Iran to invest dlrs 3.5bn in Syria – official
By IRNA
Damascus : Iran's Deputy Minister of Housing and Urban Development Moussa Barzegar said here Saturday that volume of investment by Iranian companies in Syria will reach dlrs 3.5 billion from dlrs one billion.
"If the agreements, signed by Iran and Syria, are finalized, volume of Iranian companies' investment in Syria will reach dlrs 3.5 billion," said Barzegar.
Police: Five Iraqi children killed by bomb in northern city Mosul
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : At least five children were killed and two others injured on Monday when a bomb hidden in a street stall near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, local police said.
According to the police, the incident took place around 6:30 pm(1530 GMT) when the children were playing near their homes in the town of Hammam al-Ali, some 20 kilometres south of Mosul.
The children were aged between seven and nine years old. The two wounded were in critical condition and had been sent to Mosul for specialist treatment, according to a local doctor.
Gaza armed groups fire rockets into southern Israel following explosion
By Xinhua
Gaza : Palestinian armed groups shelled southern Israel communities with makeshift rockets Saturday in response to the death of eight Palestinians Friday in a mysterious explosion that the factions held Israel responsibility.
The Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) said that it had fired 10 home-made rockets onto Israeli targets in Western Negev and southern Israel's port city of Ashkelon.
Malaysian Indian presiding official questioned
By IANS,
Ipoh (Malaysia) : Perak state assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar has been questioned by the police following the suspension of the entire state ministry by him last week.
Sivakumar, the country's only ethnic Indian presiding officer, said the police should cease investigations as the Legislative Assembly (Privileges) Enactment 1959 and Article 72 of the Federal Constitution stated that the conduct of any member of the state assembly was protected from court action.
Germany pledges more aid to Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Berlin : Germany has pledged to send more security training staff and increase its contributions to civilian reconstruction in Afghanistan.
The number of German police training officers would be increased to 45 from the current 30, Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung said here after a meeting with the UN special envoy Kai Eide Thursday.
Jung said the number of military trainers had been doubled to 110 since August last year, and a further increase is planned.
Pakistan hedged terror groups against India, Afghanistan: Clinton
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Boko Haram renews attack in Nigeria, 21 killed
Abuja: At least 21 people were killed as suspected Boko Haram fighters renewed armed attacks on three villages in northeast Nigerian state of Borno,...
Jewish newspaper website hacked in UK by Palestinian supporters
By IRNA,
London : Police were reported Tuesday to be investigating the posting of pro-Palestinian messages on the website of Britain’s leading Jewish newspaper after it was hacked on Sunday evening.
According to the Jewish Chronicle, its site was suspended for 18 hours after a Palestinian flag was posted on its homepage with a message supporting "Palestinian Mujaheeds."
“The perpetrator was believed to have been operating from a computer in Turkey, a country which was involved in a diplomatic row with Israel,” the paper said.
Embassy: Britain to ink nuclear deal with Jordan
By Xinhua,
Amman : Britain and energy-scarce Jordan are likely to enter into a nuclear cooperation agreement this weekend, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday.
British chief on atomic energy Barbara Thomas Judge is expected to come to Amman this weekend to ink the deal with her Jordanian counterpart Khaled Toukan, the British embassy said.
The embassy did not elaborate on the deal but indicated that the two sides would discuss how the energy-hungry country could share British experience in nuclear energy.
No proposal to sign nuclear ban treaty: Pakistan
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistan says there is no proposal under consideration to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
Pakistan conducted nuclear tests in 1998 in a tit-for-tat reaction of Indian tests.
Islamabad has been under pressure to sign the CTBT since it has carried out nuclear tests.
The CTBT bans all nuclear explosions in all environments, for military or civilian purposes. It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 1996 but it has not yet entered into force.
Six killed, 25 hurt in Pakistan blast
By IANS,
Rawalpindi : Six people were killed and 25 injured in a suicide bomb attack that ripped through a crowded marked in Pakistan's Rawalpindi city, media reports said.
Six people were killed in the blast and at least 25 people were critically injured in the blast that took place in Chauhar Chowk of Rawalpindi, Geo News reported
According to preliminary reports, a motorist rammed into a bus parked near a petrol pump and blew himself up, injuring the passengers.
The explosion took place in a crowded commercial area.
Hamas wants more mediators in prisoner swap with Israel
By Xinhua,
Gaza : Hamas wants more mediators besides Egypt to achieve prisoner swap with Israel, sources from the movement said on Saturday.
The sources said that Hamas "wants a stronger and more serious mediator because Egypt is not doing enough in the case" of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who is held by the movement.
Militants kill six truck drivers in Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : Taliban militants have attacked a convoy of trucks in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, killing six drivers, the interior ministry said in a statement Monday.
"Enemies of Afghanistan attacked a convoy, set fire to six trucks and killed the drivers in Marawora district Sunday," the statement said. One of the drivers was kidnapped by the rebels, it added.
The police have launched an investigation.
UAE ministry rejects shipment of infected sheep
By IANS/WAM,
Dubai : The UAE's environment ministry has denied entry of a sheep shipment through its Al Ghweifat border point after the animals were found infected with a contagious disease.
Sultan Alwan, executive director of the agriculture and animals affairs at the ministry, said his ministry is in daily contacts with the world organisations to safeguard the livestock and public health in the country.
He added that there were 300 sheep in the shipment and were found infected with contagious "Brucellosis" disease that also affects humans.
Pakistani security forces kill 27 Taliban
By IANS,
Islamabad: Pakistani security forces have killed 27 terrorists and captured 22, the military said Tuesday as its operations against the militants in the Malakand division of the country's troubled northwest entered its 45th day.
"During last twenty four hours (to Tuesday afternoon), 27 terrorists were killed and 22 were apprehended in various areas of Malakand," an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said.
One soldier died and nine were injured, the statement added.
Iran criticizes US for blaming others for Iraq policy failure
By NNN-IRNA,
New York : The Iranian ambassador to the United Nations has dismissed "certain baseless allegations" made by the United States' representative at the Security Council meeting against Iran.
In his letter to president of the Security Council Dumisani Shadrack Kumalo Monday, Mehdi Danesh-Yazdi said: "I would be grateful if you could bring the content of the letter and its annexe to the attention of the members of the council, and to circulate it as a document of the Security Council.
Pakistani panel to probe airbase attack
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Pakistan Air Force has formed a five-member committee to probe the terror attack at Kamra airbase, a media report said Friday.
Nine killed in Afghanistan suicide bombing
Kabul: Nine security personnel were killed while 20 civilians were injured in a suicide car bombing in the eastern Afghan province of Lowgar Saturday,...
39 Indians abducted in Iraq still in captivity
New Delhi : The 39 Indian workers held hostage by Islamic State jihadists in Mosul in Iraq since the past two months "remain in...
No asylum for Musharraf: Rice
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has ruled out giving asylum to “good ally” President Pervez Musharraf to bail him out as he faces impeachment by Pakistan's new democratic government.
“This is an issue that is not on the table and just want to keep our focus on what we must do with the democratic government of Pakistan,” she said in an interview with Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday.
Security forces kill five Taliban in Lower Dir
By IANS,
Islamabad : Five Taliban militants were killed in a clash with security forces in Lower Dir in Pakistan's troubled northwest as the military operation against the rebels entered its 35th day Friday.
Quoting sources, Geo TV said a clash erupted between security forces and militants in Kambar area of Lower Dir during ongoing operations in the Malakand division of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).
Security forces overnight pounded militant hideouts in different areas of Maidan sub-district, destroying several of them.
Poverty stricken Poonch resident returns from PAK; lands in custody
By NAK,
Poonch : A Poonch resident who had gone to Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PAK) for better future prospect was arrested today by army after he crossed back to this side of Line of Control (LoC) at Ranger Nallah near TRC in Chakan-da--Bagh area, here Monday morning.
Reports said that troops of 18 Kamo regiment arrested a forty year old man who crossed LoC to this side of the border during the wee hours today.
India proposes three-prong strategy for Afghanistan
By IANS,
United Nations : India has proposed a three pronged strategy - security, capacity building and regional cooperation - to bring long-term peace and stability to Afghanistan, which has been experiencing civil war for nearly three decades.
Representing India's viewpoint as a member of the official Indian delegation to the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly, Telugu Desam MP K. Yerran Naidu sounded a caution Monday on peace talks with the Taliban.
WikiLeaks expose: Pakistan in damage control mode
By Awais Saleem, IANS,
Islamabad : The stunning WikiLeaks expose that showed the involvement of Pakistan's ISI in carrying out terror attacks against Indians in Afghanistan has received a mixed reaction here, with an analyst saying that the explosive documents present a "dismal picture of the background war strategies that led to Afghanistan offensive".
The intelligence leak is being viewed with considerable interest by the Pakistani intelligentsia and the ruling elite.
Musharraf not to attend OIC summit
By Xinhua
Islamabad : Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf will not attend the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit scheduled to be held this month in Senegal, according to media reports Wednesday.
Caretaker Foreign Minister Inaam-ul-Haq will represent the country at the 11th summit to be held in Dakar March 13-14, Geo TV said.
Sources in the presidential office said Musharraf would not attend the summit because of the situation at home related to the post-election government formation.
Israeli forces break into Bethlehem, cordon house
By KUNA
Ramallah : The Israeli occupation forces, backed by armored vehicles, broke into Bethlehem town, south West Bank, Thursday night.
Dozens of Israeli commandos, disguised as Arab citizens, intruded into downtown Bethlehem, ahead of the military backup from various destinations, eyewitnesses told KUNA.
The forces cordoned off the house of an activist of Islamic Jihad organization, enforcing a curfew in the area.
Muslims should ’empty’ Swiss accounts: Turkish minister
By IANS/AKI,
Ankara : Muslims should consider withdrawing their money from Swiss bank accounts in response to the country's ban on construction of minarets, a Turkish minister said.
"I am certain this (vote) will prompt our brothers from Muslim countries who keep their money and investments in Swiss banks to review their decision," said Egemen Bagis, cited by Turkish daily Zaman.
Bagis is the chief negotiator for Turkey's European Union accession as well as minister for European affairs.
Israeli forces storm Qalqilya, arrest five
By Xinhua,
Ramallah : Israeli forces on Tuesday arrested five Palestinians in an ongoing raid into West Bank city of Qalqilya, Palestinian security sources said.
The detainees were taken from houses and apartment buildings stormed by the soldiers, the sources said, adding that at least two of the detainees were members of Palestinian security services. About 35 Israeli military vehicles rolled into the city at dawn and were still operating, according to the sources.
Hope – and disappointment – in Tehran
By Alex Verghese
Just a few days ago, the same street in Central Tehran where my taxi had to slow down due to joyful opposition supporters, had now turned into an obstacle race as we walked and ran to escape the teargas and passed burning garbage bins. On Saturday, it was a harrowing experience while returning home from work.
Mullah Omar dead? Taliban says no
By IANS,
Kabul/Islamabad: One-eyed Taliban leader Mullah Omar has been killed in Pakistan, an Afghan TV channel said Monday. The Taliban promptly denied this.
New Bangladesh government to take oath next week: Hasina
By NNN-PTI,
Dhaka : Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina, who led her grand alliance to a landslide victory in Bangladesh polls, has said the new government would take oath next week.
"We will take oath after getting invitation from the President and I hope it will be within the first week of January," she told reporters after meeting President Iajuddin Ahmed Wednesday at the Bangabhaban presidential palace.
Bangabhaban sources said the President told Hasina that she could form the government whenever she wanted. He said he would invite her as soon as possible.
Awami National Party may quit Pakistan’s ruling coalition
By IANS,
Islamabad : Angered over promises not being kept, the Awami National Party (ANP) could pull out of Pakistan's ruling coalition but this would not impact on the government of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani.
The "reservations and complaints" of the ANP, which rules the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), "with regard to the conduct" of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) that leads the ruling coalition "have increased", The News said Thursday, quoting sources.
Iran rejects Moussavi’s request for memorial ceremony
By DPA,
Tehran: The Iranian government Tuesday once again rejected a request by opposition leader Mir-Hossein Moussavi to hold a memorial ceremony for the victims in recent protest demonstrations, Fars news agency reported.
An interior ministry official said no permission has been issued for any gathering Thursday (July 30).
Moussavi and Mehdi Karroubi, the head of the Etemad Melli party, had requested the ministry to allow a simple 90 minute gathering to commemorate the 40th day of the protesters' deaths in a public venue in northern Tehran.
IAEA head calls for more dialogue on Iran nuke issue
By Xinhua,
Berlin : UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohammed ElBaradei on Thursday called here for more dialogue between the international community and Iran on the country's nuclear issue.
ElBaradei, general secretary of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), made the call after a meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin on Thursday.
ElBaradei said Iran's progress in developing uranium enrichment is slow and recent additions to its nuclear fuel production complex have only been older-model centrifuges.
Iran calls new Security Council resolution a “mistake”
TEHRAN, January 23 (RIA Novosti) - Iran's president has said the new nuclear program resolution agreed on Tuesday by the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany is a mistake, national TV said on Wednesday.
"Our position is crystal clear. As we have stated before, from our point of view, Iran's nuclear problem is over, but they have made the same mistake again...an ineffective resolution," Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying.
Four killed in Afghanistan blast
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow: A suicide car bomber in Afghanistan's Uruzgan province killed at least four people, including three children, Saturday, a local media report said.
‘Military action against Iran, Syria to violate international laws’
By IANS,
Moscow : Russia views the decision to carry out military operations against Iran and Syria as a step in violation of international laws, Xinhua reported.
Top US commander hopes Obama acts swiftly on Afghanistan
By KUNA,
Washington : A top US military commander in Afghanistan expressed hope that President-elect Barack Obama could act swiftly in moving US troops into Afghanistan to quell violence in the country.
Commanding General of US forces in Afghanistan General David McKiernan said there is not enough military forces in southern Afghanistan "to provide adequate security," reemphasizing the need for additional forces in this area.
He already requested additional combat brigades of around 20,000 forces, first due to arrive next January.
China urges Libya to protect its investments
By IANS,
Beijing : China has urged Libya to protect its investments after a Libyan rebel said Chinese oil companies could suffer following the ouster of Muammar Gaddafi.
UK daily backs talks with Hamas
By IRNA,
London : A leading British daily Tuesday applauded former US president Jimmy Carter for defying the Bush Administration and Israeli regime by holding talks with Hamas, the largest party in the Palestinian Authority.
Carter was 'right to have held two long talks last week with Khaled Meshal, the most influential leader of Israel's most resolute and dangerous enemy', the Financial Times said.
India for more ‘pressure’ on Pakistan to stabilise Afghanistan
By IANS,
New Delhi : Linking growing violence in Afghanistan to support from across the border, India Wednesday asked the international community to put "effective pressure" on Pakistan to crack down on terrorists within its territory, including Al Qaeda, Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
"India has an abiding interest in the stability of Afghanistan," Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said at an international seminar on Afghanistan here.
No time frame for anti-Taliban operations: Pakistani defence minister
By IANS,
Islamabad : No time frame has been laid down for the military operations against the Taliban in Pakistan's restive northwest, the defence minister has said, while the junior interior minister said it would be completed in a month.
"The army is clearing the areas gradually and no time frame could be given in this regard," Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar told the APP news agency.
Bahraini doctor confident of success of uprising
By IRNA,
London: The continuing uprising in Bahrain will lead to major changes in the way that the Persian Gulf country is ruled, according to a Bahraini medical doctor.
Israel to leave Gaza once ceasefire is stable: Olmert
By DPA,
Jerusalem : Israel has no intention of keeping its troops in the Gaza Strip following a 22-day-long campaign against Hamas and will leave the salient once it is satisfied a ceasefire implemented Sunday is holding, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday night.
"Israel has no intention of staying in the Gaza Strip. We are keen on getting out the Gaza Strip with the greatest possible speed, once we can guarantee the ceasefire exists and is stable and there is no danger to the security of southern Israel," he said after meeting European leaders in Jerusalem.
Israeli author Amos Oz awarded German prize
By DPA,
Dusseldorf : Israeli author Amos Oz was presented Saturday with a top German award for his political and literary work.
Oz, 69, was honoured by the city of Dusseldorf with the Heinrich Heine Prize for combining "literary creativity with political sensibility and humanistic commitment."
The award, worth 50,000 euros ($66,000), is named after the 19th century German poet. It has been presented every two years since 1972 to personalities who share Heine's values of tolerance, human rights and mutual understanding of peoples.
Israel opens crossings into Gaza
By Xinhua,
GAZA : Israel on Sunday opened commercial crossings into Gaza Strip shortly after Palestinian militants fired a rocket into its southern territory.
Up to 121 trucks are scheduled to enter Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom crossing point, and 77 trucks, laden with wheat and animal fodders, are expected to get in via Karni crossing in eastern Gaza City, according to Ra'ed Fatouh, head of a private committee that arranges the crossings' movement with Israel.
Pakistan PM calls security conference to discuss tensions with India
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has summoned a security conference to be held Dec 2 to review the situation arising out of the attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai, an official here said Sunday.
Gilani has invited some political leaders to attend the conference to discuss the strategy to deal with the situation, a spokesman for the prime minister said.
Earlier, his spokesman said that Gilani had cancelled a trip to Hong Kong to concentrate on addressing growing tensions with India after the Mumbai terror attacks.
OPEC secretary general predicts production surplus in Q2
By Abdelwaheb El Gueyed, KUNA
Vienna : OPEC Secretary General Abdullah Al-Badri predicted Friday that there would be a production surplus in the second quarter of this year as demand dropped due to seasonal reasons.
Speaking to KUNA prior to the extraordinary OPEC ministerial meeting that will kick off here later today, he said there was enough supply of crude oil and that OPEC had produced 32 million barrels per day in December, and thus the oil market was in good condition.
FM: Blast outside Danish embassy damages Pakistan’s image
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said on Monday that the blast outside Danish embassy in Islamabad has damaged the country's image.
The suicide car bombing at about 1:00 p.m. local time killed at least eight people, including two Pakistani policemen at the embassy, and wounded nearly 30 others.
Bashir visited the Danish embassy to express sympathies with the charge'd affairs over the deadly blast.
"The blast has damaged image of our country," Bashir told reporters outside the embassy building.
Pakistan, India Agree to Foster Peace
By Prensa Latina,
New Delhi : Pakistan and India agreed fostering a dialogue for peace between the two countries Friday, with the meeting between the Foreign Affairs Ministers of both nations, Mahmoud Qureshi and Pranab Mukherjee respectively.
Pakistani Foreign Affairs Ministry Qureshi arrived in New Delhi Friday for a three-day visit to improve bilateral relations, fostering the peace dialogue and discuss on bilateral cooperation.
Seven killed in Pakistan drone strike
By IANS,
Islamabad : At least seven suspected militants were killed in a drone strike Sunday night in Pakistan's northwest tribal region bordering Afghanistan, a media report said.
One of Gaddafi’s sons dies in hospital: Reports
By DPA,
Tripoli/Cairo : One of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's sons has died in a hospital in Tripoli, opposition websites and Arab media reported Monday.
Pakistani death row convicts file plea over execution
Islamabad : Two Pakistani death row convicts have approached the Supreme Court in a bid to halt their executions on a plea that they...
Enormous challenges await for upcoming government
By APP
Islamabad : Ascending the throne would not be a marry go round for the ruling coalition as heightened masses aspirations and enormous local and international challenges are eagerly waiting them. Right from the macro and micro economic challenges down to availability of daily use items and sustainable living would be the key challenges in a partially deregulated economy.
Falling short of just four seats in National Assembly to secure two third majority, the coalition partners PPPP, PML-N and ANP would not be in utmost comfort to run the state affairs.
Indian expatriate jailed for molesting woman in UAE
Dubai: An Indian expatriate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sunday was jailed for three months for molesting a female co-worker in an elevator...
Bangladesh: commendable work done for December poll, says Ban Ki-moon
By NNN-BSS,
Dhaka, Bangladesh : Chief Adviser of Bangladesh caretaker government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed expressed his firm conviction that Bangladesh would set a new standard of democracy and good governance in the developing world.
The Chief Adviser expressed the view while addressing the banquet hosted by him in honour of visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at Hotel Sheraton in the city on Saturday.
The speaker, advisers, special assistants to the chief adviser, dignitaries, and high civil and military officials were present.
Pakistan detains dozens after deadly assault on police academy
By DPA,
Islamabad : Pakistani police have detained around 50 people in connection with the deadly assault on a police training centre that left at least seven recruits and four militants dead, a senior official said Tuesday.
Khalid Farooq, police chief of Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, told reporters at the funeral of the slain law enforcers that officials were interrogating the suspects, but gave no details.
44 Taliban killed in Afghanistan
By DPA,
Kabul : Afghan soldiers and US-led coalition forces killed 44 Taliban militants, including a commander, in three firefights in southern Afghanistan, officials said Saturday.
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces killed 33 militants in a clash Friday in the Nad Ali district of the southern province of Helmand, the US military said in a statement.
The combined forces were conducting a security patrol when they were engaged by militants firing small arms, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars, the statement said.
List of attacks on Indian missions in Afghanistan
New Delhi : The list of attacks on Indian missions in Afghanistan prior to the strike carried out Friday:
July 7, 2007 - The Indian...
One sentenced to death for Pakistan attack
By IANS,
Islamabad : One man was sentenced to death and four were given life sentences Saturday for a 2009 attack on the Pakistan Army headquarters that left 23 people dead, Geo News reported.
India, Afghanistan aid Pakistan militants: media
By IANS,
Islamabad : India and Afghanistan have covertly aided the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Geo TV reported Sunday quoting an official report.
It said that 23 arrested militants of the group allegedly confessed they had links with Indian and Afghan intelligence agencies.
It identified some of the arrested men as Sim Khan, Mahmood Khan and Maulvi Umer and said that they got weapons, money and training from India and Afghanistan to fight the Pakistan Army.
Pakistan routinely accuses India and Afghanistan for insurgent violence in its territory.
Malaysia’s Samy Vellu to defend party presidency for 11th time
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : S. Samy Vellu, long-time chief of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), says he will fight for the top job for the eleventh time next March.
He will not call it quits and is ready to face any challenge.
He has also rejected a suggestion from former party vice president M. Muthupalaniappan that the presidency should be restricted to two terms.
"We are a democratic party and anyone can contest, including for the post of president."
Latest figures in Iran’s Presidential Elections
By IRNA,
Tehran : According to the latest results of Iran’s Presidential Election, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has got 65.24 percent of the votes.
Head of the Elections Headquarters Kamran Daneshjoo told reporters Saturday morning that 35,268 ballot boxes had been counted until 5:50 am which were 77.13 percent of the total boxes.
According to Daneshjoo, out of 28,050,761 counted votes, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has got 18,302,924 votes which constitutes 65.24 percent of the total counted votes.
Over 40 militants killed on Pakistan-Afghan border
By DPA,
Islamabad : The Pakistan Army said Wednesday it killed over 40 insurgents in a major military offensive in northwestern tribal district near the Afghan border, while at least seven civilians died when an explosion ripped through an eatery near the capital Islamabad.
"Artillery fire and helicopter gunships engaged a militants' hideout in Raghan area of Bajaur district. Twenty five miscreants, including important local Taliban commanders and some foreign fighters were killed in the action," Army spokesman Major Murad Khan
said.
Israeli fire kills 2 boys sheltering at UN school in Gaza
GAZA, January 17 (RIA Novosti) - Israeli troops fired on a United Nations school in Gaza on Saturday, killing two Palestinian boys, a UN spokesman said.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on Saturday for an immediate ceasefire from both sides in the conflict, describing the violence as "unprecedented in recent decades."
The Israeli government is expected to consider later Saturday calling a 10-day unilateral ceasefire, a move that has already been dismissed by a Hamas representative in Lebanon.
Iran highlights co-op with UN nuclear agency upon IAEA chief’s arrival
TEHRAN, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Mohammad Saeedi, deputy head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (IAEO), on Friday applauded its cooperation with the UN atomic watchdog as "entering a new phase".
The official IRNA news agency quoted Saeedi as saying that "Regarding Iran's active cooperation with the IAEA and settlement of basic and key issues on Iran's nuclear case, relations between Tehran and the agency have entered a new phase."
Military court to hear Malala attack case
Islamabad: The 2012 attack on Nobel Peace Award winner and child activist Malala Yousafzai case would be heard at military court in Peshawar when...
US drone kills three suspected militants in Yemen
Sana'a: A US drone strike killed three suspected Al Qaeda men in Yemen's Marib province Saturday, security officials here said.
The strike targeted a house...
Parliament pays tribute to Bangladesh president Rahman
By IANS,
New Delhi : Both houses of parliament Thursday observed a minute's silence in tribute to Bangladesh president Zillur Rahman, who passed away in Singapore Wednesday.
Pakistan politicians need to unite to tackle problem: Miliband
By NNN-APP,
London : British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said Pakistani politicians need to sink their differences and unite to tackle numerous challenges facing the South Asian country.
In a interview with BBC Radio- 4 on Friday, Miliband told the interviewer that he agrees with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani that the situation in his country is grave.
“You’ve got the combination of a political crisis precipitated by the recent Supreme Court judgment, so democratic politicians are not coming together to fight terrorism.” Miliband said.
China, Iran sign oil deal
By Xinhua,
Tehran : Iran and China have signed a $1.76 billion deal here for the development of an oil field in Iran, media reports said.
The deal was signed between China National Petroleum Corporation(CNPC) and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) in the presence of Iranian oil minister Gholam Hossein Nozari and Chinese ambassador Xie Xiaoyan, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported..
Crackdown on against banned outfits: Pakistan
Islamabad/Washington, Dec 8 (IANS) More than 24 hours after its security forces cracked down on the Laskhar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group that India has blamed for the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan said late Monday that operations were on against "banned outfits and organisations" - and reiterated that it would not allow its soil to be used for terrorist activities.
"This is an intelligence-led operation against banned militant outfits and organisations. There have been arrests and investigations are on," a spokesman of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
Pakistani troops kill 20 militants
By DPA,
Islamabad : Pakistan army said Wednesday it had killed at least 20 Taliban militants in the lawless tribal region along the Afghan border.
Helicopter gunships and artillery pounded several positions of rebels in Bajaur district, where the military and paramilitary troops are carrying out a major offensive against Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters since early August.
"Eight among the killed were foreigners," army spokesman Major Murad Khan told DPA.
The term "foreigner" is mostly used to refer to Al Qaeda linked militants of Arab and Central Asian origin.
Five Bangladeshi soldiers killed in accidental shell blast
By IANS,
Dhaka : A mortar shell went off accidentally during training in northwestern Bangladesh Wednesday leaving two army personnel and three paramilitary border guards...
Amin Fahim still front runner in PPP for PM slot: Babar
ISLAMABAD, Mar 3 (APP): Pakistan People’s Party spokesman Farhatullah Babar said Monday that Makhdoom Amin Fahim was still the front runner for the slot of prime minister but a decision would be made by the party’s Central Executive Committee. Talking to a private television channel, Babar said that in the first high level meeting of the party at Naudero after the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto it was stated that Makhdoom Amin Fahim would be parliamentary leader of the party in the National Assembly.
Suicide attack in Pakistan tribal belt kills three
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Three people were killed in a suicide attack in northwestern Pakistan's tribal belt Wednesday, a day after a similar attack killed three at a Peshawar stadium.
An explosives-laden vehicle rammed into a school in Shabqadar Tehsil in Charsadda district of North West Frontier Province, Dawn News channel reported.
Three people were killed and more than 20 injured in the blast, the report said. The injured have been shifted to hospital for treatment.
Two killed in Kabul blast
Kabul : At least two people were killed and three injured when a bomb blast rocked the fifth district of Afghanistan's capital Kabul Tuesday,...
Gaza operation to continue: Livni
By DPA,
Paris/Jerusalem : Israel will continue its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip until it reaches a point where "the operation exhausts itself" and militants no longer fire rockets at the Jewish state, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Thursday.
"It's not a case of a timetable, but a case of targets, and each day we have to do as new situation assessment," she told Israel's Channel 2 news from Paris where she met French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.
Bomb blast averted in Karachi
By IANS,
Karachi : A bomb weighing 13 kg was found near a road here in this Pakistani port city Friday, and was defused by a bomb disposal squad.
Pakistan air force plane crashes
By IANS,
Islamabad : A Pakistani air force jet crashed during training Tuesday but the two pilots on board ejected safely.
Pakistani city bars kite flying
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan's Peshawar city has banned the sale and flying of kites for a month -- because it is causing accidents.
Six Guantanamo Bay prisoners transferred to Uruguay
Washington: The US authorities announced Sunday the transfer of six prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay detention centre to Uruguay.
The six detainees had been detained...
Pakistani Mohajirs’ plight highlighted at UN
Geneva: The European Mohajir Network has highlighted the sorry human rights status of Pakistan's Mohajirs -- the Muslims who migrated from India following Partition...
Italy may freeze 3.6 bn euros of Libyan assets
By IANS/AKI,
Rome : Italy may follow the lead of its allies and freeze billions of euros of Libyan assets, according to Italian news reports.
Women play vital role in Pakistan: Khar
By IANS,
Islamabad : Women in Pakistan are more empowered than those in other developing countries, said Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar.
Two more civilians injured in Pakistani shelling
Jammu : Two more civilians were injured in overnight mortar shelling by Pakistan Rangers along the International Border in Jammu district, police said here...
Emissaries of Musharraf, Sharif to meet?
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Islamabad : Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif may have said that he would never talk to President Pervez Musharraf, but efforts are now underway for a possible meeting between their emissaries as part of "national reconciliation" by the presidency.
Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had been ruling out any contact with Musharraf but now after a message from a 'world leader', "the two archrivals may go for indirect contact", a source privy to the developments told IANS.
Lebanese speaker “stunned” by French FM remarks
By Xinhua
Beirut : Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri was "stunned" by the comment of French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner who accused him of closing down the parliament and of "lacking freedom to move," Al-Akhbar daily reported on Wednesday.
Berri, a main leader of Lebanese opposition bloc, is carrying out Arab and international contacts to assure a new round of dialogue among Lebanese rival groups.
Anwar Ibrahim returns to Malaysian parliament with landslide win
By DPA,
Permatang Pauh (Malaysia) : Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim Tuesday ended a 10-year wait to return to Parliament with a landslide victory in a special by-election.
Anwar won a majority of the ballots cast by at least 13,000 voters against his opponent Arif Shah Omar Shah from the ruling National Front coalition, Election Commission officials said.
Tens of thousands of supporters gathered outside a teaching college to wait for the announcement, which was greeted by thunderous cheers and applause.
Car bomb hits police patrol in northern Iraq
By Xinhua
Mosul, Iraq : A car bomb explosion targeted a police patrol near the city of Mosul, the capital of Nineveh province, on Monday, wounding six people, provincial police source said.
"A car bomb parked in the Ghizlany area, south of Mosul City, near a police patrol, wounding three policemen and three civilians," Brigadier Abdul Kareem al-Jubouri, head of Nineveh's police operations office, told Xinhua.
The blast also damaged a police vehicle along with several civilian cars, Jubouri said.
At least 30 suspected militants killed in Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : At least 30 Taliban insurgents were killed by US-led coalition forces in eastern Afghanistan, an official said Wednesday.
The foreign troops targeted the militants' hideouts in Matakhand district in eastern province of Paktika Tuesday night, killing about 30 militants, Ghamai Khan Mohammadyar, provincial government spokesman, said.
Musa Khan, the head of the provincial council of Paktika, told media that several civilians were among the victims of the night raids Tuesday.
Sandstorm sweeps half of Jordan, injuring 15 people
By Xinhua,
Amman : Sandstorms have caused four road accidents in the Desert Highway in Jordan, injuring 15 people, local daily Jordan Times reported Wednesday.
The accidents should be blamed on strong winds that raised dust in the eastern and southern regions and the traffic on the Desert Highway was stopped, said Mohammad Khatib, spokesperson of the Public Security Department.
"Visibility on the Desert Highway was so poor in the afternoon, that our patrols had to block the road and caution motorists against venturing into the sandstorm," said Khatib.
Lebanon: Al-Qaeda now targeting internationals, warn analysts
By NNN-IRIN
Beirut : The attack on a US embassy vehicle on Tuesday that killed three Lebanese represents a dangerous expansion of political violence in the country to include international targets, and shows that al-Qaeda-inspired extremists are attempting to push the politically deadlocked country towards civil war, said analysts.
Pakistani religious leader stresses joint efforts to foil US-Israel nexus against Ummah
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Amir Jamat-e-Islami Pakistan Qazi Hussain Ahmad on Wednesday stressed the need for practical efforts to foil the designs of Israel and US against Muslim Ummah.
Talking to IRNA with a reference to International Day of Al-Qods he called upon Muslims around the world to struggle collectively to get back the control of Al-Qods from Israel.
He termed the day as the solution to the difficulties of Muslims of Palestine and makes them to expose the intrigues of Zionists.
Bangladesh will increase trade, business with northeast India
By IANS,
Agartala : Bangladesh is keen to boost trade and commerce with northeastern India to narrow down its trade deficit with the country, an official said here Wednesday.
"Traders, industrialists and investors are really keen to boost trade and business activities with the northeast," said Abdul Matlub Ahmad, president of the India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI).
A 21-member Bangladeshi delegation headed by Ahmad is currently on a three-day visit to Tripura to finalise the setting up of joint venture projects and import coal and other minerals to Bangladesh.
Mass rallies mark Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution
By IRNA
Tehran : Mass demonstrations were organised Monday across Iran to mark the 29th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution in the country, official IRNA news agency reported.
In Tehran, thousands of people took to the streets in seven different places to show solidarity with the government.
Chanting standard slogans such as "Death to America," "Death of Israel" and "Nuclear energy is our undisputable right," the crowd walked towards Azadi Square in western Tehran where President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad joined them.
Mideast Skeptic with Abbas-Olmert Meet
By Prensa Latina,
Ramallah : Skepticism reigns in the Middle East towards today’s meeting of Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
While media familiar with the Israel-Palestine peace process are unwilling to comment on the meeting at Olmert’s residence in Jerusalem, others think it will be more of the same.
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), rival of Abbas's Al-Fatah, suspects it is another trick of Tel Aviv to "help" the PNA moderate government to the detriment of Hamas'-led Gaza.
US not worried about safety of Pakistan’s nukes
Washington : Condemning the deadly militant attack on Karachi airport that left 28 dead, the US has offered Pakistan assistance in investigating the crime,...
US expects Karzai to accept Afghan runoff: Report
By DPA,
Washington : US officials believe Afghan President Hamid Karzai would declare his acceptance Tuesday of a presidential runoff after an investigation of voting fraud invalidated part of the August ballots, The Washington Post reported.
The Post cited unnamed senior US government officials in its report late Monday on its website that Karzai was expected to accept the runoff after what were described as tense negotiations with the president.
India hopes Pakistan won’t backtrack on Kasab
By IANS,
New Delhi/Islamabad : A day after Pakistan officially owned up to the nationality of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone Mumbai attacker in Indian custody, New Delhi Thursday hoped Islamabad would not backtrack on this and asked it to fulfil its anti-terror pledge.
"They say something and they do just the opposite. They are constantly... from day one, on denial mode,” External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Times Now TV news channel in an interview.
Two Bangladeshi leaders executed for war crimes
Dhaka : Bangladesh executed two political leaders, convicted of war crimes during the country's independence war in 1971, amid tight security early on Sunday.
Bangladesh's...
Brown formally launches Muslim women advisory group
By IRNA
London : British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Thursday used an Islamic feast reception at his office to formally launch the National Muslim Women's Advisory Group (NMWAG) that was set up last November.
"Muslim women have a huge role to play in helping us build a stronger, better society. That is why I am delighted today to mark the official launch of the National Muslim Women's Advisory Group," Brown said.
Iran to launch first domestic satellite by March
By RIA Novosti,
Tehran : Iran plans to put its first domestically made communication satellite into orbit by March 20, the head of the Iranian space agency has said.
"If we do not run into problems, the first domestic satellite will be put in orbit by the end of this (Iranian solar calendar) year," Reza Taqipour said.
Technical experts were working to complete the preparations, he said, adding that the precise launch date for the Omid, or Hope, satellite would be announced as it drew nearer.
Marchers could have overthrown democracy: Qadri
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan-born Canadian Tahirul Qadri has revealed long marchers in Islamabad were so enthusiastic that they could have occupied the Parliament House on his orders.
Akram blames PCB for losing World Cup rights
By IANS,
New Delhi: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are themselves to blame for losing the hosting rights for the 2011 cricket World Cup.
"I thought they could have handled the entire thing in a better way. They should not have allowed it to come to such a stage where International Cricket Council had to strip them of the co-hosting rights," said Akram Tuesday.
22 Azerbaijanis suspected of spying for Iran held
By IANS,
Baku (Azerbaijan) : At least 22 Azerbaijanis were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of spying for the Iranian military, Xinhua reported.
State of religious freedom in India
By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net,
It doesn’t take a US Commission to know that religious freedom is shrinking in India but it does help in throwing a light on this subject. There has been a new wave of anti-conversion laws passed since 2000 that takes away individual’s right to choose a religion – a clear violation of fundamental right guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. The Article 25 of the Constitution gives citizens of India the right to “profess, practice and propagate religion,” all these rights have come into increased attack in the last few years.
Gunmen attack school with guns apparently to vent anger at Bush”s tour!!
By KUNA
Gaza : Gunmen burst into building of the American School in the north of Gaza early on Thursday and opened fire in it before disappearing, according to local radio stations.
The gunmen, upon arrival at the school, compelled the porter to stay in his room, before storming the main building and opening fire in the rooms with automatic guns and rocket-propelled grenades, causing extensive damage.
Bilawal says he can defuse US-Pakistan tension
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that he can help defuse the tension between Pakistan and the US.
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.
53 troopers plead guilty to Bangladesh Rifles mutiny
By IANS,
Dhaka : Fifty three troopers of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) have pleaded guilty and begged for mercy for participating in last year's mutiny that left 74 people dead.
A total of 62 troopers of the 19 Rifle Battalion in Feni were standing trial at a BDR special court that framed charges against them.
Prosecutor Lt. Col. Gazi Md. Salahuddin, commander of 19 Rifle Battalion, read out the charges against them before the BDR Special Court-3.
NATO to provide troops for Afghan polls
By IANS,
Brussels : NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has assured Afghanistan that the military alliance was preparing to provide troops for the upcoming elections, EuAsiaNews reported.
Scheffer made the assurance while meeting Afghanistan's visiting defence chief General Bismallah Khan at the NATO headquarters here Wednesday, James Appathurai, a spokesman for the 26-nation military alliance, told reporters.
Nothing unexpected about terror attacks: Pakistani media
By IANS,
Islamabad: With the Taliban allowed to grow unfettered for more than a decade, there is "no longer anything unexpected" about the terrorist acts ripping through Pakistan, an editorial in a leading English daily maintained Saturday, a day after 25 people were killed in a series of blasts across the country.
At the same time, it said the latest round of bombings had a "positive dimension".
"There is no longer anything unexpected about the terrorist attacks ripping through our country," The News said in an editorial headlined "Another day, another blast".
Seven killed, over 60 wounded in blast in N Iraq’s Mosul
By Xinhua
Mosul : The toll in an explosion at a building in the northern city of Mosul rose to at least seven killed and more than 60 others wounded, a police source said Wednesday.
The blast inside the residential building was a terror attack, Brigadier Abdul Krarim al-Jubury of the Mosul police told Xinhua.
The blast took place at about 4:10 p.m. (1310 GMT) before the Iraqi security forces and U.S. troops were about to enter the building on tips that explosives were inside, according to the police officer.
Peace policy not sign of weakness: Zardari
By IANS,
Karachi : Pakistan's policy of pursuing the path of peace should not be considered its weakness, President Asif Ali Zardari said Monday while stressing that the armed forces were fully prepared to face any internal and external threats.
Addressing the 92nd passing out parade of the Pakistan Naval Academy here, he said Pakistan was a peace-loving country and was not involved in an arms race in the region. At the same time, its forces were fully capable of facing any threat on its borders, Online news agency quoted Zardari as saying.
Israeli Army arrests seven Palestinian fishermen
By KUNA,
GAZA : Israeli forces arrested seven Palestinians who were fishing near the coasts of Gaza Strip Tuesday morning.
Israeli military boats seized a number of Palestinian fishing boats near the coasts of Bait Lahya town, in the northern parts of Gaza Strip, and arrested seven fishermen who were on board, local radio stations said Tuesday.
The arrested fishermen were Isaaq Al-Sultan, Hafeedh Al-Sultan, Ahmad Al-Sultan, Ramiz Al-Sultan, Rasim Al-Sultan, Riffat Zayid, and Nashaat Zayid, they added.
Pakistani, Afghan forces clash over flour smuggling
By DPA,
Islamabad : Pakistani paramilitary soldiers Monday engaged in a gunfight with Afghan forces along Balochistan border when the Pakistani forces tried to stop the smuggling of wheat flour, the military said in a statement.
Afghan forces engaged a Pakistani post near the Chaman border crossing, located some 150 km north-west of Quetta, capital of Balochistan province, after Pakistani troops fired warning shots at three pickup trucks loaded with bags of flour.
IS ‘warns’ US against sending forces to Iraq
Cairo: The Islamic State (IS) terrorist group has issued a new "warning" to the US, threatening that any ground troops deployed by Washington in...
Military should bow to civilian rule, suggests Gilani
By IANS,
Islamabad : Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has again suggested that the military should always remain subservient to civilian rule.
India asks world community to remain engaged in Afghanistan
New Delhi, July 1, IRNA - India has told the UN that the international community should remain engaged in Afghanistan for security and stability, as any development in the war-ravaged country would have an "impact" on it.
"The security of Afghanistan and what happens there impacts us, as a country in the region, as a close neighbour and a civilisational partner whose ties with the Afghan people stretch into antiquity," Permanent Representative to the UN, Hardeep Singh Puri, told the Security Council, PTI reported here today.
Pakistan’s ‘no’ to war with India, to respond to evidence
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan Monday ruled out a war with India over the Mumbai terror attack, even as a leading columnist said it was yet to respond to the Indian evidence linking Pakistanis to the mass slaughter.
Holding that the two countries and their people cannot afford another conflict, a key aide to Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said: "I don't see any chances of war. Both (India and Pakistan) want peace in the region that is imperative for the development of their people."
NATO forces kill key Taliban commander in S Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) have killed a Taliban commander Mullah Ziauddin during an operation in southern Afghan province of Helmand, said an ISAF statement released here on Tuesday.
Mullah Ziauddin, who was involved in the procurement, construction and emplacement of IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device),died as a result of injuries which occurred during a strike against him by ISAF in an area to the south of Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand on Oct. 29, the statement said.
Malaysian PM vows to fight racism and extremism
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has vowed to fight "racism and extremism" and appealed for public cooperation by being "calm and rational".
Suicide blast targets foreign military convoy in S Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : A suicide car blast targeted a foreign military convoy in southern Afghan province of Kandahar Sunday, leaving three foreign soldiers and two civilians injured, a foreign military officer said.
The attack occurred at around 11 a.m. local time near a foreign military base in northern part of Kandahar city, the provincial capital, just as an Italian military patrol was passing by, Fraser Clark, an officer with the a local Canadian provincial reconstruction team (PRT), told Xinhua.
There has been no immediate responsibility claim.
US and Iraq agree on troop cuts
By IRNA,
Baghdad : The United States and Iraq have agreed to set a "general time horizon" for the "further reduction of US combat forces in Iraq" following the improvement in security conditions in the country, the White House said Friday.
The breakthrough, which was reached between President George W.
Five killed in Pakistan blast
By IANS,
Islamabad : At least five people, including three police personnel, were killed and 10 injured in a powerful suicide blast Monday outside the residence of the information minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
Many people had gathered at the residence of Information Minister Mian Iftikhar in Pabbi area of Khan Sher Gharhi at the time of the blast to offer condolences for the death of his son, Mian Rashid Hussain, who was killed Saturday, Geo News reported.
748 percent rise in pakistan terror deaths over 10 years
New Delhi : Pakistan’s rising graph of terrorism-related deaths shows no sign of slowing, with 43 people dead and 20 injured when six motorcycle-borne...
Qaddafi en route to Venezuela: Britain’s Hague
By IRNA,
Berlin : British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Monday he had 'some information' that Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi was en route to Venezuela, according to German Press Agency dpa.
US, Pakistan ties have hit new low: Daily
By IANS,
Islamabad : The US-Pakistan ties have plunged to a new low following an accusation that ISI supported the Al-Qaeda-linked Haqqani network, said a Pakistani daily Tuesday.
Pakistan probes former lawmaker for Pole’s beheading
By DPA,
Islamabad : Pakistani police Sunday said investigators were quizzing a former pro-Taliban lawmaker believed at the centre of the slaying of a Polish engineer by militants earlier this year.
Shah Abdul Aziz, who belongs to a right-wing Islamist party and has links with the Taliban, was remanded in custody Saturday.
"He (Aziz) is suspected of ordering the beheading of Polish engineer Piotr Stanczak," police officer Mahmood Khan said.
The former parliamentarian had been missing since May, with aides alleging that he had been picked up by intelligence agents.
Six government militiamen killed in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : At least six people were killed when a car carrying pro-government militiamen was bombed in Pakistan's northwest tribal region Wednesday, a media report said.
Opposition PML-N wants Musharaf tried for Benazir assassination
By IANS,
Islamabad : The demand for trying former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf has resurfaced with the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) now saying he should be arraigned for the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
"The (ruling) PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party) and its government are duty-bound to register a case against Musharraf under section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code and arrest him immediately," PML-N spokesman Muhammad Siddiqul Farooque said at a news conference here Tuesday.
New UN resolution on Iran under discussion: US
By DPA,
Washington : The five key members of the UN Security Council and Germany were meeting Friday in Washington to discuss Iran's failure to cooperate with UN demands that it dismantle its nuclear programme.
The talks could include discussion of another possible set of resolutions against Iran, said US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.
The meeting comes just days before next week's UN General Assembly debate among heads of state, when US Jewish organisations were planning a major rally Monday against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad outside the UN.
LeT militant killed in Jammu on eve of Antony visit
By IANS,
Jammu : A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant was killed in a gunbattle with the army in Jammu and Kashmir's mountainous border district of Poonch ahead of Defence Minister A.K. Antony's visit to the area Monday.
The incident took place Sunday evening when army troops laid a cordon in the forests near Mendhar, over 200 km northwest of here.
"After a brief exchange of fire, troops killed one LeT terrorist," said Brig. Gurdeep Singh, brigadier general staff of 16 Corps.
He said the identity of the militant was being established, but he is suspected to be a Pakistani.
Official: 38 killed suicide attack on hotel in Pakistan’s capital
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistan's Interior Ministry has said that 38 persons including two foreigners have been killed in a suicide attack on a five-star hotel in the capital.
The ministry, in a statement issued Sunday, said that Saturday's suicide blast injured some 257 persons including 21 foreigners. The country has been put on red alert after the suicide blast, the statement said.
Pakistan-China economic zone a dead project
By IANS,
Islamabad : An ambitious Pakistan-China Economic Zone that was to be spread over 1,000 acres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is now "a dead project", said an official.
Closure of Gaza crossings violates ceasefire deal: Hamas
Gaza: The Islamic Hamas movement Sunday accused Israel of violating the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement by closing the crossings of the Gaza Strip until a...