More Kuwaiti firms take part in Iraq reconstruction
By IANS,
Dubai : An increasing number of Kuwaiti firms are taking part in the massive reconstruction programme being carried out in war-torn Iraq.
Iraq's Minister for Housing and Reconstruction Bayan Dizayee has signed a package of high-profile deals with major Kuwaiti firms to implement reconstruction projects across various Iraqi provinces, reports the state-run Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
The signed deals involve apartment buildings, infrastructure projects and import of construction materials, the minister was quoted as telling reporters in Kuwait.
Hamdan chairs Dubal’s general assembly meeting
By WAM
Dubai : HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, presided Wednesday over the annual General Assembly meeting of Dubai Aluminium Company Limited (Dubal).
Sheikh Hamdan heard a report from Dubal Deputy Chairman Ahmed Al Tayer on the company's operational results, projects undertaken in 2007 and future development plans.
Al Tayer also outlined Dubal's efforts in conservation and safety of the environment, corporate social responsibility and Emiratisation.
Bangladeshi jurists oppose military law to try border guard mutineers
By IANS,
Dhaka : Most of the eminent jurists who appeared before Bangladesh's Supreme Court have opposed the use of military law to try border guard troopers who staged a mutiny earlier this year, killing 71 people.
The apex court Thursday concluded hearing a batch of ten amici curiae (friends of the court) on the presidential reference seeking a ruling on the law to apply while trying the mutineers, Star Online reported.
Malaysian court rejects Hindraf detainee’s appeal
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : A Malaysian court has rejected an appeal by a jailed leader of a Hindu body, paving the way for his trial under the stringent sedition charge.
The High Court rejected the plea of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) legal adviser P. Uthayakumar that the charge was "baseless and defective" and needed to be proved beyond doubt for the trial to begin.
UN Secretary General welcomes UAE decision to write off Iraq debt
By NNN-WAM,
New York : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed UAE's decision to write off all debts on Iraq. The debt amounting to USD 4bn that was paid to Iraq over the last several years was written off along with interest by a decision in July by President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
In a report on UN mission in Iraq, presented to UN Security council for ratification, Ban Ki-moon, said 'the decision of the United Arab Emirates to forgive Iraqi debt is a strong step that I hope is taken by others in the region'.
Egyptian president urges measures to tackle overpopulation
By RIA Novosti,
Cairo : Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has declared a nationwide campaign to slow down population growth in the Arab world's most populous nation.
Speaking at a national conference on population, Mubarak urged the government, the private sector, and civil society to take measures against overpopulation - something he called a "major challenge" to the country's development.
Egypt is suffering from rampant unemployment and some 40 % of the population lives below or $2 per day.
Malaysian PM says Egyptian-style protests won’t work
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has warned against any attempt to usurp power in Malaysia through demonstrations like those in Egypt.
PM: Israel has no intention to kill in Gaza
By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israel has no desire to kill any residents in Gaza Strip, but it will not tolerate the barrage of rocket attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Thursday, shortly after an Israel Air Force raid in Gaza killed two people.
"We have no special desire to kill anyone of Gaza's residents, but we cannot tolerate the unending firing of rockets on Israel's citizens and will thus continue to act intelligently," Olmert was quoted by local newspaper Ha'aretz as saying.
Sudanese gov’t announces crush of Darfur rebel infiltration into capital
By Xinhua,
Khartoum : Khartoum announced on Saturday evening that the Sudanese army and police had crushed an infiltration attempt of rebels coming from the restive western Sudanese region of Darfur.
In a statement, Police Spokesman Mohamed Abdel-Mageed al-Tayeb declared that remnants of the forces of rebel Khalil Ibrahim that attempted to infiltrate to the capital were "repulsed".
Khalil Ibrahim is the leader of the JEM which is believed to have the most powerful armed forces among over two dozens of rebel groups in Darfur.
Arab Regional Tourism Office To Be Opened In Yemen Soon
By Bernama,
Sana'a : Chairman of Arab Tourism Organisation Bandar al-Faheid said on Tuesday that they have agreed with officials of Tourism Ministry to open the Arab regional tourism office in Yemen.
Upon his departure, al-Faheid told Yemen news agency, Saba, that they have realised the good result showed by the tourism sector in Yemen, particularly in the field of rehabilitation, training, tourism promotion and activating Arab investments.
During his meeting with Prime Minister Ali Mujwar, he briefed him on all plans and agreements agreed on with officials of Tourism Ministry.
4th Saudi Relief plane arrives in Chinese Sichuan province
By SPA,
Schwan, China : The Fourth Saudi relief plane carrying 64 tons of food stuffs and tents in urgent assistance arrived in earth-quake devastated province of Schwan in China.
In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Faisal Al-Qahtani, a representative of Saudi Ministry of Finance said with the consignment of
the Fourth Cargo plane, the total Saudi relief assistance to Sichuan reached 260 tons.
New Syrian troops deployed along borders with Lebanon
By Xinhua,
Beirut : Syria has deployed more troops off Aridi border with northern Lebanon, Lebanon's Al-Markazia news agency reported Wednesday, without indicating when the new deployment took place.
The entire 4th division under the command of Maher Assad, including troops and artilleries, were deployed three kilometers off Aridi border crossing, the report said.
In October, Syria expanded a troop buildup, deploying tanks on the border facing the Lebanese Bekaa valley, after its first buildup of 10,000 troops along the borders in September.
PPP Co-Chairman agrees to remove Musharraf from presidency
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has agreed to remove Pervez Musharraf from the Presidency, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday at a news conference in the eastern city of Lahore.
Addressing the news conference, Sharif said that Musharraf should be tried for sedition and should not be given a safe exit.
The country's destiny will change in the coming days, said Sharif.
Sarus cranes seen in Pakistan after a decade
By IANS,
Islamabad : Sarus cranes, the world's tallest flying bird, is back in Pakistan after more than a decade, wildlife experts have said.
Afghanistan urges Iran to suspend refugees’ expulsion
By Xinhua
Kabul : Afghanistan Thursday urged Iran to review its decision to expel Afghan refugees taking shelter there.
"We are hopeful that the Islamic Republic of Iran will review its policy with regard to refugees expulsion, particularly in this harsh winter," Afghan foreign ministry spokesman Sultan Ahmad Baheen said at a press briefing.
"We have very cordial and friendly relations with Iran and hope that our bilateral relations would further expand," Baheen said.
Sub-par round wins Arshad Ali Haryana Open golf title
By IANS,
Gurgaon : Arshad Ali brought home the first and only sub-par round of the tournament to sneak ahead of the early leaders to win the Haryana Open at the Golden Greens here Friday.
Minor girls betrothed to settle tribal feud
By IANS,
Islamabad : Fifteen under-aged girls of a tribe living along the Sindh-Balochistan border have been betrothed to men from another tribe to settle an eight-year-old blood feud that started with a dog biting a donkey.
The girls belong to the Chakrani tribe and the men to the Qalandari tribe. The engagement ceremony was conducted Friday.
The Chakrani tribe had on Wednesday pledged to marry off the girls, aged three to 10, to settle the feud with the Qalandari tribe that erupted after the latter tribe's dog bit a donkey belonging to the former.
Bangladesh launches probe into faulty vitamin drive
By DPA,
Dhaka : Authorities in Bangladesh have launched an investigation into the reported death of a baby and illnesses among 400 other children following a nationwide administration of Vitamin A and de-worming medicines, media reports said Tuesday.
The health ministry Monday formed a five-member committee to probe the illnesses and report its results within two days.
The ministry also urged parents not to panic, and assured them the Vitamin A capsule is not harmful for children, according to report in Prothom Alo newspaper.
US to closely monitor A Q Khan; doubts Pakistan commitment
By NNN-PTI,
Washington : Notwithstanding Pakistan's commitment that "restrictions" had been imposed on disgraced nuclear scientist A Q Khan after his release from house arrest, the US has said it is "very serious" about him and will closely monitor his activities.
"Pakistan has given us some initial commitments but we're going to be following (the situation) very closely. The important thing is that they know we are still very serious about this individual," a US official was quoted as saying by The Washington Post.
Two Pakistani anti-terrorism intelligence officers shot dead
By DPA
Islamabad : Two intelligence officers involved in operations against the Al Qaeda have been shot dead by gunmen in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi.
Two assailants on a motorbike opened fire on inspector Mohammed Ibrahim and sub-inspector Fazalur Rehman of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) in a busy marketplace Thursday night, English-language newspaper Dawn reported. The officers later died in hospital.
Erekat slams Israeli incursion into Gaza
By Xinhua,
Ramallah : Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat on Wednesday condemned an Israeli incursion in the Gaza Strip which left five Palestinian militants and two Israeli soldiers killed.
"This Israeli escalation will bring nothing but more deterioration and violence," Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio. "It is time to reach a real calmness leading to halting the Israeli aggression and lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip."
Two released Japanese tourists depart Yemen
By NNN-SABA,
Sana'a : Well-informed sources said that the two Japanese women tourists Keiko Mishima, 41, of Suginami Ward, Tokyo, and Shizuko Endo, 44, of Fukuoka, left Yemen on Friday morning a day after they were freed from their kidnappers in Marib province, 170 kilometers east of the capital, Sana'a.
The sources said to Saba, that Keiko Mishima and Shizuko Endo enjoy good health after they were kidnapped last Wednesday by gunmen in Marib.
Six Palestinians killed, four injured in Israeli raids
By NNN-KUNA
Gaza : Six Palestinians were killed and four others were wounded in Israeli air raids in the northeastern parts of Gaza City early Thursday.
Palestinian eyewitnesses said Israeli jet planes fired a number of rockets at groups of activists in Al-Qaram area, north of Gaza City, killing six people and injuring four others.
Local radio stations said five of the killed belonged to Eziddin Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, while the sixth was a member of the Quds Brigades of the Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ).
Two policemen killed, three injured in Israeli air-raid on Rafah city
By KUNA,
Gaza : Two Palestinian policemen were killed Friday while three others were injured during an Israeli air-raid on Rafah city, south Gaza Strip.
A Local media here said that an Israeli recon plane fire a missile on a police station in the center of Rafah leading to the mention casualties.
The source also said that the injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The two fallen Palestinians were Mahmoud Abu Armana and Bassem Abu Shagfa, stated the media source.
Pakistan observes Muharram amid high security
Islamabad : Pakistan Tuesday observed Muharram to pay homage to Imam Husain and other martyrs of Karbala amid strict security, a media report said.
The...
Obama, Cameron show unity against IS threat
Cardiff: President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron have emphasised the importance of unity to deal with violence by the Islamic State...
Zardari left though army doctors said he was fine: report
By IANS,
Islamabad : President Asif Ali Zardari flew out to Dubai over a heart condition despite Pakistan Army doctors declaring him completely fit, said a media report.
Six Palestinians killed, four injured in Israeli raids
By KUNA
Gaza : Six Palestinians were killed and four others were wounded in Israeli air raids in the northeastern parts of Gaza City early Thursday.
Palestinian eyewitnesses said Israeli jet planes fired a number of rockets at groups of activists in Al-Qaram area, north of Gaza City, killing six people and injuring four others.
Local radio stations said five of the killed belonged to Eziddin Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, while the sixth was a member of the Quds Brigades of the Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ).
Pakistani PM strongly condemns Lahore blasts
By APP
Islamabad : Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro on Tuesday strongly condemned two terrorist blasts in Lahore killing several people.The Prime Minister expressed great sorrow over the loss of life in the blasts that occurred in FIA Office and Model Town, and said the perpetrators of such crime would not be spared.
He said those involved in this criminal act were conspirators against the interest of the country and the people of Pakistan.
He also condoled with the bereaved families and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls.
Iraq death toll exceeds 200
By IRNA
Baghdad : The death toll from five days of intense fighting between Iraqi forces and militias has exceeded 200.
Many of the casualties have occurred in Sadr City, on suburbs of Baghdad, a stronghold of followers of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
A spokesman for the Iraqi Health Ministry says at least 75 people have been killed and nearly 500 wounded in clashes and US-led air raids.
There are reports that dozens of policemen in Sadr City surrendered their weapons to Sadr's forces, saying they could not fight their own people.
Kenya to partner with US against terrorism
Nairobi: Kenya will partner with the US to fight against terrorism that has affected some sectors of the East African country's economy.
Principal Secretary in...
Air Arabia starts direct flight to Russia
By IANS/WAM,
Sharjah : Air Arabia, the low-cost airline in the Middle East and North Africa, has announced launch of direct flights to Moscow and Yekaterinburg in Russia.
Palestinians use bulldozer to open new hole in Egypt-Gaza border
By Xinhua
Cairo : Some Palestinians were seen to use a bulldozer trying to open new passages into Egypt at the Egyptian-Gaza border on Friday as Egyptian troops moved to close the border town of Rafah, the pan-Arab television al-Jazeera reported.
A large number of Palestinians rushed into the Egyptian side again after the bulldozer knocked over a new section of the border wall separating Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
Hezbollah hands over to Israel report on aviator Ron Arad
By DPA,
Tel Aviv : The Lebanese Hezbollah militia Saturday handed over to Israel a new report on the fate on Israeli aviator Ron Arad, who went missing 22 years ago.
Israeli media reports were quoting Hezbollah as saying Arad was probably dead - but the latest document gave no scientific proof of his fate, nor any explanation of why no body was ever found.
The report was a condition for a planned prisoner swap between Israel and Hezbollah which Israeli and Lebanese officials said Friday could take place in the middle of next week.
Pakistan mulls steps to save ailing national airline
By IANS,
Islamabad : Coming to the aid of Pakistan's cash-strapped national carrier, Pakistan Internatinoal Airlines (PIA), a parliamentary committee has called for urgent steps to arrest the declining trends in the airline, Online news agency reported Thursday.
Kazakh president calls election fair, opposition cries foul
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Astana : Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has called Sunday's presidential polls "open and fair" whereas the opposition denounced them as a sham.
Pakistan media plays down Hamza arrest
By IANS,
New Delhi : In complete contrast to the Indian media, the Pakistani media Tuesday appeared to play down the dramatic arrest of a key mastermind of the Mumbai terror attack.
Suicide car bomber kills 12 Shiite rebels in Yemen
Sanaa: A suicide car bomber hit a check point manned by Yemeni Shiite Houthi rebels in northeast Yemeni province of al-Jouf Friday, killing at...
19 non-combatant Taliban freed as ‘goodwill gesture’
Islamabad : The Pakistan government has released 19 non-combatant Taliban prisoners as a goodwill gesture for bolstering the peace process with the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban...
Arab League condemns Israeli verdict to imprison Palestinian lawmaker
By NNN-KUNA,
Cairo : The Arab League has condemned here the Israeli military court's three-year prison sentence against Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Dr Abdelaziz Duwaik and several of his colleagues.
The League stated that the court's verdict last Tuesday was not based on any legal documents or evidence that convicted the Speaker of any acts of terrorism against Israel.
Pakistani American who fought for ‘minority within minority’
By Ashok Easwaran, IANS,
Islamic Declaration on Climate Change calls Muslims to support Paris meet in December 2015
By A Mirsab, TwoCircles.net,
Istanbul/New Delhi: An ‘Islamic Climate Change Declaration’ has called on the world's Muslims to play an active role in combating...
Pakistan to prepare national anti-terror plan
Islamabad: Pakistan will prepare a national anti-terror plan in a week, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Wednesday a day after a group of Taliban...
Nevzlin paid bribe to get Israeli passport – trial witness
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : A witness at the trial in absentia of former Yukos official Leonid Nevzlin, charged with organizing murders and attempted murders, said on Monday the accused paid a bribe to get Israeli citizenship.
Youli Nudelman, a well-known Israeli human rights activist, told the Moscow City Court that in 2003 Nevzlin received citizenship in one month and three days by donating $1.5 million to a diaspora museum and promising an additional $20 million. The citizenship process usually takes at least a year.
US soldier dies of noncombat cause in Iraq
By SPA,
.
Baghdad : The U.S. military says an American soldier in Iraq has died of a noncombat cause, the Associated Press reported.
A military statement says the soldier died Saturday.
The statement released Sunday does not elaborate. It says the soldier was assigned to Multinational Corps-Iraq.
UAE arrests over 380 immigration law violators
By IANS,
Sharjah : A total of 382 people have been arrested here on charges of violating the entry and residency law, WAM news agency reported Tuesday.
Abdullah Ali bin Sahoo, director of the Department of Naturalisation and Residency, said his office would "continue the inspection campaign to bring violators to book".
He warned that the institutions and individuals who employ and provide shelter to absconding workers would face legal charges.
The arrests, made from May 20 to June 22, are a part of the department's campaign against the country's illegal workforce.
Suspect ‘flees’ to Saudi Arabia as Dhaka begins war crimes trial
By IANS,
Dhaka : The Bangladesh government has issued a travel alert after a senior leader of Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), suspected of being involved in "war crimes", left for Saudi Arabia unhindered.
The move came amid what media reports Monday called 'confusion' over the measures to hold back "war criminals", a term used for those understood to have been involved in attacking or killing unarmed civilians during the 1971 freedom movement.
US urged to approve more aid for Pakistan’s progress and fighting terrorism
By APP,
New York : An influential U.S. newspaper Monday called on the Bush administration to back a plan for a $2.5 billion additional non-military aid to Pakistan as it urged the newly elected government to closely monitor developments along the Pak-Afghan after a peace deal with tribal leaders.
Arab-Jew clashes erupt in N Israeli city
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Clashes between Arabs and Jews erupted in the northern city of Acre on Thursday evening, after an Arab motorist entered a predominantly Jewish area during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement.
Police were trying to disperse rioters with water hoses and the chief of police was on his way to the Acre station, according to Israeli Channel 2.
Police source said that six Arab rioters were arrested and dozens of cars and shops were damaged.
UAE to deport boy for giving camel electric shock
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi: A court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has ordered the deportation of a 17-year-old boy for giving electric shock to a camel, WAM news agency reported Monday.
The boy, referred to only by his initials ASW, was caught shocking a racing camel with an electric device to boost the animal's performance. He has already served one and a half months' prison term, the report said.
Putin says Russia backs U.S. peace efforts in Mideast
MOSCOW, February 14 (RIA Novosti) - Russia backs Washington's moves to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
Speaking at his final annual news conference in the Kremlin, Putin said Russia broadly supports what President George W. Bush has been doing to broker peace agreements in the region, even though there are elements of U.S. policy in the Mideast that Moscow does not fully approve of.
Ban condemns Israeli plan for 1,600 new settlement units in East Jerusalem
By KUNA,
United Nations : Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon late Tuesday condemned the Israeli approval earlier in the day to build 1,600 new "housing units" in East Jerusalem, his press office said in a statement.
The UN chief "reiterates that settlements are illegal under international law. Furthermore, he underscores that settlement activity is contrary to Israel's obligations under the Roadmap, and undermines any movement towards a viable peace process," the statement added.
2014 deadliest year in Iraq since 2006-07: UN
Baghdad : At least 12,282 civilians were killed and 23,126 others injured in 2014, making it the deadliest year in Iraq since 2006-2007 marked...
Egypt accuses Morsi of leaking documents to Qatar
Cairo: The Egyptian prosecution ordered Wednesday to temporarily detain former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi for 15 days on charges of leaking "national security documents"...
Middle East quartet optimistic about peace talks
By DPA,
New York : The Middle East quartet charged with overseeing the Israeli-Palestinian peace process has voiced confidence in the ongoing talks between the two sides towards a final resolution to the long conflict.
In a statement following talks at the UN in New York Friday, the quartet, made up of the UN, the US, European Union (EU) and Russia, said that a "meaningful and results-oriented" process was underway and again called for both sides to reach a deal by the end of this year.
Musharraf forgotten, Bush to call new bosses in Pakistan
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : US President George W. Bush is expected to have high-level contacts with the new government of Pakistan soon, but the White House would not say if and when he would call his "personal friend" Pervez Musharraf.
"I would expect that the president will have high-level contact with Pakistani authorities in the near future. We'll certainly keep you updated on that," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters at Bush's Crawford, Texas ranch.
Sri Lankan eye banl in Pakistan
By NNN-Govt Portal
Colombo : Sri Lankan eye specialists have announced that an eye bank will be set up in Sialkot, Pakistan to provide free eye treatment including transplanting of corneas.
A.P.S. Abeysuriya, a Sri Lankan eye specialist said at the launching of a free cornea transplanting camp at the Aleem Welfare Hospital on Wednesday (26) that the proposed eye bank would be functional by December 2008 and that Sri Lankans will be donating corneas directly to the facility.
US doesn’t want Pak-India tension to affect terror war: Obama
By IRNA,
Islamabad : US President Barack Obama calls for Pakistan-India dialogue as he wants tensions between the two nuclear rivals should not affect the so called anti terror war.
US President has urged India and Pakistan to defuse mutual tensions and resolve their differences peacefully through composite dialogue.
UN chief slams terrorist attacks in Egypt
United Nations: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has lashed out at recent terrorist attacks in Egypt, saying that there can be no justification for acts...
Mamata assures Hasina of Teesta deal solution
Dhaka: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had blocked the Teesta water sharing deal between India and Bangladesh four years ago, assured Bangladeshi...
Now, crocodiles are Bangladesh’s new export item
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh has a new item on its export list - crocodiles. The first consignment that has just left for Germany is worth $100,000, a media report said Saturday.
The maiden export was conducted Friday by the Reptile Farm Ltd., country's lone crocodile farm, five years after it began farming the reptile.
The farm, located in the Hatiber village in northern Mymensingh district, now has 825 saltwater crocodiles.
Militants blow up girls’ school in Peshawar
By IANS,
Islamabad: Unidentified militants Saturday blew up a girls' primary school in Pakistan's Peshawar city, Geo News reported.
Palestine, Israel reach Gaza ceasefire
By IANS,
Gaza : Palestine and Israel have reached a ceasefire agreement brokered by Egypt, Xinhua reported Tuesday.
UAE, Lebanon seek to boost trade ties
By IANS/WAM,
Dubai : The UAE and Lebanon have sought to boost trade and investments between the two countries.
France promises to resume contacts with Syria if positive developments occur in Lebanon
By Xinhua,
Beirut : French President Nicolas Sarkozy has expressed the country's readiness to open a new chapter with Syrian, but vowed no back-down on the international tribunal to try suspects in 2005 assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri, Lebanese media reported Saturday.
Sarkozy made the remarks in an interview with Lebanese daily newspapers of As-Safir, An-Nahar and L'Orient-le jour.
"I would resume contacts with Syria only when positive and concrete developments occur in Lebanon," Sarkozy was quoted as saying.
Text of India, Pakistan joint statement
By IANS,
New Delhi : Following is the text of the joint statement issued after two days of talks between Home Secretary G.K. Pillai and his Pakistani counterpart Qamar Zaman:
Obama to order additional troops to Afghanistan: Reports
By DPA,
Washington : US President Barack Obama plans to increase troop levels in Afghanistan by an additional 4,000 soldiers in a move to expand the fight against Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants, US news reports said.
Ahead of the White House unveiling its new Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy Friday, the Washington Post and CNN reported that on top of the 17,000 additional combat troops already authorised, 4,000 more would be deployed later this year to serve as advisers to the Afghan army.
The additional deployments would push total US troop strength in Afghanistan well above 50,000.
Pakistan arrests 50 Indian fishermen
Islamabad : Pakistan Thursday arrested 50 Indian fishermen and seized 10 boats, the police said.
A police official said 10 Indian fishing boats along with...
Peshawar cinema blasts toll reaches 13
By IANS,
Islamabad : The number of people killed in the three blasts in Pakistan's Peshawar city Tuesday swelled to 13 following the death of...
Pakistan not to extradite terror suspects to India: Minister Qureshi
By NNN-PTI,
Islamabad : Pakistan has rejected India's demand for extradition of the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks, saying there was no extradition treaty between the two countries.
"There is no extradition treaty between India and Pakistan. We are keen on rebuilding our internal institutions. So if we engage in these issues, it will be harmful for Pakistan," Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told Geo TV.
Egypt’s new government sworn in
Cairo : Egypt's new cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab, was sworn in Tuesday.
Mahlab, had served for five months as interim prime minister,...
Musharraf discusses Zardari-Nawaz decision on judges
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS
Islamabad : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Monday discussed with his legal aides options before him after two major parties, set to form the next government, resolved to restore judges sacked by him.
Officials said that members of the caretaker cabinet, including Prime minister Muhammadmian Soomro, Attorney General Malik Abdul Qayyum and others met in the presidency to discuss the situation after the two-party coalition announcement on the issue.
Suicide bomber kills at least five army recruits in Diyala
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : A suicide bomber blew himself up at a recruitment center in the city of Baquba, capital of Diyala province, on Tuesday, killing at least five recruits and wounding 55 others, a provincial police source said.
aSuicide bomber kills at least five army recruits in Diyala
BAGHDAD, July 15 (Xinhua) -- A suicide bomber blew himself up at a recruitment center in the city of Baquba, capital of Diyala province, on Tuesday, killing at least five recruits and wounding 55 others, a provincial police source said.
Clinton condemns Pakistani journalist’s killing
By IANS,
Washington : US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has condemned the killing of Pakistani journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad.
Malaysia set to curb lesbianism
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysia is all set to curb "tomboy behaviour" among its women that covers dressing like men and gay relationship among women.
Following a recent fatwa (edict) by the National Fatwa Council, police have warned non-governmental organisations (NGOs) not to object to the Council's ruling against tomboy behaviour.
Inspector-General of police Musa Hassan said the protests by certain NGOs, particularly those who speak for non-Muslims, could "affect the country's safety".
Pro-govt forces in Lebanon call for active Arab, international role
By NNN-KUNA,
Beirut : Pro-government forces in Lebanon have called on Arab countries and the international community to bear responsibility over the volatile situation in Lebanon.
"What is going on in Lebanon today is an armed coup instigated by Iran and launched by Hezbollah, which will throw the country into a circle of the Iranian project and decision," they said in a statement.
Pakistani city on alert of Qaeda suicide bombers
By KUNA
Islamabad : Pakistan's eastern Lahore city has been put on high alert after intelligence reports on Friday of infiltration by Al-Qaeda suicide bombers in the city, new hot target of militants.
Pakistan Federal Interior Ministry has received intelligence reports that two Arab and three Afghan suicide bombers have entered into Lahore, about 370 kilometers southeast of Islamabad.
Ministry sources told KUNA that the bombers could target government installations and security personnel.
US keen on success talks with Iraq on long-term deal – US’ Iraq envoy
By NNN-KUNA,
Baghdad : US' Iraq envoy David Satterfield has said here that Washington is very interested in bringing about success to negotiations with Baghdad for a long-term agreement.
Satterfield, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's Special Advisor and Coordinator for Iraq, made the remarks during a meeting with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari at the latter's office here Monday, according to a government statement.
Condoleezza Rice to Visit France, Middle East Next Week
By SPA,
Washington : U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit Paris next week to attend a donors' conference for Afghanistan before traveling to Israel and the West Bank to promote the peace process, the State Department said Friday.
Asked why Rice was visiting the Middle East, spokesman Sean McCormack said, “It’s really to take stock of where they are, to continue pushing the process forward.”
Post-mutiny Dhaka cancels Independence Day parade
By IANS,
Dhaka : The Bangladesh government Thursday cancelled the national parade to mark its 39th Independence Day as part of the security measures in the wake of last month's mutiny by Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) troopers.
The decision, which was taken after a meeting of the cabinet committee on law and order, was announced by Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Star Online reported.
The border guards revolted Feb 25-26 over low wages and poor working conditions. The carnage left 74 people dead.
Pakistan: Nawaz Sharif to chair crucial PML meeting today
By NNN-APP
Islamabad : The Central Working Committee and Central Parliamentary Party of Pakistan Muslim League will jointly meet here Thursday (today) to discuss future line of action in the present situation in the country.
The meeting, to be chaired by PML-N Quaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Shairf, will focus on matters relating to formation of the government, party sources said.
PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, the party’s sitting Senators and newly elected Members of National Assembly would also attend the meeting, the sources told APP.
Dhaka to protest Myanmar Navy attack on its fishermen
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh, which is locked in a border conflict with its eastern neighbour, has alleged that Myanmar Navy Monday attacked its fishermen. Dhaka plans to lodge a formal protest with Yangon.
Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), the border guards, said it will lodge a protest with Myanmar authorities against snatching of a Bangladeshi fishing boat and nets by Myanmar naval force Sunday evening.
Rescued fishermen alleged that at least 10 armed navy men of Myanmar took away their boat and fishing nets and left them in the sea though they were fishing in Bangladesh waters.
Ahmadinejad condemns civilian killings in Libya
By IANS/AKI,
Tehran : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has condemned the killings of protesters in Libya and called on the Libyan government to respect the people's will.
Fourty missiles launched injure 20 Israelis – spokesperson
By KUNA
Gaza : Israeli Army on Sunday announced that more than 40 missiles were launched from northern Gaza, targeting the Israeli cities of Sderot and Ashkelon.
Despite the wide-scale military operation, Palestinian resistance factions managed to launch the missiles, which injured 20 Israelis, an Army spokesperson said.
He added that three (Jarad) missiles had hit houses that were damaged by the home-made rockets.
Key Al Qaeda leader killed in Pakistan
Islamabad: A key Al Qaeda leader was killed Sunday in a US drone attack in Pakistan's mountainous region of North Waziristan, officials said.
The drone...
Japan’s crude oil imports from Kuwait sharply declines
By NNN-KUNA
Tokyo : Japan's crude oil imports from Kuwait dropped 33.2 percent in January from a year earlier and 12.0 percent from the previous month, respectively, to 8.15 million barrels for the first decline in two months, according to the latest data released by the government agency.
One NATO soldier killed in Afghanistan
By SPA,
Kabul : One NATO soldier was killed and four others were wounded in a firefight with insurgents in southern Afghanistan, the military said on Monday.
The soldiers came across the insurgents while they were patrolling in the region on Sunday, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement.
The injured ISAF soldiers were transported to a military hospital to receive treatment, said the statement, but it did not identify their nationalities or say where in southern Afghanistan the incident took place, according to a report of DPA.
Human traffickers leave thousands of Pakistanis high and dry
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Islamabad : Abdul Jabbar is one of the thousands of Pakistanis lured by human traffickers for jobs in the Middle East and Europe, only to find themselves stranded, jailed, deported and some even killed.
Last week 598 Pakistanis in Oman's capital Muscat were sent home after they had been arrested for staying illegally in the Arab state and working without proper documents. Jabbar was one of them.
Hamas calls for change in US policies on Middle East
By NNN-KUNA,
Gaza : The Hamas movement has expressed hope to see a change in US policy regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict, after the announcement of Barak Obama as president-elect of the United States.
The movement's spokesman in Gaza, Sami Abu Zuhri said Wednesday the movement would wait and see what actions Obama takes before passing judgment, and also noted it had not perceived a difference on this issue in the Obama agenda against that of his rival, John McCain.
EU criticizes Turkish court decision on ruling party
By KUNA
Brussels : The European Union has voiced disapproval of the decision by Turkeys constitutional court that it can hear a case aimed at closing down the country's governing AKP (Justice and Development Party).
"In EU Member States the kind of political issues referred to in this case are debated in the parliament and decided through the ballot box, not in court rooms," said EU enlargement Commissioner Olli Rhen in a statement late on Monday.
Dhaka opposition complains to diplomats
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the country's main opposition in parliament, has complained of "repression" of its leaders and cadres by the government while briefing foreign diplomats and donor agency representatives stationed here.
At a tea party it hosted Sunday as part of the preparations for the organisation's national council meeting scheduled for next month, its leaders justified boycott of parliament for the last nine months. They said no important issue was being discussed there.
Israel continues aggression in Gaza, executes air raids
By KUNA
Gaza : Israeli Army continued in the early hours of Sunday its operations in different areas of Gaza Strip, causing more causalities among Palestinians.
Israeli fighter jets executed this morning several air raids on the Strip, launching missiles that demolishes buildings.
An Israeli helicopter also targed Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza, with two missiles. The camp was gravely damaged and several refugees were injuried and had to be hospitalized.
Houses in Beit Lahiya and Jabalia town were also attacked by Israeli fighter jets early Sunday.
New era in Kashmir as trade convoy leaves for Muzaffarabad
By F. Ahmed, IANS,
Salamabad Uri (Jammu and Kashmir) : To the sound of drumbeats and loud cheers, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra Tuesday flagged off the first trade convoy that will cross the Line of Control (LoC) dividing the two Kashmirs and herald a new era of goodwill.
15 Taliban killed in North Waziristan drone strike
By IANS,
Islamabad : A US drone fired two missile at a suspected Taliban hideout in North Waziristan killing 15 militants, a media report Saturday said.
Online news agency said the attack occurred early Saturday in the Muhammad Khel area of North Wazrisitan bordering Afghanistan.
The targeted area was believed to be a hideout for the local Taliban and was also a base for insurgents belonging to the militant's Haqqani network that is known for staging attacks on US and NATO troops in Afghanistan
Turkey launches air strikes against rebels in N Iraq
By Xinhua
Baghdad : Turkey launched air strikes Tuesday night on rebel targets in northern Iraq, an Iraqi security source said on Wednesday.
Turkish warplane targeted the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in the Sidekan area of Arbil province, but no casualties had been reported, the source said on conditional of anonymity.
The latest strikes came about a week after Turkey wrapped up across-border ground military operation going after the PKK members.
US accuses Pakistan’s Geo TV of bias
By IANS,
Islamabad : The US has accused private Pakistani channel Geo TV of bias in reporting America's efforts to ameliorate the sufferings of the millions of civilians who have been displaced by the military's anti-Taliban operations in the country's northwest.
In an interview with a Geo TV correspondent after visiting a refugee camp near Mardan in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), US special envoy Richard Holbrooke advised the channel to tell the truth to Pakistanis about the huge financial assistance Washington was providing for the displaced persons.
‘Successful democracy in Pakistan vital for global peace’
By IANS,
Brussels: Pakistan's democratic progress is vital for global peace and security, the 26-member global forum Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP) has said.
Commute death sentence of Mujib killers, says lawyer
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh's Supreme Court should commute the death sentences of four former army officers convicted for killing the country's founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and allow life imprisonment as their appeals have been pending for several years, a defence counsel has pleaded.
Counsel Abdullah Al Mamun Thursday cited judgments of the Supreme Courts of Britain and Jamaica commuting death sentences to life in prison due to delay in appeal hearings.
UAE President stresses importance of Arab parliaments in boosting Arab solidarity
By NNN-SANA,
Abu Dhabi : United Arab Emirates' President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed on Tuesday the important role of Arab parliaments in boosting Arab solidarity.
Receiving Speaker of the Syrian People's Assembly Dr. Mahmoud al-Abrash in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa pointed out to the importance of communication among Arab parliaments to support the official and political ties among Arab countries, as well as to crystallize the unifying Arab stances in the international circles.
Dhaka mutiny was pre-planned, reveals investigation
By IANS,
Dhaka : The investigation into the Bangladesh Rifles troopers' mutiny last month has shown that the carnage could be "pre-planned" and around 450 border guards were involved in the massacre in which 74 people were killed.
The investigation into the BDR mutiny revealed that "some outsiders" had knowledge about the rebellion, a top official of a law enforcement agency said.
"We have found involvement of around 450 BDR officials and jawans in the mutiny after scrutinising the video footages and photographs," The Daily Star Tuesday quoted an investigator as saying.
Egypt introduces new sexual harassment laws
London: Egypt has introduced new laws against sexual harassment in an effort to bring down the escalating menace.
In an order issued by outgoing interim...
AL chief to visit Lebanon to continue efforts on solving Lebanese crisis
By Xinhua
Beirut : Arab league (AL) Secretary-General Amr Moussa will visit Lebanon in a few days to resume efforts on solving Lebanese political crisis, the official National News Agency (NNA) reported on Wednesday.
Moussa's assistant Hisham Youssif arrived in Beirut earlier in the day for preparations, said NNA.
During his upcoming visit, the AL chief is expected to gather Lebanese leaders from the majority and the opposition for the third time in a bid to reach an agreement that could facilitate the election of a new president scheduled on Feb. 26.
Former official, 19 Taliban fighters killed in Afghanistan
By DPA,
Kabul : An Afghan provincial official said that US forces killed a former police officer in central Logar province, while 19 Taliban fighters were killed in two separate clashes elsewhere in the country, officials said Saturday.
Ahmad Khan, former director of traffic in Logar province, was killed in his house in Zarghonshar area of Mohammad Agha district Friday night, a spokesman for the provincial governor said.
The US troops detained Khan's two sons and his brother after shooting him dead in front of his family, he said.
On official trip to Pakistan, UK minister joins family wedding
By IANS,
London : A Pakistani-origin British cabinet minister, who went on an official trip to the country to witness the devastation caused by floods, slipped out to attend a family wedding.
OIC voices concern over desecration of Muslim holy places in Crimea
By IINA,
Jeddah : A spokesman of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Observatory on Islamophobia expressed concerns over the rising incidents of vandalism targeting holy places and shrines of Muslims in Crimea. These included desecrating Mosques and destroying and defacing the monuments of famous figures of the Crimean Tatar people erected in Crimean towns as well as gravestones in cemeteries by extremists," the spokesman said in a statement.
15 killed in Afghan suicide bomb attack
Kabul : At least 15 people were killed and 20 others injured in a suicide bomb attack Tuesday in Afghanistan, police said.
The attack took...
30 international recongnized speakers at Malaysian Islamic Finance meeting
By NNN-Bernama,
Kuala Lumpur : More than 30 international and regional speakers are expected to present their views on Islamic banking and finance at the sixth Kuala Lumpur International Islamic Finance 2009 (KLIFF 2009), which will be held here from Nov 2 to 6.
Iran’s intelligence minister steps down
By IANS,
Tehran : Iran's intelligence minister Heidar Moslehi stepped down Sunday, with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accepting his resignation.
Illiterates cannot apply for jobs in Saudi Arabia
By IANS,
Dubai : Saudi Arabia has banned illiterate foreigners from taking up jobs in the country following a study on the crime scene in the country.
Saudi Minister for Interior Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz has approved a proposal by his ministry not to bring anyone, who does not read and write, for jobs in that Gulf nation.
The move comes after an interior ministry research found that uneducated foreign workers topped the list of criminals in the country.
Iran says U.S. video recording of Gulf ship incident a fake
MOSCOW, January 9 (RIA Novosti) - A senior official in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards has said the U.S. video recording of Sunday's alleged confrontation between Iranian and U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf was a fake.
The video, released by the U.S. Department of Defense on Tuesday, shows three motorboats approaching U.S. warships in the Strait of Hormuz.
"The video released by the U.S. Navy has been compiled of archive video files, and the sound has been fabricated," the Iranian Press TV quoted the unnamed Revolution Guards official as saying.
UK-based analyst urges Iran-West agreement on nuclear issue
By IRNA,
London : Iran's nuclear issue could be solved only through diplomatic negotiations to reach an all-out agreement with the West, a university professor suggested on Saturday.
"I believe that Iran's nuclear issue will be solved if Iran and the West establish more stable and normalized ties. A comprehensive political agreement should be concluded between Iran and the West so that problems between two sides could be resolved," Ali Ansari told IRNA from Scotland.
Israeli PM home after discussing Iran”s nuclear file in Germany
By KUNA
Gaza : Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert returned on Wednesday from Germany where he discussed the Middle East peace process and Europe's role in such efforts as well as Iran's nuclear file.
According to Israeli radio, Olmert told reporters in Berlin that he had doubts about reaching a Palestinian-Israeli agreement over permanent status issues, claiming, however, that demarcation of borders with the Palestinian state to be established was fairly easy.
Israel and Palestine – Bush’s cowboy ways
MOSCOW. (Political commentator Maria Appakova) - After the talks in Jerusalem and Ramallah, George W. Bush said that a peace agreement between the Palestinians and the Israelis would be reached by the end of the year.
He was less optimistic on the settlement within Palestine - he is not sure that the head of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Mahmoud Abbas will be able to resolve this problem in the foreseeable future.
Scotland Yard officers in Pakistan to study anti-terror operation
Islamabad : A mock exercise was staged in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi for six Scotland Yard officers who wanted to know how the...
70 militants killed in Pakistan’s tribal region
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : At least 70 militants have been killed and 60 others injured in clashes between security forces and the rebels in northwestern Pakistan, Geo TV reported Friday.
The security forces, backed by helicopter gunships, used automated weapons to target the militants' hideouts in Bajaur tribal agency, Geo TV channel quoted military sources as saying.
A local Taliban spokesman claimed that they have killed 10 securitymen and caught as many in the clashes which began Wednesday.
Pakistan, India Still in Arm Wrestle
By Prensa Latina,
New Delhi : Amidst an environment of tension in which the US State Secretary Condolezza Rice appeared Pakistan and India continues in arm wrestle for the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
New Delhi is demanding Islamabad to adopt strict action against the founder of Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist group Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and the also wanted for terrorism Maulana Masood Azhar and mafia chiefs' Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon.
Their names appeared in a list made up of 20 people the Israeli government gave to the Pakistani to turn them in.
Three kids killed in Pakistan house fire
By IANS,
Islamabad : Three children were killed Saturday when a fire broke out at a house in Pakistan's Faisalabad city, Geo News reported.
25 drowned, 40 missing in Bangladesh boat accident
By Xinhua
Dhaka : At least 25 people drowned when a passenger boat carrying 150 people capsized on the Buriganga river near the Bangladesh capital Thursday afternoon.
Rescuers have recovered 25 bodies from the river so far. Up to 40 passengers were missing, they said.
The police said the boat was sailing from Dhaka Sadarghat Terminal towards Munshiganj, some 30 km southeast of Dhaka at the time of the incident.
The boat capsized after it was hit by a cargo ship near Buriganga First Bridge at about 3 p.m.
2 NATO soldiers killed, 4 wounded in bombing of Afghan government office
By SPA
Kabul : A suicide attack on a government office guarded by Afghan and NATO troops in eastern
Afghanistan killed four people, including two alliance soldiers, AP quoted officials as saying Tuesday.
Eight people also were wounded when the bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into the gates of the building in the Yaqoubi district of Khost province on Monday, causing a guard post to collapse and trapping soldiers inside, officials said.
Indian found dead in Oman was brilliant scientist: colleague
Thiruvananthapuram : The award-winning Indian professor who was found dead in his residence on a university campus in Oman Friday, was a brilliant student,...