Embassies in Yemen reopen after closures over threats
By DPA,
Sana'a (Yemen) : The US embassy in this Yemeni capital reopened to the public Tuesday after a two-day closure prompted by threats from the regional branch of Al Qaeda, an embassy official said.
"The embassy reopened today and resumed its normal operation," the source said on the condition of anonymity.
The British and French embassies also reopened Tuesday, but their consular sections remained closed to the public, diplomats said.
Russian embassy in Libya stormed over veto on Syria
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Dozens of Syrian protesters stormed the Russian embassy in Libyan capital Tripoli Sunday, a day after Russia and China blocked a UN resolution on the Syrian crisis.
Army also active in nation building: Pakistani PM Gilani
By NNN-APP,
Lahore, Pakistan : Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said the Pakistan army, besides defending national borders and fighting terrorism, was also playing an active role in nation building, especially in health and education sectors.
He was addressing an inaugural ceremony of CMH Lahore Medical and Dental College here Saturday, where Federal Health Minister Makhdoom Shahab-ud-Din, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Lahore Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Ejaz Ahmed Bakhshi and college Principal Lt. Gen. ® Afzaal Ahmed were also present.
Israeli aircraft hit southern Gaza, five killed
By DPA,
Gaza : Five Palestinians were killed before dawn Saturday in two separate Israeli airstrikes on Hamas military posts in the two southern Gaza towns, medics and Hamas sources said.
Israeli aircraft struck a post belonging to Hamas naval police west of Khan Younis, and then struck another post belonging to Hamas' armed wing in the town of Rafah, Hamas sources said.
Mo'aweya Hassanein, chief of emergency and ambulance services in the Palestinian health ministry, told reporters that three were killed in Khan Younis and two were killed in Rafah by Israeli air-to-ground missiles.
Abbas forces detain 21 Hamas members in West Bank
By Xinhua,
Ramallah : Islamic Hamas movement denounced on Monday that 21 Hamas members have been arrested by the security forces of President Mahmoud Abbas in different West Bank areas.
"The security forces of the interior ministry in the caretaker government of Salam Fayyad has escalated its actions and detained 21 people allover the West Bank," said a Hamas leaflet sent to reporters.
According to the leaflet, the arrests took place in the towns of Nablus, Jenin, Hebron and Bethlehem.
Minister Qureshi confident of Pakistan’s anti-teror success with world support
By NNN-APP,
Washington : Pakistan has played a critical role in the fight against terrorism and is confident of curbing the menace with the support of its friends, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said.
Speaking at Pacific Council on International Policy in Los Angeles, the top Pakistani diplomat reaffirmed the democratic government’s resolve to root out the menace from the country.
He told the gathering of experts about Pakistan’s recent anti-militant gains in the northwestern areas and elaborated on Islamabad’s successful strategy.
Jaswant firm on Jinnah remarks
By IANS,
Karachi: Former Indian external affairs minister Jaswant Singh said Monday he stood by the stand he had taken in his book on Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah that had led to his expulsion from the Bharatiya Janata Party.
"Whatever I have written about Jinnah in my book, I fully stand by it," Geo TV quoted him as telling reporters at Karachi airport on his arrival from New Delhi.
"I have come to Pakistan on a literary tour and will meet different scholars and readers to apprise them about my book," the author of "Jinnah: India-Partition-Independence" said.
Palestinian killed in Israeli air strike in Gaza — witnesses
By KUNA,
Gaza : Israeli aircraft struck a civilian car with a rocket early on Tuesday in the north of Gaza strip killing an occupant and wounding another, witnesses said.
They said Hisham Abu Shomar, an activist of Izz-Eddine Al-Qaasam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic movement, Hamas, was killed in the strike that occurred in the town of Beit Lahia.
At dawn, Israeli ground forces advanced to the eastern fringes of Beit Lahia. Groves were bulldozed during the operation, witnesses said.
Byline: A will without a way
By M.J. Akbar,
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is juggling with a hydra-headed question that is both philosophical and practical. Worse, it is also immediate.
How much benefit should one give to doubt?
Language builds international bridges of understanding – US Ambassador
By NNN-KUNA,
Kuwait : Communication between cultures, namely brought about by the learning of languages, builds strong international bridges of understanding that will endure long into the future, said US Ambassador Deborah Jones.
Hasina may expand cabinet to include allies
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina may expand her cabinet that has a majority of first-termers to add some old hands and political allies, a media report said.
She also plans to activate the Awami League that has been beset with infighting since its massive poll victory in December.
In the Jatiya Sangsad (parliament), where she enjoys a two-thirds majority, Hasina plans to create two more posts of deputy speakers, one for a woman lawmaker from the Awami League and another for the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Malaysia Airlines bans babies from first class
By IANS,
London : Malaysia Airlines has banned babies from first-class cabins after wealthy passengers complained they were not able to sleep peacefully during their flights, a media report said.
Gaza Blasts Kill Four, Spark Alarm
By Prensa Latina,
Gaza : Several blasts in Gaza killed four and wounded 23 people, shaking the relative peace that prevailed in past weeks in a territory under Hamas control.
Authorities from the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) issued a maximum alert Friday night after the third powerful blast near Gaza beach.
Security reported the deaths of two Hamas activists and a girl, and blamed the blasts on Al-Fatah, of Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Don’t shoot as you’ll wake up Afghans, soldiers told
By IANS,
London : Coalition soldiers in Afghanistan were told not to shoot Taliban guerrillas planting mines as gunfire would "wake up and upset the locals", a former soldier has claimed.
Yemen weapons factory blast toll climbs to 150
By IANS/AKI,
Jaar (Yemen) : The toll from the explosion at a weapons factory in Yemen has climbed to 150, a media report said.
Gaddafi’s son appears in Libyan court
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Dubai: Saif al-Islam, the jailed son of slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, briefly appeared in a court in Libya Thursday to face criminal charges.
Mideast peace must include solution for Palestinian refugees: Ban Ki-moon
By APP,
United Nations : A sustainable peace in the Middle East will have to factor in a viable and just solution to the Palestinian refugee issue, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said.
“The Palestinian people’s desire or right to live a normal daily life in their own sovereign land remains undiminished, as do the individual and collective rights of Palestine refugees,” Ban said in a message to a UN meeting convened in Paris to assess the condition of the refugees and examine the role of the world body in alleviating their plight.
Book ‘Islam & Freedom’ published in Rome
By IRNA,
Rome : The book titled ‘Islam and Freedom’ written by Mohammad Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, noted Iranian religious scholar, was published in Rome by the Imam Mahdi (AS) Association.
Announcing this, Iran’s cultural attaché in Rome, Ali Reza Esmaeili told IRNA on Tuesday that the book was translated into the Italian language and printed in 1,000 copies.
The cover price for the 96-page book is ten euros.
Kuwait launches Islamic Food Fund
By IINA,
Kuwait City : Kuwait announced yesterday launching an Islamic food fund to help poor Muslim countries face the worsening global food crisis caused by surging prices. "Kuwait is offering an initiative to establish a fund for decent life in Islamic countries to provide basic foodstuff for those who are in need quickly," Amir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah told the opening session of the fourth World Islamic Economic Forum in Kuwait City. "Kuwait announces its contribution of $100 million to launch this fund," said the amir.
Implications of Pakistani coalition’s collapse immense: Editorials
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan's ruling coalition was always shaky but its "disastrous break up will have shaken everyone" as the "implications" of this are "immense" newspaper editorials said Tuesday.
"The implications of the coalition's break-up are immense," Dawn said in an editorial titled "End of the coalition".
Eight suspected militants held in Bangladesh
By DPA,
Dhaka : Bangladesh's security forces Sunday captured eight members of a banned Islamist outfit, three of whom are believed to be members of its suicide squad, from Dhaka's Khilkhet area, officials said.
The members of the elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion also seized a large quantity of bomb-making materials, leaflets, books on jihad, religious CDs, audio cassettes from their possessions.
The capture and seizures came barely two days ahead of the celebration of Bangli New Year Tuesday.
Judges’ restoration: Pakistan coalition partner seeks to save face
By IANS,
Islamabad : The junior partner in Pakistan's ruling coalition is all set for a face-saving arrangement with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on reinstating by the Wednesday deadline the judges President Pervez Musharraf sacked last November after declaring an emergency.
"The PML-N (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz) will show more flexibility on the constitutional package if the judges are reinstated within the April 30 deadline, as we need to save face before the people," The News Monday quoted a key party leader as saying.
Foreign pilgrims commend Friday sermon translation service
Madinah : Non-Arabic speaking Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah commended the service of live translation of Friday sermons introduced at the two holy mosques.
‘Iranians, we love you’, says Israeli Facebook page
By IANS,
Jerusalem : A new Facebook initiative has been launced by Israelis to reach out to Iranians to show them that despite tensions, the majority of Israelis do not want war.
Party ministers not to meet, travel with Musharraf: PML-N
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said Sunday the party's ministers in the coalition federal government will not meet, or travel with, President Pervez Musharraf.
Talking to a private TV channel Sunday, senior leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that PML-N did not accept Musharraf as a constitutional and legal president because he had come through force.
"We are not willing to enter into any kind of working relationship with Pervez Musharraf," he said.
Durrani defends himself on Kasab identity disclosure
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Islamabad : Saying he had done no wrong, sacked National Security Advisor (NSA) Mahmud Ali Durrani Thursday resolutely defended his move admitting that Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist arrested during the Mumbai mayhem, is a Pakistani citizen, even as the issue has served to bring into the open the deep fissures within the country's top political leadership.
"I've committed nothing wrong and had been authorized to issue statements on security issues," Durrani told IANS but refused to elaborate how he came to know about Kasab's identity.
30,000 kids provided healthcare by UAE charity
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi: A global healthcare initiative launched by a charity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has treated over 30,000 poor children in nine countries across the world.
Iraq, Iran may ink oil deal: minister
By IANS,
Baghdad : Iraq’s Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani has said that the Iran-Iraq talks on joint oilfields were going ahead well and an oil deal was expected to be signed by March 20, IRNA reported.
The agreement is to be inked in line with Iraq’ efforts to develop its oilfields and increase oil and gas exports, Shahristani said.
Spokesperson for Iraqi oil ministry Asem Jahad said that his country intends to develop its oilfields based on a five-year plan and increase its oil export to four million barrels a day from 1,700,000.
Toll rises to 33 in Iraq election rally bombing
Baghdad: At least 33 people were killed and 90 others wounded in a series of bombing attacks at a parliamentary election rally in Iraq's...
U.S. tries to solve Iran’s nuclear issue through diplomacy
By Xinhua,
Washington : The United States said Friday that it is trying to solve Iran's nuclear issue through diplomacy.
"We are trying to solve this diplomatically," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
"I understand that Israel is very concerned about their future and their safety when they have a neighbor in their region -- Iran-- that says they want to wipe them off the map," Perino said.
Two people killed, 19 injured in Baghdad attacks
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : Two people were killed and 15others injured in attacks across Baghdad on Wednesday, a well-informed police source said.
One civilian was killed and six others were injured when U.S. troops opened fire after being hit by a roadside bomb near their patrol in Baghdad's southeastern neighborhood of Fadhiliyah, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Bangladesh militant groups threaten bombings over leaders’ arrests
By IANS,
Dhaka : Two outlawed militant outfits have joined hands and threatened a series of explosions in Bangladesh if the government failed to release activists of the Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT), an international Islamist body banned in several countries, who were detained earlier this week.
The Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) Sunday threatened to carry out bombings in the offices of law enforcement agencies if the arrested HuT leaders and activists were not released within 48 hours.
Let Afghans run Afghanistan, urges Karzai
By DPA,
Munich : International forces should let Afghans run Afghanistan and "must be a support to the government, not a rival to it", Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Sunday.
Karzai is supported by NATO and its allies, but their relationship has been soured by allegations of Afghan corruption and an Afghan perception that foreign forces are not giving primacy to the country's own authorities.
Pakistani PM strongly condemns Lahore blasts
By APP
Islamabad : Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro on Tuesday strongly condemned two terrorist blasts in Lahore killing several people.The Prime Minister expressed great sorrow over the loss of life in the blasts that occurred in FIA Office and Model Town, and said the perpetrators of such crime would not be spared.
He said those involved in this criminal act were conspirators against the interest of the country and the people of Pakistan.
He also condoled with the bereaved families and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls.
Benazir’s birth anniversary observed in Pakistan
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Islamabad : The 55th birth anniversary of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was observed throughout Pakistan Saturday, with the country's new rulers exhorting the country to follow her example of opposing extremism and dictatorship.
The main function was held at Larkana district's Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, the ancestral village and family graveyard of the Bhutto family.
Arrangement with IMF to help in good governance: Pakistani PM
By NNN-APP,
Karachi : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani defended the financial arrangement made with International Monetary Fund (IMF) said this will help bring good governance and better economic planning in the country.
Missile attack in Pakistan kills over 12
By KUNA
Islamabad : At least twelve people were killed and more than three were wounded Thursday in a missile attack in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal agency, bordering Afghanistan, fired from an unknown location, said sources.
A missile hit a house believed to be an Islamic seminary in Azam Warsak area of the agency, intelligence sources told KUNA.
They said the attack left at least twelve people dead, including foreigners.
This is the second such attack in the Waziristan region, which took place amid intensifying insurgency in the bordering tribal region.
Pakistan’s forex reserves cross $18 bn
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves have crossed the $18 billion mark, a record level in the country's history, says Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
Long-term truce agreed with Israel, says Hamas
Gaza : Egypt has brokered an agreement for a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, BBC reported Tuesday citing senior Palestinian...
NATO asks Pakistan to open transit routes
By IANS,
Brussels : NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen Thursday urged Pakistan to open the transit supply routes for the coalition forces in Afghanistan.
Four die as ambulance falls into canal in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : Four women were killed and five injured when their ambulance carrying a body plunged into a canal in Pakistan's Punjab province, police said.
Pak supreme court adjourns Sharif’s election qualification case
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistan's supreme court on Monday adjourned for two weeks the hearing on a petition against ruling that barred former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from standing in by-elections.
A full bench of the Lahore High Court disqualified Sharif from contesting the parliamentary by-elections last Wednesday.
But Pakistan Supreme Court, after receiving the appeal against the disqualification from the federal government, made the decision to postpone the by-election on Sharif's constituency before it holds hearing on the case on June 30.
“Green flags waived during my rally symbolize Islam, not Pakistani flags”: Syed Ali Shah...
“Let them arrest me, I am ready to get arrested”
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Srinagar: Syed Ali Shah Geelani, separatist leader and Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, on Thursday dismissed government’s accusation that Pakistani flags were waived during his welcome rally on Wednesday and said “Green color symbolizes Islam and not Pakistan.”
Another aide of radical cleric Sufi Muhammad held
By IANS,
Peshawar: Another aide of radical cleric Sufi Muhammad, who had brokered a controversial peace deal with the Taliban in Pakistan's troubled northwest and whose violation prompted the military to launch a major offensive against the militants, has been arrested but there is no word about the cleric's whereabouts.
The aide, Iqbal Khan, headed Sufi Muhammad's Tahreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi(TNSM) in Swat, one of the three districts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) where the military operations entered their 45th day Tuesday.
Musharraf stole war-on-terror aid: Zardari
By IANS,
London : Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari has accused President Pervez Musharraf of siphoning off millions of dollars of American aid given for supporting the war on terror.
Zardari made the charge in an interview to The Sunday Times, which said the PPP leader's impeachment move against Musharraf was causing panic in Washington and London, who see nuclear-armed Pakistan as a “far greater danger” than either Afghanistan or Iraq.
Turks abandoning beards fearing IS association
Ankara : Turkish men are abandoning long beards amid concern about being associated with the Islamic State (IS) terror group, the media reported on...
Lebanon’s chances for diminishing hatreds seem remote
By Weedah Hamzah, DPA,
Beirut : Eighteen years after the Lebanese civil war ended in 1990, Lebanon's chances of burying hatred seem dim, with the country hit by its worst political crisis since then.
The volatility of the political situation engulfing Lebanon has ignited hidden hatred and divided the country between the ruling majority - mainly Sunni Muslims, some Christians and Druzes - and the opposition led by the Shia Muslim Shia movement Hezbollah and hardline Christians.
Zardari to shed power to dissolve parliament
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari Saturday said he would shed his controversial powers to dissolve parliament to ensure the supremacy of the legislature.
"I ask the government to form a committee of all parties and revisit the 17th Amendment (to the constitution) and make the parliament sovereign," said the president in his maiden address to a joint sitting of both houses of the parliament as is required under the constitution.
Israeli PM asks Abbas to help find missing teenagers
Jerusalem : Israel Monday asked Palestine to help in finding the three teenagers allegedly kidnapped last week, a statement the Israel prime minister's office...
France calls for halting violence in Palestinian lands
By KUNA
Paris : France called here Wednesday for halting the violence that is being witnessed in the Palestinian lands and for the resumption of negotiations.
Spokeswoman of the French foreign ministry Pascale Andreani told reporters that her country calls for the "suspension" of the violence and to "pursue" the discussions in order to achieve a "progress" on the final status talks. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas announced today that he will not resume peace talks until Israel reaches a truce in Gaza Strip.
British prime minister calls Gaza ‘prison camp’
By DPA,
Ankara/Istanbul: British Prime Minister David Cameron described Gaza as a "prison camp" during a trip to Turkey Tuesday, in unusually outspoken comments that overshadowed a speech giving strong backing to Ankara's bid for EU membership.
"Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp," Cameron said. He also referred to Israeli flotilla raid as "completely unacceptable".
Cameron, on a visit to Turkey before heading to India, made clear his new government's backing for Ankara's stalled aspirations to join the European Union.
Pakistani PM Gilani accompanied by smallest entourage on his visist to US
By NNN-APP,
Islamabad : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani who left here Saturday morning for a visit to the United States is accompanied by a 40-member entourage.
The Prime Minister is sheduled to visit the United States from July 27 to July 30.
The 40-member entourage also includes 14 journalists. This is the smallest entourage to have ever accompanied the prime minister during his visit abroad. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will stay in London on Saturday night on his way to the United States.
Compassion in Islam- Theology and History
By Asghar Ali Engineer,
Islam is generally associated with Jihad. But it is more due to its history than its theology. It is interesting to note that while jihad in Islam is more historical than theological, compassion, on the other hand, is more theological than historical. The very opening of Qur'an, the holy book of Islam is with Bism Allahir Rahmanir Rahim i.e. I begin in the name of Allah who is Compassionate and Merciful.
India worried over rise of terror in Pakistan, Afghanistan: PM
By NNN-PTI,
New Delhi : Worried over the rise in terror incidents in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked the global community to extend sustained cooperation for dealing with the menace for ensuring stability in the region.
"We are very worried about the rise of terrorism in our neighbourhood, particularly what is going on in Afghanistan and in Pakistan. We have a vital stake in peace, progress and stability of these countries and other countries of South Asia," Singh said while inaugurating the India Economic Summit here.
Gaza’s children traumatised by war despite ceasefire: UN
By DPA,
New York : Children in the Gaza Strip continued to suffer and feel insecure despite a ceasefire that has mostly ended three weeks of intense fighting between Israel and Hamas, the UN special envoy for children and armed conflict has said.
Radhika Coomaraswamy said grave violations of child rights had been committed during the fighting that began Dec 27 when the Israeli Defence Forces launched airstrikes against Hamas militants who had been firing rockets and mortars into southern Israel.
Iran protests at FIFA opposition to Islamic dress code
By IRNA,
Tehran : Iran's national olympic committee secretary general says his committee has sent letters to international sports organizations to complain about a FIFA decision to ban Iranian women footballers from observing Islamic dress code in international tournamts.
"The letters have been sent to heads of FIFA, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)," Bahram Afsharzadeh said.
Mauritius, UAE discuss ties
By IANS,
Port Louis: Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Chandra Ram Ghulam and UAE's Ambassador Eisa Abdullah Al Basha Al Nuaimi have discussed ways to boost bilateral relations.
Moldova wants more info from Iraq about its plane crash 2007
By IRNA-Itar-Tass
Chisinau : Moldova has demanded the Iraqi authorities present an extra report of the investigation into last year's crash of its plane Antonov-26, Moldova's civil aviation authority told the media on Friday.
According to preliminary explanations by Turkish and Iraqi authorities the Antonov-26 plane of Moldova's Ariantur-M cargo air carrier (board number ER-26068) crashed in bad weather at the US military base north of Baghdad on January 9, 2007.
Why America loves Israel and hates Iran
By A. Faizur Rahman for TwoCircles.net,
By announcing fresh sanctions against Iran the UN Security Council has once again displayed a kind of motivated obstinacy which makes one suspect that it is not really serious about establishing peace in the region. But then the UN rarely exudes neutrality. It has always been subservient to American interests, particularly the pro-Israel US foreign policy that has kept West Asia on the boil ever since the creation of the Zionist state.
New batch of US aid delivered to Lebanon
Beirut : The Lebanese Army said it has received a new batch of military aid under the US military assistance programme.
According to officials, the...
Three kids die in Pakistan roof collapse
By IANS,
Islamabad : Three children were killed and two injured when the roof of their house collapsed in Pakistan's Peshawar city.
Over 200,000 vulnerable Afghans to receive winter aid from UN agency
By IRNA,
Tehran : The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its partners have started to deliver supplies to help an estimated 200,000 Afghan returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) get through the country's harsh winter, said a press release issued by the United Nations Information Center here on Wednesday.
Over 147,000 blankets, more than 80,000 plastic sheets, 32,000 jerry cans, 46,000 items of warm clothing including 18,000 pairs of shoes and 30,000 pairs of socks have been purchased and sent to UNHCR's regional offices for country-wide distribution.
Terrorism is biggest threat to Pakistan: Gilani
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Friday termed terrorism as the biggest threat to the country and said his government was committed to eliminate this menace through "determination and courage".
"I want to reiterate that we are not scared of the terrorists. We will eliminate their oppression and barbarity through our determination and courage," Gilani said here at the flag hoisting ceremony on Pakistan's 63rd Independence Day, the APP new agency reported.
Middle East poised for dramatic growth
By IANS,
Dubai : The Middle Eastern economy is poised for remarkable growth with potential investment capacity, in both private and public sectors, reaching approximately $4 trillion, according to a global management consultant firm, WAM news agency reported Tuesday.
Noting that the high investment power is largely linked to Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF), a survey by A.T. Kearney strategic management consultant firm said the SWF assets has risen by 18 percent between 2006 and 2007 to reach $3.3 trillion and could well be a great help in tackling the western economic slowdown.
Angry mob turn violent after Karachi suicide attack leaves 30 dead
By NNN-Xinhua,
Islamabad : Angry mob attacked government buildings, markets, banks and torched vehicles in the south Pakistani city of Karachi after a deadly suicide attack on a religious procession.
At least 30 people were killed and 50 injured in the attack on Shiite Muslims, said Sagheer Ahmed, health minister in Sindh Province.
People angry at the bomb attack burnt a main market, 15 vehicles, police station, two banks and office of local government, police said.
Myanmar to probe riot targeting aid agencies
Yangon: Myanmar has formed a five-member commission to probe an attack on an international aid agency in western Rakhine state earlier this week, the...
Najam Sethi likely to take over as interim ICC president
Dubai:Najam Sethi, the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) executive committee, is likely to become the International Cricket Council's (ICC) interim president, filling...
Tide turns for jailed politicians, businessmen in Bangladesh
By IANS,
Dhaka : The tide seems to be turning in Bangladesh. Scores of politicians, officials and businessmen jailed for many months, mostly on corruption charges, are starting to get bail with the courts rejecting the Emergency Rules under which they were arrested.
The development comes as the government is preparing for fresh elections to parliament in December and engaging political parties in a dialogue.
It may be a coincidence, but the courts are becoming increasingly assertive.
Three rockets fired at Kabul airport
Kabul : At least three rockets landed close to Kabul international airport Thursday causing damage to some property, media reported.
A Kabul police official confirmed...
Pakistan assures better media environment
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Pakistan government has said it is committed to providing a better environment for promoting a vibrant media in the country.
Gaza hospitals declare emergency due to power cutoff
By DPA,
Gaza : Gaza Strip's hospitals declared a status of emergency after the region's main power plant was shut down prompting a severe electricity crisis.
Mo'aweya Hassanein, Gaza emergency chief, said the shutdown had hit children's hospitals, maternity department, kidney departments, babies nursery and intensive care units.
Increasing the hours of power cutoff from eight hours to 12 hours per day in the Gaza Strip "would lead to a humanitarian crisis and a deterioration of medical services", he said.
Jordan to invite bids for first uranium mine
By Xinhua,
Amman : Jordan Nuclear Energy Commission(JNEC) announced Thursday that the country will float an international tender to invite bids for the design and construction of its first uranium mine by the end of 2008, local Jordan Times reported.
This is a part of Jordan's peaceful nuclear energy ambition, as the resources-scarce country is seeking an alternative source to generate electricity and desalinize water, said the report.
Syrian activists call for more protests as unrest spreads
By DPA,
Damascus/Cairo: Syrian activists called for more protests Saturday after dozens were killed in anti-government demonstrations across the country a day earlier.
Qureshi does not deserve to be foreign minister: BJP
By IANS,
New Delhi : Calling India-Pakistan talks a "non-starter", BJP leader and former foreign minister Yashwant Sinha Friday lashed out at Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's hostile remarks, saying he did not deserve his job.
"The talks have been a non-starter," Sinha told Times Now, a day after the talks between India and Pakistan deadlocked on the issue of terror.
U.S. unmanned plane crashes in Iraq
By Xinhua
Baghdad : A U.S. unmanned aerial plane crashed on Wednesday in north of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
An Air Force MQ-1 Predator apparently crashed due to a mechanical failure in northwest of the town of Balad, 80 km north of Baghdad, a military statement said.
The aircraft was launched from the Ali Base near the city of Nasiriyah, some 375 km south of Baghdad, with the primary mission of conducting armed reconnaissance, the statement said.
"A board will be convened to investigate the accident," the statement added.
Pakistan not in favour of arms race: Foreign Minister
By NNN-APP,
Multan (Pakistan) : Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan does not want to indulge in arms race in the region but is fully alive to its defence.
Talking to the newsmen at the local airport on Saturday, he said that we have confidence in our defence capabilities adding there exists nuclear balance in the region.
Foreign Minister said that country enjoys complete national cohesion and consensus.
India, Oman sign MoU on culture
By IANS,
New Delhi: India and Oman Monday signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in culture, which will increase exchange visits by writers and artists.
The agreement was signed by Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Jawhar Sircar and Oman's Ambassador Humaid Al-Maani.
According to a government press release, the agreement comes into force immediately for a period of five years.
The agreement encourages exchange of visits by cultural, art and literary delegations and also promotes relations on heritage conservations.
MWL Chief receives Indonesian Islamic Delegation
By SPA,
Makkah : Secretary General of Muslim World League (MWL) Dr Abdullah Al-Turki received here today an Indonesian Islamic delegation led by Governor of Sumatra Island Ghamadan Fawazi.
They reviewed issues pertaining to cooperation between the MWL and the Islamic organizations in Indonesia.
Speaking on the occasion, Fawazi hailed the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the defense of Islam.
He reiterated the keenness of the Islamic organizations in Indonesia on enhancing cooperation with the MWL.
Pakistan seeks world support to resume dialogue with India
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Monday that the global community should ask India to resume the dialogue process with Islamabad, Geo TV reported.
He made the remarks during a briefing to foreign envoys at the foreign ministry.
Qureshi briefed the diplomats on post Mumbai situation and investigations being conducted by Pakistan in this regard.
He said the probe into Mumbai attacks was in progress and that Pakistan was in contact with the Indian government so that perpetrators could be brought to justice.
Taliban control over Karachi Can’t be ruled out: Ayesha Siddiqa
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Ayesha Siddiqa, a Pakistani independent security analyst, on Saturday said that there might be a possibility of Taliban control over Karachi, Pakistan's most populated city and a business hub.
Talking to IRNA she said that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan's (TTP) warning to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) a political party, to immediately end their kingdom in Karachi as the time has ripe for the Taliban to gain control of the city, cannot be taken lightly.
Wagah border suicide bomber identified
Islamabad: Pakistani security forces claimed to have identified the man who had carried out last month's suicide bombing at the Wagah border crossing with...
Turkish plan, a way to do away with Gaza crisis
Tehran, Jan 13, IRNA – While Gaza crisis entered 18th day today and some 5,000 Gazans were martyred and wounded by the Zionist regime, Turkey has offered a plan to end to the ongoing crisis in the region said an analysis by IRNA’s Research and News Studies Office.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has presented a two-stage peace plan based on the first stage of which ceasefire will come into force, entries to Gaza will be re-opened and Turkish forces will be deployed in the region as peace-keeping forces.
Militants kill six truck drivers in Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : Taliban militants have attacked a convoy of trucks in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, killing six drivers, the interior ministry said in a statement Monday.
"Enemies of Afghanistan attacked a convoy, set fire to six trucks and killed the drivers in Marawora district Sunday," the statement said. One of the drivers was kidnapped by the rebels, it added.
The police have launched an investigation.
50 militants, 10 soldiers killed in Afghanistan
By DPA,
Kabul : Up to 50 Taliban insurgents were killed in a clash in western Afghanistan after the rebels killed 10 soldiers in the region, officials said Sunday.
Militants ambushed a convoy of the UN World Food Programme in Bala Bulok district of western Farah province Saturday, provincial governor Ruh-ul-Amin said.
The ambush with roadside bombs and assault weapons killed three US soldiers and seven Afghan army soldiers accompanying the convoy.
The coalition forces retaliated with air strikes, killing up to 50 insurgents, the governor said.
Iranian, Venezuelan presidents vow to strengthen ties
By Xinhua,
Tehran : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez on Sunday emphasized the need to strengthen relations between the two countries, Iran's Mehr news agency reported.
In a telephone conversation on Sunday, Ahmadinejad expressed hope that all the signed agreements between the two countries would be implemented soon, Mehr said.
Thousands of people stand against Taliban in Afghanistan
Kabul : Thousands of people, including hundreds gathering in Jauzjan's provincial capital Shiberghan city, 390 km north of Kabul, Monday denounced the Taliban outfit...
Israeli ground forces move into Gaza Strip
By DPA,
Tel Aviv : Israeli ground forces moved in the northern Gaza Strip Saturday evening, on the eighth day of a massive Israeli offensive against militants in the salient.
The ground operation was preceded by an artillery barrage which lasted for hours, and reports said the troops were backed by air support.
There was no immediate indication how far into the salient the troops had penetrated, or what type of resistance they were meeting.
An Israeli Army spokeswoman declined to discuss the operation.
Book for Hindu temples emphasises Malaysian unity
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : The Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) has compiled a book to serve as a guideline for priests delivering Friday evening sermons in temples, with emphasis on national unity.
The book was compiled in line with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's call for all religious institutions to play a proactive role in strengthening national unity, The Star newspaper said Wednesday.
It was published in Tamil to cater to the two million-plus population of ethnic Indians, a bulk of them Tamil Hindus who came here during the British era.
UAE committed to combat weapon proliferation: Minister
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reasserted its commitment to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash, in a statement, said the UAE is among the countries which are at the forefront in the region to implement several measures to ban the spread of WMD, the official Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
His comments came ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York this week.
Israel allows more cargo into Gaza
By Xinhua,
Gaza : Security sources in Gaza said Thursday Israel facilitated movement at commercial crossing points and allowed more sorts of goods to enter the coastal Gaza Strip over the past two days.
The improvement comes as an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which controls the enclave, entered its eighth week.
Through Sufa crossing, one of the four commercial crossings, Israel allowed pipes and heavy equipment used in drainage and water treatment projects in addition to equipment used in agriculture.
Small explosions in Pakistan kill two, wound five
By KUNA,
Islamabad : Two women were killed and six people were wounded in a series of small bomb explosions in several parts of Pakistan on Friday.
A landmine explosion in Jafrabad district of Southwestern Baluchistan province killed two women and wounded another, police sources told KUNA.
In another district of Baluchistan, Awrann, two bombs ripped through the office of District Coordination Officer, sources said, adding that the blast did not cause any human loss but badly damaged the office and a fire broke out.
Khamenei says Iran is after the peaceful use of nuclear energy
By SPA,
Tehran, Iran : Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tuesday his country will continue its peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Khamenei, who has final say in all matters in Iran, spoke at a ceremony Tuesday honoring the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
Iran is after the peaceful use of nuclear energy and we will strongly pursue and reach it despite the envy of our enemies, he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
No wise nation is interested in making a nuclear weapon, since it is not logical and cannot be used, he added.
US to meet deadline for vacating airbase: Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : The US will vacate the Shamsi airbase as per the deadline given by the government, Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said.
Palestinians chastise Ahmadinejad over Mideast talks remarks
By DPA,
Ramallah : The Palestinian leadership has chastised Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for criticising the renewed Middle East direct peace talks, the Maan news agency reported Sunday.
"The one who does not represent the Iranian people, who falsified election results, who oppressed the Iranian people and stole authority has no right to speak about Palestine, its president or its representatives," Nabil Abu Rudaineh, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, was quoted as saying.
Pakistan to restructure ISI
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan has decided to restructure its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency, which is often accused of functioning as a state within a state, to make it more efficient and vibrant.
"The effort that is already underway would bring energetic and more dedicated personnel into the fold of the agency who could live up to the challenges of the modern age," The News said Wednesday.
It’s Gilani vs Zardari in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : With the Supreme Court judges sacked in 2007 reinstated, Shahbaz Sharif back as Punjab chief minister and a key opposition party being invited to rejoin the government, a face-off is brewing between Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari.
In all this, Gilani has come out smelling like roses while Zardari finds his already frayed reputation in further tatters.
Germany summons Israeli envoy over killing of Hamas official
By IRNA,
Berlin : Israel's charge d' affaires, Emmanuel Nahshon was summoned to the German foreign ministry in Berlin on Thursday over his country's role in the recent brutal murder of a leading Hamas official in Dubai.
German Foreign Ministry's Middle East envoy, Andreas Michaelis urged the Israeli official to provide information which might help explain the circumstances surrounding the killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in a luxury hotel in the Persian Gulf sheikdom on January 20.
Sinai attacks will not delay Egypt’s parliamentary polls: Minister
Cairo : Egyptian Local Development Minister Adel Labib said Monday that the attacks in North Sinai will not delay the country's parliamentary elections.
Last Friday,...
11 killed as mortar shell lands in crowd in Pakistan
By IRNA,
Islamabad : At least 11 people were killed as a mortar shell landed on a road near a check post in Pakistan's troubled Swat valley in northwest on Saturday, state television said on Sunday.
PTV reported that several other people were also injured in the incident at Wanai village in Swat.
Locals said the mortar was fired by Pakistani forces in their offensive against the militants but landed in an area where a group of people were waiting for opening of a check post.
Egypt will never allow Gaza-Egypt incident to recur – Presidency spokesman
By NNN-KUNA
Cairo : The Egyptian Presidency spokesman, Ambassador Suleiman Awwad has said that his country will never allow the repetition of what happened on the Gaza-Egyptian borders, saying that Egypt "has the right to protect its borders and sovereignty."
Yemen: senior official denies closure of UN offices
By NNN-IRIN,
Sanaa : The UN in Yemen has raised the level of security in its buildings in a bid to mitigate any terrorist attacks against it but has not closed any of its offices, a senior UN official told IRIN.
Aboudou Karim Adjibade, acting UN Resident Coordinator, said that while some UN staff had had to relocate while security enhancements were made in their offices, their work continued as usual, contrary to reports by international news agencies saying some UN offices in Yemen had closed.
PPP in contact with other parties for Pakistani coalition gov’t
By Xinhua
Islamabad : Co-Chairman of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari said Tuesday contacts were under way with all parties, primarily with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), on the formation of a coalition government.
Addressing a news conference at the Zardari House in Islamabad, Zardari said PPP would join hands with democratic forces. He said dialogue with all parties would be in the interest of strengthening democracy in the country.
Palestinian young man killed by Israeli forces in N. Gaza
By KUNA,
Ramallah : A Palestinian young man was shut dead by Israeli soldiers in Al-Nada neighborhood, north Gaza Strip, medical sources said Monday evening.
The Israeli occupation forces broke into the area and shot to kill Mu'ath Al-Akhras, in the 20s of his age.
Earlier Monday the Israeli forces committed a horrible massacre when they bombarded Beit Hanon town, north Gaza Strip, killing six people including a woman and here four children.
Crowded Dhaka is Bangladesh’s `most attractive’ city: Survey
By IANS,
Dhaka : Despite bursting at the seams and poor civic amenities, Dhaka, the four centuries-old city that is now the capital of Bangladesh, remains the country's "most attractive" city, says a survey.
Dhaka gets 7.3 points in a scale of 10 -- well below the international criteria of competitiveness of a city in terms of cost of doing business, dynamics of local economy, human resources and training, infrastructures, and quality of life.
30 Syrian army men defect to Turkey
By IANS,
Ankara : Thirty-three Syrian army defectors, including a general and two colonels, have fled to Turkey, Turkish state-run Anadolu news agency reported Monday.
Jordan’s king reaffirms independent Palestine key to settle Mideast conflict
By Xinhua,
Amman : Jordan's King Abdullah II reaffirmed here on Tuesday evening the need to establish an independent Palestinian state on lands covering both the West Bank and Gaza, saying it is the key to a final settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, said a statement from Jordan's Royal Hashemite Court.
The King made the remarks when meeting with visiting U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who arrived in Amman in the day to continue his week-long Mideast and Europe tour after visiting Afghanistan and Iraq.
5.6 magnitude earthquake jolts Pakistan
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : An earthquake measuring 5.6 magnitude on the Richter scale jolted northwest Pakistan Sunday, the meteorological department said.
Govt will ensure elections are credible, says Malaysian PM Abdullah
By NNN-Bernama
Penang, Malaysia : Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says the government will ensure that this Saturday's general election is conducted credibly although the Election Commission (EC) has been forced to cancel its plan to use indelible ink to identify voters during the voting process.
Pakistan hopes for ‘constructive’ talks during Krishna’s visit
By IANS,
Istanbul : Pakistan said Tuesday it hoped for a "constructive and result-oriented dialogue" when Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna travels to Islamabad July 15 as a follow-up to the meeting of the two prime ministers on the margins of the SAARC summit in late April.
Larijani: Iran’s policy based on supporting Iraq independence
By NNN-IRNA,
Tehran : Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said on Wednesday that Iran's policy is based on supporting Iraq's independence and respecting Iraqi people's right to decide their own fate.
"To solve Iraq problem, Iraqi people and national leaders should be trusted and their country's sovereignty should be returned to them. Americans refusal to allow the Iraqi people to administer their own affairs might lead to a confrontation," Larijani further told UN chief's new special envoy for Iraq affairs Stephen de Mistura.
Iran, India can fill up ‘power vacum’ in region: President Ahmadinejad
By NNN-PTI,
Dubai : India and Iran should come together to fill up the "power vacuum" in the region and there is "no limit" for promoting ties between the two countries at bilateral, regional and global levels, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said.
"Iran and India, should bolster mutual ties, making themselves prepared for major developments worldwide and filling up the power vacuum in the region," Ahmadinejad said yesterday during a meeting with the Indian National Security Advisor M K Narayanan, who is currently visiting Tehran.
Pakistan PM Gilani gets confidence vote
By IRNA
Islamabad : Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Saturday took vote of confidence from the parliament after the opposition groups also declared support to the Prime Minister.
The major opposition group Pakistan Muslim League (PML)-Q and other small groups also announced support to Prime Minister Gilani as the confidence vote was tabled by the Speaker National Assembly for the house consent.
Most Israelis back direct talks with Hamas on cease-fire
By Xinhua
Jerusalem : According to a poll conducted Tuesday, sixty-four percent of Israelis say the government must hold direct talks with the Hamas government in Gaza toward a cease-fire and the release of captive soldier Gilad Shalit.
The figures, obtained in a Ha'aretz-Dialogue poll, also showed that 28 percent still opposes such talks.
According to the findings, Israelis are fed up with seven yearsof Qassam rockets falling on Sderot and the communities near Gaza, as well as the fact that Shalit has been held captive for more than a year and a half.
Pakistan denies U.S troops, intelligence agents operating in tribal areas
By IRNA
Islamabad : Pakistan has said that U.S troops and intelligence agencies are not operating inside its tribal areas and described American media reports as baseless.
Foreign Office Spokesman, Muhammad Sadiq said the media functions freely in Pakistan as well as in United States and such unfounded news stories are published in both the countries.
Sadiq rejected a report in the New York Times that the United States is considering options to operate in Pakistan's tribal regions.
Pakistani Kashmir leader visits Geelani, denies meeting interlocutor
By IANS,
Srinagar : Sultan Mehmood Chaudary, former prime minister of Pakistani Kashmir, on a visit here Tuesday called on separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, who had rebuked him a day earlier.
Iranian economist praised in Japan
By IRNA,
Tokyo : Iranian Economist Professor Mohammad Naqizadeh, who has received Japanese "Order of Sacred Treasure" was praised in a ceremony in Iran's embassy here.
In the ceremony, Iran's Ambassador to Japan Abbas Araqchi said Professor Naqizadeh is great professor of economics and an economist who has worked a great deal on the economy of the world as well as of Iran and Japan.
Let 2015 be a start to a future of ‘lasts’ rather than ‘half’ measures...
By TCN News,
New Delhi: After receiving the Nobel Peace prize with India’s Kailash Satyarthi, Pakistan’s young education activist Malala Yousafzai has written an open letter to the world leaders. In India, the campaigners have sent this letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Bangladesh postpones BIMSTEC ministerial meet at last minute
By IRNA
New Delhi : Bangladesh has postponed the ministerial meeting of seven-nation group BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) on poverty alleviation citing "poor response from the member nations" as the reason.
Dhaka was forced to postpone the two-day meeting scheduled to be held on 9th and 10th January "because of poor response from the members" due to political turmoil in most countries of the bloc, Indian national TV news portal reported here quoting Bangladesh's foreign office spokesman.
Police officer hurt in Pakistan blast
By IANS,
Islamabad : A senior police official was injured Tuesday in a blast in Pakistan's Quetta city, a media report said.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Nizam Shahid Durrani was injured in the explosion on Sapni Road, Geo News reported.
Iran appoints new Foreign Ministry spokesman
By Xinhua,
Tehran : Iran's former Ambassador to Sweden, Hassan Qashqavi, has been appointed as new spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iranian English-language satellite channel Press TV reported on Sunday.
Qashqavi had served as Iran's envoy to Stockholm since 2004, Press TV reported.
He was also the ambassador to Kazakhstan, and a lawmaker prior to being appointed ambassador to Sweden.
UN Sec-Gen, ‘Friends of Lebanon’ welcome diplomatic efforts to end crisis
By NNN-UNNS,
Beirut : A group that includes foreign ministers and representatives from the European Union and the Arab League, as well as United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, has welcomed an Arab League initiative to send a delegation to Lebanon to promote dialogue in the fractured country.
A statement released by the “Friends of Lebanon” called for the immediate election of a president without prior conditions and the establishment of a national unity government.
Pakistan has caved in to terror: Editorial
By IANS,
Islamabad : The imposition of Sharia laws in parts of Pakistan's restive northwest and the release of a Taliban-linked cleric is "evidence" that the government has "caved in" to terror, an editorial in a leading English daily said Saturday.
A commentary in another newspaper said "fighting back" was difficult because Pakistan had not been able to develop a consensus on the alternative to fundamentalism.
Airstrikes on Pakistani troops unintended: NATO chief
By IANS,
Brussels : The NATO airstrikes that killed and wounded dozens of Pakistani soldiers Saturday were "unintended", alliance chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Sunday.
Spokesman: Iran not expect much change in U.S. policies
By Xinhua,
Tehran : Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi told reporters in his weakly press conference on Monday that Iran does not expect much change in the U.S. policies.
Asked whether Iran expected U.S. President-elect Barack Obama to talk to the current Iranian government or wait after Iran's presidential election in June next year, Qashqavi said, "We shouldn't expect basic changes in American policy."
UNSC to meet Thursday for further discussions of Gaza draft text
By KUNA
United Nations : The Security Council met briefly late Wednesday to examine a draft text regarding the situation in Gaza and decided to meet again tomorrow Thursday after the US said it did not have instructions on whether to approve it or not.
The text has been approved by all 14 members of the council.
Any statement in the council has to be approved by all 15 members.
Israel’s settlement policy threatens peace efforts – Egyptian Ministry
By NNN-KUNA
Cairo : Egypt has lashed out at Israel's declaration on plans to establish new settlements in the Jerusalem region.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Husam Zaki said in a statement Monday that such Israeli schemes flagrantly contradict current political dialogue between Palestinian and Israeli officials, in a bid to reach a viable settlement.
Settlements' expansion constitutes a breach of international laws, resolutions of the United Nations and undermines efforts for establishing the aspired just peace in the region, he said.
Pakistan’ s senior leaves for Istanbul
By SPA,
Islamabad : Pakistan's senior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has flown to Istanbul to represent Pakistan in the 7th ministerial meeting on transport and communication of the ECO (Economic Cooperation Coordination) countries being held in Antalya, Turkey, officials said.
Khan has been invited by his Turkish counterpart Binali Yildrim, Minister for Transport and Communications.
The ministerial was preceded by senior official session.
Israel stops Gaza fuel deliveries after rocket attack
By Xinhua,
Gaza : Israel Wednesday closed the Nahal Oz fuel depot, which supplies most of the Gaza Strip's fuel, after a rocket fired by Palestinian militants seriously wounded a worker near it.
"Israel stopped fuel shipments into Gaza after a rocket landed on the Palestinian depot", where Israeli fuel is accumulated before being pumped into Gaza, said Mujahed Salama, director of the Palestinian Petroleum Agency (PPA).
He said the decision was due to security reasons.
Palestinian Authority urges Bush to help stop Israeli settlement
By Xinhua
Ramallah : Palestinian Authority (PA) on Tuesday urged U.S. President George W. Bush, who will start a Mideast tour on Wednesday, to ask Israel to stop expanding settlements in the West Bank.
"We expect that President Bush will press Israel to freeze settlement activities and stress to end the occupation of the Palestinian land as perpetration for the two-sate solution," said Nabil Abu Rdineh, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Dinosaur at Abu Dhabi airport draws thousands
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : Thousands of passengers at the Abu Dhabi International Airport (ADIA) are getting a glimpse of the skeleton of a 140-million-year-old dinosaur that has been put on display.
Einstein, the 23-metre, 4.5-tonne skeleton of an apatosaurus, also known as brontosaurus, was put on display at the airport of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital a couple of weeks back. And since then, around 360,000 people have had a look at it.
57 Al Qaeda militants kiled in syria
Damascus: At least 57 Al Queda-linked Nusra Front militants were killed Thursday in Syria by the army.
The troops Thursday thwarted an infiltration attempt by...