
Five American soldiers killed in Iraq
By Xinhua
Baghdad : Five U.S. soldiers were killed Friday in two separate bombings in Iraq, the U.S. military said on Saturday.
Four soldiers were killed when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device while they were on a combat patrol in northwest of Baghdad, themilitary said.
Another soldier was killed and three others were wounded in an explosion near their vehicle as they carried out operations in Tamim province, the military said in another statement.
The wounded soldiers were sent to a coalition medical facility for treatment.
Israeli airstrike targeting rocket crew in Gaza wounds 2 militants
By Xinhua
Gaza : Two Palestinian militants were wounded early Saturday as an Israeli airstrike hit the group of militants who were preparing for firing home-made rockets into southern Israel from northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical sources said.
"The two men were taken to Beit Hanoun hospital and then transferred to another hospital in Jabaliya refugee camp," said Mu' awia Hassanein, director of ambulance and emergency department at the health ministry.
The two sustained moderate injuries, he added.
Canterbury Archbishop defends remarks on Islamic Shariah
London – (IINA) February 09 – The Archbishop of Canterbury has defended his comments on Islamic Sharia law, following widespread criticism. A statement on his website said that he "certainly did not call for its introduction as some kind of parallel jurisdiction to the civil law". However, at least two General Synod members have called for Dr Rowan Williams to resign following the row. Colonel Edward Armitstead told the Daily Telegraph: "I don't think he is the man for the job." Speaking to BBC radio on Thursday, Dr.
Hamas warns Israel of heavy price if leaders harmed
By Xinhua
Gaza : Islamic Hamas movement on Monday warned that Israel will pay heavy price if the Jewish state harms Hamas leaders in response to Qassam rocket attacks targeting southern Israel from the Hamas-ruled Gaza.
"The Israeli threats against senior leaders like Prime Minister Ismail Haneya are dangerous escalation that we strongly warn against," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri.
Israel will pay the price for any "stupid act it may commit," said Abu Zuhri, adding that if the crimes were carried out, Hamas' response "would be unprecedented."
Palestinian negotiator refuses statehood without Gaza, Jerusalem
By Xinhua
Ramallah : Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Monday the Palestinian Authority led by President Mahmoud Abbas won't accept a future statehood without the Hamas-run Gaza Strip or Jerusalem as its capital.
"The Palestinian statehood will not be created without the West Bank, Jerusalem as the capital, and the Gaza Strip," said Erekat.
British journalist feared missing in Iraq
By NNN-KUNA
London : The UK Foreign Office said Tuesday it was "urgently" looking into reports that a western journalist - said to be British - has been kidnapped in Iraq.
Reports from Iraq said a British employee of US network CBS and his interpreter had been seized by gunmen last Sunday. The pair were reportedly kidnapped near their hotel in Basra.
The British Foreign Office said it was investigating the report.
A spokeswoman said, "We are aware of reports of a western national missing in Basra and we are urgently looking into it."
Iraq-Iran-US round of talks not set yet – Iranian official
By NNN-KUNA
Tehran : Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said on Tuesday that the next round of talks with the United States regarding Iraq is not determined yet.
Hosseini said such talks will be held in Baghdad, but the date is not yet set.
The Iranian official also denied US claims concerning the discovery of Iranian weapons used against the US in Iraq, adding that such claims are made without proof.
Syria pledges efforts to find murderer of Hezbollah leader
By Xinhua
Damascus : Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said Thursday that Syria would find the murderer of Hezbollah commander Imad Moughniyah as soon as possible.
Muallem made the remarks after meeting with his visiting Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki, who came to Damascus following a trip to Lebanon where he attended the late commander's funeral.
Moughniyah was killed in a car bombing in a residential neighborhood in Damascus late Tuesday.
Palestinian brigades attack Israel”s Soufa Crossing
By KUNA
Gaza : The National Resistance Brigades, the military wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Israel's Soufa Crossing Saturday morning.
In a statement, the brigades said one of its units launched an "advanced" locally-made missile at the crossing, located close to Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.
The first flight of PIA leaves for Kuwait
By SPA
Islamabad : The first flight of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) left the newly built Sialkot international airport (SIA) for Kuwait, officials said.
It had 102 passengers on-board. The PIA would operate a weekly flight on Sialkot-Kuwait route.
The airline is considering expanding its network to other international destinations in near future, with a focus on initiating Haj and Umrah flights from Sialkot.
The cargo flights would also be started in the near future from this airport.
Emirates Tests New Baggage Handling Technology At Three Airports
DUBAI, Feb 16 (Bernama) -- Emirates Airline is partnering with London Heathrow, Dubai International and Hong Kong International airports to try the latest radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology in baggage handling.
In a statement today, Dubai-based Emirates said it would invest close to two million dirham to test RFID's effectiveness and benefits against the existing barcode tracking system.
Pakistan counts down to elections amid security concerns
By Xinhua
Islamabad : Political parties and their supporters in Pakistan took a cooling day on Sunday as the country counted down to elections on Monday that will produce a new set of national and provincial assemblies for the country.
The campaigning activities for all political parties ended at midnight on Saturday, leaving the streets of Islamabad relatively quieter on Sunday.
Israeli president warns against wane of peace chance
By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israeli President Shimon Peres on Sunday warned that "the window of opportunity for peace is shrinking."
During a meeting with visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner at his office in Jerusalem, Peres said that "people are losing faith in peace," according to a statement issued by the president's office.
Lamenting that the policy in the Middle East is mostly one of paying lip service rather than that of implementation, Peres said that only substantial changes on the ground may usher in real peace.
British soldier killed in Afghanistan blast
By KUNA
London : A British soldier has been killed and a second injured in an attack in Afghanistan, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Monday.
The soldiers were on foot patrol in southern Afghanistan when they were caught in an explosion yesterday.
An MoD spokesman said "Yesterday evening the soldiers were taking part in a foot patrol near Kajaki, Helmand Province, when they were caught in an explosion".
Foreign observers, ambassadors, analysts express satisfaction over election process
By NNN-APP
Islamabad : Foreign observers, ambassadors and analysts who visited various polling stations across the country have expressed satisfaction over the polling process.
US Senator John Kerry has said that voters and supporters of different candidates have expressed their confidence in the voting process at the polling stations he had visited, Radio Pakistan reported.
In an interview after visiting a polling station, John Kerry said he was impressed by the polling structure devised by the Election Commission.
Hamas delegation heads for talks in Cairo over border issues
By Xinhua
Gaza : A delegation from Hamas movement headed for Cairo for talks with the Egyptian officials on reopening a crossing point between the Hamas-ruled Gaza and Egypt, a Hamas website reported on Tuesday.
Reopening Rafah crossing, which was closed last June when Hamas took over Gaza by force, was the main purpose of the visit, according to Palmedia.net news website.
Turkey may launch major attack on Iraq Kurds in March
By RIA Novosti
Ankara : Turkey may carry out a military operation against Kurdish insurgents based in northern Iraq in the second half of March, a national daily reported on Thursday.
"The operation may only start when the snow begins to melt, which will be some time in late March," Sabah said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, indicated on Wednesday that weather conditions would be a key factor in a possible operation.
Two Palestinians killed, one wounded in Israeli raid on Maghazi Camp
By KUNA
Gaza : Two Palestinian activists were killed and a third was wounded in an Israeli air raid early Friday on Maghazi Camp, central Gaza Strip.
Palestinian witnesses and medical sources said Israeli helicopters launched a missile at a number of Palestinian activists grouping near the border between eastern Maghazi Camp and Israel, killing two and wounding a third.
Ambulances rushed to the area and medics transported the three victims to a hospital in Der Al-Balah, central Gaza.
Kuwaiti FM lauds relations with Tunisia
By NNN-KUNA
Tunis : Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah has lauded relations with Tunisia during his meeting here with President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali.
Speaking to the Tunisian media on Tuesday, Sheikh Mohammad said that the meeting was a chance to view means to bolsteral bilateral relations on different domains.
Thirty one killed in launch capsize incident in Buriganga
By NNN-BSS
Dhaka, Bangladesh : At least 31 people, mostly women and children, drowned this afternoon, when a launch carrying more than 200 passengers capsized in the Buriganga River, rescuers and witnesses said.
They said the Munshiganj suburb-bound vessel, Saurav-1, from Sadarghat in Dhaka, sank near the Buriganga Bridge at Postagala, Being hit by a sand-laden cargo vessel from behind.
Fire service officials said 16 of the victims were women, eight children and seven men.
The death toll could rise, they said, as the rescue operation were continuing.
Bangladesh to discuss lifting of emergency during polls
By NNN-BSS
Dhaka, Bangladesh : Law Adviser of Bangladesh caretaker government AF Hassan Ariff Tuesday said withdrawal of the state of emergency during the period of holding the general election is being discussed, but it is not possible now to give the exact date for its lifting.
"There is no scope for disagreement or controversy about withdrawal of the Emergency Power Rules (EPR) during the polls," the adviser said at the weekly briefing in the conference room of the Land Ministry.
Roadside bomb kills senior police officer in northwest Pakistan
By SPA
Peshawar, Pakistan : A roadside bomb killed a senior police officer and his driver Friday as they drove through a militancy-plagued region of northwestern Pakistan, AP quoted police as saying.
The bomb killed Javed Iqbal, the deputy police chief of the Lakki Marwat district of North West Frontier Province, and his driver as they were driving through the district, said Khaled Khan, a police official. It was unclear who was behind the attack.
Arab League Chief arrives in Damascus to prepare for Arab Summit
By NNN-KUNA
Damascus : Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa arrived here Friday night for talks with Syrian leaders to prepare for the Arab summit, due in Damascus late next month, and the Lebanese political conflict.
Moussa told reporters after arrival that he would discuss with president Bashar Al-Assad on Saturday the Lebanese conflict and preparation for the 20th Arab summit.
He said all Arab conflicts were linked to the summit. Moussa added that his talks with the Syrian officials would deal with these conflicts foremost the Lebanese one.
21 Palestinians, including at least 8 civilians, killed in escalating violence
By SPA
Gaza City : Twenty-one Palestinians, including at least eight civilians, were killed late Friday and early Saturday in escalating Israeli-Palestinian fighting that renewed threats of an Israeli invasion of Gaza and clouded peace efforts. A baby and two teenagers were among the dead, and dozens of people were wounded, AP reported.
In all, 54 people have died since Israeli aggression spiked Wednesday. At least 23 were civilians, the youngest a 6-month-old boy.
Moussa, Syrian president discuss Lebanese crisis, Arab summit preparations
By KUNA
Damascus : Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad discussed Saturday the Lebanese crisis, preparations for the 20th Arab Summit and proposals for its draft agenda.
The official statement by the presidential court gave no further details on the meeting, except that it was attended by Syrian Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Muallem.
Israeli ground troops pull out of northern Gaza
By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israel Defense Forces (IDF) pulled out the ground troops from the northern Gaza Strip early Monday morning, completing the first stage of the activity dubbed Operation Hot Winter.
An IDF spokeswoman told Xinhua that counter-terror operations were expected to continue.
Jerusalem : Israel Defense Forces (IDF) pulled out the ground troops from the northern Gaza Strip early Monday morning, completing the first stage of the activity dubbed Operation Hot Winter.
An IDF spokeswoman told Xinhua that counter-terror operations were expected to continue.
Two anti-Qaida fighters killed in N Iraq
By Xinhua
Tikrit, Iraq : Two members affiliated to local anti-Qaida Awakening Council armed groups were killed and three others injured in shootings in Salahudin province on Tuesday, a provincial police source said.
The two anti-Qaida fighters were killed Tuesday when unknown gunmen showered their car with bullets while they were driving in the al-Dour town, 15 km east of Tikrit, the capital of the province, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
IHC stays notification on PB-35 Khuzdar-III
By APP
Islamabad : A Division Bench of Islamabad High Court here Thursday restrained Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) not to issue official notification of returning candidate on PB-35 Khuzdar-III, till the disposal of case. The Division Bench comprising Justice Mohammad Munir Paracha and Justice Syed Qalbe Hassan heard the writ petition filed by Mian Atta-ur-Rehman Mengal, a PML-Q candidate, through Wasim Sajjad, senior advocate of Supreme Court.
Israel keeps siege on West Bank, arrest attackers of settlement
By NNN-KUNA
Gaza : Israeli Army forces continued on Saturday imposing siege on the West Bank to prohibit Palestinians from entering Jerusalem.
All Israeli security forces and Army units are still on high state of alert in case Palestinians carry out attacks on Israel, local radio reported.
State of alert was announced after Thursday's attack which caused the death of eight Jewish settlers and injured many others.
The radio reported the army is keeping its blockade until Sunday, at least.
Three explosions in Pakistani city, over 20 dead, scores wounded
By KUNA
Islamabad : More than 20 people were killed and scores wounded in three explosions that rocked an east Pakistani city Tuesday morning, a week after two suicide blasts in the city killed over 11 and wounded dozens others, said police and eyewitnesses.
The first explosion took place inside the six-storey Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) building on the busiest Temple Road in Lahore, and the second occurred near a school and Bilawal House of slain Benazir Bhutto in Model Town area, police sources told KUNA.
Israel resumes airstrikes in Gaza
By RIA Novosti
Tel Aviv : Israel resumed airstrikes Thursday against Palestinian militants in Gaza ending a week-long ceasefire in response to new rocket attacks aimed at Israeli border towns, an army spokesperson told RIA Novosti.
According to the Israeli military, Palestinian militants from the radical Islamic Jihad group fired 12 rockets and two mortar shells at southern Israel overnight. No casualties have been reported, but one of the rockets hit a house in the town of Sderot.
"We have carried out an airstrike against a rocket launcher," the spokesperson said.
Japan voices concern over Israeli settlement expansion
By KUNA
Tokyo : Japan voiced concern Thursday over Israel's plans to resume construction of some 750 housing units at the settlement in the vicinity of Jerusalem, urging the Israeli government to immediately reverse the decision.
"Such measure in the controversial settlements might further undermine the momentum for peace and might have negative impacts on the current peace process between the Israeli and the Palestinian sides," Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Kazuo Kodama said in a statement.
UK air strike kills Afghan civilians
By KUNA
London : Four Afghan civilians have been killed in an airstrike by British forces, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.
The attack happened when troops called for help during a Taleban ambush in Helmand Province, south Afghanistan, the MoD confirmed last night.
"We deeply regret that this incident happened and do everything we can to mitigate this from happening," the MoD said.
The four bodies, two women and two children, and one injured person were found when troops inspected the area.
11 suspected militants detained from Afghanistan’s Khost
By NNN-Xinhua
Kabul : Eleven suspected militants have been detained from eastern Afghan province of Khost during a Afghan and Coalition forces joint operation, according to a Coalition statement issued here early Friday morning.
Afghan National Security Force and the U.S.-led Coalition forces on March 12 searched compounds in Tanai district "targeting militants linked to foreign fighter, improvised explosive device and weapons facilitation operations," and detained 11 individuals, it said.
The statement said the detained individuals will be questioned.
Malaysia’s Abdullah Urges OIC To Launch Defence Against Extremism, Islamophobia
By Abdul Muin Abdul Majid, Bernama
Dakar : Malaysia urged the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to mount a defence against extremism and Islamophobia and strive to grow through self-reliance as it handed over the chairmanship of the grouping to Senegal Thursday after four-and-a-half years at the helm.
Bad weather to hit UAE on Saturday and Sunday
By WAM
Abu Dhabi : The National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology of the Meteorological Department is strongly advising drivers to be cautious while driving on the highways on Saturday and Sunday.
It said visibility will be very poor as a result of bad weather caused by sandstorm, particularly in the western region.
The department also advised people who have allergy and asthma to remain indoor during this period.
UAE’s Royal Jet named world’s leading private jet charter
By IANS
London : The United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based flight services company Royal Jet has been named the world's leading private jet charter by the World Travel Awards (WTA), WAM news agency reported Saturday.
The award was presented to Royal Jet's President and CEO Shane O'Hare by the WTA's Executive Director Manon Han at a function here.
Customs duty on cement, steel waived off in UAE
By IANS
Dubai : Even as India grapples with high cement and steel prices, customs duties on these two commodities have been waived off all over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through a ministerial resolution.
The move by Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is in line with the country leadership's efforts to maintain price stability in the real estate market amid the construction boom that this Gulf nation is witnessing.
Dhaka government to talk to parties on poll code
Dhaka, March 25 (IANS) Bangladesh's army-backed caretaker government wants to initiate talks with political parties to evolve a code of conduct for the elections it has promised for this yearend.
But it also wants the politicians' support to sustain political and electoral reforms and the anti-graft drive that politicians say is aimed against them.
Lebanon’s presidential vote postponed for 17th time
By NNN-KUNA
Beirut : Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri has postponed a parliamentary session dedicated for the election of a new president of the republic scheduled Tuesday to April 25 amid continued deadlock between rival political leaders.
The Speaker's Office announced the postponement of the 17th session Monday after the Lebanese political leaders failed once again to reach a political solution that would facilitate the process of electing a president.
French Defense Minister says NATO in control in Afghanistan
By SPA
Paris : The French Defense Minister says NATO forces have «overall control» of the military situation in Afghanistan.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Herve Morin said France is looking at ways of boosting its troop levels there. But he said no decision has been made, and an announcement won't come until next week's NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania.
Mubarak set for talks at Kremlin on nuclear and arms trade
By DPA
Moscow : Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak is expected strike a deal with Moscow during his visit on nuclear cooperation, the terms of which will depend on Russia's ambition to sell arms to Cairo, Russian newspapers said Tuesday.
In opening a two-day visit at the Kremlin, Mubarak expressed hope that "relations which have lasted over 50 years will further develop successfully."
The Egyptian leader, who trained as a pilot in the former Soviet Union, remembered: "I have been in this country many times, I know it well."
Lebanon to boycott Damascus summit
By DPA
Beirut : The Lebanese cabinet decided late Tuesday not to attend the March 29-30 Arab summit being hosted by Syria, a ministerial source said.
"We have decided not to attend the Syrian summit," the source said, without elaborating.
Lebanon's parliament Monday postponed for the 17th time a session to elect a new president, because the ruling coalition and opposition were unable to agree on the makeup of the next government.
The session was put back to April 22 to allow further negotiations.
Imam’s killing is test for justice in Thailand: rights group
By DPA
Bangkok : The slaying and alleged torture of an imam by authorities in southern Thailand poses a "key test" for the country's justice system, deemed one of the causes of the cycle of violence in the area, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.
The New York-based human rights group said the death this month of Yapa Koseng has highlighted the broader problem of ill treatment of Muslims in Thai Army custody during operations against militants.
U.N. Chief: Annapolis Target for Two-State Solution Achievable
By SPA
United Nations : United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Tuesday said the “ambitious goal” of an independent Palestinian state living side by side with Israel by the end of 2008 is achievable.
Israeli DM considers approving US plan to transfer weapons to W. Bank
By KUNA
Gaza : Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is considering approving a US plan to allow the transfer of weapons, protective gear, and night-vision goggles for Palestinian security forces in the West Bank, The Jerusalem Post reported on Wednesday.
Pakistan considers UN role in probing Bhutto’s killing
By Xinhua
United Nations : Pakistan's new prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that the country may ask the United Nations to investigate Benazir Bhutto's assassination, a UN spokesperson said Wednesday.
Michele Montas told reporters that UN chief Ban Ki-moon had called the prime minister Wednesday morning to congratulate him.
At that point, the prime minister informed the secretary-general that the Pakistani Parliament intended to take up the issue of a potential UN investigation into Benazir Bhutto's assassination.
Iraqi parliament speaker calls for extraordinary session to end clashes
By Xinhua
Baghdad : Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoudal-Mashhadani on Friday called for an extraordinary session to discuss the ongoing clashes between the government troops and Shiite militiamen.
Chinese delegation call on PPP leaders
By APP
Islamabad : China and Pakistan agreed on mutual consensus over exchange of trade, youth and cultural delegations to strengthen the brotherly relationship between the two countries and formulation of strategy particularly to counter terrorism.
It was proposed in the meeting held between the Chinese delegate headed by Liu Hung Cai of Communist Party of China and leaders of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) comprising Jhangir Badar, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Senator Raza Rabani, Nafeesa Shah and Ibn- Muhammad Rizvi here in People’s Secretariat.
UN Chiefs “offensively anti-Islamic” video, appeals for calm
By APP
United Nations : UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Friday strongly condemned the Internet broadcast of a video made by the Dutch politician Geert Wilders, describing it as “offensively anti-Islamic,” while calling on those upset by the film to remain calm.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson after Thursday night’s airing of the film, Ban said “there is no justification for hate speech or incitement to violence. The right of free expression is not at stake here”.
Major corruption charges leveled against son of former Bangladesh PM Zia
By KUNA
New Delhi : In a major anti-graft move, Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has formally leveled charges against Tareque Rahman, detained son of former PM Khaleda Zia, for amassing illegal wealth and concealing information.
ACC submitted the charge sheet to the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at Dhaka last night, Bangladesh's leading English daily 'The Daily Star' reported Tuesday.
Man divorces two wives in three minutes – over SMS
By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : A Malaysian businessman divorced both his wives in three minutes, pronouncing 'talaq' by using the short messaging service (SMS) in front of a lower court judge.
Roslan Ngah, 44, informed the media in advance about his intention but the latter took it as an April Fool's joke, till it actually happened, The Star newspaper said Wednesday.
He admitted that the two wives, having become "close friends", had actually sought the divorce together and he felt sad about it.
U.S. airstrike kills family members in southern Iraq
By Xinhua
Basra, Iraq : A U.S. air strike hit a house in Iraq's second largest city of Basra, killing three people and wounding six others, all were from one family, witnesses said on Thursday.
"A U.S. aircraft pounded a house in the al-Qiblah neighborhood in western the city of Basra last night," residents of the neighborhood told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
The attack killed three civilians, including a woman, and wounded six others, all from one family, they said.
Israel removes 50 West Bank barriers easing Palestinian travel
By RIA Novosti
Tel Aviv : Israel has notified the U.S. and the Palestinian National Authority that it has removed 50 roadblocks to ease the movement for Palestinians in the West Bank, the Haaretz newspaper reported Thursday.
The removal of the barriers was part of a package of measures agreed Sunday at a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Israeli defense minister, Ehud Barak, and Palestinian prime minister, Salam Fayyad.
Turkish PM plays down European court verdict on PKK
By KUNA
Ankara : Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan played down Friday the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Communities to cancel the Turkish-outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) from the blacklist of terrorist organizations.
The position of the European countries against the PKK did not change despite the court verdict, Erdogan told reporters here following an official visit to Sweden.
Leaders of the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, and the European Parliament, assured that the PKK would remain blacklisted, he disclosed.
Iran receives US official note to hold talks on Iraq: FM
By NNN-IRNA
Tehran : Iran has received an official note from US officials to hold the fourth round of talks on Iraq, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said.
"We are studying the US officials' repeated request which was sent to us as an official note to hold new round of talks on Iraq," Hosseini told his weekly press conference here Monday.
The fourth round of talks between Iranian and US officials on Iraq's security situation was expected to be held on March 6, but was cancelled at the last minute.
Two NATO soldiers among 22 killed in Afghan violence
By KUNA
Kabul : Two soldiers of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) were among the 22 people killed in fresh violence in different parts of Afghanistan, officials here said on Monday.
A NATO spokesman said two British troopers were killed as their patrol hit a landmine blast in the southern Helmand province, where they are stationed as part of the peacekeeping operations of the multi-national force.
Pakistan hints to lift restrictions on detained nuclear scientist
By IRNA
Islamabad : Pakistan's Foreign Minister hinted on Monday to lift restrictions on the country's nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, who has been under detention since January 2004.
Khan was put under house arrest after he was produced on the state-run television to say that he exported nuclear technology outside Pakistan.
But Khan said in recent interviews that he had taken responsibility of nuclear transfer only to save the country.
Pentagon files charges again an Afghan detainee in Guantanamo
By KUNA
Washington : The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) declared on Monday charges against a Guantanamo detainee from Afghanistan.
"Mohammed Kamin provided material support to terrorism by joining the terrorist organization al Qaeda and receiving training at al Qaeda training camps on making remote detonators for improvised explosive devices (IEDs)", said the Pentagon in a statement.
Iraq violence casts pall on key US Congress report
By AFP
Washington : US lawmakers Tuesday grilled the top US general in Iraq amid fierce fighting on the ground as Shiite radical leader Moqtada al-Sadr threatened to end a truce which had helped staunch the bloodshed.
Sadr's threat hung over the key hearing in the US Congress, as General David Petraeus urged troop withdrawals to be frozen for at least 45 days after July to allow military commanders to review security.
Senior Qaeda operative arrested in Iraq’s Anbar province
By NNN-KUNA
Baghdad : The Iraqi Ministry of Interior has announced that Iraqi forces have detained the assistant of Abu Ayub Al-Masri, senior Al-Qaeda leader, in Al-Anbar.
The ministry said Thursday that the Iraqi forces managed to arrest Nazal Sabar Al-Jughaify, aka Abi Al-Jarrah, who is an assistant of Abu Ayub Al-Masri, and another Al-Qaeda senior leader in western Iraq on Tuesday.
The statement said the arrest took place in Al-Ramadi, Al-Anbar's largest city.
The arrestee was spotted and captured after two years of trying to track him down.
Police: 10,000 workers protest in Bangladesh
By SPA
Dhaka, Bangladesh : An official says about 10,000 textile workers have clashed with police near Bangladesh's Capital during protests demanding better wages to meet higher food prices, the Associated Press reported.
Dozens of people including at least 20 police officials have been injured in violence Saturday, police station Official Angur Akhter said by telephone.
The protesters are demanding better wages so that they can face higher food prices, she said.
KABUL, Afghanistan, February 08, SPA -- Bitter cold, nowstorms and avalanches have killed at least 654 people in Afghanistan this winter, a government official said.
Weather-related incidents have also left 84 people injured and killed at least 100,000 cattle, said Abdul Matin Edrak,
head of the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Commission.
Afghanistan is one of the world's poorest countries and is largely mountainous, with winter temperatures often plunging well below freezing, the Associated Press reported.
Eight security personnel killed in Peshawar blast
By IANS,
Peshawar : Eight security personnel were killed when an abandoned car they sought to check exploded on the outskirts of Pakistan's Peshawar city Saturday.
Residents of Badahber village had alerted the police to the car parked on a roadside with a man's body inside. As the police team approached it, the vehicle blew up, the authorities said.
A media report identified the dead as five policemen and three Frontier Constabulary soldiers. At least six people were injured.
Dawn News quoted a police official as saying that a remote-controlled bomb was planted in the car.
Malaysia top favorite ‘halal holiday’ destination
By IINA,
Jeddah : Malaysia tops the world’s favorite destinations for Muslim travelers, according to a survey released on Tuesday.
The United Arab Emirates and Turkey...