India’s two Gazas: One in parliament, another at UN
By Saeed Naqvi,
Sushma Swaraj's statement on Palestine in the Rajya Sabha so pleased Jerusalem that Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman thanked her that evening over the telephone. But the goodwill thus generated was fading by Wednesday when New Delhi, having changed its mind, voted with the resolution at the UN "condemning Israel for disproportionate use of force in Gaza".
Saudi Arabia suspends issuing visas over ebola outbreak
Riyadh: Visas for Muslim pilgrims from Guinea and Liberia in West Africa have been suspended by Saudi Arabia as a "precautionary measure" due to...
Scotland Yard makes no headway in Benazir murder probe
By IANS
Islamabad : The Scotland Yard team probing the murder of Pakistan's former prime minister Benazir Bhutto is facing "lots of difficulties" in the investigation owing to the lack of evidence at the assassination site.
There are speculations regarding any "headway" made by the foreign experts in the case, "but generally it is believed that the Scotland Yard team is facing a lot of difficulties because the crime scene was washed away", said The News Monday.
Turkey launches air strikes against rebels in N Iraq
By Xinhua
Baghdad : Turkey launched air strikes Tuesday night on rebel targets in northern Iraq, an Iraqi security source said on Wednesday.
Turkish warplane targeted the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in the Sidekan area of Arbil province, but no casualties had been reported, the source said on conditional of anonymity.
The latest strikes came about a week after Turkey wrapped up across-border ground military operation going after the PKK members.
Canadian soldier killed Afghanistan
By ANTARA,
Ottawa : A Canadian soldier was killed Saturday by an improvised explosive device in southern Afghanistan, bringing to 108 the number of Canadian military losses, the commander of the country's base in Kandahar said.
Combat engineer Sean David Greenfield, 25, was killed when a roadside bomb exploded under his armored vehicle in Zhari district, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Kandahar, commander Denis Thompson was quoted by AFP as telling a press conference broadcast on Canadian television.
Militants were hired from India to kill Hasina, Zia: Report
By IANS,
Dhaka : A banned Bangladeshi Islamist outfit hired "a dozen operatives from India" to eliminate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her rival Khaleda Zia in a failed bid to foil the parliament elections held last year, a newspaper said Thursday.
Details of a nexus between the Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and its operatives in West Bengal, India, were provided during interrogation of militant Zahidul Islam Sumon alias "Boma" Mizan, an investigator of the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) told The Daily Star newspaper.
Suicide bomber kills Iraqi MP, three guards
By IANS,
Baghdad : A suicide bomber Tuesday blew himself up near a Sunni lawmaker in
Iraq, killing him and three of his bodyguards, Xinhua reported.
P5+1 will be responsible for problems in n-talks: Iran cleric
Tehran : The P5+1 group of world powers should be held accountable if negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme hit a snag, a senior Iranian...
Arad died in captivity in mid-1990s – paper
By KUNA,
Gaza : A secret military intelligence report disclosed that captured Israeli navigator Ron Arad died in captivity in the mid-1990s, Yedioth Ahronoth said on Sunday.
The secret document said that Arad died of an unknown illness.
This is the first official Israeli document which discloses the fate of Arad who was captured by Amal militia in Lebanon on October 16, 1986 when his plane was shot down. He was later turned over to Iran.
The Israeli intelligence community has gone to great lenghts to try to get any infornmation on Arad.
U.S. – Palestinian leaders vow to keep Middle East peace process going
By ANTARA News,
Washington : U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday met with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas at the White House, claiming that the U.S.-sponsored Middle East peace process has made "a good deal of progress." "No question, this is a hard challenge.
Stranded cargo vessel with Russian sailors near UAE impounded
By RIA Novosti,
Vladivostok : A cargo vessel with nine Russian crewmembers stranded in the United Arab Emirates has been impounded, an inspector from the International Transport Workers' Federation said.
The Magdalena, owned by a German company and flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda, has been anchored 16 miles off UAE coast near Dubai since early August due to an engine breakdown.
Militants besiege school in Pakistan, children taken as hostages
By KUNA,
Islamabad : Local Taliban militants Wednesday besieged a school and took nearly a hundred students as hostages, security officials said.
Taliban militants barged into a school in a small village of Mohmand tribal agency, bordering Afghanistan, and took as hostages nearly one hundred students, they said.
Government forces have cordoned off the area and the two sides exchanged fire that killed one militant and wounded three others including a soldier.
It was not immediately clear why the militants have besieged the school.
US urges patience as Afghan vote tally continues
By DPA,
Washington : The US Tuesday urged Afghans to exercise patience and restraint as ballots cast in the country's presidential election last week continue to be counted amid allegations of fraud.
Afghanistan's election commission released a partial result Tuesday showing President Hamid Karzai narrowly leading over his chief rival, former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah, by a 40.6-to-38.7-percent margin.
But that represents only 10 percent of the ballots cast Thursday. A final outcome is not expected to be announced until at least mid-September.
Polls open in Egypt amid tensions
By IRNA
Amman : Municipal elections are taking place in Egypt against a backdrop of violent popular unrest and calls for a boycott by the opposition Muslim Brotherhood.
Some 52,000 local councillors are being selected - but the ruling National Democratic Party is standing unopposed in the great majority of seats.
Only 20 candidates affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood are being allowed to stand after thousands were rejected.
A youth, 15, was shot dead during protests in Mahalla al-Kubra on Monday.
U.S.: Six major countries to impose new sanctions against Iran
By Xinhua,
Washington : Five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany are considering new sanctions against Iran after the Islamic republic failed to give a positive response to suspend its controversial nuclear program, the State Department said Monday.
"We are disappointed that we have not yet received a response from Iran," State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos told reporters after representatives of the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany spoke by telephone conference over Iran's nuclear issue earlier in the day.
Death of Rana Bhagwandas a great tragedy for Pakistan, says Dr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani...
By Aslam Chandio, TwoCircles.net,
Islamabad / Karachi: Patron-in-chief of Pakistan Hindu Council, Dr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani MNA has termed the death of former acting Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice (R)Rana Bhagwandas as great tragedy for Pakistan.
Saudi men lobby for remarriages of widows, divorcees
Riyadh : A group of Saudi men have formed a society to promote remarriages of widows and divorcees within the existing system of polygamy...
Gaza rocket fire showers Israeli cities
Jerusalem/Gaza: Heavy rockets fired from the Gaza Strip showered over multiple Israeli cities, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv Tuesday night, as Hamas intensified its...
Suicide attack in Afghanistan kills eight
By DPA
Kabul : A suicide attack against NATO forces in southern Afghanistan killed eight civilians and wounded 22 others, while another suicide bombing targeting German forces in the northern region killed only the bomber, officials said Thursday.
The bomber in the southern attack, who was driving a vehicle packed with explosives, detonated himself near a convoy of NATO forces in Kandahar city, the capital of Kandahar province, Sayed Agha Saqib provincial police chief told DPA.
Musharraf gets a drubbing, Bhutto and Nawaz names carry the day
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS
Islamabad : Late Benazir Bhutto's PPP and former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif's PML-N were neck and neck Tuesday as the election results came in and it became evident that the people had rejected not only religious parties but also the PML-Q backed by President Pervez Musharraf.
According to the results announced for 210 of the 272 National Assembly (NA) seats, Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party was leading with 69 seats followed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz with 65.
Pakistan stresses on regional cooperation strategy at SAARC
Kathmandu : Sartaj Aziz, adviser to the Pakistan prime minister on national security and foreign affairs, Tuesday stressed that a regional cooperation strategy must...
Somali pirates release Jordanian-flagged ship
By Xinhua,
Amman : Somali pirates have released the MV Victoria, a Jordanian-flagged ship owned by a company of United Arab Emirates, which was hijacked on May 17 off the Somali coast, Jordanian Minister of Transport Alaa Batayneh told local daily the Jordan Times on Saturday.
"We have been informed by the ship's owner, Marwan Shipping and Trading Company, that the ship and its crew and cargo were released on Friday," he said, adding that he was unaware of any deal with the pirates on the ship's release.
Two killed in Afghanistan suicide attack
By IANS,
Kabul : At least two people were killed in a suicide bomb attack in an Afghanistan town Thursday, Xinhua reported.
Pakistani interior minister on the way out?
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik could be on the way out with the name of Raza Rabbani, a senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) that heads the ruling coalition, doing the rounds as his successor.
Rabbani "would be given ministry of interior" in a cabinet reshuffle that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is expected to undertake in the next few days while Information Minister Qamar-uz-Zaman "would retain his ministry over his brilliant performance", Online news agency reported Wednesday, quoting sources.
Abbas: We intend to resume peace talks with Israel
By Xinhua
Ramallah : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Wednesday that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) intends to resume peace talks with Israel.
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman of the presidency quoted Abbas assaying in a written statement that "we intend to resume the peace talks with Israel which reserve the aim of ending the occupation and establishing a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital."
UAE, Belarus discuss parliamentary cooperation
By IANS/WAM,
Dubai: The UAE and Belarus have held talks on ways to enhance parliamentary cooperation.
Bangladesh to have TV boom, but government to keep an eye
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh may soon witness a boom in private television channels, but the government has said it will formulate a policy to watch the content and curb what the government Tuesday called "irritating and indecent advertisements".
The policy would include measures to curb 'controversial' comments on religious issues, Star Online reported.
The government will soon give licence to a number of private satellite television channels for broadcasting, Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad informed parliament.
Germany slams “unacceptable” Israeli plans to expand settlements
By IRNA
Berlin : The German government on Monday strongly criticized plans by the criminal Zionist regime to expand settlements in the West Bank and disputed east Jerusalem ahead of Chancellor Angela Merkel's upcoming visit to the illegal Jewish state.
Talking to the press, foreign ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger lambasted the "unacceptable" Israeli action, saying it would be a "potential danger" for the so-called Mideast process.
He stressed that the expansion of the Israeli settlements "questions the viability of a viable Palestinian state."
India concerned over escalation in Israel-Palestine violence
By Arvind Padmanabhan
Jerusalem : Amid global concerns over recent escalation in conflict in Israel and Palestine, President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday said India...
Bangladesh to introduce pre-primary schooling
By IANS,
Dhaka : Hoping to catch children young and curb the drop-out rate, the Bangladesh government will for the first time introduce pre-primary education in its schools from January.
Measures have been taken to recruit 37,000 teachers in all its primary schools to harness children above five years.
"It will help reduce school-phobia among the kids as well as create interest about education," said Abu Alam Mohammad Shahid Khan, secretary of the primary and mass education ministry.
U.S. Wants France to Send Troops to Afghanistan
By SPA
Washington : The United States said Thursday it would like France to send combat troops to southern Afghanistan, but did not say it would make a specific request to the French government.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack did not say exactly what kind of help Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expected from her meeting in Washington with French Defense Minister Herve Morin later on Thursday.
No penalty for Malaysia’s Sarawak Muslims performing yoga
By IANS,
Kuching (Malaysia) : Malaysia's Sarawak state has forbidden Muslims to perform yoga exercises, but there would be no penalty for those who choose to do it.
Sarawak has ruled that yoga is 'haram' (forbidden) for Muslims in the state in line with the fatwa (edict) issued by the National Fatwa Council on yoga exercises last month, said The New Straits Times newspaper.
Assistant Minister (Islamic Affairs) in the Chief Minister's Office Daud Abdul Rahman said it was up to the Muslims in the state to adhere to the fatwa or not.
Syria to attend Geneva peace conference: Minister
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Damascus will attend next month's peace conference in Geneva aimed at helping resolve the country's crisis, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said.
Lack of fuel, rising food prices hampering UN aid efforts in Gaza, West Bank
By NNN-UNNS,
Geneva : Fuel shortages and rising food prices are placing heavy burdens on the lead United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees and forcing it to cut back on life-saving activities in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, its spokesperson said Friday.
Pakistani apex court suspends Rehman Malik from Senate
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan's Supreme Court Monday suspended the Senate membership of Interior Minister Rehman Malik for holding dual nationality, a media report said.
Gilani opposes use of foul language against institutions
By IANS,
Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said abusive language must not be used against any institution of the country.
Zia not to be evicted while case is heard
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh opposition leader Khaleda Zia has got a reprieve from being evicted from her house after the government told a court that she would not have to vacate while her petition over the matter was pending.
Zia will not be evicted while her petition is pending, the government assured the High Court, which fixed May 10 for the next hearing, media reports said Monday.
Afghan civilians, militants killed in air strike
By KUNA,
Kabul : Several militants and four Afghan civilians were killed in an air strike by the US-led coalition troops in southeastern Afghanistan, the military said on Wednesday.
The civilians killed included three women and an Afghan boy, said a coalition forces statement here.
It says 12 more suspected militants were detained during the operation conducted in Paktia province on Tuesday.
Coalition forces searched compounds in Mata Khan district, targeting two militant leaders.
Flurry of Arab diplomacy after Damascus summit
By DPA
Cairo : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said after talks with Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak Wednesday continuing efforts to de-escalate the situation in the Gaza Strip have yielded no tangible results.
Abbas arrived in Cairo from Saudi Arabia where he briefed its leaders of his latest meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice early this week in Jordan.
Abbas announced after his talks with Rice that he would resume talks with Israeli leaders suspended in February in the wake of an Israeli assault on Gaza.
Pak economy, terrorists’ new target: Report
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Terrorists seem to have adopted a new approach of targeting places that are Pak economic life-giving blood stream.
According to a report, militants have changed their plans of attacking law enforcement agencies, and now they are targeting Pakistan economic interests.
The government needs to adopt advanced mechanism to deal with the emerging threat, the report added. Security zones should also be set up near would-be targets of militants, it suggested.
Hindus in Bangladesh celebrate Janmashtami
By IANS,
Dhaka : Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna, is being celebrated Wednesday across Muslim-majority Bangladesh.
The day's programmes include worship of Lord Krishna, puja, Gita Jagna, kirtan, discussions and peace processions, Star Online, the website of The Daily Star reported Wednesday.
The day is a public holiday in the country. Bangladesh has the third largest population of Hindus, who constitute less than 10 percent of the 156 million people.
President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have greeted the minority Hindu community on the occasion.
1,465 IS militants killed in five months by coalition in Syria
Beirut : At least 1,465 members of the Islamic State (IS) Sunni radical group have been killed in five months of airstrikes by the...
Palestinian unity the only guarantee to regain rights – Syrian President
By NNN-SANA,
Damascus : President Bashar al-Assad has said that Syria considers the restoration of Palestinian national unity as the only guarantee through which the Palestinian people can regain their rights and boost the Palestinian stance at peace negotiations.
Pakistan lawyers set Aug 14 deadline for restoring judges
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan's agitating lawyers Saturday laid down a new Aug 14 deadline for restoring the Supreme Court judges President Pervez Musharraf had sacked after imposing an emergency last November, warning the coalition government of a civil disobedience movement if it did not fulfil the demand.
Dhaka business chamber calls for strife-free polls
By IANS,
Dhaka : A leading industry lobby in Bangladesh has asked political parties preparing for the Dec 18 polls to shun "politics of conflict and violence".
"Let us not miss this train," Annisul Huq, chief of the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) chief said at an Iftar party he hosted during the current Ramadan month for leaders of mainstream parties, the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), besides professionals.
Nahid submits draft of National Education Policy – 2009 to PM
By NNN-BSS,
Dhaka, Bangladesh : The draft of the National Education Policy-2009, formulated to make the country's existing education system modern, time befitting and scientific, was submitted to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid formally handed over the Education Policy to the Prime Minister at her Jatiya Sangsad office here.
Education Secretary Ataur Rahman and Additional Education Secretary Razia Begum, among others, were present on the occasion.
Iraq-Iran-US round of talks not set yet – Iranian official
By NNN-KUNA
Tehran : Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said on Tuesday that the next round of talks with the United States regarding Iraq is not determined yet.
Hosseini said such talks will be held in Baghdad, but the date is not yet set.
The Iranian official also denied US claims concerning the discovery of Iranian weapons used against the US in Iraq, adding that such claims are made without proof.
Former Gaddafi aide lands in Italy with family
By IANS,
Rome : Libyan leader Abdesslem Jalloud, a close aide of Muammar Gaddafi, has arrived in Italy along with his family, a media report said.
The forgotten peace
By Middle East Times editorial, CGNews,
Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty following the Camp David accords in 1978, yet it seems someone either forgot to inform the general public on Egypt's side of the border, or that the Egyptian public is still reluctant to accept the fact that peace may exist with a former enemy.
In essence, the peace between the Arab world's largest country and the Jewish state is a peace which subsists between two governments, but not a peace between two peoples.
Car bomb kills 16, wounds 94 in N Iraq
By Xinhua,
Mosul : Sixteen people have been killed and up to 94 injured in a car bomb attack on Wednesday at a market in northern Iraq.
Najem Abdulla, mayor of the Tal Afer city, some 80 km west of Mosul, previously put the casualties at 13 dead and more than 30 wounded.
About 30 of the injured were in serious condition, he said.
The attack, which struck the market at about 7:00 p.m.(1600 GMT), resulted in the largest casualties over the past three months.
A car bomb explosion killed 40 and wounded more than 70 on April in the Diyala province.
Bangladeshi rich take to Eid tourism
By IANS,
Dhaka : Many of Bangladesh's well-off families are utilising the Eid-ul-Fitr festival this year to take a holiday abroad, moving away from the grime and jostling crowds at home.
Musharraf renews support to new Prime Minister
By IRNA
Islamabad : President Pervez Musharraf Tuesday renewed his support to the new government shortly after he administered oath to the new Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani.
"I will extend my full support to him, always," President Pervez Musharraf told reporters when asked about his role in the new government.
"All the political forces in the country needed to work together to confront the threats of extremism and terrorism looming ahead".
American with Al Qaeda sheds light on shadowy world
By IANS,
Washington : An American who converted to Islam and fought for the Al Qaeda before his arrest in Pakistan last year is now cooperating with authorities, opening a rare window into the shadowy world of the terror network, American media reports said Thursday.
Bryant Neal Vinas, a 26-year-old from Long Island, New York, is one of the few Americans known to have made the trek to Al Qaeda's secret Pakistani compounds, US and European anti-terrorism officials told the Los Angeles Times.
Trial against Hasina deferred as Bangladesh prepares for polls
By IANS,
Dhaka : A Dhaka court has deferred till Jan 7 - well after the Dec 18 parliamentary elections - the trial of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, accused of receiving kickbacks in the purchase of eight MiG-29 combat aircraft from Russia when she was in office 1996-2001.
All cases against Hasina and her political rival and another former prime minister Khaleda Zia stand adjourned till after the polls as part of the military-backed caretaker government's effort to create "a conducive atmosphere" for the polls.
Copenhagen double attack perpetrator identified
Copenhagen: The alleged perpetrator of the double terrorist attack in the Danish capital Copenhagen was identified as a 22-year-old man born in Denmark, who...
Israel hopes for wearly talks with Syria
By DPA
Paris: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday he expected direct negotiations with Syria to start "soon".
"We have began a process of negotiations with Syria. They are indirect now, but they will become direct soon," Olmert said after a meeting in Paris with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
The comment came one day after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in Paris that the time for such talks "was not yet ripe".
Iraqi parliament approves candidates of Sunni ministers to Maliki’s cabinet
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : The Iraqi parliament accepted on Saturday the candidates for ten vacant ministerial posts, including six posts for major Sunni Arab bloc, official Iraqi television reported.
Today's session witnessed the return of the Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF) to the Shiite-led government after the Sunni bloc quit Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's cabinet almost a year ago, the television said.
The parliament voted in six portfolios for the IAF, including deputy prime minister, the channel said.
Dhaka offers Kathmandu port facility for more trade
By IANS,
Dhaka : After a nod from India, Bangladesh is moving to open a new land route to Nepal and offer it the use of its Mongla port for export of goods to a third country.
Dhaka has sent the draft of a deal to Kathmandu, ahead of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India next month, to activate a 1976 transit treaty that would allow landlocked Nepal the use of Mongla port in the Bay of Bengal.
Nepal has so far been exporting its goods through Indian ports.
Islamic bloc backs Kosovo independence
Riyadh (ANTARA News) - The 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference on Monday said it supports the independence of Kosovo, whose Albanian ethnic majority are mostly Muslim.
"The Islamic umma (nation) wishes the people of Kosovo and its government success in their new struggle to build a strong and prosperous country," the Islamic bloc was quoted by AFP as saying in a statement issued from its headquarters in the Saudi city of Jeddah.
Rushdie believes Pakistan is fundamentally flawed: New book
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi : Controversial author Salman Rushdie believes "Pakistan is fundamentally flawed and insufficiently imagined," according to a new book. He also feels India was a happy contrast but its edge "slipped with the rise of Hindu nationalism".
"Rushdie attacks fundamentalist Islam, not Islam per se," Ashutosh Varshney, who co-edited the book "Midnight's Diaspora: Encounters with Salman Rushdie", told IANS.
Malaysia’s Mahathir quits ruling party
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad quit the ruling party Monday in a move political observers said could undermine the beleaguered government of his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Mahathir announced in a speech in his home state Kedah that he was resigning in protest over Badawi's 'refusal' to step down despite March elections that produced the worst results in the history of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).
Israeli forces cross Lebanese border
By Xinhua
Beirut : Israeli forces Thursday crossed the Lebanese border in the south and advanced one km, but kept away from the UN demarcated "Blue Line" Future TV reported.
Earlier reports said that Israeli troops moved six km into Lebanon towards Wazani River, but did not cross the "Blue Line".
Following the Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon in 2000, the UN drew a line called the "Blue Line" but it did not cover the disputed Shebaa farms, which was declared as being on Syrian soil.
Mottaki: Wrong US policies claimed lives of 600,000 Iraqi people
By IRNA
Tehran : Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said in Geneva on Wednesday that the wrong policies of the US in Iraq claimed the lives of 600,000 people in that country.
According to the Information and Press Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mottaki made the remark in a UN-sponsored conference on disarmament in Geneva.
In the meeting, Mottaki reviewed regional and international developments.
Given the role of multi-lateralism in Iran's foreign policy, he said, "This strategy help us to actively contribute in decision making at the international level."
‘Muslims Get Out’ sign owner invited to mosque
Washington : The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) said they were reaching out to a business owner who put up...
Iranian trade team to visit Britain despite restrictions
By IANS,
London : An Iranian trade delegation will visit here next month to boost economic cooperation with their counterparts in Britain, IRNA reported.
Martin Johnston, director general of the London-based British-Iranian Chamber of Commerce, said the Iranian delegation will arrive here in the first week of February to hold trade talks.
Johnston said businesses between Iran and Britain grew in 2008 despite UN sanctions and other restrictions.
Ten civilians killed as Pakistan army targets militants
By DPA
Islamabad : At least 10 civilians were killed overnight as artillery shells fired by security forces missed militant positions and landed in a residential area in Pakistan's restive northwest Swat valley, media reports said Saturday.
The rounds destroyed a house in the village of Galooch in the Kabal area, leaving seven members of a family dead, local mayor Jafar Khan told Aaj news channel.
Three houses were destroyed in the nearby village of Kalakalley, Geo TV reported. Three people were killed and a woman injured in the incident.
Al Qaeda’s Iraq chief now in Afghanistan: Report
By DPA,
Washington : The top leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq has left the country for Afghanistan, the Washington Post reported Thursday.
Citing named sources in both the militant group and the Iraqi military, the report said an Egyptian known by the aliases Abu Hamza al-Muhajer or Abu Ayyub al-Masri had departed Iraq and was now in Afghanistan, having transited through Iran.
The group's local leader in Fallujah, Abdullah al-Ansari, told the daily that it was "not known yet" if his departure was permanent.
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.
Soldier killed in Pakistan landmine blast: official
By ANTARA News
Quetta, Pakistan : A Pakistani soldier was killed and two others were wounded when a landmine blew up their vehicle in the southwestern province of Baluchistan early Thursday, officials said.
The blast happened near a gas field in Nasirabad district of the region hit by a tribal insurgency, a security official told AFP.
The two injured soldiers were rushed to hospital after their vehicle was badly destroyed, the official said, requesting anonymity.
Seven dead in Iraq car bomb attack
By IANS,
Baghdad : Seven people died in a car bomb attack in eastern Iraq Thursday, police said.
Pakistan’s Hajj policy to be announced
By SPA
Islamabad : Pakistan s Hajj policy for 2008 will be announced by July 2008, said Religious Affairs Ministry Secretary Wakeel Ahmed Khan.
He told the reporters that his ministry has started work to come up with a Hajj policy for this year so that Pakistani pilgrims can get better service and comfort.
Khan that because of the continuous rise in fuel prices, the Pakistan International Airlines or PIA is not able to announce the new airfares to Saudi Arabia from Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar and Faisalabad.
UN, NGOs review security measures after Kabul attack
By NNN-IRIN
Kabul : Some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in Afghanistan have temporarily imposed restrictions on their international staff members’ movements in Kabul after gunmen attacked a high-profile hotel, aid workers and Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry said on Jan 15.
Seven people were killed, including two foreigners, and six others were injured in the attack on the city’s Serena Hotel, which is close to the Presidential Palace where many foreign diplomats and other visiting dignitaries reside.
FAO provides assistance to Gaza farmers
By SPA
United Nations : The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is assisting Palestinian farmers, shepherds and fisherman in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with 14 projects intended to stimulate agricultural production through horticulture, greenhouse and irrigation rehabilitation.
In a release on Friday, the FAO said “the most serious area of humanitarian concern is Gaza, where agriculture and fisheries have been badly hit by the lack of inputs, constraints on farm exports and restrictions on fishing areas.”
Blast kills former governor in Afghanistan
By Xinhua
Kabul : A roadside remote controlled bomb blast has killed two tribal elders, including a former provincial governor, in Tirin Kot district of southern Afghanistan's Uruzgan province, the police said Tuesday.
"The two were heading towards their houses from a mosque at around 7:00 p.m. Monday when the bomb exploded," provincial police chief Juma Gul Himat told Xinhua.
Fazl Rabi had served as Uruzgan governor during the Mohammad Najibullah regime in the 1990s and as deputy governor of Uruzgan 2003-2004, Himat said.
Eight prisoners, two Israeli soldiers wounded in Israeli prison’s clashes
By Xinhua,
Ramallah : Eight Palestinian prisoners and two Israeli prison's guards were injured during clashes in Israel's Ofer Prison in the West Bank on Saturday.
Prisoners from inside Ofer prison told reporters on cellular phones that they were protesting an earlier search of prisoner property which damaged the living quarters of the prisoners.
They said that in response to the protest, dozens of Israeli soldiers fired rounds of rubber coated bullets and tear gas canisters on the prisoners, who set fire to some of the tents inside the prison.
Two men killed in Pakistan for allegedly spying for US
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Suspected militants Saturday killed two men they accused of spying for the US in Pakistan's tribal region, media reports said.
The bodies were found near Miranshah in the northern Waziristan tribal region, the News Network International (NNI) news agency reported quoting local tribesmen.
A note in Pashto language was found near the bodies, saying that the two men were spying on Taliban for the US and Afghan governments.
It also warned that anyone spying for the US or Afghanistan would face the same situation, the report said.
‘Don’t shake hands with Muslims’
By IANS,
London: Academics at Cambridge University have been asked not to shake hands with Muslims or disabled people because it might upset them, a media report said Thursday.
Iran president’s visit to Iraq set to boost bilateral relations-Iraq PM
TEHRAN, February 14 (RIA Novosti) - A visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Iraq next month will help advance bilateral relations, the Iraqi prime minister said on Thursday.
An Iraqi government spokesman said earlier Thursday the two-day visit would start on March 2. Ahmadinejad will meet with President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
"We are attaching great importance to President Ahmadinejad's visit. His trip could help develop and deepen bilateral relations," Nouri al-Maliki said.
India using Pakistan like punching bag, says LeT deputy chief
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Islamabad : "We don't kill people," Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)'s deputy chief Hafiz Abdur Rehman Makki has claimed, denying that his outfit, now named the Jamaatul Dawah, was behind the Mumbai terror carnage. He also said that India was using Pakistan "like a punching bag" in the aftermath of the strikes that killed 172 people.
"We don't kill people. Our mission is to spread the word of Islam and Allah's message on earth. And we are not Lashkar-e-Taiba, we are Jamaatul Dawah," Makki told IANS in an exclusive interview in his office here.
Taliban attacks militia as fighting intensifies in Pakistan
By DPA,
Islamabad : Islamist militants attacked a security post in Pakistan's troubled north-west, triggering a gunfight that killed at least three militiamen, officials and media reports said Thursday.
Scores of rebels raided the main centre of the tribal police in the Chakdara area of the Lower Dir district late Wednesday and took more than a dozen militiamen hostage, a local police official said on condition of anonymity.
Security forces launched a rescue effort, triggering a gunbattle that left three militiamen dead, Geo News television channel reported.
Suicide attacks kill 17 in southern Afghanistan
By DPA,
Kabul : A suicide bomber killed 16 people in a crowded market in southern Afghanistan Thursday while another attack in the same region left a police officer dead, officials said.
The bomber struck the marketplace in Deh Rawood, a district in the southern province of Uruzgan, on its busiest day of the week, Juma Gul Hemat, the provincial police chief said.
12 killed in bombing near Baghdad
By IRNA,
Baghdad : A suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest blew himself up just inside the courtyard of a Shia mosque in a town south of Baghdad on Friday, killing 12 people and wounding 19.
The attack took place in Mussayib, a town about 80 kilometers, south of Baghdad, as about 700 people were attending Friday prayers and preparing to hold a peaceful march in protest at the ratification in the Iraqi Parliament on Thursday of a new security agreement with the United States.
US spy ring at work in Pakistan, Afghanistan
By IANS,
Washington : US military officials are still using private detectives to track Taliban guerrillas in Pakistan and Afghanistan in defiance of defence department norms, The New York Times has reported.
Despite concerns about the legality of the operation, top military officials have continued to rely on a secret network of private spies who have produced hundreds of reports from deep inside Afghanistan and Pakistan, the report said Saturday quoting American officials and businessmen.
Israel pledges to remove 50 West Bank roadblocks
By Xinhua
Jerusalem : U.S. officials traveling with the country's Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday that Israel had pledged to remove 50 West Bank roadblocks as part of a package to improve everyday life for the Palestinians, local daily Jerusalem Post reported.
Israel and the Palestinians had also agreed that Palestinian National Authority (PNA) security forces in the West Bank must assume "greater responsibility," the officials added.
Pentagon concedes airstrike killed more civilians
By DPA,
Washington : The number of civilians killed in a US attack on a village in Afghanistan was more than four times higher than previously acknowledged by the US military, the Pentagon has concluded in a report of an investigation.
US Central Command, which oversees military operations in Afghanistan, said in the report released Wednesday that 33 civilians died in addition to 22 militants in the air raid on Azizabad in western Afghanistan.
Iraqi crisis fuels rise in asylum-seekers in industrialised world – UN report
By NNN-UNNS
United Nations : A five-year decline in asylum applications in developed countries turned around in 2007 largely because of Iraqis fleeing violence in their home country, according to statistics released by the United Nations refugee agency.
“For the second year running, Iraqis topped the list of asylum-seekers in the world's industrialized countries,” according to a press release from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that summarizes the findings of the report entitled Asylum Levels and Trends in Industrialized Countries 2007.
U.S. ‘turned blind eye’ to torture of Afghan prisoners
By RIA Novosti,
Washington : A U.S. civil rights group said it has obtained documents from the defense department that confirm the U.S. ignored the use of torture by special forces in the interrogation of Afghani prisoners.
A lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union said "These documents make it clear that the military was using unlawful interrogation techniques in Afghanistan. Rather than putting a stop to these systemic abuses, senior officials appear to have turned a blind eye to them."
Bilawal keeps mum at Oxford debate to honour Benazir
By IANS
Oxford : Friends of slain former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto held a memorial debate in her honour at the Oxford Union debating society with her son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in attendance.
Bilawal, who at the age of 19 has been made the chairman of his mother's Pakistan's Peoples Party (PPP), was the star attraction at the event but - in a politically savvy move - did not participate in the debate.
Hamas leader says ready for new ceasefire
By Xinhua,
Gaza : A senior Hamas leader on Tuesday said his movement can abide by ceasefire with Israel if the Jewish state respected the terms of the previous agreement.
Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas leader based in Gaza, made the remarks a few days after an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire expired.
Speaking to the Egyptian al-Ahram newspaper, Zahar reiterated that the Cairo-brokered June ceasefire, which ended Friday, can be renewed if Israel commits itself to the obligations of the agreement.
UN Iraq envoy terms 2008 as “crucial” for Iraq
By NNN-KUNA
United Nations : Staffan de Mistura, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Iraq, told various European media that 2008 was a "crucial" year for Iraq, at least because of important provincial elections next October.
He said his presence in Brussels was in recognition of the crucial role that Europe plays in Iraq.
"No activities would be possible without the EU financial backing. The EU and UN shared the same objective, bringing stability and peace, and were working on the same wave length," he was quoted as saying on Friday.
US embassy in Yemen closes, citing Al Qaeda ‘threats’
By DPA,
Sana'a (Yemen) : The US embassy in Sana'a was closed Sunday because of "threats" from Al Qaeda, according to a note on its website.
"The US embassy in Sana'a is closed today, January 3, 2010, in response to ongoing threats by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) to attack American interests in Yemen," the embassy said.
It did not say when it would reopen and officials could not be reached for comment.
AQAP has taken responsibility for the attempt to blow up a plane over Detroit on Christmas Day and US President Barack Obama has also placed the blame on the group.
Holbrooke arrives on three-day Pakistan visit
By IANS,
Islamabad : America's top trouble shooter for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke arrived here Wednesday on a three-day visit to study the military's anti-Taliban operations in the country's restive northwest and to assess the needs of the millions of people who have been displaced by the fighting.
Soon after his arrival here, Holbrooke went into a meeting with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.
PM condemns Gaza bombings
By IANS,
Chennai : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday strongly condemned the Israeli bombing of Gaza Strip.
Expressing concern at the rise in tension in the Gaza region and the loss of innocent human lives there, Manmohan Singh said: "India has strongly condemned these incidents and it is our hope that the international community would get together and help restore peace in the region as soon as possible."
Four killed in car bombing north of Baghdad
By Xinhua,
Tikrit, Iraq : Four people were killed and six others injured in a car bomb explosion near a government office in Tikrit, the capital city of Salahudin province on Tuesday, a provincial police source said.
"A booby-trapped car bomb detonated at about 07:45 a.m. (04:45 GMT) at the gate the provincial Health office in Tikrit, some 170 km north of Baghdad," Col. Hassan Ahmed, from the provincial police command, told Xinhua.
Two policemen guarding the office were among dead, Ahmed said.
FM: Syria completes all preparations for Arab Summit
By Xinhua
Damascus : Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said on Tuesday that his country has completed all preparations for the Arab Summit which will be held in Damascus at the end of March.
Muallem made the remarks at a weekly cabinet meeting during which he briefed the ministers on regional and international developments, the official SANA news agency reported.
The Arab Summit will be held as scheduled in Damascus on March29 and 30. Syria had said all the Arab countries would be invited to the summit.
Qaddafi en route to Venezuela: Britain’s Hague
By IRNA,
Berlin : British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Monday he had 'some information' that Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi was en route to Venezuela, according to German Press Agency dpa.
IT gains a strong foothold in Pakistan
By Azka Naeem,
Analysing the growth that has taken place in Pakistan since its inception in 1947, a lot can be said in terms of infrastructure development, agricultural growth and progress in education. However, it is important to shed light on one sector that barely existed at the time of independence and has now grown to be a deep-rooted and well-established part of the economy, and one upon which many of us greatly depend.
Pakistani PM Gilani urges SAARC countries to put up collective flight against extremism, intolerance
By NNN-APP,
Thimphu, Bhutan : Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Wednesday stressed upon SAARC member countries to join hands for fight against the forces of extremism and intolerance.
Addressing the 16th SAARC Summit in Thimphu, Bhutan, the Prime Minister called for uniting against forces of extremism and intolerance.
“We need to forge a common front, based on tolerance, on respect for human dignity and universal values.”
He said terrorism has affected the South Asian region and impacted each of its countries.
Awami League promises south Asian task force on terrorism
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh's Awami League (AL) promised initiative on a south Asian task force on terrorism and friendly ties with immediate neighbours India, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar in its election manifesto unveiled Friday.
While there are references to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), other members, including Pakistan against which the party led the freedom movement 37 years ago, do not find a mention in the poll manifesto.
UAE plans housing for labourers with families
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : In a move that will benefit thousands of expatriate labourers, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is going to build labour accommodation complexes to let workers keep their families too.
The Higher Corporation for Specialised Economic Zones (HCSEZ) has announced plans to build family-styled labour complexes to provide proper residential units for those with limited incomes, the state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
The HCSEZ has taken regulatory measures to ensure good environment for residents at the current labour accommodations.
Gunmen abduct French aid worker in Kabul
By DPA,
Kabul : A group of unknown gunmen abducted a French aid worker Monday in the Afghan capital, Kabul, and shot dead an Afghan driver who tried to rescue him, the police said.
The Frenchman was kidnapped as he was walking to his office with a colleague, said Zemarai Bashary, an interior ministry spokesman.
The two men were on foot in the Kart-e-Parwan neighbourhood when three gunmen snatched the Frenchman and took him to an unknown location by car, said a senior police official who requested anonymity.
Bangladesh to probe Grameen ‘irregularities’
By IANS,
Dhaka : The Bangladesh government Thursday said it will probe allegations of financial irregularities against Muhammad Yunus' Grameen Bank.
Sarkozy’s Syria visit to formalize top-level ties
By Jia Xiaohua, Xinhua,
Damascus : French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to start a two-day visit to Syria on Wednesday which would formalize normal relations between the two countries on the highest level after a freeze of political contacts for more than three years.
Historic Visit From The West
Syria's role in supporting reconciliation with Lebanon and its indirect peace talks with Israel helped facilitate Sarkozy's historic trip, which would further pull Damascus out of an international isolation it suffers for years.
Sharia in Swat dependent on peace: Gilani
By IANS,
Islamabad : The enforcement of Sharia laws in Swat and other parts of Pakistan's restive northwest is dependent on peace returning to the area, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, says.
"If peace prevails, we would protect this (Sharia) Regulation," he said in an interview to Geo TV's "Capital Talk" programme.
According to Gilani, Pakistan's leadership was following a "home-grown strategy" on peace as parliament had approved.
15 killed in attacks across Iraq
By IANS,
Baghdad: At least 15 people were killed and 82 others wounded in separate violent attacks across Iraq, including a deadly car bomb attack...
UN condemns Christians’ persecution in Iraq
United Nations : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned Sunday the persecution of minorities in Iraq by the Islamic State (IS) and related...
Arab Social and Economic Council calls for support for Palestinians
By NNN-SANA
Damascus : The preliminary Arab Summit meeting of the Social and Economic Council has called on Arab countries to offer aid and support to the Palestinian people to be capable of facing poverty and unemployment problems resulting from the unfair Israeli siege on the Palestinians.
The Council adopted in a final session Wednesday an Arab strategy document for the information and communication technology as well as building a data society till 2012 and giving the issue of developing and enhancing the communication industry a priority.
Bangladeshi president in stable condition after being hospitalized
By Xinhua,
Dhaka : The health condition of Bangladeshi President Iajuddin Ahmed was stable after he was admitted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) here on Monday night, doctors said on Tuesday.
A 7-member medical board headed by MA Malik reviewed the President's health Tuesday morning and advised him to be under treatment until he settles down.
Physicians confirmed that the president is suffering from viral fever.
He was admitted to the CMH at around 11 p.m. (1700 GMT) Monday.
UNSC to Somalis to get their house in order if they want international help
By NNN-KUNA,
United Nations : South Africa's envoy Dumisani Kumalo said the Security Council members will tell all Somalis, government and opposition alike, when they meet them in Djibouti in early June, that the international community stands ready to assist them only if the political and security situations on the ground improve.
"The Somalis must get their house in order. If the security and political situations improve, once the world can see that this is happening, things will get better in Somalia," Kumalo told a press conference on the eve of the council members trip to Africa.
Malaysian minister wants sports betting legalised
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : A Malaysian minister Wednesday sought sports betting and gambling to be legalised to end the black market and suggested that the revenue accrued be diverted to welfare funds for non-Muslims.
Information, Communications and Culture minister Rais Yatim said he supported legalised sports betting and gambling governed by proper laws and regulations, according to Star Online.
Yatim, however, said a "well-parametered" commission would do much to reduce illegal gambling activities, which is reported to be a RM10 billion ($3.09 billion)-per-year market.
Five policemen killed in Afghanistan Taliban attack
Kabul : At least four policemen were killed Monday in a Taliban ambush in Afghanistan's Herat province, an official said.
"The police chief of Farsi...
US should monitor aid to Pakistan: India
By IANS,
New Delhi : A day after former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf's confession about US aid being diverted against India, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor Monday asked Washington to monitor its aid to Islamabad.
"We support countries helping Pakistan fighting against terrorism, but we do not expect the aid turned against us," Tharoor told reporters here.
The US should monitor its aid to Pakistan, he said, adding that Musharraf's disclosure did not surprise India.
‘600 suicide bombers in Karachi’
By DPA
Islamabad : At least 600 suicide bombers have been deployed in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi to target security forces, a media report said Monday.
Two arrested top militants from Jundullah (Army of God), a Pakistani Sunni Muslim organisation having links with the Al Qaeda terror network, told the police that most of the suicide bombers were former students of Islamabad's radical Red Mosque, the Daily Times said.
Bangladesh to add 400,000 new Bangla words to Google
Dhaka : The Bangladesh government will add 400,000 new Bangla/Bengali words to Google Translate on its Independence Day on March 26 in a bid...
Pakistan to reinstate 7,700 sacked employees
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Pakistan government has decided to reinstate the 7,700 employees who were recruited during the two prime ministerial terms of the slain Benzair Bhutto but were subsequently sacked.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Sherry Rehman told reporters Wednesday that the cabinet had approved the step and the decision would now be sent to President Asif Ali Zardari for ratification.
Two Taliban militants killed, eight held in Afghanistan
By IANS,
Beijing : Security forces in Afghanistan's Helmand province killed two Taliban militants while detaining eight others in two separate incidents Monday.
Pakistani leaders call for unity to defeat terror
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf have called for unity and religious tolerance to defeat the scourge of terrorism and sectarianism.
Two dead, 20 injured as Pakistani troops foil suicide attack
By DPA,
Islamabad : Two people were killed and at least 20 wounded Friday in a foiled car bomb attack on a military camp close to a key road tunnel in Pakistan's violence-plagued North West Frontier Province, officials said.
The incident occurred near the lawless town Darra Adam Khel, 45 km south of the provincial capital Peshawar, as paramilitary troops fired at a pickup truck that failed to heed warnings to stop at a cordon.
UN relocates hundreds of staff in Afghanistan
By DPA,
Kabul : The UN plans to relocate hundreds of its international staff in Afghanistan in the face of mounting Taliban attacks, officials said Thursday.
The decision came more than a week after Taliban militants attacked a UN guesthouse in Kabul, killing five of its international staff and three Afghan nationals.
"The UN is taking additional steps to reduce risks to its national and international staff serving in Afghanistan," the world body said in a statement released in Kabul.
Modi regretting axing talks with Pakistan?
Islamabad : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears to be having second thoughts on his decision to cancel foreign secretary level talks with Pakistan,...
India rules out military involvement in Afghanistan
By IANS
New Delhi : India Tuesday ruled out any military involvement in Afghanistan, which is facing Taliban resurgence once again, as the defence ministers of the two countries met here Tuesday.
"India has been helping in rebuilding and rehabilitation in Afghanistan and will continue doing so. However, there will not be any military involvement there," Defence Minister A.K. Antony said after meeting his Afghan counterpart Abdul Rahim Wardak.
3 militants killed as Taliban storm Afghan police unit
By DPA,
Kabul : Afghan security forces killed three militants Monday after a group of Taliban fighters attacked a police station in eastern Afghanistan, officials said.
The militants equipped with suicide vests and automatic weapons attacked a police station in the heart of Gardez city, the provincial capital of the south-eastern province of Paktika, Monday morning, Rohullah Samoon, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said.
Syria, Lebanon to exchange agricultural products
By Xinhua,
Damascus : Syria and Lebanon agreed on Wednesday to exchange agricultural products without any obstacles and open new markets in both countries to promote exporting production surplus.
The agricultural committee of the two countries agreed on the exchange in a memorandum of understanding after their meetings, according to the official SANA news agency.
Israeli vice PM calls to sever attackers’ neighborhoods from Jerusalem
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israeli Vice Prime Minister Haim Ramon said Thursday that the Palestinian neighborhoods of the perpetrators in the recent two deadly attacks in Jerusalem should be cut off from the city.
Speaking a day after a Palestinian man from the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Zur Baher killed three women and injured dozens in a bulldozer rampage in downtown Jerusalem before being shot dead, Ramon told Army Radio that Israel should treat the neighborhood as a Palestinian village, and revoke the permanent residency status of their residents.
Suicide attack kills 18 Afghans, injures 31
By DPA,
Kabul : At least 18 Afghans - 11 police officers and 7 civilians - were killed during a gun-battle and suicide attack by Taliban insurgents in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, officials said.
The attack was carried out in the morning against a poppy eradication police force in Khogyani district of eastern Nangarhar province, the interior ministry said in a statement.
Four people shot dead in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : Four people were killed when gunmen opened fire at a vehicle in Pakistan's northwest region Thursday.
Pakistan panel to probe fake certificates
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan has formed a committee to probe allegations that customs authorities had issued fake Free Trade Agreement clearance certificates.
Execution of six Pakistani terrorists approved
Islamabad : Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif has approved the execution of six terrorists who were sentenced to death by military courts, a...
Saudi Arabia to send back Indian prisoners in humanitarian move
Riyadh : In a signficant humanitarian gesture following the visit of the Saudi crown prince to India last week, hundreds of Indian prisoners in...
Pakistan continues military operation after suspending NATO supply route
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistan's security forces on Wednesday continued to fight against the militants in Khyber Agency, a day after they suspended the major NATO supply route and imposed curfew in the region.
"The security forces pounded militants' positions in Ghandi area and destroyed several hideouts. Two persons were also arrested during the operation," local Geo TV channel said.
Pakistan on Tuesday suspended supplies to the NATO and the U.S. troops in Afghanistan and launched operation against militants who had attacked the route for many times in the past month.
Iran calls for change in UN Security Council composition
By IRNA
Dakar : President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran called on Thursday for restructuring the United Nations Security Council at the first step, and a change in composition, at the second.
He made the remarks while speaking to reporters after his address at the 11th Summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Senegal.
The OIC Summit is being held in the capital city of this African state on March 13-14.
Eight Turkish soldiers killed near Iraqi border
By DPA,
Istanbul : ight Turkish soldiers were killed and 14 injured in an attack by Kurdish rebels on a military outpost near Turkey's border with Iraq, the Turkish military said Saturday.
The attack by militants from the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) took place near the town of Semdinli in Hakkari province in the restive southeastern region.
Twelve rebels were killed in the skirmish, according to an online statement by the Turkish General Staff.
Egypt introduces new sexual harassment laws
London: Egypt has introduced new laws against sexual harassment in an effort to bring down the escalating menace.
In an order issued by outgoing interim...
Pakistan and Sri Lanka sign Memorandum of Understanding
By SPA
Islamabad : Pakistan and Sri Lanka have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoD) to increase the weekly frequency of flights by threefold from five to fourteen.
Delegations of the two countries met to liberalize the existing Air Services Agreement (ASA) between the two countries, said an official statement.
Pakistan delegation was led by Maj Gen Mir Haider Ali Khan, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence, whereas the Sri Lankan delegation was headed by D.T.P. Collure, Secretary Ministry of Ports and Aviation of Sri Lanka.
US cancels top scholarships to eight Gaza students
By IRNA,
Gaza City : The US government has taken Fulbright scholarships away from eight students in the Palestinian territory of Gaza, citing Israeli travel restrictions imposed on Gaza Strip, a US official said Friday.
Israel maintains tight control of the border with Gaza in such checkpoints as the Erez Crossing since December.
The scholarships, which bring international students to the United States to study at American universities, will be given to students in the West Bank, Stacey Barrios, a spokeswoman for the US Consulate in Tel Aviv said in a statement.
ISAF soldier dies of wounds in Afghanistan
By KUNA,
Kabul : A soldier of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) died of wounds he suffered during an attack in southern Afghanistan, the military said here on Wednesday.
In a statement released from NATO headquarters in Kabul, the military said the soldier was injured in an attack by insurgents in Nahre Saraj district of Helmand province on July 29.
Expressing grief over the demise of the soldier, the statement said name and nationality of the soldier would not be released prior to the relevant national authority's doing so.