Singapore’s religious Council condemns anti-Islam Dutch Movie
By SPA
Singapore : Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura "MUIS" (The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore), has condemned the production and release of the video called "Fitna".
The 15-minute video was produced by Geert Wilders, a Dutch right-wing Member of Parliament.
In a statement, 'MUIS' said "the film distorts verses of the Holy Quran. It also incites hatred of Muslim immigrants among Europeans, by including acts of violence that were committed by radicals."
Pakistan arrests 22 Afghan nationals for illegal entry
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistan on Tuesday arrested 22 Afghan nationals for illegal entry as the country has closed its border with Afghanistan over security reasons.
"The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested 22 Afghan nationals who were trying to enter Pakistan without possessing legal documents here at Chaman border," the official Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted officials as saying.
Chaman district in southwestern Pakistan's Balochistan province borders Afghanistan.
Two NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan
By ANTARA,
Khost, Afghanistan : Two NATO soldiers were killed and one wounded in a bomb blast in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, a military spokeswoman said.
"Two alliance soldiers were killed by an IED (improvised explosive device) and one wounded," Lieutenant Colonel Rumi Neilson-Green, a spokeswoman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, told AFP.
She could not release the nationalities of those killed but most soldiers in eastern Afghanistan are US nationals.
Manslaughter accused doctor acquitted in Abu Dhabi
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court has acquitted Cyril Karabus, a South African doctor, from the charges of manslaughter.
Pakistan boasted of n-strike on India: Report
By IANS,
London : Pakistan could launch a nuclear strike on India within eight seconds, an army general boasted in 2001 in Islamabad, the Guardian reported Friday.
Istanbul mosque bomb threat turns out to be a hoax
By IANS,
Istanbul : A historic 16th century mosque in Istanbul received a bomb threat Friday that later turned out to be a hoax call, police said.
Fatah calls on Hamas to end crackdown, release hostages for dialogue
By Xinhua,
Ramallah : Fatah Sunday called on Hamas to end Gaza crackdown against its leaders and members and to release all the political prisoners it holds to pave the way for a national dialogue.
"We call for immediate halting of all incidents in the enduring Gaza Strip and release all the abducted supporters without any condition or restriction," said Fehmi al-Za'arrier, a Fatah spokesman in the West Bank.
If Hamas does not choose one of these two options, it will face the revenge of banning its activities in the West Bank, al-Za'arrier added.
International community continues to ignore Israel’s regular bombing of Gaza strip – UAE paper
By NNN-WAM
Dubai : Two UAE English language daily newspapers editorialised on the violence which erupted two days ago in Gaza after two Palestinian fighters stormed into southern Israel and opened fire eventually resulting in the deaths of at least 10 people.
The Gulf Today warned that the Gaza flare-up on Wednesday, which resulted in the death of seven Palestinians and two Israelis, is threatening a fresh outbreak of violence on the border.
Britain ends combat operations in Iraq
By IANS,
London : Britain Thursday ended its six-year-old combat mission in Iraq but Prime Minister Gordon Brown faced immediate calls for an inquiry into the war despite labelling it a "success".
"Today's Iraq is a success story. We owe much of that to the efforts of British troops," Brown said in London as his defence minister participated in a ceremony in the southern Iraqi province of Basra in honour of the 179 British soldiers who died in Iraq.
Amnesty asks Dhaka to try its liberation war criminals
By IANS
Dhaka : Global human rights watchdog Amnesty International (AI) has asked Bangladesh's caretaker government to try its "war criminals" - those accused of collaborating with the Pakistan government during the liberation war in 1971.
"We want the present government to initiate some process. The future democratic government will have to take the issue forward. But some steps regarding that should be taken at this moment," Irene Khan, AI secretary general, told media here Saturday.
Pakistan cabinet may be reshuffled, expanded
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan's federal cabinet is expected to be reshuffled and expanded within the next few days, a media report said Friday.
Pakistan: at least 20 killed in powerful blast in Peshawar
By NNN-PTI/APP,
Islamabad : At least 20 people, including three children, were killed and about 40 others injured in a powerful bomb blast targeting a prayer hall of the minority Shias in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar Friday.
The blast took place outside an Imambargah in the congested Kucha Risaldar area of the walled part of Peshawar.
Local TV channels reported that at least 20 people died in the blast which occurred in the evening hours when Shia shoppers crowded the area ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha festival.
Hope Egyptian governmental bodies will function normally: Russia
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Cairo: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday that he expected Egyptian authorities would ensure the normal functioning of governmental bodies.
Gaza’s water woes likely to get worse
By Shabtai Gold, DPA,
Gaza City : Five small children, aged 3 to 7, gathered outside a small kiosk in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, carrying dirty yellow and red plastic jugs to fill up water from a metal tank.
As night fell, Ghassan, the shop owner, sat in darkness, since the enclave still suffers from regular power cuts. A picture of dead Hamas leaders, killed over the years by Israel, hung behind him.
"I do this for humanitarian reasons, for the people," the man said, offering guests a cup of water.
France in Touch with Hamas
By Prensa Latina,
Paris : France admitted on Monday that it has contacts with the Palestine Hamas movement, but stressed that those talks are only aimed at finding solutions to the conflict beteeen Israel and the Gaza Strip.
In a statement to Le Figaro daily, French Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner said that his country resumed conversations with Hamas.
"We have to talk if we want to play a role in the Middle East," noted Kouchner.
The European Union and the US put as a condition to any negotiation with Hamas the recognition of Israel as a state and the end of violence.
Modi, Sharif discuss terrorism; hope for new page in ties
New Delhi : India's new Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised concerns on terrorism and need for action in 26/11 during his meeting with his...
Iran to hang 12 rebels next week
By DPA,
Tehran : Twelve members of a rebel group are to be hanged by the end of next week, a judicial officer said Saturday.
The men are members of the Sunni rebel group Jundallah (Soldiers of God), including Abdol-Hamid Rigi, the brother of the group's leader Abdolmalik Rigi.
Ebrahim Hamidi told Fars news agency that the 12 men would be hanged by Friday in Zahdean, capital of the Sistan-Baluchestan province.
Kuwait in celebratory mood for 50th anniversary of independence
By Prashant Sood, IANS,
Pakistan successfully test-fires nuclear missile
By KUNA
Islamabad : Pakistan successfully test-fired on Friday a nuclear-capable missile, one week after it conducted the test of another medium range nuclear missile, said military.
Pakistan has test-fired a new Ghuari Hataf-V Ballistic missile, a technologically enhanced device with a range of 1300 km, said military in a statement.
The test was conducted at the conclusion of annual ASFC exercises. It was witnessed by President Pervez Musharraf, Chief of Army Staff Ashfaque Pervaiz Kayani and other high military officials.
One-third Iraqis suffer from mental problems: study
By DPA
Baghdad : The terrorism and chaos in Iraq have led to a manifest increase in mental health problems among the country's residents, according to the results of a study announced Wednesday by the Iraqi health ministry.
Around 35 percent of all Iraqis suffer from serious mental health problems, the study produced with the cooperation of the World Health Organization (WHO) showed.
An adviser to the ministry, Mohammed Rashid al-Obeidi, told the Al-Sabah daily that more women (about 40 percent) were affected than men (30 percent).
Renewed mandate for UN mission in southern Lebanon
By DPA,
New York : The United Nations Security Council Thursday renewed the mandate of its peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon for another year and called on parties in conflict in the region to abide by the ceasefire.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), with more than 12,000 military and civilian personnel, will remain in southern Lebanon until Aug 31, 2010, to continue monitoring the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.
Arab commission addresses regional nuclear issue
By NNN-KUNA,
Cairo : A special Arab commission tasked with following up on Israel's nuclear programme has commenced a three-day meeting here.
Bahrain postpones trial of opposition leader
Manama : Bahrain's upper criminal court decided Wednesday to postpone the trial of Ali Salman, opposition leader and general secretary of Al Wefaq Society,...
French foreign minister to visit UAE Saturday
By IANS,
Paris : French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe will visit the UAE Saturday as part of his Middle East tour that will also take him to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.
Sudan warns of ramifications if al-Bashir arrested
By DPA,
New York : Sudan has warned that it would use "all options" available if the International Criminal Court (ICC) were to issue an international arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir, who was charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity in the ethnic war in Darfur.
The ICC at The Hague was scheduled to decide this month whether to issue the arrest warrant requested by its prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo. The African Union and Islamic leaders oppose the warrant saying it would complicate the peace process in Sudan.
Pakistan air chief briefs Zardari on preparedness
By Muhammad Najeeb,IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan's Air Force (PAF) chief Tuesday briefed President Asif Ali Zardari on the operational preparedness of the country's air force in case of any aggression.
The presidency, in a brief statement here, said Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmed called on President Asif Ali Zardari and briefed him about "the operational preparedness of Pakistan Air Force".
Iraq’s Aziz trial resumes in Baghdad
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : The trial of Saddam's former Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz and his seven codefendants resumed Tuesday here over their alleged roles in the execution of 42 merchants in 1992.
Aziz, 72, who also served as foreign minister in Saddam's regime, appeared in court dressing in a grey suit and leaned on a cane as he walked into the courtroom.
Presiding judge Rauf Rasheed Abdel Rahman opened the trial in the Iraqi High Tribunal in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone without any presence of Aziz's lawyers.
16 killed in Afghanistan violence
By DPA
Kabul, April : A NATO soldier, six policemen and nine Taliban militants were killed in violence in Afghanistan, officials said Tuesday.
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldier died of wounds and three others were wounded in two separate explosions in the country's southern region Monday, ISAF said in a statement.
The statement did not disclose the nationalities of the soldiers or the location of the two explosions. Southern region is manned by the NATO-led American, British, Dutch and Canadian soldiers.
Two wars ‘almost seized up’ UK army, says former military chief
By IRNA,
London : Competing priorities in Iraq and Afghanistan meant the British army was caught in a "perfect storm" in 2006 and was close to "seizing up", former chief of the general staff Gen Sir Richard Dannatt revealed Wednesday.
Giving evidence to the Iraq Inquiry, Dannatt likened the army in 2006 as a car “running hot” saying that while the security situation in Iraq was deteriorating, it was also important to commit more troops to Afghanistan.
Minister of Culture and Information receives Sierra Leone’s Envoy
By SPA
Riyadh : Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Ameen Madani received here today Sierra Leone's ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Al-Haja Amadu Deen Tejan-Sie.
They reviewed aspects of cooperation between the Kingdom and Sierra Leone in the cultural and information domains.
Students protest Arab world’s silence in face of Gaza crimes
By IRNA,
Tehran : University students and seminarians' here on Sunday staged a protest meeting near the Saudi Embassy to deplore the silence of Islamic countries' leaders in the face of crimes committed by the Zionist regime in Gaza Strip.
They chanted slogans condemning the Arab world's compromise with the Zionist regime on the Palestinian issue.
They also issued a statement, which was read out in Persian and Arabic.
Kuwait to pay salary, allowances to deported Bangladesh workers
By NNN-BSS,
Dhaka, Bangladesh : The Kuwait government has decided to give outstanding salary, allowances, service benefit and insurance money to recently deported Bangladeshi workers through Bangladesh Embassy in Kuwait.
Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry has asked the deported workers to submit applications to their nearby District Manpower Employment Offices or at the reception centre of the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) at 89/2 Kakrail, Dhaka- 1000.
Pakistan: Ambassador Munir Akram bids farewell
By NNN-APP,
United Nations : Pakistan’s outgoing Ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram, gave a largely attended farewell reception at the Pakistani Mission on Tuesday night.
The President of the U.N. General Assembly, Srgjan Kerim, led a distinguished lineup of guests, including head of diplomatic missions accredited to the United Nations, senior U.N. officials, prominent citizens and journalists attending the event.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was not in the city as he was traveling from Madrid to New York.
Afghan poll panel performance illegal: Abdullah
Kabul : Afghanistan presidential poll candidate Abdullah Abdullah Thursday termed the performance of the country's Election Commission as illegal, saying its decisions will be...
Pakistani President, U.S army chief discuss security
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of United States, met President Asif Ali Zardari and discussed fight against militancy and regional security situation on Saturday, the President office said.
Both leaders also discussed matters relating to Pak-US bilateral relations, a brief statement from the Presidency said.
Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and US Ambassador Ms. Anne W. Patterson were also present during the meeting.
Taliban commander killed in Afghanistan
By IANS,
Kabul : A senior Taliban commander has been killed in Afghanistan's Herat province, Xinhua reported Tuesday.
Senior British defence analyst underlines Iran’s role in Afghanistan
By IRNA,
London : It is a great disappointment that Iran is not participating in the upcoming London conference on Afghanistan as Tehran is an important regional state which has suffered a lot from instability in Afghanistan, a senior British expert of defence diplomacy said.
In an exclusive interview with IRNA, Colonel Christopher Langton, from the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London, emphasised on the role the Islamic Republic could play in bringing political and economic stability in Afghanistan.
5.1 million have been displaced inside and outside Iraq – IOM
By NNN-KUNA
Geneva : The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has said that five years after the 2003 war in Iraq more people than ever before are displaced from conflict and sectarian violence, indicating that the humanitarian crisis in the country is far from being solved.
According to IOM, there are now more than 5.1 million Iraqis who are either displaced (IDPs) within Iraq or are living as refugees abroad. Of these, 2.7 million are IDPs and more than 2.4 million refugees, predominantly living in neighbouring Syria and Jordan.
Israeli PM says ready for peace talks with Palestinians
By Xinhua,
JERUSALEM : While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his country is prepared to resume peace negotiations with the Palestinians without any preconditions, the Palestinians do not seem to be much encouraged by his words.
On Monday night, Netanyahu, who spoke from Israel via satellite to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) annual conference in Washington, said that "We are prepared to resume peace negotiations without any delay, without any preconditions. The sooner, the better."
Coalition operations kill militant, arrest 7 suspects in E Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : The U.S.-led Coalition forces on Saturday eliminated a militant and detained seven suspects during operations targeting the Haqqani network in eastern Afghanistan's Khost province, said a Coalition statement released here on Sunday.
Coalition forces targeted a compound suspected to host Haqqani network militants in Khost district where they entered the compound and engaged an armed militant who attempted to attack the force, the statement said.
Pakistan strikes peace deal with militant tribal group
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Pakistani government has signed a peace deal with a key militant tribe in the restive Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), a media report said Monday.
"The government of Pakistan and the Mamond tribe have struck a peace deal (in Peshawar)," Geo TV said.
This is the second peace deal with militants after the one signed with the Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi, or the Movement for the Enforcement of Islamic Laws, of radical cleric Maulana Sufi Mohammad.
Iraq considers Arab League’s initiative on Iraq the best – Iraqi FM
By NNN-KUNA
Cairo : Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has said that his government considers the Arab League initiative to achieve Iraqi reconciliation as one of the best initiatives that were put on the Iraqi arena.
Zebari denied, in a statement to reporters following his talks with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa Tuesday the existence of rejection of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of the League's efforts to achieve reconciliation in his country.
Israeli couple makes news, but Indians reluctant on surrogacy
By IANS,
Mumbai : An Israeli gay couple may have made a splash in India by having their own baby through surrogacy, but the head of the institute here that made it possible rues that very few childless Indians actually go in for the procedure despite the best of facilities.
"A majority of our patients who opt for surrogacy are foreign nationals. Of this, about 18 percent are gay couples. There is not a single Indian," Kaushal Kadam, scientific director at Rotunda - The Centre for Human Reproduction, told IANS here.
UN relocates hundreds of staff in Afghanistan
By DPA,
Kabul : The UN plans to relocate hundreds of its international staff in Afghanistan in the face of mounting Taliban attacks, officials said Thursday.
The decision came more than a week after Taliban militants attacked a UN guesthouse in Kabul, killing five of its international staff and three Afghan nationals.
"The UN is taking additional steps to reduce risks to its national and international staff serving in Afghanistan," the world body said in a statement released in Kabul.
`Malaysian Indians not aware of economic opportunities’
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysian Indians are generally unaware of economic opportunities the government offers, including loans for farming and to start own businesses, two ministers from the community have said.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department T. Murugiah, an ethnic Indian, blamed "lack of exposure" to the country's two million-plus ethnic Indian community for not being aware.
"After I was appointed deputy minister, I visited many ministries and discovered many opportunities open for all, not just Bumiputeras (the Malays).
Terror strikes Pakistan again, 25 die in Lahore blast
By IANS
Lahore : At least 25 people were killed and more than 80 injured Thursday when a massive blast ripped through the busy high court area near Mall Road here, in Pakistan's second major terror attack in less than two weeks.
There was panic in this cultural capital of the country as the deafening explosion, which occurred around 11.40 a.m., shook the Lahore High Court and Supreme Court Registry buildings.
People could be seen lying motionless on the street; mangled cars and blood lay spattered around the blast site.
Bangladeshi plane catches fire at Nepal airport, passengers safe
Kathmandu : A Bangladeshi aircraft caught fire while landing at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) Monday afternoon, officials said.
Airport police said the wheels of...
Australia blocks asylum seekers from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan
By IANS,
Melbourne : Australia Friday announced a suspension of the processing of new asylum applications from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.
The suspension has taken place due to "the evolving circumstances in these two countries". It is likely that, in the future, more asylum claims from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will be refused, a press communique stated.
It said that the situations in both Sri Lanka and Afghanistan were evolving.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees is reviewing conditions in both these countries and related guidelines for refugee status determination.
Iraqi FM meets new Arab League representative in Baghdad
By NNN-KUNA,
Baghdad : Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has met here with the new Arab League representative in Baghdad, Ambassador Hani Khallaf.
He said that Baghdad was happy to have the representative in the Iraqi capital.
Zebari said the Arab League mission in Baghdad should be based on constant coordination with the Foreign Ministry to push forward the peace process in Iraq, an official statement said Tuesday.
The fact that an Arab League representative is in Iraq will encourage Arab countries to send representatives to Iraq, said Zebari.
Russia not considering sheltering Syrian president
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia was not considering providing political asylum to embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Prime Minister and president-elect Vladimir Putin said.
Government formation process in Pakistan to be completed by mid-March
By NNN-PTI
Islamabad : The process of formation of next government in Pakistan is expected to be completed by mid- March while the first session of the new Parliament may be convened on March 5 after the formal notification of the poll results by the Election Commission.
The poll panel is expected to notify the final results of the February 18 parliamentary elections for the general seats in the national and four provincial assemblies tomorrow, and for the seats reserved for women and minorities by March 3, caretaker Law Minister Afzal Haider said.
Explosion in SW Pakistan wounds 5 journalists
By KUNA
Islamabad : At least five journalists were wounded Tuesday in a bomb explosion in Southwestern Pakistan's Baluchistan province.
A team of journalists was traveling to Khazdar district in a vehicle to cover an election rally when a remote-controlled bomb, planted in a bicycle, exploded, police sources told KUNA.
Five journalists were wounded, and one of them is in critical condition, police said.
Enough is enough, Pakistan tells Taliban
By IANS,
Islamabad/Washington : Saying that "enough is enough", Pakistan Tuesday warned the Taliban of "strict action" if it attempted to challenge the government's writ, even as the top US military commander expressed frustration over Islamabad's "inability" to confront the growing extremist threat.
"Enough is enough. If the government's writ is challenged, or any terrorist activity takes place any where in the country, we will take strict action," Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik told reporters in Islamabad.
UAE, Sudan sign agreement to set up UAE-Sudanese Business Council
By NNN-WAM
Abu Dhabi : Visiting Sudanese President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir has attended the signing of an agreement setting up the UAE- Sudanese Business Council.
Salah Ameer Al Shamsi, chairman of the UAE Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, signed on behalf of the UAE, while Saud Mamoun Berair, chairman of the Sudanese Business Union, signed on the Sudanese side. Also present at the event here Sunday were the UAE and Sudanese businesspersons, as well as officials from both countries.
Terminate sanctions on day of implementing n-deal: Iran
Tehran: The international economic sanctions on Iran should be completely lifted when a nuclear agreement with the P5+1 group of world powers enters into...
Iran to cooperate with Russia’s Philosophy Institute
By IRNA
Moscow : Head and professors of Russian Academy of Sciences' Philosophy Institute in a meeting here Friday with Iran's Cultural Attache surveyed ways to cooperate with Iranian
philosophers.
The meeting between the Iranian Cultural Attache,
Abuzar brahimi and the Russian philosophers took place at the Russian Philosophy institute.
Pakistan: cabinet announcement on Friday
By NNN-APP
Islamabad : A joint committee of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N), Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI-F) held deliberations at the Parliament House here on Wednesday on distribution of cabinet slots.
The meeting was attended from the PPP by Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, Khurshid Shah, Sherry Rehman and Syed Naveed Qamar. PML-N side included Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and MNAs Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Khwaja Muhammad Asif.
Israel’s Barak vows to expand operations against rocket attacks from Gaza
By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak vowed on Thursday to expand its ongoing military operations to stop the intensified Qassam rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip, local media Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
Barak made the remarks while touring the area of Gaza border fence accompanied by regional army commanders, according to the report.
Jihadis driven by dreams: study
By IANS,
London : Dreams motivate and drive the jihadi movement in the Middle East and elsewhere, concludes social anthropologist Ian Edgar after researching the reported dreams of many of the best-known Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders.
Edgar, from Durham University, interviewed individuals in Britain, Pakistan, Northern Cyprus and Turkey to identify the key features of the inspirational night dream known as ruya.
Israel missed Gaza military targets: Hamas
By DPA,
Cairo : Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas' loss has been "very small" during the Israeli offensive on Gaza, the group's spiritual leader, Khaled Mishaal, said Friday.
"Hamas loss is small, very small," Mishaal, the group's politburo chief, said in a statement broadcast live on al-Jazeera TV.
In his second TV appearance since the attack started seven days ago, the top leader of the hard-line Palestinian faction, who lives in exile, said that Israel failed to hit the group's military targets.
Pakistan won’t accept extension of US strikes: Foreign Minister
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Tuesday said that Pakistan would neither accept foreign boots on its soil nor extension of the US drone attacks.
Speaking at the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Qureshi said Pakistan strongly believed that the US drone attacks were counterproductive and unhelpful in joint efforts towards winning hearts and minds, which was essential to succeed against violent extremism, Xinhua reported.
UN Security Council fails again to agree on Gaza statement
By Xinhua
United Nations : The UN Security Council failed Friday to agree on a statement to help end the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, despite lengthy negotiations.
Libya's UN Ambassador Giadalla Ettalhi, who holds this month's rotating council presidency, blocked the statement, saying he had to report to Tripoli the latest text, which is backed by 14 other members.
Ettalhi said he expects to receive instructions from the capital Monday and then will consult other members to schedule a meeting.
Three Indians killed in road accident in UAE
Dubai:Three Indian expatriates were killed in a road accident in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the media said Saturday
Three friends - Aslam Aboobaker, 25,...
Don’t whip up war hysteria, India tells Pakistan
By IANS,
New Delhi : Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Friday urged Pakistan not to whip up war hysteria in response to Indian requests to take action against terrorists who attacked Mumbai.
Speaking to reporters after talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Mukherjee said that Pakistan needed to focus its energies "to bring to book the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attack".
Pakistan has yet to take effective action: India
By IANS,
New Delhi : Days after India presented a fresh dossier on the alleged involvement of Hafiz Saeed in the Mumbai attacks, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Monday asked Islamabad to honour its anti-terror pledge and take "effective steps" to dismantle the "infrastructure of terrorism" on its soil.
Iran says UN resolution aiming at sanctions unacceptable
By Xinhua,
Tehran : The spokesman of National Security Commission of Iran's parliament said Sunday that Iran does not accept any United Nations Security Council resolution aiming at sanctions, the official IRNA news agency reported.
The resolution is political shunt and is issued to prove that the Iran case has not been forgotten, Kazem Jalai said, adding that "anti-Iran resolution lacks any content and is more like a declaration."
Two Israeli warplanes violate Lebanon’s airspace
By NNN-KUNA,
Beirut : Two Israeli warplanes have violated the Lebanese airspace and flew at low altitude over southern Lebanon areas.
The hostile planes hovered over Kafr Kla and headed northward before returning to Israel, according to a Lebanese military statement Tuesday.
The almost daily incursions by the Israeli airforce run counter to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted on Aug 11, 2006, the statement said.
Iraq pullout in 16 months: Obama
By IANS,
Chicago : US president-elect Barack Obama reiterated Monday that all American combat troops would be withdrawn from Iraq in 16 months, even while residual forces could remain longer.
"At the same time, I will listen to my commanders on the ground," Obama maintained at a press conference here at which he introduced his national security team. Hillary Clinton, who has been named the new Secretary of State, stood to Obama's left.
Obama said the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) agreed to between the US and Iraq had made the 16-month timeline possible.
Egypt’s Mubarak arrives on India visit, eyeing ‘new horizons’
By IANS,
New Delhi : Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak Sunday arrived in India on a four-day visit, his first to the country in 25 years, that is expected to open “new horizons” of cooperation between the two co-founders of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Accompanied by his wife Suzanne, Mubarak arrived with a heavyweight entourage that includes five senior ministers and top business leaders on this important visit that seeks to energise political and economic ties between the two countries.
1,500-year-old handwritten Bible kept in Turkish museum
By IANS,
Ankara : A handwritten Bible, believed to be 1,500 years old, is stored at a museum here. The 52-page Bible is written in Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke.
Musharraf’s exit: another blow to Bush foreign policy
By Mayank Chhaya, IANS,
Had George Bush's presidency not already entered its lame duck months, the less than flattering departure of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf so close to the time when Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin took off his gloves would have dealt a staggering personal blow to the US president.
Arab journalist: ElBaradei’s report proves Iran’s right claims
By IRNA
Kuwait City : An Arab journalist said here Sunday that the IAEA Chief Mohammed ElBaradei's Iran report proved that statements by Iran that its nuclear program is peaceful are correct.
Ghadeh Abdussalam told IRNA that the report was in Iran's favor and due to this reason the US started speaking of tightening anti-Iran sanctions before the release of the report.
He said the report had been drafted to some extent impartially and because of this, the report should be regarded as victory of Iranian politicians and failure of US statesmen.
UAE distributes Braille Quran in Palestine
By IANS/WAM,
Jerusalem : The UAE's Human Appeal International (HAI) has launched a campaign under which Quran books in Braille are being distributed in Palestine.
40 Palestinians killed in Gaza
Gaza : At least 40 Palestinians were killed and 400 injured Sunday in Israeli artillery fire in Gaza City.
Officials at Shifa Hospital in Gaza,...
CIA ‘secret army’ seeks to destroy Syria: Report
By IANS,
Tehran : An American author and historian says a "secret army" of US spy agency CIA has the goal of destroying the Syrian state, Iran's Press TV reported Thursday.
Bangladesh calls for urgent measures against climate change
By Xinhua,
Dhaka : Bangladesh Saturday called for urgent measures for a global solution to man-made climate change as the country is likely to be its worst victim in South Asia.
Chief Adviser of the country's caretaker government Fakhruddin Ahmed put forward a 12-point recommendation, including deeper cuts to greenhouse gas emissions by developed countries and adequate additional resources support by developed countries, to tackle the problems caused by climate change.
13 Malaysians arrested for links with IS
Kuala Lumpur : Thirteen Malaysians, believed to be linked to the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq, have been arrested, media reported Wednesday.
"The suspects were...
Spanish troops open orphanage in Afghanistan
By IANS
Kabul : Spanish troops stationed in Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) have opened an orphanage in Afghanistan's Qala-e-Naw, the capital of north-western Badghis province, Spain's EFE news agency reported Friday.
The orphanage was named after Sergeant Juan Antonio Abril who died in an accident while patrolling the area May 26, 2007, the ISAF said in a statement Thursday.
ICRC expresses concern over rising violence between Israel, Gaza
By Xinhua
Geneva : The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Thursday that it was deeply concerned about the latest escalation of violence affecting the Gaza Strip and nearby Israeli towns.
"In recent days there has been an alarming intensification of the fighting and, once again, civilians on both sides -- including children -- are bearing the brunt," the Geneva-based humanitarian agency said in a statement.
Gaza death toll up to 271 Palestinians, injured around 900
By KUNA,
Gaza : The death toll in Gaza rose to 271, while 900 are reported injured after the Israeli military operations on the Strip.
Local radio stations quoted the director-general of ambulance and emergency service in Gaza Moaweya Hasanain as saying that around 120 of the wounded are suffering from "serious injuries", which means a possible rise in death toll.
Dutch minister tries to calm Muslims over ‘anti-Koran’ film
By RIA Novosti
The Hague : The Dutch prosecutor's office is preparing to take legal action against the maker of an 'anti-Koran' film in an attempt to ease tensions over the film's release, the Dutch foreign minister said on Monday.
Maxime Verhagen told ambassadors from 26 Muslim that he was happy with the relatively calm reaction he had witnessed since the short film was posted on sites Thursday by Dutch MP Geert Wilders, adding that the film in no way reflected the religious views of the Dutch government.
Khaleda threatens agitation against Hasina government
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh's opposition leader Khaleda Zia has said she would resume agitation against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government to protect the interest of the country.
Four schoolchildren killed in Pakistan terror attack
By IANS,
Islamabad : Four students on their way to school were killed and several wounded Tuesday in a militant attack in Pakistan's Orakzai Agency.
"Militants opened fire with automatic weapons on the children going to school," Geo TV reported.
Four children have been killed on the spot and several injured.
Local tribes took retaliatory action against the militants soon after the incident.
Hamas condemns Israel’s move to close Gaza crossings
By NNN-KUNA,
Gaza : Hamas has strongly condemned Israel's decision to close down all border crossings with the Gaza Strip, describing this as a violation of the Egyptian-sponsored truce.
"Closing down the crossings is an indication of Israel's bad intentions," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zahri in a statement Wednesday.
"Hamas calls on all relevant parties to pressure Israel into committing to the agreement and guaranteeing its continuation," he said, alluding to the truce sponsored by Egypt, which had come into effect in the Gaza Strip on Thursday.
Dhaka for talks with India on Teesta next month
By IANS,
Dhaka: Bangladesh is initiating a process to expedite talks with India over striking a deal on sharing of Teesta waters, a top minister has said.
Keen to follow up summit level talks in New Delhi earlier this week, Bangladesh Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen Friday told BBC that a process is being initiated to hold the meeting of the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) in line with the decision taken by the premiers of both the countries.
US concerned over journalist’s jail sentence by Iran
By DPA,
Washington/Tehran : The US expressed deep concern Saturday over an eight-year prison sentence imposed by the Iranian judiciary on Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi for spying.
"I am deeply disappointed," Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said. "We will continue to vigorously raise our concerns to the Iranian government."
Saberi, 31, a reporter for US National Public Radio, was sentenced on charges of spying for the US after the closed-door trial, her lawyer told reporters in Tehran.
Pakistan’s Women Traffic Officers Face Harassment From Violators
By Bernama,
Lahore : Pakistan's first batch of women traffic wardens in this eastern Pakistani city are becoming victims of harassment with men trying all sorts of tricks to gain their attention, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
The eight wardens who zoom past Lahore's busy arteries on heavy duty 250cc motorcycles to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and women's safety are themselves becoming victims of harassment.
‘Missing’ British women, their nine children in Syria: IS smuggler
London: Three sisters from Britain's Bradford city, who along with their nine minor children were reported missing after a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, have...
Quake shakes southwest Iran
By DPA,
Tehran : An earthquake rattled the province of Khuzestan Saturday night in south-western Iran, the website of state television reported.
The quake with a magnitude of 4.1 on the Richter scale shook areas near the city of Andimeshk, the report said.
There was no immediate information on casualties or damage.
Bangladesh is out of danger from cyclone attack
By Xinhua,
Dhaka : Bangladesh is out of danger from Cyclone Nargis as it bypassed Bangladesh's coasts and moved towards Myanmar Friday.
The meteorological office here said the cyclone moved eastwards and was crossing Myanmar coast at 18:00 (12 GMT) Friday.
The deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal turned into a cyclonic storm Nargis on April 28.
Nargis has intensified into a severe cyclone on April 29.
Pakistan violates ceasefire in Jammu
Jammu: Pakistan rangers used mortars to target Indian positions on the international border in R.S. Pura sector of Jammu district Saturday. Three people were...
34 killed in Nigeria road accident
Abuja: Nigeria's road commission said Friday that 34 people died in a road accident on the Rijau-Kontagora road in central north Niger state.
State commander...
Mars will not come closer to Earth: UAE astronomers
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : Astronomers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have rejected reports that the planet Mars would come closer to Earth Aug 27 and look like a second moon.
The Emirates Astronomical Society and the Islamic Moon Observatory Project described the reports carried by some prominent Arabic newspapers as "bad astronomy", the official Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
Several e-mails have also been circulating that Mars will be the brightest in the night sky Aug 27 and will look as large as a full moon, creating a rare opportunity to see two moons in the sky.
11 ‘Al-Qaeda links’ arrested in missing Malaysian plane probe
Kuala Lumpur : A group of eleven suspected terrorists with links to Al-Qaeda have been arrested on suspicion of being involved in the disappearance...
Several Taliban insurgents killed in southern Afghanistan
By KUNA
Kabul : One Canadian soldier and several Taliban insurgents were killed in separate incidents of violence in southern Afghanistan, the foreign military said here Monday.
A statement from the coalition forces' Bagram base said several insurgents were killed and eight suspects were detained during two separate operations to degrade Taliban leadership networks.
The troops conducted the search operations in Garmsir district of Helmand province to target a Taliban commander responsible for facilitating foreign fighters and weapons smuggling.
Saudi Arabia seeks closer educational ties with India
Aligarh : Saudi Arabia is keen to intensify bilateral ties with India with education being a priority, said Saudi Ambassador Saud Mohammad Al-Sati during...
Britain mulls steps to combat extremism
London: To discourage extremist elements originating from Britain, Home Secretary Theresa May has plans to bring in new laws that may strip Britons fighting...
Caretaker minister says we did our job of holding fair polls
By APP
Lahore : Caretaker Punjab Minister for Law & Parliamentary Affairs, Mahmood Sheikh, felicitated the nation and leaders of all political parties on holding of national elections, and observed that the caretaker set-up had fulfilled its promise of holding free and fair elections.
In a statement issued here Tuesday, he said that the results will definitely pave the way for strengthening of democratic norms in the country.
Pakistan’s top Taliban commander dies in road accident
By IRNA,
Islamabad : A top Pakistani Taliban commander was killed in a road accident in the country's tribal region early Saturday, officials in the region said.
Metha Khan was patrolling in South Waziristan along with other Taliban colleagues when their vehicles plunged into a deep ravine in a mountainous region.
Another Taliban was also killed and four others injured in the accident, who were taken to a private hospital.
Pakistan to speed up gas import
By IANS,
Islamabad : Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani wants to expedite the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to overcome the energy crisis in Pakistan.
Saudi energy summit closed on Sunday
By Xinhua,
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia : The energy summit staged in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to curb rocketing oil prices, is closed on Sunday.
Leaders and ministers from the 36 nations agreed that "the transparency and regulation of financial markets should be improved through measures to capture more data on index fund activity and to examine cross-exchange interactions in the crude market."
India, Oman to boost trade, check human trafficking
By Aroonim Bhuyan, IANS,
Muscat : India and Oman Saturday signed two major agreements to boost bilateral investment and to check human trafficking as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh began a three-day tour of the Gulf that will also take him to Qatar.
India's State Bank of India (SBI) and the State General Reserve Fund of the Sultanate of Oman signed the first agreement to set up the India-Oman Joint Investment Fund.
The new fund will be set up with an initial seed capital of $100 million, which will be expandable to $1.5 billion, said officials accompanying the prime minister.
Jamia Alumni meet held at UAE
By TCN News,
Dubai: Jamia Millia Islamia Alumni meet is successfully held at UAE which was attended by some of the well-established Alumni from...
Muslim group break Ramadan fast with Irish LGBT community
Dublin : A Muslim group aimed at fostering peace and integration in Ireland has joined members of the country’s LGBT community to break fast...
Pakistan in mourning to pay homage to Karbala martyrs
By IRNA
Islamabad : Like the other parts of the world, Shiite Muslims in Pakistan are also in mourning to remember the supreme sacrifices of Hazrat Hussein Ibn Ali (AS), `Lord of Martyrs' the third Imam of Prophet Mohammad's (PBUH) infallible household.
The Sunnis also pay homage to Hazrat Hussein Ibn Ali (AS) and join prayers with Shiite brethren in the commemoration.
Processions were taken out on Saturday, the 9th of Moharram in all major cities and towns under tight security with the deployment of paramilitary forces in sensitive areas.
Middle East equity markets suffered losses in July: report
By IANS,
Dubai : Apart from the Abu Dhabi Index (ADX), equity markets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region suffered losses in July 2008, under-performing many other global markets, according to a new research report.
The report, released by leading regional investment banking firm Rasmala, said that despite leading corporations reporting good profits, all regional equity markets, except ADX, under-performed.
Some 30 bodies unearthed in mass grave near Baghdad
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : US troops have found a mass grave of 30 bodies near a town northeast of the Iraqi capital, the military said Monday.
"Multi-National Division-North Soldiers Sunday discovered between 20-30 bodies buried in a mass grave south of Muqdadiyah, some 100 km northeast of Baghdad," the US military said in a statement.
"All the bodies were badly decomposed and appear to have been at the site nearly eight months," said the statement.
Girls’ school blown up in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : A primary school for girls in a Pakistani village has been blown up by unidentified terrorists, Daily Times reported Friday.
Hezbollah hands over Beirut to Lebanese Army
By IRNA,
Beirut : Hezbollah has handed over control of Beirut after the Lebanese army settled tensions between the Shia group and armed government supporters.
The army revoked two key government measures that had led to four days of street fighting between the two sides, leaving at least 37 people dead.
A Hezbollah statement said, "The Lebanese opposition will end all armed presence in Beirut so that the capital will be in the hands of the army."
Pakistan probes former lawmaker for Pole’s beheading
By DPA,
Islamabad : Pakistani police Sunday said investigators were quizzing a former pro-Taliban lawmaker believed at the centre of the slaying of a Polish engineer by militants earlier this year.
Shah Abdul Aziz, who belongs to a right-wing Islamist party and has links with the Taliban, was remanded in custody Saturday.
"He (Aziz) is suspected of ordering the beheading of Polish engineer Piotr Stanczak," police officer Mahmood Khan said.
The former parliamentarian had been missing since May, with aides alleging that he had been picked up by intelligence agents.
Explosion in Israel kills three
By IANS,
Jerusalem : At least three people were killed and over 10 suffered injuries late Thursday night in an explosion in a central Israeli city, Xinhua reported Friday.
73 French soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001
By IANS,
Paris : The number of French soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001 has risen to 73, the government said Friday.
Bomb explodes in Ain El Hilweh camp, no casualties
By ANTARA News/DPA,
Beirut : A bomb exploded late Monday inside the Palestinian refugee camp Ain el Hilweh in southern Lebanon, but did not inflict any casualties, Palestinian sources said.
The bomb exploded in Hay al Manshiyeh, an area inside Ain el Hilweh, which is the home of some 70,000 Palestinian refugees, and caused only material damage, the sources said.
Ain el Hilweh, one of the 12 camps that host some 367,000 Palestinian refugees across Lebanon, has in recent months seen clashes between the mainstream Fatah movement and hardlined groups Jund al-Sham and Fatah al-Islam.
Bangladesh-Myanmar maritime talks snagged
By IANS
Dhaka : Bangladesh's talks with Myanmar on demarcation of their maritime boundary have hit a snag, compounding its economic woes in the Bay of Bengal, where it is unable to reach an accord with India.
The two-day technical meeting here of Bangladesh and Myanmar on the delimitation of maritime boundary ended inconclusively as the parties failed to narrow down their differences on a number of issue, including the process of demarcation in the Bay of Bengal and unimpeded passage for Myanmar in the Naf river.
Islamic Jihad claims credit for rocket salvo on Israel
By DPA,
Tel Aviv/Gaza City : The Islamic Jihad group took credit Sunday for firing 10 rockets into southern Israel, bringing to well over 50 the number of missiles and mortars launched since a truce with the Gaza militias expired Friday morning.
The announcement from the Jihad's military wing came in a statement sent to the media.
Israel for its part launched an air attack on a rocket-launching squad in the northern Gaza Strip. There were no reports of injuries.
Egypt urges Palestinians reach understanding on crossings
By NNN-KUNA
Cairo : The Egyptian government called on the Palestinian factions Wednesday to reach understanding on handling the control over border crossing points in line with "signed accords."
Government spokesman Majdi Radhi in a press briefing following a cabinet meeting here made the call.
The meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif reviewed a report on the situation in Rafah crossing point between Egypt and Gaza Strip through which thousands of Gazans forced their way into Egypt recently.
Lebanese president calls for new security policy
By Xinhua,
Beirut : Lebanese President Michel Suleiman called Tuesday for the adoption of a new security policy and said only politics can safeguard civic order, local Naharnet news website reported.
Politics sponsors security and security, in turn, leads to a prosperous economy, Suleiman said to a delegation representing Lebanon's economic authorities headed by ex-minister Adnan Qassar, according to the report.
The president also spoke of the ordeal that the Lebanese people are going through due to the ongoing economic hardship.
Bombings kill 31, including 25 troops, in Pakistan
By DPA,
Islamabad : Two separate bombings Saturday killed at least 31 people, including 25 soldiers, in Pakistan's restive northwestern region, police officials and media reports said.
A suicide car bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into a security wall around an army post when a military convoy was passing by in Doaba town in the restive Hangu district in North West Frontier Province (NWFP).
"It was a suicide bombing. The deaths of 25 security personnel and two civilians have been confirmed," said deputy police superintendent Farid Khan.
France launches first airstrikes against IS in Iraq
Paris : France's President Francois Hollande said Friday French jets have launched first airstrikes against the Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq where they...
Musharraf wants ‘bilateral peace tract’ over Kashmir
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS
Davos : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf told business and political leaders in this Swiss resort Thursday that his government is committed to pursuing a bilateral resolution with India on the Kashmir issue.
Speaking at a panel session alongside Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Musharraf said there was "a bilateral need to resolve all problems between India and Pakistan.
Iranian missiles have `worldwide reach`: Russia
By ANTARA,
Moscow : Iran's successful launch of a satellite with its own technology shows that the country's missiles "can reach any point on the globe," a senior Russian space sector official said Thursday.
"I take my hat off to the Iranian scientists," Vitali Lapota, manager of the RKK Energuia space construction company declared was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.
"They have shown their missiles can reach any point on the globe."
US B-1 bomber explodes at Qatar airbase: Al-Jazeera
By DPA
Amman : A US B-1 strategic bomber exploded Friday as it landed at Qatar's al-Udeid airbase, the Doha-based Al-Jazeera satellite broadcaster reported.
The network cited "technical reasons" for the crash of the US aircraft, but did not say whether the incident resulted in casualties.
Top UN relief official spotlights worsening conditions in Gaza, West Bank
By APP
United Nations : the top UN relief official has highlighted the worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza and the West Bank resulting from Israeli closures and restrictions on movement.
Saeed’s Lahore rally mainstreaming of terrorism: India
New Delhi : India Friday strongly criticised Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed holding a two-day rally in Lahore, terming it as "nothing short of...
Pakistan court issues stay order against WC Secretariat move
By Omar Khalid, IANS,
Karachi : The Lahore High Court Monday issued a stay order against the relocation of the World Cup 2011 secretariat from Pakistan to India.
Taffazul Rizvi, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) legal adviser, said that a representative of the International Cricket Council (ICC) also attended the hearing in Lahore.
"The civil court of senior judge Mohammad Younis Anees has today issued a stay order against the relocation of the World Cup secretariat from Lahore to Mumbai until June 2, 2009," said Rizvi.
Iran ‘fundamentally’ opposes nuclear weapons: Khamenei
By Xinhua
Tehran: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Sunday rejected the West's charge that his country wants to develop nuclear bombs, saying Tehran is "fundamentally" opposed to such weapons.
"Accusing the Islamic Republic of seeking nuclear arms is a blatant lie. We are fundamentally opposed to nuclear weapons," Press TV quoted Khamenei as saying.
"We consider the use and proliferation of nuclear arms as forbidden," he added.
Three British troops killed by renegade Afghan soldier
By IRNA,
London : Three British troops were reported to have been killed and four others injured by a renegade Afghan soldier during a joint patrol Tuesday, but their identity was not immediately confirmed.
"We are aware of an incident this morning in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province involving Isaf troops. An investigation is underway and more details will be released when appropriate," a Ministry of Defence spokesman said.