100,000 Bangladeshi pilgrims to perform Haj
Jeddah : About 100,000 Bangladeshis will be arriving for this year’s Haj, according to Bangladesh’s new Consul General A.K.M. Shahidul Karim.
“Looking after the well-being...
Pakistan building collapse kills nine
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : At least nine people were killed Sunday after a four-storey building collapsed in the southern port city of Karachi, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.
Nine people, including a two-year-old boy were killed after the building collapsed in Karachi, the report quoted chief fire officer Ehtesham Siddiqui as saying.
Over a dozen people were injured in the incident. Around six to seven families were living in the building, he said.
Siddiqui said substandard construction might be one reason for the mishap.
Berlin confirms abduction of German national in Afghanistan
By IRNA,
Berlin : A German national of Afghan origin is believed to have been abducted in Afghanistan, Foreign Ministry spokesman Jens Ploetner told journalists here Wednesday.
He pointed out that the crisis staff of the foreign ministry was informed of the kidnapping on July 29.
The German citizen who has a dual nationality and works in Afghanistan, appeared to have been the victim of a "criminal kidnapping," Ploetner added.
Afghanistan has been the scene of at least six German abduction cases over the past 18 months.
Musharraf’s future to be decided by restored judges: Sharif
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS
Islamabad : A petition challenging Pervez Musharraf's candidature for the presidential elections will be reopened and the Supreme Court's restored judges will decide his future, says former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who holds the key to the formation of a new government in Pakistan.
"I believe that whosoever forms the government will restore the judges of superior courts to their pre-Nov 3 position when they were sacked by Musharraf... and these judges will decide on his (Musharraf's) future," Sharif said at a press conference here Tuesday.
US extends contract with Blackwater for Iraq
By DPA
Washington : The US State Department is extending its Iraq contract with Blackwater security firm, which is still under investigation for killing 17 Iraqi civilians last year.
Gregory Starr, acting assistant secretary of state for diplomatic security, said Friday that security needs dictated renewal of the contract, which was due to expire next month, Bloomberg News and the Washington Post reported.
Pakistan polls to be a watershed in its history: Daily
By IANS,
Islamabad : It'll be a watershed in Pakistan's quest for a stable democratic order when the country goes to the polls May 11, a leading daily said Friday.
Yemen evacuations extended till Thursday
New Delhi : Operation Rahat to evacuate Indians from strife-torn Yemen has been extended by a day, the government said on Wednesday.
The operation, which...
4,000 bottles of liquor seized in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : More than 4,000 bottles of foreign branded liquor valued at Rs.20 million (around $220,000) has been seized in the Pakistani city of Karachi.
Qatar to have fourth daily Doha-London Heathrow service
By NNN-Bernama
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia : Qatar Airways is to have a fourth daily non-stop flight between Doha and London Heathrow, taking its capacity between the two destinations to 42 services a week.
Chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker described the London Heathrow service as the airline's flagship route for many years.
Israel seals off West Bank town to prevent anti-wall demonstration
By Xinhua,
Ramallah : Israeli forces extended a curfew on the central West Bank town of Ni'lin for the fourth day on Monday in response to Palestinian demonstrations against the construction of a West Bank barrier.
Local Palestinians said that they have been trapped in their homes for four days, unable to go to work as Israeli soldiers throw sonic bombs near civilian houses, in order "to scare children and to provoke the residents," as put by one villager.
High court notice to Varun Gandhi in defamation case
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Wednesday issued notice to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Varun Gandhi in a defamation case filed by his uncle V.M. Singh.
Gandhi was asked by Justice Aruna Sureesh to file his reply by July 30.
Gandhi and Singh were pitted against each other in the 2009 general elections in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh. Singh, who was among the wealthiest candidates in the election, is a first cousin of Gandhi's mother and former union minister of state Maneka Gandhi.
Iran makes drone with 24-hour flight capacity
By IANS,
Tehran : Iran has produced an indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with 24-hour non-stop flight capability, a senior official claimed.
Israeli Forces kill 6 gunmen and 1 teacher
By SPA
Gaza City, Gaza Strip : Israeli ground forces backed by warplanes exchanged fire with Hamas fighters in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing a teacher and six gunmen.
The 38-year-old teacher died and two other staffers were hurt when an Israeli surface-to-surface missile struck an agricultural school in the northern town of Beit Hanoun, Hamas security forces said. Dr. Moaiya Hassanain of the Gaza Health Ministry said the man was killed outside of the school gate.
Olmert: Gaza situation won’t become critical
By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday that Israel will not allow a humanitarian crisis to erupt in the Gaza Strip, local media reported.
Olmert made the remarks in a telephone conversation with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak who called for Israel to stop its siege on the Gaza Strip.
"We will not allow a humanitarian crisis in the Strip," Olmert assured the Egyptian president.
Israeli jets raid southern Gaza Strip
Gaza: Israeli fighter jets carried out a series of air raids on the Gaza Strip Friday, as Palestinian militants continued to fire rockets into...
Iran calls BBC Persian TV threat to national security
By IANS,
Tehran : Iran Wednesday said the BBC Persian television network, launched Wednesday, is a threat to its national security, the official IRNA news agency reported.
"The launching of the BBC Persian will not be good for national security," intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseini Ejehi said, adding that Tehran will take "necessary measures to thwart the plan".
Ejehi, however, didn't specify what measures Iran will take against the British channel.
Earlier this month, Iranian hardliners alleged that BBC was seeking to recruit "spies" through this channel.
Iranian special envoy, Pakistani PM discuss ties
By IRNA
Islamabad : Pakistan Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro has said that Pakistan and Iran enjoy close neighborly relations and have been playing a significant role in the region for peace and stability.
Both countries, he added, desire to expand trade and economic links in order to ensure prosperity for their people.
The prime minister was talking to the special envoy of Iran, Kazem Jalali who called on him here at the Prime Minister's Secretariat on Friday, an official statement said.
Saudi relief plane arrives in Nepal
Kathmandu : Saudi Arabia has sent a plane carrying relief supplies to quake-hit Nepal, media reported on Monday.
The cargo plane carried 15 tonnes of...
Mubarak expresses interest to attend OIC summit
By Xinhua
Cairo : Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Thursday expressed his interest to participate in the upcoming Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit, Egyptian presidential spokesman Suleiman Awad said.
Mubarak said he would participate in the OIC summit to be held in the Senegalese capital of Dakar on March 13-14 "if time permits," Awad was quoted by the Egyptian MENA news agency as saying after the talks between Mubarak and his visiting Senegalese counterpart Abdoulaye Wade.
Suicide blast kills four in northwest Pakistan
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : At least four people were killed Saturday in a suicide car bomb attack in Pakistan's northwestern city of Dera Ismail Khan.
The incident comes after Friday's bomb attack at a funeral procession in the city that killed at least 30 people and wounded 85 others.
A media report said quoting police officials Saturday that the suicide bomber was inside the car at the time of the blast. A bomb disposal squad was called in after the incident, it said.
Sikhs, Muslims seek end to racial profiling
By Arun Kumar,IANS,
Washington : Sikh, Muslim and African-American groups have related stories of being racially profiled across the US to lawmakers as they explored potential legislation to stop the practice.
"It's not fair. It's not safe," said Amarjeet Singh, programme director of Sikh Coalition, appearing before the house judiciary subcommittee Thursday for what the Sikh advocacy group said was the first time they had testified about profiling before the US Congress.
NATO airstrike kills six civilians, says Afghan official
By DPA,
Kabul : A NATO airstrike targeting a group of alleged insurgents mistakenly killed an Afghan family of six, an Afghan official said Monday.
Israel continues closure of crossings with Gaza Wednesday
By NNN-KUNA,
Gaza : Israel stated here on Wednesday it is keeping the closure of crossings with Gaza Strip, stating continued Palestinian attacks as reason behind the decision.
Radio Israel cited Palestinian attacks Tuesday, adding that Israeli Minister of Defence Ehud Barak took the decision after discussions with the Israeli security chiefs.
Five killed in Yemen car bombing
Aden: At least five soldiers were killed and several others injured when a car bomb exploded Wednesday evening at a military base in Yemen's...
Protest in Afghanistan against killing of civilians by foreign troops
By DPA,
Kabul : Hundreds of Afghan demonstrators Monday took to the streets in the capital, accusing US military forces of killing a man and his two children in a raid earlier that day, witnesses said.
The protesters, who were chanting anti-US military and anti-Afghan government slogans, blocked a road in Hudkhail, an area on the eastern outskirts of the Afghan capital, where several military bases of the NATO-led international forces are located.
Pakistan’s 2009-10 budget summary sent to PM for approval
By IANS,
Islamabad : A summary of Pakistan's budget for fiscal 2009-10 has been sent for approval to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani ahead of its expected presentation in parliament June 6.
"It is up to the prime minister to approve June 6 or any other date for the announcement of the national budget in parliament," APP news agency Wednesday quoted a top finance ministry official as saying.
He said the ministry had received budgetary proposals and suggestions from various stakeholders and these had been forwarded to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for finalisation by May 31.
Iran to extend gas pipeline to Iraq, Syria
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow: Tehran is planning to build a gas pipeline up to Iraq and Syria, the Iranian Oil Ministry said Wednesday.
Norway criticizes civilian killing in U.S. bombing in Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Stockholm : The Norwegian government on Monday criticized the killing of a large number of civilians in the U.S bombing of a village in Afghanistan last Friday, according to reports reaching here Monday.
Every single civilian death in such an operation is most tragic and very serious, Norwegian State Secretary Espen Barth-Eide was quoted as saying by the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK.
The international forces depend on trust from the local population, and incidents like these are harmful to such relations, he added.
Soltanieh: IAEA never used ‘non-compliance’ in Iran’s case
By IRNA,
Vienna : Iran's IAEA envoy Ali-Asghar Soltanieh said Wednesday that the IAEA has never used the 'non-compliance' in reference to Iran's case.
"The term can be used against a country only if inspectors are banned from activity, gathering information, taking samples and so on," Soltanieh said during the NPT Review Conference and its Preparatory Committees in Geneva on Wednesday.
87 pc rise in foreign investments in Iran in 2009
By IRNA,
Tehran : Foreign investments in Iran have witnessed a 87 percent growth in 2009, Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Shamseddin Hosseini announced here on Monday.
Talking to reporters, he said Iran’s foreign investments exceeded dlrs 3 billion in 2009 showing an increase of 87 percent as compared to its preceding year.
The minister added that the law on foreign investment facilities has been prepared in order to facilitate foreign investments in the country. He reiterated that Iranians living abroad can make use of the llaw appropriately.
Israeli army arrests two Islamic Jihad activists in West Bank
By Xinhua,
Ramallah : Israeli forces on Wednesday arrested two Islamic Jihad militants in Jenin city in northern West Bank, the armed group said.
A spokesman for the Islamic Jihad's military wing said the detainees were Hani and Mayssara Kmail, both are 23, who have been wanted by Israel since months.
According to witnesses, Israeli forces stormed Qabatya neighborhood in southwest Jenin last night and stormed the houses of several families believed to have members working for al-Quds Brigades, the Islamic Jihad armed wing.
World Bank approves $500 mn loan for Pakistan
By IANS,
Washington : The World Bank has approved a $500-million interest-free loan to help stablise Pakistan's economy, Geo TV reported Friday.
"Pakistan has experienced severe external and internal shocks in the past year and is confronting a very difficult macro-economic situation," the Washington-based World Bank said in a statement.
"The rise in international oil and food prices sharply inflated the country's import bill and the subsequent slowdown in the global economy dampened external demand for Pakistan's exports."
Sushma talks to Mamata ahead of Dhaka visit
New Delhi : External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Wednesday spoke to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ahead of her three-day visit to Dhaka,...
Illegal Phensedyl manufacturing unit busted near Bangladesh border
Kolkata : The Border Security Force on Friday arrested a man for running an illegal unit manufacturing Phensedyl syrup near the Bangladesh border in...
Hamas leader says will positively respond to Carter proposals
By Xinhua,
Gaza : The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) will respond positively to the ceasefire and calmness proposals offered by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, said Mohammed Nazzal, an exiled member of Hamas politburo, on Sunday. However, the positive responses "will not be at any price because the interests of the Palestinian people should be calculated," he said.
Malaysian PM calls for partnership between Muslims and West
DAVOS, SWITZERLAND, Jan 25 (NNN-BERNAMA) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has proposed a strategic partnership between the Muslim world and the West to help advance the economic agenda of the Makkah Declaration.
"This partnership can take concrete shape through the establishment of an institutional platform that brings together the OIC (Organization of the Islamic Conference) and the developed nations of the West to provide strategic direction, overview and co-ordination of co-operation," adds Abdullah. Malaysia is the current chairman of the 56-member OIC.
Terror war inflicting immense losses on Pakistan economy
By IRNA,
Islamabad : The economy of Pakistan has been facing serious threats as it has lost $6 billion for extending its support to US-led terror war in the year 2007-08.
Majority of Pakistanis believe that war on terror has practically been an American war in which the Pakistani government went beyond limits of subservience to the US, Pakistani media say.
The involvement of Pakistan in war on terrorism has been affecting its economy by damaging its economic environment, they say.
Niqab becoming a flash point in Canada
By Gurmukh Singh, IANS,
Toronto : The niqab worn by Muslim women has become a flash point in Canada, with most people seeking ban on the veil in public. But liberals and the media are comparing the ban demand to a Taliban dress code.
Canada has about one million Muslims in its population of 34 million, and their population is expected to triple in the next two decades.
US to supply fighters to Pakistan
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : The US will supply fighter aircraft to Pakistan in an effort to intensify the fight against militants in the country's tribal regions bordering Afghanistan, a media report said.
The assurance came from US officials at a bilateral security cooperation working group meeting held in Rawalpindi Friday, Iranian Press TV reported Saturday.
The warplanes to be delivered by June 2010 include F-16 fighter jets, Lockheed P3C maritime surveillance aircraft and Cobra helicopters.
Pakistan won’t tolerate aggression by anyone: Nawaz Sharif
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Islamabad : Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif Wednesday said that his country would not "tolerate any aggression by anyone", but reiterated that his party backed the government's offer of a joint India-Pakistan probe into the Mumbai terror attacks.
Addressing a press conference, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief said that Pakistan has already expressed its readiness to a joint investigation and his party "backs this offer".
Time not ripe to lift emergency: Bangladesh’s interim government
By IANS,
Dhaka : Resisting pressure from political parties to lift emergency, head of Bangladesh's interim government has said the time was not yet ripe, "as some reasons still exist, justifying its enforcement".
"We want to proceed towards complete withdrawal of the state of emergency by relaxing it in phases. Our experience will tell what needs to be done," Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, who performs prime ministerial functions in the caretaker government, told media Monday.
Millions gather in Saudi Arabia for Haj
Makkah : Nearly two million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform the annual Haj, which culminates on Sunday with the standing on...
Iran calls for expanding relations with Bolivia
By Xinhua,
Tehran : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here on Tuesday that Tehran welcomes expansion of the all-out relations with Bolivia, according to the presidential office.
"We hope the two sides' high-ranking officials would continue efforts to further broaden ties between the two countries," said Ahmadinejad in a meeting with Bolivian special envoy to Tehran, Carlos Garcia, state news agency IRNA cited the presidential office as saying.
Afghan battles leave several militants dead, 4 arrested
By Xinhua,
Kabul : Afghan troops backed by the U.S.-led Coalition troops have eliminated several militants and arrested four suspected Taliban rebels in three separate battles in the war-battered Afghanistan, said the Coalition statement released here on Thursday.
Insurgents on Wednesday attacked the combined patrol of Afghan troops and Coalition forces in the Maywand district of southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province, the statement said.
The patrol returned fire and called in air strike assistance, killing several insurgents, it said.
LeT behind Mumbai terror, Pakistan has a lot to answer for: Brown
By IANS,
New Delhi : Backing India's charge about the involvement of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the Mumbai terror strikes, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Sunday said that Pakistan has "a lot to answer for" and the attacks have brought "the whole world" in support of India.
Underlining global solidarity with India, Brown stressed that the international community has to ensure that there are "no safe havens for terrorists and no hiding places for those who finance terror attacks".
Online war despatch: Officer to tweet from Afghan frontline
By IANS,
London : A senior British Army officer will start using the online social networking site Twitter from next month to inform the world about the frontline in war-ravaged Afghanistan.
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.
Bombs kill 24 in eastern Pakistan city, wrecks a police HQ
By SPA
Lahore, Pakistan : Massive suicide bombs ripped through a seven-story police headquarters and a business in Lahore on Tuesday, killing at least 24 people and wounding more than 200, according to AP.
The two blasts happened about 15 minutes apart in different districts of this eastern city. The first tore the facade from the Federal Investigation Agency building as staff were beginning their working day. It also damaged scores of homes in the neighborhood.
Russia sends aid for Libyan refugees
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : A Russian plane carrying humanitarian aid for Libyan refugees arrived Sunday in Tunisia en route to the North African country, Russia's emergencies ministry said.
Pakistan reiterates support to Saudi Arabia over Yemen
Islamabad : Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has once again assured the Saudi Arabian leadership of support in the prevailing crisis situation in Yemen,...
Malaysia’s Education Minister departs after three-day visit to Oman
By NNN-ONA,
Muscat : Malaysian Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has departed here with his accompanying delegation winding up a three-day official visit to the sultanate.
During his visit, the Malaysian minister met with a number of senior officials in the sultanate.
He also signed for his country a memorandum of understanding between the Education Ministry in the sultanate and the Malaysian Education Ministry in the education field.
Kuwait PM meets Sultan of Brunei, both states sign economic, trade deals
By NNN-KUNA,
Brunei : His Highness the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah held talks here Friday with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and delivered a message from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on ways of boosting bilateral relations and cooperation in different domains.
The meeting took place at Istana Nurul Iman, Bolkiah's Palace, with attendance of members of the royal family.
Official talks then took place between Bolkiah and Sheikh Nasser with attendance of delegations from both sides.
Olmert-Abbas meeting begins in Jerusalem
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have begun their meeting in the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem. The two are meeting privately, without the negotiation teams.
The meeting is being held ahead of Abbas' upcoming visit to Washington, where he is scheduled to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush and other U.S. officials who are interested in giving a boost to Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
UAE launches polio vaccination campaign in Pakistan
Islamabad : On the directive of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Project to Assist Pakistan...
Taliban agrees to ‘permanent ceasefire’ in Swat
By IANS,
Islamabad : In what is seen as a major breakthrough, the Pakistani Taliban Saturday agreed to a "permanent ceasefire" in the country's restive northwestern Swat Valley, reports from the area said.
This follows a deal between the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) government and Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) of radical cleric Sufi Muhammad Feb 16 on imposing Shariat laws in seven districts of the province, including the Swat Valley, where the Taliban's writ largely runs.
Pakistan must exploit its mango export potential: Gilani
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan, which is the fifth largest producer of mangoes in the world, needs to exploit its mango export potential, says Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
Int”l housing NGO says Gaza closure affects 250,000 Palestinians
GENEVA, Jan 23 (KUNA) -- A leading Geneva based international NGO working for housing rights said Wednesday Israeli and international sanctions on Gaza affects some 250,000 Palestinians and the restriction on fuel stands to affect 1.5 million people in the few coming days.
The Centre for Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) said sanctions and closures on Gaza left quarter of a million people without adequate water supply and the restrictions on fuel may leave 1.5 million people without water and sewage services in the coming days.
Palestine: At least seven Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks
By NNN-WAFA
Gaza : Six citizens were killed and four others wounded on Thursday morning in two Israeli strikes on east Jbalya, north trhe Gaza Strip, medical sources said.
They added that Israeli warplane fired missiles on a group of people killing six and wounding four, some seriously.
In another attack, a teacher was killed and five others were wounded on Thursday morning as Israeli artillery bombarded Beit Hanoun town, north the Gaza Strip, witnesses said.
How a phone rouses crowds in Pakistan
By IANS
Islamabad : Pakistan's deposed Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who is under house arrest, was most effective when he reached out to lawyers in Karachi and Lahore over a phone line broadcast live. But he isn't the first one to use the simple tactic.
Islamic art festival opens in Sharjah
By IANS,
Sharjah : The 12th Islamic Art Festival opened here at the Sharjah Art Museum in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), WAM news agency reported Thursday.
The exhibition called "Space of Mosaic" was inaugurated by Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the ruler of Sharjah, largest emirate of the UAE.
Painters from different Islamic countries, including UAE, are participating in the event Sep 2-30.
US Air Force Bombs Somalia
By Prensa Latina
Nairobi : US Air Force bombed on Monday an alleged guerrillas' base of the Islamic Courts Union in a Somali area near Kenya's border.
The military operation was executed on Sunday morning at about 03:00 local hour when a US plane targeted three bombs over three objectives of Dhole locality, two of them houses, said a tribal leader.
According to Dhole's tribal chief Abdullahi Sheikh four civilians died during the attack.
A guerrilla's sources also confirmed the incursion.
Pakistan terms India’s UNSC bid ‘selfish,blind national ambition’
United Nations: Pakistan has taken pot shots at India's bid for a permanent seat on the Security Council, calling it "selfish" and a claim...
Bush talks anti-Iran drive to mideast
By NNN-Prensa Latina
Washington : US President George W. Bush begins a Middle East leverage tour Tuesday, trying to curry support for pressure against the Iranian nuclear program, which Teheran affirms has civil goals.
According to Bush, he will take a message of peace for Israelis and Palestinians, but will also promote the creation of a so called common front against Iran's nuclear activities, which he labelled as threatening.
Yemen army, Houthis welcome Saudi ceasefire proposal
Sanaa : The Yemeni army and the Shia Houthi rebel group on Sunday welcomed a five-day humanitarian truce proposed by Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia, which...
Luxury airline Royal Jet announces new fare structure for Gulf
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) international luxury executive airline Royal Jet has announced a new fare structure for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Under the new structure, passengers will be charged from the point where they commence their journey rather than from the point where the aircraft originated, according to a Royal Jet statement.
~Youth Views~ Western students exceed Lebanese expectations
By Nathalie Nahas,
Despite the political and economic turmoil that Lebanon has endured for many years – which culminated in violence weeks before the recent Doha accord – I recently noticed that the number of international students around the American University of Beirut (AUB) campus has grown. One only has to attend a course on Middle Eastern studies to notice the diversity of nationalities, with students coming from the United States and throughout Europe.
US accuses ISIL of fighting to destroy Iraq
Washington: The White House said Monday that the Islamic group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is fighting to...
UAE leaders hold talks with foreign officials
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi : Leaders of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have met top officials from Canada, Britain, Greece and Argentina to discuss strengthening ties.
Delegation represents Iran in UN conference on women
By IRNA,
United Nations : An Iranian delegation has participated in the 53rd session of the United nations’ Commission on the Status of Women which opened Tuesday in New York.
The five-member delegation is led by Elham Aminzadeh who is the aide to the Iranian foreign minister for women’s affairs.
The world event this year is focusing on the theme of AIDS and the way it affects women.
Talking in the opening ceremony of the event, Aminzadeh said Iran was ready to share its scientific achievements in the area with the international community.
Musharraf to return home Jan 25 or 27
By IANS,
Islamabad : Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf, who has been in self-imposed exile, has said he is ready to face the courts and would be returning home on Jan 25 or 27.
Analyst urges OIC to stand up against gross HR violations in Gaza
By IRNA,
Islamabad : A senior Pakistani columnist Irfan Siddiqui on Thursday termed the situation in the Gaza Strip as pathetic urging the OIC and Arab League to come up with a strong voice to put pressure on Israel.
Talking to IRNA, he said that Israel would not stop human rights violation in Gaza unless US and other western powers stop encouraging the illegitimate state against Muslims.
650 kg of explosives recovered near Islamabad
By IANS,
Islamabad : A huge cache of 650 kg of explosive material has been recovered from a village near here, with the authorities saying they had foiled a plot to cause widespread destruction in the Pakistani capital and the twin city of Rawalpindi.
Police, however, failed to arrest three people who were in the house from where the explosives were recovered as they managed to escape during the raid, The News reported Friday, quoting an intelligence agency source.
Later, the police detained 10 people for interrogation and registered a case under the Explosives Act.
Pakistan expo in Mumbai cancelled at last minute
Mumbai : The second 'Made In Pakistan Expo Mumbai', scheduled to start Aug 31, was abruptly cancelled at the last minute by the organisers...
Pakistan tests cruise missile Hatf-VII
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan Tuesday successfully test-fired the indigenously developed cruise missile Hatf-VII (Babur), having a range of 700 km, the military said.
German-based Palestinian leader rips US, Arab world for backing Israeli raids on Gaza
By IRNA,
Berlin : A leading Palestinian community leader based in Germany slammed the US and pro-western Arab states, notably Egypt, for giving green light to the murderous Israeli military onslaught in Gaza Saturday.
Speaking to IRNA in Berlin, the head of the Society for Support of Palestinians (GHUP) Izzeddin Musa said he was "more than shocked" over the tame reaction of the western and Arab world on the deadly Israeli air attacks in Gaza which left at least 195 people dead and injured hundreds, many of them critically.
‘Kill securitymen before blowing yourself up’
Peshawar : The suicide bombers who had unleashed a bloodbath in a school in the Pakistani city of Peshawar Tuesday were told by their...
Oil exploration, trade on Hasina’s Beijing agenda
By IANS,
Dhaka : Getting China to join the race for hydrocarbons in the Bay of Bengal and bridging the bilateral trade gap are high on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's agenda as she leaves for Beijing Wednesday.
Eighty-seven delegates, including businessmen, will be part of her entourage during the five-day visit.
Highly placed sources said officials are busy fine-tuning the programme schedules to make the visit a success, the Daily Star said.
Hasina signed five deals with India during her visit to New Delhi in January and follow-up measures are afoot on both sides.
Judiciary lauded for holding fair elections
By APP
Islamabad : Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Syed Afzal Haider has appreciated the role of judiciary for the smooth and peaceful conduct of free, fair and transparent elections in the country. In separate letters addressed to the chief justices of Balochistan, NWFP, Sindh and Punjab, the minister expressed deep appreciation on behalf of the Government of Pakistan and Ministry of Law and Justice for the smooth and peaceful conduct of free, fair and transparent election”.
Four Pakistani prisoners cut jail van floor, escape
By IANS,
Islamabad : Four prisoners escaped in Pakistan's Punjab province after cutting through the floor of their jail van.
835 await execution in Iraqi prisons
By IANS/AKI,
Baghdad : More than 800 people in Iraq are on death row awaiting execution, said Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani.
Zardari’s comments on Kashmir not what he meant: Pakistan foreign secretary
By IANS,
Beijing : Nearly three weeks after President Asif Ali Zardari's remarks describing militants in Jammu and Kashmir as terrorists, Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Salman Basheer Friday downplayed the comments that were seen in India as a reversal of Islamabad's policy on Kashmir, even as he called for rooting out terrorism collectively.
Bangladesh may have higher gas reserves than estimated
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh may have surplus gas reserves, something past governments have denied, as per revised estimates being examined by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government.
Hasina told a meeting with energy officials Thursday that it was "good news for the country" that the gas reserve at Bibiyana, the country's second-largest, was much higher than the earlier estimate.
She was hopeful that more gas would be found, said a source who was present at the meeting.
Yemen, US hold taks
By NNN-SABA,
Sana'a: The US government represented by The United States Agency for International Development (USIAD) held a talk’s session with the Yemeni government in Sana'a at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.
The session, co-chaired by Planning Minister Abdul-Karim al-Arhabi and USAID acting deputy administrator James Kunder, discussed cooperation file between the two friend countries and means of reinforcing and developing it.
Hamas official: borders with Egypt to be closed Sunday
By Xinhua
Gaza : A senior Islamic Hamas official said Saturday that the borders between the Gaza Strip and Egypt will be closed on Sunday in coordination between Egypt and Hamas police.
"Security forces from both sides will start on Sunday closing the borders until finalizing the measures aiming at rearranging the movement of exit and entrance," Mahmoud al-Zahar told reporters on his way from Egypt to Gaza.
Hamas: West Bank detentions strike Hamas-Fatah reconciliation efforts
By Xinhua
Ramallah : Islamic Hamas movement on Sunday considered detentions against its members in West Bank by Palestinian security forces as "an early strike to the Arab efforts" to bring Hamas and Fatah to dialogue.
The security forces, loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, last night arrested 35 members of Islamic Hamas in West Bank including two leaders who were held for seven hours. It was one of the largest crackdowns against Hamas since last June.
13 killed in Iraq car bombing
By IANS,
Baghdad : At least 13 people were killed and 28 others wounded Monday when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into a prison near the Iraqi capital, an official said.
Man held for spying near Ahmadinejad’s helicopter
By IANS,
Tehran : A man has been arrested by Iranian security forces on suspicion of spying for an Arab state's intelligence agency, the Fars news agency reported.
At least 10 wounded in overnight clashes in Beirut
By Xinhua,
Beirut : At least 10 people were wounded in overnight clashes at Beirut between pro-government Sunni and opposition Shiite supporters, local An-Nahar daily reported Tuesday.
Clashes broke out on late Monday in Corniche Mazraa area of west Beirut when Shiite supporters from Hezbollah and Amal Movement paraded the streets of Sunni neighborhood following the speech of Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah on the "anniversary of the Liberation and resistance," said the report.
Israel beefs up security along border with Gaza to prevent infiltration
By NNN-KUNA
Gaza : Israeli forces have beefed up security measures along the borders with the Gaza Strip to prevent any infiltration attempt by Palestinians.
Radio Israel said Monday the army and police forces would prevent any border infiltration at any cost, after Palestinians expressed intent to form a "human chain" in protest against the siege on Gaza.
Syria send letter to UN Sec-Gen, Security Council on tragic situation in Gaza
By NNN-SANA,
Damascus : Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem has sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN Security Council Chairman Georgy Orbina on the tragic situation in Gaza and on the necessity for the UN to move because of the catastrophe resulting from the Israeli occupation measures against the Palestinians.
Zardari says Pakistan committed to fight against terrorism
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday reiterated Pakistan's resolve to fight against terrorism and visiting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged more assistance.
Addressing a joint news conference after a meeting here, Zardari and Gordon Brown said that terrorism was not an issue faced by a single country and needed coordinated efforts.
Pakistani people are victims of terrorism and can feel pain of Indians after Mumbai attack, Zardari said in a statement.
Pakistan: Govt taking bold decisions on subsidies to bolster economy, says PM Gilani
By APP,
Multan : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani said here Sunday that the government is taking bold decisions to phase out subsidies for rehabilitating the national economy. Talking to journalists at the local airport this evening the Prime Minister said the donor agencies including IMF, World Bank and others have suggested that our economy cannot be strengthened unless the policy of subsidies is abolished.
He said the government wants to rehabilitate the economy and for this purpose some tariffs like electricity and duties on some others items need to be revised.
Pakistan announces poll schedule
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Election Commission of Pakistan Friday announced the schedule for the May 11 parliamentary polls.
German daily highlights Israel’s systematic misuse of Holocaust
By IRNA,
Berlin : The German daily Die Tageszeitung (taz) on Wednesday highlighted Israel's systematic instrumentalization of the Nazi-era Holocaust for its own political goals.
"Israel's right-wing government is instrumentalizing the Holocaust for its policy. No Israeli government has ever misused the Holocaust as much as the present one to justify its policies," the paper said in an editorial.
It added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been using the Holocaust to justify any Israeli aggression as "an act of self-defense."
Malaysian Indian leader dead
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Former Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) vice president and philanthropist S.O.K. Ubaidulla Kadir Basha died Thursday after prolonged illness, a media report said Friday. He was 93.
Ubaidulla quit his studies in Chennai, India, 70 years ago to join the family business and politics here.
He had been MIC's vice president and at one stage permanent chairman, New Straits Times said.
He was also the founding president of Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce (All Malaysian Indian Commercial Body) 1950-82 and the Dewan Negara deputy president 1980-81.
12 dead in Egyptian families’ quarrel
By IANS,
Cairo : At least 12 people were killed in a fight among three Egyptian families over a piece of land, Xinhua reported.
Around 1.15 million expats in Kuwait’s private sector
By IANS,
Dubai : Around 1.15 million expatriates worked in Kuwait’s private sector till June this year, according to new figures.
The figures, released by Kuwait’s central census department, showed that males made up 93.5 percent of these expatriate workers, according to the state-run Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
The report, however, did not give a break-up of the nationalities of these workers.
According to the census figures, around 67.7 percent of the expatriates got salaries lower than 180 Kuwaiti dinars ($673).
22 Afghan militants give up arms
By IANS,
Kabul : Twenty-two Afghan militants gave up arms and handed over their weapons to the authorities Sunday, an official said.
Candidates” registration proceeding smoothly — official
By Kawthar Al-Ghanim, KUNA,
Kuwait : The election administration did its best to ensure the registration of candidates for the National Assembly (NA) elections would proceed smoothly, an official said Tuesday.
Head of the administration Ali Murad told KUNA that the process did not face any problems, expecting that the number of candidates would range between 300 and 350 by the last registration day.
He pointed out that the administration provided a center in which journalists and media personnel could make interviews with the candidates.
Kuwaiti cabinet resigns en masse
By IANS
Kuwait City : Kuwait's entire cabinet resigned Monday amid strained relationship between the legislative and executive powers in the country.
First Deputy Premier and Defence Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and the cabinet members tendered their resignations to Prime Minister Shaikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al Sabah, state news agency KUNA reported.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Faisal Al-Hajji told KUNA the decision was taken following the weekly cabinet meeting Monday.
Rebuilding Gaza top priority for Palestinian unity government
Gaza : Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and ministers of the unity government arrived here Thursday for a cabinet meeting expected to focus on...
NATO convoys’ blockade may last weeks: Gilani
By IANS,
London : The blockade of NATO supplies through Pakistan would continue for several weeks, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said.
India has aligned with Israel and U.S., ignoring Palestinians: Muslim leaders
By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Pakistan troops gain ground in Swat’s main city
By DPA,
Islamabad: Pakistani troops gained a foothold in Swat's main city Sunday as they pushed on with their offensive to rout Taliban militants from the Swat Valley.
"Moving from street to street, security forces have secured important areas of Mingora city," the military said in a statement.
The retaken spots included the key Green Chowk, which earned the name of "Bloody Intersection" for being the site of public beheadings and hangings by the Taliban.
No good or bad Taliban, says Iran
By IANS,
New Delhi : Airing its unease over the proposed reintegration of Taliban in Afghanistan, Iran Tuesday rejected any distinction between good Taliban and bad Taliban, and sought closer cooperation with India in stabilising the violence-torn country.
"There is no good Taliban or bad Taliban," Iranian ambassador to India Seyed Mehdi Nabizadeh said here.
Backing a regional approach, the Iranian envoy stressed that neighbouring countries could play a greater role in stabilising Afghanistan. India and Iran can work together in stabilsing Afghanistan, he said.
19 militants killed in Afghanistan
By IANS,
Kabul : Nineteen militants were killed by security forces in Afghanistan, the interior ministry said Monday.
Iran fires rockets into Pakistan’s Balochistan
Islamabad : Iranian border guards fired dozens of rockets into Kech district of Pakistan's Balochistan province, officials said Monday.
Iranian border guards Monday night fired...
300 killed in twin quakes in Iran
By IANS,
Tehran : A day after two major earthquakes jolted northwestern Iran, the toll has risen to 300, Fars news agency reported.
Over 40 killed or missing in floods in Yemen
By NNN-KUNA,
Sanaa : Forty-one people were killed or missing in Yemeni governorate of Hadhramout as a result of floods caused by heavy rain fall which also damaged houses and infrastructure facilities in different parts of the country.
"Forty-one are the initial estimates of dead or missing people in Hadhramout, while there are five deaths in Al-Muhra governorate, and two killed by thunder in Muqbana area in Ta'ez governorate," state-run news agency (Saba) said.
Hamas delegation headed to Egypt
By IANS,
Gaza : Hama's Gaza chief Ismail Haniyeh Saturday led a high-ranking delegation headed to Egypt in a surprise visit, reported Xinhua citing sources.
Iran issue unsolved at ElBaradei’s last IAEA board meeting
By DPA,
Vienna: The dispute over Iran's nuclear programme showed no sign of abating as diplomats gathered at the International Atomic Energy Agency Thursday for a meeting that would be the last under IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei.
The IAEA's board of governors was set to vote on a resolution drafted by six world powers that would express "serious concern" about a new nuclear site that Tehran revealed belatedly in September and note that Iran had broken international rules by building it.
Egyptians vote on last day of presidential poll
Cairo : Egyptians started to cast their votes from 9 a.m. Tuesday, the final day of the two-day presidential election being held after the...
17 killed in violence in Karachi
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Seventeen people have been killed in various incidents of violence in Pakistan's Karachi city, Geo TV reported Sunday.
The violence erupted Saturday evening in Banaras Chowk area and continued Sunday in various areas.
Seventeen people have been killed and 95 including 19 women injured as people torched 19 vehicles, six shops, a warehouse and a marriage hall in the city, Geo TV report said.
Israel to lift Gaza siege after Hamas ‘neutralised’
Jerusalem: Israel would lift the eight-year blockade on the Gaza Strip only after the Islamist group of Hamas is "neutralised", President Reuven Rivlin has...
13,000 visitors expected at Dubai media expo
By IANS,
Dubai : Over 13,000 visitors from 47 countries are expected at the Media and Marketing Show (MMS) 2008, the Middle East's premier exhibition for the media and advertising industry, to be held here Nov 3-5.
Organisers of the event, the Domus group, said over 200 exhibitors representing around 600 brands would be participating in the show, according to the state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM).
255 tribesmen, police personnel killed by IS in Iraq
Baghdad : A total of 255 tribesmen and local policemen were executed by the militants of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group after it...
Pakistan’s ruling coalition decides on 5 key ministers
By NNN-Xinhua
Islamabad : Pakistan's ruling coalition has reached consensus on posts of five major ministries, and Shah Mehmood Qureshi from Pakistan People's Party (PPP) would be foreign minister in the upcoming cabinet, sources said on Tuesday.
The newly-elected Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, who won an overwhelming victory Monday, was sworn in on Tuesday in presidential house. Gillani is expected to announce the cabinet formation in the coming days.
Tension builds in Iran ahead of Rafsanjani’s Friday sermon
By IANS,
Tehran : Iran's intelligence minister has warned worshippers against potential unrest during the address by the reformist cleric Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Friday, media reports said Friday.
Rafsanjani, who has backed presidential contender Mir-Hossein Mousavi, could add fuel to the opposition protests, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Eje'i said Thursday, while calling on worshippers to remain "vigilant so that the Friday prayers do not turn into a scene of undesirable events", Fars news agency reported.
Cypriot peace talks to start on Sept. 3
By Xinhua,
Athens : Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and his Turkish counterpart Mehmet Ali Talat agreed Friday to start the Cypriot peace negotiations on Sept. 3 with a view to ending years of division of Cyprus.
The aim of the talks is to reach "mutually accepted solution to the Cyprus problem which will safeguard the fundamental and legitimate rights and interests of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots", the United Nations Special Representative to Cyprus Taye Brook Zerihoun said in a joint statement.
Three killed in bomb blast in Pakistan
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : At least three people were killed and 45 injured in a bomb blast in northwest Pakistan's Bajaur tribal district Thursday, a TV channel reported.
A remote-controlled bomb was detonated when a jirga or tribal elders' meeting was being held in Salarzai area of the tribal agency, Geo TV said.
The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The Pakistani army has intensified its operation against militants in the Bajaur agency and killed more than 1,500 militants since Aug 6.
12 injured in Pakistan acid attack
Islamabad : Twelve people, including six women, were injured in an acid attack in Pakistan Wednesday.
The attack took place in Balochistan province's Pishin district,...
UAE expands food aid programme in Yemen
By IANS/WAM,
Sana'a : The UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) is expanding its food aid operations to needy people in three Yemeni governorates -- Al Mahwit, Hajjah, and Sana'a.
UAE seeks Unesco heritage status for falconry
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is seeking to get the sport of falconry included in the Unesco's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) is organising a workshop on falconry Aug 17-18 in preparation for submitting a file for the registration with the Unesco, WAM news agency reported.
Countries participating in the workshop include the UAE, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Qatar, Belgium, France, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Mongolia, South Korea, and Spain.
UAE, Thailand hold talks
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi: Top officials of the UAE and Thailand have held discussions on improving bilateral relations.
UN official discusses issue of Iraqi refugees with EU
By NNN-KUNA,
Brussels : European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has received here Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, for a working lunch to discuss the new EU immigration and asylum policy that was approved a week ago by EU interior ministers.
Guterres raised the problem of Iraqi refugees as he recently warned Europe to keep the door open for genuine Iraqi asylum-seekers or risk Middle Eastern countries following their lead and expelling thousands of people.
One more aid convoy to head to Gaza — Galloway
By IRNA,
Tehran : British member of parliament and anti-war activist said here on Sunday that an international aid convoy from London, dubbed "Miles of Smiles", is expected to head to Gaza from the port city of Latakia in Syria.
Talking to IRNA on the sidelines of the meeting of Iranian expatriates, George Galloway said the convoy will carry 10 million dollars worth of aid to Gazans.
Commening on the Zionist regime of Israel’s attack on Peace Flotilla bound to Gaza, he reiterated that the attack on the caravan of ships heading to Gaza was a damaging issue for Israel.