Sarkozy to visit Libya after Gaddafi’s capture
By IANS,
Paris : French President Nicolas Sarkozy will pay a visit to Libya as soon as possible, but only after the capture of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, a newspaper reported Friday.
Ethnic allegiance remains strong ahead of Afghanistan presidential elections
By Mohammad Reyaz,
“I have come here to visit the grave of our champion, the hero of Afghanistan,” says 25-year-old Haroon, at the half-built mausoleum of Ahmed Shah Masood in Panjsher. Haroon is a Tajik now settled in Kabul, who is unemployed and does not mince words in declaring that he will vote for Abdullah Abdullah, a close aide of Masood, in the April 5 presidential elections.
After Obama win, Arabs ready for change in Middle East
By Rasha Saad, DPA,
Cairo : In a region where the presence of the US cannot be more evident in political life, Egyptian political forces are hopeful that the victory of Barack Obama in the American presidential race will bring to their part of the world the "change" he vowed.
Essam al-Erian, a senior leader of the Muslim Brotherhood movement, described Obama's victory as "historical".
"Obama's victory is a historical moment for the US and can be historical for the whole world," al-Erian said.
A comprehensive documentation of India-UAE ties
By IANS,
(IANS Book Review)
Book: "India and the UAE: In Celebration of a Legendary Friendship"; Author: Venu Rajamony; Publisher: Indian Expressions Management Consultancy
Ties between India and the Arabian Gulf are now over 5,000 years old. The Gulf is today home to around five million expatriate Indians. Of them, around 1.5 million reside in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and their contribution to that country's development is well acknowledged.
After gang-sodomy, teenager set fire in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : A teenager died after he was sodomised by four men who then set him on fire in a village in Pakistan's Naushahro Feroze district in Sindh province.
ElBaradei reports “good progress” on settling Iranian nuclear dispute
Berlin, Feb 9, IRNA ,The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohammad ElBaradei on Saturday reported "good progress" on clarifying all outstanding issues and questions over Iran's nuclear program.
Addressing the Munich security conference in the south German city of Munich, ElBaradei said the next IAEA report will reflect this progress in the negotiations between the UN nuclear watchdog and Iran.
The IAEA chief urged "confidence-building" talks between the West and Iran.
He stressed confidence could only be restored through "direct talks."
Afghan actor killed in NATO air strike
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Prominent Afghan actor Nazar Mohammad Majnonyar Helmandi who starred in more than a dozen films has been killed in a NATO air strike in Afghanistan.
Over 80 killed in Bangladesh accidents
By IANS,
Dhaka : More than 30 people were killed in road accidents in Bangladesh during the Eid-ul-Azha festival rush Saturday while 53 died when an overloaded boat capsized, media reports said Sunday.
The toll in the boat accident at Bhola in the southern region touched 53 Sunday evening as rescue vessel M.V. Hamza reached the accident spot at Nizapur, 24 hours after the accident, Bdnews24.com website reported.
Some 103 passengers were still reported to be missing.
Let’s talk Kashmir
By Zohra Javed for TwoCircles.net
Kashmir has been constantly in the news in the past few weeks...not that it was out-of-news at any point in time, but some things that happened there in the recent past have brought it back to "Headlines.".
FM: New atmosphere created in Iran’s nuclear activities
By IRNA,
Kuala Lumpur : Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Saturday that a new atmosphere in Iran's nuclear activities has been created.
Mottaki made the remarks in an interview with Malaysian satellite TV channel Astro on Saturday.
The Iranian foreign minister is in Kuala Lumpur to attend the 11th foreign ministers meeting of the Eight Developing Countries (D8).
Peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities is not something new and dated back to 50 years ago, he said.
Bangladesh-India held meeting over killing of two Bangladesh soldiers
By NNN-BSS,
Rajshahi (Bangladesh) : An emergency Sector Commander level flag meeting between Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) was held Friday on Roghunathpur frontier in Shibganj of Chapainawabganj district after the killing of two BDR soldiers Thursday midnight.
The meeting took place adjacent to border pillar No. 4/4 from 2.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the wake of killing of the BDR personnel -- Havilder Hannan, 52, and Lance Nayek Krisna, 38, of Raghunathpuu BDR outpost.
Four killed in Bangladesh mall fire
By DPA,
Dhaka : At least four people were killed and 20 injured in a devastating fire at Basundhara City, Bangladesh's largest shopping mall, here Friday, officials said.
Firefighters recovered three charred bodies from the upper floors of the 21-storey building, in which the top five floors were destroyed, Tejgaon zone police chief Mahbubur Rahman said.
Earlier, a firefighter of the Basundhara group was killed and 20 people sustained burn injuries.
Nawaz party sets ‘precedent’, to support government from opposition
By IANS,
Islamabad : Holding that a "precedent" was being set, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said Thursday his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would not join the government but would support it from the opposition benches.
"We are setting the first-ever precedent from Opposition side to support the government," APP news agency quoted him as telling reporters after a meeting of the party's Central Working Committee (CWC) here.
Military decoration recommended for Kabul attack victims
By IANS,
New Delhi : The four Indians killed in the terror attack outside the Indian embassy in Kabul last week have been recommended for the Kirti Chakra, the country's second highest military decoration for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield, an official said.
The Four Indians - defence attaché Brig. R.D. Mehta, press counsellor V. Venkat Rao and security personnel Roop Singh and Ajai Pathania - were among the 54 people killed in the July 7 attack, in which about 140 people were injured.
Figures will prove Pakistanis, not Indians responsible for terrorism
By IANS,
Islamabad : If the correct facts and figures are presented in parliament, they will prove that Pakistanis themselves and not Indians are responsible for a rash of terror incident across the country, an editorial in a leading English daily contended Monday.
"Put the facts and figures and reports before parliament. Let the people's representatives see for themselves how often the evidence points towards the Baitullah Mehsuds and the Lashkar-i-Jhangvis and how often towards the Indians or Americans," Dawn said in the editorial, headlined "Shutting parliament out".
Terrorism is biggest threat to Pakistan: Gilani
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Friday termed terrorism as the biggest threat to the country and said his government was committed to eliminate this menace through "determination and courage".
"I want to reiterate that we are not scared of the terrorists. We will eliminate their oppression and barbarity through our determination and courage," Gilani said here at the flag hoisting ceremony on Pakistan's 63rd Independence Day, the APP new agency reported.
Pakistan, Britain to raise bilateral trade to $4 bn
By IANS,
London : Pakistan and Britain have launched a Trade and Investment Roadmap which aims to raise their bilateral trade to 2.5 billion pounds (over $4 billion) by 2015, Geo News reported.
Britain’s Labour party under fire over Pakistan ‘visa sham’
By IANS,
London : British anti-terror border controls were described as "wholly inadequate" after a newspaper revealed that only 29 out of 66,000 Pakistani immigration applicants were interviewed by British officials.
Visa checks on immigrants from Pakistan were condemned as a sham after the Daily Mail said official figures showed that just 29 out of 66,000 applicants were interviewed by officials since Britain put in place a supposedly rigorous system last October.
Bangladesh’s import orders slide
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh's imports plunged by nearly 14 percent in the first two months of the 2012-13 fiscal year, an official said Wednesday.
Sarkozy’s Syria visit to formalize top-level ties
By Jia Xiaohua, Xinhua,
Damascus : French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to start a two-day visit to Syria on Wednesday which would formalize normal relations between the two countries on the highest level after a freeze of political contacts for more than three years.
Historic Visit From The West
Syria's role in supporting reconciliation with Lebanon and its indirect peace talks with Israel helped facilitate Sarkozy's historic trip, which would further pull Damascus out of an international isolation it suffers for years.
Israel to summon 16,000 reserve troops
Jerusalem : The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) were Thursday instructed to summon 16,000 more reserve soldiers amid the ongoing operation in the Gaza Strip,...
Chinese delegation to visit Pakistan to explore investment opportunities in CNG
By APP
Beijing : The unremitting use and development of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in the country has convinced Chinese traders to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan.
One of the leading Chinese firms dealing in provision of all CNG related machineries and technical affairs is planning to send soon its senior technical officers delegation to Pakistan to hold business and technical meetings with their counterparts.
Pakistan extends jurisdiction of special courts
Islamabad : The Pakistan government in a meeting to review implementation of the anti-terror National Action Plan (NAP) Tuesday decided to extend the jurisdiction...
UAE launches paper recycling programme
By IANS/WAM,
Dubai : The UAE has launched a paper recycling programme to increase awareness on pollution and emphasise the importance of environment conservation.
Two leading business groups from the region -- Emirates General Petroleum Corporation "Emarat" and Emirates Environmental Working Group -- collected and recycled around 16 tonnes of paper waste from Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
Global powers discuss Iran at UN
By DPA,
New York : Foreign ministers from the world's major powers met Friday in New York to discuss Iran's controversial nuclear programme, according to German government sources.
The meeting of the UN Security Council's five permanent members - US, Russia, China, France, Britain - plus Germany comes after an earlier scheduled ministerial gathering to discuss sanctions had been cancelled.
France and the US have been pushing for another round of Security Council sanctions against Iran over its ongoing nuclear programme.
Imam’s killing is test for justice in Thailand: rights group
By DPA
Bangkok : The slaying and alleged torture of an imam by authorities in southern Thailand poses a "key test" for the country's justice system, deemed one of the causes of the cycle of violence in the area, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.
The New York-based human rights group said the death this month of Yapa Koseng has highlighted the broader problem of ill treatment of Muslims in Thai Army custody during operations against militants.
41 killed in Iraq airstrikes, clashes
Baghdad : At least 41 people were killed and 48 injured Tuesday in air strikes and clashes in Iraq's Salahudin province, an official said.
In...
Gulf-based scribe elected head of world Malayalee body
By IANS,
Dubai : Gulf-based journalist Soman Baby has been elected global chairman of the World Malayalee Council (WMC).
Baby, associate editor of Bahrain's Gulf Daily News, was elected to the post at WMC's sixth annual conference in Singapore Saturday.
Singapore President S.R. Nathan was the chief guest at the event, which was also attended by Kerala's Works and Housing Minister Binoy Viswam and Malayalee movie superstar Mammootty.
This is the first time that an Indian from the Gulf, home to a huge Malayalee population, has been elected as WMC global chairman.
Bahraini minister questions draft law banning expats from driving
Dubai : The constitutionality of the new controversial draft legislation that bars expatriates from driving in Bahrain is questionable, a minister said.
Bahrain's State Information...
Israeli war against Hamas scars Gaza’s children
By IINA,
Jebaliya : Surrounded by mountains of rubble that were once their homes, two dozen children sat on a rainbow-colored blanket and drew with crayons. They quickly filled the pages passed around by trauma counselors with pictures of Israeli tanks, dead bodies and Palestinians firing assault rifles scenes they saw when Israel's war on Hamas came into their neighborhood. “We felt we will die soon," 11-year-old Sharif Abed Rabbo told the group, describing his family's escape. “And I am sad I lost my house."
NATO fears Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan
By IANS/EFE,
Islamabad : NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen cautioned Wednesday that the Taliban could return to power in Afghanistan if the international forces leave the country before time.
"We cannot leave Afghanistan prematurely before we have finished our job, the Taliban would easily return... Afghanistan could again serve as a launching-pad of terrorist attacks," Rasmussen said here in a joint press conference with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Australian PM phones President Karzai over Afghan Governor’s death
By NNN-Bernama,
Melbourne : Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has called Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai over an incident involving Australian troops in which a district leader was killed, the Australian Associated Press (AAP) news agency has reported.
Chora district governor Rozi Khan was among those who died in a firefight involving coalition forces last week after his party was mistaken for Taliban insurgents.
Khan was an ally of Karzai, who Rudd telephoned on Saturday night to express concern about the incident.
Palestinian FM expresses hope for extension of Gaza truce to West Bank
By Xinhua,
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt : Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Riyadh al-Maliki on Saturday expressed his hope that the Egypt-brokered Gaza truce would last and be extended to West Bank.
Maliki made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of the second day of the two-day 13th ordinary session of the African Union (AU) Executive Council ahead of the AU Summit in the Egyptian Red Sea resort.
British Bombing Kills an Iraqi Baby
By Prensa Latina
Bagdhad : The British artilley shelled the southern Iraqi city of Basora, killing one woman and a baby, the Iraqi police reported on Wednesday.
According to the source, the British soldiers opened fire in response to a missile attack against the city's airport where they are being relocated prior to evacuation.
The police noted the rockets launched by the foreign troops also wounded four other children near the bullet-riddled house where the baby and the woman were killed.
Gunmen kill two in Syrian capital
By IANS,
Damascus : Unidentified armed groups fired multiple mortar shells in Damascus Sunday, killing two people and injuring others, Xinhua reported, citing pro-government media.
Air Arabia profits jump despite economic crisis
By IANS,
Sharjah: Air Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) based low-cost carrier, has reported a 21 percent increase in profits in the first half of 2009, the WAM news agency reported Saturday.
The airline announced its financial results for the period ending June 30, 2009, reporting a profit of $52 million, an increase of 21 percent compared to the same period in 2008. The company registered a turnover of $251 million during the period.
LeT militant killed in Jammu on eve of Antony visit
By IANS,
Jammu : A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant was killed in a gunbattle with the army in Jammu and Kashmir's mountainous border district of Poonch ahead of Defence Minister A.K. Antony's visit to the area Monday.
The incident took place Sunday evening when army troops laid a cordon in the forests near Mendhar, over 200 km northwest of here.
"After a brief exchange of fire, troops killed one LeT terrorist," said Brig. Gurdeep Singh, brigadier general staff of 16 Corps.
He said the identity of the militant was being established, but he is suspected to be a Pakistani.
Arab Justice Ministers urges differentiating terrorism, Islam
By KUNA,
Cairo : Arab Justice Ministers condemned Thursday all forms of terrorism and asserted importance of differentiating between terrorism and Islam.
The ministers, at the conclusion of their meeting here, called for the strengthening of cooperation between the Arab and countries around the world in the fight against terrorism.
They said that terrorism and Islam should not be linked together because Islam calls for forgiveness and rejects terrorism and extremism.
US-Afghan-Pak joint military center opened in E. Afghanistan
By IRNA
Islamabad : US military, Afghanistan and Pakistan have established the first joint intelligence center in Afghan eastern Nangarhar province close to Pakistani border in an effort to check militants' infiltration, an Afghan newspaper reported Sunday.
" US, Afghan and Pakistani officers opened the first of six joint military intelligence centers along the rocky Afghan-Pakistan border on Saturday," daily Outlook said.
Aimed at sharing intelligence information, the center was set up in Torkham border town linking Kabul with Islamabad.
Pakistan to have electronic media policy
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan, which has 85 channels, is formulating an electronic media policy, a minister said.
One police officer killed in clash in SE Turkey
By Xinhua
Ankara : One police officer was killed in a clash during raids on suspected al-Qaida cells in southeastern province of Gaziantep in Turkey, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported Thursday.
During the operation, four police officers were also injured in the raids that targeted three separate houses belonging to the radical Islamic group.
According to Anatolia, two people linked to the group were killed while 18 people were detained during the raids in Gaziantepand Kahramanmaras provinces.
UAE hails Palestinian reconciliation deal
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi : The United Arab Emirates has welcomed the reconciliation agreement between the Palestinian groups - Fatah and Hamas - and the consensus around the deal.
Incompetence aspect being looked into: Salman Bashir
By IANS,
Islamabad : The issue of whether Pakistan had been "incompetent" in the Osama bin Laden affair was being looked into, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said Thursday.
More To Be Done To Improve Education In Mid-east, North Africa
DUBAI, Feb 6 (Bernama) -- A new World Bank report said Middle East and North African (MENA) countries need to revamp their education systems to meet the demands of an increasingly competitive world and realise the potential of their large and growing youth population.
Qalibaf: Iran ready to reconstruct Baghdad
By NNN-IRNA
Baghdad : Visiting Tehran Mayor announced Iran's readiness to reconstruct Baghdad at a dinner party thrown in his honor by Head of Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution of Iraq, Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim.
According to IRNA in Baghdad, Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf while briefing the audience on grand plans conducted, or underway by Tehran Municipality, said, "Tehran Municipality is ready to cooperate with Baghdad Municipality in projects aimed at reconstruction of Baghdad, as soon as the required preparations would be made."
HC notice to Centre on banned Pakistan channels
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Wednesday asked the central government to respond to a petition that seeks adequate steps to stop the...
Egypt to reopen embassy in Baghdad only after verifying security progress
By NNN-KUNA,
Cairo : Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit said his country could reopen its embassy in Baghdad only after making sure of the improvement of the security situation in Iraq.
"It is illogical to send a diplomatic team there at a time when they could not go out of the embassy," Egypt's state-run Middle East News Agency (MENA) quoted the minister as saying during a preparatory meeting of the annual congress of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) here.
Earthquake jolts Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : An earthquake rocked parts of Pakistan, including capital Islamabad, early Sunday morning, a media report said.
According to met office, the tremors rattled upper and lower Dir, Swat, Bunir, Hangu, Malakand, Nowshera, Attock and Peshawar. The quake measured 6.2 on the Richter Scale.
The epicenter of the quake was somewhere in Afghanistan beneath Hindu Kush's mountainous region, Geo TV reported.
No loss of life or property was reported. People came out of their homes reciting verses from the Quran.
Pakistan Rangers raid MQM headquarters in Karachi
Islamabad : A heavy contingent of paramilitary Pakistan Rangers raided the headquarters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Karachi on Wednesday morning, prompting...
US delegation in Syria for talks
By DPA,
Damascus: A US military and political delegation arrived in Syria Wednesday for talks on the situation in Iraq and security in the region, two weeks after US Middle East special envoy George Mitchell's last visit to Damascus.
The six-member delegation, headed by Mitchell's assistant Frederic Hof and Michael Moeller of the US Central Command, discussed border security between Syria and Iraq and curbing the crossing of foreign fighters into Iraq.
OIC Secretary-General embarks on African tour
By NNN-KUNA
Riyadh : The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) secretariat has announced that Secretary-General Prof Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has left Jeddah heading to the African continent on a tour that will include a number of West African member states.
The secretariat said in a press release Sunday that the tour will include Senegal, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Nigeria, Gabon and Cameroon.
Pakistani beheaded in Saudi Arabia; 84 executions in 2015
Riyadh : Saudi Arabia on Sunday beheaded a Pakistani national convicted of drug trafficking, bringing to 84 the number of such executions in the...
Israel’s Ehud Barak to quit politics
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Tel Aviv : Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak Monday announced he was leaving politics and would not run in the January general elections.
Obama calls for stepping up pressure on Iran
By Xinhua,
Washington : U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama called on Monday for enhancing diplomatic pressures on Iran before Israel feels "cornered."
He was responding to a reporter's question whether Israel will bomb Iran's nuclear sites some time in the year during a campaign stop in Iowa.
Without a direct answer, Obama said he is committed to "tightening the screws diplomatically on Iran" once elected as president, before Israel feels that "its back is against the wall."
He acknowledged the Israeli position of not allowing Iran to have nukes.
Pakistan post employees form action committee to oppose privatization
By NNN-APP,
Islamabad : Newly formed Postal Action Committee for Anti-Privatization of the employees of Pakistan Post has vowed to launch a comprehensive campaign to oppose the privatization of Pakistan Post.
A meeting of the Postal Action Committee for Anti-Privatization having representation from different CBA unions including All Pakistan Postal Circle Regional Offices Employees Union held a meeting here Tuesday under the chairmanship of Syed Qurban Hussain Shah.
Mubarak’s daughters-in-law banned from leaving Egypt
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Cairo : Egypt's ministry of justice has imposed travel bans on two daughters-in-law of former president Hosni Mubarak, Al Ahram reported.
Bangladesh Inc backs Hasina’s ‘charter of change’
By IANS,
Dhaka : Captains of Bangladesh's trade and industry have hailed Sheikh Hasina's poll victory this week and want her to promote private sector for more jobs and higher exports.
Leaders of the country's chamber bodies and trade associations Thursday said in a joint statement that they were enthused by the Charter of Change - as she had called her poll manifesto last month - and want her to keep her promise of achieving a "digital Bangladesh".
UK Pakistan Christians for abolition of Blasphemy Law
By NNN-APP,
London : The British Pakistani Christians have called for the abolition of the Blasphemy Law saying that the act has been often misused against the minority community by the unscrupulous elements to cause law and order situation.
A delegation of Pakistan Christian Alliance Europe led by councillor James Shera, a former mayor of Central English town of Rugby, met Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan and senior officials of the chancery and expressed disquiet over the violence against the Christian community in Gojra.
Karzai backs Pakistan’s move to make peace with non-threatening Taliban
By APP,
New York : Stating that he was confident of the new Pakistan government’s “good intentions”, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has supported Islamabad’s move to make peace with the Taliban who do not pose any threat.
“But, he told a leading US newspaper, “if the deal is with those that are hard-core terrorists, Al Qaeda, and are bent upon sooner or later again causing damage to Pakistan, and to Afghanistan and to the rest of the world, then that’s wrong and we should definitely not do it.”
Boat carrying 97 people capsizes off Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur : A boat carrying 97 foreigners overturned about two nautical miles off the western coast of Malaysia, a media report said here...
Bangladesh opposition parties intensify anti-government stir
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh Sunday braced for another round of agitation by opposition parties who have re-united to demand the release of arrested top Islamist leaders.
Opposition leader and former prime minister Khaleda Zia Saturday night had a discussion with leaders of Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ), a conglomerate of Islamist parties and gave a five-day ultimatum to the government to release three top officials of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), the country's largest Islamist party.
Pakistani President Zardari holds important talks with Gordon Brown on Tuesday
By NNN-APP,
London : President Asif Ali Zardari and the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will engage in crucial talks here on Tuesday aimed at finding ways to diffuse the current explosive situation in Pakistan’s tribal region exacerbated by unprovoked US missiles firing.
This will be Brown’s first meeting with the newly elected democratic civilian President of Pakistan who is on private visit to the United Kingdom.
Etihad Airways launches non-stop service to South Korea
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : The UAE's national carrier Etihad Airways was Friday night set to commence a non-stop flight to Seoul, making it its first ever service to South Korea.
Ties with India not at cost of China or Pakistan: US
By Arun Kumar,
Washington : Denying suggestions that the US-India partnership was intended as a counterweight to China, a senior US official said its sole...
Abbas: we are ready to take up crossings
By NNN-WAFA
Ramallah : President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine confirmed that Jerusalem is the capital of the state of Palestinian and that the Palestinians will never give it up.
Pakistan, China sign MoU for military cooperation
By IRNA,
Islamabad : General Tariq Majid, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), along with a high powered delegation arrived in Beijing for 6th Round of Pakistan-China Defence and Security Talks, forum spearheading strategic and defence relations between 2 countries.
Drugs finance Taliban war machine, says UN drug tsar
By IRNA,
Tehran : The Afghan Opium Survey 2008 released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shows that opium has become less important to the Afghan economy due to a decrease in cultivation, production and prices.
However, opium finances the Taliban war economy and is a major source of revenue for criminal groups and terrorists, UN Information Center said.
Opium cultivation in 2008 declined 19% to 157,000 hectares.
MENA: Abbas, Mubarak to meet on developments in Palestinian territories
By Xinhua,
Cairo : Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who is due to arrive here Saturday afternoon, will meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, Egypt's official MENA news agency reported Friday.
Abbas would brief Mubarak his recent intensive meetings with U.S. President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington, as well as his meeting with President Vladimir Putin during his Moscow tour, Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Nabil Amr was quoted as saying.
Officials: Iraqi councilman kills Two U.S. soldiers
By SPA,
Baghdad, Iraq : An Iraqi city council member opened fire on U.S. forces outside Baghdad on Monday, killing two soldiers, U.S. officials said.
Two U.S. soldiers were killed in a small arms fire attack near Salman Pak early Monday afternoon, the U.S. military said in a statement. Three others soldiers and an interpreter were wounded, the statement said, which added that soldiers killed the gunman.
The attack happened as the soldiers were leaving the Salman Pak Nahia Council building, the military said.
Four NATO troops killed in Afghan crash
By IANS,
Kabul : A helicopter of NATO-led forces crashed in Sangin district of Helmand province in south Afghanistan Wednesday killing four soldiers, an official spokesman said.
"A copter of international troops crashed in Sangin district killing four aboard," Daud Ahmadi, spokesman for the provincial administration told Xinhua. He did not provide more details.
The military said four NATO troops were killed in the crash.
Cameron urges ex-Guantanamo detainee to provide information about IS
London: British Prime Minister David Cameron called Tuesday on former Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg to share any information he may have concerning Islamic State(IS).
Cameron...
US-brokered Mideast peace summit begins
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : As a US-brokered Middle East peace summit got underway here, US President Barack Obama urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to seize the "moment of opportunity" as such a chance may not come again soon.
He was "hopeful, cautiously hopeful" that the talks could achieve a two-state solution to the long-running Mideast conflict, said Obama sharing the stage with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the leaders of Egypt and Jordan.
Palestinian unity the only guarantee to regain rights – Syrian President
By NNN-SANA,
Damascus : President Bashar al-Assad has said that Syria considers the restoration of Palestinian national unity as the only guarantee through which the Palestinian people can regain their rights and boost the Palestinian stance at peace negotiations.
IAEA hopes for more access into Syrian nuclear programme
By NNN-KUNA,
Vienna : IAEA Director-General Mohamed El-Baradei has expressed hope that Syria will allow more investigations to be conducted on the Syrian nuclear programme.
Speaking at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting here Monday, El-Baradei said that Damascus must allow the agency's inspectors more access into the country's nuclear facilities.
Regarding the Libyan nuclear programme, El-Baradei affirmed that Tripoli allowed the IAEA to inspect the country's programme freely, adding that the agency would continue to conduct investigation into the matter.
Karzai: Several suspects arrested after Kabul attack
By SPA,
Kabul, Afghanistan : President Hamid Karzai says authorities have arrested several suspects in the Kabul ceremony attack.
Looking calm, Karzai appeared on national TV less than two hours after Sunday's attack and said everything is OK.
Karzai said the enemy of Afghanistan tried to disrupt the ceremony but were thwarted by security forces. He said several suspects were arrested.
Rice may visit Israel, Palestinian areas next month
By Xinhua
Washington : U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said here on Wednesday that she may visit Israel and the Palestinian territories in early March to help the two sides narrow their differences in peace talks.
Rice told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbaswere trying to continue peace talks "without much public glare" and the United States was doing everything it could to help.
Palestinian killed, others injured in Israeli attacks
By KUNA
Gaza : A Palestinian was killed and several others were injured on Sunday in Israeli air and ground attacks that targeted Palestinian houses in Jabaliya refugee camp, in northern Gaza Strip.
Local radios confirmed the attacks, and said that an Israeli incursion was executed, targeting Jabaliya refugee camp. The Israeli troops were backed with tanks, military vehicles and combat helicopters.
Palestinian medical sources expected an increase in causality numbers due to the serious injuries suffered by many Palestinians, who were admitted to hospitals.
Israel kills militant in West Bank
By Xinhua
Ramallah : A Palestinian militant was killed in Israeli army's operation in northern West Bank city of Tulkarem on Monday, Palestinian witnesses said.
They said that the slain was 25-year-old Ibraheem al-Basha, a commander from the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) movement.
More than 15 armored vehicles and a bulldozer stormed Tulkarem's eastern neighborhood of Thanaba, where al-Basha's house locates, witnesses said, adding that Israeli army exchanged fire with al-Basha after the latter refused to surrender.
Three suspected Indian spies arrested in Pakistan
By IANS,
Lahore : Three people allegedly working as agents of India's intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) have been arrested here, a media report said. The men were arrested from Baidian Road locality Saturday.
Fake identity cards, cameras, maps of cities and photographs were seized from the suspects, The Dawn reported Sunday.
The arrested men - identified as Muhammad Kamil, Sardar Ahmed and Muhammad Umer - worked for the Indian agency, the report quoted sources as saying.
OIC condemns Israeli attacks against Gaza residents
By NNN-SPA
Jedah : Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu strongly denounced the attacks launched by Israeli occupation against civilian Palestinians in Gaza Strip.
In a statement, he said this proves Israel's disregard of the international law and discipline and its determination to go ahead with its war crimes program and violation of Geneva 4th Agreement.
Saudi says oil must be kept for future generations
By NNN-IRNA
Riyadh : Saudi King Abdullah emphasized the importance of keeping part of the Kingdom's natural resources for the welfare of future generations, Saudi Press Agency said on Sunday.
"When new discoveries (of natural resources) were made, I told them. Leave them in the ground because our children and grandchildren will need them."
King Abdullah made his remarks while receiving several members of the National Society for Retirees, including its Chairman Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Ansari, at his palace in Riyadh.
Provincial assembly passes resolution against Musharraf
By IRNA,
Lahore : A no-confidence resolution was adopted against President Pervez Musharraf in the country's biggest provincial assembly, asking to take confidence vote, state TV reported.
A total of 321 members in the 371-member Punjab Assembly voted against President Musharraf and also asked him in the approved resolution to take confidence vote from the House as he had promised in the Supreme Court, PTV reported.
Only 25 members voted against the resolution, it said.
Around 30 members of Muslim League-Q party, which backs Musharraf, also voted against him.
Don’t stop investing in oil sector: UAE minister
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : Oil and gas producers in the Middle East should continue to invest in the industry despite the fall in oil prices across the world, according to the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Minister for Energy Mohammed Bin Dhaen Al Hamili.
"As you know, recent events in global financial markets have had a substantial impact on the oil industry," he said, while addressing the inaugural session of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec)-2008 here Monday.
Palestinian negotiator rules out statehood in 2008
By DPA
Ramallah (Palestine) : Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat Saturday ruled out announcing Palestinian statehood in 2008.
"In 2008, we expect a peace deal specifying the core final-status issues and how to begin dealing with them," he told reporters.
The Palestinian Authority, which renewed peace talks with Israel last month, is counting on a US role in pushing the slow negotiations.
Bangladesh’s electoral talks end inconclusive
By DPA,
Dhaka : The electoral talks between Bangladesh's military-backed government and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) ended inconclusive Tuesday with both sides stressing for further talks to settle their disagreements.
Both sides underscored the need to holding the Dec 18 election in a free, fair and credible manner, but failed to make any consensus on condition that the party proposed for a competitive election, including lifting of the state of emergency.
Malaysia deploys more assets in AirAsia flight search
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said Monday that six more assets had been deployed to assist the search operations for...
Heliborne troops land in Swat’s Taliban heartland
By IANS,
Islamabad : Heliborne troops of the Pakistani Army Tuesday landed in the heartland of the Swat Taliban in what seemed to be a final push against the militants, the military said.
"Heliborne troops have landed in Peochar," an army official was quoted as saying.
Peochar is the headquarters of Swat Taliban commander Maulana Fazlullah, the son-in-law of radical cleric Sufi Mohammad who had brokered a widely panned-peace deal with the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) government.
Islamic gathering on Quran and Sunnah to begin in Morocco today
By IINA
Rabat : The Fourth Gathering on the Holy Quran and Prophet's Tradition (Sunnah) is set to begin in Figuig, south of Oujda in eastern Morocco, today. The Rabat-based Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the World Islamic Call Society (WICS) have extended support for the conference, organized by the Abdel Wafi Association of Holy Quran, in cooperation with the Islamic Studies Branch of the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, at the Oujda Mohamed I University.
Anger at free Pakistan trip for bombers brother
By KUNA,
London : The brother of one of the men responsible for the July 7 terror attacks on the London transport system was given a free trip to Pakistan,- where the suicide bombers went to train, it was reported here Monday.
The man, who has not been named, was part of a group sent on the visit as part of efforts to improve cultural ties between the two countries, the domestic news agency the Press Association said.
Relatives of some of the 52 innocent victims, who today marked the third anniversary of the bombings, branded the trip "insensitive".
Malaysia launches Chinese-made trains
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysia Thursday launched four Chinese-made electric trains for urban public transport.
Cargo plane crashes in Karachi, eight dead
By IANS,
Karachi : A cargo plane crashed near Pakistan's Karachi airport early Sunday, killing all eight crew members on board, Geo TV reported.
Al-Assad talks of peace, stability and hope
By IANS,
New Delhi : Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Wednesday shared his agony arising out of “consecutive wars” in the Arab world, and hoped for early peace and stability in the region.
“Consecutive wars and ongoing conflicts, which continue to cause immense human suffering and violence, only strengthen our resolve to achieve peace and stability,” al-Assad told Indian and Syrian industry leaders here.
Al-Assad termed the gathering of business leaders from both countries “another testament to the flourishing relationship between the two countries and people”.
17 killed in Lebanese bus explosion
By Xinhua,
Beirut : At least 17 people, including 10 army soldiers, were killed and some 40 wounded in an explosion in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli Wednesday, LBC TV reported.
The blast occurred hours before Lebanese President Michel Suleiman's arrival in Syrian capital Damascus for talks that is expected to redefine ties between the two neighbours.
The explosives were placed near a bus station in the Banks Street in Tripoli, which is mostly used by soldiers to take the bus for their service posts, the reports said.
Boko Haram wants to swap kidnapped girls for jailed members
Abuja: Former Boko Haram negotiator, Shehu Sani has said the group plans to exchange the 300 kidnapped schoolgirls for its "comrades" in jails in...
Thirteen killed in mortar attack in Pakistan
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : At least 13 civilians were killed Monday when mortar shells hit some houses in Pakistan's tribal region, the military said.
The shells were fired by the militants in Dera Adam Khel in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), it said.
Locals said that a mortar hit at a girls' school building and when the people rushed to the school building for rescue, another mortar landed at the site, causing casualties.
Sudan expels head of Dutch MSF from Darfur
By AFP,
Khartoum : Sudanese authorities have expelled from Darfur the head of the Dutch branch of the charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in the south of the war-stricken region, a humanitarian source said on Wednesday.
"Banu Altanbas, who heads operations in Nyala (South Darfur), was ordered to leave Darfur immediately" by Sudan's Humanitarian Affairs Commission (HAC) on Sunday, the source told AFP, asking to remain anonymous.
Israel names judge to probe Gaza flotilla raid
By DPA,
Jerusalem : Israel will appoint retired Supreme Court Judge Yakov Tirkel to head a probe into Israel's seizure of flotilla carrying aid and pro-Palestinian activists to the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday.
He told a meeting of ministers of his Likud Party that details of the commission of inquiry had been coordinated with the US.
Israeli naval commandos seized the six-ship flotilla May 31. Five boats were seized without incident.
Pakistan: Presidential Candidate will be supported as per accord with PPP, says Nawaz
By NNN-APP,
Lahore : PML-N Chief Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif has said that his party, committed to agreements reached with PPP on 5th and 7th of this month, would support presidential candidate under these accords.
Expatriate Indians in UAE not hit by global meltdown
By Aroonim Bhuyan,IANS,
Abu Dhabi : Unlike Indian professionals in the US and Europe who are facing uncertain times because of the global financial crisis, expatriates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) do not appear to be in a similar predicament as the meltdown has had little impact on the region, Indian diplomats here said.
"We have not received a single complaint about (Indians) not being paid," India's Ambassador to the UAE Talmiz Ahmad said at a press conference here Thursday.
Attack on naval base exposes Pakistan’s grave security risks: Experts
By Sarwar Kashani, IANS,
Sigh of relief among Lebanese after announcement of Doha accord
By NNN-KUNA,
Beirut : The Lebanese are finally breathing at ease after their majority and opposition representatives announced an accord reached in the six-day Doha-sponsored national dialogue.
In remarks to KUNA, Taleb Salloum said he was overjoyed over the accord, "after the spark of civil war cost hundreds of lives and left many others injured."
"Such agreement would not have been possible without Arab, and more specifically Qatari, support and effort to surmount all obstacles and impediments," he noted.
Musharraf booked for judges’ house arrest
By IANS,
Islamabad : Acting swiftly on a court order, police here have booked former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf for ordering the house arrest of the Supreme Court judges he had sacked after declaring an emergency Nov 3, 2007.
The "unprecedented first in Pakistan's history" could "actually see" Musharraf land in prison "or at the minimum turn his stay abroad into a permanent exile", The News said Tuesday.
Pakistan girl torches herself after rapist gets bail
Islamabad : An 18-year-old girl in Pakistan immolated herself in protest against a police report which helped her alleged rapist obtain bail.
The girl sustained...
EU welcomes Morsi as Egypt’s new leader
Brussels, July 1 (IANS/RIA Novosti) European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has welcomed the inauguration of Mohamed Morsi as Egypt's new president.
19 Syrians killed in protests
By IANS,
Damascus : At least 19 Syrians were killed and 75 were wounded amid anti-government protests, state-run SANA news agency reported.
Two American Service members shot dead in Iraq
By SPA
Baghdad : The U.S. military said Saturday that an Iraqi soldier apparently shot dead two American service members while they were on a joint patrol north of Baghdad.
The two U.S. soldiers were «allegedly shot by an Iraqi soldier for reasons that are as yet unknown, the military said in a statement.
The shooting occurred as American and Iraqi soldiers were conducting operations to establish a combat outpost, the military said.
Three other U.S. soldiers and one civilian interpreter were wounded in the attack, the Associated Press reported.
Pakistani Taliban behind Gojra carnage, says Punjab governor
By IANS,
Gojra (Pakistan): The governor of Pakistan's Punjab province Tuesday said the militants from the Swat Valley are responsible for the communal clashes in this Pakistani city last week in which nine people, including six women, were killed and scores of others injured.
Speaking to the media here, Punjab Governor Salman Taseer said: "We strongly condemn Gojra carnage. Such heinous acts of violence and brutality are not an enriching sign for any one."
Syrian army kills 24 rebels
By IANS,
Damascus : As many as 24 rebels were killed Friday during clashes with Syrian troops in the country's central province of Homs, the...
Afghan army not good enough to thwart Al Qaeda, Taliban: Commander
By IANS,
London : Withdrawing British troops from Afghanistan will spark a "global jihad" and allow Al Qaeda and the Taliban to seize power, a top Afghan army commander has said.
Indian falls to death in Sharjah
By IANS,
Sharjah : An elderly Indian man fell to his death from a fifth floor balcony of a building in Sharjah, the Gulf News reported.
Over 40 Taliban militants killed in air strike in Afghanistan
By RIA Novosti
Kabul : An air strike carried out by U.S.-led NATO forces in Afghanistan has killed 41 Taliban militants in the south of the country, an Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.
International forces attacked Taliban militants in the Helmand province as they were travelling by motorcycle toward the Pakistan border.
The U.S.-led coalition could not confirm the attack, however, while NATO said they were looking into the report.
Pakistan fumes at IPL auction ignoring its cricketers
By IANS,
Islamabad: Pakistan erupted in a fury Tuesday after none of its 11 cricketers fielded for the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction were picked up, with Sports Minister Ejaz Jhakhrani speaking to his Indian counterpart but being told there was noting the government could do.
Disappointed Pakistani players and a section of the country's political establishment called it a "conspiracy" by India to keep out the Pakistanis from the cash-rich tournament.
Third Russian uranium shipment to Iran despite Israeli warnings
By DPA
Tehran : The third Russian fuel shipment arrived Friday at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran despite warnings by Israel.
Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni had Thursday warned in Moscow that Russian nuclear fuel deliveries to Iran could be used for military purposes, Interfax reported.
Addressing her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, she said Iran showed proof of "dangerous ideology, bordering on madness".
Germany to increase police trainers in Afghanistan
By KUNA,
Berlin : The German government decided to double the number of its police trainers and experts in Afghanistan from 60 to 120, an official press release said Thursday.
A joint press release issued by the German Interior Ministry and Foreign Ministry said that the decision was taken during a ministerial meeting headed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Wednesday.
The new decision, which will cost 170 million euros, would sustain security and stability and benefit the people in Afghanistan, it pointed out.
Israel Air Force gets new generation drone
By IANS,
Jerusalem : The Israel Air Force has added into its fleet a new generation drone designed to perform versatile operations.
The new unmanned plane "Eitan" which has been put into use is specially designed to perform versatile operations, said Captain Omer, deputy commander of a newly established squadron to operate the new drone.
Equipped with a turbo jet engine, "Eitan" is able to carry various payloads weighing up to hundreds of kilograms, Omer said.
A Pakistani industrial unit that has Rs.110 bn liability
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Pakistan Steel Mills, the country's largest public sector industrial unit, is burdened with liabilities totalling a stupendous Rs.110 billion (Rs.11,000 crore).
Bangladesh ferry death toll rises to 45
By SPA
Dhaka : Bangladeshi rescuers recovered six decomposed bodies from a river near the capital on Sunday where a crowded ferry sank last week, reuters quoted the police sources as saying. This will raise the death toll to 45 from the disaster.
The ferry carrying over 100 people sank in the Buriganga river on Thursday after it was hit by a vessel loaded with sand.
"Six more bodies, including two of children, have been recovered today," a police officer told reporters.
Israel to cut five percent of fuel supplies to Gaza
By NNN-KUNA
Gaza : Israel said it would after midnight Thursday be cutting fuel supplies to Gaza Strip by five percent per week, according to the Israeli radio.
It said the Israeli government approved the decision to trim oil supplies to Gaza because of continued rocket attacks by the Palestinian militants.
Hamas military wing, Izzuddin Al-Qassam brigades, said it fired two rockets at Israeli town of Sderot on Thursday night.
It said in a statement its fighters launched two "Qassam" rockets at the town east of Gaza.
McCain opposes military action against Pakistan, wants hard evidence
By IANS,
New Delhi : US Senator John McCain, the Republican candidate who lost the presidential race to Barack Obama, Tuesday said he was hopeful of Pakistan's cooperation with India in the Mumbai terrorist attack probe and opposed a military strike against Islamabad.
Underlining solidarity with India in the wake of the Nov 26 terror attacks, he said the US would not allow terrorists to provoke a confrontation between India and Pakistan.
Scotland Yard race row settled as Muslim officer departs
By DPA,
London : A potentially damaging legal row over allegations of racism in Britain's top police force was resolved with an out-of-court settlement Tuesday.
However, the agreement struck between Scotland Yard and Tarique Ghaffur, the man who made the allegations, also entails Ghaffur's departure from the service after 34 years.
Ghaffur, who was third-in-command at Scotland Yard and the force's most high-ranking Muslim officer, accused outgoing police chief Ian Blair of racial discrimination earlier this year and said he would take his case to an industrial tribunal.
Eight hostages freed at Pakistan Army HQ: Report
By Xinhua,
Rawalpindi : Eight hostages were freed late Saturday by militants who attacked the Pakistani Army headquarters here, killing six soldiers, a local TV channel reported.
Military spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said earlier that four to five militants were holding up to 15 security personnel and civilians inside a building near the army headquarters in this garrison city and the security forces were trying for their safe release.
Israeli army lifts curfew on West Bank village
By SPA,
Al-Quds city : Israel's army says it has lifted a two-day curfew on the West Bank village of Naalin.
The army imposed the curfew on Sunday after violent protests against Israel's West Bank separation barrier.
Naalin residents say the barrier will cut through their village land, the Associated Press reported.
The curfew prevented residents from leaving their homes or traveling in and out of their village. Journalists also were barred from entering.
No joint anti-terror operation with US: Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad: Pakistan has no plans to conduct a joint military operation with the US against the Taliban in the country, the army announced Friday.
Ruling coalition, PML-Q hold separate meetings
By APP,
Islamabad : Ruling coalition, PML-Q and PML-Q forward bloc held separate meetings prior to the presidential election here at the Parliament House on Saturday. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani chaired the joint parliamentary party meeting of all the coalition parties including PPP, JUI-F and ANP. MQM legislators also attended the meeting.
Later briefing the media, Izhar Amrohvi said that Prime Minister, in his address, had said that PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari would address the joint session of the Parliament, which was a Constitutional provision.
Pakistan arrests commander of group blamed for Mumbai attacks
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistani security forces have arrested operational commander of a banned group, blamed by India for Mumbai attacks, sources close to the group said on Monday.
India had blamed 'Lashkar-e-Taiba" for attacks in its commercial center, which killed nearly 180 people and injured over 300.
Lashkar-e-Taiba is using new name " Jamaat-ud-Daawa" after it was banned in 2002.
Five suspected terrorists killed in Karachi
Islamabad : Five suspected terrorists were killed on Wednesday in a security operation in Pakistan's port city of Karachi.
Acting on a tip-off, the Sindh...
Abu Dhabi firm launches portal on Arab women
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dubai: An Abu Dubai media company has launched a website solely dedicated to Arab women, the firm said Tuesday.
The anaZahra.com aims to reflect the lives, passions and pursuits of Arab women. It also hopes to offer greater interaction and create "a sense of community", it said.
The portal will deal with topics ranging from beauty, fashion, well being to society, personal empowerment and celebrity news.
Innovative digital tools enable a higher level of engagement and connection with audiences. The content is well defined, categorized and easy to navigate.
Preparations under way for Etisalat-Sharjah Water Festival
By IANS,
Sharjah : Preparations are under way for the Etisalat-Sharjah Water Festival, which kicks off Wednesday on the shore of Sharjah's Khalid Lagoon in United Arab Emirates, WAM news agency reported Tuesday.
The festival, which will run Dec 2-12, is one of the biggest family entertainment events in the region and coincides with the F1 Powerboat World Championship - Sharjah Grand Prix, being hosted by the emirate for the tenth year.
60 countries file nominations for Zayed Future Energy Prize
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : More than 350 nominations from over 60 countries have been received for the Zayed Future Energy Prize awarded by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), WAM news agency reported Tuesday.
The Zayed Future Energy Prize selection committee and jury will review the entries and the prize will be awarded Jan 19, 2010 during the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi.
Fazlallah says nature of Lebanese crisis political
By NNN-IRNA,
Beirut : Lebanese Shi'a source of jurisprudence Allameh Seyyed Muhammad-Hussain Fazlallah said here Friday current Lebanese crisis in neither religious, nor ethnic, but only political.
According to IRNA from Beirut, Fazlallah who was addressing the Friday Prayer worshipers at Hasanain Mosque in a southern Beirut suburb added, "Both the Muslim and the Christian religious leaders should take extreme care not to fall preys to the ethnic disputes."
Hasina tells doctors she is innocent
By IANS
Dhaka : Bangladesh's ailing former prime minister Sheikh Hasina underwent a medical check-up and told doctors she was innocent of corruption charges before she was sent back to jail, media reports said Friday.
This was her first medical check-up since she was detained on July 16 last year.
One of the doctors told The Daily Star newspaper that she spoke of being charged with false accusations in a bid to destroy her politically and exclude her from the next parliamentary polls.
Russian-Iranian trade turnover hits $3.7 bln
TEHRAN, February 20 (RIA Novosti) - Russian-Iranian trade turnover rose to $3.7 billion last year, Russia's deputy foreign minister said on Friday.
"We are delighted that trade turnover between our countries reached $3.7 billion last year. This is a significant figure, and one which is expected to be higher this year," Alexei Borodavkin said following scheduled talks between Russian and Iranian foreign ministry officials in the Iranian capital of Tehran.
Pakistan: President to launch Rs. 34 bln Benazir income support programme Thursday, says Minister...
By NNN-APP,
Islamabad : Benazir Income Support Programme initiated by federal government for the poor and vulnerable segments of society will be formally launched Thursday, said Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sherry Rehman.
Giving details about the programme at a press conference here on Wednesday, the Minister said President Asif Ali Zardari would inaugurate this historical programme for which the government had allocated Rs. 34 billion in the Budget 2008-09.