India’s Muslims welcome Modi’s gesture to Pakistan
By Mohd Asim Khan,
New Delhi, May 24 (IANS) India’s Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi’s gesture of inviting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in ceremony has raised hopes of a long-lasting peace between the arch rivals among Muslims of this country.
US, Saudi Arabia sign warplanes deal worth $29 bn
By IANS,
Washington : The US has signed a major deal worth about $29 billion to provide F-15 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, the White House announced Thursday.
The Gaza blockade and the flotilla: fighting violence with non-violence
By Michael N. Nagler
When organisers from the International Solidarity Movement, which aims to support and strengthen Palestinian popular resistance to the Israeli occupation, consulted us at the California-based Metta Center for Nonviolence about attempting to break the naval blockade of Gaza in 2007, its first year, we advised them not to bring both humanitarian aid and people whom Israel had declared persona non grata on the same voyage.
India-Bangladesh trade hit by BDR mutiny
By IANS,
Agartala : The bloody mutiny of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) in Dhaka last month has knocked off the Indo-Bangladesh border trade by 50 percent, traders here Thursday said.
"The BDR mutiny and reduction of the rate of the Indian rupee against the US dollar have largely affected the Indo-Bangla export-import business during the past few weeks," said Habul Biswas, spokesman of the Indo-Bangla Desh Trading Organisation.
Vulgar language upsets Bangladesh Speaker
By IANS,
Dhaka : Use of foul language in Bangladesh parliament by lawmakers has upset its speaker, who wonders if expunging them remains his sole task.
Bangladesh genocide, liberation re-lived through exhibition
Agartala: Ahead of Bangladesh's Independence Day on March 26, a three-day exhibition "1971: Genocide and Torture" opened here on Monday to showcase the sacrifices...
US says it accidentally killed 9 Iraqi civilians
By IRNA
Baghdad : US military said on Monday that they had accidentally killed nine Iraqi civilians and wounded three in a strike aimed at al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia south of Baghdad.
A military statement released late Sunday acknowledged what appeared to be one of the deadliest cases of mistaken identity in recent weeks.
"The accidental killings happened Saturday in Iskandariya, about 25 miles south of the capital, and that the wounded were taken to American military hospitals," it said.
EU condemns suicide attack in Dimona
By NNN-KUNA
Brussels : The European Union has condemned "in the strongest terms" the suicide attack perpetrated in Dimona which killed one person and injured 11 others.
"This act of terror for which there can be no justification was aimed at innocent civilians with the goal of undermining the peace process," said a statement Monday by the EU Presidency currently held by Slovenia.
The statement added that the EU encourages Israel and the Palestinian Authority to pursue with determination the political process agreed to in Annapolis.
Israel conducts anti-missile test
By DPA,
Tel Aviv : The Israeli navy has successfully tested its Barak anti-missile system, the military announced Sunday.
The test included a version of the missile system with improved rocket-interception capabilities, the military said.
An interceptor missile was fired from the Israel Navy Ship Lahav, a Sa'ar 5-type corvette, successfully intercepting a target described as simulating an incoming enemy missile.
My blood froze when Zardari became president: Fatima Bhutto
By IANS,
New Delhi: Fatima Bhutto, niece of slain former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, says her "blood froze" on the day Asif Ali Zardari became the country's president and prompted her to send away her younger brother from the country fearing for his safety.
Zardari was accused of plotting the murder of Fatima's father Murtaza Bhutto but had been acquitted of the charge.
World journalists denounce Fitna film
By Nawab Khan, KUNA
Brussels : The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemned the Fitna (strife) film of Dutch MP Geert Wilders, saying it is provocative and aimed at spreading hatred.
In an interview with KUNA, IFJ General Secretary Aidan White described Wilders as an extremist and said the film was designed to stir up inter-cultural hatred and antagonism and that it failed completely.
He pointed out that the anti-Islam film was one of the issues raised in the Arab Media Forum entitled "Positive Media Dialogue Between East and West," held in Kuwait last week.
Indonesian plane with 17 people aboard remains missing
By DPA,
Jakarta, Aug 3 (DPA) Indonesian search and rescue workers have failed to locate an aircraft with 15 people and two babies on board that disappeared shortly after takeoff in the eastern province of Papua, officials said Monday.
Several rescue planes were dispatched to search for the Twin Otter plane belonging to the state-owned Merpati Nusantara Airlines that went missing Sunday in Papua, Indonesia's easternmost province.
But after several hours of searching, the rescue planes came back without spotting any debris, officials at the transportation ministry said.
Maldivian president Waheed meets Manmohan
By IANS,
New Delhi: Mohamed Waheed, the new president of the Maldives, Saturday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here in his first-ever visit to India.
Pranab denies calling Zardari; Pakistan says call was made
By IANS,
New Delhi/Islamabad : Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Sunday strongly denied he had made a call to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and expressed worry that "a neighbouring state might even consider acting on the basis of such a call and try to give it credibility with other states".
Mukherjee said that such reports originated from those in Pakistan who wanted to "divert attention from the fact of an attack on India from Pakistani territory by elements in Pakistan", referring to the Mumbai terror outrage in which at least 172 people were killed.
Pakistan sets Guinness record by planting 541,176 saplings
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan has made it to the Guinness Book of World Records by planting 541,176 saplings in one day to break the Indian record of 447,874 trees set on June 12.
Pakistan's environment ministry arranged the plantation drive earlier this week as part of series of events being held to observe the National Year of Environment that is also aimed at developing forest resources through international competitions.
Ahmadinejad holds talks with Abdoulaye Wade
By IINA
Mashhad : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held wide ranging talks with the visiting Senegalese counterpart Abdoulaye Wade here today. They exchanged cordial talks and discussed issues of mutual concern. Wade arrived in Iran's Mashhad city last night. President Ahmadinejad is in this northeastern city as part of the second round of his provincial tour to Iranian cities, IRNA reported.
Iran’s n-talks at vital stage
Tehran : Iran's talks with six world powers on its nuclear programme are at a vital stage but no solution is yet in sight,...
Iran mulls base to launch bigger satellites
By IANS,
Tehran : Iran is planning to construct a facility to send bigger satellites into orbit, the official media reported Friday.
In 10 years, Darwinism will be history: Turkish Muslim scholar
By Lalit K Jha, IANS,
Istanbul : A controversial Turkish Islamic scholar has created ripples in the scientific world by challenging Darwin's theory of evolution and claiming there are nearly 100 million fossils to prove that the world came into being as a result of God's creation.
"In 10 years' time, Darwinism will be history and people will only read about Darwinism as a piece of history," Adnan Oktar, who writes under the name pen name of Harun Yahya, told IANS in an interview.
Panic as children’s corpses disappear from Pakistan graveyard
Islamabad : The mysterious disappearance of children's corpses from a graveyard in Pakistan has created panic among the people.
Residents of Manghopir area of Karachi...
Russia Must Strengthen Its Influence In New Mideast-view
By Bernama,
Moscow : Russia should not give up mediation between the Islamic world and the West, Mikhail Margelov, chairman of the Federation Council committee on international affairs, points out in an article published in Rossiiskaya Gazeta on Tuesday.
Quoting Margelov, Russia's Itar-Tass news agency reported that mediation must remain one of the main planks of Russia's foreign policy.
While working out a long-term policy in the Greater Middle East, one must take it into account that US and European interests clash in the region, apart from Russia-US ones.
Bangladesh: elections to be held in scheduled time, preparation on in full swing, says...
By NNN-BSS,
Dhaka, Bangladesh : Adviser for Law, Justice and Parliament Affairs of Bangladesh caretaker government Hassan Ariff said, the upcoming parliament elections would be held in scheduled time and all necessary preparations have already been taken in this regard.
" There is no doubt about holding elections," he told reporters on Sunday at secretariat replying to a number of queries related to the objection of main political parties about holding elections under emergency.
Roadside bomb blast kills 2 Afghan policemen
By Xinhua,
Kabul : Two Afghan policemen were killed as a roadside bomb struck their vehicle in Afghanistan's central-eastern Ghazni province, said the interior ministry Thursday.
"Two policemen were killed and two others were injured as a remote-controlled roadside bomb hit their vehicle in Ghazni city, the capital of Ghazni province," the ministry said in a press release.
The police van was destroyed in the bombing.
No returning to cabinet till judges restored: Nawaz
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has made it clear that it would return to the cabinet of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani only after the reinstatement of the Supreme Court judges who had been sacked after an emergency was imposed last November.
PML-N chief and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif made his party's position clear when Gilani telephoned him Sunday to take him into confidence over a proposed cabinet expansion.
Pakistan: 30 more NATO oil tankers burned; latest in northeast Nowshera
By NNN-Xinhua,
Islamabad : At least 30 NATO oil tankers were burned following an attack on Wednesday night by unknown gunmen in Nowshera, a city in northwest Pakistan, reported local media.
Iran sentences dancing youths to jail, 91 lashes
Tehran: A group of Iranian youths, who released a video on YouTube dancing to the popular song "Happy" by American singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams, has...
Iran accuses Britain, U.S. of being related to Shiraz mosque blast
By Xinhua,
Tehran : Iran blamed Britain and the United States for having links to a "terrorist group" which engineered a mosque blast last month in the southern city of Shiraz, the state IRNA news agency reported Thursday.
"The main agent of the Shiraz mosque blast was arrested through police efforts, five other suspects had also been arrested in relation to the blast," Iran's Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie was quoted as saying in Shiraz Wednesday night.
Pakistan, India open Kashmir trade
By IRNA,
Islamabad : India and Pakistan opened trading route on Tuesday between their divided zones of Kashmir after 60 years, raising hopes that the revolt-hit region could see a major drop in tensions.
It is the first time that trucks rolled between the two zones created in the bloody aftermath of independence of the subcontinent from Britain six decades ago, when the region was split into India and Pakistan.
Pakistan army again open fire on Indian side
By IRNA,
Srinagar, India : Pakistani forces again opened firing on Indian troops in the Nariya post, in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, Wednesday.
No casualty reported so far.
Earlier, on Monday evening at least 12 Pakistani troops crossed into Indian territory and opened fire in the Lepa Valley of Nawgam sector in Kupwara district killing an Indian jawan.
Indian forces returned the fire driving the intruders back.
Four of the intruders were reportedly killed in the exchange of firing.
Iran to celebrate 3rd National Day of Nuclear Technology
By IRNA,
Tehran : Iran will celebrate its third National Day of Nuclear Technology on April 9.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, together with a number of other ranking officials, will take part in special ceremonies which are due to be held in the historical city of Isfahan in the central part of the country on the occasion.
Abu Dhabi to distribute free iftar meals to motorists
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi : Motorists in Abu Dhabi will get free iftar meals to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan, it was announced Wednesday.
UAE Deputy Prime Minister Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan Wednesday instructed the authorities to deliver 35,000 meals to motorists travelling in the emirate.
New US envoys to Mideast, Afghanistan and Pakistan announced
By Xinhua,
Washington : New US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Thursday announced the country's new envoys to Middle East, and Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Richard Holbrook, the former US Ambassador to UN, was named as special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan while former Senator George Mitchell was appointed special envoy to the Middle East.
Five Afghan army soldiers killed
By IANS,
Kabul : At least five Afghan army soldiers were killed Wednesday when their van hit a roadside bomb in western Afghanistan' Herat province, a media report said.
Bill slashing Zardari’s powers to be tabled in Senate Monday
By IANS,
Islamabad : A landmark bill drastically curtailing Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari's powers that the lower house of parliament has passed could not be introduced in the upper house Friday as the required two-third majority of members was not present.
The 18th constitution amendment bill, transferring the bulk of the president's powers to the prime minister's office, will now be tabled in the Senate on Monday, Online news agency reported.
Hamas denies plotting against Egypt’s national security
By Xinhua,
Gaza : Islamic Hamas movement on Sunday denied plotting any operation threatening Egypt's national security.
"The Egyptian national security and the Arab security are both red lines that Hamas can not cross," said Mohammed Nasser, a member of Hamas politburo.
Nasser's remarks were made following reports that Egyptian authorities arrested two members of the Muslim Brotherhood opposition party, who, with Hamas, planned to prepare an unmanned aircraft. The reports did not clarify what the aircraft was designated to be used for.
Twin suicide blasts kill 69 in Baghdad
By DPA
Baghdad : Twin blasts carried out by female suicide bombers tore through Baghdad's pet and bird markets Friday, killing at least 69 people and wounding 180 in the deadliest attacks in the capital in six months, security and medical officials said.
The death toll in the first blast, which struck central Baghdad's al-Ghazl pet market, rose to at least 44 and the number of wounded was at least 118, police and hospital sources said.
Pakistani court extends remand of American shooter
By IRNA,
Islamabad : A court in Pakistan on Thursday extended till February 11 physical police remand of an American national, detained in Pakistan on double murder charges, court officials said.
Some Gaza border crossings re-open, but problems continue: UN
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 1 (APP): About 70 trucks were allowed to enter the Gaza Strip from Israel Thursday, but aid supplies inside the territory are still dwindling, the Office of the U.N. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO), reported.
UNSCO said the trucks entered Gaza through the Karni and Sufa crossings, and Israeli authorities informed the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) at 11 p.m. that they could bring in trucks through the Kerem Shalom crossing today.
Ex- Libyan prime minister held in Tunisia
By IANS,
Tunis : Former Libyan prime minister Baghdadi al-Mahmudi was sentenced to six months in prison Thursday by a Tunisian court, Xinhua reported Friday.
Bangladesh border guards get a new chief
By IANS,
Dhaka: Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), the country's border guard, have a new chief even as the incumbent is presiding over the special courts trying those accused of staging a mutiny in February last year in which 77 people were killed.
Maj. Gen. Rafiqul Islam, chief of Bangladesh Ansar, a para military force, has been made the director general of Bangladesh Rifles, the government announced Thursday.
He will replace Maj. Gen. Mainul Islam, according to a circular issued by the establishment ministry. No reason was given for the change.
EC President says unresolved Palestinian issue impeding Euromed cooperation
By KUNA
Brussels : European Commission (EC) President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Friday that without a solution to the Palestinian question there can be no progress in cooperation in the Mediterranean region.
"I think it is undeniable that the major single issue that has held us back is the enduring Middle East conflict," Barroso told the 4th Plenary Session of the Euromed Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) taking place in the Greek capital Athens today.
U.S. Congressman Elton Gallegly calls on President Musharraf
By NNN-APP
Rawalpindi : President Pervez Musharraf said the February 18 elections have strengthened the moderate forces in the country and emphasized the need for harmonious coalition in the interest of peaceful governance, development and progress of Pakistan.
Talking to U.S. Congressman Elton Gallegly, who called on him here the President underlined Pakistan’s commitment to a closer and broad-based relationship with the U.S. based on commonality of interests and enhancement of areas of agreement.
Committee formed to probe mosque suicide bomb attack
By IRNA
Peshawar : Authorities in the Pakistani northwestern city of Peshawar have formed a 10-member committee to probe into the suicide bomb attack at a mosque as death toll from the blast has reached 12, officials said Friday.
A suicide bomber first opened fire at mourners at Mirza Qasim Beg Imambargah on Thursday night and then blew himself up.
A total of 23 people were also injured in the attack, some of them in critical condition.
There has been no claim of responsibility of the attack so far.
Police have not arrested any suspect.
US drone attack kills 15 in Pakistan
By IANS,
Parachinar (Pakistan) : An attack by US drones killed 15 people in Pakistan's Kurram region, a media report said Monday.
"Four US drones fired four missiles at suspected hideouts of militants in Sarpal area of tehsil Sadda of lower Kurram. At least 15 people were killed in the attack," Geo TV reported.
There was a camp of Afghan commander Bahram Khan Kochi in Sarpal area, the report quoted sources as saying.
US drones continued patrolling in the area after the attack.
UAE to host global humanitarian aid conference
By IANS,
Dubai : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the seventh edition of the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD) in April, WAM news agency reported Sunday.
The three-day event will start April 4 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, organisers said.
The event will attract doctors, researchers and industry professionals from sectors like medicine, pharmacology, logistics and transport.
Pakistan violates ceasefire in Kashmir
Jammu : The Pakistan Army fired at Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir Sunday, violating a 2003 ceasefire,...
Pakistan responsible for most polio cases: WHO
Islamabad:The World Health Organisation (WHO) has held Pakistan responsible for nearly 80 percent of polio cases reported globally.
"The situation is primarily due to a...
UAE’s Ajman ruler opens high-tech hospital in Syria
By IANS,
Hims City (Syria) : A high-tech hospital funded by the ruler of UAE's emirate of Ajman has been opened in the Hims province of Syria.
Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi in the presence of Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji al-Otari opened the hospital Thursday.
After the opening, Al Nuaimi and the Syrian prime minister inspected various departments and wards of the hospital.
Israeli forces retaliate Gaza rocket attack
Jerusalem : Israelis forces struck a target in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip in retaliation to a rocket attack from Gaza on southern Israel, authorities...
Muslims protest anti-Islam video in London
By IANS,
London: Some 10,000 Muslims Monday gathered outside the offices of Google in London to force the company to remove an anti-Islamic video from YouTube in Britain.
Three US soldiers killed in east Baghdad
By ANTARA News,
Baghdad : Three US soldiers were killed Monday in east Baghdad where US and Iraqi forces are engaged in fierce battles with Shiite militia fighters, the American military said.
The soldiers were killed in an attack at around 1:05 pm (1005 GMT), a military statement said.
The latest deaths bring to 18 the number of US soldiers killed in Baghdad since the clashes with Shiite militia, mostly from the Mahdi Army of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, erupted on March 25.
Jewish extremists storm, vandalizes mosque south of Tel Aviv
By KUNA
Gaza : Jewish extremists stormed early on Tuesday Hassan Baik mosque located south of the Israeli capital, Tel Aviv, Israel Radio said.
"The extremists burst into the mosque this morning and destroyed many of its contents and ravaged an adjacent garden," the radio said.
Extensive damage at the mosque was discovered by Muslim worshippers who arrived from the city of Jafa (Yafa) at the mosque to perform Al-Fajir (dawn) prayers. Police was notified about the desecration of the mosque.
Israelis Kill 2 More Palestinians
By Prensa Latina
Ramallah : In the past few hours Thursday, the Israel Air Force carried out three bombing missions on the Gaza Strip, killing two people and wounding three others.
In the attempt to destroy HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement) and Islamic Jihad, a missile hit a car in northern Yabalia Refugee Camp killing a member of the Popular Resistance Committee and his wife.
Israel decided to maintain the military pressure and economic blockade to stop rocket launchings against its territory.
Swine flu treatment available at all UAE hospitals: Officials
By IANS,
Dubai : Swine flu treatment is now available at all government-run and private hospitals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), WAM news agency reported Friday.
The announcement was made by the health ministry after a meeting of the Technical Health Committee for Combating H1N1 virus here Thursday.
Mahmoud Fikri, chairman of the committee, said UAE Health Minister Hanif Hassan has outlined the need for following up all details related to H1N1 virus and its resistance.
Human rights groups condemn killing of Pakistani advocate
New Delhi : Human rights and civil society groups, in a joint statement Friday condemned the brazen killing of a Pakistani advocate and human...
Carnage in Gaza: a prelude to World War III?
MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Dmitry Kosyrev) - The main event of this last day of the outgoing year could well have been the court hearing of Muntadhar al-Zaidi, the infamous journalist who threw his shoes at U.S. President George W. Bush during a news conference in Baghdad.
"This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog," yelled al-Zaidi in Arabic as he threw his first shoe toward the U.S. president. "This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq," he shouted as he threw his second shoe.
UAE strives to maintain healthy, clean sustainable environment
By NNN-WAM
Abu Dhabi : General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received Sunday a delegation from the World Conservation Union (IUCN) led by its director general Julia Marton-Lefevre. She was accompanied by top leaders and experts of groups and committees.
The meeting came ahead of the UAE hosting of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) in Al Ain from February 11 to 14.
Erekat calls on U.S. to stop Israeli military escalation in W. Bank
By Xinhua,
Ramallah : A Palestinian peace negotiator on Saturday called on the U.S. administration to intervene and stop Israeli military escalation in which three Palestinians were killed in the West Bank.
The negotiator, Saeb Erekat, said the escalation over the past couple of days resulted in the death of three people in separate incidents across the West Bank where the Israeli army carries out daily raids.
Imran Khan’s adventurism irks PTI leaders
Islamabad : A day after his supporters attempted to enter the prime minister's house, cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan faced disapproval from within his party --...
European Union to launch new aid deal for Palestinians
By DPA
Brussels : The European Union (EU) is to launch Feb 1 a new, long-term system of delivering aid to the Palestinian territories, officials here said Monday.
"The EU is strongly committed to supporting the Palestinian Authority's reform and development priorities ... (The new system) will provide greater stability and predictability to our action as the largest donors to the Palestinians," EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said in a statement.
India welcomes Pakistan judicial commission’s visit
By IANS,
New Delhi: India Saturday welcomed Pakistan's decision to send a judicial commission to interview witnesses connected with the 26/11 terror probe.
Pakistan eye successful return to Test arena
By Omar Khalid, IANS,
Karachi : Pakistan will make a welcome return to the Test arena after almost 14 months by hosting Sri Lanka in a two-match series opener beginning Saturday on their favourite hunting ground - Karachi's National Stadium.
It last played a Test in December 2007 against India in Bangalore but was left without a single Test in 2008 when Australia pulled out of its tour of Pakistan because of security apprehensions.
Dubai Airshow 2009 attracts top aerospace names
By IANS,
Dubai : The next edition of the Dubai Airshow, considered as the fastest growing airshow in the world, will feature some top brands in the aerospace industry this time, the organisers have said.
Airbus with the EADS group will join the Dubai-based international airline Emirates during the biennial show, for which a new exhibition area has been developed to accommodate the unprecedented number of participants and visitors, WAM news agency reported.
Turkish PM to Open Intl. Security Forum
By Prensa Latina
Berlin : Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will officiate at the upcoming International Security Conference of Munich, outgoing director of that meeting Horst Teltschik reported on Thursday.
The invitation to Erdogan to officiate at the opening ceremony of the 44th meeting of the Munich forum was attributed by Telschik to Turkey's increasing role in the Near East problem.
The meeting favors top level debates of the main problems that affect world peace, and the coming edition will be held from February 8-10.
China, Pakistan pledge to improve military cooperation
By IANS,
Beijing: China and Pakistan Wednesday pledged to enhance strategic communication and cooperation between their militaries, Xinhua reported.
India demands closure of terrorist havens for peace in Afghanistan
By IANS,
United Nations: Warning against unworkable divisions between "good" and "bad" Taliban, India has said efforts at reconciliation in Afghanistan must go hand-in-hand with the shutting down of support and sanctuaries provided to terrorist groups across the border.
"Security and stabilisation of Afghanistan will remain a distant goal unless we are able to root out the elements of Al Qaeda, Taliban and other terrorist and extremist groups operating from within and outside Afghanistan's borders," Indian delegate Khagen Das told the UN General Assembly Monday.
Kyrgyzstan to demand closure of US base on its territory
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Kyrgyzstan will demand the closure of a US military base on its territory that is used to support anti-terrorism operations in neighbouring Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has said.
"The Kyrgyz government has taken a decision to terminate the rent of the base," Bakiyev told a news conference after holding talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
Kuwait sets up three real estate companies
By IANS,
Dubai : The Kuwaiti government has set up three companies in the real estate sector with a combined total of 9 million Kuwaiti dinars ($33.6 million).
The Al-Marzam real estate company is a closed company at KD5 million ($18.7 million) capital distributed into 50 million shares, with 100 fils per share, the state-run Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported. One thousand fils make KD1 ($3.73).
The second company, Al-Tadawol Gulf real estate company, was set up at KD1 million ($3.73 million) capital, distributed into 10 million shares, with 100 fils per share.
Pakistan Army helicopter crashes, eight killed
By DPA
Islamabad : A Pakistani Army helicopter crashed Wednesday in the country's northwest tribal areas, killing at least eight people aboard including a senior general, local reports said.
Among the dead was Major General Javed Sultan, a senior commander based in Kohat, six other officers and one enlisted man, DawnNews TV reported.
Major General Athar Abbas, the chief Army spokesman, told DawnNews that the chopper went down in the South Waziristan district of the North-West Frontier Province due to a technical fault.
Abu Dhabi to host GCC monetary agencies meet Thursday
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi: The UAE Central Bank will host a meeting of the monetary agencies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states Thursday.
Preparatory Regional Meeting on Iraq Ends
By Prensa Latina,
Damascus : A preparatory regional meeting on security in Iraq concluded Monday in Damascus, after two days of sessions considered positive according to official sources from Syria.
The debate, according to same source, was centered on how to establish plans of cooperation in "the fight against terrorism" and its final declaration emphasizes that kind of support among the neighboring states of the Arab country.
Six militants killed in Pakistan’s Swat valley
By DPA,
Islamabad : Pakistani security forces killed six Taliban militants in Swat valley, officials said Wednesday, as thousands of people displaced by a government offensive returned to their homes in parts of the district.
The clash took place in the Kabal area, one of the former bastions of the guerrilla fighters, located near Swat's main town of Mingora.
"Six terrorists were killed and several others wounded in the intense gunfight," a security official in the region said on condition of anonymity. "Troops did not suffer any casualties."
Kazakhstan honours former Indian envoy
By IANS,
New Delhi: Kazakhstan celebrated the Day of the First President here to mark President Nursultan Nazarbayev's rule of the Central Asian country.
Media detentions ‘our internal affair’, Malaysia tells US
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : While criticism against the government mounted at home, Malaysia Monday asked the US to desist from commenting or protesting at last week's detentions of a woman lawmaker, a woman reporter and a blogger.
"Stop meddling in our affairs," said Foreign Minister Rais Yatim in response to Washington's protest over last Friday's detentions under the stringent Internal Security Act (ISA).
Eight people killed in fierce clashes in Baghdad Shiite bastion
By Xinhua,
aghdad : Eight people were killed and 61 others injured in overnight clashes in Baghdad eastern neighborhood of Sadr City, an Interior Ministry source said on Saturday.
The clashes came after joint U.S. and Iraqi troops backed by aircraft conducted an operation in several parts of the sprawling slum of Sadr City late on Friday night to chase and arrest some wanted Sadr followers, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Gilani assures Bush of cooperation in war on terror
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani assured US President George W. Bush of continued cooperation in the war on terror and also took up the issue of attacks by coalition forces inside Pakistan when the two leaders met at the White House, a Pakistani official privy to the talks said Tuesday.
Terrorism and extremism remained the focus of talks Monday during Gilani's first visit to the US since the coalition government led by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) took power in the country.
Syrian oil minister hails Iran’s cooperation in gas, oil fields
By IRNA
Damascus : Syrian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Sufian Alaw hailed Iran's cooperation in the field of oil and gas here Monday.
Responding to a question by IRNA, the Syrian minister said, "We have a wide cooperation with Iran in the fields of oil and gas and currently we are constructing an oil refinery in the district of al-Ferqles in the Hamas province with capacity of 140 million barrels annually."
Most UN staff evacuated from Chad
United Nations, New York (ANTARA News) - The United Nations said Tuesday that it had evacuated most of its staff in conflict-torn Chad because of security reasons.
"We can no longer guarantee the safety and security of UN staff in Chad and we have evacuated, with the help of the French government, most of the personnel into neighboring countries, in Cameroon and Gabon," said UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who had just returned from his trip to Africa.
But a small number of personnel from the UN peacekeeping mission there and some other UN agencies are still remaining, he noted.
Iraq to file lawsuits over UN oil-for-food programme
By NNN-KUNA,
Baghdad : The Iraqi government intends to file lawsuits in US courts against companies and individuals who benefited illegally from the UN oil-for-food programme.
Government spokesman Ali Al-Dabbagh said in a statement posted on the government website Sunday that "the Iraqi government has decided to file lawsuits in US courts against a group of companies and individuals that conspired to corrupt the United Nations oil-for-food programme."
Outspoken diplomat made British Representative for Afghanistan, Pakistan
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS,
London : A senior diplomat whose tendency to speak his mind has ruffled feathers from Hong Kong to Washington has been appointed Britain's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Sherard Cowper-Coles, currently the British Ambassador to Afghanistan, is to take up his new job in March and will focus on cross-cutting issues facing both countries, the British Foreign Office announced Monday.
Execution of Pakistani civilian convict deferred
Islamabad : The execution of a Pakistani civilian convicted of murder which was scheduled for Tuesday has been deferred for 21 days.
Convict Shoaib Sarwar...
Laws discriminatory to minorities to be repealed: Bangladesh
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that her government will repeal all laws and rules discriminatory to minority communities, including indigenous people.
"Our government believes in freedom of all religious faiths and equal opportunities for all," Hasina told a visiting French military delegation Wednesday.
Hasina said the government would ensure protection of freedom of all religions and the minority groups' freedom of expression in the country, United News of Bangladesh reported.
Three held with fake 6.40 lakh Takas in Dhaka
By IANS,
Dhaka : Three people have been arrested in Dhaka after counterfeit currency worth 6.40 lakh Takas (about $7,850) was recovered from them, The Daily Star reported.
80,000 displaced in Myanmar unrest
By IANS,
Geneva: Some 80,000 people have been displaced in the recent inter-communal clashes in Myanmar, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said Friday.
Solana says Israel-Palestinian agreement likely this year
By Xinhua
Brussels : The European Union's top diplomat Javier Solana said here Tuesday Israel and the Palestinians could possibly strike a peace deal this year.
"Politically, an important meeting took place yesterday," he said in the European Parliament, referring to the meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in Jerusalem.
"I do think that we have still a chance to move the process to a settlement before the end of year 2008," Solana said, adding "I don't want to sound too optimistic, I want to sound realistic."
Court snatches Zardari’s amnesty in ‘landmark ruling’, say lawyers
By IANS,
Lahore : Lawyers in this Pakistani city have hailed the Supreme Court ruling declaring the National Reconciliation Order (NRO) null and void as a landmark judgement and demanded that President Asif Ali Zardari step down from his post.
The court had ruled Wednesday that the decree protecting Zardari and his allies against charges of corruption was illegal and against the constitution.
Former Supreme Court Bar Association president Hamid Khan said the judgement was the outcome of the lawyers' movement that had made the judiciary an independent institution.
Czech Republic to send more elite military unit to Afghanistan
By Xinhua
Prague : The Czech Republic will agree to a U.S. request to send an elite military unit to Afghanistan, Czech Defence Minister Vlasta Parkanova said on Friday.
The 100-member-strong unit will be additional to the 415 troops approved by the parliament last autumn to be deployed in Afghanistan, Parkanova said.
It mainly involves members of the special forces unit from Prostejov, which had operated twice in Afghanistan, and is under the direct command of the defence minister through the head of Military Intelligence service, the Czech news agency CTK reported.
US objects to release of Pakistani nuclear scientist
By DPA,
Washington : The release of Pakistan's leading atomic scientist who confessed to running a nuclear smuggling network would be "extremely regrettable", the US State Department said Friday.
A Pakistani court Friday ruled that Abdul Qadeer Khan should be freed after five years of house arrest for providing sensitive nuclear material and information to countries like Iran, Libya and North Korea.
The US was trying to reach Pakistani officials for a clarification on the court's ruling, State Department deputy spokesman Gordon Duguid said.
Mousavi registers as Iran’s June presidential elections candidate
By IRNA,
Tehran : Iran's last prime minister, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, registered on Saturday as one of the June 12 Presidential Elections candidates.
Mousavi, who was Iran’s fifth and last post-revolution prime minister from 1981-89, is currently President of the Iranian Academy of Arts.
Mousavi who served as a senior advisor to former president Mohammad Khatami (1977-2005) was in charge of the Foreign Ministry for some time both before and after becoming prime minister.
UN confirms killings of 90 civilians by coalition air raid in Western Afghanistan
By NNN-APP,
United Nations : The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Tuesday confirmed the killing of 90 civilians including women and children in Shindand district of western Herat province during air strike by U.S.-led Coalition forces against Taliban militants, a statement released here said.
“Investigations by UNAMA found convincing evidence, based on the testimony of eyewitnesses that some 90 civilians were killed, including 60 children, 15 women and 15 men,” the statement said, “15 other villagers were wounded.”
15 killed in poll violence in Pakistan
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS
Islamabad : At least 15 people were killed and more than 80 injured in different areas across Pakistan in election-related violence, an interior ministry spokesman said Monday.
"Most of these were isolated incidents with no major violence reported from anywhere," spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema told IANS.
He said that out of these casualties, seven were killed Monday in different cities while eight died the day before.
Israeli army downs Gaza drone
Jerusalem : An unmanned aircraft which came from Gaza was Monday shot down by the Israeli military, officials said.
A military spokesperson told Xinhua that...
Israeli raids injure two civilians in Gaza
By KUNA,
Gaza : Israeli F-16 jet fighters bombarded early Monday several sites in the Palestinian cities of Gaza and Khan Yunis, injuring two people and causing damage to some houses.
UNSC, Ban strongly condemn Kandahar suicide attack
By KUNA
United Nations : The Security Council and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon late Sunday strongly condemned the suicide attack earlier in the day that caused over 80 deaths in the province of Kandahar, Afghanistan.
In a statement to the press, Council President Ricardo Alberto Arias of Panama said the council condemned "in the strongest terms" the suicide attack in the province and noted "with dismay" that it was one of the deadliest in Afghanistan in recent years.
Israel’s election: A lot at stake in region and beyond
By Hardeep S.Puri and Omar El Okdah,
In contemporary politics, the flow of historical forces cannot be understood by glimpsing a mere snapshot. The unprecedented...
US Army Chief to respect Pakistan’s sovereignty
By NNN-PTI,
Islamabad : Amid a raging row with Pakistan over incursions into its territory, the US vowed to respect Islamabad's sovereignty, seeking to ease the tension that has brought their troops in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation along the porous Afghan border.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen, who arrived here on an unannounced visit, handed out the assurance during meetings with his Pakistani counterpart General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, a US embassy statement said on Wednesday.
Pakistan town goes without water for fortnight
By IANS,
Islamabad : Over 200,000 residents of a town in Pakistan's Sindh province have been without water for the past 15 days as the water supply was stopped due to maintenance work at a canal.
Hasina criticised over deals with India, US
By IANS,
Dhaka : Ahead of Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's visit to Bangladesh, the opposition has flayed the government for its plans to sign key agreements with India and the US. The threat by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) was reported Sunday, a day before Mukherjee arrives her on official visit.
Pakistan Railways estimates Rs.53 bn deficit
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan Railways has estimated that it will suffer a whopping Rs.53 billion deficit for the fiscal year 2011-12.
UAE records fall in roads accidents after massive crackdown
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi: A massive crackdown against reckless and hostile driving in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has seen deaths from road accidents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) come down by 21 percent in the first half of 2010 as compared to the same period last year.
Accidents caused by collision, overturning of vehicles or being run over by vehicles fell by 25 percent, Ghaith Al Za'abi, director general of traffic coordination administration, said.
Probe into police attack on Pakistan newspaper
By IANS,
Islamabad : Senior officials have been directed to probe the police attack on a Peshawar based Urdu newspaper, a minister said.
US focusing on Pakistan, Afghanistan in terror war: White House
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Drawing down in Iraq and reorienting its priorities in the war on terror, the US is now focusing on Pakistan and Afghanistan where the 9/11 attacks originated and where more attacks are being planned against it, says the White House.
President Barack Obama "certainly has taken steps in his time in office to reorient our priorities as it comes to fighting that war on terror," his spokesman Robert Gibbs told NBC Sunday to counter criticism after the foiled attack on a US plane that Obama was a soft touch.
Pakistani court frees nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan
By IANS,
Islamabad : Mentor of the Pakistani nuclear programme, A.Q. Khan who was accused of illegally proliferating the country's secrets, Friday walked free after four years with the Islamabad High Court lifting his house arrest.
"These things happen. We should forget and look forward," Khan told reporters after the verdict.
Khan said Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had also been "inside" (jail).
"The government had made arrangements and nobody could hurt me. Now also, the government will take care," Khan said.
Double murderer extradited from Israel arrives in Russia
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : Alexander Levin, accused of murdering a couple in west Russia in 2001, has been extradited to Russia from Israel, the Russian Prosecutor General's Office said on Friday.
Alexander Levin together with accomplices is accused of raiding a couple's house in Russia's Belgorod Region in January 2001. The attackers murdered the owners and stole property worth over 115,000 rubles ($4,900).
Sri Lanka calls Pakistan ‘true friend’
By IANS,
Colombo: Sri Lanka has described Pakistan "as a true friend" after Islamabad congratulated Colombo following the decimation of the Tamil Tigers.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hussein A. Bhaila made the observation after receiving a message from Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan Wednesday.
"The government and the people of Sri Lanka have considered Pakistan as a true friend of Sri Lanka, which has always stood by it in times of need," the defence ministry quoted Bhaila as saying.
Five killed in car bomb in Somalia
Mogadishu: At least five people were killed and many others injured in a car bomb explosion Wednesday near in the Somali capital of Mogadishu,...
Bangladesh deeply concerned at Israeli attack on Palestinians in Gaza
By Xinhua
Dhaka : Bangladesh's Foreign Advisor Wednesday expressed deep concern at the attack by Israel on Palestinians in Gaza that left nearly half a dozen dead.
Violence begets violence and a recurrence of attacks by Israel of this type can never contribute to the peace that both sides and the world community desire, Foreign Advisor of the country's caretaker government Dr. Iftekhar Chowdhury, who is now on an official visit to Tokyo, said.
Five Afghan policemen killed in landmine blast
By KUNA,
KABUL : Five Afghan policemen were killed as a roadside bomb ripped through their vehicle in southern Afghanistan, police said on Thursday.
Those killed in the blast were the security guards of the governor of Musa Qala district of Afghanistan's volatile province of Helmand.
Police said the blast took place on Wednesday afternoon when the guards were on patrol in their pick-up truck.
Mullah Salam, governor of the Musa Qala district, was not hurt in the attack.
The district governor had escaped an attack on his convoy by Taliban last month.
Several insurgents killed, 4 arrested in Coalition’s operation in S Afghanistan
By Xinhua
Kabul : A number of armed insurgents were killed and four other suspected were detained during a operation run by the U.S.-led Coalition forces to disrupt Taliban facilitation networks in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province, said a Coalition statement released here on Thursday.
Coalition forces on Tuesday performed a search of compounds in the Kajaki district, targeting a Taliban leader conducting weapons facilitation activities in the area as they engaged with several insurgents wielding AK-47s and possessing explosives, the statement said.
Modi to visit UAE Aug 16-17 in first PM visit in 34 years
New Delhi/Abu Dhabi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to visit the United Arab Emirates on August 16-17, in the first visit by an Indian...
Al-Zawahiri urges Pakistanis to support mujaheedin
By DPA,
Cairo : An audio tape purportedly by Al Qaeda's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, released Wednesday urged Pakistanis to fight the US and back Islamist militants.
"It is the individual duty of every Muslim in Pakistan to join the mujahideen, or at the very least, to support the jihad in Pakistan and Afghanistan with money, advice, expertise, information, communications, shelter and anything else he can offer," al-Zawahiri said, according to a transcript of the tape posted on the website of the US-based NEFA Foundation.
Most Germans say new Afghan strategy will fail: survey
Berlin, Jan 29, IRNA -- Some 76 percent of Germans believe that the new strategy in Afghanistan will fail, according to an opinion poll released Friday by the public television network ZDF.
Only 18 percent of those questioned think that the NATO-led mission will ultimately succeed, while six percent had no opinion on the issue.
Meanwhile, 65 percent of respondents said that they opposed dispatching additional soldiers to north Afghanistan, where German troops are
deployed as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Afghanistan mission won’t get easier as end nears: Spain
By IANS/EFE,
Herat (Afghanistan) : Spanish Defence Minister Carme Chacon said here Monday that while the mission in Afghanistan has entered its "final phase", it remains perilous.
We are not against any religion: Malaysian Bar Council chief
By IANS,
Dhaka : Saying that the Malaysian Bar Council (MBC) was not against any religion, its newly elected president Ragunath Kesavan, an ethnic Indian, has announced plans to hold discussions on issues that are considered 'touchy'.
"We need to look at how to deal with conflicts relating to religion and race," he said on being elected the new president Saturday at the MBC's 63rd annual meeting here.
India will support Palestine cause, engage with Israel: Mukherjee
By Arvind Padmanabhan
Amman : India will continue to support separate statehood for Palestine while also engaging with Israel to forge an independent...
Five injured in Pakistan blast
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Five people were injured Thursday in a blast in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, a media report said.
The blast occurred on Hangu road in Kohat town, Geo TV reported.
Pakistan is set to elect 1st woman parliamentary speaker
By IRNA
Islamabad : Pakistan is set to elect first ever female parliamentary speaker on Wednesday, victors of the February 18 elections have said.
Fahmida Mirza has been nominated for the office of the speaker of the National Assembly by the Pakistan slain leader Benazir Bhutto and PML-N Party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and their allies.
Fahmida comes from a political family of southern Sindh, the stronghold of Peoples party.
India speaks to Pakistan about Hindu persecution
By IANS,
New Delhi : India has taken up the Pakistan the reported incidents of persecution, abduction and intimidation of Hindus and Sikhs in that country, parliament was told Wednesday.
30, 000 extra tents for pilgrims
By SPA,
Jeddah : The Civil Defense has launched a three-pronged strategy to keep pilgrims safe from fire and rainfall at the holy sites.
Accordingly, 30,000 new tents have been provided at the holy sites. More tents will also be supplied as and when needed, Sulaiman Al-Omar, a senior official in charge of Hajj affairs said here Tuesday.
Indian, Pakistani schools in Dubai to sign contracts with parents
Dubai : At least 34 Indian and Pakistani schools in Dubai will adopt a parent-school contract in April 2015, an initiative by the Knowledge...
Egypt to dissolve parliament, hold elections
By DPA,
Cairo: The Egyptian armed forces announced Sunday that both the upper and lower houses of parliament will be dissolved and that new elections will be held within six months.
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in line for CM’s post
Islamabad : The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is considering four names for the post of the chief minister of Sindh province, including Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
The...
Malaysia will continue to receive large foreign investment
By NNN-Bernama
Putrajaya : Malaysia under Barisan Nasional (BN) will continue to receive large foreign investment, said Wanita UMNO Chief Rafidah Aziz.
"As long as the BN rules the country, foreign investment will continue to pour into the country as they know Malaysia's competitiveness," she told reporters at Seri Perdana on Sunday.
Rafidah was asked to comment on whether the BN's defeat in the five states in the just-concluded general election would have an impact on foreign investors.
She said the government would continue with its business-friendly policy.
Oil prices reach USD 111 pb
By KUNA
Kuala Lumpur : Prices of oil have risen furher amid concerns that these record hikes of the crude price may stem demand at a time supplies are increasing.
In last night's operations, according to regional indices, the price of the crude rose to USD 111 per barrel, after the American currency's rate vis-a-vis the Japanese yen slipped for the second day in a row below 100 yen, in addition to its fall against the euro and the rise of gasoline supplies to record levels, unseen since 1993.
US offers $70 mn new aid to Syrian opposition
Washington : The US announced on Friday that it will provide nearly $70 million in new non-lethal assistance to the Syrian opposition, as the...
Blair charity reprimanded for political campaigning
London, Aug 16, IRNA -- One of the charities set up by former prime minister Tony Blair after he resigned from office to help African leaders tackle poverty has been reprimanded for political campaigning during this year’s election.
Conservative MP Greg Hands said he had signed up as a supporter of the Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative but that he had since received emails from a political campaigning organisation that asked him to support the Labour Party.
Iran, North Korea more isolated over nuclear ambitions
By DPA,
Washington: Iran and North Korea have become increasingly isolated in the world because of their nuclear ambitions, US President Barack Obama has said.
During his first State of the Union address Wednesday night, Obama cited UN Security Council sanctions approved in June against Pyongyang, after the Stalinist state detonated a nuclear device. The sanctions ban North Korea from exporting weapons and call on nations to intercept suspected arms shipments.
Pakistani coalition holds urgent talks
By SPA,
Islamabad : Two senior leaders of Pakistan's coalition partners were due to hold talks in Dubai on Wednesday, Reuters reported.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif rushed to Dubai on Tuesday night after aides failed to settle differences with Asif Ali Zardari over reinstating judges that President Pervez Musharraf deposed during a period of emergency rule six months ago.
OIC Chief urges West to prevent acts offensive to Islam
By IINA,
Kuala Lumpur : The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu urged yesterday Western governments to hit out more strongly against acts that are offensive to Islam. Addressing the Third International Conference on the Muslim World and the West, which kicked off here yesterday, the OIC Chief warned there seemed to be a growing “campaign of hate and discrimination” against Muslims by a small number of individuals and organizations.
UAE, Mexico sign double taxation avoidance agreement
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi : The UAE and Mexico have signed a double taxation avoidance agreement to boost trade and investment.
Militia groups deliver aid to vulnerable Iraqi refugees – report
By NNN-KUNA,
Washington : Iraqi militia groups are now the "main service provider" for the vulnerable 2.7 million Iraqi civilians displaced inside Iraq, in absence of humanitarian aid from the Nouri Al Maliki government or the international community, a leading humanitarian report said.
MQM willing to talk to PPP and PML(N) on power-sharing
LONDON, Feb 19 (APP): Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussein has indicated his party’s willingness to hold dialogue with Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on the possibilities of forming Government at the centre or at the provincial level.Speaking to the media at the party’s international secretariat where the 2008 elections results were being monitored, he said his party was ready for talks with these two parties in the larger national interest.
New resolution on Iran in UN Security Council
By RIA Novosti
New York : A new UN Security Council resolution calling for sanctions against Iran over its refusal to halt its nuclear programme was officially introduced Thursday by Britain and France, the British envoy to the UN said.
"The text that we've circulated today (Thursday) reflects some of the comments we've had back from delegations," John Sawers said, adding the draft resolution was agreed in principle last month during a meeting of foreign ministers from six nations - France, Germany, Britain, the US, China, Russia.
Bangladesh hopes for quick repatriation of Myanmar refugees
By Xinhua,
Dhaka : Bangladesh's foreign minister has expressed hope the Myanmar refugees living in the country's Cox's Bazar area would be able to return to their homes soon.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni made the remarks during a meeting with the regional representative of the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Raymond Hall, here Sunday.
According to the UNHCR, over 250,000 Rohingya refugees, Myanmar's ethnic Muslims, have been living in Bangladesh since 1990s.