U.S. soldier dies in Iraq
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : An American soldier has died due to a non-combat related cause, the U.S. military said on Tuesday.
A soldier assigned to Multi-National Division - Baghdad died on Saturday, a military statement said without providing further details about the incident.
The name of the deceased soldier is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, it added.
The latest death brings the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion to over 4,080, according to media count based on Pentagon figures.
Blast kills six in Pakistan
By DPA,
Islamabad : An explosion tore through the house of a government employee in Pakistan's troubled Kurram tribal district Sunday, killing him and five other family members, an official said.
The blast occurred at the hone of Sarfraz Khan, a draftsman, in Sadda town, 35 km southeast of the district's main city of Parachinar.
Khan, his wife and four children died in the bombing, local official Saifullah said. One girl was also injured.
Seven new polio cases detected in Pakistan
Islamabad : This year's nationwide polio cases in Pakistan has touched 115 with the confirmation of seven new cases, a media report said.
Seven more...
Pakistan Air Force gets early warning system
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Tuesday received first Air borne early warning and control system (AEWACS), officials said.
The Saab-2000 system was formally inducted into PAF at a ceremony held at main air base in Kamra, some 40 kilometers northwest of Islamabad.
Pakistan Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman speaking on the occasion said Pakistan will get three more AWACS and the second one will be made available in 2011.
He said the SAAB system has the capability to detect anything flying in the year and moving on ground beyond a certain speed.
FM: Syria completes all preparations for Arab Summit
By Xinhua
Damascus : Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said on Tuesday that his country has completed all preparations for the Arab Summit which will be held in Damascus at the end of March.
Muallem made the remarks at a weekly cabinet meeting during which he briefed the ministers on regional and international developments, the official SANA news agency reported.
The Arab Summit will be held as scheduled in Damascus on March29 and 30. Syria had said all the Arab countries would be invited to the summit.
Russia may sell more air defense systems to Iran
By RIA Novosti,
Cape Town : Russia is negotiating the delivery of more air defense systems to Iran despite Western demands for a halt in sales to Tehran over its refusal to stop uranium enrichment, the head of Russia's arms exporter said Thursday.
"Contacts between our countries [on delivery of air defense systems] are continuing and we do not see any reason to suspend them," Rosoboronexport General Director Anatoly Isaikin told reporters at the Africa Aerospace & Defence-2008 (AAD-2008) exhibition near Cape Town in South Africa.
Bangladesh lawmaker booked for graft
By IANS,
Dhaka : A corruption case has been filed against a lawmaker of the ruling Awami League.
Israel escalates West Bank, Gaza Strip operations against wanted militants
By Xinhua
Ramallah : The Israeli military are escalating its operations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with an apparent purpose to arrest dozens of wanted Palestinian militants.
Israeli troops arrested 39 Palestinians during overnight and early morning raids across West Bank cities, Palestinian security sources said on Wednesday.
The detentions took place in the towns of Nablus, Hebron, Ramallah, Qalqilia and Jenin and the detainees were taken to Israeli interrogation facilities in West Bank settlements and Israeli army bases, according to the sources.
Apologise over 1971 killings, Bangladesh tells Pakistan
By IANS,
Dhaka : Pakistan must say sorry for the atrocities its army committed in Bangladesh in 1971, a minister said here.
Commerce Minister Faruk Khan said the Pakistan government must offer an apology for the atrocities its army committed in Bangladesh in 1971 if it wanted good relations with Dhaka, New Age newspaper reported.
"Without removing the irritants, it will be difficult to strengthen trade ties between the two countries," Faruk Khan said after his two-hour meeting with Pakistani envoy Ashraf Qureshi.
India hopes for violence-free Afghan run-off poll
By IANS,
New Delhi: Amid continuing uncertainty in Afghanistan following the decision to hold the Nov 7 run-off election, India Wednesday said it was hopeful that the electoral process would strengthen democracy and conclude in a violence-free atmosphere.
"It is our hope that the election process will strengthen democracy in Afghanistan and will be conducted in a violence-free atmosphere," external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash told reporters here.
Six NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan
By IANS,
Kabul: Six NATO soldiers have been shot dead in Afghanistan, of whom three were killed by an Afghan police officer.
Israeli army arrests Hamas military leader – radio
By KUNA
Gaza : The Israeli army arrested Hamas military leader Dawood Jaber early Wednesday morning, the Israeli radio reported.
The Israeli army spokesman told the radio, "The arrest of 6-year wanted suspect Dawood Jaber took place in Tolkarem, northern Gaza Strip." Israel accuses Jaber of plotting the suicidal bombing of Bark Hotel, five years ago, which resulted in the death of 30 Israelis.
Meanwhile in Gaza Strip, Palestinian Security sources said that militants killed the leader of Jaish Al-Islam (the army of Islam) after kidnapping him yesterday.
District intelligence chief killed in Afghanistan
By KUNA,
Kabul : Taliban militants have gunned a district chief of intelligence in southeastern Afghanistan, officials said on Tuesday.
Spokesman for the provincial government Khaibar Pashtun said chief of the national intelligence department of Alisher district of the country's southeastern Khost province was shot dead while on his way to his office.
He said the officer was killed this morning as armed men opened fire on his car, adding enemies of the country, the term Afghan officials use for Taliban, were responsible for the attack.
Blair expresses regret for Iraq war victims
By IANS,
London : Britain's former prime minister Tony Blair Friday expressed his regret for the death of soldiers and civilians in Iraq during the US-led invasion of that country.
Pakistani tribesmen, military kill 32 Taliban
By DPA,
Islamabad : A tribal militia and government forces killed at least 32 Islamic militants in separate actions in Pakistan's northwest region over a 24-hour period, a security official said Tuesday.
Local tribesmen in Ambar village of the tribal district of Mohmand Monday night asked Taliban guerrillas to leave their area, triggering an intense gunfight that continued through Tuesday morning.
"The clashes left 23 militants dead, while three tribesmen also suffered bullet wounds," the official said on condition of anonymity.
2 bombs attacks kill local police chief, 2 civilians in Pakistan
By SPA,
Peshawar, Pakistan : Police say two bomb attacks have killed a local police chief and two civilians in volatile northwestern Pakistan.
City police chief Ata Ullah said an area police chief, Khaista Khan, and his driver died Saturday in a blast near his vehicle in Peshawar.
He was quoted as saying by the Associated Press that the attack came about two hours after another roadside blast about 10 miles (15 kilometers) away that killed one civilian and wounded three others.
No Pakistan-India military standoff: Rice
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Islamabad : US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday she didn't see any Pakistan-India military standoff in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, as President Asif Ali Zardari promised to assist in the investigation into the strikes.
"The government will also take strong action against any Pakistani elements found involved in the attack," a statement from the presidential office quoted Zardari as telling Rice.
"Pakistan is determined to ensure that its territory is not used for any act of terrorism," Zardari told Rice.
Musharraf vows to support new government
By IRNA
Islamabad : President Pervez Musharraf Friday announced that he would support the new government and hoped that the new set up will continue his economic policies as well as fight against extremism and terrorism.
This is the first public statement of President Musharraf after the February parliamentary elections, won by his rivals: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and Pakistan Muslin League (PML-N) of opposition leader Nawaz Sharif.
Haj pilgrims must be vaccinated against seasonal flu: Saudi Arabia
By IANS,
Dubai : As a swine flu epidemic rages globally, Saudi Arabia has advised all pilgrims traveling for the Haj to vaccinate themselves against "seasonal human influenza".
"The Ministry of Health advises all pilgrims, whether arriving from outside or inside the Kingdom, to obtain the seasonal human influenza vaccine prior to their departure to perform Haj or Omrah rituals, especially those who are more exposed to the disease, such as the elderly and people suffering from chronic respiratory disorders, diabetes, or kidney, liver, or heart failure," a posting on its website said.
Brown to address Israeli Knesset
By NNN-IRNA,
London : The Israeli Ambassador to Britain Friday promoted Gordon Brown's first visit to the occupied territories as prime minister, saying that he will be the first UK leader to address the Knesset on Monday.
"The occasion reflects the fact that Israel's parliamentary tradition was inspired by Britain. It is fitting that, 150 years after the first Jewish MP took his seat at Westminster (parliament in London), Ron Prosor said.
PLO central council to meet on dismissing Hamas-held parliament
By Xinhua
Ramallah : The Palestinian Liberation Organization's (PLO) Central Council will meet Sunday evening to discuss dismissing the Hamas-dominated parliament and call for early elections.
"The central council has the right to dissolve the Legislative Council" because of the split between the Hamas-run Gaza Strip and the West Bank where Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement still dominant, said Akram al-Haimouni, a Fatah lawmaker.
Hyderabadi student shot dead in US
Hyderabad: A student from Hyderabad has been shot dead by unidentified gunman in the US, according to his family.
Sai Kiran Goud was killed by...
Israel cuts power supply to Gaza until rocket attacks stop
By KUNA
Gaza : The Israeli Army said Friday it will cut the power supply to the Gaza Strip until rocket attacks on the southern area of the Jewish state stop.
Army spokesman told Israel Radio that the Palestinians fired a large number of rockets and missiles at Israeli towns and military areas near Gaza Friday morning.
He said the attacks continued although Israel started cutting the power supply at midnight on Thursday.
Iran on verge of acquiring N-arms: Israeli PM
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow: Iran will be able to build nuclear weapons in six to seven months, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday.
Iran, Iraq reopen their main border crossing
By Xinhua,
Tehran : Iran and Iraq have reopened their main border crossing to facilitate the exchange of people's visits and regional cooperation, Iran's English-language Press TV reported on Thursday.
The reopening of the crossing at Khosravi of Iran's western province of Kermanshah took place after a closure of about two years, said the report.
India, Iran, Pakistan to discuss gas pipeline in July
By IANS,
New Delhi : India, Pakistan and Iran will meet next month to finalise the $7.4 billion tri-nation gas pipeline project, petroleum secretary M.S. Srinivasan said here Monday.
“The trilateral meeting of oil ministers of the three countries is most likely to take place in Tehran next month," Srinivasan told reporters.
He said transit issues with Pakistan were settled in April when Petroleum Minister Murli Deora visited Islamabad. “But there are a few issues with Iran, which our government wants to settle at the trilateral meeting in Tehran,” he added.
Suspected US drone attack kills 14 in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : At least 14 people have been killed in a suspected US drone attack on a Taliban training centre in northwestern Pakistan, the News reported Friday.
The late Thursday attack in Barjo village of the Kurram tribal district bordering the Afghan province of Khost also injured more than 40 people, mostly militants, the report said, quoting sources.
"The drone fired two Hellfire missiles on a house where local militants were residing," an official told the newspaper.
Pakistani court sentences three to death
By IANS,
Islamabad : An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan Monday sentenced three men to death for kidnapping and murder of a trader in Karachi.
Shujaat Ali,...
Four killed, 15 injured in Baghdad bombings
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : Four people were killed and 15 others injured when two roadside bombs struck an Iraqi police patrol in Baghdad on Tuesday morning, an Interior Ministry source said.
A roadside bomb detonated near a police patrol close to the Kendi Hospital in Nahdha area in central Baghdad, killing a policeman and a civilian and wounding five others, including two policemen, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
The blast also damaged two police vehicles, the source said.
Egyptian deputy PM resigns
By IANS,
Cairo : Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister Yehia el-Gamal resigned Tuesday, state-run Nile TV reported .
One killed in Karachi gas station blast
By IANS,
Islamabad : At least one person was killed and several injured in Pakistan's port city of Karachi Sunday morning after a cylinder explosion occurred at a CNG station, Geo News reported.
Protest processions mark day in Valley before the 3rd anniversary of hanging of Afzal...
By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Srinagar: A day before the third anniversary of hanging of Mohammad Afzal Guru, who was convicted and hanged...
Pakistani MP injured in parcel bomb blast
By IANS,
Karachi : A Pakistani parliamentarian and three members of his family were injured in a parcel bomb blast at his residence here Friday, police said.
Police said Yakub Bizenjo, his mother, brother and daughter were injured and had been admitted to hospital.
The parcel had been despatched from Bizenjo's Turbat constituency in Balochistan and was delivered to his Defence Phase-6 neighbourhood here by a transport company. It exploded while it was being opened, police said, advising people to be extremely careful while opening such packages.
Russia evacuates its citizens from Gaza
By RIA Novosti,
Erez Border Crossing (Gaza) : Russian diplomats completed Friday the evacuation of Russian citizens from the Gaza Strip, which has been hit by massive Israeli airstrikes since last Saturday.
A total of 101 Russian nationals and about 70 citizens of Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan and Belarus have crossed the border safely.
Russia retains stance on Syria after presidential poll
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia's stance on Syria has always been based on the principles of international law and it will not change, the foreign ministry said.
Suicide attack kills at least 80 in Afghanistan
By DPA
Kabul : An explosion rocked Kandahar city in southern Afghanistan Sunday, killing at least 80 people and injuring dozens, the provincial governor said.
"According to information from the hospitals, 60 bodies are there (hospitals) and another 20 dead were taken away by their relatives, so in total 80 people were killed," Assadullah Khalid told reporters in Kandahar.
The governor said a suicide bomber detonated his explosive jacket in the midst of a crowd gathered in the western part of the city to watch a dog-fighting competition.
Make corporates answerable: Bangladesh information chief
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh's Chief Information Officer (CIC) wants that the Right to Information Act be amended to cover corporate offices and MNCs operating in the country to effectively combat corruption.
According to CIC Muhammad Zamir, bringing them under the RTI's purview was essential to ensure transparency and accountability of business organisations.
GCC heavyweights can play effective role in peace process — Kouchner
By Abdelwaheb El-Gueyed, KUNA
Vienna : French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has affirmed the vital role that can be played by member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council namely Kuwait in promoting the peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Kouchner, interviewed on sidelines of an unofficial meeting held by the foreign ministers of the European Union near the Slovenian capital, that concluded late last week, said contribution of the GCC states in the peace process is not only a crucial issue but also very necessary for reaching the aspired stability in the region.
Russia wants airstrike deaths of Afghan civilians probed
By IANS,
Moscow : Afghan civilian deaths from airstrikes of NATO-led forces should be thoroughly investigated, a Russian foreign ministry official said Tuesday.
UN urges next Israeli government to stop settlements
By DPA,
New York : The next Israeli government should end the expansion of Jewish settlement in occupied Palestinian territories, a UN official said Thursday.
The statement came a day after Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni won leadership of the Kadima Party and before she begins negotiations to form a new coalition government.
Robert Serry, the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said in a meeting of the UN Security Council that decisive progress should be made in settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as negotiations are at a crossroad.
Bangladesh PM Hasina narrowly escapes blast
Dhaka: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday narrowly escaped a bomb blast which occurred in a Dhaka neighbourhood minutes after her convoy passed...
President special envoy confers with Kuwaiti Emir
By IRNA,
Kuwait city : President Ahmadinejad's special envoy conferred with Kuwaiti emir here Monday.
Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Sheikh Attar in a meeting with Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber as-Sabah discussed bilateral ties between the two countries, ways to expand it and international and regional developments.
Sheikh Attar also submitted president's invitation to Emir for paying a visit to Iran.
In the meeting, Iran's ambassador to Kuwait Ali Jannati and head of Foreign Ministry Persian Gulf bureau were present, too.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee demands OIC summit to discuss Israeli aggression
By SPA,
Islamabad : Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Friday strongly condemning the Israeli state terrorism against civilians in Palestine and urged the Muslim countries to immediately convene OIC summit to discuss the recent issue of Israeli attacks on Palestine, APP reported.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee in its meeting held here at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed also urged the United Nations Security Council to adopt resolution for immediate ceasefire by Israel.
World’s first oil paintings discovered in Afghanistan
By DPA,
Paris : Scientists using advanced methods to investigate cave paintings in the Afghan region of Bamiyan say they may have identified what could be the first images produced using oil pigments, the France-based European Synchroton Radiation Facility (ESRF) said Tuesday on its website.
The paintings were found in the caves located behind the site on which the Taliban destroyed two ancient Buddha statues. The caves had also suffered from damage by the Taliban and the environment.
IS militants shoot down military helicopter in Iraq
Baghdad: Militants of the Islamic State (IS) Sunni radical group shot down an Iraqi army helicopter and killed the two pilots aboard during clashes...
Muslim group break Ramadan fast with Irish LGBT community
Dublin : A Muslim group aimed at fostering peace and integration in Ireland has joined members of the country’s LGBT community to break fast...
Pakistan: Zardari moves into presidential palace, swering-in of Tuesday
By NNN-PTI,
Islamabad : Pakistan's President-elect Asif Ali Zardari today moved into the presidential palace, where he will be administered the oath of office as the new head of the state tomorrow and will be unveiling his "vision" to tackle the challenges facing the nation.
Zardari, 53, swept last week's presidential poll by bagging almost 70 per cent of the electoral college votes.
He will be sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice Abdul Hamid Dogar during a ceremony to be held in the Aiwan-e-Sadr (presidency) at 1 pm tomorrow.
UN nuclear chief hails “good progress” with Iran
By Xinhua
Munich, Germany : The UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei said Saturday that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been making "good progress" to solve Iran's nuclear crisis.
"Good progress" has been made in finishing the outstanding issues on Iran's controversial nuclear programs, ElBaradei told a group of high-profile diplomats at a key security conference in the southern German city of Munich.
ElBaradei is expected to issue a report around Feb. 20 on IAEA's inquiry into Iran's nuclear activities.
21 killed in Afghanistan
By DPA,
Kabul : Thirteen policemen, seven civilians and a soldier for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation were killed in separate attacks across Afghanistan, officials said Sunday.
The soldier with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was killed in an explosion in Lashkargah, the provincial capital of Helmand, while patrolling with Afghan forces.
A brief statement from NATO troops in Kabul confirmed the fatality, but did not provide details about the deceased's identity. Most of the soldiers based in Helmand are British.
Ruling on headscarf must be respected — Turkish chief of staff
By KUNA,
Istanbul : Turkish Chief of Staff, General Yasar Buyukanit, said Friday the constitutional court's annulment of the parliament's decision to allow Muslim women to wear the "hijab" (headscarf) at universities must be respected, reminding that the country was a secular, democratic state.
Yesterday, the Turkish constitutional court ruled out amendments ratified by parliament to lift the ban on wearing the headscarf at universities and educational institutions.
MPs voice concern at deterioration in UK-Afghan relations
By IRNA
London : An all-party group of MPs Thursday expressed concern about the recent deterioration in political relations between Afghanistan and the UK.
"We recognise that the civilian and military effort is entirely dependent on the goodwill of the Government and people of
Afghanistan," the International Development Committee said.
Migrant vulnerable to financial downturn: UN chief
By IRNA,
Tehran : The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that more than 200 million migrants are vulnerable to the financial downturn.
According to a press released issued by the UN Information Center in Tehran (UNIC), the secretary general made the remarks in a message on the International Migrants Day, 18 December.
15 Egyptian security members injured in clashes at Rafah crossing
By Xinhua
Cairo : About 15 Egyptian security force members were injured in clashes on Tuesday at the Rafah border crossing between Gaza Strip and Egypt when Palestinian protestors were trying to push their way to cross, the pan-Arab television Al-Jazeera reported.
US missile attack kills six in Pakistan
By DPA,
Islamabad : At least six people were killed and four injured Thursday when a US missile hit a militant hideout in Pakistan's tribal region along the Afghan border, officials said.
A local security official said a missile fired from a US drone hit a house in Mohammad Khel area, in tribal district of North Waziristan, considered a sanctuary for Al Qaeda and Taliban militants.
The house, which was demolished by the strike, belonged to Farman Daoud, who was known in the area for his links with Al Qaeda militants.
Some militants were believed to be among the killed.
2,800 killed in Pakistan’s northwest in nine years
By IANS,
Islamabad: At least 2,890 people were killed in the past nine years in 2,028 terror attacks in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said a government report Tuesday.
Book Musharraf over my father’s death: Baloch leader’s son
By IANS,
Islamabad : Jamil Bugti, son of late Baloch leader Akbar Bugti, has moved the Balochistan High Court seeking registration of a first information report (FIR) against former president Pervez Musharraf and four others over his father's death.
Jamil Bugti wants the complaint to be registered against Musharraf, former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, former Balochistan governor Owais Ahmed Ghani, former Balochistan chief minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf and former interior minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, Dawn website reported Tuesday.
How do we control these violent protests?
By Shafaque Alam
The anti-Islamic video circulating on the internet, followed by the offensive cartoons published in a French magazine, indicate a bad omen and a threat to the world peace.
Court extends former Bangladesh PM son’s parole
By IANS,
Dhaka : The Dhaka High Court has extended the parole of Bangladesh opposition leader Khaleda Zia's son, who is wanted in a number of corruption cases and is in Bangkok for medical treatment.
The high court Thursday extended till Oct 4 the parole for Arafat Rahman Koko, wanted in a number of graft cases here.
Refusing to extend his parole, the Sheikh Hasina government had asked Koko to 'surrender’ before a court by Aug 31.
The parole for Koko came amid street protests by activists of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) that is led by Zia.
Collateral damage being minimised in Swat: Army chief
By IANS,
Islamabad : The security forces are ensuring that collateral damage is minimised in their operations against the Taliban in Pakistan's troubled northwest, army chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani informed parliament Friday.
He gave the assurance during an in-camera briefing to a joint session of parliament on the operations in Swat and two other districts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) that began April 26 and have so far claimed the lives of close to 1,000 Taliban fighters.
Kayani had visited Swat Thursday to study the conduct of the operations.
Iranians Favour Logical, Fair Negotiations – President
By Bernama,
Qom : Iranians favours logical and fair negotiation instead of the current approach the bullying powers are practicing, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in the holy city of Qom on Wednesday.
Addressing a large group of local residents of city, located about 200km south of Tehran, he was quoted by the Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) as saying that any negotiation should be based on justice and should preserve essential interest and rights of the nations.
Sweden to host UN conference on Iraq
By NNN-Xinhua
Stockholm : Sweden will host an international conference on Iraq on May 29 in collaboration with Baghdad and the United Nations, Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said here.
It will be the first follow-up meeting after the launch of the five-year International Compact with Iraq (ICI) peace and development plan in Egypt last May, Bildt said at a briefing.
The one-day conference would focus on "international support, reconciliation and state building" in Iraq, Bildt said, emphasizing that the meeting would not be a donors conference.
National Assembly demands Benazir memorial
By IANS,
Islamabad : The National Assembly has passed a unanimous resolution asking the government to build a memorial to slain Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto at the site in Rawalpindi where she was assassinated on Dec 27 last year.
70 IS militants killed in US-led airstrikes in Syria
Beirut: At least 70 Islamic State (IS) Sunni extremist militants were killed and 300 more were wounded in airstrikes on Syrian territory launched by...
Fencing along India-Pakistan border almost complete: Centre
New Delhi : Nearly 2,000 km of fencing along the India-Pakistan border has been put in place even as cases of cross-border infiltration are...
Pakistan reels under power crisis
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan is plagued by a massive power crisis, with a shortfall of 7,500 MW, a media report said Friday.
Morsi’s jailbreak trial adjourned till Feb 24
By IANS,
Cairo: An Egyptian court Saturday postponed till Feb 24 the trial of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and 130 others for storming the...
Truck-Passenger Coach Collision kills 15 in Pakistan
By SPA
Islamabad : A truck-passenger coach collision killed at least fifteen persons and wounded several others in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Wednesday, police said.
The accident took place on the Kohat- Mitni road in Ladhavar Kanda area of Peshawar.
The injured persons were shifted to different hospitals of Peshawar.
Canada may end Afghan mission without NATO reinforcement
By Xinhua
Ottawa : Canada will have to end its military mission in Afghanistan if NATO does not assume a greater role in the country's volatile south, Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the French president by phone Tuesday.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy was the third foreign leader Harper had spoken to in the past week in an effort to rally NATO support for Canada's 2,500-plus troops fighting in and around Kandahar province.
Harper had previously called U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to discuss the issue.
Qatar telecom operator finds place in Guinness Book
By IANS,
Dubai : Qatar's leading telecommunications provider Qtel finds a mention in the latest edition of the Guinness Book of World Records for auctioning off the world's most expensive mobile number.
Though the auction took place two years ago, it finds mention only in the 2009 edition, scheduled for release worldwide Thursday.
The number 666-6666 was auctioned for a record 10 million Qatari riyals ($2.75 million according to then exchange rates).
Organization of the Islamic Conference backs separate Kosovo
By DPA
Riyadh : The Jeddah-based Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) declared its support for Kosovo's independence, viewing the move as an asset to the Muslim world, reports here said Tuesday.
"As we rejoice in this happy result, we declare our solidarity with and support for our brothers and sisters there," said Ekmeleddin Ihsangoglu, OIC Scretary General, according to a statement issued by the organization.
He added that the Islamic community hopes that Kosovo would successfully build a strong state capable of satisfying its people.
Lebanese president says not facing pressure on cabinet make-up
By Xinhua,
Beirut : Lebanon's newly-elected President Michel Suleiman said Wednesday that Lebanon is not facing any outside pressure during talks between political groups to form a cabinet.
"Apart from the highest national interest of Lebanon and the common interest of the Arab nations, nobody is able to exert pressure on the president," he said in a statement.
The president made the remarks following a report by local As Safir daily that the United States is demanding Western-backed Elias Murr be appointed Lebanese Defense Minister.
Arab parliament union denounces the Israeli aggression on Gaza
By KUNA
Cairo : Interim Arab Parliament Union President Mohammad Jassim al Sager denounced on Monday the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the killing of a great number of civilians.
In a statement circulated here, Sager criticised Israel's justifications for its invasion of Gaza, noting that the aggression is a genocide against the unarmed Palestinian people.
He underlined the necessity that the Palestinians cleared their internal rift and united their ranks in face of Israel.
Iran’s lawmakers call for severing ties with Denmark
By IANS
Tehran : Iranian lawmakers have demanded the government sever ties with Denmark to protest the republication of a controversial cartoon of Prophet Mohammed in Danish media, official IRNA news agency reported Monday.
In a letter, 16 legislators urged President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Sunday to snap both political and economic ties with Copenhagen to convey Iran's strong resentment over the "renewed insults by the Danish press against Islam", the official IRNA news agency reported.
Israel ups pressure on Hamas as fighting enters 19th day
By DPA,
Tel Aviv/Gaza : Israel appeared Wednesday to be increasing its pressure on Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip, as its air force attacked 60 targets in the salient overnight, bringing to 160 the number of airstrikes carried out in the past 24 hours.
A military spokesman said Wednesday morning that the latest targets included police headquarters in Gaza City, rocket launching sites, nine arms depots and 35 smuggling tunnels beneath the Gaza-Egyptian border, which Israel believes are used to bring weapons into the salient.
Why not 2011 instead of 2014 for Afghan exit, says UK MP
By IRNA,
London : One of Britain’s longest serving MPs has welcomed Defence Secretary Liam Fox setting 2014 for the withdrawal of UK troops from Afghanistan but questions why the date has not been set much earlier.
“It's good news. We have an exit date - of sorts,” said Labour MP Paul Flynn, who has been urging the British government to set out a withdrawal timetable for years.
Malaysian police seize 40 smuggled live pangolins
By DPA,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysian police seized 40 live pangolins believed to have been brought illegally out of Indonesia and headed for cooking pots in the country, a media report said Monday.
Six officers from the southern Johor state spent four days staking out a river popular with smugglers when they spotted two boats approaching the coast late Sunday.
Two men were then seen loading sacks of live pangolins into a car, before they realised they'd been discovered and immediately sped away, the Star online news portal reported.
Pakistan Police to donate salary for flood relief
By IANS,
Islamabad : Police in Pakistan's Sindh province will donate a day's salary to the flood affected families of police personnel in the region, a media report said Wednesday.
Obama reviews efforts to renew Pakistan ties: Daily
By IANS,
Islamabad : US President Barack Obama has reviewed with his national security team efforts to improve ties with Pakistan, a Pakistani daily reported Friday.
Three policemen killed in Pakistan firing
By IANS,
Islamabad: Unidentified gunmen Saturday opened fire at a police mobile unit in Pakistan's southwestern Quetta metropolis, killing at least three policemen, a media report said.
Preventive laws ‘unacceptable’, says Malaysian minister
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Striking a note at variance with his government's stance, a Malaysian minister agrees with the opposition and the legal fraternity that the Internal Security Act (ISA) is unacceptable.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Zaid Ibrahim, also a prominent lawyer, said: "I am against any unjust and harsh law, and ISA and OSA (Official Secrets Act) are unacceptable to me."
"In fact, I have stated my stand (on these laws) in my books," the de facto law minister of the country told the Nanyang Siang Pau newspaper.
Five soldiers killed in Pakistan suicide bombing
By DPA,
Islamabad : Five soldiers were killed Monday in a suicide bombing at an army check post in Pakistan's restive Swat valley, security officials said.
"A suicide bomber riding a red colour Mazda Datsun (mini truck) hit the post this morning near Gashkor village. Five soldiers were killed while five more troops and three civilians were injured in the attack," district police chief Dilawar Bangash said.
Colonel Nadeem Ahmad, army spokesman in the district, confirmed the incident and said the blast destroyed the security post.
Iran Condemns Bush Declarations
By Prensa Latina
Teheran : The Islamic Republic of Iran condemned US President George W. Bush declarations at NATO's Summit and considered them irrational and opportunist, affirmed an official source.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry's spokesman Seyyed Mohammad Ali Hoseini said that the statements from the current occupant of the White House over the Iranian ballistic potential are due to Washington's intentions to disturb stability in the region.
Nicaraguan president defends Iran nuclear programme
By IANS/EFE,
Managua : Daniel Ortega began his second consecutive five-year term as president of Nicaragua with a speech substantially devoted to defending the Iranian nuclear programme.
UNSC hails release of two abducted diplomats
United Nations: The UN Security Council (UNSC) Saturday welcomed the release of two Algerian diplomats abducted in northern Mali more than two years ago.
In...
Pro-Moussavi protestors in Iran demand new election
By DPA,
Tehran : Protests in favour of opposition leader Mir-Hossein Moussavi and against alleged electoral fraud were scheduled to continue Thursday in Tehran for the sixth consecutive day.
The pro-Moussavi network coordinating the demonstrations said that protestors would first gather in front of the UN office and then move to a square in downtown Tehran.
Moussavi also declared a day of mourning for the victims of the demonstrations. Between five and 12 people have reportedly been killed during the protests.
Indian man found dead at home in UAE
Dubai: An Indian expatriate was found dead in an apparent suicide at his room in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a media report said.
The...
Kazakh president comes to India Jan 23, n-deal on the way
By IANS,
New Delhi : India and Kazakhstan are set to invigorate their ties when they sign a nuclear pact and other economic agreements during the four-day visit of the energy-rich Central Asian country's President Nursultan Nazarbayev that begins Jan 23.
“The visit will further consolidate and provide fresh impetus to the bilateral relations,” the external affairs ministry said here Wednesday while announcing his visit.
This will be the fourth visit by Nazarbayev to India since 1992.
Indian fraternity volunteers serve sick Haj piligrims
By TCN News:
Mecca: India Fraternity Forum has deployed 250 volunteers to serve Hajis, who gathered in Arafa as part of haj performance on 20th...
Saddam’s biography may be released by year’s end
By DPA,
Amman : A biography of the executed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein is being drafted and could be released by the end of the year, his Amman-based lawyer Khalil Duleimi said Wednesday.
"I am writing down his memoirs and the biography could be published by the end of the year or early in 2009," Duleimi told DPA.
"The biography will be based mainly on 350-400 pages of memoirs that were written by the president himself in 2006 at his jail in
Baghdad as well as on verbal remarks I recorded during meetings with him in 2004 and 2005," he said.
Pakistan may buy new Sukhoi superjets
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Pakistan's Air Indus airline has shown interest in buying eight Sukhoi Superjet 100 airplanes, the Russian manufacturer said Wednesday.
British soldier killed in Afghanistan blast
By KUNA
London : A British soldier has been killed and a second injured in an attack in Afghanistan, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Monday.
The soldiers were on foot patrol in southern Afghanistan when they were caught in an explosion yesterday.
An MoD spokesman said "Yesterday evening the soldiers were taking part in a foot patrol near Kajaki, Helmand Province, when they were caught in an explosion".
Gen Y turns to religion more than older generation: study
By IANS
New Delhi, July 10 (IANS) Three out of four Indians pray at least once a day, says a study across 21 nations by a German research agency, adding young adults are more religious than is being assumed.
Surveying 21,000 people in 21 nations, the study released Thursday by the German Bertelsmann Foundation found that around 85 percent are religious and 14 percent are deeply so. Only 13 percent aren't religious.
World leaders at G8 summit call for Gaddafi to step down
By IANS,
Deauville (France): World leaders at the two-day G8 summit held in France issued a joint call Friday asking the embattled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to step down.
11 killed in mortar attack in Syria
Damascus : At least 11 people were killed and 50 others injured Monday when mortar shells slammed into areas of the northwestern Syrian province...
4 injured in bomb blast in NW Pakistan
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : At least four people were injured in a bomb blast in a town of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan on Wednesday, state media reported.
A remote control bomb exploded in a video shop in NWFP's Kohat bazaar, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted police as saying.
The four people injured were rushed to a local hospital for treatment.
No further details are available.
Kuwaiti parliamentary candidates call for development schemes, praise 5 constituency
By KUNA,
Kuwait : Second constituency candidate for scheduled parliamentary elections Mohammad Al-Mutair has called on the government to abide by explicit development schemes, and a fellow nominee from the third constituency, Abbas Bou Reden, praised the new five-constituency system.
Ban calls Israel and Hamas irresponsible
By DPA,
New York : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon late Wednesday delivered his strongest condemnation yet of the fighting between Israel and Hamas, saying both sides made use of weapons in an irresponsible manner.
A complexity of challenges faces new Pakistan prime minister
By C. Uday Bhaskar, IANS
Pakistan's long awaited tryst with truly participatory democracy has finally begun - but the challenges ahead are daunting.
Man kills six in Tehran over family dispute
By DPA,
Tehran : A 65-year-old Iranian man ran amok in a Tehran suburb, killing six people and injuring 11, state media reported Monday.
The man, identified only as Mohammad, shot and killed his wife, daughter and four witnesses - including two little boys - in Shahriar town Sunday evening, a local judiciary official told ISNA news agency.
The official said that the man displayed no evidence of being psychologically disturbed after his arrest and reportedly stated in his confession that he intended to kill four other people as well.
Suicide attacker kills 7 near Mosul
By SPA
Baghdad : The Iraqi military says a suicide bomber has attacked an Iraqi checkpoint near Mosul, killing seven people and wounding 12, AP reported.
The U.S. military confirms the Wednesday night attack but puts the casualty toll at five dead and 19 wounded.
The blast has occurred in the Addayah area about 30 kilometers (20 miles) west of Mosul while Iraqi soldiers were checking vehicles. The dead include a woman and a 5-year-old child.
Rehman Malik reviews Pakistan’s progress on 26/11 probe
By IANS,
Islamabad : Interior Minister Rehman Malik Tuesday reviewed the progress on Pakistan's probe into the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
"The meeting reviewed the reply from India conveyed in response to the queries of Pakistani investigators and decided that the material be examined by the ministry of law before taking any further action," an official statement said.
The review came on the day Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged Pakistan to show "visible results" in its probe if it wants to resume the composite dialogue with India.
China gives security scanners to Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad: China has provided two security scanners to Pakistan for installation in Islamabad and Rawalpindi as a part of a joint Safe City programme, a media report said Sunday.
Addressing the handover ceremony here Saturday, Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Lou Zhaohui said the scanners would enhance the capacity of the security forces.
Luo appreciated the efforts of the Pakistani government in providing security to over 10,000 Chinese engineers working on 122 different projects in the country, the People's Daily reported.
Red Cross says at least 4 killed in Beirut explosion
By Xinhua
Beirut : Lebanese Red Cross Committee announced that at least four people were killed and 20 others injured in a powerful explosion in a Christian neighborhood in Beirut on Friday, the official National News Agency reported.
The blast, which occurred at around 10 a.m. (0800 GMT), targeted a military vehicle in the Chevrolet neighborhood northeast of Beirut.
India-Pakistan talks on Chenab water controversy begin
By NNN-PTI,
New Delhi : Indus Water Commissioners of India and Pakistan met here today in the backdrop of Islamabad's allegations that New Delhi had blocked Chenab river water flow affecting cultivation in that country.
In the two-day talks which began this morning, Pakistan is expected to seek compensation for the alleged blockage.
Indus Water Commissioner G Ranganathan and his Pakistani counterpart Syed Jamaat Ali Shah will discuss ways in which such controversies could be averted.
F.N. Souza’s painting fetches $380,000 in Dubai sale
By Uma Nair, IANS
Dubai : New York-based F.N. Souza's 1955 work "The Elder" sold at an estimated value of $240,000-300,000, one of the highlights of the Bonham's Dubai auction, at the Royal Mirage Hotel, sold for $380,000, excluding buyer's premium and tax.
Founder of India's Progressive Artists' movement in 1947, Souza is renowned worldwide as an articulate genius, augmenting his disturbing and powerful canvases with his sharp, stylish and provocative prose.
UAE denounces Iran mosque bombing
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has denounced the bombing of an Iranian mosque which killed at least eight people, WAM news agency reported Sunday.
Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan condemned Saturday's blast in a mosque in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz as a despicable terror attack.
"The United Arab Emirates strongly condemns this despicable act of cowardice by terrorists. We are confident that the Iranian authorities will find the culprits and bring them to justice," he said.
Bangladesh govt holds dialogue with business community
By NNN-BSS,
Dhaka : There is no room for confusion about holding general elections in the country by December next as the government is determined to hold the polls according to its announced roadmap.
Quoting Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, Education and Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said this at a joint press briefing at the Chief Adviser's Office on Tuesday after dialogue with the business community.
Pakistan, Iraq to increase defence cooperation
By IANS,
Rawalpindi : Pakistan and Iraq Tuesday agreed to increase their defence and military-to-military cooperation.
The decision was taken at a meeting between a five-member Iraqi defence delegation led by Maj Gen Abbas Mohammad Fizaa, the director of military training, and Pakistan's defence secretary, Lt Gen Syed Athar Ali, an official statement said.
During the meeting, matters related to enhancement of defence cooperation between the two countries were discussed at length.
World Water Forum opens in Turkey
By Xinhua,
Istanbul : The fifth World Water Forum kicked off Monday in Turkey's largest city of Istanbul, aimed to facilitate solutions to the world's water problems and promote cooperation.
The future of vital water resources "does not only rest on technological progress, but also and mostly on political commitments", World Water Council president Loic Fauchon said during the opening ceremony.
He called all policy makers and international decision-makers to shoulder responsibility of the sustainable development of water. The theme was "Bridging Divides for Water".
Ismail Haniyeh Blasts Israel Crimes
By Prensa Latina
Gaza : Former Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh condemned Israel's crimes in Gaza that left 20 dead in the past 24 hours.
The Israeli Defense Forces "slaughter and blitz" of civilians and buildings will not deter the Palestinian people, says the release.
Health Ministry Emergency Services Chief Moawiya Hassanein said the IDF raid on Gaza and the West Bank continues Thursday, with at least 20 dead including two children under five, more than 30 wounded and 12 arrests made in Gaza and Naplusa.
China voices serious concern over failure to implement UN’s Gaza Resolution
By Xinhua,
Beijing : China has voiced its serious concern that UN Security Council Resolution 1860 on the fighting in Gaza has not been implemented or respected by the parties involved.
"The UN Security Council Resolution 1860 represents the common will and demand of the international community on the current situation in Gaza, and should be respected and implemented," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu told a regular press conference here on Tuesday.
Karzai pleads for patience from allies
By DPA,
Washington : Afghan President Hamid Karzai has asked the international community to have patience as Afghanistan builds the ability to take responsibility for its own security.
In his first Western interview Sunday since US President Obama announced plans to put another 30,000 troops in Afghanistan, Karzai told US-based broadcaster CNN that he hoped to begin taking security responsibility for parts of the country within two years.
Iran, Pakistan review mutual cooperation, regional developments
By IRNA,
Tehran : Visiting Pakistani Parliament Speaker Ms. Fahmideh Mirza conferred on Thursday with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on expansion of parliamentary cooperation between the two countries as well as regional developments.
At the meeting, President Ahmadinajad said that enemies and ill-wishers seek to disrupt security of Pakistan and the entire region, adding that regional countries mainly Iran and Pakistan under current sensitive circumstances should draw up a joint security program to thwart all conspiracies hatched by the enemies.
Islamic Proximity confab to be held in London
By IRNA,
London : The second international conference on Proximity Among Islamic Schools of Thought will be held here on Saturday at the Islamic Center of England (ICE).
The one-day conference, themed 'Proximity; Discourse in Support of the Holy Qur'an and Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)', aims to forge unity among different Islamic sects.
Head of ICE, Abdolhossein Moezzi, said in a press conference Thursday, that consolidation in ideology and religion is a basic principle in Islam.
Five of a family killed in gun attack in Pakistan
Islamabad : At least five people were killed and eight wounded Friday when unidentified gunmen opened fire at a vehicle in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa...
Arab leaders wrap up Damascus summit
By Xinhua
Damascus : Leaders and representatives from 21 Arab countries wrapped up the 20th Arab League (AL) summit on Sunday and adopted Damascus Declaration on a series of key Arab issues read out by AL Secretary General Amr Moussa.
The two-day summit, starting from midday Saturday at the Ummayad Palace in the southern suburb of Damascus, brought together only 11 Arab leaders, including President Bashar al-Assad.
Lebanon announced on Tuesday to shun the summit, urging the Arabs to tackle Lebanon's months-long political deadlock.
90 percent of Malakand cleared of Taliban, Swat to be restored
By IANS,
Islamabad: With the Pakistani Army reporting that 90 percent of the Malakand division in the country's restive northwest has been cleared of the Taliban, Prime Minister Yousuf said Monday that the picturesque Swat Valley, which forms a part of the region, would be restored to its previous glory.
The army's claim came during a briefing Monday morning for Gilani and army chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who were on a surprise day-long visit to Swat where fierce fighting has been raging against the Taliban since April.
Now ‘Dirty Harry’ bullet to kill Taliban
By IANS,
London : A new bullet, which packs more punch and is called the "Dirty Harry round", has been developed for use against the Taliban in Afghanistan.
British troops who are using the SA80 rifle could use the 5.56 mm "Dirty Harry round" next year, Daily Express reported.
Soldiers had observed that their bullets had little impact at a distance of more than 1,300 feet even as the heavily armed Taliban guerrillas use heavier 7.62 mm ammunition and Russian AK-47 assault rifles.
Five survive Islamabad plane crash
By IANS,
Islamabad : Five people survived the passenger plane crash in Margalla Hills close to this Pakistani capital city Wednesday morning, a minister said. Some media reports, however, said that 40-45 people may have survived the air disaster.
The Airblue flight 202, flying from Karachi to Islamabad, suddenly lost contact with the airport here and crashed near the popular Damanekoh resort in the Margalla Hills at about 9.45 a.m.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik said five people had survived the crash.
Iran seeks advanced missiles from Moscow
By DPA,
Moscow : The Iranian defence minister, now visiting Moscow, is seeking advanced surface-to-air missiles that could help Iran counter air strikes, a Russian newspaper reported Tuesday.
Mostafa Mohammad Najjar met with his Russian counterpart Anatoly Serdyukov on "current and future issues of bilateral military relations", the Russian defence ministry said.
Obama’s Afghanistan-Pakistan envoy to travel to South Asia
By Xinhua,
Washington : US President Barack Obama's special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke will travel to South Asia after attending the Munich security conference, the State Department said Thursday.
"Ambassador Holbrooke ... is going, I think, on Tuesday to attend the Munich security conference and then he plans to travel subsequently to the region," State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters.
Five Palestinian militants killed in Israeli airstrike
By RIA Novosti
Gaza : Five Palestinian militants were killed and two injured when Israeli aircraft attacked a motor vehicle in central Gaza on Wednesday, local radio reported.
It said all the Palestinians were members of the Hamas "rocket" division.
Israelis also attacked another vehicle being used to evacuate those wounded in the first attack.
In the small hours of Wednesday, Israeli troops killed two residents of Gaza, one of them a member of the radical group Islamic Jihad. The other, a local farmer, was shot dead near the border with Israel.
Iran, 5+1 extract modalities’ commonalties – Iranian Mottaki proposes
By NNN-IRNA,
Tehran : Iran's Foreign Minister said here both Iran and members of 5 1 group should in future talks extract common points within presented modalities, and to move towards compromise in process of constructive talks.
Manouchehr Mottaki who was speaking on latest developments regarding Iran's nuclear program further elaborated at the closing ceremony of the 15th NAM Foreign Ministers Conference Wednesday evening, "Both Iran and the so called 5 1 group have presented modalities on the matter."
Two men killed in Pakistan for allegedly spying for US
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Suspected militants Saturday killed two men they accused of spying for the US in Pakistan's tribal region, media reports said.
The bodies were found near Miranshah in the northern Waziristan tribal region, the News Network International (NNI) news agency reported quoting local tribesmen.
A note in Pashto language was found near the bodies, saying that the two men were spying on Taliban for the US and Afghan governments.
It also warned that anyone spying for the US or Afghanistan would face the same situation, the report said.
Four killed, three missing in Egypt-Gaza tunnel collapse
By SPA,
Cairo : Four people were killed and three went missing in the collapse of an underground tunnel north of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, security sources said.
The Sources from 'Hamas' group informed Egyptian authorities of the incident, DPA reported.
Egypt is still searching for the missing people inside the tunnel, the source said.
The identities of the dead and missing were not immediately known, the source said.
UAE releases first anti-human trafficking report
By NNN-WAM,
Abu Dhabi : The UAE is committed to doing everything in its power to help stop human trafficking wherever it occurs and to aggressively interdict those who are responsible for it with the toughest possible penalties, according to the first annual report released by the UAE National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking.
Bangladesh government orders release of ex-PM Sheikh Hasina
By SPA,
Dhaka, Bangladesh : A domestic news agency says Bangladesh's government has ordered the release of ailing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
United News of Bangladesh said the order was signed by interim government chief Fakhruddin Ahmed on Wednesday.
Hasina has been in jail since July last year on several corruption charges. A special court recently exempted her from attending the trials in person after her lawyers petitioned for her release for medical treatment abroad.
The lawyers said she has been suffering from ear and eye problems.
Sharif rejects Zardari olive branch, stage set for showdown
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan was set for a bruising showdown with opposition leader Nawaz Sharif late Saturday rejecting President Asif Ali Zardari's olive branch on seeking a review of a Supreme Court verdict barring him and his brother from contesting elections, saying a lawyers' stir for reinstating the judges sacked in 2007 would go ahead nonetheless.
Iran’s shuttle diplomacy aimed at restoring peace in Caucasus
By IRNA,
Berlin : Iran's ongoing shuttle diplomacy over the past days is directed at promoting peace and stability in the Caucasus region in the aftermath of the Georgian war, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told Germany-based Iranian media representatives here late Monday evening.
Speaking after his meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank- Walter Steinmeier, Mottaki said a major objective of his mediation efforts in the Caucasus was "to establish and protect stability and security" in the region.
New Zealand strengthens deployment in Afghanistan
By NNN-Xinhua
Wellington, New Zealand : The New Zealand government has extended the deployment of New Zealand forces in Afghanistan.
An additional 18 general service troops will join the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan province this month, bringing the total number of New Zealand defense force personnel in Afghanistan to 140.
The decision was announced Thursday by Prime Minister Helen Clark, who is at the NATO summit in Romania.
She said the decision is due to concerns about growing violence in areas surrounding the Bamyan province.
US worries over Chinese, Iranian influence in Latin America
By DPA,
Washington : US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday the US must reach out to Latin American leaders to reverse of the "disturbing" trend of growing Chinese and Iranian influence in the region.
"If you look at the gains, particularly in Latin America, that Iran is making and China is making, its quite disturbing," Clinton said after giving speech to State Departement employees.
Iran denies failure in reaching n-deal with powers
Tehran : Iran is determined to continue nuclear talks with the world powers to reach a conclusion, Iranian foreign ministry said Tuesday.
"The Islamic republic...