Fatah welcomes Hamas’ call for dialogue
By Xinhua,
Ramallah : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Sunday welcomed Hamas' call for national dialogue, but stuck to its precondition that Hamas first give up its occupation of the Gaza Strip.
The national dialogue call by Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal "reflects all Palestinian factions' realization of the importance of a national dialogue," said Fatah official Mohammed al- Horrani.
Kuwait’s democratic process benchmark for other countries in the region: paper
By WAM
Dubai : A local English language daily lamented what it called "an alarming turn of events in Kuwait".
The Gulf News was commenting on the "recent crackdown by Kuwait police on organisers of illegal tribal primaries" which the paper dubbed as "disappointing." "The democratic process in Kuwait has always stood as a benchmark for other countries in the Gulf region to follow", remarked the paper.
Three Palestinian killed in Israeli air raids — medical sources
By KUNA
Gaza : Israeli warplanes continued on Tuesday attacks on several areas in Gaza Strip causing more casualties among the Palestinians.
Four air raids were executed by Israeli fighter jets, targeting Palestinian resistance fighters and empty areas in Al-Zaitona neighborhood as well as the town of Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip.
Coalition bombing killed 64 civilians in Syria last week: Report
Beirut : At least 64 civilians were killed in northern Syria amidst the international coalition bombing against Islamic State last week, according to updated...
Delegation of Metro Cash & Carry International meets Prime Minister
By SPA
Islamabad : A delegation of Metro Cash & Carry International headed by its Chief Executive Officer Frans W. H. Muller met Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday, said an official statement.
The premier appreciated the initiative taken by the Metro Group in launching its whole-sale business in Pakistan and said it would encourage other foreign companies to invest in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s sacked judges to be restored May 12
Pakistan's sacked judges to be restored May 12
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS
Lahore : Pakistan's sacked judges will be restored May 12 through a parliamentary resolution, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif announced here Friday, a day after concluding talks with ruling coalition partner Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Dubai.
Addressing a meeting of his party's Central Working Committee, Sharif said: "The deposed judges will be restored on May 12, through a resolution, to the Nov 2 position."
No one listens to Pakistan on Kashmir: daily
Islamabad: The world has stopped listening to Pakistan's ritualistic appeals to resolve the Kashmir dispute with India based on old UN resolutions, a newspaper...
Lightning kills four in Bangladesh
By IANS,
Dhaka : At least four people were killed and one was injured after lightning struck them in Bangladesh's Dinajpur district Wednesday, police said.
Gaza healthcare threatened by fuel shortage
By Xinhua,
Ramallah : Palestinian health minister on Tuesday warned that the reducing of fuel shipments to Gaza Stripwill affect health services for the residents.
"The non-humanitarian and harsh siege has aggravated in an unprecedented way after Israel's recent decision to stop providing Gaza with the fuel," said Health Minister Fathi Abu Mughli in a letter to the press and human rights groups.
"This destroys the health system and forms a direct threat on the patients," he said.
Malaysian Indian Congress chief retains post for 11th term
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) chief S. Samy Vellu Sunday retained the presidentship of the party for the 11th consecutive term after winning uncontested.
With this he becomes the longest-serving chief of the party that speaks for the two million-plus Indian diaspora.
At the party's presidential nomination here, those of his challenger M. Muthupalaniappan were rejected, Star Online said quoting party sources.
According to them, many of the branch chairmen who nominated the former MIC vice-president had also nominated Vellu.
‘Cross-border trade will strengthen India-Pakistan ties’
By IANS,
Jammu : Cross-border trade between both parts of Jammu and Kashmir will strengthen India-Pakistan ties, said the leader of a business delegation from Pakistani Kashmir here Monday.
The delegation is in the winter capital of the state to discuss modalities for cross-border commerce expected to start Oct 21 between two parts of Kashmir divided between India and Pakistan. The delegation flew here Sunday after spending three days in Srinagar where they arrived Oct 9.
Israeli raids kill several Rafah Palestinians — eyewitnesses
By KUNA,
Gaza : Two Palestinian activists were injured early Thursday when Israeli jets executed a military operation targeting the city of Rafah, south Gaza Strip.
According to eyewitness' statements, Israeli warplanes fired one missile at least, targeting a civilian car which was crossing Al-Shaburah Refugee Camp in Rafah, wounding two camp residents, and one is said to be in serious condition.
Sources told KUNA the injured were taken to martyr Abu-Yousef Al-Najjar hospital in Rafah, noting a child was among the casualties.
UAE emirate pardons 47 prisoners
By IANS/WAM,
Fujairah (UAE): The UAE emirate of Fujairah has ordered the release of 47 prisoners as a goodwill gesture on the occasion of Eid-al-Adha.
Goal of EUPOL COPPS is to help in building a viable Palestinian state
By NNN-WAFA,
Ramallah : The European Union Co-ordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support (EUPOL COPPS) has said that its goal is to help build a viable Palestinian state with a functioning criminal justice ststem.
"We have a common goal to assist Palestinians and their National Authority to build a viable Palestinian state with a functioning criminal justice system," head of the EUPOL COPPS'S Rule of Law Section, Christophe Lukits said Tuesday.
Fresh polio cases reported in Pakistan
Islamabad: Pakistan's National Institute of Health (NIH) detected three new polio cases, taking the number detected in 2015 to six, a media report said...
Obama will definitely open Iran talks, says Guardian analyst
By IRNA,
London : A senior British journalist says US President-elect Barack Obama will "definitely" open dialogue with Iran although the Islamic Republic is not closely allied with the West.
Jonathan Steele, international affairs columnist in the Guardian, also said Obama will wait until next year's presidential elections in Iran.
"The West does not like President Ahmadinejad and if he is re-elected, the West has no other alternative but to talk to him.
10 Afghan kids die in NATO air strike
By IANS,
Kabul: At least 10 children were killed and six women were injured in Afghanistan's Kunar province in a security operation involving NATO's aircraft, an official said Sunday.
Car bomb kills seven people in Baghdad
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : A car bomb went off in the northern district of Adhamiyah in Baghdad on Sunday, killing at least seven people and wounding 14 others, an Interior Ministry source said.
"A booby-trapped car parked near a passport office in the Magrib Street detonated in the morning, killing at least seven civilians and wounding 14 others," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Sporadic attacks continue in Baghdad despite the U.S. and Iraqi officials' announcement of a relative lull in violence during the past months.
Official: Arabs under pressure for water due to rising population, scarce resources
By Xinhua,
Amman : Arab countries are concerned about water resources because of rising demand as a result of ever increasing population and the scarcity of water resources in shared river basins, Refat al-Fauri, Director General of the Arab Organization for Administrative Development (AOAD) said Monday.
Al-Fauri made the remarks during a regional conference on water resources management and development in the Arab region, which kicked off on Monday.
Iraqi forces kill 25 Islamic State militants
Baghdad : Twenty-five militants of the Islamic State (IS) were killed Friday in Iraq's Anbar province, a senior officer said.
Police and the army, backed...
Pakistan PM survives assassination attempt
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani Wednesday survived an assassination attempt, private TV channel Dawn News reported.
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Pakistani terrorist Kasab claims he is a juvenile
By IANS,
Mumbai : Captured Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir alias Kasab created a flutter in the Special Court holding trial into the Mumbai terrorist attacks as he said Friday that he was juvenile and his case should be tried before a juvenile court.
His government-appointed lawyer, S.G. Abbas Kazmi, after interacting with Kasab briefly, informed Additional Sessions Judge M.L. Tahilyani, the special judge presiding over the trial - that his client was 17 and thus not an adult.
12 die in Algerian blasts
By IINA,
Algiers : At least 12 people have been killed by two explosions at a train station east of the Algerian capital. Two bombs detonated within minutes in the town of Beni Amrane in Boumerdes region, 50 km from Algiers. The first bomb killed a French citizen and his Algerian driver as they were leaving the town's railway station. The second device exploded as rescue workers arrived. No group has claimed the bombings, which follow attacks blamed on Al Qaeda-aligned militants. The Frenchman was an engineer working for a French firm on a renovation project at the station.
In Photos: Kashmir celebrates Eid-Milad-un-Nabi
By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Srinagar: Unmoved by freezing temperatures, devotees in the city flocked to offer special prayers on the occasion of...
Thousands turn out for Iran revolution anniversary
By IANS/AKI,
Tehran : Tens of thousands of Iranians took to the streets to mark the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution Thursday.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attacked western powers in an address to the rally that was aired live on Iranian television.
State television showed live footage of crowds holding Iranian flags and pictures of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as they made their way to Azadi Square in central Tehran.
NATO air strikes in Tripoli kill 19 civilians: Libyan TV
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow: NATO air strikes on Libyan capital Tripoli killed at least 19 civilians over the past 24 hours, the Libyan state television reported late Tuesday.
Gaza news teams win UK television award
By IRNA,
London : Special tribute has been paid at the Royal Television Society (RTS) annual awards to journalists and camera crews who defied the Israeli media blackout during last year’s slaughter of more than 1,400 Palestinians in Gaza.
Gaza news teams received two standing ovations from an audience of 1,000 media people when honoured with the special Judges’ Award at London’s Hilton Hotel on Wednesday night.
Pakistan reaffirms commitment to global efforts
By SPA
Islamabad : Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to global efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change as the U.N. General Assembly wrapped up a three-day debate on the phenomenon.
“Climate change is causing irrevocable damage to Pakistan, with tremendous social, environment and economic impacts,” Pakistan’s acting Permanent UN Representative Farukh Amil told a large number of participants, according to a message received in Islamabad.
Iran, Iraq vow to expand defense co-op
By Xinhua,
Tehran : Iran and Iraq vowed Sunday to expand their defense cooperation, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported.
Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar and his visiting Iraqi counterpart Abdul Qadir Mohammed Jassim Obeidi al-Mifarji voiced the intention during their meeting.
Pakistan demands India to provide evidence
By NNN-APP,
Islamabad : Pakistan on Friday again demanded of India to provide the evidence so as to conduct its own investigation into the Mumbai terrorist attacks.
“Our own investigations cannot proceed beyond a certain point without provision of credible information and evidence pertaining to Mumbai attacks,” Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said in a statement.
Twin bomb attacks target convoy of Iraqi deputy minister, two guards wounded
By Xinhua
Baghdad : Two roadside bombs detonated near the convoy of an Iraqi deputy minister of electricity in eastern Baghdad on Thursday, wounding two bodyguards and a civilian, an Interior Ministry source said.
"Two roadside bombs detonated simultaneously near the convoy of Salam al-Qazaz, deputy minister of electricity, in the al-Aqari neighborhood near the Palestine Street, wounding two of his bodyguards and a civilian," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Single-day land transactions in Dubai touch record $140 mn
By IANS,
Dubai : Land transactions in Dubai in a single day have touched a record 515.61 million dirhams ($140.3 million), with sales totalling 224.77 million dirhams ($61.2 million).
The total value of mortgages during the period was 290.84 million dirhams ($79.2 million), the state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported citing figures released by Dubai's Land Department.
Palestinian refugees and right of return are red lines – Erekat
By NNN-Petra,
Ramallah : Head of the PLO Negotiations Affairs Department Saeb Erekat has said that Palestinian refugees and right of return are red lines for the Palestinian Authority as well as other standards such as Jerusalem, borders, settlements and water.
In special statements to PETRA here Thursday, Erekat said that the Israeli media tries to mislead public opinion especially the United States by implying that Israel wants to achieve peace especially with the Palestinians.
UAE VP meets mideast quartest special envoy
By NNN-WAM
Dubai : UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has held a meeting at his Za'abeel palace here the Mideast Quartet special envoy Tony Blair.
During the meeting Sunday, Blair briefed Sheikh Mohammed about his mission to the Middle East, which, he said, centres on narrowing the differences between the Palestinians and Israelis, to reach a just and honourable solution that would lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
No licence to any Indian channel: Pakistani minister
By IANS,
Islamabad : No licence has been issued to any Indian or Indian content channels, a Pakistani minister has clarified.
Pakistan caretaker PM advises Musharraf to convene parliament session
By Xinhua
Islamabad : Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro on Monday sent a summary to President Pervez Musharraf, advising him to convene the new parliament session.
According to the constitution, Musharraf has to convene the National Assembly session on the advice of the prime minister.
Earlier, the caretaker Law Minister Syed Afzal Haider sent the summary to Soomro for the convening of the parliament session.
"The president will either set a date for the assembly session on Wednesday or Thursday," Haider told the private GEO television.
Bomb blast kills six in northwest Pakistan
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : At least six people were killed and 13 others injured Tuesday in a bomb blast in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar, a TV report said.
The bomb was placed in a vehicle outside the house of a local official, the report said.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the bomb blast in Peshawar.
In their messages, Zardari and Gilani said the government would not bow down to the militants.
4 Palestinians injured during Israeli incursion in S Gaza
By Xinhua,
Gaza : Three Hamas militants and a Palestinian civilian were wounded early Sunday during an Israeli incursion in southeast Gaza Strip, witnesses and security sources said.
Top Taliban commander captured in secret raid in Pakistan: NYT
By IANS,
Washington : Pakistani and American intelligence forces have in a secret joint operation captured Afghanistan's top Taliban military commander in Karachi, the New York Times reported Tuesday citing American government officials.
The commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, is an Afghan described by American officials as the most significant Taliban figure to be detained since the American-led war in Afghanistan started more than eight years ago, the influential US daily said.
US envoy Mitchell to visit Middle East: Israeli official
By DPA,
Tel Aviv : George Mitchell, the former US senator who has been named a special envoy to the Middle East, is scheduled to visit Israel and Palestinian-controlled territories in the coming days, an Israeli government spokesman said Sunday.
No programme for Mitchell's visit has been set, said Jigal Palmor.
Mitchell, who was tapped for the position by new US President Barack Obama, is expected to seek to restart negotiations on Middle East peace, as well as to gather information on the status of the Gaza Strip.
AirAsia’s Tony Fernandes ventures into Formula 1
By Aparajita Gupta, IANS,
Kuala Lumpur: Goan origin entrepreneur Anthony "Tony" Francis Fernandes, owner of no-frills air carrier AirAsia, has forayed into Formula 1 Racing in Malaysia, and says this sport will be a sell out in India.
"The beauty of Formula 1 is that it creates world class champions, it creates engineers, marketing people. That's why I did it," said Fernandes, whose father is a Goan who was born in Kolkata and migrated to Malaysia.
Hosseini refutes Bush’s unsubstantiated anti-Iran claims
By IRNA
Tehran : Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini on Friday dismissed the US President George W. Bush's "unjustified" anti-Iran claims.
"Such claims represent baseless, repeated and boring stances and are an effort to offlay responsibilities of an occupying state," Hosseini said on Friday.
He said the US President's claims should be interpreted as evasion of ongoing Iraq realities as the US statesmen have never been ready to accept them and have been willing to cause more insecurity and instability and add up to pains and sufferings of the Iraqi people.
Rice Meets with Arab FMs in Bahrain
By Prensa Latina,
Manama : US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met in Bahrain with Arabian Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Persian Gulf and those of Egypt, Jordan and Iraq on Monday.
Rice, who will continue on to Kuwait to participate in an international conference of Iraq's neighbors and the Group of 8, reportedly met with the foreign ministers to induce them to open embassies in Baghdad.
Four policemen die in Pakistan’s northwest attack
By IRNA,
Islamabad : At least four policemen have been killed and two others injured in attack on their van in Pakistan's northwest, a senior police officer said Monday.
The police mobile came under attack at the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province, during routine patrolling late last night, police officer Aziz-ur-Rehman said.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Authorities blame such attacks on suspected militants, who are active in parts of northwest.
UAE’s ‘Generous Hands’ initiative goes international
By NNN-WAM
Abu Dhabi : The international phase of the UAE's 'Generous Hands' initiative has been launched here.
Deputy Prime Minister and UAE Red Crescent Authority chairman Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan will shoulder the cost of implementing the initiative, which aims at alleviating the sufferings of sick poor people worldwide.
The initiative, the first of its kind in the world, will offer worldwide a special medical treatment programme for the sick, who cannot afford to pay for their medical treatment.
Two bombings in south Afghanistan kill six
By RIA Novosti,
Kabul : Four police officers and two civilians were killed and three other police injured on Thursday in two explosions in south Afghanistan's Helmand province, local officials said.
The incident occurred in the province's capital of Lashkar Gah where officers were carrying out an operation to detain drug couriers and destroy a drug storehouse.
A police car was caught in a landmine explosion and then attacked by a suicide bomber, who was killed at the scene. The three injured police officers were taken to a hospital.
Key Taliban leader arrested in Islamabad
By IANS,
Islamabad : A key Taliban leader has been arrested by authorities in Pakistan, Xinhua reported Sunday.
Iran slams US for meddling in IAEA-Tehran talks
By IANS,
Tehran : Iran's new Speaker Ali Larijani Wednesday said parliament would set limits on cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over the nuclear issue if the US continues to influence the UN nuclear watchdog's interaction with the government.
"A mysterious diplomatic give-and-take is underway between US and the UN nuclear agency to bring baseless allegations against Iran," Larijani said in his first reaction to a report IAEA director general Mohamed ElBaradei, IRNA reported.
Libya seeks diplomatic training from India
By IANS,
Tripoli : A four-member Libyan delegation, which returned from India, has shown interest in technical assistance and capacity building projects as well as...
Abu Dhabi wins best quake management award
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : The Abu Dhabi municipality has won the 14th European Conference on Earthquake Engineering (ECEE) Award in recognition of its outstanding work on quake management, it was announced Sunday.
The ECEE has termed as pioneering Abu Dhabi's Earthquake Risks Control and Management System project. The award is given to outstanding projects in quake risks' management.
Yousef Al Marzooqi, director of the municipality's Spatial Data, received the award in Skopje, capital of Macedonia.
100 Arab political parties condemn US threats against Iran
By IRNA
Amman : Secretariat of Arab parties, an umbrella group with 100 Arab political parties, by issuing a statement, condemned the US and the Zionist regime's threats against Iran.
In the statement, a copy of which was faxed to IRNA Bureau in Amman, the secretariat underlined the necessity of closing of foreign military bases in Arab lands to guarantee complete independence of Arab countries.
The secretariat, based in Amman, also condemned assassination of Imad Mughnieh, one of top commanders of Lebanon Hezbollah.
Pakistani court halts deportation of five American Muslims
By DPA,
Islamabad : A Pakistani court Monday blocked the repatriation of five American Muslims arrested on suspicion of plotting terrorist attacks last week, a lawyer said.
The high court in the eastern city of Lahore asked the interior ministry and other relevant authorities to submit a report on the detentions Dec 17, said attorney Khalid Khwaja, a rights activist who filed a petition on his own initiative.
Turkey seeks free trade agreement with Gulf
By IANS
Abu Dhabi : Turkey is negotiating a free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other Gulf states, WAM news agency reported Friday.
In an exclusive interview with the Dubai-based newspaper Khaleej Times, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said his country attached great importance to the security and stability of the region and called for dialogue rather than using force to resolve problems.
Pakistan refutes El Baradei, asserts n-weapons secure
By IANS
Islamabad : Pakistan Wednesday termed as irresponsible a statement of Mohamed El Baradei, director general of the UN's nuclear watchdog, who said Pakistani nuclear assets were likely to go into wrong hands, the Online news agency reported.
Responding to a question, foreign office spokesman M. Sadiq said in his weekly press briefing here that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was a UN agency, and El Baradei being head of this body has to be careful in his statements.
Iran protests EU stance on polls, summons Czech diplomat
By DPA,
Prague : Iran summoned a senior Czech diplomat Tuesday over the European Union's (EU) critical statements about the disputed Iranian presidential election, the Czech foreign ministry said.
"I can confirm that our charge d'affaires Josef Havlas was today (Tuesday) summoned to the foreign ministry in Teheran," ministry spokesman Jiri Benes told DPA.
"The Iranian side expressed its concern about EU's stance after the election," he said. The Czech Republic chairs the EU until June 30.
Somali insurgents capture key town near Mogadishu
By DPA,
Mogadishu : The Somali insurgent group al-Shabaab Sunday took control of Jowhar, a key strategic town north of Mogadishu, after two hours of fierce fighting, witnesses and town elders said.
"There was fierce fighting at Jowhar's outskirts before al-Shabaab entered Jowhar," Mo'alim Muhidin, an elder in Jowhar, told DPA. "After that, they took full control, including the administration's bases, like the police station."
"They were equipped with machine guns and battle wagons and are now patrolling the streets," he added.
UAE, UN hold training on human rights
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi : The Unitd Arab Emirates (UAE) and UN held a training programme to introduce Arab diplomats to the international human rights systems.
Palestinian petrol stations still on strike
By Xinhua,
Gaza : Palestinian gas union on Tuesday decided to keep on strike and not to receive restricted fuel shipments as long as Israel does not increase the amount of daily deliveries.
The Petrol Station Owners Association (PSOA) "still refuses to receive the reduced fuel shipments and refuses to run gas stations unless Israel makes a commitment allowing the delivery of all needed fuel shipments to the Gaza Strip," said Mahmoud al-Khozendar, vice-president of the association.
Arab official calls for punishing Israel over ship raid
By KUNA,
Cairo : An Arab League official urged here Saturday that Israel has to pay the full price for its lethal attack on Gaza-bound 'Freedom Flottila' aid ships.
Assistant Secretary General of the Arab League for Palestine Affairs Ambassador Mohammad Subeeh said in news remarks that the way to punish Israel should go through the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In this context, he said Turkey was going through this way, given that the fatal Israeli attack targeted Turkish-flagged aid ships in a show of Israel's disrespect of its relations with Turkey.
Israel: Olmert to submit resignation Sept 21 – Israeli radio
By NNN-KUNA,
Gaza : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will announce his resignation on Sunday during the weekly meeting for cabinet, said the Jewish state's radio Saturday.
The radio quoted several ministerial sources which said that Olmert could hand in his resignation to President Shimon Peres, adding that the resignation would be in effect as soon as Peres returns from the UN General Assembly in about two weeks.
Olmert was forced to announce his resignation after being accused of financial fraud.
Afghan lawmaker assassinated
By SPA,
Kandahar, Afghanistan : Gunmen in a dangerous part of southern Afghanistan assassinated an Afghan lawmaker, while a roadside bomb detonated prematurely, killing 10 Taliban, officials said Saturday.
The gunmen killed parliament member and former military commander Habibullah Jan after he visited an Afghan army compound in the Zhari district of Kandahar late Friday, said Kandahar provincial council member Bismillih Afghanmul.
Former Bangladeshi army chief arrested on graft charges
By Xinhua,
Dhaka : Former Bangladesh army chief Gen (retd) Mustafizur Rahman was arrested Sunday in a corruption case involving purchase of Mig-29 warplanes.
The police arrested and detained Rahman at Apollo Hospital here, where he is undergoing heart treatment.
Then prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Rahman and some other top defence officials were allegedly involved in the purchase of eight Russian-made Mig-29 fighter jets in February 1999. The deal is alleged to have caused a loss of 7 billion taka ($100 million) to the exchequer.
Suicide bombing in Iraq kills 25
By DPA,
Baghdad : A suicide bomber walked into a large group of mourners gathered for a funeral in the Iraqi province of Diyala Monday evening and detonated the explosives strapped to his body, killing at least 25 people and injuring "many more", police said.
A police officer told the Voices of Iraq news agency that it was not immediately clear how many died or were wounded in the attack in central Jalawla, roughly 200 km north of Baghdad. "But," he said, "the death toll will likely be high because of the strength of the blast."
Pakistan should do more to dismantle terror, says India
By IANS,
New Delhi : As Islamabad sought more details and audio recordings of conversations between the Mumbai attackers and their handlers, India Tuesday asked Pakistan to do more to dismantle terror infrastructure on its soil if it wanted to resume the peace process.
"So far the composite dialogue is concerned, it is false and we expect Pakistan to do more in respect of dismantling the terror infrastructure," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters here when asked about the resumption of the stalled talks between the two countries.
Pilgrims arrives in Arafat
By SPA,
Arafat : Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims arrived in here early this morning, the Ninth of Thu-al-Hijaz, following the deed of the Prophet Mohammed (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) on this glorified day of Standing in Arafat, asking Almighty Allah for forgiveness and mercy, and to perform the shortened and combined 'Duhr' and 'Asr' Prayers as well as to listen to Arafat sermon.
The pilgrims will stay in Arafat until sunset, and then they will move from Arafat to Muzdalifah to spend the night there.
Pakistan violates ceasefire in Jammu
Jammu: The Pakistan Rangers Friday violated the ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked firing at Indian positions on the international border in Jammu district, police...
Israel is ready for any possible escalation in Gaza Strip — Barak
By KUNA
Gaza : Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Sunday that Israel is ready for any possible military escalation in Gaza Strip, holding Hamas responsibility for such situation.
Barak told Israeli radio that only Hamas bears the responsibility for the deteriorating situation in Gaza Strip and will pay for it dearly.
The Israeli minister promised more military operations in Gaza Strip that claimed 65 lives and injured more than 200 people.
Hamas slams Palestine helping Israel locate missing teenagers
Gaza : The Islamic Hamas movement Sunday slammed the Palestinian National Authority's (PNA) decision to help Israel locate three missing teenagers who have been...
IAEA finds no nuclear material in Syria
By Xinhua,
Vienna : The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has found no trace of nuclear material in Syria's Al-Kibar so far, but it would continue sampling in this area to analyze, said Mohammed ElBaradei, IAEA director general, in Vienna Monday.
ElBaradei also pointed out at an IAEA council meeting that Syria has not provided IAEA supplement information so far about its related nuclear activities as requested.
Text of India, Pakistan joint statement
By IANS,
New Delhi: The text of the joint statement issued after the two-day talks between Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani here:
LeT’s Lakhvi planned Mumbai carnage: Pakistani minister
By IANS,
Islamabad : Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group had planned the Mumbai carnage, Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said here Thursday.
"The Lashkar-e-Taiba which we have banned planned the attacks. One Zakiur Rehman of the LeT did the planning," Malik said at a press conference here to report on the progress in Pakistan's probe into the Nov 26-29, 2008 Mumbai carnage that claimed more than 170 lives, including those of 26 non-Indians, and injured more than 300.
India urges Pakistan to act against terrorists
By RIA Novosti,
New Delhi : India has asked Pakistan to act against a group it says was behind the Mumbai terrorist attacks and has also requested the extradition of some 20 terrorist suspects, India's foreign minister said on Tuesday.
"We are waiting for a response from Pakistan," Pranab Mukherjee said, adding that, "the international community is behind us, including the newly-elected U.S. president Barack Obama."
52 killed in suicide bombings in Baghdad
Baghdad: At least 52 people were killed and another 54 wounded on Monday in three suicide bombings, but also in a series of attacks...
Four rebels killed in Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : Four suspected insurgents were killed in Afghanistan's Zabul province by Afghan forces backed by the US-led Coalition troops, authorities said Sunday.
"Afghan National Army Security Forces and Coalition Forces killed four armed militants in Shinkay district of Zabul Province on Saturday after they came under attack," a press release said.
Air support was also used to eliminate the militants. The troops did not suffer casualties, it said.
Coalition soldier killed in roadside bomb blast
By KUNA
Kabul : A soldier of the US-led coalition troops was killed in a roadside bomb attack in eastern Afghanistan, the military said on Tuesday.
A statement from coalition's Bagram base said two soldiers were injured when a roadside bomb hit their vehicle in Bhati Kot district of the eastern Nangarhar province on Monday.
"The troops were responding to a call from the local police who had discovered another explosive device nearby, when the second bomb exploded," the statement said.
One of the soldiers later died of his injuries.
Iran plans to produce drones abroad
By IANS,
Tehran : Iran is planning to produce unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in other countries, a media report said Thursday.
Pakistan committed to safeguarding minorities’ rights: PM
By IANS,
Islamabad : Holding that attacks on minorities posed a "great challenge", Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday reiterated the government's resolve to safeguard their rights as envisaged in the constitution.
"The sporadic events of terrorism against minorities are a great challenge for us. But every one of us is sure that such events are part of a conspiracy to destablise the growth and development of Pakistan," he said in a message on Minorities Day that is being observed in the country for the first time.
Iran says ElBaradei report approves its peaceful use of nuke program
By Xinhua,
Vienna : Iranian Ambassador to IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh said here Tuesday the report of the IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei approved that all atomic programs of Iran are for peaceful use and no nuclear-related military programs were found.
He reaffirmed that Iran had clarified all unresolved problems, saying that "we have made necessary explanations" to all questions and Iran would continue "cooperating with IAEA."
Ready to jointly combat terrorism in Middle East: Saudi minister
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal has said the US and Arab allies were ready for a unified vision to combat terrorism...
Pakistan wants equal treatment from Australia on uranium
By IANS,
Canberra : If Australia sells uranium to India, it should sell to Pakistan as well, Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Malik Abdullah here told ABC Radio Monday.
Australia lauds Israel as ‘custodian of freedom’
By DPA
Sydney : The Australian Parliament Wednesday congratulated Israel on 60 years of statehood, describing it as a "robust democracy" and a "custodian of freedom" in a region abounding in autocracies and theocracies.
The bipartisan motion in Parliament was interrupted by a protester in the public gallery who shouted, "What about the UN resolution?" before being hustled out of the chamber.
Iran’s Ahmadinejad appoints US educated scholar as advisor
By IANS,
Tehran : Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Tuesday appointed US educated Hamid Molana as his advisor, state-run IRNA news agency reported.
Molana has worked with the faculty of International Relations of major American and European universities in the past 50 years, the report said.
He is the founding director of the International Communication Programme at the School of International Service in the American University.
Illegal Bangladeshi immigration being tackled: Government
By IANS,
New Delhi : The central government is taking adequate steps to curb illegal infiltration from Bangladesh into northeastern states like Assam, the Lok Sabha was told Tuesday.
Gilani seeks drone technology from US
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has urged the US to provide drone technology to Pakistan, a media report said. He also demanded an end to the US drone attacks inside Pakistan.
Gilani made the request during a meeting with US special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke at his home Monday. He also discussed a range of other issues, The News reported.
Quake jolts Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale rocked Pakistan's northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tuesday, a media report said.
UAE pledges to build world’s greenest city
By Xinhua
Abu Dhabi : A company of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) vowed to build the world's greenest city with zero-carbon, zero-waste and car-free, local newspaper Khaleej Times reported on Sunday.
Under a Sustainability Action Plan, UAE's Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) will finish the project by 2015 with its partner and adviser, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), an international nongovernmental organization.
Artistes show solidarity with Palestinians
New Delhi : A conceptual artist Thursday smashed watermelons and took out olives from each. The olives represented Gaza's main crop while the performance...
Dhaka rejects World bank’s grim forecast on economy
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh's finance minister has rejected World Bank's forecast of its economy in the wake of global downturn and economists here insist that the economy was poised for a higher growth at 5.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
"I do not accept it," said Finance Minister A.M.A. Muhith when asked to comment on the World Bank's projection of 4.5 percent growth rate.
Bangladesh Bank, the country's central bank, too rejected the WB projections.
UAE can prosecute Israel in Hamas killing: Egypt
By IANS,
Cairo : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) can prosecute Israel if it has proof of Israeli involvement in the killing of a Hamas leader on its land, Egypt's assembly speaker said.
Fathi Surour has made the remarks while talking to reporters on the sidelines of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (AIPU) meeting here, WAM news agency reported Tuesday.
He said the UAE can do that in pursuance of the international law if it has proven that an Israeli agent has murdered Mahmoud Al Mabhouh, commander of Palestine-based Islamic group Hamas.
Israel`s 22-day-old war on Hamas in Gaza in figures
By ANTARA News,
Jerusalem : Israel on Saturday announced a unilateral halt to a 22-day-old war on Hamas in Gaza, the Jewish state's deadliest offensive ever on the Palestinian enclave launched in response to rocket fire from the territory.
Herewith some figures from the offensive:
Palestinian victims, according to Gaza medics:
-- 1,205 killed, including:
-- 410 children (under 16)
-- 108 women
-- 113 elderly men
-- 14 medics
-- 4 journalists
-- 5,300 wounded
Israeli victims, according to medics:
Execution rules changed in Pakistan’s Punjab
Islamabad : With the Pakistan government deciding to end the moratorium on death sentence in terrorism cases following Tuesday's tragedy in Peshawar, the rules...
France reopens embassy in Libya
By IANS,
Paris : France Monday reopened its embassy in Libyan capital Tripoli, after closing the office for nearly six months, the French foreign ministry said.
Afghanistan thwarts bomb attack on German troops
By Xinhua,
Berlin : Afghan authorities thwarted a car bomb attack on German troops based in northern Afghanistan last week, the German Defense Ministry confirmed on Wednesday.
German Defense Ministry spokesman Dietrich Jensch said that two men, a Pakistani and a Tajik, were arrested outside the northern Afghan town of Masar-i-sharif, where Germany's 3,200 troops were based. They were found driving a car with up to 300 kilograms of explosives stuffed in the vehicle's doors and floor.
Iran arrests suspects over n-scientists’ murders
By IANS,
Tehran : Iran's intelligence ministry has announced the capture of a number of prime suspects in the killings of two of the country's nuclear scientists.
Pakistani government to appeal Sharif brothers’ poll bar
By IANS,
Islamaba : In a major climbdown to end a lawyers' stir, the Pakistani government said Saturday it would appeal against a Supreme Court ruling that bars opposition leader Nawaz Sharif and his brother from contesting polls, as also take steps to reinstate the judges sacked in 2007.
At the same time, the army was placed on standby to prevent the protesters from entering Islamabad.
Iraqi soldier killed in bomb attack in Baghdad
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : An Iraqi soldier was killed and four others were injured in a roadside bomb explosion near their vehicle in western Baghdad on Thursday, an Interior Ministry source said.
"A roadside bomb detonated after midday near a joint U.S. and Iraqi Army patrol on a main road in the neighborhood of al-Khadhra, killing an Iraqi soldier and wounding four others," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
The blast destroyed an Iraqi military Humvee in the predominantly Sunni neighborhood, the source said.
Three aid workers killed in Afghanistan
By DPA,
Kabul : Three aid workers with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and their Afghan driver were shot dead Wednesday in central Afghanistan, police said.
The aid workers, all women, were killed in the Qalah Rahmat area of Puli Alam, the capital of Logar province, Abdul Majeed Latifi, provincial security chief said.
An earlier report identified the dead as aid workers with the International Committee of Red Cross.
"The workers are citizens of Ireland, Canada and the US," said Latifi, who moved the aid workers' bodies to the provincial hospital.
Malaysia’s met dept reports three quakes in Indonesia, one in Japan
By NNN-Bernama,
Kuala Lumpur : The Malaysian Meteorological Department reported three earthquakes in Indonesia and one in Japan early today.
Afghans protest alleged NATO gunshots in Mosque
By NNN-AfghanNews,
Kabul : Hundreds of people blocked roads and fought with police in southern Afghanistan on Friday over unconfirmed reports that Polish troops fired guns in a village mosque.
Both NATO forces and Polish officials said they had no reports of any such incident. Polish troops are deployed in the province but there were no records of international troops in the immediate area, NATO added.
Russia urges cooperation between US-led coalition, Damascus
United Nations : Russia Saturday said the fight against terrorists in Syria by US-led coalition should be structured in cooperation with the Syrian government.
"It...
Bangladesh invites MNC bids for oil and gas exploration
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh hopes to get nine foreign oil and gas multinational corporations, including some global names, to bid for offshore blocks for exploration.
Submission of offers for exploration in eight shallow water blocks and 20 deep-sea blocks in the Bay of Bengal is to begin shortly. The bidding is the first of its kind for Bangladesh where the focus is exclusively on the Bay of Bengal. The country hopes to catch up in the race where neighbours India and Myanmar have already gone ahead and found oil and gas.
Bombs hurled at Bahrain school
By IANS,
Manama : Two home-made bombs were Thursday hurled into a school in Bahrain, but there were no casualties in the blasts, Xinhua reported.
Clinton unveils $500-mn aid projects for Pakistan
By DPA,
Islamabad : US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Monday announced more than $500 million worth of development projects for Pakistan that focus on improving water storage, the energy sector, food exports and medical facilities.
The aid, which is the part of a $7.5-billion five-year development package passed by the US Congress last year, aims at improving the US image in Pakistan, a key ally in the fight against terrorism.
Indian mission seeking details about Indians in Saudi fire
By IANS,
New Delhi: The Indian mission in Riyadh is seeking details about a massive fire at a workers' camp at Saudi Arabia's Khursaniyah, at which many Indians were working. No casualty or injury involving Indians has been confirmed so far.
A counsellor-level officer has been dispatched to the site of the fire, official sources said here Thursday.
Seven people were killed in a fire Sunday at a workers' camp near a plant being built to process gas from the Khursaniyah oilfield, 500 km from Riyadh.
Salman Taseer’s killer gets death sentence
By IANS,
Islamabad : The bodyguard who gunned down Punjab governor Salman Taseer in January this year was found guilty and sentenced to death Saturday by a Pakistani court, a media report said.
US brands Gaza-based group terror organisation
Washington: The US Tuesday branded a Gaza-based group as a foreign terrorist organisation for firing rockets into Israel.
The move by the State Department against...
Pakistan to develop military potential: Gilani
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan will continue to develop its military potential as weakness invites aggression, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has said.
Diplomatic Cables reveal US troops’ role in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad: US Special Forces were embedded with Pakistani troops for intelligence gathering and joint operations in 2009, US diplomatic cables have revealed.
Afghanistan announces to suspend meetings with Pakistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : Afghanistan Ministers' Council on Tuesday announced to suspend upcoming meetings with Pakistan due to the neighbor state's "interference into Afghan internal affairs".
The council said in a statement that it would not attend the meetings unless "bilateral trust" was restored.
Afghanistan and Pakistan were scheduled to hold three bilateral meetings in the next five weeks in Dubai, Kabul and Islamabad, respectively to discuss anti-terrorist cooperation and trade and economic relations.
US pitches for restarting India-Pakistan dialogue
By IANS,
New Delhi: Pitching for resumption of the India-Pakistan dialogue, the US Thursday said it is pressing Islamabad to take firm and urgent action against extremists and terrorists operating in its territory.
"US has welcomed better relations between the two countries. The pace, scope and character of the relationship has to be decided by the two countries," US Under Secretary of State William Burns told reporters here.
Islamophobia High on OIC Summit
By IRNA
Riyadh : With drawings blaspheming Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) and a documentary desecrating the holy Quran, alarming Islamophobia in the West will be high on the agenda of the Muslim leaders' upcoming Summit.
"We have to resolve the issue of Islamophobia through a committed political dialogue and a historical reconciliation between Islam and the West," Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said.
Airport industry to witness boom in the Gulf region
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : A buoyant economy and rapid expansion of Gulf countries' state-owned airlines are leading to a boom in the airport development industry in the Middle East, according to a survey, WAM news agency reported Tuesday.
The survey, conducted by Streamline Marketing Group and organisers of the Dubai Airport Show, said that the projected increase in commercial air traffic and tourism to the region has been a major factor in prompting heavy government funding for such infrastructure projects.
Sharif, Zardari challenge Musharraf to convene parliament
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS
Islamabad : In their first show of strength after the polls, Pakistan's opposition parties Wednesday challenged President Pervez Musharraf to call a session of the newly elected parliament and said parties backed by him had failed to muster support.
"This is the time that Musharraf should step down," former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said while addressing the meeting of 173 newly elected members of the National Assembly.
Pranab, Modi congratulate Egypt’s president-elect
Cairo : Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are among world leaders who have congratulated new President-elect Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for...
Two missiles fired from northern Gaza target Negev region — spokesman
By KUNA
Gaza : A couple of missiles were fired from north Gaza Strip targeting southern Israel, Israeli Army said on Sunday.
The army spokesman told the Israeli radio the two missiles, unleashed late on Saturday, landed in an open area in Negev region, near the strip, leaving no causalities or damage.
Separately, an armed Palestinian group fired, late last night, eight mortar shells in the direction of southern Israel. One of them landed in the town of Sderot, injuring a resident, panicking others and damaging nearby cars, the spokesman added.
Passenger flight lands as windscreen cracks
By IANS,
Islamabad : A passenger aircraft had to land in Karachi after its windscreen developed cracks.
Pakistani ban on 1,000 words lampooned
By IANS,
Islamabad: A government move to ban the use of more than 1,000 "derogatory" words in SMS messages has run into a wall of furious netizens.
Three dead in Kabul bombing
By IANS,
Kabul : Three people died in a suicide bomb attack in Kabul's diplomatic enclave Wednesday, police said.
Iran has protested to UN over Israeli threats
By IRNA,
Tehran : Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mohammad-Ali Hosseini, said on Sunday that Iran has sent a letter of protest to the United Nations over Israeli threat.
The letter was handed over to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council by Iran's permanent envoy to the UN, Mohammad Khazaei on Friday.
In his April 7 statement Israeli national infrastructure minister, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, threatened the Iranian nation with destruction.
Taliban chief met man who tried to bomb Times Square
By IANS,
London : The Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud had met Pakistani-American Faisal Shahzad who tried to bomb New York's Times Square, shows a new video footage.
The video clip shows Shahzad and Mehsud shaking hands and hugging each other sometime before the failed May 1 attack, Sky News reported Friday.
Shahzad can be heard saying: "Today, along with the leader of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan Hakimullah Mehsud and under the command of Amir al-Mumineen Mullah Mohammed Omar Mujahid (may Allah protect him), we are planning to wage an attack on your side, inshallah."
Afghanistan to get Pakistani wheat despite Karzai’s saber rattling
By DPA,
Karachi : Pakistan is planning to export 50,000 tonnes of wheat to neighbouring Afghanistan despite recent saber-rattling by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, media reports said Monday.
The exports will be made from the stocks of state-owned Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Supplies Corporation (PASSCO) at subsidized rates, English-language daily Business Recorder said.
Last weekend Karzai threatened to invade Pakistan in pursuit of insurgent Talibans, triggering new tensions between the two countries and causing a 7 percent decline in the country's main Karachi bourse.
Candidate for scheduled Kuwaiti polls makes vows to followers
By KUNA,
Kuwait : Another nominee for the second constituency, Fahad Al-Ajmi, affirmed necessity of a balanced relationship between the legislative and executive authorities and their joint role in mapping out vital development strategies.
Speaking to followers in Ghernata last night, he said the serious strains in this relationship had affected "the process of development and delayed consensus on issues that concern every one."
US gives $40 mn for Bangladesh health sector
By IANS,
Dhaka : The US Agency for International Development (USAID) Monday announced a grant of $40 million for the development of Bangladesh's health sector.
US’ diplomatic engagement is “a one-time deal” for Tehran – state department
By NNN-KUNA,
Washington : The United States has confirmed that a State Department senior official will meet with Iranian nuclear negotiator in Switzerland and noted that this diplomatic engagement is "a one-time deal" for Tehran.
"This is an offer that outlined a very clear set of attractive incentives for the Iranian government to suspend its uranium enrichment and reprocessing related activities," said State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack in a daily press briefing Wednesday.
In the West Bank, a hotel with no name – and no guests
By Hans Dahne, DPA,
Atarot/East (Jerusalem) : The beds have been freshly made. In the lobby, the waiters have set the coffee tables nicely. In the kitchen, the cooks are preparing meat balls in a tomato sauce. At the reception desk, Fakhre Alame stands ready to welcome guests - even though the young man in the snow-white shirt knows that nobody is coming. Not today, not tomorrow, just as has been the case for the past 42 years.
Cameron urges ex-Guantanamo detainee to provide information about IS
London: British Prime Minister David Cameron called Tuesday on former Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg to share any information he may have concerning Islamic State(IS).
Cameron...
Syria participates in the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum in Manama
By NNN-SANA,
Manama : The 3rd session of the Ministerial meeting of the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum began in Manama Tuesday with the participation of Syria.
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Zhai Jun stressed that the formation of this Forum is considered as an important strategic step on the road of unifying the two sides' efforts to face the standing challenges and consolidate the traditional friendship and cooperation between the Arab world and China.
Turkey eases restrictions on freedom of speech
By DPA,
Ankara : Turkish parliament early Wednesday passed amendments to the Article 301 of the criminal code which criminalizes "insulting Turkishness" and which has been strongly criticized by the European Union (EU) and human rights groups.
Hundreds of writers and intellectuals have been charged under Article 301, the most prominent being Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk and ethnic Armenian journalist Hrant Dink who was murdered after being found guilty of "insulting Turkishness".
Iran’s Ahmadinejad sworn in for second presidential term
By DPA,
Tehran: Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn in Wednesday for a second four-year presidential term.
The swearing-in ceremony, held in the Iranian parliament, was overshadowed by continued allegations of fraud in the June 12 presidential election.
A large number of police and voluntary Basij militia forces formed a tight security cordon in the streets around the parliament in central Tehran in anticipation of protests against the president.
Review petition to be filed on Sharif disqualification
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : A review petition will be filed on the disqualification case of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother following the government's decision to reinstate deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
Pakistan's Attorney General Latif Khosa has directed the deputy attorney general to file a review petition in the Sharif brothers' eligibility case, Geo TV channel said.
Last month, a Supreme Court verdict banned Nawaz Sharif, also chief of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and his brother Shahbaz Sharif from holding office.
Seven soldiers killed in suicide attack in Libya’s Benghazi
Benghazi: Seven Libyan soldiers were killed and 12 others wounded by a suicide attack on an army checkpoint in the eastern city of Benghazi,...
Japanese shares plunge on Libya turmoil
By DPA,
Tokyo : Japanese stocks dropped nearly two percent in Tuesday morning trading as investor sentiment was hurt by turmoil in Libya.
Japanese destroyer leaves for resuming Afghan refueling mission
By KUNA
Tokyo : Japanese naval ship Murasame left Yokosuka port, south of Tokyo, on Thursday headed for the Indian Ocean, where it will resume Japan's refueling mission for US-led anti-terror operations in and near Afghanistan after a three-month hiatus.
Speaking at a send-off ceremony, Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba told some 190 crew members that the resumption of logistical support is highly appreciated by the international community.
Israeli PM against invasion of Gaza Strip
TEL AVIV, January 14 (RIA Novosti) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert spoke Monday against an invasion of the Gaza Strip, despite continuing rocket attacks by Palestinian militants from the enclave.
Olmert called the current Gaza Strip conflict a war that Israel was waging wisely, restricting its actions to pinpoint air bombings and localized ground raids in border regions.
He said he "very much recommends that we not get ourselves embroiled in operations and in [paying] prices that are disproportionate to the constraints we are dealing with."
Over 1.6 million people displaced in Pakistan, say officials
By Xinhua,
Islamabad: More than 1.6 million people have been displaced in Pakistan's troubled North West Frontier Province (NWFP), as the battle against the Taliban hots up, officials said Monday.
About 164,000 people have fled their homes in the Malakand region alone since the military operation started in the area in late April.
A total of 17 relief camps have been set up in the area to house the displaced civilians.
The provincial relief office said nearly 215,017 people are presently housed in the camps. Some of the displaced people have come from the neighbouring areas.