Pakistan quake toll mounts past 200
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : The toll in the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck southwestern Pakistan Wednesday rose to more than 200, media reported Thursday.
The toll is feared to rise further as rescuers were digging up bodies buried under rubble of more than 2,000 collapsed houses in the northern part of Balochistan.
The epicentre of the quake was in the scenic tourist spot Ziarat district, about 60 km north of Balochistan's capital Quetta.
The earthquake left 15,000 homeless.
Demolition works for Haram expansion in full swing, 40% completed
By IINA,
Makkah : Demolition of buildings and properties in the north and north western parts of the Haram Mosque in order to facilitate massive expansion of the mosque is undergoing in full swing. "Nearly 40 percent of demolition works has so far been completed. The works are expected to be completed in the near future and the area will be facilitated for performing prayers for the hundreds of thousands of Umrah pilgrims who throng the holy city in the coming holy month of Ramadan," said a source at the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques.
CEC appointment: Pakistan SC warns of action against PM
Islamabad : The Pakistan Supreme Court Tuesday said that if a chief election commissioner (CEC) is not appointed by Dec 5, it will consider...
UAE, Tunisia discuss bilateral relations
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabhi: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Tunisia Wednesday discussed their bilateral relations.
Landslide kills 7 Pakistani villagers, 8 missing
By SPA,
Gilgit, Pakistan : A landslide triggered by torrential rain killed seven people and soldiers were searching for eight others buried under the rubble of their homes in a mountain village in northern Pakistan, police said on Wednesday.
The accident happened late Tuesday in Hilalabad village, about 110 km (70 miles) east of Gilgit, the capital of the country's Northern Areas.
"Soldiers have been sent to the village, " police officer in area, Mohammad Qayyum, told Reuters. "Eight villagers are still missing and many are without shelters."
11 killed, churches razed in central Nigeria
Abuja: At least 11 people were killed and two churches razed by gunmen who stormed two communities in central Nigeria's Plateau State Wednesday, local...
French soldiers donate blood to save Afghan bomb victim
By KUNA,
Kabul : Six French soldiers donated blood to an Afghan civilian who was injured in the a suicide attack in Kabul early this week.
The soldiers, from Camp Warehouse, volunatarily donated 450 milliliters of blood, said a statement from ISAF headquarters on Thursday.
Suffering from perforations of liver and lung, the victim had an urgent need for a blood transfusion before he could undergo an operation.
"It is completely normal to give blood for a victim," said Lieutenant Romuald, one of the six donors.
UAE, China hold bilateral talks
By IANS/WAM,
Beijing : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and China have discussed their strategic ties and ways to enhance bilateral relations between them.
Over 570,000 voters in Addis Ababa get ID
By NNN-ENA
Addis Ababa : More than 570, 000 eligible voters in the metropolis have got registered to cast votes in the upcoming local and by-elections, the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) said.
City’s election coordinator with the board, Desta Hailemicheal told ENA that the stated number of voters were registered at 2,000 polling stations established in different parts of the city until 24 Jan. 2008.
Pakistan’s ungoverned spaces pose threat to South Asia: US
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Ungoverned spaces of Pakistan together with the difficult-to-defend Afghan border have compounded the problem of fighting terrorism in South Asia, according to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
"If you look at South Asia, yes, there is a problem - a kind of coming together of the ungoverned spaces of Pakistan with the difficult-to-defend Afghan border," she said according to a transcript of an interview released by the State Department Monday.
Israel begins largest home-front emergency drill
By DPA
Tel Aviv : Israel began its largest home-front emergency drill Sunday, meant to simulate responses to war and other emergency situations, such as a large-scale terrorist attack.
The five-day drill, dubbed "Turning Point 2", will include security cabinet meetings aimed at examining the effectiveness of the decision-making process during enemy attacks.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said during Sunday's cabinet meeting that the exercise was "routine".
"I hope the Syrians know this and internalise this," he said, in a reference to recent tensions with Damascus.
Kuwait hands out relief aid to 1,440 Syrian families in Jordan
Kuwait City : Kuwaiti Higher Committee for Relief distributed humanitarian aid to 1,440 Syrian refugee families in Jordan as part of Kuwait's wide-scale campaign...
Pakistan PM Golani to atend CGI Asia meeting in Hong Kong on Dec 2-3
By NNN-APP,
Islamabad : Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will leave for Hong Kong on Sunday on a five‑day official visit to attend the Asia meeting of Clinton Global Initiative (CGI).
The CGI meeting, being held on Dec 2‑3, will provide an opportunity to the Asia’s influential leaders to join hands in solving the region’s most pressing issues.
The meeting will focus on three primary areas of discussion including education, energy and climate change and public health.
Five killed in Saudi Arabia shooting during Ashoura
Riyadh : At least five people were killed and nine wounded when three masked men shot them with machine guns and pistols during "Ashoura"...
Abdul Rahman Sulaiman appointed 10th Bernama Chairman
By NNN-Bernama,
Kuala Lumpur : A former Editor-in-Chief of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), Abdul Rahman Sulaiman, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the agency effective Feb 1.
He takes over from Mohd Annuar Zaini whose term as the ninth Bernama Chairman ended on Jan 31, this year, according to the Bernama management on Friday.
The appointment of Abdul Rahman, 64, has received the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Malaysian King) Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin to lead the 13-member Bernama Board of Governors.
Sarkozy hails UAE’s role in promoting cultural understanding
By NNN-WAM
Abu Dhabi : French President Nicolas Sarkozy has hailed the UAE's role in promoting understanding and tolerance among cultures.
Addressing members of the French community in Abu Dhabi Tuesday, Sarkozy who is on a state visit to the UAE, said the country was well-heeled to promote cultural understating among different cultures, thanks to its transcendent view on human fraternity.
62 ships stranded in Bangladesh port
By IANS,
Dhaka : Sixty two cargo vessels are stranded at the Chittagong port after a ship sank Monday, blocking the only channel in the estuary leading to the port.
"We are considering a move to open an alternative channel near the location of the sunken coaster (a small ship)... We may make the attempt Thursday as, otherwise, the stranded ships will face big problems hampering the country's import and export trade," New Age newspaper quoted a top shipping ministry official as saying.
UEFA congress begins in Istanbul
By IANS,
Istanbul : The 36th Congress of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) began in Istanbul Thursday with participation of representatives from 53 member associations.
Rehman Malik conferred PhD degree
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik has been conferred an honorary doctorate degree by Karachi university.
U.S. Damascus embassy may close mission following deadly raid
By Xinhua,
Damascus : The U.S. embassy in Syria said on Wednesday that it may close to the public for fearing retaliation following a Sunday deadly raid on Syrian border by U.S. troops in Iraq.
The U.S. embassy made the warning in a statement on its Website, calling on Americans in Syria to remain alert to review their personal security.
Unforeseen events may cause the U.S. embassy in Damascus to close to the public indefinitely following the Sunday raid on eastern Syria blamed by Damascus on Washington, said the statement.
Bahrain busts terror cell linked to groups in Iraq, Iran
Manama : Bahrain's interior ministry said on Sunday that it has busted a major terrorist cell with links to outlawed groups in Iran and...
Balochistan proposes steps to avert terror attacks
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Balochistan government in Pakistan seeks to introduce stringent measures to tighten security in the province.
US, Lebanese officials discuss Washington’s policy towards Lebanon
By NNN-KUNA,
Washington : US and Lebanese officials and experts gathered in Washington on Friday to discuss the future of US policy towards Lebanon and how could the next Lebanese parliamentary elections change the dynamic in the Middle East.
Stability and democracy are important for Lebanon and Lebanese democracy has to deliver for its people", said Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, a close advisor of President-elect Barack Obama.”
Suicide explosion in Peshawar kills four
By KUNA
Islamabad : Four people were killed in a suicide explosion inside a house in a Pakistani northern city on Wednesday morning, said police.
A suicide bomber blew himself up in a house in Phund area of Peshawar city, 250 kilometers north of Islamabad, police sources told KUNA.
They said the explosion killed four people. It was not immediately clear whether the victims were militants. Police said it was investigating the incident.
Jordan jails 10 jihadists for trying to join Syrian rebels
Amman : Jordan's military-run State Security Court Monday decided to imprison 10 "jihadists" for two years -and-a -half each after they tried to enter...
किस पर बरसेंगे ये बाण?
By उमंग कुमार,
८००० मिसाइलों का कोई क्या कर सकता है ? कहाँ-कहाँ तैनात होंगे इतने मिसाइल ? किन-किन दुश्मनों के सिरों, ज़मीनों, घरों, अस्पतालों इत्यादि पर गिरेंगे यह अस्त्र? कितने बड़े या व्यापक युद्ध की आकांशा की जा रही है ? यह पूछना वाजिब है क्योंकि अभी हाल ही में, अक्टूबर की खबर के मुताबिक़, भारत ने इस्रायल से ३२,००० करोड रुपयों की लागत से ८,००० से अधिक "स्पाइक" नामक मिसाइलों की खरीद पक्की की है | वैसे, यह ८,००० मिसाइल तो पूर्ती मात्र हैं - भारत के सेना की ज़रूरत ४०, ००० मिसाइलों की बताई गयी है | आप ही अंदाजा लगाइए की कितना भारी इंतज़ाम है यह |
Former Bangladesh ministers sent to jail for corruption
By Xinhua,
Dhaka : A Bangladesh court Monday ordered three former ministers to jail in a coal mine corruption case.
The three ministers include former finance minister Saifur Rahman, former industry minister Matiur Rahman Nizami and former social welfare minister Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed.
They had served as ministers from 2001 to 2006 when Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party was prime minister.
All the three Monday appeared before the court set up in high security parliament building complex for bail, but the court rejected their applications.
Talks with US on Iraq security ‘useless’: Iran
By IANS,
Tehran : Iran said Monday its next round of talks with the US on Iraq security would "make no sense" in the backdrop of intense US military offensive in the war-ravaged country, IRNA reported.
"The US does not heed Iranian calls to stop indiscriminate bombardment of residential areas in Sadr City. Therefore, the warring parties should sit at negotiating table and that would help the Iraqi government to iron out the differences over national reconciliation," government spokesman Mohammed-Ali Hossiani said.
Dubai World crisis alarms analysts in China
By IANS,
Beijing : A Chinese analyst has warned that as the country's "real estate bubble continues to grow in size, a crisis similar to that at Dubai World is likely to take place in China".
"China's real estate bubble continues to grow in size," said Yi Xianrong, a researcher at the Institute of Finance and Banking at the Chinese Academy of Social Science.
"A crisis similar to that in Dubai is likely to take place in China, and the impact could be much more devastating," Yi was quoted by the Global Times newspaper of China as saying.
UAE participates in global microcredit summit in Spain
By IANS,
Valladolid (Spain) : UAE's Ambassador to Spain Hessa Al-Otaiba has led the country's delegation to the 5th Global Microcredit Summit in Valladolid, Spain.
20 people killed in Bangladesh accidents
Dhaka : At least 20 people were killed and 30 injured in two separate accidents occurred over the weekend in Bangladesh, police said...
Violence Claim Over 80 Victims in Iraq
By Prensa Latina,
Baghdad : Three suicide attacks left 20 dead and over 60 wounded in Baghdad among events that fuel insecurity in Iraq.
The Police said a woman set off a suicide vest amid a group of Shiite pilgrims that honored the death of Imam Musa al-Kadhim at Kahramana plaza.
Aswat AlIraq news agency reported twin blasts at the National Theater and Al-Alawiya telephone Co. when a group of faithful readied to worship Ja far al-Sadiq, seventh of 12 Shiite Imams.
Afghan militants abduct 30 kids
By IANS,
Islamabad : Thirty Pakistani children, who accidentally entered Afghanistan while celebrating Eid, were kidnapped by militants, a media report said Friday.
Army spokeswoman: Israel lifts closure on West Bank
By Xinhua
Jerusalem : The closure imposed on the West Bank following last Thursday's shooting incident in Jerusalem was lifted on Sunday evening, an Israeli army spokeswoman confirmed to Xinhua on Monday morning.
Meanwhile, the Israeli police continues to be on high alert in the wake of the shooting attack at Mercaz Harav Yeshiva school in Jerusalem on Thursday, in which eight students were killed and some ten others injured.
First female minister appointed in Saudi Arabia
By Xinhua,
Riyadh : Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz has appointed the first-ever female deputy minister in the oil-rich kingdom.
Norah al-Faiz became deputy education minister for women's education, local Al- Arabiya website reported Saturday.
The king reshuffled his cabinet and named a new central bank governor and a new head of the religious police.
Muhammad al-Jasser was appointed by the king as the central bank governor, replacing Hamad Saud al-Sayyari.
Muslims and the West
By Maulana Waris Mazhari,
(Translated from Urdu by Yoginder Sikand)
‘Sharif set no deadline for polio eradication in Pakistan’
Islamabad : A statement issued by Prime Minister House spokesperson Thursday denied that Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced any deadline for the eradication...
Saudi Arabia to send back Indian prisoners in humanitarian move
Riyadh : In a signficant humanitarian gesture following the visit of the Saudi crown prince to India last week, hundreds of Indian prisoners in...
Pakistani PM heads for Asia-Europe summit
By IANS,
Islamabad: Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf will attend a two-day Asia-Europe summit in Laos, his office said Saturday.
Pakistani daily concerned over India’s hiked defence budget
Islamabad : New Delhi's rationale for increasing the defence budget is "consistent with the shift in the Indian government's ideology to more nationalistic elements...
Larijani confers with Palestine PM Haniyeh over phone
By IRNA,
Tehran : Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani in a telephone conversation with Palestine Prime Minister Esmaeil Haniyeh on Monday expressed confidence that with his leadership the Palestinians will achieve victory.
According to the report of Majlis Media Department, the Palestinian prime minister also felicitated Larijani as the new Majlis speaker and wished him success.
Saudi varsity, IBM to build one of world’s fastest supercomputers
By IANS,
Dubai : Saudi Arabia's upcoming King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST) has announced it will build one of the world's fastest and most powerful supercomputers in collaboration with IBM.
The joint project will build and conduct research on the most complex, high-performance computing (HPC) system in the region and among academic institutions in the world, according to a KAUST statement.
Manmohan to go to Saudi Arabia, Qatar next month
By Manish Chand,IANS
New Delhi : In his first visit to the Gulf region after becoming prime minister over four years ago, Manmohan Singh will go to Saudi Arabia and Qatar next month - an important visit that seeks to underscore India's special ties with the Arab world.
Manmohan Singh will go to Saudi Arabia, the Gulf's most influential country, and Qatar, home to large oil and gas reserves, on a two-nation visit that begins Nov 8, official sources told IANS.
Germany said to be training under-age Somalian soldiers: report
By IRNA,
Berlin : Germany is said to be training under-age Somalian soldiers, the daily Frankfurter Rundschau reported in its Thursday edition.
Responding to a German parliamentary inquiry by the opposition party The Left, the foreign ministry said it could not rule out that Somalian minors were also instructed by German military trainers.
Around 20 German soldiers are training some 2000 Somalian troops in Uganda as part of an European Union-led military mission.
Leak of Kasab’s confessional video to TV channel angers court
By IANS,
Mumbai: The Mumbai court trying the 26/11 attack Thursday urged police to take action against the officer who leaked Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab's confessional video to a TV channel here.
A 67-minute video CD of Kasab's confession, recorded by police in a hospital soon after his arrest during the last year's terror attacks in Mumbai, was repeatedly telecast by TV9 last week.
Israeli strike on northern Gaza kills three Palestinians
By Xinhua
Gaza : Three Palestinians were killed on Saturday in an Israeli strike on a group of militants who were launching makeshift rockets from northern Gaza Strip at Israel, medics and witnesses said.
The witnesses in the town of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza Strip said that an Israeli surface-to-surface rocket had directly hit a group of militants who were launching rockets at Israel.
They said that the Israeli strike was carried out shortly after two homemade rockets were fired from the area at southern Israel.
17 Malaysian Tourists Injured In Accident In Chiang Mai
By D. Arul Rajoo, Bernama
Bangkok : A Thai bus driver was killed and 17 Malaysian tourists injured when the tour bus they were travelling in, plunged into a ravine in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai Sunday.
Two other Malaysian tourists, a Thai tour guide and an assistant, escaped unhurt in the crash which occurred about 4pm.
A police spokesman said the injured who sustained cuts and bruises were sent to a nearby hospital for observation.
Now Pakistan wants ‘moderate Taliban’ in Afghan government
By IANS,
London : Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says moderate elements of the Taliban should be taken into the Afghan government.
In the process, a "wedge" could be driven between moderates and hardliners, he said.
"Get them into the mainstream, give them a respectable share in power, it will add to stability," he told the BBC Thursday.
Qureshi's remarks came as a London conference on Afghanistan established a multi-million dollar trust fund aimed at winning over militant foot soldiers who renounce the Taliban and violence.
Russia’s Lavrov to attend Middle East Quartet meeting in London
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will pay an official visit to London on May 1-2 to attend a ministerial meeting of the Middle East Quartet, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
At the London talks, the Quartet, which comprises Russia, the U.S., the UN and the EU, will discuss aid for the Palestinian territories and talk to representatives from Arab League states, as well as discuss plans for a Middle East peace conference in Moscow.
Lebanese opposition dissatisfied with Seniora remaining as PM
By Xinhua,
Beirut : The Lebanese opposition made it clear it was not satisfied with Fouad Seniora remaining as prime minister, thus internal and regional political confrontations could resume, As-Safir daily reported Thursday.
Christian opposition leader MP Michel Aoun was quoted as saying that the nomination of Seniora is a hint to "conflict rather than reconciliation."
‘No visa-free entry for Bangladeshis’
New Delhi: Media reports that said the government was considering visa-free entry for Bangladeshi nationals were not correct and no such plan was in...
Kuwait’s deputy PM quits
By IANS,
Kuwaiti City : Kuwait's deputy prime minister and foreign minister Sheikh Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah has resigned, Xinhua quoted the government spokesman as saying Tuesday.
Syria-Israel for Peace Talks
By Prensa Latina,
Tel Aviv : Syria and Israel governments announced Wednesday beginning of peace negotiations with mediation of Turkey to put end to the conflict created by Israeli occupation of Golan Heights in 1967.
A release from the office of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert issued in this city and another one from the Syrian Foreign Affairs Ministry issued in Damascus confirmed the information that was earlier circulating in several international and regional media.
Nine killed in Bangladesh refugee camp clashes
Dhaka: At least nine people, including three children and two women, were burnt to death and 30 injured Saturday in a fire during a...
EU foreign ministers call on Tehran to clarify result
By DPA,
Luxembourg : European Union (EU) diplomats Monday called for an investigation into allegations of fraud in Iran's presidential election, but stressed that they wanted better relations with the Islamic Republic.
"First of all, let's check that (the election) was truly democratic, and secondly, let's try to keep the dialogue going," Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb said as he arrived at a meeting with EU counterparts in Luxembourg.
US sceptical over the success of Carter dialogue with Hamas
By NNN-KUNA,
Washington : The United States has expressed scepticism over Hamas' willingness to accept Israel as a neighbour.
"If Hamas got out of the terrorism business and recognises Israel, that would be a different situation and potentially would mean a different kind of relationship between Hamas and the international community," said State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey in a press briefing Monday.
"But I think, unfortunately, we are not likely to see that any time soon," he added.
Saudi Haj management needs toning up
By Dr Syed Zafar Mahmood
On 11 and 24 September 2015 two incidents occurred in the Muslim sacred Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia causing death...
Iranians in Malaysia protest anti-Iran film
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Iranians living in Malaysia Tuesday lodged their protest with the government against a cable channel's plans to screen a Hollywood movie they consider as anti-Iranian, official IRNA news agency reported.
Iran's Ambassador in Kuala Lumpur Mehdi Khandaq-Abadi led the group of Iranians to lodge Tehran's official protest during a meeting with Malaysia's Minister of Information Ahmad Shabery Cheek against the cable channel's plan to show the movie "300" that Iranians believe distorted their country's history.
Six killed in US drone strike in Pakistan
Islamambad : At least six people were killed and many others injured in a US drone strike in Pakistan's North Waziristan Agency, sources said...
Lebanese president admits obstacles facing cabinet lineup
By Xinhua,
Beirut : Lebanon's newly-elected President Michel Suleiman said there are some obstacles that could delay the cabinet make-up, but the barriers can be surmounted through dialogue, local Naharnet news website reported on Thursday.
Suleiman also denied allegations that some foreign parties were pressuring him to nominate certain figures for the next cabinet, said the report.
"There is no party that can pressure Baabda (the Presidential Palace)," Suleiman was quoted as saying, adding "We are only ready to move under the pressure of national and Arab interests."
UN Chief appoints Norwegian diplomat as envoy to Afghanistan
By NNN-Xinhua
Kabul : Untied Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has appointed a Norwegian diplomat Kai Eide of Norway as his envoy to Afghanistan, a press release of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) received Tuesday said.
"Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Kai Eide of Norway as his Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)," the press release added.
Eide replaces Tom Koenigs of Germany, who completed his assignment in December 2007.
India rejects Raheel’s remark on Kashmir
New Delhi : India Saturday termed as unwholesome and unacceptable Pakistan Army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif's comment that Kashmir was Islamabad's "jugular vein" and...
Nine die in Afghanistan blasts
Kabul : At least nine people were killed Monday in two separate bomb attacks in Afghanistan's Ghazni province, a police official said.
"A police van...
NATO air strike kills 15 militants in Afghanistan
By KUNA,
Kabul : A NATO air strike in southeastern Afghanistan killed 15 militants on Tuesday, local police said.
The militants were hiding in a mountainous area after exchanging fire with police when they were located and targeted by the air force, said Brigadier General Esmatullah Alizai, police chief of the southeastern Paktia province.
He said the clash and air strike took place in Said Karam district of the province.
The police chief said bodies of the militants killed in the air strike were collected from the site and brought to a local hospital.
6,000-year-old skeletons of camels found in UAE
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : A team of archaeologists from the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) has discovered the skeletons of at least 40 ancient wild camels dating back to over 6,000 years.
The team made the discovery at a place called Al Gharbia in the western region of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, the largest of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
Archbishop’s parachute jump in sympathy with British soldiers
By IRNA,
London : Archbishop of York John Sentamu is planning a parachute jump to express sympathy and to raise funds for British soldiers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Sentamu, who opposed the Iraq war and believes that Britain does too little to meet its debt to the armed services, said the government needs to do more to look after servicemen and women.
"That means paying them more when on active service, housing them better and providing for the best medical and respite care if injured," he said.
“We know very less about each other,” says renowned B’desh Baul musician Mac Haque
By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,
Guwahati: He is very popular and widely respected in Bangladesh. A household name in the world of Baul sangeet, Maqsoodul Haque – whose roots are from Assam – has also been able to leave a mark in this part of India with his mesmerizing performances.
‘Pakistan is Al Qaeda’s global base’
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Pakistan has become the nerve centre of Al Qaeda's global operations to plan attacks around the world even while the Pakistani Taliban are planning a "surge" of their own, according to a top American military commander.
Senior leaders of Al Qaeda are using sanctuaries in Pakistan's lawless frontier regions to plan new terror attacks and funnel money, manpower and guidance to affiliates around the world, Gen. David Petraeus, US Central Command chief, said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.
Bereaved family of Israeli soldier digs up empty grave
Jerusalem : An Israeli family's quest to discover the fate of its son, whom the military declared was killed in battle more than four...
Turkish PM urges women to be more politically active
By NNN-KUNA
Ankara : Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan called on women to take part in the political decision-making and lashed out at opponents of lifting a ban on wearing the Islamic veil.
The premier said recognizing the women role in the society should not be restricted to March 8 each year, and urged fellow female nationals to be active in the political realm.
Erdogan, addressing the fourth consultancy conference on role of the women in local administrations, expressed hope that the women would win seats in the local election due in March 2009.
Palestinian top negotiator supports suspending peace talks
By Xinhua
Ramallah : Chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qurei Sunday said he supported a Palestinian leadership decision to suspend peace talks with Israel in response to the Israeli offensive into Gaza Strip, a Palestinian newspaper reported.
"I commended the suspension of the negotiations and I think they will stop," Ahmed Qurei, the head of the Palestinian negotiating team, told al-Ayyam daily.
Turkish protesters break into Egyptian consulate in Istanbul
Istanbul : Some Turkish demonstrators broke into the Egyptian consulate in Istanbul Monday night when hundreds of them were protesting against an Egyptian court's...
Iraq frees 36 Iranian opposition members
By DPA,
Baghdad: Iraqi authorities Wednesday freed 36 members of an Iranian opposition group detained during July clashes between Iraqi security forces and members of the group.
The detainees were taken into custody during clashes between members of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI) and Iraqi security forces entering the group's base at Camp Ashraf in northern Iraq. Seven members of the group died in the clashes.
Pakistani lawyers protest, claim 19 missing after violence
By DPA
Karachi : Hundreds of lawyers in Pakistan's port city boycotted courts and held protest rallies Friday over Wednesday's clashes that left over a dozen dead, including seven attorneys who were burnt to death.
The rallies and protests were part of a countrywide boycott called by the Pakistan Bar Association, which declared a three-day mourning over the tragic Karachi events Wednesday.
Taliban vow to avenge US attack that killed 11 Pakistani soldiers
By DPA,
Islamabad : Taliban militants Thursday pledged to take revenge for the US airstrike that destroyed a Pakistani army post near the Afghan border and killed 11 paramilitary troops this week.
"We have the right to defend our country. Any aggression by NATO forces inside Pakistan will be responded with full force," said Asad, a spokesman for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
UN chief reiterates call for immediate Gaza ceasefire
By DPA,
Tel Aviv, Jan 15 (DPA) Elements are in place for a ceasefire in the Israeli-Hamas fighting in the Gaza Strip to come "reasonably soon", UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday.
He told a news conference in Tel Aviv that what was needed was an immediate end to the fighting, after which the parties could continue deciding on the conditions for a more durable truce.
He said a UN Security Council resolution from one week ago calling on the sides to end the fighting was binding and Israel had to abide by it.
Human Rights Abuses Continue In Iraq: UN Report
By Bernama,
United Nations : Grave rights abuses continue in Iraq during the first half of 2008, including targeted killings of professionals, assaults on minorities, alleged torture of detainees and attacks against women, despite great improvements in general security, a new United Nations report says.
The report particularly expresses concern over the conditions of detainees in prisons, where they are held for months, and even years, without trial or access to legal counsel, the Press Trust of India (PTI) was quoted as saying Wednesday.
Afghan civilians die in ISAF operation
By KUNA
Kabul : Two Afghan women and as many children were killed during an anti-Taliban operation by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in southern Afghanistan, the military said on Wednesday.
"During an operation in the area of Regional Command South, a group of insurgents engaged ISAF forces who returned fire immediately. Tragically, a group of civilians received fire causing the death of two women and two children," said ISAF spokesman Brig. Gen. Carlos Branco.
Israel calls for ‘determined action’ against Iran
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem: Israel Sunday urged the international community to take determined action to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
The Israeli foreign ministry also questioned the UN nuclear watchdog's ability to monitor Iran's nuclear programme.
Israel made the comments in response to the latest reports prepared by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on its investigations in Iran and Syria.
17 militants killed, drugs seized in Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : Afghan and US troops during a two-day joint operation in the southern Helmand province of Afghanistan killed over a dozen militants and captured two, a report said Thursday.
"A joint commando action by Afghan and the US Special Force was carried out against Taliban in Gandam Zirkajaki village since Tuesday, during which 17 rebels have been eliminated," a defence ministry report added.
It also claimed to have seized huge quantity of ammunition besides drugs worth $5 million dollars.
There has been no comment on the issue from the Taliban till yet.
Jordanians burn Mubarak`s pictures in anti-Israel demo
By ANTARA News/AFP,
Amman : Hundreds of Jordanians demanded Tuesday that Egypt open its Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip in a protest against Israel`s war in the Palestinian territory.
Holding Jordanian and Palestinian flags as well as pictures of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, around 400 people took part in the demonstration outside Cairo`s embassy in Amman amid tight security.
60 years after 1948 war, India-Pakistan on trade highway to peace
By Muhammad Najeeb, F. Ahmed and Binoo Joshi, IANS,
Muzaffarabad/Salamabad/Rangar : Bridging a six-decade divide, India and Pakistan Tuesday moved ahead on the road to peace as the first trade convoys trundled across the Line of Control (LoC) that separates the two Kashmirs to the sound of drumbeats and loud cheers.
As cross-LoC trade on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawlakote routes began for the first time since 1948, when commercial ties snapped following the India-Pakistan war a year after the bloody partition of the subcontinent, excitement ran high on both sides.
No asylum for Musharraf: Rice
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has ruled out giving asylum to “good ally” President Pervez Musharraf to bail him out as he faces impeachment by Pakistan's new democratic government.
“This is an issue that is not on the table and just want to keep our focus on what we must do with the democratic government of Pakistan,” she said in an interview with Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday.
Foreign security guards wound civilian in Baghdad
By Xinhua
Baghdad : An Iraqi civilian was severely injured when guards working for a foreign security firm opened fire in a busy street in central Baghdad on Sunday, a well-informed police source said.
The incident took place in the morning when a SUVs convoy of a foreign security firm were passing through a street near the Zawraa Park just outside the Green Zone, which houses Iraqi government offices and foreign embassies, the source told Xinhuaon condition of anonymity.
Pakistan, Turkey may ink currency swap agreement
By IANS,
Islamabad: Pakistan and Turkey are expected to sign a currency swap agreement to boost trade, a media report said.
Osama, Mullah not in Pakistan: Gilani
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday said neither Taliban chief Mullah Omar nor Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden are in Pakistan, a media report said.
Gilani said if anyone has any credible and verifiable information about Omar and bin Laden it should be shared with Pakistan, Geo TV reported.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday she believed Osama bin Laden was still in Pakistan.
600 Pakistani police personnel fail English test
By IANS,
Islamabad : Over 600 Pakistani police personnel failed an English language test that was conducted for deployment on UN peacekeeping missions.
Book Review: The Prophet Muhammad-A Role Model for Muslim Minorities
By Yoginder Sikand, TwoCircles.net
Hajj service of the IFF volunteers appreciated
By TCN News,
Makkah: “Dedicated and timely service of the India Fraternity Forum (IFF) volunteers during the Hajj has been outstanding. The service was much valuable and benefited thousands of pilgrims, who came from all around the globe. Indeed it has become an inspiration to many to follow”, said, SR Shareef Al Fadhl, educationist.
Pakistan not to get Australian uranium: Envoy
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan is not eligible to buy uranium from Australia, outgoing High Commissioner Tim George has said.
Two suicide bombings kill over 20 Iraqis
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : Two suicide bombings, one involving a female attacker, left more than 50 people killed or injured on Wednesday in Iraq.
A suicide bomber blew himself up in a tent on a funeral site at the Zaidan village of Abu Ghrab area, some 15 km west of Baghdad, an Interior Ministry source said.
The blast killed at least 20 mourners and wounded about 30others at the funeral held for the head of a local school, the source said.
It was not immediately clear why the funeral was targeted, but extremists in Iraq usually kill randomly.
Israeli government to discuss relations with Gaza — radio
By KUNA,
Gaza : The Israeli government will continue Wednesday, for the second day, its discussion on the manner of relations with Gaza Strip, Israel Radio said.
It said that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will head the meeting in which Israel will decide whether to seek calm or confrontation with the Palestinians in the strip.
It quoted sources in the Israeli government as saying that Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak called in a meeting Tuesday for trying all means to achieve calm before taking any military action in the strip.
Opium flows through Pakistan, funds Al Qaeda: US expert
By IANS
New York : Pakistan has emerged as a major transit point for opium smuggling from Afghanistan and the illicit trade is funding Al Qaeda, insists a US expert on drugs.
"By neglecting to block the drugs, Pakistan and we are funding our worst enemy, who showed on 9/11 that they want us dead," wrote Robert Weiner, a former drug policy spokesman for the White House, in an op-ed piece in Miami Herald Monday.
10 killed in terror attack at Rawalpindi mosque
By IANS,
Rawalpindi : At least 10 people were killed in a terror attack at a mosque Friday in this Pakistani garrison city where the army headquarters are located.
The suicide attack took place at the mosque near Chohar Chowk in Westridge area of Rawalpindi.
At least 10 people were killed as two blasts ripped through the mosque in the garrison neighbourhood Friday, DPA quoted the police as saying.
Geo News quoted eyewitnesses as saying that over 20 injured have been shifted to hospitals.
Sources, however, said the number of blasts is more than a dozen.
Zardari denies ISI hand in Kabul attack on Indian mission
By IANS,
New York : Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari - his eyes set on the presidency - has denied the involvement of his country's intelligence agency in the bloody suicide bombing at the Indian embassy in Kabul.
Zardari also told Newsweek in an interview - conducted before the departure of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) from the ruling alliance - that his country could learn from India's coalition politics.
Pakistan’s coalition parties undecided on key ministries
By NNN-Xinhua
Islamabad : A first group of Pakistan's cabinet members is likely to take oath on Saturday as the coalition parties are yet decided on some key ministries, according to local media.
The Pakistan's coalition parties, which gripped power from the Feb. 18 elections, held a meeting on Wednesday discussion the formation of the new government, News Network International (NNI) reported.
Bangladesh fears militant attack on jailed VIPs
By IANS
Dhaka : Security has been beefed up in jails across Bangladesh as authorities fear attacks on VIP prisoners on the first anniversary of the execution of Islamist militants' top brass.
Banned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB)'s supremo Abdur Rahman and his deputy Siddiqur Rahman alias Bangla Bhai were among the six executed March 29 last year for killing two judges.
The executions were carried out in four different jails after President Iajuddin Ahmed rejected their mercy petitions.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) provides loans to Pakistan
By SPA
Islamabad : Asian Development Bank (ADB) has made accumulative lending of $ 18.6 billion to-date for the development projects in Pakistan.
This was stated by the country director ADB Peter L Fedon while delivering his presentation on ADB s development partnership with Pakistan at Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (PIIA).
Fedon said that funding to energy sector was the highest with 21.1 percent followed by the agriculture sector with 20.90 percent, finance 13.2 percent, transport 11.3 and industry 9 percent.
Turkish plan, a way to do away with Gaza crisis
Tehran, Jan 13, IRNA – While Gaza crisis entered 18th day today and some 5,000 Gazans were martyred and wounded by the Zionist regime, Turkey has offered a plan to end to the ongoing crisis in the region said an analysis by IRNA’s Research and News Studies Office.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has presented a two-stage peace plan based on the first stage of which ceasefire will come into force, entries to Gaza will be re-opened and Turkish forces will be deployed in the region as peace-keeping forces.
Pakistan’s power shortfall at 4,000 MW
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan's power shortfall has reached 4,000 MW with outages ranging up to 17 hours in rural areas and up to 12 hours in urban areas.
The current demand for electricity is 11,500 MW while generation has reduced to 7,500 MW from 8,000 MW, Online news agency reported.
This has forced outages that are badly affecting industrial and domestic consumers.
Consumers have now demanded that PEPCO divide the shortfall equally among the four provinces and the VVIP feeders to end the outages.
Israel sets up West Bank terror attack emergency hotline
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : The Israel Defense Force (IDF) Wednesday set up a special emergency hotline of West Bank terror attacks, local daily Ha'aretz reported.
The new emergency line serves the area's residents and anyone passing through the territories, in a bid to provide real-time response to any terror incident throughout the West Bank.
The number of emergency hotline is 1208 and it is can be dialed from any phone or cellphone. The emergency line will be manned 24 hours a day.
Saudis plan to grow crops overseas
By NNN-KUNA,
London : Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans to develop large-scale overseas agricultural projects to secure food supplies, revealing that Riyadh is in discussions with the Ukraine, Pakistan, Sudan, Turkey and Egypt, it was reported here.
Abdullah Al-Obaid, the Deputy Agriculture Minister, told the Financial Times (FT) newspaper here Friday the government was planning to set up projects of at least 100,000 hectares in several countries to grow crops such as wheat, corn, rice, soya beans and alfalfa, a feed for livestock.
United States and Syria should talk (about everything)
By Theodore H. Kattouf, CGNews,
The recent compromise on power sharing in Lebanon spares the country further bloodshed, and allows its people to return to a modicum of normalcy. However, the underlying causes of the conflict remain, and Lebanon continues to be an arena where external powers play out their rivalries.
Unless and until Syria and the United States reach a grand bargain, the Lebanese will continue to pay the price.
US hasn’t requested access to Osama’s family: Islamabad
By IANS,
Islamabad : The US has not requested Pakistan for access to the family of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden who was gunned by US forces in Abbottabad, authorities here said.
Iran not to oppose Turkish mediation in talks with US
By Xinhua,
Tehran : Iran has said it will not oppose Turkey's mediation in possible future talks between the Islamic nation and the US under its new president Barack Obama.
"We will certainly not create any obstacles in the way of such moves," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said Monday, Iranian Press TV reported.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said last Friday Ankara could play a positive role in mediating between Tehran and Washington.
Bush fully briefed on India, Pakistan situation since Musharraf exit
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : President George W. Bush has been kept fully briefed about the situation in Pakistan and rise in violence across the border with India since the exit former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf.
"Yes, the president is kept fully briefed on it," White House spokesperson Dana Perino told reporters Thursday when asked if Bush was watching or been briefed about the situation in Pakistan since the exit of it key ally in Islamabad.
Authors of book on MH370 hit back at Malaysia Airlines
Wellington : The New Zealand authors of a book on the MH370 air crash have hit back at Malaysia Airlines after the company accused...
Pakistan president: Musharraf’s quit part of negotiated settlement
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistan President Asif Zardari disclosed for the first time that his predecessor Pervez Musharraf had resigned as part of a negotiated settlement guaranteed by "international and local" stakeholders, according to local media reports Tuesday.
"All international and local powers, which have stakes in the region, were guarantors of General (r) Pervez Musharraf's negotiated resignation," local newspaper Daily Times quoted the president as saying.
UN Security Council may agree position on Gaza – Russian envoy
By RIA Novosti,
United Nations : Two days of UN Security Council discussions on Gaza could end on Wednesday with a resolution or non-binding presidential statement, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Yakovlev said.
Israel launched a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, after a week of airstrikes targeting the radical Islamic group Hamas, which runs the territory. More than 650 Palestinians have died since the assault began.
UNHCR appeals for USD 3 million to assist 77,000 internally displaced in Yemen
By KUNA,
Geneva : The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has launched an appeal for USD 3 million to provide protection and assistance to an estimated 77,000 people affected by a local conflict in northern Yemen.
UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond told reporters Tuesday that funds raised in the supplementary appeal would ensure enhanced support for the internally displaced persons and returnees affected by a conflict which erupted in 2004 between a rebel group and government forces in the Sa'adah Governorate.
Petroleum projects worth nearly $200 bn underway in Gulf region
By IANS,
Dubai : Development and exploration projects worth about $196 billion are being undertaken across the Gulf region in the oil and gas sector, WAM news agency reported wednesday quoting reports.
The current economic crisis has prompted petroleum companies in the Middle East to enhance reservoir utilisation and flow modelling based on geostatistical analysis to accurately estimate reserves, it reported.
Turkey declares national day of mourning for Saudi King
Ankara : Turkey declared the day of Saturday as national day of mourning over the death of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah.
"As a sign of...
Under pressure, Pakistan police plan to arrest Hafiz Saeed
By IANS,
New Delhi/Lahore : With Washington and New Delhi ratcheting up pressure on it over the Mumbai attack probe, the Pakistan police have filed two complaints against suspected terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed ahead of the month-end meeting between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan in New York.
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.
19 Pakistani girls in car, set record
By IANS,
Karachi : As many as 19 school girls crammed into a small car and set a Guinness world record here.
Zardari meets Nawaz Sharif at Raiwind
LAHORE, Feb 16 (APP)- Chief PML-N Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Co-Chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari Saturday agreed to launch a joint movement against rigging after February 18 elections.“We are taking part in the elections as a protest and if the government try to rig it strong movement will be launched,” they said this during their meeting at Sharif’s residence, Jati Umra Raiwind near here on Saturday.
US Air Carrier, ‘Reminder’ to Iran
By Prensa Latina,
London : The US defence secretary, Robert Gates, said the deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the Gulf could serve as a “reminder” to Iran of American resolve to defend its interests in the region, reported The Guardian, UK.
Gates denied the arrival of a new carrier represented an escalation, pointing out that US naval strength in the Gulf rises and falls constantly with routine naval deployments, but it comes at a time of heightened rhetoric from Washington about Iran’s role in the Iraqi insurgency, said the London newspaper.
Chemical Ali will not go to the gallows alone: Iraq
By DPA
Baghdad : The Iraqi government wants to execute three aides of former president Saddam Hussein together - including his cousin "Chemical Ali" - who were sentenced to death for genocide, Iraqi media reported Wednesday.
Ali Hassan al-Majid, also known as Chemical Ali, along with former defence minister Sultan Hashim and a former army chief of operations, Hussein al-Tikriti, were all sentenced to death in June for a genocide campaign against the Kurds in the 1980s.
Al-Majid earned the name Chemical Ali for gassing the Kurds in the brutal crackdown.
Australian Government Commits To Helping Re-build Iraq
By Bernama,
Canberra : Australian Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said here on Monday that his government remained committed to a positive role in the reconstruction of Iraq.
"There's no suggestion the Iraqi government doesn't want non-U. S. forces in its country," China's Xinhua news agency quoted Fitzgibbon as saying to a local media, adding that the Iraqi people have a democracy now and these things must go through the parliamentary processes.
Australia asks Pakistan to focus on security issues
By NNN-Bernama,
Melbourne : Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has urged the newly-elected Pakistani President to focus on security issues, particularly on his country's border with Afghanistan.
Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, yesterday won a landslide victory to become Pakistan's new President.
The US has been pressing Pakistan hard to eradicate Taliban and al-Qaeda havens near its border with Afghanistan, a sentiment echoed by Smith.
Somali pirates release Omani ship after eight months
By Xinhua,
Nairobi : Somali pirates freed an Omani ship almost eight months after hijacking the vessel. The crew were unharmed, a regional maritime official said Thursday.
The pirates Thursday released the ASMAK fishing vessel, which was hijacked Jan 14, without causing harm to any of the 22 crew members of the ship, said Andrew Mwangura, the East African coordinator of Seafarers Assistance Programme (SAP).
"The 22 crew men of Oman fishing vessel ASMAK have been released unharmed and are preparing to sail back to Oman," Mwangura told Xinhua over telephone.
OIC receives prime plot of land to build its new headquarters
By IINA,
Jeddah : The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has received a prime plot of land allotted to build its new headquarters from the Jeddah Municipality at a ceremony held here yesterday. The Municipality officials handed over the documents related to the site to senior officials of OIC including its Secretary General Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu. The ceremony was also attended by senior officials of the Saudi Ministry of Finance, the Jeddah Construction Development Company as well as officials from the OIC member countries.
Mortar hits Israeli kibbutz, kills Israeli woman
By Xinhua,
Gaza : An Israeli woman was killed and three wounded on Friday afternoon by a mortar shell fired by Gaza militants at an Israeli kibbutz near the border between Gaza Strip and Israel.
An Israeli army spokesman told Israeli Radio Arabic service that Palestinian militants fired in the afternoon a mortar shell from Gaza at Kibbutz Kfar Azza, adding that a woman there was killed and three men wounded.
Iran wants option of nuclear weapon, says ElBaradei
By DPA,
London : Iran is mastering nuclear technology and believes firmly in having the option of a nuclear weapon, the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed ElBaradei, said in a BBC interview Wednesday.
"It is my gut feeling that Iran would like to have the technology to enable it to have nuclear weapons," ElBaradei said.
He urged western countries to engage with Iran to remove the incentive for making a bomb.
U.S. condemns PKK’s attack in Turkey
By Xinhua,
Ankara : The United States condemned on Thursday the attack of the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) that took place in Diyarbakir province of southeastern Turkey Wednesday.
The PKK militants ambushed a police shuttle bus in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir, killing five people, including four police officers and injuring 22 others including 17police officers.
Former Gaddafi aide lands in Italy with family
By IANS,
Rome : Libyan leader Abdesslem Jalloud, a close aide of Muammar Gaddafi, has arrived in Italy along with his family, a media report said.
Can Sarkozy trigger changes in Israeli-Arab relations?
By Zhang Yanyang, Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Is French President Nicolas Sarkozy able to trigger a revolutionary change in local geopolitics or will he join the line of dignitaries who failed to leave an imprint on Israeli-Arab relations?
Huge growth in British-assisted Israeli projects in UK
London, July 24, IRNA – During the past decade there has been a huge growth in the number of Israeli businesses investing in the UK with the assistance of the British government, British Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk has revealed.
Under the 13 years of rule by the previous Labor government, British financial assistance was provided for a total of 71 foreign direct investment projects from Israel which located or expanded in the UK out of a total of 99 Israeli projects in Britain.
Bush’s Successor Inherits Iraq
By Prensa Latina
Washington : President George W. Bush will leave to his successor the future of US troops in Iraq, since his plans do not include reducing its forces in 2008.
The New York Times says that a videoconference with the US military and political executives proves that Bush will not reduce the forces although his term is coming to an end.
The talks involved, among other, General David Petraeus, head of the US troops in Iraq, and US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker.
Indian election elicits keen interest in Pakistan
By Nivedita,
Lahore : Will Narendra Modi win? Will India get a stable government? What are Arvind Kejriwal's prospects? Is the Congress finished? The questions...
Three injured in Lahore blast
By IANS,
Lahore : At least three people were injured in a bomb blast near a shrine in Lahore Thursday night, reports said.
An unidentified man allegedly threw a hand grenade near the Khaki Shah shrine in Green Town area, causing panic among the people who had gathered to pray inside the shrine, Xinhua reported citing Geo News.
Police cordoned off the area and the injured were shifted to a nearby hospital. One of the injured was in critical condition, hospital sources said.
Iran seeks India’s backing for Tehran disarmament meet
By IANS,
New Delhi: Four days after the US-led Nuclear Security Summit in the US, Iran, under intense international pressure over its nuclear programme, will be hosting a conference on nuclear disarmament and has sought India's support for this initiative.
Iran is likely to invite India formally for the conference entitled "Nuclear Energy for All, Nuclear Weapon for None", scheduled for April 17-18, diplomatic sources said here.
The Iranian leadership is also expected to iscuss the nuclear issue when External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna visits Tehran, likely next month.
Libyan air force has been destroyed: British commander
By DPA,
London: The air force of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has been destroyed and "no longer exists as a fighting force", a top British military commander said Wednesday.
Pakistan to probe Osama raid
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Pakistani government will probe how Osama bin Laden was able to live in that country undetected.
Pakistan blames banned extremist group for Marriot suicide attack
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistan's Interior Advisor Monday blamed a banned extremist group for the deadly truck suicide bomb attack on Hotel Marriot in September.
The devastating attack on September 20th had killed over 60 people, including the Czech ambassador, two US defence officials and several foreigners, and injured some 250 others.
"Lashkar-e-Jhangi group was behind the suicide truck bombing," Interior Advisor Rehman Malik told the parliament.
Malik said that the explosive-laden truck was brought from the city of Jhang in Punjab province.