Pakistani student alleges Australian companies of slave-like treatment
By NNN-PTI,
Melbourne : A Pakistani student who was paid just a mere over One Australian dollar an hour for over 150 hours work as a security guard at the Australian Open tennis is reportedly suing several companies for being treated like a "slave".
23-year-old Faisal Durrani said he was aware of at least another four security guards from the subcontinent who had only received a small payment for their work at the Open.
"I believe there are a lot more," he said.
TTP website shut down 24 hours after launch
Islamabad : Less than 24 hours after the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) launched its official website, UmarMedia.com, it was shut down Monday.
According to the information...
German missing for two weeks in Afghanistan
By KUNA,
Berlin : The German Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that a citizen went missing in the Afghanistan two weeks ago, adding that a crisis council had been formed to follow up on the issue.
The ministry spokesperson was speaking to reporters after the daily "Die Welt" reported today that a German national of Afghan origin was missing and that his family had informed the embassy in Kabul of this.
Funeral of Afghan vice president held
Kabul : The state funeral service for Afghanistan's first vice president Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim, who died Sunday, was held amid tight security in...
IS captures Jordanian pilot of downed jet
Amman/Damascus: The Jordanian army Wednesday said one of its pilots has been captured by the Islamic State (IS) after a war plane crashed near...
NAM summit opens in Tehran
By IANS,
Tehran : The 16th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit opened in Tehran Thursday, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei saying that Iran is "not after nuclear weapons".
6.3-magnitude quake rocks Indonesia
By IANS,
Jakarta: An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck off North Maluku islands in Indonesia Wednesday, but there is no potential for tsunami, officials said.
Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Agency reported that the quake struck at 0916 GMT with the epicentre at 254 km northeast of North Maluku and with a depth of 105 km under the seabed, Xinhua reported.
There was no immediate report of damage or casualty.
Lebanon appointed ambassador to Syria for first time
By Xinhua,
Beirut : The Lebanese cabinet appointed Saturday for the first time an ambassador to represent its country in the neighboring state of Syria, local LBC TV reported.
Information Minister Tareq Mitri announced after the cabinet session which was held Saturday at the presidential palace, and chaired by President Michel Suleiman, that the appointment took place, but the name of the ambassador will not be released until an approval is received from Syria according to diplomatic norms.
Malaysian Indian girl dies rehearsing movie suicide scene
By IANS,
George Town (Malaysia) : An ethnic Indian schoolgirl died after she accidentally hanged herself while re-enacting a movie suicide scene.
Kuhesri Nadarajah, 10, was found hanging from the ceiling fan in her room by her grandfather at about 7.30 p.m. Thursday when he returned from prayers.
The Star Friday did not give details of how and why Kuhesri was enacting the movie scene.
Neighbours helped to bring the body down before it was sent to the Penang Hospital mortuary.
15 sentenced in Saudi Arabia for supporting terrorism
Riyadh : A criminal court in Saudi Arabia sentenced 15 persons for terms ranging from 11 months to 16 years in prison for supporting...
Explosion in Pakistan
By DPA,
Islamabad : Fatalities were feared as an explosion ripped through a Shiite mosque Sunday in Pakistan's eastern province of Punjab, media reports said.
window.onload...
UAE hospital provides health care to Pakistani children
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi : A United Arab Emirates hospital has provided health care to 4,000 children in Pakistan's Sindh province, it was announced Wednesday.
Shoaib Malik’s Indian visa extended
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Indian high commission Friday extended the visa of former Pakistani cricket captain Shoaib Malik for another year and he will be also able to visit Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.
Shoaib Malik and his wife Sania Mirza on Friday met High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal, during the course of which he accepted the request to extend the cricketer's visa, which is valid till June 24, Online news agency reported.
Abu Dhabi airport welcomes its 10 millionth passenger
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi International Airport has registered its 10 millionth passenger within less than a year, officials said.
Obama, Netanyahu talk focus on peace, Iran and terrorism
Washington:US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House Wednesday and held discussion over some thorny issues including...
Pakistan, Turkish air forces to conduct joint exercise: official
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Air forces of Pakistan and Turkey will conduct joint exercises this month, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said on Monday.
"The Exercise would be conducted in Pakistan during the month of April," a PAF statement said." "To benefit from the expertise and professional experiences of each other, PAF and the Turkish Air Force (TuAF) are conducting a Joint Exercise 'Indus Viper-2008' in Pakistan," it said.
The statement said that a contingent of TuAF fighter aircraft and personnel will undertake joint planning and execution of various combat missions in the exercises.
Archbishop speaks out against hysteria over Sharia laws
By IRNA
London : Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has spoken out against the wave of hysteria in the media and elsewhere over his call for Britain to accommodate some aspects of Sharia law for the country's two million Muslim population.
The archbishop said he made "no proposals for Sharia" in either the lecture or the interview on Thursday and "certainly did not call for its introduction as some kind of parallel jurisdiction to the civil law."
Border guard official admits to leading Dhaka mutiny
By IANS,
Dhaka : A middle-ranking Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) official has admitted to leading the mutiny by the border guard troopers in February this year that left 81 people including 55 Bangladesh Army officers dead, a media report said Sunday.
Deputy Assistant Director Touhidul Alam Saturday confessed before a Dhaka magistrate to have planned and led the mutiny, and all the operations during the carnage, The Daily Star said.
Leadership of Free Syrian Army dismissed
Beirut : The Syrian National Coalition (SNC), the main opposition political alliance, has dissolved the leadership of its armed wing, the Free Syrian Army...
Continue resistance against Israel, Iran’s leader tells Hamas
By DPA,
Tehran: Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called on the Palestinian militant group Hamas Tuesday to continue resistance against Israel as the only way to save Palestine, state media reported.
"The only way to save Palestine is resistance and victory belongs to those who believe in God and Jihad (holy war) in God's way," the Ayatollah told visiting Hamas politburo head Khaled Meshaal.
"Iran considers the Palestinian issue as its own and regards supporting this movement as its Islamic duty," added the Iranian leader.
Iraq’s neighbors meet in Damascus on cooperation for Iraqi security
By Xinhua,
Damascus : Officials from Iraq's neighboring countries opened here Sunday their meetings on security to discuss coordination and cooperation among them in order to get the Iraqis out of their current predicament.
Syrian Interior Minister Bassam Abdel Majeed told the opening session that the meeting aimed at helping the Iraqi people restore security and stability in their war-torn country and preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Iran: Government welcomes free flow of information
By NNN-IRNA,
Tehran : Iraqi President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has welcomed free flow of information as it has currently become a public demand.
Government spokesman, Gholam-Hossein Elham said on Saturday the President made the remarks in an address to the inaugural ceremony of a meeting of the Public Relations Offices.
The spokesman said the support for the free flow of information was an issue also stressed by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.
President Zardari to lift Governor’s rule in Panjab province, says local media
By NNN-PTI,
Islamabad : Buckling under intense domestic and international pressure, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday decided to lift Governor's rule in Punjab and allow the main opposition PML-N to form government in the politically-crucial province, local media reports said.
Israeli PM stays on job after release of war report
By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stays on his job after the release of the Winograd Committee's final report on the Second Lebanon war on Wednesday, though amid heightened call for his resignation.
In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, the Prime Minister's Office said that Olmert takes the Winograd Committee's final report with "complete seriousness," adding that the government would in the coming days begin the "process of implementing the recommendations" contained in the final report.
Vast potential for Malaysia, Pakistan & Middle East trilateral cooperation
By Hafizah Kamaruddin, NNN-Bernama,
ISLAMABAD, Nov 15 (NNN-Bernama) -- Malaysia should not just look at enhancing bilateral ties with Pakistan, but also endeavour to forge trilateral cooperation with Middle East countries especially in the halal food industry as well as other products and services.
In making the call, Masood Khalid, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry Additional Foreign Secretary for the Asia-Pacific, said there was vast potential for the three parties to work together in what was still relatively a largely untapped sector for cooperation among Islamic countries.
US to send more soldiers to Afghanistan
By DPA,
Kabul : The US would send more troops to Afghanistan to improve security, which has declined sharply over the past few years, US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates said during a surprise visit to US soldiers in the southern province of Kandahar.
A brigade would be deployed next month, and another two brigades of 3,500 soldiers each would be sent into the region, he was quoted as saying by CNN.
The deployment comes in the run-up to next autumn's presidential elections in Afghanistan, which the Taliban are expected to try to undermine.
Iran asks Non-Aligned support for non-permanent U.N. Security Council seat
By SPA,
Tehran, Iran : Iran's Foreign Minister says he has asked the Non-Aligned Movement to support Iran's bid for a non-permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.
Manouchehr Mottaki tells an expert meeting of the 114-member group to support Iran's bid to have a seat on the Security Council that will meet in 2009 and 2010, the Associated Press reported.
He says Sunday that a vote is expected soon and Iran's membership could create a positive development in the performance of the Security Council.
Iran and EU to Continue Nuclear Talks
By Prensa Latina,
Tehran : Iran and the European Union agreed to continue the conversations to solve the crisis on the Iranian nuclear program, said a local TV news report.
Cuerpo : According to a state TV network, Iranian main negotiator Saeed Jalili agreed in a telephone conversation with the EU Foreign Policy Director, Javier Solana, to continue the dialogue on the topic.
Over 40 killed, 100 hurt in Pakistan car bomb blast
By IANS,
Peshawar: Over 40 people were killed and more than 100 wounded Friday when a car loaded with explosives blew up with a roar in a crowded market in Pakistan's Peshawar city, a minister said.
North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Health Minister Zahir Ali Shah put the toll at 41 after visiting the Lady Reading Hospital where the injured were admitted. He said the condition of 15 injured people was critical.
The explosion occurred around noon at the Karachi Bazaar, close to the NWFP assembly.
Thousands gather as Rafsanjani seeks ‘open debate’
By DPA,
Tehran : Former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani called Friday for an "open debate" on the recent controversial election which saw President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad retain power as witnesses said "hundreds of thousands" of people surged to hear him.
He also called on authorities in a Friday prayers address to release opposition figures who have been imprisoned during a major crackdown on protesters which followed the election June 12.
U.S. vice president claims terror, rockets kill hopes for Palestinian state
By Xinhua
Ramallah : Visiting U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney claimed on Sunday that "terror and rockets" against Israel killed not only innocent civilians, but also hopes for a Palestinian state.
The establishment of a Palestinian state "needs more efforts and painful concessions by both sides," Cheney said at a joint press conference held in this West Bank town with Palestinian President Madmoud Abbas.
Malala Yousufzai is youngest Nobel laureate ever
London : Malala Yousufzai, the 17-year-old Pakistani girl child education campaigner who was shot nearly-fatally in 2012 by a Taliban gunman, is the youngest...
Five Pakistanis die in feud over goat
By IANS,
Islamabad : Five people, including four members of a family, were gunned down in a feud over a stolen goat in Pakistan's northwest, police said.
Israeli PM says peace negotiations with Syria serious
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israel takes peace negotiations with Syria seriously and is preparing for them rigorously, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Sunday morning at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.
"They (negotiations) will be held according to the current reality, not according to the situation ten years ago, according to today's diplomatic sensitivities, and not according to what took place in the past," local daily Yedioth Ahronoth quoted Olmert as saying.
Pakistani scientists hook up to peers across the globe
By IANS,
Brussels : Pakistani scientists and researchers are now connected to colleagues across the globe, courtesy two of the world's most powerful computers, the European Commission said.
Pakistani scientists will now be able to connect to the world through GEANT, the world's fastest computer network dedicated to research and education, and TEIN, the Asian counterpart, Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for information society and media, said Tuesday.
Al-Qaeda-led terrorist cell dismantled south of Baghdad
By NNN-KUNA
Baghdad : The Iraqi Interior Ministry has said that an Al-Qaeda terrorist cell, led by a Saudi national and operating in an agricultural area between Babylon and Wassit south of Baghdad, was dismantled by authorities.
"Iraqi security forces discovered and dismantled the terrorist cell, which was led by a Saudi man and included some 27 members, eight of which were killed in the raid," the head of the National Command Center Major-General Abdel-Karim Khalaf told KUNA in an exclusive interview Monday.
Indo–Kuwait Friendship Society hands over 25 Eid kits to needy people from India
By TCN News,
Kuwait: The Indo–Kuwait Friendship Society (IKFS), known for its activities in human rights and finding solutions for various problems of NRIs abroad,...
Agreement reached with PPP on most of issues: Sharif
By APP
New Delhi : There is agreement on most of the issues including restoration of 1973 Constitution between Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Group) and Pakistan Peoples Party.
In an interview with “Hindustan Times” published on Wednesday, Nawaz Sharif while describing the removal of judges as an ugly development, said his party, the civil society and many other parties had committed to the people that if “we come to power, we will restore the judiciary to the November 2, 2007 position. Democracy isn’t possible without the judiciary’s independence.”
11 Bangladesh’s opposition party activists killed in accident
By DPA,
Dhaka: At least 11 opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party activists were killed and dozens injured Sunday in a road accident in the southern district of Khulna, party officials said.
The accident occurred 200 km south-west of the capital Dhaka, when a truck collided head on with the bus carrying the activists to an anti-government rally in Khulna City.
Police said nine people were killed on the spot while two others succumbed to their injuries at Khulna Medical College Hospital.
Thirty-five others were being treated for injuries, they said.
Two people killed in suicide bomb attack in N Iraq
By Xinhua
Mosul, Iraq : A suicide car bomb struck an Iraqi Army patrol in a town in Nineveh province on Monday, killing two people and wounding nine others, a provincial police source said.
Dhaka plans purchase of more combat aircraft, missiles
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government plans to procure fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, helicopters and other armament to strengthen the armed forces.
She told Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) personnel Wednesday that the government had drawn up plans and set the process, including budget allocation, in motion.
"Budget allocation for the Bangladesh Air Force under the present fiscal year is the biggest amount in the history of the force," she said.
UN Calls Remote Polit Solution in Darfur
By Prensa Latina,
United Nations : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon assured in a report that possible political solution to the crisis in Darfur, Sudan, is increasingly remote.
The UN leader's January to March report says that both Khartoum and the rebels back a military solution to the conflict the rebels began over four years back in demand for political space and a share of the national wealth.
A lonely birthday for Musharraf
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Islamabad : There were no flowers and no cards either for Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on his 65th birthday Monday as uncertainty ruled the day with the government preparing to impeach him on charges of murder, corruption and misuse of power in the last nine years.
Born in New Delhi on Aug 11, 1943, Musharraf is unlikely to forget this 65th birthday -- the day the National Assembly and provincial assemblies are set to initiate the impeachment process against the military dictator who has vowed to fight until parliament passes the resolution.
Interview with Sari Nusseibeh
By Mohanan Hamed and Adham Manasreh, CGNews,
Israel is currently celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of its independence. How do you respond to that as a Palestinian?Sari Nusseibeh: I don't think it makes a lot of difference how many years Israel has existed. It's quite normal to celebrate anniversaries, and that applies to Israel too. On the other hand, the Nakba is for us the other side of what Israel celebrates as its independence. This contradiction will remain until we have reached a settlement and we have new relations between the two sides.
Pakistani shelling makes life hell for border people
By Sheikh Qayoom,
Jammu : Life for nearly 30,000 people living in relief camps has been turned upside down after they were forced to abandon...
UAE students to be trained on emergency response
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi : School students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be trained on how to respond to risky and emergency situations, officials have said.
The Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) is conducting inspection checks in more than 300 schools in the region as part of a project on health and safety conditions at educational institutions.
Afghan poll panel postpones announcing partial results
Kabul: The Afghan election commission Saturday announced that it is delaying the release of the result of the presidential election runoff held June 14.
"I...
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.
Dhaka-Yangon standoff lessens, but troops mobilisation continuing
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh and Myanmar are continuing to mobilise troops along their border although the standoff over Yangon exploring oil and gas in the Bay of Bengal waters that Dhaka claims as its territory appears to be dying down.
Dhaka asked Daewoo, the South Korean firm that was conducting the operations under protection from Myanmarese naval ships, to withdraw and not get into the dispute.
Daewoo complied with Dhaka's request, media reports here said Tuesday.
However, both countries continue to mobilise troops along the border.
Still ready to go to Delhi for talks: Sartaj Aziz
Islamabad: Pakistan's National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz said here on Saturday he is still prepared to go to New Delhi for talks with his...
German Interior Minister: Muslims were the first victims of terrorism
Berlin : German Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière called for differentiation between extremists who exploit Islam in their terrorist acts and the innocent Muslims living in peace in Western societies and are involved in various peaceful activities, according to Germany's Deutsche Welle (DW) channel.
Around 1.15 million expats in Kuwait’s private sector
By IANS,
Dubai : Around 1.15 million expatriates worked in Kuwait’s private sector till June this year, according to new figures.
The figures, released by Kuwait’s central census department, showed that males made up 93.5 percent of these expatriate workers, according to the state-run Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
The report, however, did not give a break-up of the nationalities of these workers.
According to the census figures, around 67.7 percent of the expatriates got salaries lower than 180 Kuwaiti dinars ($673).
Women playing major role, says UAE minister
By IANS/WAM,
Dubai : Women are playing a major role in the UAE's development and there is a need to enhance their role in business as well, a minister said.
Emirati women occupy 18 percent of the cabinet and 22.5 percent of the Federal National Council, the UAE parliament. There are 10 percent women in the diplomatic corps and 30 percent in top decision making positions in the government, Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, minister for foreign trade said Thursday.
Pakistan celebrates 62nd Independence Day
By KUNA,
Islamabad : A day after a suicide attack left nine ppeople dead in an eastern city, Pakistan celebrated on Thursday its 62nd Independence Day as the country's leadership urged the nation to strive for making the nation a truly modern, dynamic, progressive and democratic Islamic state.
"We must let petty differences be subordinated to higher values of life and strive together for making Pakistan a truly modern, dynamic, progressive and democratic Islamic state in accordance with the ideals of our founder," said President Pervez Musharraf in his message to the nation.
Bangladesh, Myanmar agree to compromise on sea boundary dispute
By DPA,
Dhaka: Bangladesh and Myanmar Saturday agreed to compromise to resolve a long-standing maritime border dispute in the Bay of Bengal, officials said.
The lack of a clear boundary has caused tensions between the two neighbours over offshore hydrocarbon exploration in the bay in 2008.
"We have decided to demarcate maritime boundary in a process combining the principle of equity and principle of equal distance," Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Khurshid Alam told reporters at the end of a two-day talks between Dhaka and Yangon over sea boundary demarcation.
Forced marriages are now illegal in Britain
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS,
London : The British government Tuesday introduced stringent new laws to prevent forced marriages and protect those who have already fallen victim to a practice that is particularly widespread among Pakistani Muslim communities.
From Tuesday anyone convicted of trying to force someone into marriage could be jailed for up to two years.
A victim, friend or police can apply for a Forced Marriage Protection Order that will forbid families from actions such as taking people abroad for marriage, seizing passports or intimidating victims.
Goal of EUPOL COPPS is to help in building a viable Palestinian state
By NNN-WAFA,
Ramallah : The European Union Co-ordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support (EUPOL COPPS) has said that its goal is to help build a viable Palestinian state with a functioning criminal justice ststem.
"We have a common goal to assist Palestinians and their National Authority to build a viable Palestinian state with a functioning criminal justice system," head of the EUPOL COPPS'S Rule of Law Section, Christophe Lukits said Tuesday.
42 Boko Haram militants killed in Nigeria attack
Lagos : At least 42 Boko Haram insurgents have been killed in a clash with military forces in a failed attack in northeast Nigeria's...
Palestinian, Israeli negotiators to meet in Washington
By Xinhua,
Ramallah : Palestinian and Israeli peace negotiators will meet in Washington in 10 days with representatives from the U.S. administration attending the meeting, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday.
Spokesman Nabil Abu Rdineh said the forthcoming meeting was aimed at giving a stronger push to the staggering peace talks between the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and Israel.
Abu Rdineh warned that there is not much time left for the two sides to come to an accord.
CIA operating secret drone base in Saudi Arabia
By IANS,
London : America's Central Intelligence Agency has been operating a secret airbase for drones in Saudi Arabia for the past two years, BBC reported.
Arrested Taliban spokesman says Baitullah is dead
By DPA,
Islamabad : A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban who was arrested by security forces a day ago told investigators that top militant leader Baitullah Mehsud had died in a US missile attack, intelligence officials said Tuesday.
Maulvi Omar of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, a loose alliance of more than a dozen militant groups, was Monday night detained in Mohmand district in the country's ungoverned tribal belt that borders Afghanistan.
Pakistan firing hits life on Kashmir border
By IANS,
Poonch : Life has turned full circle for many villagers whose homes virtually hug Jammu and Kashmir's porous border with Pakistan.
Tough battle ahead against Taliban: Pakistani editorial
By IANS,
Islamabad : A tough battle lies ahead against the Taliban, an editorial in a leading English daily said Saturday, while another called for devising a long-term strategy to complement the military action against the militants.
A third editorial termed a "good development" the religious reaction that had emerged against the Taliban in large parts of Pakistan.
"There should be no doubt that a tough battle lies ahead," Dawn said in an editorial headlined "The state finally acts".
Settlers, anti-occupation activists clash in West Bank
Tel Aviv, Oct 3 (DPA) Israeli settlers clashed Friday at an olive grove near the West Bank town of Hebron with activists protesting the Israeli occupation in the region, the police said.
According to settlers, the fracas broke out when one of the activists pushed the wife of settler leader Itamar Ben-Gvir. The activists, however, said the settlers attacked them first.
One anti-occupation activist was detained by the police, a police spokesman, Mickey Rosenfeld, said.
Three roadside bombs strike Baghdad, policeman wounded
By Xinhua
Baghdad : Three bomb attacks targeted the Iraqi police and U.S. troops in the Iraqi capital on Tuesday morning, injuring a policeman, an Interior Ministry source said.
A roadside bomb struck a police patrol near a commercial compound in the Mu'askar al-Rasheed Street, in Baghdad's central district of Karrada, damaging a police vehicle and wounding a policeman aboard, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Two Pakistani sisters suffer bald truth
By IANS,
Islamabad : Two sisters in a Pakistan village began to lose their hair and became completely bald barely a fortnight before their marriage. Their suitors rejected the match.
Sarkozy Supports Lebanese President
By Prensa Latina,
Beirut : French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his support to new Lebanese Head of State Michel Suleiman after his arrival to this capital Saturday coming from Greece.
In brief statements in the airport, Sarkozy said the election of Suleiman was a sample of hope for the Lebanese people.
The French delegation is also formed by Prime Minister Francois Fillon, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and the leaders of the main political parties.
Iran hails progress in Bushehr nuclear power plant construction
By RIA Novosti,
Tehran : A top Iranian nuclear official said on Tuesday that Tehran was satisfied with the ongoing construction of the Islamic Republic's first nuclear power plant, currently being built by Russia in the south of Iran.
Russia is building the $1 billion Bushehr facility under a 1995 contract. The project is subject to UN monitoring following Iran's refusal to halt its uranium enrichment program and Western suspicions that Tehran is seeking to build nuclear weapons.
Bilawal studies in Oxford as Pakistan votes
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS
London : As a nervous Pakistan went to the polls Monday, young Bilawal Zardari Bhutto - son of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto - spent the day hard at work, his guardian said.
Zardari Bhutto, all of 19 years old, had the mantle of political leadership thrust upon him when his mother was killed in an election rally Dec 27 last year.
Turkish soldier killed in mine blast
By Xinhua
Ankara : A Turkish soldier was killed and another one wounded on Saturday when a mine planted by the members of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) went off in southeastern Turkey, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.
The mine explosion took place in the province of Bingol, said the report, adding the injured soldier was rushed to a military hospital in Elazig by a helicopter.
Int’l Women’s Day tomorrow; this year’s focus on investing in women development
By APP
Islamabad : International Women’s Day will be marked tomorrow (March 8) throughout the world including Pakistan with specific focus on investing in the development of girls and women.
Various programmes including seminars, debates and walks will be organized to mark the day to acknowledge women’s achievements.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in his message on International Women’s Day urged the need to create mechanisms for tracking investments in gender equality.
Deported Pakistani student returns home
By IANS,
Islamabad : Another Pakistani student deported from Britain arrived at the Benazir International Airport here on Tuesday. Muhammad Ramadan, along with 10 other Pakistani students, was arrested by the British police on terror charges.
Nine of the arrested students were deported in April and the other in May.
Talking to the media at the airport, he said neither the Pakistani government nor Pakistan's High Commissioner to Britain Wajid Shamsul Hassan had done anything for the release of the arrested students.
Poll: Israeli FM will win Wednesday’s Kadima primary
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Two days before Israeli ruling Kadima party's leadership primary, a poll showed a landslide victory for Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni over her main opponent transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, local daily Ha'aretz reported Monday on its website.
According to the poll, conducted by a Ha'aretz-Dialogue and Channel 10, in the first round, Livni is expected to win 47 percent of the vote and Mofaz 28 percent, while Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit and Public Security Minister Avi Dichter would each get 6 percent.
Rich countries must help to achieve MDGs: UAE
By IANS
New York : Voicing concern over the lack of progress in achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has called upon the developed countries to honour their commitments.
Head of the UAE delegation Maitha Salem Alshamsi told a UN panel reviewing the progress of the MDGs that rich countries must fulfil their promises made during the millennium summit in 2000, WAM news agency reported Friday.
Two killed, 40 wounded in North Lebanon clashes
By NNN-KUNA,
Beirut : Two people have been killed and more than 40 were wounded in the clashes that broke out Wednesday morning between supporters of the majority and opposition in Bab Al-Tabbanah and Jabal Mohsen districts, in the northern city of Tripoli.
Security sources said that a woman died of a heart attack after a bomb fell close to her.
Many of the wounded have been taken to hospitals for treatment, they added.
Fierce clashes are ongoing, with light and medium weapons, and missiles being used.
Pakistan needs several years to curb militancy: US
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan needs several years to defeat Al Qaeda-linked terrorists operating in its tribal region along the Afghan border, the Pentagon has warned.
This apart, the peace talks between the Pakistani government and tribal militants will make it easier for terrorists to cross the border, the commander of the US forces in Afghanistan has warned.
"We are troubled by the negotiations and the possibility of yet another peace deal in the northwest," Dawn Sunday quoted Gen. Dan McNeill as saying in a dispatch from Washington.
President Medvedev congratulates Israel on Independence Day
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has sent a message to Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert congratulating them on Israel's 60th Independence Day, the Kremlin said on Thursday.
"Russia was one of the first [countries] to recognize Israel's independence, while Russian-Israeli relations have always been based on a solid foundation of mutual historic and cultural ties," the message said.
Pakistani President stresses on need to promote art, culture and tourism
By NNN-APP
Karachi : President Pervez Musharraf has emphasised the need of promoting art, culture, heritage and tourism.
He said this while speaking as chief guest at the First Convocation of the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) held at the Governor House here on Saturday evening.
The President also awarded diplomas to graduating students of the NAPA. Sindh Governor, Dr. Ishrat-ul- Ebad Khan and Caretaker Chief Minister, Justice (Retd) Abdul Qadir Halepota, were also present on the occasion.
US condemns Afghan bombings
By IANS,
Washington : The US strongly condemned the two suicide bombings in Afghanistan Tuesday that left at least 59 people dead and 154 others injured.
Egypt: Morsi supporters protest ahead of Sisi inauguration
Cairo: Supporters of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi staged several rallies around Egypt Friday, two days ahead of the expected inauguration of President-elect Abdel...
Suicide bomber kills 20, wounded 50 in Swat
By APP
Swat : At least 20 persons were killed and more than 50 wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a funeral procession of slain DSP Lakki Marwat, Javed Iqbal at Government High School No-2 Mingora on Friday night, police and hospital sources said.The District Hospital Saidu Sharif has received 20 bodies while more than 50 persons majority of whom in precarious conditions are being treated, an official of Saidu Shairf’s hospital said. He said there is possibility that the death toll may raise further.
Iraqi Shiites mark Ashura amid heavy security after clashes
By Xinhua
Baghdad : Tens of thousands of Iraqi Shiite Muslims rallied for a major religious ceremony of Ashura on Saturday amid heavy security measures after gunmen attacked pilgrims and security forces in two southern cities.
Baghdad : Tens of thousands of Iraqi Shiite Muslims rallied for a major religious ceremony of Ashura on Saturday amid heavy security measures after gunmen attacked pilgrims and security forces in two southern cities.
Scandinavia’s scarred Mr Dialogue
By Roger Cohen, CGNews,
Scandinavia does reasonableness well, even when faced with unreason. The Oslo Accords of 1993 were as close as Israelis and Palestinians have come to looking each other in the eye, admitting neither side is going away, and jettisoning a bitter past for a better future.
The mediation habit stayed with Norway, despite Oslo's collapse. Jonas Gahr Store, the Norwegian foreign minister, is a battle-hardened Mr. Dialogue. He took a personal terrorism course earlier this year while on a diplomatic mission to Afghanistan.
Nine Muslim Brotherhood supporters arrested in Egypt
Cairo: Police has arrested nine supporters of the banned Muslim Brotherhood group in an Egyptian city Saturday for blocking streets.
The suspects were nabbed for...
Arab League Committee to review human rights principles in Arab world
By NNN-KUNA,
Cairo : The Arab League's Human Rights Standing Committee has commenced its 25th session here with the participation of delegates representing member countries and Arab non-governmental organisations concerned with human rights issues.
UN chief calls for flexibility in n-talks with Iran
United Nations : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to urge for flexibility on the part of Tehran...
Bamyan residents fear return of Taliban
By DPA,
Bamyan (Afghanistan) : the more the West clings to the hope that negotiations with the Taliban could solve the conflict and bring within reach the withdrawal of the international troops.
While that idea, born out of sheer desperation, also gains support in Afghanistan, the plan triggers fear among the people in the central province of Bamyan.
There are few places where the Taliban are more hated then here. Hardly any other province suffered so much under the Taliban's murderous regime. And today, hardly any province is more peaceful.
Iran launches its first domestic satellite
By RIA Novosti,
Tehran : Iran carried into orbit its first domestically-produced satellite Tuesday, the country's national TV said.
The research satellite named Omid (Hope), which contains communications and digital equipment, was carried into orbit by a home-made launch vehicle, Safir (Messenger).
The launch was planned to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.
The Iranian satellite is due to orbit for up to three months before returning to Earth with data which will enable Iranian scientists to produce an operational satellite.
Jordan: PM opens meeting of global nuclear energy partnership
By NNN-Petra,
Amman : Prime Minister Nadir Dahabi said that Jordan, with its unique geographic location and historic role as a pillar of stability in the region, could serve as a model for developing nations for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, abiding by international rules and regulations.
Dahabi made his remarks in the opinion session of the second steering group meeting of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP), which is organized by US Department of Energy at the Dead Sea shores.
U.S. military admits killing 37 Afghan civilians in battling militants
By Zhang Yunlong, Xinhua,
Kabul : The U.S. military Saturday admitted it while responding to an insurgent ambush has killed 37 civilians and wounded 35 others in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar, a Taliban heartland.
Militants, who came in large numbers to Wech Baghtu village of Shah Wali Kot district, fired at a joint patrol of Afghan national security forces and the U.S.-led forces there Monday and then close air support was called in by the military to suppress the rebels, the U.S. forces said in report of a joint probe with Afghan government.
Jameel Ilyasi visits Israel
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi: Amidst Muslim world’s protest over Israeli aggression and killing of innocent Palestinians in Gaza Strip, Maulana Jameel Ilyasi, leader of the All India Association of Imams, made a trip to Israel.
India, UAE to set up labour grievance redressal cell
By IANS,
Dubai : India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will set up a grievance redressal mechanism soon to solve labour-related issues involving expatriate Indian workers in this Gulf nation.
This was agreed upon at a meeting between Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi and UAE Minister for Labour Saqr Gobash Saeed Gobash in Abu Dhabi Thursday, according to a statement issued by the Indian embassy in the UAE.
Two abducted Pakistani judges rescued
By IANS,
Islamabad : Two judges who were abducted from Pakistan's Balochistan province and kept hostage for nearly 10 days have been rescued, a media report said.
Death toll in Peshawar blast rises to 30, 140 wounded
By KUNA,
Islamabad : The death toll in Friday evening's car-bomb explosion in the northern Pakistani city of Peshawar has risen to 30, while nearly 140 were wounded, according to local authorities on Saturday.
A van parked in a lane outside the hotel in the congested locality of Kocha Risaldar near Qissa Khwani Bazaar of Peshawar, capital of North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), exploded Friday evening.
The great explosion caused a huge fire that engulfed scores of buildings in the narrow streets, making it difficult for rescue workers to move the injured and bodies trapped inside.
Four Afghan soldiers killed in blast
Kabul : At least four Afghan soldiers were killed and two others injured Sunday when a roadside bomb went off near their vehicle, an...
PFLP rejects extending Gaza ceasefire unilaterally by Hamas
By Xinhua,
Gaza : The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) on Monday said current ceasefire in the Gaza Strip should not be extended by a single Palestinian movement, referring to Islamic Hamas movement.
The remarks came as the Egyptian-brokered six-month ceasefire between Hamas and Israel will end in December.
"The PFLP calls for discussing this issue (the extension) in the framework of the Palestinian factions to get the lesson of the current lull which Israel works to turn it into own victory," said PFLP top official in Gaza, Kayed al-Ghoul.
Palestinian factions target Israeli forces in Gaza Strip
By KUNA
Gaza : Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade of Fatah, and the National Resistance Brigades of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), claimed responsibility Thursday for targeting two Israeli military vehicles in Gaza Strip.
A joint statement issued here said, "Members of those to factions launched earlier today two RPG missiles towards two Israeli vehicles stationed east of Al-Maghazi, central Gaza Strip".
"The two vehicles exploded," the statement added, and claimed that Israeli soldiers in the vehicle were severely injured.
Indian expatriate dies in UAE road accident
Abu Dhabi: An Indian expatriate died in a road accident in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after he reportedly lost control of his vehicle,...
Iran’s to[p nuclear negotiator holds contructive talks with Chinese FM
By NNN-IRNA
Beijing : Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili said here Thursday that he held constructive and positive talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.
Jalili, who is Iran's top nuclear negotiator, told IRNA in Beijing that the Chinese side welcomed the current cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
According to Jalili, Jiechi expressed hope that in light of such cooperation and resuming negotiations, Iran's nuclear case will be solved through peaceful means.
UAE embassy in Australia holds iftar
By IANS/WAM,
Gold Coast : The UAE embassy in Australia organised an iftar banquet for 1,500 Muslims in Queensland's Gold Coast city.
UAE varsity to host exhibition on research capabilities
By IANS,/WAM,
Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) Tuesday said it will hold an exhibition to showcase its educational and research capabilities.
Voting starts in Iran’s parliamentary elections
By Xinhua
Tehran : Iranians on Friday began voting in the country's eighth parliamentary elections in which conservatives are expected to retain their control of the legislature.
The polling stations opened at 8 a.m. (0430 GMT) Friday morning and were due to close at 6:00 p.m. (1430 GMT). But the deadline would be extended if there is heavy turnout, the state television reported.
According to Iranian interior ministry figures, about 4,500 candidates have been cleared to compete for the 290-seat legislature.
IS calls on ‘lone wolves’ to attack New York, Las Vegas
Washington: Authorities in New York City and Las Vegas have beefed up security at major tourist sites after the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group...
Every Iranian regime hostile to US: Obama
By DPA,
Washington : US President Barack Obama Tuesday said the differences between Iran's re-elected hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his reformist opponent Mir-Hossein Moussavi were minimal.
In an interview with CNBC, Obama made clear he would remain neutral on the outcome of Friday's elections not only because of the "tough diplomacy" that lies ahead on the nuclear issue, but also to deny a new regime in Tehran a justification for repression because the US was "meddling".
Regular missile tests maintain India-Pakistan status quo
By Abheet Singh Sethi,
New Delhi : Last month, India tested its indigenously-developed 3,000-km Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) Agni III, while Pakistan tested its...
Emaar Properties proposes 20 percent cash dividend
By Aroonim Bhuyan, IANS
Dubai : Real estate giant Emaar Properties, which is building the world's tallest building, the Burj Dubai, has proposed a cash dividend of 20 percent of the nominal value of shares to be ratified at its upcoming annual general meeting March 19.
"To achieve our Vision 2010 of being one of the most valuable companies in the world, the business must reinvest its resources for Emaar to continue its path to growth," Emaar Properties Chairman Mohamed Ali Alabbar said in a statement here Wednesday.
Toll in Libya’s Benghazi clashes rises to 356
Tripoli : At least 16 people were killed in violent clashes between Libyan army and militant groups in the city of Benghazi on Saturday, bringing death toll to 356 since the beginning of the violence about a month ago, sources said.
British judge names Pakistan as airline bomb terrorists get life
By IANS,
London : Naming Pakistan as the country from where they were "controlled", a British judge Monday sent three men to jail for life for plotting conspiracy to blow up liquid bombs on flights from Britain to North America.
Ringleader Abdulla Ahmed Ali, 28, was jailed for at least 40 years, plot "quartermaster" Assad Sarwar, 29, for at least 36 years and Tanvir Hussain, 28, for at least 32 years.
Defense chief: Gaza operation unlikely to end rocket attacks
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Sunday that even a large-scale military operation in Gaza Strip will not cease rocket attacks from the Hamas-ruled region.
The Egypt-mediated Gaza ceasefire, which went into effect in June, is effectively halting the barrages, Barak said in an interview with local TV Channel 10, adding that he hoped the truce would last for a year.
Yemen: government discuss seats allocation for women in councils
By NNN-SABA,
Sana'a : The Yemeni government discussed on Tuesday's meeting, headed by Prime Minister Ali Mujawar, the report on reviewing the study of COTA system to allocate seats for women in the elected councils.
The report, presented by Minister of Social and Labor Affairs, was referred to a ministerial committee for revision.
The cabinet affirmed its support to woman and the importance of expending the political participation of women in the elected councils with an average of 15 percent.
Kuwaitis vote for new parliament
By SPA,
Kuwait City : Voters in Kuwait lined up Saturday to vote in landmark parliamentary elections, the Associated Press reported.
The elections come after Kuwait's ruler, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, dissolved parliament in March in the wake of the current relationship between the Cabinet, appointed by the ruler, and the 50-man legislative body.
The hope is that the new parliament will be more representative and be able to better work with the government's ministers.
Kuwait first elected a parliament in 1963.
Enhanced Agreement on US Presence in Iraq
By Prensa Latina,
Baghdad : Iraq and the United States added some items to a legal framework agreement on US military presence in this Arab country, the local news agency Aswat al Iraq reported on Monday.
The news agency quoted the political chief of the Shiite community, Hassan al Saneed, who said, "Disagreement between Iraqi and US parties has decreased in a great extent and they have agreed in many issues."
Washington and Baghdad are holding talks to prioritize relations between the two countries in the alleged war against terrorism, launched by the incumbent US government.
Israel: Transfer of soldiers’ bodies unilateral move by Hezbollah
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office said Sunday that the transfer of the remains of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers killed in the Second Lebanon War is a unilateral move on the part of Hezbollah.
The International Committee of the Red Cross in Jerusalem confirmed that its representatives had received a box containing the remains of IDF soldiers at the Rosh Hanikra border crossing.
Pakistan Army helicopter crashes, eight killed
By DPA
Islamabad : A Pakistani Army helicopter crashed Wednesday in the country's northwest tribal areas, killing at least eight people aboard including a senior general, local reports said.
Among the dead was Major General Javed Sultan, a senior commander based in Kohat, six other officers and one enlisted man, DawnNews TV reported.
Major General Athar Abbas, the chief Army spokesman, told DawnNews that the chopper went down in the South Waziristan district of the North-West Frontier Province due to a technical fault.
54 Indian soldiers believed to be in Pakistani jails: Parrikar
New Delhi : At least 54 missing defence personnel of 1965 and 1971 wars are believed to be in custody in Pakistan, Defence Minister...
UAE to introduce new visa regime from Aug 1
By IANS,
Dubai : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has announced a new visa regime that will come into effect from Aug 1.
The UAE's Federal Naturalisation and Residency Department (FNRD) announced 16 types of visas under the new regime, which includes several new visa categories specifying the reasons for the visit.
Under the new rules, there will be two kinds of visit visas.
"Visit visas valid for 30 days will cost 500 dirhams ($136)," FNRD director general Lt. Gen. Mohammad Salem Al Khaili said while announcing the new system in Abu Dhabi.
Karzai, Gilani agree on ‘common strategy’ to fight terrorism
By IANS,
Colombo : Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani agreed to work out a "common strategy" to deal with extremism and terrorism, including across the borders, in a joint statement here Sunday.
Karzai and Gilani arrived at the decision during a breakfast meeting on the sidelines of the 15th SAARC summit here during which they exchanged views on "the common challenges facing the two countries in terms of dealing with terrorism and militancy".
Pakistani Taliban likely behind Danish embassy blast: officials
By AFP,
Islamabad : Pakistani Taliban militants likely carried out a suicide attack on the Danish embassy in Islamabad in revenge for controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, officials said Tuesday.
But the car bombing on Monday, which killed at least six people, was believed to be a one-off and would not scupper peace talks between the Islamist rebels and Pakistan's new government, a senior government official said.
Coalition forces eliminate 19 militants, arrest 3 more in E Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : The U.S.-led Coalition forces killed 19 armed militants and detained three suspected militants during multiple operations to disrupt the Haqqani, Taliban and al-Qaeda networks in eastern Afghanistan on Friday, said a Coalition statement released here on Saturday.
In Dara Noor district of Kunar province, Coalition forces targeted a known al-Qaeda leader, believed to facilitate the movement of foreign fighters and weapons into that area, the statement said.
Pilgrim influx benefits Madinah businesses
Madinah : The head of the Tourism Committee and member of Madinah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) said pilgrims are expected to spend SR24 billion in Madinah this Haj season.
PM: Israel ready for talks with Lebanon
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Tuesday that he would be happy to start peace talks with the Jewish state's northern neighbor Lebanon.
"I would be very happy if the Lebanese government would announce its interest in direct, bilateral talks with Israel. I see this as having many advantages," local daily the Jerusalem Post quoted him as saying at a cabinet meeting.
Syria to seek Arab consensus on Middle East conflict resolution
By IANS,
Damascus : Syrian President Bashar Al Assad during his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), beginning Sunday, would seek to build an Arab consensus on the implementation of a UN resolution to end the Middle East conflict, WAM news agency reported.
During his UAE visit which has been elaborately highlighted by the Syrian press, Al Assad, the current chairman of the Arab League, will work to cement inter-Arab ties with a view to unifying ranks and building common consensus on major Arab issues, WAM said quoting official Syrian news agency SANA.
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...
‘Cross-border crime up after Bangladesh Rifles mutiny’
By IANS,
Dhaka : Cross-border movement of criminals, and trafficking of illicit goods including small arms "increased alarmingly" in the days following February's mutiny by troopers of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), according to an internal security report.
National security is likely to be affected by the recent development, and trafficking of illegal weapons might rise taking advantage of it, The Daily Star said Friday, citing the report, submitted to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other high authorities of the government early April.
Tribesmen clash with Islamic militants, 20 dead
By DPA,
Islamabad : At least 20 people were killed and dozens injured in overnight clashes between tribesmen and followers of a radical cleric in a Pakistani tribal area bordering Afghanistan, media reports said.
The fighting between the militiamen of Lashkar Islami, or the Army of Islam, and the tribesmen began late Wednesday and continued Thursday morning in the Khyber Agency.
The groups targeted one another's positions in the mountains with rockets and mortar shells, Geo news channel reported.
Iran condemns Mideast sectarian disagreements
By Xinhua
Cairo : A visiting senior official of Iran on Thursday condemned sectarian disagreements in the Middle East and expressed its rejection to sedition between Sunnis and Shiites, the Egyptian MENA news agency reported.
Iranian Supreme Leader's Advisor Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri made the remarks after his talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
61 militants killed in Pakistan’s Khyber Agency
By IANS,
Islamabad : At least 61 militants have so far been killed by security forces in their operations against two banned organisations in Pakistan's Khyber Agency along the restive border with Afghanistan, an official said Monday.
Another 87 have have been arrested, Online news agency quoted Brigadier Fiaz, the commandant of the paramilitary Frontier Constabulary (FC) as telling reporters in Bara, one of the three administrative units of the Agency.
Hanged Pakistani prisoners faced 10 charges
Islamabad : Five of the six prisoners executed since Friday in Pakistan faced 10 different charges apart from being involved in the assassination attempt...