UAE zoo celebrates successful breeding of endangered gazelle
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi : The Al Ain Zoo in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has successfully bred Speke's gazelle, following the introduction of two...
Makkah imam urges Muslims to support Palestinians
By IINA,
Makkah : Sheikh Saud bin Ibrahim Al-Shuraim, imam of the Haram Mosque in Makkah, yesterday urged the world’s Muslim leaders to do whatever they can for the victory of their brethren in Gaza against the Israeli forces. “It is the responsibility of Muslim leaders, rulers, scholars and intellectuals...to do whatever is possible for the victory of their brethren in Gaza by extending all possible assistance,” the imam said in his Friday sermon.
Syrian envoy to UAE defects after wife joins rebels
By IANS/AKI,
Dubai : Syria's ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) defected Wednesday, a day after his wife, the Syrian envoy to Cyprus, announced she was joining the rebels.
Palestinian faction attacks several Israeli targets
By KUNA
Gaza : Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, claimed responsibility Saturday for targeting a number of Israeli locations.
In a statement, the brigades said its activists fired three locally-made "Sumood" missiles at Sderot, northeast of Beit Hanoun.
It added that seven 100mm mortar shells were launched at Erez and Nahel Oz, north and east of Gaza Strip respectively.
This attack is in response to Israel's violent acts against Palestinians, it said.
Israel arrests 28 Palestinians in West Bank raid
By Xinhua,
Ramallah : Israeli forces arrested 28 Palestinians in West Bank early Wednesday morning, Israeli and Palestinian security sources said.
The detentions took place in Jenin refugee camp, Nablus, Tulkarem, Bethlehem and Hebron during Israeli forces' raid in West Bank, the Palestinian sources said.
Five of the detainees were taken from Jenin, the sources said, adding that the Israeli soldiers broke into their houses, searched and arrested the men.
Syrian embassy in Doha goes to Syrian opposition
By IANS,
Doha : The Syrian embassy here was handed over to the Syrian opposition Wednesday, a day after Arab leaders granted the Damascus seat in the Arab League also to the opposition.
1.2 mn Bangladeshi officials want a pay hike
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh upgraded 17,000 police posts which led to hike in their salary, a move that has prompted 1.2 million government officials now to demand a similar upgrade.
‘Sharif was not informed of Kargil by Musharraf’
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Islamabad : President Pervez Musharraf's former aide, Lt. Gen (retd) Jamshed Gulzar Kiani, said Monday evening that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was not informed about the 1999 Kargil operation by Musharraf who was then army chief.
"I am not sure from where he (Sharif) came to know, but it wasn't through the army and the Kargil operation was kept secret from Nawaz Sharif," said the former general who was the corps commander of Rawalpindi, one of the most important posts in the army, under Musharraf when he was the chief of the army staff.
Bangladesh government announces new Grameen Bank chief
By IANS,
Dhaka : A woman official will be Grameen Bank's acting managing director, replacing Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the Bangladesh government announced Thursday.
Book Review: The Madrassah Challenge—Militancy and Religious Education in Pakistan
By Yoginder Sikand,
Book Review
Name of the Book: The Madrassah Challenge—Militancy and Religious Education in Pakistan
Author: C. Christine Fair
Publisher: United States Institute of Peace Press, Washington DC
Year: 2008
Pages: 143
Reviewed by: Yoginder Sikand
Hamas rebuffs call for resuming Mideast peace talks
By DPA,
Gaza : The Islamic Hamas movement ruling the Gaza Strip rejected Friday a call for Israelis and Palestinians to resume peace talks, with a spokesman saying it was "a new attempt to deceive our people".
The invitation was issued separately Friday by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the European Union. The Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation was set to meet later Friday night to discuss the official Palestinian response to the US and EU call.
Russia, Tunisia urge need to reaching political settlement in Mideast
By NNN-KUNA,
Moscow : Russia and Tunisia called on importance Wednesday for reaching a political settlement in the Middle East.
Russian and Tunisian foreign ministers, Sergei Lavrov and Abdulwahhab Abdullah respectively, said it was important to push forward the peace process on all tracks -- Palestinian, Syria and Lebanese -- and to activate the role of the quartet as well as re-establishing the Palestinian national unity.
Rain kills 46 in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : At least 46 people, including seven children, have been killed as late monsoon rains wreaked havoc in Pakistan, Geo News reported Monday.
Khaleda Zia gets bail after a year in prison
By IANS,
Dhaka : Former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia was Thursday freed on bail after more than a year in jail on charges of corruption.
A sessions court in Dhaka granted her bail for three months after several weeks of behind the scene negotiations between her and top officials of the current military-backed caretaker government, Star Online said.
While Zia, 63, was set to walk free, speculation persisted on whether her elder son Tarique Rahman, who had also been granted bail, would be freed soon to be able to go abroad for medical treatment.
141 dead, 4 mn homeless in Pakistan floods
By IANS,
Islamabad : At least 141 people have died and four million have been left homeless in floods that have hit southern Pakistan, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said.
Muslim ban was ‘just a suggestion’, says Trump
Washington : Republican party's presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump has demoted his proposed Muslim immigration ban to a mere "suggestion".
In a radio interview with...
Gunman shot dead eight people outside mosque north of Sanaa
By Xinhua,
Sana'a : An unidentified gunman shot dead at least eight people outside a village mosque north of the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Friday, local official sources said.
The incident, which occurred in a mosque in the village of Kahal in Amran province some 60 km north of Sanaa after Friday prayers, also wounded dozens of others, many seriously, according to the sources.
However, there are some other sources saying that five people were killed and 12 others wounded, 10 of them seriously.
Suicide bombing hits Afghanistan’s Herat city
Kabul : A suicide attack hit the Afghan city of Herat Monday, an official said.
The blast occurred in a locality near Herat airport when...
11 children killed in train-bus collision in Pakistan
By NNN-Bernama,
Islamabad : As many as 11 children were killed and several others injured on Wednesday as a train collided with a school bus in eastern Pakistan's Punjab province, according to China's Xinhua news agency quoting reports by local TV channels.
The school van carrying school children was completely damaged when it was hit by a train coming from western city of Quetta at the Railway Crossing Gate in Mian Channu, a city in Punjab, the private TV Express reported.
Most of the children were seriously injured and the driver died on the spot, police sources said.
Obama reaches out to Muslim nations with business exchanges
By IANS,
Washington: Keeping up his promise last year in Cairo, President Obama has announced plans to set up exchange programmes with business people throughout the Muslim world.
"The new beginning we seek is not only possible, it has already begun," Obama Monday told the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship with over 250 delegates from 50 countries, including six from India, attending.
US downplays differences with Pakistan over extremists
By IANS,
Washington : Downplaying differences with Pakistan over how to deal with extremists on Afghanistan's border, the United States says it would continue to work with Islamabad "as best we can to support them in their efforts to fight extremists."
"Well, for one thing, I don't talk about intelligence issues from here," State Department spokesman Robert A. Wood told reporters Wednesday when asked to comment about reports of tensions on security and intelligence issue after meetings between two US officials and Pakistani leadership.
Arab leaders warn Israel over belligerency
By IRNA
Cairo : Arab leaders said that Israel is sabotaging the Middle East peace process and warned they could withdraw their landmark offer of peace with Israel in exchange for a return of Arab lands, unless Israel explicitly accepts the initiative.
The warnings reflect increasing Arab impatience with the long-stalled peace process with Israel.
Peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians have bogged down since they were relaunched at the US-sponsored Annapolis peace conference last November after a seven-year hiatus.
New Iran site raises question about other secret locations: IAEA
By DPA,
Vienna: Iran's late declaration of a new nuclear site raises the question whether there are other still secret facilities, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Monday in its latest report on the Islamic state.
Iran informed the Vienna-based IAEA in September that it has been constructing an additional uranium enrichment plant in Fordu, 20 km north of the city of Qom. The plant is set to become operational in 2011.
The restricted report said that "Iran's delay in submitting such information to the Agency does not contribute to the building of confidence".
U.S. soldier dies in Iraq
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : One U.S. soldier has died of non-battle related cause in Baghdad, the U.S. military said on Sunday.
The incident took place on Saturday, a military statement said without providing further details.
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident, the statement said.
The latest death brings the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion to about 4,113, according to media count based on Pentagon figures.
Zardari wants early finalisation of engagement plan with EU
By IANS,
Islamabad : President Asif Ali Zardari has called for an early finalisation of a five-year engagement plan between Pakistan and the European Union.
Fitna’ pulled from Web
By IINA
Amsterdam : The controversial anti-Muslim film by Dutch right-wing politician Geert Wilders has been removed from the Web by its British Internet provider, which said its employees have been seriously threatened. "Following threats to our staff of a very serious nature and some ill-informed reports from certain corners of the British media that could directly lead to the harm of some of our staff, LiveLeak.com has been left with no other choice but to remove 'Fitna' from our servers," the company said.
Obama has Malaysian links through half-sister
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : US Democratic Party presidential candidate Barack Obama has Malaysian links through his half-sister, Maya Soetoro, who lives in America but is married to an academician of Malaysian origin.
Maya and Obama have the same mother - Ann Dunham, a white American cultural anthropologist. While Obama's father was Barack Obama Senior, a Kenyan, Maya's father Lolo Soetoro was an Indonesian businessman. She is married to Konrad Ng, whose parents hail from Malaysia.
NSA talks finally off, India says unfortunate
New Delhi/Islamabad: After going through several now-on, now-off moments, the NSA talks between India and Pakistan were finally called off on Saturday, with both...
11 killed in Afghan suicide attack
By IANS,
Kabul : At least 11 people, mostly schoochildren, were killed and 17 injured in Afghanistan's Paktia province Monday when a suicide bomber blew himself up.
Taliban releases video of German targeting US base
By DPA
Islamabad : The Taliban has released a videotape of the last statement by a German of Turkish origin who carried out a suicide bomb attack earlier this month on a US post in eastern Afghanistan, a Pakistan press report said Thursday.
German-born Cuneyt Ciftci, also known as Saad Abu Furkan, blew himself up in a delivery truck near a US base in the Sabari district of Khost province March 3, killing two soldiers with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and two Afghan workers. Six others were wounded.
Abbas-Bush talks decisive to push ahead peace efforts — spokesman
By KUNA
Gaza : The Palestinian Authority (PA) on Thursday highlighted the importance of the talks due on Thursday in Ramallah between President Mahmoud Abbas and US President George W. Bush for the Middle East peace process.
"The Palestinian side needs to see signals that what has been agreed upon in the Annapolis and Paris conferences is coming shape on the ground," Nabil Abu Redina told Voice of Palestine radio.
Zardari gets British assurance over US incursions
By IANS,
London : The British government has requested the Bush administration to seek Islamabad's permission before pursuing Al Qaeda terrorists hiding in Pakistan, the country's envoy to Britain said Wednesday.
Pakistani High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan's comments came after a 150-minute meeting between visiting Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, British Premier Gordon Brown and Foreign Minister David Miliband.
Yemeni president urges Arab states to keep attacking Houthis
Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt) : Yemeni President Abd Rabbou Mansour Hadi urged the Arab states on Saturday to continue their military operation against the Shia...
Myanmar deports 150 illegal immigrants
Bangkok: Authorities in Myanmar have repatriated 150 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants rescued from boats abandoned by human-traffickers, a media report said on Tuesday.
The illegals are...
Ladakh a delight for lovers of Israeli, Italian cuisine
By Shilpa Raina, IANS,
Leh : In Ladakh, do as most tourists do. Skip the momos and gorge on Israeli and Italian food. A first time traveller to this Ladakh capital may be surprised that many restaurants don't even have momos in the menu, as their owners concentrate on foreign tourists who skip local food for Israeli and Italian deliccies.
Taliban, Al Qaeda fight to death in Pakistan
By Nadeem Sarwar, DPA,
Islamabad : When thousands of Pakistani troops backed by tanks and artillery moved into Bajaur tribal district to retake a strategic checkpoint from Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters, many thought it would be a relatively easy walk for professional soldiers with huge fire power.
But the tenacious resistance the militants offered and the superb guerrilla warfare they used in the six-week pitched battles with government forces came as more than a surprise.
Taliban suicide blasts kill 5 in Afghanistan
By Zhang Yunlong, Shuai Rong, Xinhua
Kabul : Taliban militants in a suicide car blast killed one person and injured four others, all policemen, inKhost province of eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, the interior ministry said.
The attacker was trying to ram his explosive-laden vehicle to the district chief's building in Tani district of Khost when he detonated the bomb, the ministry said in a statement.
"The explosion occurred at around 11:45 a.m. local time killed the bomber himself and destroyed his vehicle also," a local police spokesman Wazir Badshah told Xinhua.
Pakistan-China time-tested friendship to be further strengthened: PM Gilani
By NNN-APP,
Islamabad : Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani wishing China and the Chinese people a lucky traditional new year, on Saturday hoped the bilateral relations between Pakistan and China will be further strengthened.
“Our friendship is now entering into many years and I wish this new year will add more strength to our relation,” Gilani said in an interview with the Chinese Xinhua News Agency.
He said with the two countries having multi-dimensional cooperations, the friendship between Pakistan and China is time-tested and long-standing.
Pilgrims arriving Madinah exceed 842,000
By SPA,
Madinah : According to a report released by the secretariat of the Hajj committee in Madinah, the number of pilgrims who arrived in Madianh up to yesterday amounted to 842035, while the number of the pilgrims who left the City up to yesterday amounted to 703053. This will make the remaining pilgrims in Madinah up to yesterday 138854.
The pilgrims included 19903 Indians, 17595 Pakistanis and 12411 Egyptians.
The number of the flights arriving at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport yesterday amounted to 33.
Abu Dhabi to have separate paths for cycling
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi will develop pathways for pedestrians and bicycles in a bid to improve transport options as well as the quality of life, officials said.
Canada Soldier Killed in Afghanistan
By Prensa Latina
Kabul : A Canadian soldier of the NATO-led forces died in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar, when a bomb hit the armored vehicle in which he was travelling, military sources said here Saturday.
A communique from the Canadian Defense Ministry said the number of dead Canadian soldiers since that country deployed its forces in Afghanistan in 2002 has increased to 82.
The deceased soldier was identified as Corporal Terry John Street, from Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.
Iranian FM visits Syria for talks on regional affairs
By Xinhua
Damascus : Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki arrived here on Saturday for talks with Syrian leader on regional affairs.
Iran's Charge d'Affaires in Syria Masoud Hosseinian told reporters that Mottaki, who returned from visits to several African countries, would have a short stop in Damascus. He did not elaborate.
Mottaki was expected to meet with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and his counterpart Walid al-Muallem, focusing on the latest developments on the Lebanese and the Palestinian arenas.
Geelani blasts jizia on Sikhs in Pakistan, terms it un-Islamic
By TwoCircles.net news desk
New Delhi: Separatist Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has condemned in strongest terms the practice by the Taliban in their occupied areas in Pakistan whereby they are enforcing Sikh minority to cough up huge amount in the name of jizia.
Palestinian negotiator calls for alternatives to peace talks
By Xinhua
Ramallah : Disappointed with the current Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, a Palestinian negotiator Tuesday called for finding new alternatives on the Palestine issue.
"I'm afraid that the Palestinian side is still so far from reaching an agreement with the Israeli side," said Yasser Abed Rabbo, who is also a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization's (PLO) executive committee.
Rabbo attributed the slow progress in the talks to the Israeli policies against the West Bank such as the building of "settlement, barrier and checkpoints".
Four killed in Pakistan blast
Islamabad :
Islamabad, April 25 (IANS) At least four people were killed and 30 injured in an explosion near a mosque in the Pakistani...
Bangladesh replaces judge hearing Khaleda Zia case
Dhaka : The Bangladesh government has appointed a new judge for the court trying graft cases against Khaleda Zia, chairperson of the country's main...
Istanbul mosque bomb threat turns out to be a hoax
By IANS,
Istanbul : A historic 16th century mosque in Istanbul received a bomb threat Friday that later turned out to be a hoax call, police said.
PM asks India to stop blaming Pak without evidence
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has asked India to stop blaming Pakistan without any evidence.
He said this while addressing at the meeting of the federal cabinet here on Saturday.
He said that Pakistan is ready for cooperating with India in investigating the Mumbai attacks as this is the need of the hour to cooperate with each other.
He said that the Indian government should not be made a toy in the hands of the militants.
Madinah Governor receives Minister of Agriculture
By SPA,
Madinah : Prince Abdulaziz bin Majid bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Madinah Region received here Tuesday evening Minister of Agriculture Dr. Fahd Abdulrahman Balghunaim, accompanied by Director General of the Branch of the Agriculture Ministry Salih Al-luhaidan.
During the meeting, the Governor was briefed on the Ministry's current and future projects and on objectives of the Ministry's seminar themed "Organic Farming: Hopes and Expectations".
Four die in Pakistan blast
By IANS,
Islamabad : Four people were killed and 11 injured Thursday in a huge explosion that rocked a market in Pakistan's northwest, a media report said.
Jordan on alert over Iraq violence
Amman : Jordan's Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said the security forces are on alert to protect the country from effects of the ongoing violence...
Canada plans to resume arms sale to Pakistan
By IANS,
Toronto : Canada has hinted at lifting its embargo on the sale of weapons to Pakistan.
Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay, who is currently in Pakistan, told a Canadian newspaper that his government might soon end its 11-year embargo on the sale of arms to Islamabad.
"Doing military business in the future, and trade in particular, is something that is under consideration," MacKay told the Toronto Star after his meeting with Pakistani President Asif Zardari.
Special envoys to Afghanistan-Pakistan meeting in Paris
By KUNA,
Paris : Special representatives from 27 countries involved in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region and in the conflict against the Taliban movement are meeting Wednesday afternoon in Paris to discuss the latest developments in the security and political arenas.
Media reports quoted officials here as saying that the meeting is taking place with the backdrop of the presidential election in Afghanistan and this country is to be the focal point of the talks here.
70 migrants drown off Yemen coast
Sanaa : At least 70 Ethiopian migrants drowned when their boat sank off the coast of Yemen, the interior ministry said Monday.
The accident was...
Nawaz Sharif coming to India on Modi’s invitation
Islamabad : Ending two days of speculation whether he will go to New Delhi or not, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Saturday confirmed he...
Pakistan to give military training to Afghan army
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Pakistan army will train the Afghan National Army and police under trilateral pacts signed at the 6th Trilateral Summit held in Istanbul, local media reported Friday.
Saudi Arabia to host summit to combat IS
Riyadh : Representatives from the US, Turkey and several Arab countries will meet this week in Saudi Arabia to discuss ways to combat the...
Six held in Yemen over fake claim of US embassy attack
By DPA,
Sanaa : Yemeni authorities have arrested six people believed to have issued statements claiming responsibility for the last week's car bombing against the US embassy in Sanaa, the defence ministry has said.
In a statement posted on its web site Sunday, the ministry said that among the detained suspects was a man identified as Abu al-Ghaith al-Yamani, who signed two statements claiming responsibility for the bombing, which killed 18 people, and threatening more attacks.
Pakistan fighting for survival against Taliban: Zardari
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan is fighting a war for its survival against the Taliban, who have a presence in large parts of the country, President Asif Ali Zardari has said.
"Taliban want to overtake the state of Pakistan," he told a US TV channel. "It is indispensable to halt rising influence of Taliban by using force as they desire to change our living style."
The interview will be broadcast Sunday.
Khaleda-led opposition returns to Bangladesh parliament
By IANS,
Dhaka : The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Monday joined the ninth parliament, ending its row of 17 working days with the speaker over seating arrangements in the house.
The party led by two-term former prime minister Khaleda Zia said it was joining the house following an assurance after prolonged negotiations from Speaker Abdul Hamid of "respectable seating arrangements in the House", Star Online reported.
Pakistan offers help to India in Mumbai terror probe
By IANS,
New Delhi/Islamabad : Condemning the terror strikes in Mumbai that killed over 125 people, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari Friday underlined that terrorism is "a global phenomenon" that requires joint action and offered assistance to India in investigating the incident.
“The people of Pakistan join you in mourning the loss of so many precious lives,” Zardari said in a letter to President Pratibha Patil.
In touch with Indians in Iraq: External affairs ministry
New Delhi : The government is in "regular touch" with the Indian nationals in Iraq and the 46 nurses who were trapped are safe,...
India summons Pakistan envoy over Lakhvi’s release
New Delhi : India summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit on Friday and lodged a strong protest against a court in Islamabad ordering the...
Israeli troops kill Palestinian in Gaza — medical sources
By KUNA,
Gaza : A Palestinian militant was killed early on Wednesday during an Israeli incursion in northern Gaza Strip, medical sources said.
"Israeli troops carried out an incursion at dawn into the eastern sectors of Jabaliyah town in northern Gaza Strip where they killed a Palestinian militant near the grave yard," a medical source said.
Gaza ceasefire from Thursday: report
By Xinhua,
Cairo : Israel, Palestinian Islamic movement Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza have agreed to an Egyptian-mediated truce from Thursday, the Egyptian MENA news agency reported Tuesday.
The two sides have agreed to implement the first stage of a reciprocal and simultaneous period of calm in the Gaza Strip from 6:00 a.m. Thursday, a senior Egyptian official was quoted by MENA as saying.
Egypt expressed the hope that both sides would adhere to the agreement, pledging continuing efforts with all parties concerned in support of the Palestinian cause, the report added.
Zardari, Fahim hold one-on-one meeting to resolve differences
By APP
Islamabad : Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) President Makhdoom Amin Fahim called on PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari at the latter’s- house Wednesday evening. The one-on-one meeting between the two leaders continued for two hours and they discussed options to diffuse tension created between the party leadership, sources said.
India axes talks over invite to separatists, Pakistan terms it setback
New Delhi : Taking a tough stand at Pakistan's engagement with Kashmiri separatist leaders, India Monday called off the Aug 25 foreign secretary-level talks,...
Lebanese opposition shies from renaming Hariri as premier
By DPA,
Beirut : Lebanon's Hezbollah-led opposition Tuesday refrained from renaming the head of the ruling majority, Saad Hariri, as prime minister on the first day of parliamentary consultations.
The head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Christian leader Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and also Hezbollah all said they had "reservations on renaming Hariri to become prime minister".
While Berri made no individual statement, Aoun said that differences with Hariri were "enormous".
Jordan’s parliament rejects calls to reduce king’s constitutional power
By IANS,
Amman : Jordan's lower house has said it absolutely rejects calls seeking downgrading constitutional authorities of King Abdullah II.
Palestinian attorney general says survives car bomb
By SPA,
Ramallah, West Bank : Palestinian Attorney General Ahmed al-Moghani said he survived an assassination attempt when his car exploded on Tuesday in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Palestinian security officials said they were investigating the incident.
Moghani, who was standing a few feet away from his car when it exploded, was not injured in the blast outside his house.
"This is an assassination attempt. I do not accuse anyone at this stage. The security forces have begun an investigation," Moghani told Reuters.
Iran, Afghanistan ink MoU to expand trade cooperation
By NNN-IRNA,
Tehran : The Trade Promotion Organisation of Iran (TPOI) and Afghanistan's Export Promotion Agency have signed a memorandum of understanding on expanding trade cooperation.
The Iran-Afghanistan trade exchange deal was inked by TPOI head Mehdi Ghazanfari and Afghan EPA chief Suleiman Fatemi here Monday.
Based on the agreement, Iran and Afghanistan are to exchange information, conduct marketing activities and promote trade cooperation in addition to holding training programmes, Ghazanfari said.
Militants seize 16 security personnel in Pakistan
By DPA,
Islamabad : Suspected pro-Taliban militants have abducted 16 security personnel in Pakistan's tribal area bordering Afghanistan, officials said Monday.
The law enforcers from tribal police, known as the Khasadar Force, were seized during a raid on two check posts by heavily armed militants in the tribal district of Khyber Agency late Sunday.
"The insurgents exchanged fire with the security forces for more than one hour. One Khasadar and two militants were injured," said Fazal Mehmud, an official of the semi-autonomous region's administration.
Female suicide bomber kills eight people in NE Baghdad
By Xinhua
Baghdad : A female suicide bomber blew herself up at a popular market in a town in Diyala province on Wednesday, killing at least eight people and wounding more than three others, a provincial police source said.
Istanbul to host new round of Syrian-Israeli talks next week
By NNN-KUNA,
Ankara : The indirect peace talks between Syria and Israel, being mediated by Turkey, will be resumed in Istanbul next week, local reports said here.
The talks will continue in camera to prevent any leakage to the mass media that could influence the course of the talks, CNN Turk TV channel reported Thursday.
The Syrian and Israeli negotiators agreed to resume the talks after reporting to their leaders on the results of the earlier talks.
Special courts not Pakistan army’s desire: Gen. Sharif
Islamabad : Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Gen. Raheel Sharif Friday said on Twitter that special courts are not the desire of the army,...
India exposes Pakistan’s ban on JuD, blames Mumbai attacks on ISI
By IANS,
New Delhi : Terming the organisers of the Mumbai and Kabul attacks as clients and creations of the ISI, India Thursday condemned the "licence" that banned terrorist outfits like Jamaat-ud-Dawa continue to enjoy in Pakistan.
"We have seen reports that representatives of terrorist groups Jaish-e-Muhammad, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Jamat-ud-Dawa participated in a public meeting yesterday at Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir," external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said here in response to a question.
Plea against ‘black warrants’ dismissed in Pakistan
Islamabad : An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Pakistan on Friday dismissed a petition against the "black warrants" of two convicts who had been sentenced...
Iran condemns blast in Kabul
By IRNA,
Tehran : Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini condemned terrorist act of explosion in front of India embassy in Kabul on Monday in which a number of innocent people were killed or injured.
New Malaysian Indian Congress chief next year
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) will have a change of guard next year, its longtime chief S. Samy Vellu has announced.
Vellu, who has been party chief since 1979 and is now in his 11th term, said he would make way for a successor in the third quarter of next year, well before his term ends in May 2012.
The new chief will lead the party, which claims to speak for Malaysia's 1.7 million ethnic Indians, into the next general election.
OIC adopts Jeddah declaration, seeks increased Islamic solidarity
Jeddah: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Thursday welcomed the Jeddah declaration, which seeks to strengthen economic and political solidarity among member states, the...
‘UAE committed to peaceful nuclear policy’
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) remains committed to peaceful use of nuclear energy, according to an official document released Sunday.
The document was presented by UAE's Centre of Information Affairs at the opening session of a symposium on "UAE Efforts in Peaceful Nuclear Energy", the official Emirates News Agency (WAM) said.
Analysing the UAE's policy on the evaluation and potential development of peaceful nuclear energy, the document said the Gulf nation had always called for non-proliferation of nuclear and mass destruction weapons.
Pakistan enhances security
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Islamabad : Security throughout Pakistan, particularly at government installations and foreign missions, was enhanced after a massive explosion here killed more than 60 people Saturday evening.
Sources in the interior ministry said all foreign and UN mission buildings in Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi and Quetta were provided additional security.
The already highly guarded Diplomatic Enclave in the capital was sealed after the blast and police commandos were seen around the area, only one and half kilometre from the blast spot.
Stop backing Afghan Taliban, Kabul warns Islamabad
Islamabad : In a sign that Afghanistan is rethinking its outreach efforts to Pakistan, President Ashraf Ghani has demanded that Islamabad end its longstanding...
More airstrikes in Gaza, Israelis to debate truce in Cairo
By DPA,
Gaza/Tel Aviv : Israel pressed on with both its air and ground offensive in Gaza Thursday as government officials were due to travel to Cairo to discuss Egyptian-French truce proposals.
Residents reported heavy shelling in the southern Gaza border town of Rafah overnight, as an Israeli military spokesman said Israel bombed another 15 smuggling tunnels running under the border with Egypt, as well as what he said was the house of a militant commander who oversaw the rocket attacks from the Rafah area at nearby Israeli targets.
Kuwaiti Investment Company buys stake in Pakistan’s biggest Islamic Bank
By NNN-KUNA,
Kuwait : Kuwait's Noor Financial Investment Company (Noor) has signed an agreement with Bahraini Shamel Bank acquiring 7 per cent of its stocks in Pakistan's Meezan Islamic Bank, Noor said in a statement here.
The company said Monday it bought 31.296,788 stocks, or 37 rupees (USD 0.864) per stock and totalling KD 4.579.850 million. (1 KD = USD 3.77).
The agreement also paved the way for the acquisition of the name Meezan Bank following approval by Pakistan's central bank which increased Noor's share to 41.6 from the total stock value.
‘Suicide nurseries’ of Pakistan turn children into bombers
By Nadeem Sarwar,DPA,
Tank (Pakistan) : Haneef Mehsud was a normal teenager who spent most of his time hanging out with friends and playing cricket before he was recruited by the Taliban and turned into a suicide bomber.
Less than a month after his 17th birthday, Haneef killed two soldiers when he rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into an army convoy in late 2008 on a road not far from his home in Pekai, a hamlet in the militancy-plagued South Waziristan region of northern Pakistan.
Pakistan to act against LeT; no n-deal, or US role in Kashmir
By Arun Kumar
Washington : Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif came to the US with a litany of complaints against India with the...
Afghanistan’s coldest winter kills over 900
By SPA
Kabul : The death toll from Afghanistan's harshest winter in recent living memory has hit 926, Reuters quoted an official as saying on Saturday, adding the figure could rise further as access to remote areas improves with the thawing of snow.
More than 316,000 cattle had perished since the onset of winter in mid December, Noor Padshah Kohistani of the National Disaster Management Commission said.
"The figure for human losses stands at 926 today. It could go higher, for roads have been reopened and we will find unreported fatalities," he said.
Pakistani court dismisses review petitions against Musharraf
By KUNA
Islamabad : The Supreme Court of Pakistan dismissed on Friday all review petitions challenging validation of President Pervez Musharraf's candidacy, over a monthlong emergency rule and proclamation of Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) during the period.
The petitions challenging Musharraf's candidacy as the next president of Pakistan has been major factor behind the imposition of emergency rule in the country on November 3 as the court ruling was expected to go against Musharraf.
Yemen, US, EC, Japan, Malaysia discuss piracy in region
By NNN-SABA,
Sana'a : Deputy Prime Minister for Security and Defense affairs Rashad al-Alimi held talks here on Wednesday with the ambassadors of US, European Commission (EC), Japan and Malaysia on the piracy phenomenon off the Somali coasts.
The meeting dealt with the risks of this phenomenon and its negative consequences and damages on the international navigation as well as impacts on the regional security.
Bangladesh raises petroleum prices
By IANS,
Dhaka : The Bangladesh government Sunday night raised prices of all petroleum products by five to eight taka per litre, the energy ministry said.
Israeli troops divide Gaza in two as incursion continues
By DPA,
Tel Aviv/Gaza : Israeli troops pushed further into the Gaza Strip Sunday, battling Palestinian gunmen and cutting the enclave in two as they deployed south of Gaza City and seized control of a major road.
An Israeli military spokesman said one soldier was killed and 31 wounded since the army first moved into the Gaza Strip Saturday night.
New Delhi reaches out to Bangladesh opposition leader
By IANS,
Dhaka : India's envoy to Bangladesh has met opposition leader Khaleda Zia to remove irritants caused by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's inability to meet her during a February visit.
Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty Thursday held a two-hour meeting with the former prime minister, the media reported Friday.
Mukherjee's failure to call on Zia during his brief and hectic visit here in February was criticised by the media.
Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon's trip to Dhaka earlier this month also came in for flak.
China for ‘constructive role’ in Iranian nuclear talks
By Xinhua,
Sanya (China) : China has expressed its willingness to play a "constructive role" in the negotiations on the Iranian nuclear crisis.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said his country respects Iran's nuclear programme meant for peaceful purposes and is willing to play a mediator's role in the talks to resolve the standoff.
UK advises next US president to offer more incentives to Iran
By IRNA,
London : A senior member of Britain's Conservative Party has recommended the next US president that he offer more incentives to Iran to help resolve the nuclear issue.
William Hague, who is UK's shadow foreign secretary, wrote in the "Daily Telegraph" on Sunday that while more incentives should be offered to Iran, the next US president should encourage European governments to present more sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
Art of Living says centre vandalised in Pakistan
Bangalore : The Art of Living (AoL) centre near Pakistan's capital Islamabad has been vandalised by unidentified gunmen, the city-based humanitarian and educational non-government...
Fourteen Palestinians killed in Gaza on Sunday
By NNN-KUNA
Gaza : Fourteen Palestinians were killed in the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip with 22 others injured on the second day of aggression on northern Gaza Sunday, a Palestinian medical official said.
Muaweya Hassanein, Director of Emergency at the Health Ministry, told KUNA the number of Palestinians killed by the Israeli attacks has reached 110.
He said around 340 Palestinians were injured and were now hospitalised in Gaza, which is being exposed to an unprecented offensive by the Israeli army.
Air force aircraft crashes in East Pakistan
By NNN-Xinhua,
Islamabad : An air force aircraft crashed in eastern Pakistan and casualties were feared, local TV channel Geo reported.
The F-7 aircraft came crashed on Thursday near Faisalabad, a city in the eastern Punjab province, said the report.
The aircraft took off from Risalpur in North West Frontier Province and came down ten minutes later.
The cause of the incident is not immediately known and a rescue team has rushed to the site of the crash.
Coalition forces kill 5 Taliban militants in central Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : The U.S.-led Coalition forces Sunday eliminated five armed Taliban militants in central Afghan province of Ghazni, said a Coalition statement released here on Monday.
The operation in Andar district of Ghazni targeted a known Taliban militant believed to have been in contact with foreign fighter facilitators intended to destabilize the region, the statement said.
"Coalition forces engaged the armed militants, killing them and the targeted Taliban militant was among those killed," it said.
Taliban halt talks as Pakistani troops kill 20 rebels
By DPA,
Islamabad : The Taliban suspended talks with the government Monday as paramilitary troops pushed deeper into Pakistan's restive north-western region, killing at least 20 militants, officials said.
The Frontier Corps launched an offensive in Lower Dir district of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) early Sunday after the Taliban began extending their authority in the region which was placed under Islamic sharia law this month as part of a peace pact.
Muslim clerics in Lebanon discuss situation in Gaza
By NNN-KUNA,
Beirut : Muslim scholars in Lebanon held here Saturday an emergency conference at Dar Al-Fatwa building at the invitation of the Mufti of Lebanon Sheikh Muhammad Rashid Qabbani to discuss the situation in Gaza including the atrocities committed against the Palestinians there.
The conference was attended by the representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Lebanon Abbas Zaki and the representative of Hamas in Lebanon Osama Hamdan.
Blix hopes Obama finds solution to Iran nuclear issue
By IANS,
Vienna : Former chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Hans Blix has expressed hope that new US President Barack Obama would find a peaceful solution to Iran’s nuclear issue, Iran's IRNA news agency reported Wednesday.
Addressing a symposium in the Swiss city of Interlaken Tuesday, Blix criticized former US president George W. Bush’s administration for its hostile approach towards Iran.
“The Bush administration avoided holding talks with Iran and chose ways of boycotting the country and positioning troops in the region," he said.
11 Palestinians arrested in raids across West Bank
Jerusalem : The Israeli military Tuesday said 11 Palestinians were detained in overnight raids across the West Bank.
The raids took place in the town...
Pakistan to import 1 million cotton bales from India
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistani spinners have finalised deals with Indian exporters for import of one million bales of cotton since cotton crop has been extensively damaged in the floods that ravaged the country.
Mohammad Akber, the vice-chairman of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), said: "The spinners are scouring cotton growing countries for importing the fiber on concerns of disruption to domestic supply chain."
Price rise causing food insecurity: UAE minister
By IANS,
Dubai : Soaring food prices have significantly contributed to the world's food insecurity, said Rashid Ahmed bin Fahd, UAE environment and water minister.
US officials says top Taliban leader’s capture a turning point
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : A top Afghan Taliban military leader's capture in Pakistan represents a turning point in the US-led war against the militants and is also potentially a strategic coup for Pakistan, US officials and analysts say.
The arrest of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar represents the most significant Taliban capture since the terrorist attacks of Sep 11, 2001, CNN cited a senior Obama administration official as saying Tuesday. Baradar has been a close associate of Osama bin Laden's and is seen as the No. 2 figure in the Afghan Taliban, behind Mullah Mohammed Omar.
Five killed in Afghanistan attack
Kabul: At least five people were killed and seven injured in an attack in Afghanistan, the authorities said Saturday.
A bomb targeted a car in...
Only Israel will decide when Gaza offensive ends: Minister
By DPA,
Tel Aviv/Gaza City : Only Israel will decide when it will stop its offensive in Gaza, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Monday, as the air force struck more targets in the strip and ground troops battled with militants on Gaza City's outskirts.
"I don't accept that in a war against terror the UN decides when to stop," Livni told Israel Radio Monday morning.
Israel when it takes care of itself does it best, she said defiantly.
Iran rejects UNSC’s criticism on n-programme
By IANS,
Tehran: Iran has rejected a UN Security Council statement calling Tehran's nuclear programme a threat to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Xinhua reported.
Syria, North Korea helped Iran’s nuclear programme: Report
By DPA,
Berlin : Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is having second thoughts about helping Iran with its controversial nuclear programme, German news magazine Der Spiegel reported Saturday, quoting unspecified intelligence reports.
The weekly said North Korea had also provided assistance to Iran at a Syrian facility bombed by Israeli warplanes in September 2007.
Experts believe the site at al-Kibar was used to produce nuclear material the Iranian regime needed to make a bomb, the magazine reported.
Taliban claims responsibility for Lahore attack
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack on a police training academy in Lahore Monday, a media report said Tuesday.
Baitullah Mehsud, leader of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, confirmed that his group carried out the attack but did not give details, said Geo News TV channel.
A group of heavily armed terrorists Monday stormed the police training academy near Lahore, killing at least 27 trainees and taking over 800 hostage before the security forces ended the eight-hour stand-off. Eight terrorists were killed and three were captured alive.
Hamas criticizes Egyptian statements over Palestinian reconciliation
By Xinhua
Gaza : The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Sunday rejected Egyptian statements which did not encourage the participation of Hamas in a Palestinian unity government.
Pakistani, Turkish air forces to conduct joint exercise
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : The air forces of Pakistan and Turkey will conduct joint exercises this month, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said Monday.
"The exercise would be conducted in Pakistan in 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.
A contingent of TuAF fighter aircraft and personnel would undertake joint planning and execution of various combat missions, said the statement.
Indian Club in Bahrain completes 100 years
Manama : An Indian expatriates' club in Bahrain celebrated its 100th anniversary Friday.
The Indian Club was originally established in 1915 as the Bahrain Sports...
Al-Naimi meets with new Sec Gen of Intl Energy Forum
By IRNA-SPA
Riyadh : Engineer Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, met here Tuesday with the new Secretary General of the Riyadh-based International Energy Forum Noe Van Hulst.
During the meeting, they discussed the progress of work at the IEF, its secretariat general and ways of upgrading the pace of its activities.
Also discussed were matters relating to the Ministerial Conference for Oil Producing and Consuming Countries scheduled for Rome, Italy, soon.
Israel to open Gaza crossings for humanitarian supplies
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israel has decided to open the border crossings with the Gaza Strip Friday morning for delivery of humanitarian aid, the Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.
The decision to reopen the border, which had largely been kept shut amid continuing rocket attacks from the Hamas-ruled enclave, came following internal consultations in the security establishment and requests from the international community, said the report.
Exhibition on Prophet’s life underway in Jeddah
By IINA,
Jeddah : An exhibition titled “In Support of the Prophet’ was kicked off at King Fahd Hospital here on Saturday. The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. Abdul Mon’em Hasan Al-Shaikh, general director general of the hospital.
The gender-segregated exhibition will remain open till Wednesday. The exhibition is aimed to educate people more about the illustrious biography of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in both languages, Arabic and English.
Hamas calls on Palestinians to abduct Israelis
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Gaza : A senior Hamas official has called on Palestinian militants to kidnap Israeli soldiers in order to exchange them for Palestinians captured by Israel.
UAE, Gambia discuss bilateral relations
By IANS/WAM,
Banjul: The United Arab Emitates (UAE) and west African country of Gambia have held talks over bilateral relations.
Jordan warns Israel against provocation in Jerusalem
By DPA,
Amman : Jordan Sunday warned Israeli police and religious radicals that further provocation in the compound that houses the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem would fuel violence in the region and jeopardise peace efforts.
Clashes between Israeli police and youths armed with rocks broke out Sunday at the Noble Sanctuary/Temple Mount compound where the mosque is located. The confrontation was apparently sparked by calls by radical Jewish clerics to their followers to go up to the compound, and by calls by radical Muslim clerics for their followers to defend the site.
Admiral Zakaullah takes charge as Pakistani Navy chief
Islamabad : Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah Tuesday assumed office as the Pakistani Navy chief at a ceremony held here.
Admiral Asif Sandila handed over command to...
Judicial panel to probe Baloch leader’s killing
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan has decided to set up a judicial commission to probe the killing of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti.
Nine killed in blast in Pakistan’s Peshawar
Islamabad : At least nine people were killed and 35 injured when a suicide bomber hit a police vehicle in Pakistan's Peshawar city Friday.
Superintendent...
Spokesman denies Mushararf considering resignation
By Xinhua
Islamabad : Pakistani presidential spokesman Rashid Qureshi Sunday denied report in the British Sunday Telegraph that Pervez Musharraf was considering stepping down as president of Pakistan rather than waiting to be forced out by his victorious opponents.
Iraq blamed for increased asylum seekers
By DPA
Geneva : A five-year downward trend in asylum applications in industrialized countries was reversed in 2007, mainly due to an increased number of Iraqis seeking asylum, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said in Geneva Tuesday.
Some 338,000 new applications for refugee status were submitted last year in 43 industrialized countries, up 10 percent compared to 2006, when 306,300 asylum claims were registered, the lowest number in 20 years.
A wedding at Cairo square
By IANS,
Cairo : Twitter was agog Sunday about a wedding that is to take place at Cairo's downtown Tahrir Square.
Islamic summit to approve OIC charter amendment — source
By KUNA
Dakar : The 11th Session of the Islamic Summit Conference will approve proposed amendments to the Charter of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), said an official source at the organization on Tuesday.
Requesting anonymity, the source told KUNA that the summit meeting will endorse the current name of the organization, and thus it would continue to be referred to as the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
Hasina pledges special package for trade, industry
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has renewed her government's pledge for "a special package" to help the country's trade and industry in the wake of global recession.
She told a meeting of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) to diversify their products and markets to cope with the situation, New Age newspaper said Monday.
"The government is closely watching the global market developments. We will provide all possible supports to continue exports and local productions," an FBCCI director quoted the PM as saying.
Jordan, Morocco to regular flights
By NNN-Petra,
Amman : Jordan and Morocco have agreed to operate three weekly regular air flights between the two countries to facilitate movement and boost tourism between them.
Minister of Transport Alaa Batayneh also agreed during talks with his Moroccan counterpart Karim Ghallab Tuesday to open a maritime line between Casablanca and Aqaba to facilitate the flow of goods between the two countries.
Four NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : Four soldiers of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) were killed and two injured while on patrol in the Helmand province of southern Afghanistan, the ISAF said Wednesday.
The ISAF did not give more details about the incident occurred Tuesday not it reveal the nationality of the soldiers killed. However, some reports reaching here said they were British soldiers, whose patrol vehicle was hit by a bomb blast.
Five Palestinians killed in Gaza
By DPA,
Gaza City : Israel killed five militants in two separate incidents in the Gaza Strip Tuesday, as Palestinian militias escalated their attacks a day after the Israeli navy killed nine pro-Palestinian activists in a raid on an aid flotilla bound for the blockaded enclave.
Two militants who tried to cross into Israel from the south of the Strip were shot dead by Israeli soldiers, after they were spotted crossing the heavily-patrolled border.
Residents of Israeli communities were ordered to remain in their homes and some roads in the area were also closed to traffic.
Jolie opens girls’ school in Afghanistan
By IANS,
New York,: Actress Angelina Jolie has set up a school for girls in Afghanistan, and it opens Monday.
The institution, which can accommodate upto 800 students, has eight classrooms. It is located at Tangi, reports usmagazine.com
Following a 2008 visit to a refugee settlement in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province, Jolie, named a Goodwill ambassador for the UN, donated $75,000 for the school's construction.
Kuwait Company to explore oil, gas in Pakistan
By NNN-KUNA
Kuwait : Kuwait Energy Co. and Pakistan's New Horizon have won a concession for exploring oil and gas in Pakistan.
Sara Akbar, deputy CEO of Kuwait Energy, told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that both companies would invest USD 9.5 million during the first three years of the exploration stage.
This investment will be used in the conduction of geological and geophysical studies and three-dimensional seismic surveys at an area of 150 square kilometers, and the digging of two exploratory wells, she said.