Would-be suicide bomber shot dead in Afghanistan
By KUNA,
Kabul : A burqa-clad suicide bomber, approaching towards a police compound in southern Afghanistan, was shot dead by Afghan policemen guarding the compound, officials said on Thursday.
The incident happened in the volatile Helmand province of Afghanistan this morning, said provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Mohammad Hussain Andiwal.
He said a man wearing a burqa was spotted by policemen approaching towards the compound. He was warned not to approach the police compound.
‘Pakistan must shut down terror networks’
By IANS,
Islamabad : More than just taking action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage, Pakistan must shut down the terror networks operating in this country, an editorial in a leading English daily said Wednesday, while another urged India to stop the blame game and take the investigations to their logical conclusion.
Hindu to advise Pakistan PM on madrassas
By IANS
Islamabad : Pakistan's Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro has appointed Amar Lal, a Hindu, as his special advisor to monitor the process of registration and reforms of Deeni Madaris, Online news agency reported.
Lal will enjoy the status of a federal minister. Soomro ordered his appointment Dec 16.
Pakistan to flush out Chinese militants
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan will flush out Chinese militants hiding in its tribal areas, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said.
Somali MP shot dead
By IANS,
Mogadishu: Unidentified gunmen have shot dead a member of the new Somali parliament, Xinhua reported
Iraqi engineer feared drowned in Australia
By NNN-Bernama
Melbourne : The search continues for an Iraqi man feared drowned after he was swept away in the Murray River Sunday near the rural town of Cobram, north of here.
Police said the 45-year-old and his 11-year-old son were swimming in the river when they got into difficulties about 12.15pm on Sunday.
The ``Herald Sun’’ newspaper named the missing man as Abdul Aljaleei (Aljaleei), who emigrated from Iraq 11 years ago, and his son as Baker.
“Rescuers were able to assist the boy but they were unable to reach the man,” a police spokesman said.
Islamic school in Britian gives students anti-IS classes
London : An Islamic school in Britain is holding classes for students as young as 11 years old in order to help them recognise...
Pakistan’s bomb has prevented war with India: A.Q. Khan
By Arun Kumar,IANS,
Washington : Pakistan's nuclear arsenal has prevented a conventional war with India and made the "nation walk with heads held high", boasts notorious Pakistani scientist A Q Khan, considered the father of Islamabad's clandestine nuclear weapons programme.
"Our nuclear programme has ensured our survival, our security, and our sovereignty ... I am proud to have contributed to it together with my patriotic and able colleagues," the man accused of running a nuclear black market said in a published interview.
India won’t question Bangladesh polls: Sushma Swaraj
Dhaka : India has no opinion on the Jan 5 general election in Bangladesh which the Awami League won amid criticism by the West,...
Morocco’s king greets UAE president on Eid
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi : UAE's President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has received a cable of greetings from King Mohammed VI of Morocco on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr.
Two Palestinians killed in Israeli air strike in Gaza – witnesses
By KUNA
Ramallah : Two Palestinians were killed and two were injured when an Israeli warplane struck a civilian car with a missile in central Gaza Strip on Wednesday, eyewitnesses said.
They told KUNA an Israeli jet unleashed two missiles at a civilian car in Salahuddin street in Buraij refugee camp. One missile hit the car while the other missed it, they added.
Medical sources said remains of two dead persons were rushed to the hospital in addition to the two injured. The dead cannot be identified.
Nawaz Sharif acquitted in plane hijacking case
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan's Supreme Court Friday acquitted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the 10-year-old plane hijacking case lodged against him by the government of General Pervez Musharraf, a media report said.
A five-member bench of the apex court, which heard the case June 18 and reserved its verdict, unanimously acquitted the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader declaring earlier court decisions invalid, Geo TV reported.
NATO soldier, 14 Taliban fighters killed in Afghanistan
By DPA,
Kabul : A NATO soldier was killed in a roadside bomb blast in southern Afghanistan, while Afghan and NATO forces killed 14 Taliban fighters in the country's north, officials said Tuesday.
The alliance military did not disclose the nationality of the deceased, nor did it say where exactly in southern Afghanistan the incident took place. Most of the foreign troops stationed in the region are from the United States, Britain, Canada and the Netherlands.
Pakistan to share evidence of foreign elements behind terror
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan will share with the international community the evidence of foreign elements supporting terrorists to destabilise the country, a foreign ministry official said Saturday.
"We have gathered proofs of some anti-Pakistan foreign elements supporting terrorists in our tribal areas to destabilise Pakistan and we would share it with the concerned countries at international level,? foreign office spokesman Abdul Basit was quoted as saying by the Online news agency.
Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund to participate in Chinese Disaster Management Workshop
By NNN-APP,
Islamabad : China has invited Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) to share its expertise on conceptualisation and institutionalisation of broad reconstruction strategy in earthquake-ravaged provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi.
The State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development of China and Department for International Development (DFID) are jointly organizing an expert Workshop on International Planning for Reconstruction and Response to Disaster on July 15, 2008 in Beijing.
125,000 Bangladesh freedom fighters to get higher allowance
By IANS,
Dhaka : The Bangladesh government has announced higher allowance for 125,000 people who participated in the country's freedom movement against Pakistan in 1971.
The amount is being raised from Taka 1,500 ($21.50) to Taka 2,000 from July 1, beginning of the next fiscal, State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Captain (retd) A.B. Tajul Islam told parliament Thursday.
The state minister said the number of freedom fighters across the country is 125,000, including 5,338 who were injured, The Daily Star reported.
Jordan’s queen appeals for humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza
By DPA,
Amman : Jordan's Queen Rania Monday issued an impassioned appeal to the world community to move promptly to force Israel to halt its offensive on the Gaza Strip for humanitarian reasons.
"At the very least, we must push for a ceasefire, a humanitarian ceasefire, a ceasefire for children, to help the wounded, to look for those buried under the rubble, to tend to the sick and elderly trapped in their homes, and to bring in vital medical supplies, equipment and staff," the queen said at a hastily arranged press conference.
Taliban claims attack on ceremony attended by Karzai
By DPA,
Kabul : A Taliban spokesman said six of their fighters armed with assault rifles opened fire during a ceremony which was attended by President Hamid Karzai and his cabinet ministers Sunday.
Karzai abruptly left the parade, held to commemorate the victory of the mujahideen against Soviet forces, after shooting out was heard in live telecast.
"Six of our mujahideen attacked the ceremony and in the shootout three of them were martyred and the other three after the attack fled the area and are in a safe place," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told DPA.
UK lecturers urged to sever links with Israeli universities
By KUNA,
London : British academics are set to reignite an international row Wednesday as they urge fellow lecturers to consider whether they should sever links with Israeli universities, their union said.
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) will highlight the "humanitarian catastrophe imposed on Gaza by Israel" at their annual congress in Manchester, northern England.
A motion passed by the union last year provoked outrage from academics and politicians in Britain and overseas.
The UCU meeting today is set to reopen the row with a similarly worded call to members.
Nine killed in two attacks in Pakistan
Islamabad : At least nine people were killed and eight injured Friday in two separate attacks in Pakistan.
In the first attack, eight soldiers of...
Abbas to push Olmert on state of peace talks-aide
By SPA
Ramallah, West Bank : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will assess the state of peace talks
with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at their next planned meeting in Jerusalem on Monday, a senior Abbas aide said.
Monday's meeting will be the first between the two leaders since Abbas briefly broke off talks last month following Israel's killing of over 120 Palestinians, many of them civilians, in an offensive in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, Reuters reported.
Israeli FM: Halting peace negotiations only serves Hamas
By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Halting ongoing peace negotiations with the Palestinians will simply play into the hands of the Islamic Hamas movement, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was quoted by local daily Yedioth Ahronoth as saying on Monday.
US intends to work with Palestinian unity government
Washington: The US intends to work with the new Palestinian unity government, but will monitor its policies closely, the State Department said Monday.
"At this...
Floods claim two dozen lives in northwest Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : Flash foods triggered by heavy rain last week have claimed over two dozen lives and destroyed more than 400 houses in northwestern Pakistan, the UN said Tuesday.
"The floods have caused reported deaths of 27 people, with up to nine people reported missing. Up to 450 homes were also destroyed, along with a massive loss of crops and livestock," Online news agency quoted UN deputy spokesperson Marie Okabe as saying.
New oilfield discovered in Iran
By Xinhua,
Tehran : Iran Sunday said a new oilfield has been discovered in the southern part of the country with an estimated reserve of 525 million barrels.
Satellite channel Press TV quoted oil minister Gholam-Hossein Nozari as saying that the discovery near the port city of Assaluyeh is "unprecedented given that all previous discoveries in the area are gasfields".
The new oilfield is located near the port city of Assaluyeh in Bushehr province, Nozari said.
Greek ship latest victim of Somali piracy
By DPA,
Nairobi : A Greek ship has become the third vessel seized by Somali pirates since they took control of a Saudi supertanker over the weekend in their most daring raid yet, a maritime official said Wednesday.
Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme said he had received reports that a Greek ship was taken Tuesday along with some 25 crew members. There was no information on the ship's name, cargo or destination.
Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre, said Wednesday he could not confirm the report.
Obama sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan
By DPA,
Washington : US President Barack Obama has made the long-awaited announcement that he is deploying 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan while pledging to begin withdrawals in 18 months, hoping an exit strategy will quell growing public opposition to the war.
"If I did not think that the security of the United States and the safety of the American people were at stake in Afghanistan, I would gladly order every single one of our troops home tomorrow," Obama said Tuesday.
TV host killed in Iraq bombing
By IANS,
Baghdad : A television presenter working for a channel in Iraq was killed when a sticky bomb attached to his car blew up, Xinhua reported.
12 killed in Afghan suicide bombing
By IANS,
Kabul : At least 12 people were killed in a suicide bombing Monday in Afghanistan's northern city of Kunduz, Xinhua reported.
Two Hamas TV cameramen killed in Gaza strike
By IANS,
Gaza: Two cameraman working for the Hamas' Al-Aqsa satellite channel were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Xinhua reported.
Six killed in gunfight outside US consulate in Turkey
By DPA,
Ankara : Three police officers and three unidentified gunmen were killed in a firefight Wednesday outside the main gate of the US Consulate in Istanbul, the private NTV television channel reported.
Witnesses told NTV that a white car slowed down and stopped outside the main gate of the consulate in the suburb of Istinye. Three of the passengers got out of the car and fired at the police, starting a gun battle that lasted up to eight minutes.
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.
23 killed, dozens injured in Islamabad blast
Islamabad: At least 23 persons were killed and scores of others injured in a huge explosion at a vegetable market in the Pakistani capital...
Pakistan’s abducted diplomat freed
By SPA,
Islamabad : Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan Tariq Azizudin has been freed three months after he was abducted in the Pakistan's tribal region while traveling to the Afghan capital of Kabul, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said.
No other details were available about Azizudin's release, CNN reported.
Azizudin was last seen a month ago when video was released of him pleading for the Pakistan government to negotiate for his release.
Quake jolts Turkey
By IANS,
Istanbul : An earthquake measuring 5.2 magnitude on the Richter scale hit Turkey Monday evening, causing panic among residents of its Istanbul city, Xinhua reported.
Navy commander among two killed in Karachi
By IANS,
Islamabad : Two people, including a lieutenant commander of Pakistan Navy, were shot dead by gunmen Wednesday in the country's port city of Karachi.
Musharraf denies he misappropriated US anti-terror funds
By DPA,
Islamabad : A spokesman for President Pervez Musharraf has denied that the embattled leader had "misappropriated" millions of dollars of military aid provided to Pakistan by the United States since the September 11, 2001 al-Qaeda terrorist attacks.
"The allegations are absurd and baseless. Every penny that we got in aid since 2001 has been accounted for," presidential spokesman Rashid Qureshi Sunday told DPA.
Maldives president must step down: Nasheed
By IANS,
Male : Maldivian President Mohammed Waheed Hassan must quit and an interim, caretaker government should be set up, former president Mohamed Nasheed demanded Thursday.
Modi is the worst of the worst … wo zaalim hai, says Vastanwi
By Siraj Wahab in Makkah for TwoCircles.net
Bangladesh Islamist leaders denied bail, told to surrender
By IANS,
Dhaka : The Dhaka High Court has rejected the bail pleas of five Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) leaders, including its chief Matiur Rahman Nizami, in two cases filed against them for hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims. They were also directed to surrender before the trial court within nine weeks.
Nizami and four others face trial for allegedly seeking to compare Nizami with Prophet Muhammad.
A criminal case was filed at a Dhaka court in March against five JeI leaders, including Nizami and secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed.
India, Saudi Arabia cooperating in fight against terror: President
New Delhi : India and Saudi Arabia share many security concerns and have been cooperating in the fight against terrorism, President Pranab Mukherjee said...
Five bodies found in Afghan province
By IANS,
Kabul : At least five bodies of people kidnapped and killed by militants have been recovered in Afghanistan's Logar province near Kabul, a government official said Thursday.
US House links aid to Pakistan with fight against terrorism
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : The US House of Representatives has passed a bill proposing to triple US non-military aid to Pakistan to $1.5 billion a year but linking military assistance to Islamabad demonstrating a sustained commitment to combating terrorist groups.
Khamenei congratulates Iranian scientists on satellite launch
By IANS,
Tehran : Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has complimented Iranian scientists for their success in sending the first domestically-produced satellite into orbit, IRNA reported.
In a message Tuesday in response to a letter from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Ayatollah Khamenei expressed appreciation for the efforts of Iranian officials and scientists "for their efforts which made such a praiseworthy move possible".
"This is another sign that the hope that the Islamic Revolution has brought to hearts is true," he stated.
UAE emirate, Canada discuss relations
By IANS,
Ras al Khaimah: Ras al-Khaimah, one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), discussed bilateral relations with Canada and ways to enhance them.
Pakistan frees 151 Indian prisoners
Islamabad : Pakistan Sunday released 151 Indian prisoners as a goodwill gesture ahead of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's visit to New Delhi to attend...
India, Afghanistan reiterate to effectively combat terrorism
By IRNA,
New Delhi : Agreeing that terrorism is main threat undermining peace and stability in region, India and Afghanistan Wednesday reiterated their resolve to effectively combating and defeating it.
In a joint statement issued by External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna and his Afghan counterpart Zalmai Rassoul, who is currently on a visit to India at the invitation of Krishna, the two leaders emphasised the need for ensuring that terrorist and extremist groups, targeting Afghanistan and other countries in the region, are denied safe havens and sanctuaries.
Some 13,000 Saudies trained for tourism
By NNN-SPA,
Dammam (Saudi Arabia) : Some 13,000 Saudis have been trained to work in the tourism sector and related fields through the National Project for the Development of Tourism Human Resources initiated by the General Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (GCTA).
The move is part of the nationalisation of the travel and tourism sector in which Saudis of both sexes are being trained in specific skills and also in how to deal with tourists on a personal level through the project’s awareness programme.
Gunbattle in Kabul after attack near Afghan presidential palace
By DPA,
Kabul : Fighting raged across central Kabul Monday after an unknown number of militants occupied a building near the presidential palace and two blasts rocked the Afghan capital. At least four Taliban bombers were killed and 18 people were wounded, officials said.
A suicide bomber targeted a building near the foreign ministry, killing and wounding several people, private television channel Tolo reported.
An hour later, another bomber detonated himself outside a cinema hall, also in downtown Kabul, causing an unknown number of casualties, witness Abdul Halim said.
Iran vows to take measures over new UN sanctions
TEHRAN, February 24 (RIA Novosti) - Iran will act appropriately, if the UN Security Council passes a new sanctions resolution against the Islamic Republic, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said on Sunday.
The five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany agreed at talks in Berlin on January 22 on a draft for a third sanctions resolution against Iran calling for travel bans, asset freezes and vigilance on banks in the Islamic Republic.
Taliban commander joins peace process in Afghanistan
Kabul : A key Taliban commander in Afghanistan has surrendered and joined the government-backed peace process, a provincial police chief said Tuesday.
"Taliban commander in...
Iran says trying to help Lebanese reach consensus
By Xinhua
Damascus : A visiting Iranian senior official said here on Sunday that his country makes all efforts to help the Lebanese groups reach a consensus.
Representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani made the remarks at a press conference while responding to a question on Iran's stance on an Arab League (AL) plan to elect Lebanese Army Chief Michel Suleiman as president, form a national unity government and approve a new election law in Lebanon.
US troops will pull out in three years under new deal – Iraqi FM
By NNN-KUNA,
London : American soldiers will withdraw from cities across Iraq next summer and all US combat troops will leave the country within three years, provided the violence remains low, under the terms of a draft agreement with the Iraqi government, it was reported here.
In one of the most detailed insights yet into the content of the deal, Hoshyar Zebari, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, told The Times newspaper that the US military would be barred from unilaterally mounting attacks inside Iraq from next year.
Islamic State ‘driven out of Kobane’
Damascus: Kurdish forces have driven Islamic State (IS) militants from Kobane, officials say, ending a four-month battle for the northern Syrian town.
Fighters from the...
Saudi Health Ministry is the competent authority to ban Haj visas
Jeddah : Minister of Haj Dr. Bandar bin Mohammed Hajjar announced that the Ministry of Health is the competent authority to issue instructions with...
US video show North Koreans inside Syrian nuclear site: Report
By DPA,
Washington : Members of the US Congress were to be shown a video Thursday that purportedly shows North Koreans inside a Syrian nuclear facility which was the target in September of an Israeli airstrike, the Washington Post reported.
The video, obtained from Israel and recorded in summer 2007, includes footage from inside the Syrian nuclear site, known as al-Kibar, the report said citing senior US officials speaking on condition of anonymity.
Connectivity key aspect of India-Turkmenistan ties: Modi
Ashgabat (Turkmenistan): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that connectivity is a key aspect of the relationship between India and the Central Asian...
Palestinian brigades attack S. Israel
By KUNA,
Gaza : Palestinian brigades continued here Friday launching rockets and mortars against the adjacent southern Israeli towns from across the Palestinian borders.
The National Resistance Brigades, the military wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, claimed responsibility for firing two mortar shells at Nahel Oz military post, located eastern Gaza.
It added that this attack came to mark the 60th anniversary of the Palestinian catastrophe, "Nakba," and the continued Israeli aggression in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Al Qaeda forms army of 12,000 fighters in Yemen
By IANS,
Sana'a : The Yemen-based wing of militant outfit Al Qaeda has threatened to "cleanse the land" with a new army of 12,000 fighters.
"We have a good news for the Islamic nation, that an army of 12,000 fighters is being prepared in Aden and Abyan," Xinhua quoted Mohamed Saied al-Omda, field commander of the Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) as saying in an audio recording posted on a website Thursday.
"By this army, we will establish an Islamic Caliphate," said al-Omda, referring to Yemen's southern province of Abyan and the port city of Aden.
Report: Over 80% Internet services recover in Egypt
By Xinhua,
Cairo : The Egyptian authorities said Internet services have restored more than 80 percent on Sunday, two days after several undersea cables in the Mediterranean Sea were cut.
An official source of the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology confirmed that the Internet capability has been gradually recovered in the day, the state MENA news agency reported.
On Friday, up to 80 percent of Internet services and call centers in Egypt were cut after the submarine cables were damaged south of Italy for unknown reason.
Berlin claims no information on German role in Hamas murder case
By IRNA,
Berlin : A spokesman for the German foreign ministry alleged he had no independent information on an Arab newspaper report which said that a German national was implicated in the recent killing of a prominent Hamas leader in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
He added the German Embassy in the UAE had yet to get involved in the murder case of Mahmoud Abdel-Raouf Mohammed Hassan, also known as Mahmoud al- Mahbouh.
Meanwhile, the Hamburg-based weekly news magazine Der Spiegel identified the German suspect as 43-year-old Michael B.
Root out safe havens for terrorists, Obama tells Pakistan
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Warning Pakistan that US would not tolerate terrorist safe havens in its tribal belt along the border with Afghanistan, President Barack Obama has advocated a regional approach to root them out.
"There is no doubt that, in the FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Area) region of Pakistan, in the mountainous regions along the border of Afghanistan, that there are safe havens where terrorists are operating," he said at his first White House press conference Monday night.
Syrian DPM for Economic Affairs holds talks with total group in Paris
By NNN-SANA,
Paris : Syrian Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdullah al-Dardari has held a meeting at the headquarters of the French company Total as a follow-up to the recent Syrian-French Summit between Presidents Bashar al-Assad and Nicolas Sarkozy.
The meeting Monday included heads of Total's Middle East Department, including Director of the Middle East and Director of Exploration and Production Ladislas Paszkiewicz, General Director of Gas and New Energies Philippe Boisseau, and Director of Strategies Benoit Luc.
32% Pakistanis reduce food consumption due to price hike: survey
By IRNA,
Islamabad : A recent poll shows that 32% of Pakistanis say they have reduced food consumption due to price hike in food items.
The Pakistani study was carried out by Pakistan Institute of Public Opinion, the Pakistani affiliate of Gallup International, among a sample of 1732 men and women in rural and urban areas of the country during 3 & 4 August 2008.
Around 56 per cent say that the rising cost of food, fuel and electricity, has affected them and their family 'a great deal'.
Pakistan does only slightly better than India when it comes to reduced food consumption.
Islam vs West’- a false divide’: UN chief
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 9 (APP): UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for action to correct the prevailing misperception that the West is in engaged in a confrontation with the Muslim world.
“People should really try to understand more the cultures and traditions of others,” Ban told an informal meeting with members of the Chicago Tribune editorial board in Chicago, where he was on a visit.
“There is a perception that the West is on one side and the Muslim world is on the other. We must try to cut off this misperceived linkage.”
U.S.: six nations to renew talks on Iran’s nuclear issue
By Xinhua
Washington : Officials from the United States, Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany are due to meet later this month in a bid to renew their efforts to make Iran halt its sensitive nuclear work, the State Department said on Monday.
"I can only narrow it down to mid-April. We're going to wait, we're going to let our hosts announce the meeting," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.
The spokesman did not offer more details of the meeting, including who will host the talks.
Tripura protest condemns killing of Bangladeshi-American writer
Agartala : Intellectuals, singers, writers and political activists staged a protest here on Sunday to denounce the killing of a Bangladeshi-American blog-writer in Dhaka...
Ten percent women in Saudi parliament
By IANS,
Riyadh : For the first time, women will represent 10 percent of the 150 seats of the Saudi Shura, or consultative council, in the coming legislative term, Xinhua reported.
UAE troops distribute aid in Afghanistan
By IANS/WAM,
Kabul : The UAE military Monday distributed 30 tonnes of relief material in the flood-affected areas of Afghanistan.
The material was distributed in coordination with the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS).
ARCS president Fatima Gailani commended the role of the UAE military in delivering and securing humanitarian aid to the Afghan people.
Obama speech stirs controversy at home
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : President Barack Obama's Thursday speech to the Muslim world has stirred controversy at home with some calling it "a continuation of his detente" and others finding fault with his "studious avoidance" of the word "terrorism".
The New York Times said Obama "delivered a sweeping message that was forceful and, at times, scolding". And tweeting from Cairo, Washington Post's staff writer Howard Schneider wrote: "Halftime analysis from the crowd: let's see how he implements it."
Taliban urged to sever ties with Al Qaeda
By IANS,
Islamabad: Pakistan and Afghanistan have called on the Taliban to sever all links with Al Qaeda.
Afghanistan: influx of Pakistani refugees could spark crisis – ministry official
By NNN-IRIN,
Kabul : Any increase in the flow of refugees from northwestern Pakistan into eastern parts of Afghanistan could lead to a humanitarian crisis unless international aid organisations deliver urgent assistance, a senior official at Afghanistan's Ministry of Refugees and Returnees Affairs (MoRRA) has said.
"We are deeply concerned about insecurity in the Tribal Areas [of Pakistan] and the influx of Pakistani refugees into Afghanistan," Abdul Qader Ahadi, deputy minister in the MoRRA, told IRIN in Kabul.
Peace agreement in Middle East possible within year: Blair
By DPA
London : The Middle East Quartet's special envoy Tony Blair thinks a peace agreement in the Middle East is possible by the end of the year, according to an interview published by The Times Saturday.
"This is a deal that could definitely be done, and it could definitely be done this year," the former British prime minister told the paper.
India isolating itself globally on Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : India is isolating itself globally on Pakistan by insisting that Islamabad first eliminate its terror infrastructure before peace talks can resume, an editorial in a leading English daily said Saturday in reference to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remarks on the issue.
"India should realise that it is isolating itself globally by putting the condition of removing terrorism on Pakistan before it begins talking," Daily Times said in an editorial headlined "Mr. Singh's hidden 'precondition'."
Every one to accept Zardari decision about candidate for PM slot
By IRNA
Islamabad : Central leader of Pakistan People's Party Raja Pervez Ashraf has said PPP and allies parties will accept Asif Ali Zardari's decision about nomination of candidate for PM slot.
Talking to newsmen at parliament house on Wednesday, Raja Ashraf pointed out that Makhdoom Amin Fahim has the right to become candidate for Prime Minister Office but Asif Zardari would announce candidate for premiership.
He vowed that the party would complete Shaheed Benazir Bhutto mission, adding that the PPP did not believe on confrontation politics.
Bangladesh: EC to start 3rd round talks with political parties on Saturday
By NNN-BSS,
Dhaka, Bangladesh : Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) is set to launch its third round of talks with political parties from today ahead of the planned general elections in December this year.
The talks will continue until September 9 and commission will hold meetings with four political parties everyday. The process is to start with Workers Party first.
This time the EC invited BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia nominated secretary general of the party Khondoker Delwar Hossain. Earlier, it invited "reformist" faction secretary general Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed.
Syria denies involvement in Turkish border town blasts
By IANNS,
Damascus: The Bashar al-Assad-led Syrian government has denied Turkey's accusations of Damascus being behind Saturday's deadly explosions in a Turkish border town.
Continued talks between India, Pakistan will ease tension: Envoy
Lucknow : Like anywhere else in the world, peace between India and Pakistan can be achieved only through continued dialogue, Pakistan's High Commissioner to...
Bahrain assures safety of Indians
By IANS,
New Delhi: Bahrain has assured the safety of all Indians living in the Gulf state which has witnessed violent clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces.
Palestinian factions back Egyptian proposal for truce with Israel
By RIA Novosti,
Cairo : A coalition of 12 small Palestinian factions agreed in principle on Wednesday to accept conditions of a ceasefire with Israel, mediated by Egypt, the MENA news agency reported.
Egypt earlier proposed a ceasefire agreement including a six-month truce between Israel and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, an exchange of prisoners, and the opening of Gaza's border crossings.
100 killed in Makkah stampede
Makkah: As many as 100 people were killed on Thursday in a stampede during Haj outside Saudi Arabia's Makkah city, a media report said.
At...
Verdict reserved in Sharif plane ‘hijack’ case
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Supreme Court Thursday reserved orders in a case in which former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is accused of "hijacking" an aircraft carrying then army chief Gen. Pervez Musharraf by attempting to prevent it land at Karachi in 1999.
Concluding his arguments in the case, Sindh Prosecutor General Shahadat Awan maintained that Sharif had been rightly convicted by the trial court and his appeal was thus liable to be dismissed.
Six killed, 17 injured in Iraq violence
By DPA,
Baghdad : At least six people were killed Monday and 17 injured, including four women of one family, in triple attacks in Baghdad and the restive Diyala province in the south, according to security officials.
A car bomb, targeting an Iraqi police checkpoint near a shopping centre in Baghdad's Karada district, killed five people, including one policeman and injured 10, police sources told DPA.
Baghdad has seen a wave of attacks by car bombs in the past two days after a relative period of calm that has seen a decrease in violence in recent months.
Israel to release 230 Palestinian prisoners, vows retaliation if attacked
By NNN-KUNA
Gaza : While Israel has reached an initial deal with Hamas to release 230 Palestinian prisoners, Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert vowed fierce retaliations over any aggression on his country.
According to Israeli radio on Monday, the two sides are still quarrelling over another 120 Palestinian prisoners Israel refuses to release.
Hamas has meanwhile requested their release in the first phase of any anticipated prisoner exchange that would include Israeli soldier Gilat Shalit, captured by three Palestinian factions in the summer of 2006, the radio said.
US soldier, several Taliban killed in Afghanistan
By KUNA,
Kabul : One US soldier and several militants were killed in Afghanistan, the US-led coalition command said on Wednesday.
The command said in a statement the soldier died of injuries he had suffered in a roadside bomb blast in the western zone of Afghanistan. The explosion occurred on Monday.
It did not disclose exact location of the blast. However, an Afghan police officer had said on Tuesday that a roadside bomb blast injured four US soldiers in Shindand district of Herat province.
Taliban takeover of Pakistan would be catastrophe for US, India: Washington Post
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington: A resurgent Taliban is aiming to gain control over a nuclear-armed Pakistan, a development that would be a "catastrophe for the interests of the US and major allies such as India", an influential US daily has warned.
"During the past 10 days, Pakistan's conflict with the Taliban movement has escalated toward full-scale war-and the extreme Islamist movement has mostly held the initiative," the Washington Post said in an editorial Wednesday.
Promote culture to defeat terror: Pakistani minister
By IANS,
Islamabad: Terrorism can be defeated with the help of strong cultural values, a Pakistani minister has said.
India treated Nawaz like a schoolboy: Imran Khan
Islamabad : Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan Monday said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was treated like a schoolboy when he visited India to attend...
UK: Mitchell denies aid boost was to appease Pakistan anger
By Ahmed J Versi,c The Muslim News,
London: International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell has denied that the decision by the British Government to double its aid to Pakistan’s flood disaster was to appease the anger of the country’s population to the slow international response.
The reason for the announcement he made in New York “was following my visit to Pakistan on Wednesday, seeing for myself the scale of the destructive nature of this crisis and the effect of the appalling flooding on Pakistan,” Mitchell said.
UAE places one of largest orders in aviation history
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) national carrier Etihad Airways has placed one of the biggest aircraft orders in commercial aviation history, booking aircraft worth $43 billion at the ongoing Farnborough International Airshow in Britain.
The airline has ordered 205 wide-body and narrow-body planes with both Airbus and Boeing. It comprises 100 firm orders, 55 options and 50 purchase rights in a combination of Boeing and Airbus aircraft.
Gunmen kidnap Afghan provincial council polls’ candidate
Kabul : A provincial council polls contender and nine of his supporters have been kidnapped in Afghanistan, sources said Monday.
"Candidate Hussain Nazari was travelling...
Pakistani politicians speaking at cross-purposes on Kashmir?
By IANS,
Islamabad : Are Pakistani politicians speaking at cross-purposes on Kashmir? It would seem so, with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressing ignorance that the issue was close to resolution as a result of back-channel diplomacy with India by the previous government.
"Neither I, nor the people of Pakistan have any knowledge about a Kashmir solution evolved by the previous government," he told reporters here Sunday.
No such proposal had ever been debated, nor was there any record about it at the foreign office, he added.
Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Asif in custody till Sunday
By Aroonim Bhuyan, IANS,
Dubai : The case of Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Asif, who is being held here on charges of possessing drugs, will be presented before a Dubai court Sunday. He will be in custody here till then.
"The results of Mohammad Asif's blood and urine tests have been received," senior Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official Nadeem Akram, who is here to handle the case, told IANS here Thursday.
"The case will be presented before a Dubai court Sunday. Asif has not been charged with anything as yet," he said.
Official: Israel to release more Palestinian prisoners
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : A senior Israeli official said Wednesday Israel would release more Palestinian prisoners by the end of this month as a goodwill gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Mark Regev, spokesman for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said after Olmert's talks with Abbas in Jerusalem that "the Israeli side will be releasing Palestinian prisoners towards the end of August ... as a gesture of goodwill."
Modi greets Bangladesh, India’s ‘enduring friend’
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday greeted the people of Bangladesh on their 44th Independence Day, saying that country was an...
26/11 mastermind Lakhvi gets bail in Pakistan
Islamabad : Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, one of the main accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case, was granted bail Thursday by an anti-terrorism court...
US sanctions A.Q. Khan network; lawmaker seeks more action
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : An influential US lawmaker has demanded action to prevent a new nuclear blackmarket as Washington announced sanctions on notorious Pakistani scientist A.Q. Khan and 12 others involved in his busted proliferation network.
"These sanctions, though belated, are welcome," said Howard Berman, Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, noting: "Those involved in the A.Q. Khan nuclear black market are party to the worst proliferation of nuclear equipment and technology in history."
Global strategy needed to fight terrorism: Zardari
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has warned that terrorism has become a global phenomenon that could be addressed effectively only by concerted international effort, Online news agency reported Friday.
During his separate meetings Thursday with Chinese envoy to Pakistan, Luo Zhaohui and French envoy Daniel Jouanneau, Zardari told the envoys the latest terror attacks in India's Mumbai metropolis show that terrorism is a global concern to be fought collectively.
Human Rights Abuses Continue In Iraq: UN Report
By Bernama,
United Nations : Grave rights abuses continue in Iraq during the first half of 2008, including targeted killings of professionals, assaults on minorities, alleged torture of detainees and attacks against women, despite great improvements in general security, a new United Nations report says.
The report particularly expresses concern over the conditions of detainees in prisons, where they are held for months, and even years, without trial or access to legal counsel, the Press Trust of India (PTI) was quoted as saying Wednesday.
US military warns of Al Qaeda return to Afghanistan
BY DPA,
Washington: Al-Qaeda's presence in Afghanistan would return if the Taliban regains control of the country, the top US military officer warned Wednesday, saying the consequences of US and NATO mission failing would be "grave".
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, said the Taliban has established shadow governments in many of Afghanistan's provinces, adding that denying the possible return of Al Qaeda "ignores both the recent past and the evidence we see."
"The cost of failure is then grave," Mullen told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
NATO soldier killed in Afghanistan
By KUNA,
Kabul : A soldier of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was killed in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday.
A statement from ISAF headquarters here said the soldier killed in enemy fire.
The military statement did not release name and nationality and exact location of the incident.
Separately, the Afghan Defence Ministry said the security forces had discovered an ammunition depot outside Kabul, central capital of Afghanistan.
The depot, containing anti-tank mines and thousands of bullets, was found in Shah Dara district of Kabul.
55 killed in two suicide bombings in Yemen mosques
Sanaa : Two suicide bombers attacked two mosques in Yemen's capital Sanaa during Friday prayers, killing at least 55 people and wounding dozens of...
Power outage kills four Pakistani patients
By IANS,
Islamabad : Four patients on life support died at a hospital in Karachi during a power outage that shut down their ventilators, reports said.
Hajj service of the IFF volunteers appreciated
By TCN News,
Makkah: “Dedicated and timely service of the India Fraternity Forum (IFF) volunteers during the Hajj has been outstanding. The service was much valuable and benefited thousands of pilgrims, who came from all around the globe. Indeed it has become an inspiration to many to follow”, said, SR Shareef Al Fadhl, educationist.
Explosion in Pakistani agency kills three, wounds four
By KUNA
Islamabad : At least three armymen were killed and four others were wounded, two of them critically in Pakistan's Bajaur tribal agency, bordering Afghanistan, on Thursday, said officials.
A military vehicle was hit by a remote-controlled explosive device in Mand area of the agency, security officials told KUNA.
They said three military personnel were killed and four others were wounded, including two civilians. Officials added that two of them were in critical condition.
Anger at free Pakistan trip for bombers brother
By KUNA,
London : The brother of one of the men responsible for the July 7 terror attacks on the London transport system was given a free trip to Pakistan,- where the suicide bombers went to train, it was reported here Monday.
The man, who has not been named, was part of a group sent on the visit as part of efforts to improve cultural ties between the two countries, the domestic news agency the Press Association said.
Relatives of some of the 52 innocent victims, who today marked the third anniversary of the bombings, branded the trip "insensitive".
India to address all issues with Pakistan: Pranab
By IANS,
Tehran : Underlining the serious threat posed by terrorism to global peace, India Sunday said it wanted to address all issues that have affected ties with Pakistan and stressed on enhancing economic and transport links between the two countries.
“In recent years, India has pursued a policy of positive and substantial engagement with Pakistan. We wish to address issues that have affected our ties over the last several years,” External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said at a seminar in the Iranian capital.
‘Sharif was not informed of Kargil by Musharraf’
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Islamabad : President Pervez Musharraf's former aide, Lt. Gen (retd) Jamshed Gulzar Kiani, said Monday evening that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was not informed about the 1999 Kargil operation by Musharraf who was then army chief.
"I am not sure from where he (Sharif) came to know, but it wasn't through the army and the Kargil operation was kept secret from Nawaz Sharif," said the former general who was the corps commander of Rawalpindi, one of the most important posts in the army, under Musharraf when he was the chief of the army staff.
UN warns it may halt food aid to Palestinians dislaced from Lebanese camp
By NNN-WAFA,
Beirut : The United Nations agency tasked with assisting Palestinian refugees has warned that a funding shortfall means it may soon have to stop distributing food to more than 3,000 families displaced by deadly violence at a camp in northern Lebanon last year.
Unless funds are found in the coming weeks, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reported Monday that it will have to cease food distributions to 3,100 families and also halt rental subsidies for about 27,000 people by the end of next month.
Pakistan stages Republic Day parade after seven years
Islamabad: A military parade to celebrate Pakistan's Republic Day was held here on Monday after a gap of seven years.
Also known as Pakistan Day,...
China to help Pakistan build two more nuclear reactors
By DPA,
Islamabad : Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Memhood Qureshi Saturday said China has assured the country to help build two more nuclear power reactors to overcome its energy crisis.
An agreement was signed during President Asif Ali Zardari's recent visit to China, Qureshi told a news conference in Islamabad.
"These two new units will increase electricity production by 680 megawatts, which will have positive effect on Pakistani economy," he said.
Both plants are expected to be built at Chashma, about 300 km southwest of Islamabad, in eastern province of Punjab.
13 dead in Venezuela protests
By IANS/EFE,
Caracas: Thirteen people have died in nearly two weeks of protests against the Leftist regime of President Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's attorney general said...
US general meets Pakistani army officials
By IANS,
Islamabad : A top US army officer has met Pakistani Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and other senior military and security officials during his visit to the country.
Israel to give up ‘some settlements’ for peace push
Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel would agree to give up "some settlements" in the occupied West Bank in order to...
Bangladeshi couple jailed for 37 years
By IANS,
Dhaka : The leader of a banned Islamist outfit in Bangladesh and his wife were Sunday sentenced to 37 years in prison for possessing weapons and bullets.
These resolutions of no value for Iranian nation: Ahmadinejad
Dushanbe, June 10, IRNA – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here Wednesday these resolutions are of no value for the Iranian nation.
Afghanistan looking for foreign investment in energy sector
By DPA
Berlin : Afghanistan is hoping to find foreign investors to help it expand its energy sector, Afghan Energy Minister Mohammed Ismael Chan said Friday.
Only one in five Afghans has access to electricity, but the government hopes to extend supplies to 50 percent of the population within two years, the minister told a press conference Friday.
The precarious security situation and uncertainty about the legal situation has scared off many potential investors from the west.
Government promotes potato in rice-short Bangladesh
By IANS,
Dhaka : Short of rice, thanks to a devastating cyclone, and faced with a potato glut this year, Bangladesh is assiduously promoting the latter, as a tastier, nutritive food supplement.
There is a subtle attempt at arousing nationalist feeling with people being told that rice is in short supply, expensive and is having to be imported.
Led by the Army Chief Gen. Moin U. Ahmed, the initiative, with publicity and fanfare at five-star hotels, indeed, takes note of the age-old food habits of the people for whom rice is the staple diet.
UAE Urges UN To Tackle Obstacles Hindering War Against Terrorism
By Bernama,
New York : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has urged the United Nations (UN) to boost joint efforts, so as to tackle strongly the obstacles hindering the total eradication of terror.
The country also called for systematic, objective, balanced and transparent review of the definition of terrorism to facilitate international consensus on the definition of the phenomenon, Emirates news agency (WAM) quoted Acting Charge d'Affairs at the UAE Mission at the UN Headquarters Anwar Othman Barout Saleem Al-Barout as saying on Sunday.
Gaza Hospitals to Halt Soon
By Prensa Latina
Gaza : Gaza Strip"s hospitals and aqueduct only have fuel reserves for two or three days while there is also a shortage of medicine, denounced the International Red Cruz on Monday.
The spokeswoman from the humanitarian organization Michele Mercier told the press in Tel Aviv that officials from the institution visited the hospitals and verified that fuel will only last for two days, three days at the most.
The same assessment was made for drinking water, for which generators will also stop in 24 or 48 hours at the most.
Science is life, says Modi on visit to Masdar City in UAE
Abu Dhabi: "Science is Life", wrote Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday and digitally signed in the visitor's book at Masdar City...
Severe air pollution affecting Hajj pilgrims
Los Angeles : During Hajj in the Saudi Arabian city of Makkah, the pilgrims get exposed to dangerously high levels of air pollutants which...
Jordan buys back $2.4 bn of debts
By DPA
Amman : The Jordanian government Sunday signed agreements with 10 member states of the Paris Club for creditor countries under which it bought back $2.4 billion of its debts at a discount rate of 11 percent.
The accords were signed with Canada, Italy, Belgium, the US, Germany, Britain, France, Spain, Switzerland and Austria.
Jordan did not sign a similar agreement with Japan because its constitution prohibits the selling of debts.
Libya mission succeeding: Obama
By DPA,
Washington: US President Barack Obama said Saturday the allied military mission in Libya was succeeding and the country's leader Muammar Gaddafi must be held responsible for his actions.
Iran to launch new satellites, Ahmadinejad says
By DPA,
Tehran : Iran's president said Monday the country would launch several new locally built satellites within the next 13 months, state-media reported.
Deposed chief justice asks MPs not to approve Musharraf’s ‘illegal acts’
By IRNA
Islamabad : Deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar uhammad Chaudhary on Thursday urged the newly elected members of parliament not to approve 'unconstitutional actions' of President Pervez Musharraf.
Mr Chaudhary spoke to lawyers in Karachi by telephone from his residence in Islamabad where he has been under house arrest since November 3, when President Musharraf proclaimed emergency and sacked him.
Around 60 other senior judges were also removed after they refused to show allegiance to President Musharraf.
Missile sent to Britain through ordinary post!
By IANS,
London : A missile was sent to Britain through ordinary post by military engineers in Afghanistan, triggering a full-scale alert.
Palestinian officials arrive in Washington amid low expectations for peace
By NNN-KUNA,
Washington : Palestinian negotiators have arrived here to hold talks with US officials in what could be a last bid to overcome the stalemate in a peace process that seems out of reach before the end of the year.
"The meeting in Washington is to talk to the Americans about what can be achieved before President George W. Bush leaves office," said Director of Middle East Democracy at Brookings, Tamara Cofman Wittes in an interview with KUNA.
"It is impossible and too complicated to get a final status agreement before next January," she added.
UAE president greets leaders on Eid
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi : UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent his best wishes to leaders of many countries on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Moussa pushes African leaders to oppose Israel’s settlement expansion
By NNN-WAFA,
Sharm El-Sheikh : Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Moussa has called on African leaders to stand firmly in opposition to the Israeli settlement expansion.
"The Palestinian-Israeli dispute is getting more complicated and the peace process relaunched at the Annapolis conference is heading toward failure due to Israel's policies which aim at sabotaging all chances for peace," Moussa said in addressing African leaders during the 11th African Union summit which opened in this Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh Monday.
Seven killed in twin Syrian blasts
By IANS,
Damascus : Twin blasts ripped through two residential areas in the Syrian capital of Damascus Wednesday, killing seven people and injuring many others, media reports said.
Iraq announces new offensive against terrorists
By DPA
Baghdad : Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has announced a new military offensive against the Al Qaeda network in northern Iraq which saw one of the deadliest terror attacks over the weekend.
Speaking Saturday in Mosul in the northern province of Ninawat, al-Maliki said the time was ripe to begin a "decisive battle" against terrorism in northern Iraq, Aswat al-Iraq news agency reported.
The prime minister reviewed the security situation in Mosul with the military commanders and ways to eliminate the terrorist elements operating in the region.
Pakistan welcomes appointment of US envoy
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistan has welcomed the appointment of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke as a special US envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Former US ambassador to the United Nations, Richard Holbrooke will be having responsibility of looking after all diplomatic and political efforts for winning the US-led war against "terror" in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Pakistani man arrested over killing of Russian woman in Japan
By RIA Novosti,
TOKYO : Japanese police arrested on Monday a Pakistani man in connection with the killing of a Russian woman on Japan's largest island of Honshu, local media said.
Anastasia Korpachyova, 23, was stabbed twice in her neck by her attacker on Friday in Soka, in the Saitama prefecture, before he pushed her into a river. The woman was pulled out by a passersby who saw the incident but she died later in hospital.
Find ways to increase population, Indians urged in Malaysia
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Religious and welfare organisations must come together to find ways to increase the Indian population in Malaysia, a community leader has said, expressing concern at the dwindling numbers.
Daily newspaper Tamil Nesan quoted K. Kumaran, former chief of Perak state of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), as saying that the government could reduce fund allocation if the population decreases.
Suspected U.S missile strikes kill 8 in Pakistan
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Suspected American drone aircraft fired missiles on vehicles in Pakistan's tribal region on Monday, killing at least 6 people, locals said.
Three vehicles were also destroyed when three missiles were fired in two different places in South Waziristan tribal region, two local tribesmen said on phone from Wana, the center of South Waziristan.
The first strike was carried out at Karikot areas at around 8:35 a.m., killing two persons and injuring one other.
Israeli Army opposes planned NATO deployment in West Bank
By KUNA,
Gaza : The Israeli military on Wednesday objected to a planned NATO deployment in the West Bank in case of Israeli pullback.
A day after US President-elect Barack Obama chose retired general James Jones as his national security adviser, Israeli defense officials said that they were opposed to the deployment of a NATO force in the West Bank following an Israeli withdrawal, a plan Jones supports, the Jerusalem Post reported.
A former commander of NATO, Jones has for the past year served as a security envoy to Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Israel says hit missile launching cell in N.Gaza Strip
By KUNA,
Gaza : Israeli Army troops stormed on Tuesday a Palestinian cell believed to be responsible for firing rockets towards the Israeli settlemt of Sderot, in southern Israel, an Israeli Army spokesman said.
The Spokeaman told an Israeli radio the operation was executed in the early morning hours, near the town of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza Strip, noting that Israeli forces operating in the region confirmed the cell sustained a hit.
Detention of US terror suspects extended by 14 days
By IANS,
Islamabad : An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Pakistan's Punjab province Tuesday gave the police another 14 days to interrogate five US terror suspects and also ordered their medical examination after they complained of being tortured in custody.
As the terror suspects arrived in a police van at the high security court in Sargodha town, one of them threw a scrap of paper from the window complaining of torture.
"Since our arrest the USA, the FBI and the Pakistani police have tortured us. We are
The untold story of Egyptian women’s rights
By Rasha Dewedar
In a report published last month on violent crimes committed against women in 2009, Karam Saber Ibrahim, Executive Director of The Land Center for Human Rights, a Cairo-based non-governmental organisation, spoke of a belief that some Egyptians continue to hold, that "women are fundamentally lacking.... They are not complete, because they are not men."
Ramadan holiday may thwart Anwar Ibrahim’s plan
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has kept alive his plans to topple the government next Tuesday, but political observers say the Ramadan holiday for parliament could block these plans.
When he arrived at a court for the hearing of the sodomy case in which he is accused, Ibrahim Wednesday told reporters: "Next trip, Taipei!" The remark was an apparent reference to the 41 ruling Barisan Nasional MPs who left for Taipei recently for a study tour.