Official: 17 killed in bus, train collision in Bangladesh
By Xinhua,
Dhaka : At least 17 people were killed and 21 others were injured in a collision between a express train and a passenger bus early Wednesday morning in Bangladesh's Tangail district, about 80 km northwest of capital Dhaka, according to an official.
Deputy Commissioner of Tangail Akhter Ali Sarker, chief executive of the district, confirmed to Xinhua on the phone at the scene that 17 persons were killed in the accident.
Egypt asks Arab economies to join hands against globaL crunch
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : Arab countries should join hands to stave off the impact of the global financial crunch on their economies, Egypt's Minister of Trade and Industry Rachid Mohamed Rachid has said.
"The international credit crisis will have negative impact on the world trade due to the recession which has hit the US and Europe. other economies will also feel the pinch in varying degrees," WAM quoted the Egyptian minister as telling reporters here Sunday.
Rachid arrived here Sunday on a two-day visit of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of a regional tour.
Maronite Patriarch: Lebanon on the brink of “abyss”
By Xinhua
Beirut : Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir has warned of what he described as "the tragic situation the Lebanese are sinking in," the Daily Star reported on Wednesday.
"The situation in Lebanon has dragged the country to the edge of the abyss," he was quoted as saying during a conference on "Christian Presence" on Tuesday.
"We can say that disturbance in the country is due to political affairs with which ulterior motives and selfishness have interlaced," he added.
Rosary beads save British soldier from Afghan landmine
By IANS,
London : A British soldier was saved by his rosary beads in Afghanistan when he stooped to pick them up and saw that he was next to a landmine. It was strikingly similar to his great grandfather's experience who escaped a blast when he picked up his fallen rosary beads.
Glenn Hockton, 19, was on patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when bent down to pick up his prayer beads after they fell off, Daily Express reported Tuesday.
It was then that he realised that he was standing close to a mine.
US settlement freeze demand unreasonable, says Netanyahu
By DPA,
Jerusalem : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday called US President Barack Obama's demand for an absolute freeze on settlement construction in the occupied West Bank "unreasonable".
Israel "will not freeze life in Judea and Samaria", Netanyahu told a parliamentary committee in Jerusalem, using the Biblical names for the southern and northern West Bank.
Netanyahu told the foreign affairs and defence committee that his government would not build any new Jewish settlements on the West Bank.
Lebanese cabinet decides to boycott Damascus summit
By Xinhua
Beirut : The Lebanese cabinet officially decided Tuesday to boycott the upcoming 20th Arab summit to be held in Damascus on March 29-30, local LBC TV reported.
Information Minister Ghazi Aridi made the announcement while reading a statement after a three-hour meeting, which also urged Arabs to tackle the deteriorating Lebanese-Syrian relations, according to LBC.
The government urged "Arab brethren to shepherd Lebanese-Syrian relations" to help Lebanon spread its sovereignty over its territories," the statement was quoted as saying.
Bomb attacks target four churches in N Iraq
By Xinhua
Mosul, Iraq : Insurgent groups attacked on Sunday four churches for Iraqi Christian minority in the city of Mosul, the capital of Nineveh province, a provincial police source said.
A car bomb parked near the Maryam al-Adhra' Church northeastern of Mosul detonated, wounding four people and damaging parts of the building, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Taliban execute couple in Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : Taliban militants have executed a girl and a boy on charge of eloping in the Afghanistan's Nimroz province, an official said Tuesday.
"The tragic incident occurred in Khashrod district Monday. The Taliban in a barbaric act shot the young couple dead," said Provincial Governor Ghulam Dastgir Azad.
He said that the boy and girl loved each other but their parents were opposed to their marriage. To get married, the couple left their homes.
The Taliban acted upon the complaints of the parents. They arrested and shot them dead, Azad said.
Expect more troop casualties in Afghanistan
By IRNA,
Berlin : German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg warned public to expect more German casualties in Afghanistan in coming weeks, news reports said here Wednesday.
Talking at a book presentation on the Afghan war in Berlin, the minister said one had to anticipate German military deaths this summer.
He reiterated that his country was involved in a full-fledged war in Afghanistan.
34 decomposed bodies discovered in Iraq mass grave
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : Iraqi police said Wednesday they found at least 34 decomposed bodies from a mass grave in a desert area in Anbar province in the west.
"A police force and local tribesmen unearthed remains of at least 34 bodies buried in a mass grave in the Akkashaat area near the town of al-Qaim, on the border with Syria," a police source told reporters on condition of anonymity.
The police launched an investigation on a tip off by a detained member of the Al Qaeda network, the source said.
Over 38,000 Egyptians return from Libya
By IANS,
Cairo : A total of 38,481 Egyptians have returned from Libya since unrest hit the country, the official MENA news agency reported.
Three Yemen policemen killed in militant attack
Sanaa: At least three policemen were killed and one wounded when suspected Al Qaeda militants attacked a security checkpoint in Yemen's southern province of...
PML-Q accepts defeat, leaves door open for negotiation
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS
Islamabad : The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), backed by President Pervez Musharraf, Tuesday accepted defeat but left room for negotiating a role for itself in the next government saying that "nothing can be ruled out in politics".
Party leader and a prime minister hopeful not too long ago, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi said despite the defeat in the Monday elections, his party had been able to secure a "decent" position to play a key role in the future government.
India can teach tolerance to world: Israeli envoy
New Delhi : Israeli Ambassador Daniel Carmon Tuesday said since India has long served as a "peaceful" home to several Jews, it stood in...
UAE mulling over publishing China’s People’s Daily
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi: The possibility of publishing an overseas edition of the Chinese newspaper People's Daily was discussed here Tuesday between the UAE's National Media Council Director General Ibrahim Al Abed and the newspaper's visiting delegation.
Once published from the UAE, the paper will cater to about 200,000 Chinese people living in the country, thus bringing them news from home and enlightening them on the culture and traditions of the UAE at the same time, WAM news agency reported.
British Government welcome formation of Transitional Government in Somalia
LONDON, Jan 13 (APP)- The British Government has welcomed the formation of a new cabinet of ministers for the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia and described it as a positive development in advancing political process.
The Minister for Africa, Lord Malloch-Brown in a statement emphasised UK support for the Transitional Government and urged it to build on this positive development by advancing the political process and encouraged all parties with a stake in Somalia’s future to engage in this process constructively, for the sake of improving the lives of Somalis.
Woman, several militants killed in Taliban operation
By KUNA,
Kabul : An Afghan woman and "several Taliban militants" were killed in an operation by the US-led coalition troops in southeastern Afghanistan, the military said on Friday. The anti-insurgent operation was conducted in Zurmat district of Paktia province on Thursday night, said a statement released from the coalition forces' Bagram base. While searching compounds in Zurmat district to target two militant leaders, the coalition forces received fire from armed militants, said the statement.
Northern Lebanon clashes kill 9, wound 33
By Xinhua,
Beirut : Nine people were killed and 33 others were wounded in renewed fierce clashes in northern Lebanese city of Tripoli as fighters exchanged rocket-propelled grenades and sniper fire, local Naharnet news website reported Saturday.
Security officials said a 10-year-old boy died of injuries sustained from a bullet fire, and two women were among the dead.
The security official added that most of the wounded were caught in crossfire between fighters from the neighboring Sunni district of Bab Tabbaneh, and Alawite area of Jabal Mohsen.
Hasina, Khaleda have no ill-gotten wealth: government probe
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh's former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, who were imprisoned on graft charges for over a year, "possess no ill-gotten wealth", says a probe by the military-backed caretaker government.
The government's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is unlikely to file any case against the two women leaders of the mainstream parties, who are preparing to slug it out in the parliamentary polls slated for Dec 18.
Improper to label Malaysia an exporter of militants – PM Najib
By NNN-Bernama,
Putrajaya : Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said Friday it was improper to label Malaysia as an "exporter" of militants because terrorism was a regional or global problem unrestricted by national boundaries.
He said it was futile for countries to point fingers at one another in the matter.
"Even in the case of the Sept 11 (2001) attacks (on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre) in the United States, the terrorists came from outside that country. This only goes to show that we are faced with a global issue, not something confined to any one country," he said.
ISAF soldier, sevral Taliban killed in Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : One ISAF soldier was killed and two others wounded in an attack by miscreants in southern Afghanistan, the foreign military said on Tuesday. ISAF spokesperson in Kabul Carlos Branco did not mention the exact location of the incident. He expressed his heartfelt sympathies with families and friends of those killed and injured in the attack.
Names and nationalities of the dead and injured soldiers were not released on the grounds that it was against ISAF policy to release names before the relevant national authority does so.
Indonesian quake kills 529, thousands trapped under rubble
Padang (Indonesia), Oct 1 (DPA) At least 529 people have been killed and 423 were injured in a powerful quake that struck Indonesia's West Sumatra province, the Social Affairs Ministry said Thursday.
In the provincial capital, Padang, which was the hardest-hit area in Wednesday's magnitude-7.6 earthquake, as many as 376 people were killed and more than 100 others were injured, said Novianto, an official at the ministry's coordinating post.
Turkish PM attacks ban on AK
By IRNA
Ankara : Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticised a proposal to ban his ruling AK Party as being against the "national will".
He was speaking after Turkey's chief prosecutor asked the country's Constitutional Court to ban the party, accusing it of anti-secular activities.
In announcing his indictment, prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya said he believed there was enough evidence to show the party had contravened Turkey's secular constitution.
He also revealed the party had been under investigation for six months.
4 NATO troops, 11 militants killed in Afghanistan
By DPA,
Kabul: Three US soldiers were killed in southern Afghanistan, while one NATO soldier and 11 Taliban militants were killed elsewhere in the country, officials said Monday.
The US soldiers died Monday afternoon "in an engagement with enemy forces in southern Afghanistan," a military statement said.
A NATO soldier also died of his wounds Monday following a fight with the insurgents in eastern region, NATO said in a separate statement. It did not disclose the soldier's nationality.
Lebanese President affirms importance of Syrian-Lebanese relations
By NNN-SANA,
Beirut : Lebanese President Michel Suleiman affirmed on Saturday that the things that bring Syria and Lebanon together outnumber the things that separate them.
He stressed that the strong and capable Syria can give and support Lebanon, while Lebanon can only exchange that with honesty, not by being an agent for harming Syria.
During his meeting with a delegation from the Syrian-Palestinian Legal Committee for the Right of Return, Suleiman affirmed that Lebanon will keep on working to achieve this honesty in dealing with Syria, saying:
Burqa ban in Europe – Arresting cultural freedom?
By A. Mirsab, TwoCircles.net,
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has upheld France's controversial law of banning face-covering Muslim veils or burqa from the...
Turkish army launches ground incursion into Iraq
By Xinhua
Ankara : Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has launched a cross-border ground operation in fight against the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in the north of Iraq.
This is the first cross-border ground operation of Turkey since the Turkish government gave the authority for the army to launch cross-border ground operations in fight against the PKK militants in the north of Iraq last November.
Jordan’s King Abdullah, Blair discuss latest developments in mideast
By NNN-KUNA
Amman : Jordan's King Abdullah has received envoy of the Quartet Committee Tony Blair and discussed with him the latest development in the region as well as efforts exerted to push forward the peace process.
A statement issued by the Royal Court Tuesday said the King highlighted the importance of keeping the momentum provided by the Annapolis peace meeting, noting to the efforts exerted by Jordan to help Palestinians and Israelis reach a just and everlasting settlement for the Palestinian issue.
Hamas leader sets out conditions for truce with Israel
By RIA Novosti
Gaza : Islamist group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, set out on Wednesday its conditions for a ceasefire with Israel, and said talks were underway with Egypt.
Ismail Haniyeh, the group's prime minister in Gaza, said in a speech delivered at Gaza's Islamic University: "Israelis must commit themselves to ending all acts of aggression against our people, lift the blockade and open the borders."
Hamas torpedoes Mideast peace talks, says Dick Cheney
Jerusalem, March 24 (Xinhua) Visiting US Vice President Dick Cheney Monday said Hamas with support from Syria and Iran, is trying to torpedo the peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel, the daily Ha'aretz reported on its website.
"It is clearly a difficult situation, in part, because I think it's true, there's evidence that Hamas is supported by Iran and Syria and they're doing everything they can to torpedo the peace process," Cheney told reporters.
Four dead in Pakistan drone attack
By IANS,
Islamabad : Four people died Wednesday in a US drone attack in Pakistan.
Hamas attacks Nahel Oz military post
By KUNA,
Gaza : Eziddin Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, claimed responsibility Thursday for firing several missiles at the Israeli military post of Nahel Oz, eastern Gaza Strip.
The brigades said they fired two "Qassam" missiles, targeting the Israeli military site of Nahel Oz.
The attack was in retaliation for the Israeli massacre of Palestinians in Gaza Strip and the West Bank, it said, adding that it would continue to resist until all Palestinian territories were liberated.
Canada paid millions to mole to crack Pakistani terror plot
By Gurmukh Singh, IANS,
Toronto : Canadian agencies paid millions of dollars to a Muslim agent to unravel an al-Qaeda terror plot four years ago. Most plotters were of Pakistani origin and came from the Toronto suburb of Mississauga which has the biggest concentration of Muslims in the country.
India offers assistance in economic, social development of Palestine
By IRNA,
New Delhi:While offering all assistance in the economic and social development of Palestine, India announced a grant of $ 10 million to the country.
The grant was announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his meeting with President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas in New Delhi, Thursday evening, said a Ministry of External Affairs statement.
Singh put emphasis on India's support for the Arab Peace Plan and urged "concerted action for achieving a durable, just and comprehensive settlement of the Middle East conflict".
US funding for Israeli air defence
By IANS,
Washington : The US will give $70 million to help boost Israel's air defence capabilities to thwart rocket attacks by Palestinian militants.
Swat peace accord hinges on Zardari
By IANS,
Islamabad : A peace accord with the Taliban in Swat in Pakistan's restive northwest that was on the verge of collapse seems to be intact for the moment but much hinges on President Asif ali Zaradri, who is under intense international pressure to reject the pact.
UAE, Belarus discuss trade ties
By IANS/WAM,
Dubai: The United Arab Emirate (UAE) and Belarus have discussed ways to boost trade relations.
Obama urges for reconciliation in Iraq
By DPA,
Washington : US President Barack Obama called for greater reconciliation between Iraq's ethnic groups during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at the White House Wednesday.
Coming to agreements on contentious issues is essential to a unified Iraq and its stability in the future as US forces increasingly turn responsibility for security over to the Iraqis, Obama said.
"Iraq will be more secure and more successful if there is a place for all Iraqi citizens to thrive, including all of Iraq's ethnic and religious groups," Obama said.
Road accident kills 14 in Pakistan
By ANTARA News/Xinhua
Islamabad : At least 14 people were killed in a road accident in Pakistan`s North West Frontier Province on Wednesday, state-run television reported.
PTV reported that the accident happened on a road between Peshawar, the provincial capital and Kohat, a major city in the region, when a passenger coach rammed into a truck.
As a result, 14 people onboard the coach including children and women were killed and some others injured.
Those injured were taken to a hospital in Peshawar for treatment. The coach was badly destroyed in the accident.
Syria and Iran sign tourists cooperation program
By NNN-SANA
Damascus : Syrian Ministry of Tourism and the Iranian Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization signed on Saturday an executive program for Syrian-Iranian joint tourist cooperation, concluding the meetings of the Syrian-Iranian Joint Tourist Committee.
The two sides agreed to produce short promotional films to be broadcast via official media sources in both countries, in addition to providing necessary facilitations for organizing expos and promotional meetings.
Obama condemns attack on Jerusalem synagogue
Washington: US President Barack Obama Tuesday condemned the attack on a synagogue in Jerusalem that left four people dead, calling for joint efforts to...
Senior insurgent leader killed in eastern Afghanistan
By NNN-Xinhua,
Kabul : Maulawi Abdul Malik, a senior insurgent leader, has been killed in eastern Afghan province of Logar during an operation led by Afghan troops, the NATO-led military said here.
he operation was conducted on May 27 to disrupt bomb-making cells and operations throughout the region, according to a statement of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
The ISAF said the militant's group is linked to the burning down of two girls' schools and threats to locals attending English and computer courses.
UAE President holds discussions with Arab League Sec-Gen
By NNN-WAM,
Abu Dhabi : UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has held discussions here with Amr Moussa, Secretary-General of the Arab League.
Sheikh Khalifa and the visiting Arab League chief discussed the latest developments in the region, with particular emphasis on the need for closer Arab coordination, which is seen as the best approach for handling current and emerging challenges.
During the meeting, Moussa also briefed the president on efforts being exerted to foster Arab unity and unify ranks.
Iran: President kicks off regional tour, heads for Pakistan
By NNN-IRNA,
Tehran : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad left for Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday morning at the first leg of his three-nation tour to regional states which would later take him to Sri Lanka and India.
The president is accompanied by his senior advisor, Mojtaba Samareh Hashemi, Head of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and Minister of Commerce Massoud Mir-Kazemi as well as a group of other senior officials.
MNF accuse Iran of supporting gunmen in Basra City
By NNN-KUNA
Baghdad : The Multi-National Forces (MNF) have accused Iran of backing up gunmen in the southern city of Basra.
Major-General Kevin Bergner, Multi-National Forces-Iraq spokesman, said in a press statement Wednesday that the situation in Baghdad was under control and denied that supporters of the Sadr bloc were targeted in operations conducted in Baghdad and Basra.
Building peace is harder than fighting in Afghan town
By DPA,
Gereshk (Afghanistan) : Two shots ring out in the darkness as the Danish army jeeps crawl through an unlit, heavily rutted alley - a perfect site for an enemy ambush or a strike by suicide bombers known to be at large in the town.
The patrol commander quickly establishes the source: One of his men fired warning shots at a minivan as it approached without headlights and failed to heed torch signals to stop. One bullet blew out a front tyre while fragments of the other ricocheted into the Afghan driver's foot.
Nasrallah: Liberating occupied land Hezbollah’s main concern
By Xinhua,
Beirut : Hezbollah chief Hasan Nasrallah said Wednesday that his main concerns are the liberation of the rest of the occupied Lebanese land and freeing Palestinian and Arab prisoners jailed in Israel, Al-Manar TV reported.
"We are ready for any discussion that leads to the liberation of Shebaa farms and Kfarshouba hills," Nasrallah said during a popular parade welcoming the five prisoners released in a prisoner swap with Israel on Wednesday.
"Our concern is to defend our people and our land," Nasrallah said.
Indo-Pak prisoners’ list issued by Aaghaz-E-Dosti
By TCN News,
New Delhi: In view of building trust, Aaghaz-e-Dosti has released details of the Indian and Pakistani prisoners lodged in each other’s jail. This is probably the first time when any such detailed list will be made public. By this, we hope to facilitate transparency as well as to sensitize people on both sides about each other’s pain and towards the larger goal of peace and humanity.
Former Pakistani defence officers demand Musharraf’s exit
By IANS
Islamabad : A clutch of retired three and four-star level armed forces officers in Pakistan has demanded that President Pervez Musharraf quit in the larger interests of the country.
They also said that a national government must be constituted in consultation with all the political parties instead of holding a general election under the present caretaker set-up.
Malaysian Indian artists get new platform
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur: Symbols Art Club, a new platform for Malaysian Indian artists to connect and to express themselves, has begun by holding its first exhibition - Caves on Canvas.
The venue is the Batu caves that has a series of caves and cave temples, located in Gombak district, 13 km north of the national capital.
The caves house one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, dedicated to Lord Murugan. It is the focal point of the Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia.
Police thwart attempt to besiege Khaleda’s office
Dhaka : Police Monday barred hundreds of pro-government activists from besieging the office of Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia.
Police stopped the activists at...
EC Chief visits polling stations in Pakistan
By NNN-APP
Islamabad : The Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Rtd) Qazi Muhammed Farooq visited various polling stations here on Monday.
He called upon the people to cast their vote without any fear, and contribute postively in the future building of the nation, private TV channel Geo reported.
He said the election commission has taken all possible measures to ensure fair and free elections.
He warned that anybody trying to interfere in the election process would face strict action.
UN human rights chief slams Pakistan school attack
Geneva : UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, has condemned the Taliban attack on a Pakistani school which killed at...
Anwar Ibrahim promises Malaysians Pakatan Rakyat will secure fundamental liberties
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: Anwar Ibrahim, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, in a Press statement has promised that "under a Pakatan Rakyat government Malaysians will never again be subjected to such gross abuse of executive power as we are again witnessing today".
Bangladesh unveils 19-billion-dollar national budget
By DPA,
Dhaka : Bangladesh's coalition government, led by the Awami League, Thursday unveiled a 19 billion dollar national budget that calls for higher spending on energy, infrastructure and agriculture to revive economic growth.
"In terms of overall priority, a wider agriculture sector is the major sector for economic development, but we are now confronted with a power and energy crisis which is impeding the investment environment in the country," Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said as he presented his proposed budget for 2010-11.
Israel raises alert level ahead of Jewish holiday
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israeli defense establishments on Wednesday raised the alert level through out the country ahead of the upcoming Jewish holiday of Passover.
Thousands of Israeli policemen and voluntary civil guards were deployed to bolster security in crowded areas. Roadblocks were setup at the entrance to major cities.
Israel will impose a full closure on the West Bank from Friday night till April, 27 after Passover, said Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
Missile attacks kill three in Pakistan
By IANS,
Miranshah (Pakistan) : At least three people were killed and two injured in missile attacks by a suspected US drone aircraft in northwest Pakistan's tribal area, Online news agency reported Sunday.
At least four drone aircraft Saturday fired missiles targetting the house of Taj Muhammad in Chasma village, two kilometres south of Miranshah town, in North Waziristan district, killing three people, the agency said.
There was no immediate information about the identity of the dead.
Musharraf’s resignation has no fallout on Pak-India relations
By NNN-APP,
New Delhi : Indian media, particularly electronic news channels continued to give coverage to President Musharraf’s resignation saying the event has no fallout on Pak-India relations.
Though the coverage tempo has slowed down, but some of the news channels telecast special reports on the latest developments in Pakistan.
Four politicians shot dead in Pakistan
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Unidentified gunmen shot dead four politicians in northwest Pakistan, the News Network International (NNI) news agency reported Thursday.
Mouhammad Amin, a local leader of the ruling Nationalist Party in North West Frontier Province and three of his colleagues were shot dead late Wednesday night in Swat valley, said the report.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
The armed men ambushed their car at Deolai area, killing them on the spot, the agency quoted police as saying.
15 students injured in Bangladesh clash
By IANS,
Dhaka : At least 15 students were injured Saturday when pupils of two private universities in the Bangladesh capital clashed over the alleged stalking of a female student.
Now ‘Dirty Harry’ bullet to kill Taliban
By IANS,
London : A new bullet, which packs more punch and is called the "Dirty Harry round", has been developed for use against the Taliban in Afghanistan.
British troops who are using the SA80 rifle could use the 5.56 mm "Dirty Harry round" next year, Daily Express reported.
Soldiers had observed that their bullets had little impact at a distance of more than 1,300 feet even as the heavily armed Taliban guerrillas use heavier 7.62 mm ammunition and Russian AK-47 assault rifles.
MKO in collusion with American forces in Iraq
By IRNA,
London : A human rights activist says US support for the terrorist Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) is a proof of Washington's hollow promises regarding the war on terror.
Seyyed Mohammad Javad Hasheminejad, head of Habilian Association, said here on Saturday there are indications that MKO is in collusion with US military forces in Iraq and remnants of Saddam's Baath regime to "address the interests of America".
Hasheminejad was addressing participants in the international conference on "alternative global perspectives on terrorism" here in London.
Pakistan Air Force gets latest US radar system
By Xinhua
Islamabad : The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said Monday that it has got the latest generation of American radar system.
The TPS-77 radars from Lockheed Martin Corporation "incorporate the state-of-the-art technology and belong to the latest generation," said a PAF statement.
The TPS-77 radars, handed over to the PAF at a ceremony in southern Pakistani city of Karachi, have the capability to provide valley coverage and long-range detection capabilities.
Taliban using civilians as human shields: Pakistani Army
By IANS,
Islamabad : The Taliban in Pakistan's restive northwest are using civilians as human shields to forestall the security forces action against them, the military said Monday as six soldiers and 10 militants were killed in the fighting.
The military operation in the Buner and Lower Dir districts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) "is continuing while at least 2,000 innocent civilians are being used by the militants as human shields in Buner's Pir Baba area", the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
Iraq mosque bombings undermine stability: UN chief
By DPA,
Baghdad: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Friday condemned the bombings of Iraqi mosques that killed at least 30 people, calling them attempts to undermine the country's emerging stability.
"Attacks against places of worship cannot be justified by any political or religious cause," Ban's spokesperson said in a statement. "These attacks appear to be aimed at provoking sectarian strife and undermining stability in Iraq."
Turkish jets strike PKK targets in N Iraq
By Xinhua,
Ankara : Turkish jets struck targets of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, Turkish General Staff said in a statement on Sunday.
"Turkish airplanes have effectively hit a PKK target across the Turkish-Iraqi border in Zap region of northern Iraq on Saturday night," said the statement posted on the website, without further details.
The Turkish military has periodically bombed and shelled suspected PKK positions in Turkish-Iraqi border area during the past few months. In February it launched an eight-day ground incursion into Iraq.
Israel: Dozens of Dead People in Gaza
By Prensa Latina,
Gaza : Dozens of dead people were reported in the Gaza Strip Sunday, because of the recrudescing Israeli aggression, whose army presses forward to the capital of Gaza, despite strong resistance by the Islamic forces.
At the beginning of the third week and 16th day of the attacks, at least 10 fighters and six civilians from Palestine died because of the aggression, increasing the number of mortal victims to 875, and the number of injured people to more than 3,700.
Japan freezes $4.4 bn worth of Gaddafi regime assets
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : The Japanese government has frozen $4.4 billion in financial accounts of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his supporters, Japan Today said Saturday.
Bangladesh: JS election; total 1,572 candidates in 299 seats
By NNN-BSS,
Dhaka, Bangladesh : As 425 candidates have withdrawn their nomination papers, the total number of contestants in 299 parliamentary constituencies for the ninth Jatiya Sangsad (JS) election has stood at 1,572, Election Commission (EC) sources said here on Friday.
The EC has already postponed polls in Noakhali-1 constituency due to the death of Nurul Islam, a candidate of the Awami League-led Mohajote.
Hasina moves house after death threats
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has moved residence and curtailed her movements after international intelligence agencies warned of a possible threat to her life.
Some of her official programmes were curtailed Friday and she moved to the state guest house Jamuna from Sudha Sadan, her private home in a residential area, for better protection, The Daily Star newspaper said Saturday.
Sentence of Iraqi shoe-throwing journalist reduced
By DPA,
Baghdad : An Iraqi court has reduced the sentence handed down to Montadher al-Zaidi, the journalist who threw his shoes at former US president George W. Bush, the satellite news channel al-Arabiya reported Tuesday.
The court reduced al-Zaidi's sentence to one year, down from a previous judge's March sentence of three years in prison, al-Arabiya said.
News reports: two NATO supply trucks destroyed in NW Pakistan
By Xinhua,
ISLAMABAD : Two trucks to carry luggage for NATO forces in Afghanistan were destroyed Saturday in northwestern Pakistan, the NNI news agency reported.
The private NNI news agency said that unidentified gunmen attacked a truck terminal at the Ring Road in Peshawar, the capital of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).
Police officer Muhammad Afaq said that dozens of armed men attacked the Bilal terminal with rockets which caused the destruction of two trucks.
Kasab oblivious to seriousness of charges: new lawyer
By IANS,
Mumbai : Pakistani terrorist Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab does not understand the gravity of the Mumbai terror attacks case or the charges against him, senior criminal lawyer Abbas Kazmi said after being appointed to defend him Thursday.
Kazmi was permitted to meet his new client, Kasab, at the Arthur Road Central Jail premises after the days' proceedings were completed in the Special Court set up there.
Israel arrests Palestinian parliament speaker
Ramallah: Israeli soldiers arrested the speaker of the Palestinian parliament, Aziz Dweik, in the West Bank city of Hebron early Monday, Palestinian sources said.
Dweik,...
Palestine: US donates US$40 million towards UNRWA General Fund
By NNN-UNRWA
Ramallah : The US Government has announced its first tranche contribution of US$ 40 million towards UNRWA’s General Fund.
PLO Central Council calls on Hamas to resume dialogue
By Xinhua
Ramallah : The Palestinian Central Council (PCC) of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Monday called on Islamic Hamas movement to resume inter-Palestinian dialogue.
The PCC made the call at the end of a two-day-long meeting which kicked off on Sunday evening at President Mahmoud Abbas' headquarters in Ramallah.
Chaired by Abbas, the meeting discussed the current situation in the Palestinian territories and developments in the peace negotiations with Israel on permanent status issues.
Palestinians live in poverty
Ramallah – (IINA) January 23– The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) yesterday released a pessimistic report summarizing the living conditions of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2007. The report said that 49 percent of Palestinian households in the West Bank and 79 percent in the Gaza Strip live in poverty. At least 34 percent of Palestinians face “food insecurity” (which is defined as households with income and consumption of 1.6 dollars per day).
Iraqi PM and VP discuss unity government
By SPA,
Baghdad : Iraq's prime minister Nouri al-Maliki met Sunday with the Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi to discuss issues relating to unity government.
The meeting between al-Maliki and al-Hashemi came a day after the Sunni leader al-Hashemi described the return of his boycotting political bloc, the National Accordance Front, to the Cabinet as a priority.
The two men discussed the future of the political process and the rebuilding of a national and unified government, according to a statement from the presidency office.
More airstrikes in Gaza, Israelis to debate truce in Cairo
By DPA,
Gaza/Tel Aviv : Israel pressed on with both its air and ground offensive in Gaza Thursday as government officials were due to travel to Cairo to discuss Egyptian-French truce proposals.
Residents reported heavy shelling in the southern Gaza border town of Rafah overnight, as an Israeli military spokesman said Israel bombed another 15 smuggling tunnels running under the border with Egypt, as well as what he said was the house of a militant commander who oversaw the rocket attacks from the Rafah area at nearby Israeli targets.
White House Welcomes Israeli Syrian Talks
By SPA,
Washington : The White House on Wednesday welcomed the idea of indirect talks between Syria and Israel.
The talks, which were announced on Wednesday, would be indirect, and mediated by U.S.-allied Turkey.
When asked about it, White House press secretary Dana Perino said that the decision for Israel to have talks with Syria is up to Israel because it is “a sovereign state.” But, she added that “they had kept us apprised from the beginning of the initiative,” so the United States was not surprised.
Suicide blast kills 16 in Pakistan
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : At least 16 people were killed Friday in a suicide bomb attack in Pakistan's Orakzai agency near the Afghan border, the state-run PTV reported.
The report said a suicide bomber blew himself up with explosives at a gathering of tribal leaders (jirga) in Orakzai agency Friday. Sixteen people were killed and 40 others injured in the blast, it said.
The jirga was convened to chalk out a strategy to expel local militants from the tribal region.
According to the report, around 600 tribesmen were attending the jirga at the time of the incident.
Malaysian Indian speaker suspends assembly secretary
By IANS,
Ipoh (Malaysia) : Malaysian Indian Speaker of Perak state assembly V. Sivakumar has suspended the secretary of the house, a week after the federal court gave a ruling on his powers as the presiding officer.
The apex court last week ruled that Sivakumar did not have the authority to suspend the state's chief minister and six ministers and bar them from attending the assembly.
The court revoked the suspension and ruled that the ministers could attend the assembly and participate in the proceedings.
Roadside bombs kill 8 civilians, 4 Afghan police
By SPA,
Kabul : Eight civilians and four policemen were killed in two separate roadside bomb blasts in
Afghanistan on Tuesday, officials said.
One woman, a child and six men were killed when the blast hit a bus in Del Aram district of western Farah province, said deputy provincial governor Mohammad Younus Rasuli.
The blast occurred on a road where Afghan and foreign troops have come under similar attacks and ambushes by Taliban insurgents in recent months, he told Reuters.
U.S. announces arms sale to Saudi Arabia
By Xinhua
Washington : The U.S. Pentagon said Monday it plans to sell advanced bomb delivery systems to Saudi Arabia, coinciding with U.S. President George W. Bush's arrival at the Gulf country.
The package, worth 123 million U.S. dollars, will provide Saudis with 900 Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMs, which is a bomb delivery system, it said.
The deal was made public as the Pentagon notified the Congress about details of the sale.
The Congress will have 30 days to decide whether to approve the plan.
Afghan gov’t at odds with private TV channels over airing Indian soap operas
By NNN-Xinhua,
Kabul : Afghan Ministry for Information and Culture has been at odds with private TV channels over their continuously broadcasting Indian soap operas whose contents allegedly contradict with local cultural and religious values.
"Contents of these serials are in contrast with our cultural and religious values," Afghan Minister for Informational and Culture Abdul Karim Khuram emphasized last week.
The minister also termed a handful of serials as un-Islamic and called on television stations to halt their airing.
EU Presidency expresses “consternation” at Afghan civilian deaths
By KUNA,
Paris : The European Union Presidency, currently represented by France, has expressed "consternation" after the killing of over 90 civilians in a joint US and Afghan commando operation in the province of Herat in the west of the country.
The deaths concerned mainly women and children, reports from the area said, and they took place after an August 22 military operation that included air strikes by US aircraft.
Last Call for the 10-Day Youth Volunteer Trip to India
By TCN News,
Washington DC: IMRC (Indian Muslim Relief and Charities) is organizing a 10-day youth volunteer trip to India from July 26 to...
Postmodernism and the Quran
By Asghar Ali Engineer,
A general perception in the West is that Quranic teachings discourage progress and are incompatible with a modern way of life. Those who hold this view fall in three groups: anti-Islam elements; atheists who are opposed to all religion and spirituality; and rationalists, who consider religious teachings irrational.
Couple’s abduction: Swiss president calls up Gilani
By IANS,
Islamabad: President of the Swiss Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey has spoken to Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani over the July kidnapping of a Swiss couple.
Bush defends Iraq war as “right decision”
By Xinhua
Washington : U.S. President George W. Bush defended on Wednesday the Iraq war as a "right decision" despite a high cost as thousands of Americans staged anti-war demonstrations across the nation to mark the war's fifth anniversary.
"Removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision, and this is a fight America can and must win," Bush said during a speech at the Pentagon.
With six sentences began with "because we acted," Bush bragged about how the war "benefited" Iraqi people by ending Saddam's regime.
Abu Dhabi among top tourist destinations: Expert
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi : Abu Dhabi is one of the world's top tourism destinations due to its huge tourism infrastructure and services, said an expert Monday.
French president in Baghdad for talks with Iraqi leaders
Baghdad : French President Francois Hollande arrived in Iraq's capital Baghdad Friday for talks with Iraqi leaders and confirmed his support to Iraq in...
Over 600,000 displaced Pakistanis return to their homes: UN
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : More than 600,000 Pakistanis, who have been displaced in the conflict between the security forces and the Taliban, returned to their homes in the country's North West Frontier Province (NWFP), a UN official said Thursday.
Of the 2.2 million displaced Pakistanis at the relief camps, 600,000 people have returned to their homes, Stephanie Bunker, a spokesperson for the UN High Commission for Refugees, said.
"Some of the relief camps were closed as the displaced people have returned to their homes," Bunker said at a press conference.
Israeli and Palestinian
By Daniel Barenboim
I have often made the statement that the destinies of the Israeli and Palestinian people are inextricably linked and that there is no military solution to the conflict. My recent acceptance of Palestinian nationality has given me the opportunity to demonstrate this more tangibly.
Pervez Musharraf is destroying Pakistan
By Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
There is no law and certainly no order in my country. What happened this past week has shaken every Pakistani. Ms. Benazir Bhutto was no ordinary person. She served as Prime Minister twice and had returned to Pakistan in an effort to restore our country to the path of democracy. With her assassination I have lost a friend and a partner in democracy.
It is too early to blame anybody for her death. One thing, however, is beyond any doubt: The country is paying a very heavy price for the many unpardonable actions of only one tyrant – Pervez Musharraf.
13 killed in Iraq car bombing
By IANS,
Baghdad : At least 13 people were killed and 28 others wounded Monday when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into a prison near the Iraqi capital, an official said.
Hasina seventh top world woman leader
By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been named the seventh among 12 top world women leaders by Time magazine.
UK sending rescue helicopter crews to help troops in Afghanistan
By IRNA,
London : Britain is cutting the number of helicopter crews used for domestic search and rescue operations by 20 per cent so they can be sent to help British troops in Afghanistan, it was reported Monday.
The extra support is aimed at relieving the strain on helicopter pilots in Helmand province, where British troops have come under increasing risks of being killed by roadside bombs because of a shortage of air transport.
21 killed in Bangladesh accident
By DPA,
Dhaka: At least 21 people were killed and 45 injured when two buses collided head-on in western Bangladesh Sunday, police said.
The accident occurred in Koidubi, Faridpur district, some 60 km west of the capital Dhaka.
Sixteen people died at the scene, while others succumbed to their injuries in the hospital, according to an officer at Bhanga police station.
Fifteen of the 24 people, who were admitted to the Faridpur Medical College Hospital, were seriously injured.
Malaysian Indian Congress chief retains post for 11th term
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) chief S. Samy Vellu Sunday retained the presidentship of the party for the 11th consecutive term after winning uncontested.
With this he becomes the longest-serving chief of the party that speaks for the two million-plus Indian diaspora.
At the party's presidential nomination here, those of his challenger M. Muthupalaniappan were rejected, Star Online said quoting party sources.
According to them, many of the branch chairmen who nominated the former MIC vice-president had also nominated Vellu.
Meet Sadaf Chaudhary, who wants to serve country by becoming an ambassador
UPSC topper among Muslim aspirants, Sadaf Chaudhary of Roorkee uttarakhand, who secured the overall 23rd rank, is of firm opinion that improvement in the...
Don’t want ties to be held hostage to Kashmir issue: Pakistan envoy
Hyderabad: Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit Sunday said his country doesn't like the relationship with India to be held hostage to the Jammu and...
JuD says will continue to operate in Pakistan
Islamabad:The Jamaat-ud Dawa (JuD) Thursday said it would continue its "charity work" across Pakistan, in its official response to the ban imposed by the...
11 people killed in road accident in Bangladesh
By ANTARA News/Xinhua
Dhaka : Eleven people were killed and 13 others were injured Friday when a speeding lorry crashed into a mini bus in Bangladesh`s Barisal district, about 180 km south of capital Dhaka.
Police and local people said that all the victims were a bridal party members. Five of them died on the spot and 6 others died later at hospitals.
The accident occurred at about 06:30 a.m. local time. The injured were admitted to different hospitals in Barisal town, according to the police.
Rajapaksa leaves for China for Asian leaders’ meet
By IANS
Colombo : Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Wednesday left for China to take part in the multilateral Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference where he will hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf and other leaders.
The conference is being held April 11-13 at Boao in China's Hainan province. The theme this year is 'Green Asia, Moving Towards Win-Win Through Changes'.
After India, France to sell 24 fighter jets to Qatar
Paris : France has agreed to sell 24 Rafale fighter jets to Qatar, while two similar sales were commissioned with Egypt in February and...
Bangladesh Army to generate, sell power
By IANS,
Dhaka : A company floated by the Bangladesh Army will produce 50 MW power at an army camp outside the national capital and sell it to the government.
The state-run Power Development Board (PDB) Thursday signed agreements with the army's DPA Power Generation International Ltd and another firm, Sinha Power Generation Company.
Lt. Gen. Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, chairman of Bangladesh Diesel Plant Ltd, said the Pagla plant is the first of its kind for the army. "We will purchase modern equipment for setting up the plant."
Abandoned bomb kills three in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : Three people were killed when a bomb that some children found and were playing with exploded in southern Pakistan, a media report said Thursday.
Sea surge strands 200,000 in Bangladesh
By SPA,
Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh : Some 200,000 people were marooned in Bangladesh on Sunday when a storm caused a sea surge to swamp a number of villages in southern coastal districts, officials said.
At least four people were also killed by a landslide in Teknaf in Cox's Bazar district, 450 km (270 miles) from the capital Dhaka.
Heavy monsoon rains in southern, southeastern and northeastern Bangladesh have triggered landslides and flash floods, killing at least 20 people over the past four days, Reuters reported.
Muslim Brotherhood leader Badie, 13 others sentenced to death
Cairo: An Egyptian court on Saturday delivered the death sentence to the chief leader of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group, Mohammed Badie, and 13...
Female Iranian activist released on bail
By DPA,
Tehran : A female activist charged with subversion in Iran has been released from prison on bail, opposition websites reported Monday.
Dubai airport’s third terminal to open Oct 14
By IANS,
Dubai : The third terminal at the Dubai International Airport will start operating in a phased manner from Oct 14 this year, boosting the city's economic progress, it was announced Wednesday.
The soft opening of Terminal 3 will be implemented in four phases to ensure that systems and processes are working to the highest standards of efficiency, enabling customers to make their way through the facility as easily and speedily as possible, according to a statement issued by Dubai Airports.
Iran calls EU sanctions ‘illegal, meaningless’
By IANS,
Tehran : Iran Tuesday condemned the new sanctions by the European Union (EU) over its controversial nuclear programme, and said the sanctions are " meaningless and against the international laws".
"The sanctions are illegal and show the EU's double standards and contradictory approach during the time the packages of proposals are being studied", foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said, adding that Tehran strongly condemned the sanctions, official IRNA news agency reported.
District chief, provincial council member killed in Afghanistan
By KUNA,
KABUL : A district governor and a member of a provincial assembly were killed in fresh incidents of violence in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, police said.
Khan Mohammad, who was member of the Nangarhar provincial council, was shot dead in Darra-e-Noor district on Saturday morning.
The attackers managed to escape in a car after the ambush. No one claimed responsibility. Police spokesman in Nangarhar province Colonel Abdul Ghafoor said investigations had been launched into the incident.
UAE bars 6 foreign newspapers for lack of printing rights
By Xinhua,
Abu Dhabi : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) barred six foreign languages newspapers from going to press in the country due to their lack of printing rights, local newspaper Gulf News reported on Friday.
The decision was made by the UAE National Media Council (NMC), a government unit that oversees media development in the Gulf country, said the report.
The six publications include four dailies in Malayalam, a language spoken in southwest India, and one daily and one weekly in the official Pakistani language of Urdu.
Draft charge sheet finalized: Pakistani Minister Sherry Rehman
By NNN-APP,
Islamabad : Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sherry Rehman Friday said the special committee has finalized the draft charge-sheet against President and presented the document to Minister for Law and Justice.
Talking to journalists after a meeting of the special committee tasked to prepare a draft charge-sheet to impeach President Pervez Musharraf, she said the charge-sheet is a technical document and Law Minister will look into so that it could be presented to the coalition leadership.
Pakistani President, PM strongly condemn attack on funeral procession
By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday strongly condemned the bomb attack on a funeral procession in the country's northwest which killed at least 10 people.
The attack was carried out when funeral procession of a youth was being taken to graveyard in the city of Dera Ismail Khan in North West Frontier Province (NWFP).
The NWFP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain confirmed 10 deaths in the attack at 11 a.m.
Hussain said that around 25 were also injured.
Commander, 10 militants killed in Afghanistan
By KUNA,
Kabul : The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on Thursday claimed it had killed a Taliban leader in an air strike in southern Afghanistan.
A statement from ISAF headquarters here said that the operation was conducted in Nawzad district of the restive Helmand.
The slain Taliban commander had been identified as Mullah Bismullah Akhund. He was responsible for supplying weapons and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) to the militants, said the statement. Taliban did not issue any comment.
30,000 kids provided healthcare by UAE charity
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi: A global healthcare initiative launched by a charity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has treated over 30,000 poor children in nine countries across the world.
More than 360 dead in Israel’s Gaza offensive
By DPA,
Gaza/Tel Aviv : At least 10 people died Tuesday on the fourth day of Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, bringing the Palestinian toll of Operation Cast Lead to more than 360 dead and 1,700 injured.
Two sisters, aged four and 11, were killed immediately when the donkey cart they were riding in Beit Lahiya, north of Gaza City, was hit by an Israeli missile, Gaza emergency services chief Mo'awia Hassanein said.
Seven other Palestinians died when Israeli F16
fighter jets bombed the house of a Hamas commander in the same town.
US troops killed in Iraq
By IRNA,
Baghdad : A US Marine and a soldier were shot to death Tuesday while conducting a humanitarian mission north of Baghdad, the US military said.
Another two Marines and three civilians also were wounded in the attack, which occurred in Baaj, in the northern province of Nineveh, the military said.
Military officials said the unit came under fire from two men -- one of whom appeared to be wearing an Iraqi military uniform.
"The attack appears to have been unprovoked," said Col. Bill Buckner, spokesman for the Multi-National Corps-Iraq.
Pakistan-Afghanistan border trade deal challenged in court
By IANS,
Lahore: A petition was filed in the Lahore High Court Saturday against the Pakistan-Afghanistan border trade deal, saying it will facilitate poppy and arms smuggling in the region, a media report said.
Advocate Shafqat Mehmood Chauhan, who filed the petition, said both countries have adopted a light security arrangement at the border for easy transit of goods, and that may help the militants to enter Pakistan easily, Geo TV reported.
He requested the court to declare the agreement void.
Bangladesh’s Jamaat calls strike after leader’s death penalty upheld
Dhaka : Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) party on Monday called for a two-day strike after a court upheld its previous verdict on its leader Muhammad...
Islamist Bangladesh party plans apology over war criminal issue
By IANS,
Dhaka : A unanimous resolution by the Bangladesh parliament asking the government to try "war criminals" has led to the country's largest Islamist party to plan an apology for its "political stance" of opposing the 1971 freedom movement, a media report said Friday.
People who collaborated with the Pakistan government during the 1971 freedom movement are called "war criminals" in Bangladesh.
Bolivia cuts diplomatic ties with Israel over Gaza
By DPA,
La Paz : Bolivia broke diplomatic ties with Israel over the "disproportionate" attacks of the Israeli Army on the Gaza Strip, Bolivian President Evo Morales said Wednesday in La Paz.
Morales made the announcement as diplomats accredited in Bolivia greeted the president in accordance with protocol, Bolivian media reported.
He exhorted the International Criminal Court in The Hague to investigate the ongoing attacks in Gaza which have already over 1,000 lives.
Pakistan adheres to nuclear non-proliferation: Malik
By IANS,
Islamabad: Pakistan strictly adheres to the policy of nuclear non-proliferation, Rehman Malik, advisor to the prime minister on interior affairs, said.
PPP and PML (N) leaders congratulate PM on assuming the office
By IRNA
Islamabad : A delegation of some senior leaders of PML(N) and PPP called on Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani here at the Prime Minister's House on Tuesday and congratulated him on assuming the office of the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The delegation included Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Syed Khursheed Shah, Naveed Qamar, Sherry Rahman, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed.
Concern in upper house over Indians stuck in Iraq
New Delhi : Rajya Sabha members Friday raised concern over Indians stuck in strife-torn Iraq, and urged External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to make...
73 join IS in Syria after coalition attacks
Beirut : At least 73 people have joined the Sunni radical group Islamic State (IS) since the US-led international coalition started its offensive in...
India Islamic Cultural Center should have Lucknow branch: UP minister
By TCN News,
Riyadh: Uttar Pradesh’s Minister of Panchayati Raj Kamal Akhtar has assured that he would exert efforts to facilitate the allotment of land for the construction of India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC) branch in Lucknow.
Pakistan calm a day after anti-film protests
By IANS,
Islamabad: Pakistan limped back to normalcy Saturday, a day after blood clashes left 23 people dead and 200 others wounded following fierce protests over an anti-Islam film.
5.5 magnitude earthquake jolts Pakistan province
Islamabad : An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale jolted parts of a province in Pakistan on Tuesday, media reported.
According to the meteorological...
Massive Roman-era garrison found in Syria
By DPA,
Damascus : Archaeologists in Syria have found what they believe was the largest Roman garrison in the Middle East, SANA news agency reported Saturday.
German archaeologists discovered the site, which spreads over three hectares (30,000 square metres), at al-Rifniah, in the northern Syrian province of Hama, the report said.
Experts described the fort as the largest Roman military outpost in the region. It was discovered following mentions of the outpost in documentary evidence and engravings, SANA said.
Lawyers in Pakistan observe ‘Black Day’ on emergency anniversary
By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS,
Rawalpindi : Lawyers across Pakistan boycotted courts and held protest demonstrations Monday to mark the first anniversary of the emergency imposed by former president Pervez Musharraf who had sacked 60 judges and banned private television channels and FM radios at one fell swoop.
Deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, addressing a massive lawyers' demonstration, said that Musharraf had imposed emergency as he was afraid of the growing judicial independence and wanted to curb the judiciary.
Pakistan believes in strong, credible defence: PM
By APP
Islamabad : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Friday said Pakistan believes in maintaining a credible minimum deterrence to ensure peace and stability in the region.
Gilani was talking to Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who called on him at PM Secretariat to felicitate him on assuming the office of the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan was a peaceful country and its defence policy was based on peaceful coexistence.
Israel proposes naval blockade of Iran
By RIA Novosti,
Tel Aviv : The Israeli prime minister has proposed that a U.S. naval blockade be imposed on Iran to stop the Islamic Republic from moving ahead with its uranium enrichment program, an Israeli newspaper said on Wednesday.
Netanyahu blames Hamas for high civilian casualties
Jerusalem : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Gaza operation was a "proportionate and justified" response to Hamas' aggression, and accused Hamas...