‘Gaza rebuilding might take 100 years if Israeli blockade persists’
Gaza: An international charity organisation Thursday warned that rebuilding the Gaza Strip following last summer's military offensive by Israel might take "100 years," if...
Indian Americans honour US Congressman Keith Ellison with human rights award
By TCN News
The Indian American Muslim Council , an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India's pluralist and tolerant ethos, honoured Congressman Keith Ellision...
Indian Social Forum to organise tournament for social service at Jubail
By TCN News,
Dammam: Karnataka Chapter of Indian Social Forum, an Indian expatriates Socio- Cultural Organization is organizing a “Social Forum Cup -2015’ for Indian Expatriates residing in eastern province at Jubail, Dammam and Khobar.
The monstrosity called ISIS
By Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander
Many a youngsters, literate, well to do, self-made men included, are talking about the need of establishing Khilafah in...
Allegations of rape against diplomat not proven, says Saudi embassy
New Delhi: The Saudi Arabian embassy here on Wednesday said allegations of rape against a senior diplomat of the embassy were “not proven” and...
Won’t accept temporal division of al Aqsa, says Palestine
Ramallha : Palestinians won't let pass the Israeli measures in Jerusalem and the Israeli scheme for the temporal division of Al Aqsa Mosque, President...
Jamia organises interactive session on West Asia, film screening on Afghanistan
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: The Subject Association of Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia on Wednesday organized an Interactive Discussion on...
Mohan Singh was a Muslim, rules Malaysian court
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysia's civil high court Monday ruled that deceased art director Mohan Singh had converted to Islam, rejecting a plea of his family that his body be released for funeral rites as per Sikh faith.
Judge Rosnaini Saub ruled that due to the religious conversion certificate, the case falls under the jurisdiction of the Syariah court that ruled Mohan Singh died a Muslim June 4, NST Online, the The New Straits Times said on its website.
German Jewish peace group to ship humanitarian aid to Gaza
By IRNA,
Berlin : A leading German Jewish peace group which has repeatedly criticized Israel's policies in the occupied territories, is to ship humanitarian aid to Gaza this spring.
According to a press statement sent to IRNA in Berlin on Thursday, the German-branch of European Jews for a Just Peace in the Middle East (EJJP) is to deliver "urgently needed things like medicines, baby food, blankets, children's clothes and school material" to Gaza which remains under siege by Israel and Egypt.
A developing Islamic University in Rotterdam
By Jan Felix Engelhardt,
Rotterdam, Netherlands - Tural Koç is feeling rather pleased with himself. The administrative head of the Islamic University of Rotterdam (IUR) has just taken a major step towards gaining state approval for his university. Following close consideration of content and formal requirements, the Dutch accreditation authority has now granted official recognition to the first IUR course.
Over 550 people embrace Islam in Abu Dhabi
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : A total of 559 people from various nations including India living in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) embraced Islam in 2010.
The number of new converts increased by 25 percent in the first half of 2010 compared to the like period last year, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) said in a statement.
There were 486 people who embraced Islam in the first six months of 2009.
Niazi forced to surrender ‘before people of Dhaka’: Jacob
By IANS
Dhaka : The Pakistani general whose surrender signalled the liberation of Bangladesh, did so, much against his wishes, "before the people of Dhaka", says the Indian officer who organised in 1971 modern history's only public surrender by a vanquished force.
Pakistan's Lt. Gen. A.A.K. Niazi was reluctant and wanted to discuss "only a ceasefire under the UN". Later, he agreed to surrender, but in his office.
Niazi later claimed that he had been "blackmailed" into surrendering at a public ceremony, watched by thousands, at Dhaka's Race Course (now Suhrawardy Udyan).
Pakistani train driver, guard questioned at Attari
By IANS,
Amritsar : A Pakistani driver and a guard of a goods train that arrived at the Attari border railway station in India from Pakistan Friday were questioned by customs officials following the recovery of a large quantity of poppy seeds from the train's engine.
The driver, Mohammed Ali, and a guard of the train were questioned by the customs and security officials after the goods train arrived at Attari, 30 km from here.
The officials recovered 27 kg of poppy seeds from the train's engine near the driver's seat.
Pakistani political party’s office set ablaze
By IANS,
Islamabad : Unidentified assailants Saturday set on fire an election office belonging to a political party in Pakistan's port city of Karachi, a media report said.
Dubai reveal plans to build world’s largest shopping mall
Dubai: An ambitious "Mall of the World" project boasting of the world's first temperature-controlled city was unveiled in the UAE Saturday, a Dubai Holding...
Emirates to freeze hiring of non-operational staff
By IANS,
Dubai : The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) national carrier Emirates Airline will freeze recruitment of non-operational staff because of spiralling global oil prices, a top official at the carrier has said in an interview.
"The fact is that fuel prices are very high so we are always looking at our costs," Emirates chairman and chief executive Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum said in an interview to be published in Arabian Business magazine's Aug 3 issue.
30 chained people rescued from brick kiln in Bangladesh
By IANS,
Dhaka: At least 30 people, including children, were found tied up with chains at a brick-kiln Wednesday evening on the outskirts of the Bangladesh capital city, 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.
Pakistan to have TV channel to counter Taliban propaganda
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan will launch a Pashto-language TV channel to counter Taliban propaganda, an official said.
Four policemen injured in Pakistan suicide bombing
By IANS,
Islamabad : At least four policemen were injured in a suicide bombing in Pakistan's northwest tribal region Sunday night, a media report said.
Gaddafi guards raped kids: Amnesty
By IANS,
London : Prison guards loyal to Muammar Gaddafi raped child detainees, human rights group Amnesty International has said.
Nasser brigades fires missile on Nahel Oz
By KUNA
Gaza : Al-Nasser Salahiddin Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Popular Resistance Committees, claimed responsibility Thursday for firing a local-made missile at the Israeli military post of Nahel Oz.
The brigades said they fired one "Nasser II" missile, targeting "Nahel Oz", eastern Gaza Strip, adding there was a direct hit and that the group which executed the attack returned safely.
Malaysia: Dr Mahathir won’t support opposition, says Mukariz
By NNN-Bernama
Kuala Lumpur : Umno Youth executive council member Mukhriz Mahathir said his father, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad would neither oppose the government nor support the opposition.
"My father will not in any way support the opposition. He has fought the opposition all his life," he said.
Baiji refinery in Iraq controlled by IS: Official
Washington : A refinery site in Baiji city of northern Iraq was captured by Islamic State (IS) militants recently and Iraqi security forces now...
Illegal immigration from Bangladesh biggest threat: Jaiswal
By IANS,
Ahmedabad: Rising illegal immigration from neighbouring Bangladesh is posing the biggest threat to India's national security, Minister of State for Home Sriparakash Jaiswal said Tuesday.
"The Indian government is already working towards introducing the multi-purpose national identity card for every citizen and would ensure that all the citizens possess a card within a span of the next four years," he said at the valedictory function of a two-day international conference on security and identity management-2009, organised by the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad here.
Secular Nepal celebrates first Eid with independent moon-sighting
By IANS
Kathmandu: Clad in white clothes and white caps, thousands of Muslims thronged to mosques to pray and celebrate as a newly secular Nepal announced the first public holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr and the first Nepali moon-sighting committee independently heralded the rise of the moon that marks the start of the festival after a month of fasting and intense prayers.
Nepal, once the only Hindu kingdom in the world where conversions were a punishable offence, marked its transformation into a secular democratic republic by declaring Monday a state holiday on occasion of Eid.
NATO creates “kill or capture” list for Taliban: German report
Berlin, Feb 10, IRNA -- NATO has created a "kill or capture" list for Taliban leaders, the weekly news magazine Stern reported Wednesday on its website.
The secret list allows NATO troops in Afghanistan to liquidate or capture mid-and high ranking Taliban members.
German and US special forces are reportedly involved in these secret operations.
A so-called "JPEL-list" (Joint Priority Effects List) indicates who will be included in the "c" (capture) category and who will be listed in the "k" (kill) section.
Islam in Bosnia: an interview with Armina Omerika
By Claudia Mende
Islam has been practiced in Bosnia for centuries. Freelance writer Claudia Mende asks Armina Omerika, an expert in Islamic studies at the University of Erfurt in Germany, whether the Bosnian Islamic tradition could serve as a model for the integration of Muslims in other European societies.
How has Bosnian Islam come to terms with the non-Muslim Bosnian state?
There is no ‘absolute freedom’ for media: Badawi
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says there is no such thing as absolute freedom and that the media should not be ashamed of "self-censorship" to respect cultural norms.
His support to what he termed as "ethical journalism" came even as his Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said that the government had decided to enact laws to engage bloggers in the cyberspace.
17 killed in Afghanistan coal mine explosion
Kabul: At least 17 people were killed and several trapped following a blast in a coal mine in the northern Afghan province of Samangan...
Terrorism a diplomatic asset: Fair is foul, foul is fair
By Saeed Naqvi ,
The ISIS threat has been around for months. Why was it not nipped in the bud? Obama’s response in the course of a conversation with Thomas Friedman of the New York Times is revealing. “We did not start airstrikes all across Iraq as soon as the ISIS came in because that would have taken the pressure off Nouri al-Maliki”, the then Shia prime minister in Baghdad.
UAE endorses joint Arab strategic food reserve
Dubai: The UAE minister for food and agriculture, Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, Friday said the Gulf Arab desert state is committed to support joint...
Assamese cultural activist invited in Bangladesh event
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Guwahati: In what can be termed as a landmark endeavour, Guwahati-based cultural activist, documentation consultant and curator of the Guwahati International Music Festival, Aiyushman Dutta, has been invited to join a first-ever documentation project of the centuries-old ‘Dol Purnima Utsab’ of the Bauls to be held from March 14-17 in Kushtia, Bangladesh this year.
Music is the healer, think Afghan musicians as they perform in Guwahati
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Guwahati: On most of the occasions, when we talk of Afghanistan, it’s either Taliban or the prolonged conflicts at the land locked country. The country was almost devastated by many from both inside and outside yet there are some beautiful things to be appreciated in the country.
Pakistani senate member awarded ‘Pride of Ludhiana’ award
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Ludhiana: An 85-year-old Pakistan senate member Humaza has been awarded with the ‘Fakhr-e-Ludhiyana’ (Pride of Ludhiana) prestige here on Friday.
Brazilian envoy in Islamabad vows to promote educational cooperation with Pakistan
By Aslam Chandio, TwoCircles.net,
Islamabad: The Brazilian Ambassador to Pakistan Alfredo Leoni has reiterated his commitment to promote educational cooperation between Brazil and Pakistan.
Addressing a ceremony at the end of another session of the Portuguese Language Course at the Brazilian Embassy in Islamabad, Alfredo Leoni highlighted the importance of such an initiative to bring the Brazilian reality closer to Pakistanis and acknowledged the effort of the students to learn a language, so different than their native one.
200-year-old mosque found in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : A 200-year-old mosque was found when a farmer was digging his land in Pakistan's Punjab province.
Muslim religious leaders say violence no answer to anti-Islam attacks
By IINA
Cairo : Several Muslim religious leaders and scholars believe that neither violence nor a boycott of Western goods is the right answer to a perceived surge in an anti-Islam campaign. "The West knows very little about Islam and its principles. So the best way to reverse the so-called Islamophobia is to enter into a dynamic dialogue with the West," said Abdul Sabour Chahin, a noted Muslim scholar. "We have to let the non-Muslims get exposed to the genuine tenets of Islam so as to learn about its tolerance and moderation," Gulf News quoted him as saying.
Chinese press accolades Pakistani media on presenting Olympic Games in splendid way
By NNN-APP,
Beijing : Chinese press has lauded Pakistani electronic media for outstanding presentation and talks show on Beijing Olympics and for its closing ceremony on Sunday night. “Pakistan’s national TV station, and the private GEO, EXPRESS, NEWS and AAJ stations gave live coverage of the entire ceremony,” the English language China Daily reported in a commentary.
The Pakistani commentators congratulated China on its successful hosting of the Games, saying that Pakistan is happy to see China won most gold medals, the paper stated on Tuesday.
Omani men love to wear Kashmiri pashmina turbans
By Kavita Bajeli-Datt, IANS,
Muscat : Not many know of this Indian connection. Embroidered Kashmiri pashmina stoles, worn turban-style on the head and known as 'mussar', are a rage among Omani men.
It is not known for sure exactly when pashmina cloth became fashionable as headgear in this Gulf country, but most men wear it. The popularity of mussars can be guaged from the fact that men are never seen at the workplace and official engagements without it.
Zeeshan to lead Pakistan men’s hockey team in CWG
By IANS,
Karachi: Experienced defender Zeeshan Ashraf has passed a fitness test and will lead Pakistan in the Commonwealth Games hockey tournament in Delhi next month.
Why Does Adultery Matter in a Secular Society?
"Secularism prohibits the imposition of any religion, except the religion of secularism"
By Yamin Zakaria,
Dhaka airport to be renamed after Sufi saint
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh's Zia International Airport is to be renamed after 13th century Sufi saint Hazarat Shah Jalal, after deleting the name of former president Ziaur Rahman.
The civil aviation and tourism ministry drafted the proposal after a nod from the cabinet in October last year.
Shah Jalal is believed to have been born in Turkey in 1271.
He commands great respect among Muslims of the subcontinent. He was buried in Sylhet in northeastern Bangladesh, where his shrine is visited by thousands of devotees.
Malaysian Indian party seeks to join ruling coalition
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : The Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP) is pressing for full membership of the Barisan Nasional (BN), the ruling coalition, a party official has said.
The MIUP, which is a party that aims to work for the Indian community, applied for BN's membership last year. It hopes for an early decision by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who is also the BN chief, following the admission last week of the Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (Kimma).
UAE moon sighting committee to meet Aug 29
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi : UAE Justice Minister Hadef Joan Al Dhahiri said the moon sighting committee will hold its meeting after the Maghreb (evening) prayer Aug 29, it was announced Tuesday.
Cuban band performs in Islamabad
By IANS,
Islamabad : A three-member Cuban band has enthralled visitors in Islamabad's Nysa Lounge with a hearty mix of jazz and Caribbean rhythms.
Czech woman had fake marriages to help Pakistanis enter Britain
By IANS,
London : A Czech woman and her Slovak boyfriend were paid up to 300 pounds to fly to Pakistan and "marry" Pakistani men and women to help them get visas to enter Britain, a court heard.
US soldier freed by Taliban in Afghanistan
Washington: A US soldier held by the Taliban in their custody for nearly five years in Afghanistan was released Saturday in a deal which...
ISIS, Oil Politics and Peaking of Islamophobia
By Ram Puniyani,
Just a month ago (August 2014) a group of Muslim activists-scholars organized press meets in various cities. They issued a statement condemning the brutal violence being committed by ISIS. There statement carried a visual saying Islam Means Peace. The statement said “Indian Muslims Condemn the Brutal Atrocities by ISIS against Minorities in Iraq and Syria; denounce religious intolerance, persecution and violence in the name of Islam” I circulated the statement to many lists. One of the members on the list wrote back that “‘Islam means Peace’ is the biggest joke of the century”. Simultaneously in India, the propaganda about love Jihad is being spread like wild fire by communal elements. Irrespective of the fact that in such a propaganda few cases of marriage-conversion, the girls changing their version the boundary line between love and imposition being regularly breached, have been picked up as an example of Muslim men on a path to Jihad for conversion to Islam, by marrying Hindu girls by deceit. A friend demanded whether I can cite even 100 cases where Muslim girls have married Hindu men. To my good fortune I could locate a list longer than that of 100 and also a Google search of Hindu Men Muslim wife gave good many beautiful stories (https://www.facebook.com/R3alityofPorkistan/posts/613266692020533 ) of such ‘love jihad’ in reverse! To add to the already existing atmosphere Al Jawahiri of Al Qaeda issued a Video declaring its plan to expand the activities in India.
Fasting has a positive impact on maintenance of glucose level: Malaysian study
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Kualalumpur: A study by researchers at National Defence University of Malaysia have come to conclusion that fasting during Ramadan has a...
Syria’s Shifting Sands: Power Struggles, Regional Ambitions and the Dawn of a New Middle...
Mushtaque Rahamat
It is indeed perplexing how swiftly Syria’s Assad regime collapsed, forcing the dictator to flee. Understanding and unpacking the incident and its implications...
Book review: Islam’s women scholars
By Yoginder Sikand, TwoCircles.net,
One indicator of the development of a society is its female literacy rate and, related to this, the number of its female scholars. On both these fronts, India's Muslims are among the lowest of all the communities in the country. This unfortunate fact provides a basis for negative stereotyping of the community, particularly in matters related to inter-gender relations.
Pakistan, Turkey to participate in joint Navel Exercise
By APP
Islamabad : Pakistan Naval ships will be touring Turkish part of Mediterranean to take part in joint naval exercise called “MAVI BALINA” goodwill-cum-training cruise, with the Turkish Naval ship from March 7 to 16.
In the first phase Pakistani naval ships will take part in the combat exercises at the port of AKSAZ, from March 7 to 10 and in the second phase they will depart the Port of Antalya for joint maneuvers from March 16 to 18 , says a press release issued by Pakistani embassy in Ankara, Turkey.
Dr. Yusuf Estes to deliver Islamic lectures in Jeddah
By IINA
Jeddah : Dr. Yusuf Estes, a well-known Islamic scholar and preacher from Texas, US, will deliver two lectures, entitled “Muslim Youth in Today’s Society” and “The Beauty of Islam,” at the Saudi-German Hospital auditorium here tomorrow and Friday. Organizers said the first lecture is aimed at students over the age of 12, while the second is for the general public.
A former Christian missionary, Estes is now the director of the Islamic Mission Foundation International, a group dedicated to presenting Islam in accordance with the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Land feud kills 15 in Pakistan
By DPA,
Islamabad : A clash between two rival groups embroiled in a land feud left 15 people dead and seven injured in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, media reports said Sunday.
The attack occurred in Sarya village of Gujrat district Saturday, the latest in a series of local clashes which have killed nearly 50 people in the last 15 years.
The News daily said a suspect named Nadeem, alias Dima, and his eight accomplices sprayed their rivals with bullets when they were sinking a well on a disputed piece of land.
Libyan rebels take over key town of Ajdabiya: Report
By DPA,
Cairo/Tripoli: Libyan rebels Saturday recaptured the key eastern town of Ajdabiya from Muammar Gaddafi's forces, broadcaster Al Jazeera reported.
Six of family die in Iraq
By IANS,
Baghdad : Six members of a family were killed Sunday when bombs planted in their house in a Iraqi town exploded early Sunday, Xinhua reported.
20 Al Qaeda terrorists killed in Yemen
By IANS,
Sana'a: At least 20 Al Qaeda terrorists were killed Saturday in an operation launched by the Yemeni army in southern Abyan province, the defence ministry said.
Two Indian women killed in UAE road accident
By IANS,
Dubai : Two Indians were killed and three were seriously injured when the car they were travelling in fell into a gorge near the border between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman.
Anoopa, 24, an engineer with a Dubai-based engineering firm and her domestic help Pushpa, 50, died in the accident that took place Saturday. According to reports, Anoopa's husband Shibu Varghese, who was driving, lost control of the vehicle in the Al Rouda area in Hatta.
Protect Tamil Muslims in Sri Lanka: TMMK
By TwoCircles.net correspondent,
Chennai: All twenty DMK MPs have sent in their resignations to the party chief Karunanidhi to force the Govt of India to take steps in halting Sri Lankan forces taking action against LTTE. Prof. Jawahirullah, president of Tamilnadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) have appealed to Karunanidhi to protect Tamil speaking Muslims too.
DMK has set the deadline of October 29th as the date when all their MPs will resign from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha if India fails to force Sri Lankan put an end to their offensive against LTTE.
Pakistan determined to end Taliban’s growing threat: President Zardari
By NNN-APP,
New Delhi : Stating that Pakistan had been in denial about the Taliban in the past, President Asif Ali Zardari has said his government was determined to put an end to the growing threat of the militants.
“(The Taliban) do have a presence in huge amounts of land in our side. Yes, that is the fact,” Zardari told CBS in an interview to be broadcast on Sunday, excerpts of which were released on Friday.
“It’s been happening over time and it’s happened out of denial. Everybody was in denial,” he said on the networks’ programme “60 Minutes”.
Bangladeshi imam assaulted for snide remarks against PM
Dhaka : An imam was beaten up by worshippers for making derogatory remarks about Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Sirajganj town, a media...
Candle light vigil by Khudai Khidmatgar for Peshawar terror attack victims
By TCN News,
New Delhi: Holding placards with message of love, peace and humanity, people from all walks of life including professionals, college students and little children participated in a candle light vigil commemoration organized by Khudai Khidmatgar to condemn the Peshawar killings, where in a desperate attack Taliban terrorists killed over 140 persons, including 132 school children, of a school run by Pakistan army.
India, Qatar ink six agreements; MoUs on convict exchange, news sharing
New Delhi: India and Qatar inked six agreements, including on transfer of sentenced prisoners, as visiting Emir of Qatar Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani...
Qatar to be stripped of 2022 World Cup: FIFA whistleblower
London: Qatar are likely be stripped of the 2022 World Cup, according to a FIFA whistleblower who was a former senior figure in the...
Three Syrian officers killed as IS downs helicopter
Damascus: Three Syrian officers were killed when their helicopter was downed by Islamic State (IS) militants in the northern province of Aleppo, a monitor...
Telangana CM shocked over Haj tragedy
Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has expressed shock over the stampede in Saudi Arabia that killed 717 Haj pilgrims including a woman...
Dalit scholar’s suicide an indictment of BJP’s Hindutva agenda, say Indian Americans
By TCN News
Washington: The Indian American Muslim Council, an advocacy group aimed at safeguarding India's pluralist and tolerant ethos, expressed shock...
7 Assam bound Rohingya Muslim children detained in Tripura
Agartala, Feb 3 (IANS) Security forces on Sunday detained seven children of Rohingya Muslims at a railway station in northern Tripura adjoining Assam, a...
Pakistani youth activists interact with students from Bangalore through video conferencing
By TCN News,
New Delhi: Youth activists from Pakistan had an interactive session with students from Bangalore through a video conferencing, organised by an Indo-Pak friendship initiative Aaghaz-e-Dosti.
Aaghaz-e-Dosti is an Indo-Pak Friendship initiative of India-based Mission Bhartiyam and Pakistan-based The Catalyst - TC. Aaghaz-e-Dosti has conducted 13 aman chaupals or Indo-Pak peace sessions wherein someone from Pakistan interacts with students in India (or vice versa).
Tripura protest condemns killing of Bangladeshi-American writer
Agartala : Intellectuals, singers, writers and political activists staged a protest here on Sunday to denounce the killing of a Bangladeshi-American blog-writer in Dhaka...
20 Houthi fighters killed in Yemen airstrikes
Sanaa: At least 20 Shiite Houthi fighters were killed and dozens of others wounded in Saudi-led airstrikes on a military base in Yemen's northern...
American varsity starts A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Fellowship
New Delhi : An American university has started doctoral grants for Indian students to honour late former president of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who...
Body-snatching practice divides Malaysian society
By Christiane Oelrich, DPA,
Kuala Lumpur : The sudden death of Malaysian Mohan Singh, 41, came as a shock to his family. But worse was the nightmare that followed: the country's religious authority confiscated the body, saying the man converted to Islam in 1992 and had to be buried according to Muslim rites.
"He was a practising Sikh until the end," his family protested, but without much success. The family is still fighting for Singh's remains in court.
We’re just about tolerated: Pakistani American gay activist
By Ashok Easwaran, IANS,
Chicago : Being an openly gay Muslim is not easy, says Pakistani American poet and activist Ifti Nasim who is now the subject of a BBC documentary.
Ever an iconoclast, Chicago-based Nasim has on several occasions outraged the Muslim community through his poetry and columns. Accolades have been a little late in coming to him, but Nasim expressed his pleasure at the latest honour - the BBC film.
Geo News office attacked in Islamabad
Islamabad : Pakistan television channel Geo News came under attack early Sunday from a crowd of protestors, gathered in Islamabad, as they attacked the...
38 killed in clashes, bombings around Damascus
Beirut : At least 38 people have been killed in bombings and clashes between forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and rebel factions...
Eight killed in exchange of fire between militants, Pakistani troopers
By KUNA,
Islamabad : At least three militants and five soldiers were killed in an exchange of fire between the two sides in a northern Pakistani district, said sources on Sunday.
Local Taliban militants attacked a security checkpost in Bannu tribal district of North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) Saturday night, security sources told KUNA.
The attack left five soldiers dead and wounded another, said sources. They said further that immediately after the attack, the forces launched an operation in the area.
Seven killed in Pakistan mine blasts
By IANS,
Islamabad: At least seven miners were killed and 45 trapped underground after a series of blasts Sunday morning in a coal mine in southwest Pakistan, media reports said.
First bio-pharma company launched in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan's first bio-pharmaceutical company, BF Biosciences Limited, was Friday inaugurated near the eastern city of Lahore, a media report said.
Gang rape of Christian girl: Open letter to Pakistan President Zardari
October 14, 2011
To
Mr. Asif Ali Zardari
President of Pakistan
President's Secretariat
Families displaced in Iraq returning home – Int’l Organisation for migration
By NNN-KUNA,
Geneva : The Internationall Organisation for Migration (IOM) has said that Iraqi families displaced by sectarian violence and military operations are returning in numbers to certain areas of the capital where security has improved over the past months.
Committee formed to probe mosque suicide bomb attack
By IRNA
Peshawar : Authorities in the Pakistani northwestern city of Peshawar have formed a 10-member committee to probe into the suicide bomb attack at a mosque as death toll from the blast has reached 12, officials said Friday.
A suicide bomber first opened fire at mourners at Mirza Qasim Beg Imambargah on Thursday night and then blew himself up.
A total of 23 people were also injured in the attack, some of them in critical condition.
There has been no claim of responsibility of the attack so far.
Police have not arrested any suspect.
OIC Charter effective since 1972
By IRNA
Dakar : The OIC Charter, the revision of which is on the agenda of the 11th heads of state and government summit, has been effective since 1972, with the official establishment of the organization in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Article 3 of the Organization's charter enumerates three major organs, notably the Conference of Kings and Heads of State and Government, the Conference of Foreign Ministers and the General Secretariat.
Satyarthi, Malala receive Nobel Peace Prize
Oslo : India's child rights crusader Kailash Satyarthi and Pakistan's girls' education activist Malala Yousafzai received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo Wednesday evening.
The...
Pakistan President confers Nishan-e-Pakistan on Xi Jinping
Islamabad : Chinese President Xi Jinping was on Tuesday conferred with the Nishan-e-Pakistan, Pakistan's highest civilian honour, by President Mamnoon Hussain at a brief...
Pakistan protests bail to Samjhauta Express convict
Islamabad : Pakistan on Friday lodged a protest over the bail granted to the alleged mastermind of the Samjhauta Express blast by an Indian...
India’s Independence Day celebrated in Saudia Arabia
By TCN News,
Dammam:
Indian Social Forum, Karnataka State Committee organized Independence Day Celebration Programs across Eastern Province as part of celebrating 69th Independence...
Maldives president unharmed, wife injured in speedboat blast
Male: The president of the Maldives was unhurt but his wife and two others were injured in an explosion on board their speedboat...
None of the 99 names of Allah stands for violence: Modi
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, terming Sufism "the voice of peace", noted that none of the 99 names of Allah stands for...
Pakistan would have attacked India in 1998: Gohar Ayub Khan
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan would have launched a full-fledged air attack had India attempted to prevent its 1998 nuclear tests, maverick politician and former foreign minister Gohar Ayub Khan says in a new book.
In the book titled "Testing Times as Foreign Minister", Khan claims that in the event of an attack by India on the nuclear test site at Chagai in Balochistan, the Pakistan Air Force would have launched attacks on pre-designated targets in India, The News reported Saturday.
Eminent ghazal singer Iqbal Bano dies
By IANS,
Lahore : Eminent ghazal singer Iqbal Bano died here Tuesday. She was 74.
Musically talented, with a sweet and appealing voice, Bano developed a love for music from a young age, APP reported.
Born and brought up in Delhi, where she was born in 1935, Bano was a student of Ustad Chaand Khan of the Delhi Gharana, who mentored her in classical music.
British Muslims deplore jizya on Sikh and demolition of their properties
By TwoCircles.net news desk,
New Delhi: Council of Indian Muslims—UK (CIM) has strongly condemned the imposition of the so called Jizya on Sikh community and demolition of their houses in Pakistan's Aurakzai tribal region as “un-Islamic and shameful”.
A press statement issued by the CIM quotes its religious affairs advisor and London based renowned religious scholar Maulana Atiqur-Rehman Sambhali as saying, “Such an action is highly deplorable, unacceptable and un-Islamic. “
Pakistani spy who helped jailed terrorists escape gets 2 more years
By IANS,
Chandigarh: A local court here Thursday sentenced a Pakistani national, undergoing seven-year jail term for spying, to two years' additional imprisonment for helping terrorists, including the alleged assassin of Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, escape from jail in 2004.
The 28-year-old Abid Mehmood was guilty of criminal conspiracy and of facilitating the escape of dreaded terrorists, including Beant Singh's alleged assassin Jagtar Singh Hawara and his two accomplices, from the high-security Burail jail in January 2004, though an over 100-foot-long tunnel they dug.
Modi is the worst of the worst … wo zaalim hai, says Vastanwi
By Siraj Wahab in Makkah for TwoCircles.net
PM assures justice in Kazmi case to a delegation of MPs
By Mohammad Ali, TwoCircles.net,
Stray bullet kills man after Eid prayers in Turkey
By IANS,
Ankara : A 32-year-old man died in Turkey Sunday after being hit by a stray bullet fired at the courtyard of a mosque after Eid prayers, Xinhua reported.
A peaceful, stable Afghanistan cannot be imagined without Indo-Pak collaboration
By Manzar Imam,
New Delhi: Conventional discourse on Afghanistan is focused on fractures. While the fact is that today’s Afghan government is more inclusive in its composition than it was in any time in history. Therefore, lessons need to be learnt and policies formed accordingly. These views were expressed by Jayant Prasad, former Indian ambassador to Afghanistan who was speaking in a panel discussion on “Reclaiming Afghanistan” organized by Himal South Asian, a review magazine of politics and culture, in collaboration with the Faculty of Social Sciences, South Asian University (SAU) at Akbar Bhawan on Friday, 28 March, 2014.
Pakistan to name new ISI chief soon: Report
Islamabad : At a time when the Pakistan Army is being viewed as again meddling in politics, the country's top spy agency -- Inter-Services...
Eleventh Aman Chaupal with Indian delegates held in a college in Pakistan
By TCN News,
Islamabad: Aaghaz-e-Dosti, an Indo-Pak peace and friendship initiative, held its eleventh Aman Chaupal in Pakistan. So far all the ten chaupals have been held in India itself, so this was the first for Pakistan.
Israel lifts age restrictions for Muslim prayers in Temple Mount
Jerusalem : Israeli police have lifted age restrictions in force for weeks prohibiting younger Muslims from accessing the Temple Mount compound and the al...
Pakistan court declares Lakhvi’s detention illegal; orders his release
Islamabad : The Islamabad High Court on Friday declared the detention orders of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack,...
Beeline for Indian schools in Muscat; 1,900 waitlisted
Muscat : The first merit list for admissions to Indian schools in Oman's capital Muscat brought with it sleepless nights for parents from the...
Ghulam Ali’s concert at Lucknow Mahotsava on: Official
Lucknow: Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali, who on Wednesday announced he was cancelling all his scheduled concerts in India, will, however, go ahead with...
Palestinian militant killed in Israeli shelling in Gaza
By Xinhua
Gaza : One Palestinian militant was killed and three others wounded on Saturday night in an Israeli artillery shelling on the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, paramedics and witnesses said.
The witnesses said that a group of militants were launching homemade rockets from Beit Hanoun into the southern Israeli town of Sderout.
Paramedics said that they picked up the body of a Palestinian, and three others wounded right after the Israeli artillery strike, adding that they were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Pilot hurt as Bangladesh Air Force trainer crashes
By IANS,
Dhaka : A trainer aircraft of Bangladesh Air Force crashed Sunday in the country's central Tangail district, injuring one of the two pilots on board.
A Pashto singer’s story: From Taliban clutches to London freedom
By Cynthia Chandran,IANS,
London : Named by the BBC website as one of the 10 most famous Britons who have never been heard before, Latif Nangarhari's is no ordinary story. It involves escaping from the clutches of the Taliban, a journey to Britain and finally being 'discovered' in a distant land. And, yes, it is a story of hope.
Today a British passport holder, he is a singing sensation in his native Afghanistan, a country which has seen more than three decades of war and from where he had to escape.
Indonesian firm plans eco-industrial park in Nayachar
By IANS,
Kolkata: Universal Success Enterprise (USE), promoted by non-resident Indian industrialist Prasoon Mukherjee, plans to develop an eco-industrial park on Nayachar Island, a proposed chemical hub.
The proposed Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) will come up on the island, near Haldia in East Midnapore district.
"USE group is developing two eco-industrial parks, a 13,000-acre one in Nayachar island and 5,000 acres in Dholera (Gujarat)," Mukherjee said Thursday while addressing a seminar organised by Confederation of Indian Industry.
Muslim-West clash: My insightful trip to Germany
By Mohammad Reyaz,
“I have grown certain that the root of all fear is that we’ve been forced to deny who we are”.
IFF launches health campaign for poor Indian workers in Saudi
By Muhammed Iqbal for TwoCircles.net,
Dammam (Saudi Arabia): “Health is really a grace of God and one must take utmost care of his health”, said Brother Abussamad while inaugurating the two week long health campaign ‘Healthy People Healthy Nation’ by India Fraternity Forum (IFF) at Apsara Auditorium, Al-Khobar.
Wagah border suicide bomber identified
Islamabad: Pakistani security forces claimed to have identified the man who had carried out last month's suicide bombing at the Wagah border crossing with...
17 killed in attack on security check point in Libya
Tripoli: Fourteen army soldiers and three civilians were killed Friday in an armed attack at a security check point in Libya, an official said.
The...
Bangladesh terror group issues death threats to 10
Dhaka: The Ansarullah Bangla Team, a Bangladeshi Islamist terror organisation, has issued death threats to 10 people, including the prime minister's political advisor, H.T....
18,000 take part in Terry Fox Run in Abu Dhabi
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi: Around 18,000 people took part in the annual Terry Fox Run in Abu Dhabi. The event raised over 300,000 dirhams ($82,000) for cancer research.
ISAF plane makes hard landing in Afghanistan
By IANS,
Kabul : A C-130 plane with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) made a hard landing Sunday in Afghanistan, but there were no casualties, a statement said.
17 killed in Iraq violence
Baghdad : At least 17 people were killed and 23 wounded in a new wave of attacks Saturday across Iraq, including in the volatile...
Morsi used Brotherhood men to leak security files: Prosecution
Cairo : Former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi appointed members of the Muslim Brotherhood in sensitive positions inside the presidency to make it easier for...
‘London Plan’ failed miserably: Nawaz Sharif
London : Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Wednesday remarked that the "London Plan" failed miserably, referring to a meeting of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman...
73 French soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001
By IANS,
Paris : The number of French soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001 has risen to 73, the government said Friday.
Iranian official refutes reports over resignation of FM
By NNN-KUNA
Tehran : Iranian Foreign Ministry denied news reports over resignation of Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki from his post.
An official at the Iranian Foreign Ministry who did not disclose his name told Al-Alam news channel that the news was untrue and that the minister was staying in his post.
Bhangra at Malaysian election rally
By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : Heavy downpour has not cooled the campaign fever as Malaysia goes to the polls Saturday. And there is bhangra too, to entertain voters.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi braved one rain-lashing Sunday night with some 2,000 people hearing him.
He was greeted by kompang, the traditional Malay dance, bhangra from India's Punjab province and traditional Chinese and Indian music.
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Pregnant candidate rushed to hospital
France’s total continuing Iran’s South Pars LNG talks
By NNN-IRNA
Tehran : France's Total is continuing talks on the South Pars LNG project with the Oil Ministry and Pars Oil and Gas Company, according to Total's Public Relations Office.
Referring to the trilateral talks on the Pars LNG scheme, Total's Public Relations Office director Roya Farhang said that Total is currently following up the plan.
She hoped that Total and Pars Oil and Gas negotiations on implementing the South Pars LNG project could lead to a conclusion.