24 killed in attack on Pakistan check-post
By IANS,
Islamabad : At least 20 militants and four soldiers were killed after an army check-post was attacked in Pakistan's northwest tribal region early Tuesday, a media report said.
NATO officer warns of imminent danger of more German combat casualties in Afghan war
By IRNA
Berlin : Germany has to brace itself for additional combat casualties in Afghanistan once a 240-strong German Quick Reaction Force (QRF) is to replace a Norwegian unit in July, a Norwegian NATO officer told Friday's edition of the Berlin-based Tagesspiegel newspaper.
The present head of the NATO-led QRF, Rune Solberg said German troops had to be "prepared to fight a war and lose their own lives." He urged the German government to explain to the nation as to why German soldiers had to fight in Afghanistan.
Kuwait goes to polls for second time in two years
By Aroonim Bhuyan, IANS,
Dubai : Kuwait went to the polls Saturday, the second time in two years, to elect its 50-member parliament.
The elections were held in the Gulf city-state under a new five-constituency system instead of the earlier 25-constituency system.
A total of 275 men and 27 women are contesting for the 50 seats.
Women are contesting for the second time in Kuwait's election history.
Saturday's elections were being held after Kuwait's entire cabinet resigned March 17 amid strained relationship between the legislative and the executive wings of the country.
Bush calls Musharraf, reaffirms support
By IANS
Islamabad : US President George W. Bush congratulated Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Thursday on the peaceful conduct of polls and reiterated US support to his policies, Online news agency reported.
During the 20-minute telephone call, which Bush made from aboard a flight from Rwanda to Ghana, both leaders discussed regional and international issues, foreign office spokesman M. Sadiq said.
The US President expressed hope that the elections would bring political stability in Pakistan that would be helpful in the war against terrorism.
Dubai air traffic to touch 150 million by 2030
By IANS/WAM,
Dubai : The number of air passengers transiting through Dubai annually will increase by almost four times from 40 million today to 150 million by 2030, a top airlines official has said.
"In Dubai, passenger numbers will grow from over 40 million today to 150 million by 2030. To accommodate that growth, we are building the biggest airport in the world -- Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International, having a capacity for 160 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of freight," Dubai airports chief executive officer Paul Griffiths said at a summit held in Brussels.
Dubai to host technology investing forum
By IANS/WAM,
Dubai: Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) would host the seventh edition of the Investing in Technology Forum (IITF), an official said Wednesday.
The forum will be held under the theme "Establishing a Regional Integrated System for Innovation" from May 11-13 at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort, Dubai.
Cuba, NAM Condemn Israel
By Prensa Latina,
United Nations : Cuban Ambassador Abelardo Moreno expressed on Wednesday before the UN Security Council the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)"s strong condemnation and concern for the Israeli indiscriminate attacks at Gaza.
Speaking in a debate on the Middle East Situation, including the Palestinian issue, Moreno stressed NAM"s profound disappointment with the Council"s incapacity to fulfill its responsibility to keep international peace and security.
Gunmen kill Iraqi priest in Baghdad
By Xinhua
Baghdad : Unidentified gunmen shot dead a Christian priest in central Baghdad Saturday, an interior ministry source said.
The incident took place at around midday. The gunmen shot dead Yousif Adel, a priest of the Saint Peter Church, in the Karrada neighbourhood, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Last month, the body of a Chaldean Catholic archbishop was found near the city of Mosul in northern Iraq after he was kidnapped by unknown gunmen.
‘Lahore fashion week a befitting reply to terrorists’
By IANS,
Lahore : The Lahore Fashion Week, which brought together 32 designers from across the country and saw top fashion celebrities in attendance, was a befitting response to terrorists who want to enforce the culture of fear in Pakistan, a leading fashion designer has said.
Mahmood Bhatti told the News International that the fashion week, which concluded Friday, was an answer to the "futile efforts of extremists to enforce fear".
Hamas denies “real deal” over captive Israeli soldier
By Xinhua
Gaza : A Hamas official close to prisoners' talks said Monday that there was no signs of a real deal to free a captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Osama al-Muzini made the denial in response to a Monday report by Israeli army radio that Israel and Hamas have agreed on 230names that Hamas demands to be freed in exchange for Shalit and the differences have reduced to 120 names.
Media pool for ECO countries to check anti-Islam propaganda suggested
Islamabad, Oct 25, IRNA ,A senior Pakistani journalist working for the official news channel on Friday urged the ECO countries to form a media pool having their own TV channel, magazines, newspapers and news agencies to counter the western propaganda against Islam.
Asmatullah Niazi talking to IRNA with reference to forthcoming meeting of ECO news agencies stressed the need for promoting professionalism among official news agencies having trained journalists of international level.
Iraqi police foil suicide bomb attack northeast of Baghdad
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : Iraqi policemen foiled a suicide bomb attack attempt in a town in Diyala province on Sunday and killed the woman attacker, a provincial police source said.
"A woman wearing an explosive vest tried to enter the town council of Wajihiyah, but policemen guarding the building shot herdead before she reaches her target," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Egyptian religious leader slams Islamic State
Cairo : Egypt's Grand Mufti Shawki Allam has slammed the Islamic State (IS) Sunni extremist group for violating all principles of Islam, state-run MENA...
At least two Palestinian killed in mysterious Gaza house explosion
By Xinhua,
Gaza : At least two Palestinians were killed and more than 10 wounded Thursday afternoon in a mysterious explosion in a house in northern Gaza Strip, paramedics and witnesses said.
A number of children and women were among the casualties, but the medical sources were unable to give an exact figure of the casualties.
Some of the witnesses said that Israeli F16 warplanes dropped a bomb into a house, which purportedly belongs to a senior Hamas militant in Beit Lahiya town.
10 killed in Iraq violence
Baghdad : At least 10 people were killed and 56 wounded Friday in a car bomb attack and clashes in Iraq, police said.
Seven people...
Syrian army, Hezbollah capture strategic point near Lebanon border
Damascus: The Syrian army and the Lebanese Hezbollah group captured a strategic barren terrain near the Lebanese borders on Saturday, state news agency SANA...
Cameroon frees German hostage taken by Boko Haram
Yaounde : A German hostage abducted by the Boko Haram Islamist militants was freed by the Cameroonian army with help from the forces of...
Boko Haram leader killed in clashes, claims Nigerian military
Abuja: Nigerian forces have killed a man claiming to be the leader of Islamist Boko Haram militants, Abubakar Shekau, the country's defence authority said...
Sarkozy proclaims friendship with Israel, need for Palestinian state
By AFP,
Tel Aviv : French President Nicolas Sarkozy proclaimed his friendship for Israel at the start of a three-day visit on Sunday but also said Israeli security depended on the creation of a Palestinian state.
Global fraternity must come forward for Palestinian cause – Grand Mufti of Palestine
By Syed Khaled Shahbaaz, TwoCircles.net,
Hyderabad: Unveiling the truth about the turbulent situation in the State of Palestine, the Grand Mufti of Palestine His Holiness Muhammed A M Hussein said that Palestine is beleaguered by Israeli forces who have seized the liberty of education, travel, and even religious freedom from Palestinians. In a rough development in Palestine, the Israeli forces have even curtailed Palestinians from offering prayers in Al-Aqsa - the Holy mosque in Jerusalem but those who are aged 50 years or more.
Musharraf defends decision to sack former chief justice
By IANS
Islamabad : Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has defended his decision to sack Supreme Court chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry by accusing him of nepotism and harassing the bureaucracy in a 15-page letter he distributed to journalists at a breakfast meeting in London earlier this week.
Musharraf "took this unprecedented step after the media challenged his democratic credentials for sacking a chief justice and then putting him under house arrest", The News reported Thursday.
Iran at final stage of studying nuclear incentives package
By RIA Novosti,
Tehran : Iran is concluding the study of new incentives aimed at halting its controversial nuclear program, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Reza Sheikh Attar said on Sunday.
European Union foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, handed Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki a package of new incentives from the Iran six - China, France, Russia, the United States, Germany and Britain - on June 14. The proposals offer political, security and trade benefits to Iran.
250 Pakistani police recruits get food poisoning
By IANS,
Islamabad : Nearly 250 police recruits suffered food poisoning in Pakistan's port city of Karachi, a media report said Monday.
Iran-US for Talks Proposals on Iraq
By Prensa Latina
Baghdad : Teheran delegation to the fourth Iran-US round of talks on Iraqi security returned to the neighbor country after being postponed at the last moment.
This last exchange meeting between experts was attended by an Iranian representation led by Reza Amiri Moghadam and arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday afternoon but went back to their country on Thursday.
IRNA news agency reported on Wednesday the fourth meeting on security in Iraq, which was previously postponed in two occasions, will be held on Thursday.
Bush believes peace treaty to be signed before he leaves office
By Xinhua
Ramallah : U.S. President George W. Bush said on Thursday that he believes an Israeli-Palestinian peace treaty will be signed before he leaves office.
Bush made the remarks while holding a joint news conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after their meeting at the headquarters of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). The U.S. president said he's here to nudge the peace process between the two sides forward, stressing that the Israelis are help but not a hinder during the process.
Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus takes 57 passengers across LoC
Srinagar : As many as 57 passengers belonging to Pakistan-administered-Kashmir travelled in the special Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus that resumed its run Friday after the recent...
UAE calls for concerted efforts for Afghan rebuilding
By IANS,
Kabul : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has called on global powers to redouble their efforts to rebuild war-ravaged Afghanistan where the humanitarian situation some seven years after the Taliban regime was ousted is still appalling.
UAE foreign ministry spokesman Tariq Al Haidan told an international conference on Return and Reintegration of Afghan Refugees that the refugees who returned home from camps in Pakistan and Iran are going back because Kabul lacks the means and ways to rehabilitate them, WAM reported Thursday.
3 Iraqis wounded in bomb attacks targeting U.S. patrols
By Xinhua
Baghdad : Three Iraqis were wounded in two attacks targeting the U.S. patrols in Baghdad on Monday, a well-informed police source said.
"A roadside bomb detonated near a U.S. patrol in Baghdad's eastern neighborhood of Baladiyat, wounding three bystanders," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
The attack, which apparently missed the U.S. military vehicles, caused damages in several nearby shops, buildings and civilian cars, the source said.
Indian Club in Bahrain completes 100 years
Manama : An Indian expatriates' club in Bahrain celebrated its 100th anniversary Friday.
The Indian Club was originally established in 1915 as the Bahrain Sports...
Iraqi security forces arrest to Al-Qaeda sponsor, female suicide bombers
By NNN-KUNA,
Baghdad : Iraqi security forces on Friday stated that they have put a stop to what they described as "the direct sponsors of Al-Qaeda in the Diyali province," as well as female suicide-bombers in the Iraqi area.
"Ibrahim Al-Towaijri, the direct sponsor of Al-Qaeda in Diyali has been arrested by the Iraqi authorities," said Director of the National Command Centre in the Iraqi Ministry of Interior Major General Abdulkarim Khalaf in a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
Pakistani journalist in ISI custody: Rights body
By IANS,
Islamabad: A Pakistani journalist who went missing Sunday after a story on the terrorist attack on a navy base is in the custody of Pakistan's spy agency ISI, a rights body has alleged.
Nine killed in suicide attack in Lahore
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : At least nine people, including two police officials, were killed and 35 others injured in a suicide attack targeting the police in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore, The Nation newspaper reported Thursday.
A suicide bomber blew himself up at the crowded Moon Market in front of Iqbal Town police station in Lahore, capital of Punjab province late Wednesday night as people were busy preparing for the celebration of the country's 61st Independence Day Thursday, said the report.
Israeli parliament greenlights bill on Golan referendum
By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israeli parliament on Monday greenlighted a bill requiring any concession of sovereignty land to be decided by a referendum or a two-thirds majority of the legislature.
Sixty-five lawmakers voted for and 18 against the motion in the first reading, which stipulates that any government decision to cede land must be brought before the parliament, the Knesset, and if the Knesset approves it, a referendum will be held within 180 days.
UAE humanitarian hospital treats over 2,000 in Sudan
By IANS,
Abu Dhabi : United Arab Emirates' humanitarian hospital which was set up in Sudan late June has so far provided free treatment to over 2,000 patients in the African nation, WAM news agency reported Saturday.
The Emirates World Humanitarian Mobile Hospital, the first of its kind in the world, has been in operation for the past 40 days in the African country which is facing severe economic and health crisis.
The mobile hospital has recruited several specialist doctors from around the world to give the best medical facilities to the people of Sudan.
Malaysia’s Unwavering Support For OIC To Continue
By Abdul Muin Abdul Majid, Bernama
Dakar : Malaysia's commitment and support towards the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) will remain as strong after it relinquishes the chairmanship of the grouping to Senegal.
Malaysian Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa said during Malaysia's chairmanship, it had tried its level best to safeguard and promote the values and principles of the OIC.
Ahmadinejad snubs Sarkozy, says Iran will never recognise Israel
By IANS,
Tehran : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Tuesday accused his French counterpart Nicholas Sarkozy of arrogance for his pro-Israel stand and said Iran will never recognize "the Zionist regime", official IRNA news agency reported.
"Whoever is to talk with the Iranian nation should know that Iranians would never recognise the Zionist regime," Ahmadinejad said addressing a large crowd in the city of Ahvaz, capital of the western province of Khuzestan.
Canada’s suspension of ties ‘hostile’ measure: Iran
By IANS,
Tehran: Iran has termed Canada's suspension of diplomatic ties with the country as a "hostile" measure, Xinhua reported.
Syrian FM: Border military deployment serves security in Syria, Lebanon
By Xinhua,
Damascus : Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said on Wednesday that his country's military deployment along the borders with Lebanon serves security in both Syria and Lebanon.
Muallem made the remarks at a joint press conference with his visiting Lebanese counterpart Fawzi Salloukh after they signed a joint statement announcing the formal launch of diplomatic ties between the two neighbors.
1 killed in Afghan bazaar blast
Kabul : A bomb blast ripped a through bazaar in Maimana city, the capital of Afghanistan's Faryab province, 425 km northwest of Kabul Thursday,...
Pakistani lawmakers with dual nationality disqualified
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistani parliamentarians holding dual nationality were disqualified by the Supreme Court Thursday.
Pakistani officials leave for India for first visit after 26/11
By IANS,
Islamabad : A delegation of officials was leaving for India Monday to attend the SAARC Economic Council meet in New Delhi. It is the first official visit from Pakistan to India after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
The four-member Pakistani delegation is headed by Commerce Secretary Salman Ghani.
The federal commerce secretary said the Pakistani delegation, attending the SAARC Economic Council two-day meet beginning Feb 10, comprises commerce joint secretary, officials of the Foreign Office and Federal Board of Revenue, Geo TV reported.
I don’t have gentlemen’s agreement with Dr Mahathir, says Malaysian PM Abdullah
By NNN-Bernama
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has denied having a "gentlemen's agreement" with Dr Mahathir Mohamad that he will serve as prime minister for only one term before handing over the post to his deputy Najib Tun Razak.
"There is no gentlemen's agreement," the prime minister told reporters after opening the Pavilion shopping centre here Thursday.
Abdullah, however, declined to elaborate when pressed for further comments on the matter.
He repeated, saying: "No, gentlemen's agreement".
Musharraf says Pakistan elections to be held as planned
By SPA
Islamabad : President Pervez Musharraf has said parliamentary elections in Pakistan will be held on February 18 as planned and there is no possibility of rigging.
Talking to editors of Pakistani newspapers, he said that the Pakistan Army and paramilitary forces would ensure law and order before, during and after the elections.
Musharraf dispelled the reports that he was going to meet Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Shahbaz Sharif in London during his forthcoming visit to Britain.
Obama calls for shifting focus from Iraq to Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Washington : U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Monday that he would set a goal of having all U.S. combat brigades out of Iraq by summer 2010 and shift more resources to fighting al-Qaida in Afghanistan.
In an op-ed in The New York Times, the senator from Illinois criticized John McCain, his Republican opponent, and the Bush administration for "refusing to embrace" the idea that Iraqis should take over responsibility for military control of the country and the fight against terrorist and insurgent forces.
PIA increases feres on overseas flights
By NNN-APP
Islamabad : The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has increased fares on its flights for international routes and Umrahs.
According to sources, private airlines including the PIA have increased fares for their international routes and Umrahs due to rapidly increasing prices of oil, Geo Tv reported.
After the increase, the PIA’s two-way fare for London will be Rs 58,770, for New York Rs 97,800, for Dubai Rs 25,300 and for Canada Rs 98,500.
Thai railway services almost paralysed
By KUNA,
Kuala Lumpur : Senior railways executives are negotiating with representatives of Thailand's striking railway workers Saturday, in an attempt settle problems that caused the kingdom's passenger and cargo services to virtually halt.
Losses in daily revenue have been reported to be in the region of Bt20 million (about USD 584,795).
Spokesman for Pakistani informtiom ministry rejects report
By SPA
Islamabad : A spokesman for the Information Ministry has rejected the mission report of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the South Asian Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN) as contrary to facts and not reflecting the proper context of the media freedom in Pakistan.
The media in Pakistan enjoys unparalleled freedom in the history of the country, the spokesman said in a statement.
Emergency UN aid reaches 400,000 Afghans hit by rising food prices
By IRNA,
Tehran : The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has distributed assistance to some 400,000 Afghans hit by soaring wheat prices, but warned that the most vulnerable will continue to need aid for a while as the record high prices show no sign of abating.
In the past few weeks, the agency has handed out about 30,000 tons of food in Kabul, as well as in the east and south of the country, WFP Country Representative Rick Corsino told reporters in the capital yesterday. It expects to finish the first round of distributions in Kabul by next Sunday.
Malaysian politicians take to blogging
By Julia Yeow, DPA,
Kuala Lumpur : At a glance, the web page can easily be mistaken as a government information website with its uninspiring layout, long-winded welcome note and cheesy mugshot. However, further exploration will reveal that the site actually belongs to a most unlikely blogger - an ageing politician with Malaysia's embattled ruling party.
Similar blogs belonging to at least a dozen veteran politicians with Malaysia's ruling National Front coalition have sprung up over the last three months.
We need time to decide US official’s case: Islamabad
By IANS,
Islamabad: Islamabad has told Washington that it needs time to decide the case of Raymond Davis who shot dead two Pakistanis in Lahore late last month.
US vice president makes unannounced visit to Afghanistan
By DPA
Kabul : US Vice President Dick Cheney arrived Thursday in Afghanistan on an unannounced visit, and held talks with the Afghan president and other cabinet members.
Cheney, who is on his fourth trip to the war-torn country as vice-president, arrived at the fortified Afghan presidential palace by helicopter and held talks with President Hamid Karzai and senior members of his cabinet behind closed doors.
Eight killed, 17 injured in fresh Iraq violence
By DPA,
Baghdad : A fresh outbreak of violence across Iraq, including an attack on four shepherds near the northern city of Mosul, killed at least eight people and injured 17 others, security officials said Monday.
Gunmen shot dead the shepherds west of Mosul, 400 km north of Baghdad, police told the Voices of Iraq VOI news agency.
They also abducted two women and a child who were accompanying the shepherds.
A man wearing an explosives belt was shot dead by police, east of Mosul, after he opened fire on them, security sources said. The police then detonated the belt.
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..
Six anti-Qaida fighters killed north of Baghdad
By Xinhua
Tikrit, Iraq : Six fighters affiliated to anti-Qaida Awakening Council groups were gunned down by unknown gunmen in Salahudin province, a provincial police source said on Tuesday.
"Gunmen in a convoy of vehicles approached on Monday evening a checkpoint manned by local Awakening Council fighters in an area near the al-Tharthar Lake and opened fire, killing six fighters," Col. Hasan Ahmed from the provincial police command told Xinhua.
The gunmen were pretending as they were in a wedding procession in order to approach closer to the checkpoint, Ahmed said.
Yemeni president orders beginning of power transfer
By IANS,
Sana'a: Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has ordered the National Defence Council to prepare for transferring of power to parliament by the end of this year, a media report said.
Three PKK rebels surrender to Turkish military
By Xinhua
Ankara : Three rebels of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) surrendered to the government security forces in southeastern Turkey on Thursday, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.
The three militants who escaped from PKK camps in northern Iraq surrendered to the security forces in Yuksekova town of Hakkari province, according to the report.
The Turkish military on Friday suspended an eight-day ground incursion into northern Iraq.
Gaza Strip will lose power within hours due to fuel shortage — official
GAZA, Nov 9 (KUNA) -- Palestinian lawmaker and head of the Popular Committee to Counter the Siege Jamal Al-Khudari Sunday said that Gaza Strip will sink in darkness within hours as power plants will stop operating due to lack of fuel.
Al-Khudari underscored that power outage will affect all Gaza Strip areas, which would cause a humanitarian and environmental catastrophe.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian parliament accused the Israeli forces of prohibiting entry of fuel into Gaza Strip.
Pakistani PM pays homage to Imam Hussain (AS)
By IRNA
Islamabad : Pakistani Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro said on Saturday that Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), grandson of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and his followers set an example, through their supreme sacrifice, which will always be a beacon light for all Muslims.
In his 'Ashura' message he said the 10th of Muharram has a special significance not only in the history of Islam but also in other religions of the world.
NATO force denies civilian casualties claim
By Xinhua,
Kabul : The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in a statement on Wednesday rejected the claims that ISAF killed 30 civilians in the joint area of eastern Afghan provinces of Nuristan and Kunar.
"Our extensive investigation reveals that the closest air strikes carried out were 43.1 kilometers to the east of villages which media quoted local officials as the scene of event," the statement said.
ISAF therefore rejects these claims as baseless, it said.
Sigh of relief among Lebanese after announcement of Doha accord
By NNN-KUNA,
Beirut : The Lebanese are finally breathing at ease after their majority and opposition representatives announced an accord reached in the six-day Doha-sponsored national dialogue.
In remarks to KUNA, Taleb Salloum said he was overjoyed over the accord, "after the spark of civil war cost hundreds of lives and left many others injured."
"Such agreement would not have been possible without Arab, and more specifically Qatari, support and effort to surmount all obstacles and impediments," he noted.
Iran’s nuclear drive irritates Franco-Syrian ties: Kouchner
By DPA,
Damascus : French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, speaking to reporters from Damascus Sunday, admitted that France and Syria were "not in full agreement" on Iran's nuclear programme.
"We are not in full agreement on how to handle the Iranian nuclear file, but it was very useful to listen to the Syrian point of view on this matter," Kouchner said after meeting his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moallem and President Bashar al-Assad.
UN team visits Bhutto assassination spot
By IANS,
Islamabad : Two members of a UN technical assessment team have visited the site in Rawalpindi where former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in 2007, a media report said Friday.
The UN officials went to the site at Liaquat Bagh Thursday to assess security arrangements in the area ahead of a visit by a three-member UN commission appointed to probe the "facts and circumstances" of Bhutto's assassination, Geo TV reported, citing police sources.
Hamas prepared to accept mid-east peace deal: Carter
By DPA
Jerusalem : The Islamic Hamas movement would be willing to accept a peace treaty with Israel negotiated by President Mahmoud Abbas, if the deal was approved by Palestinians in a referendum, former US president Jimmy Carter said Monday.
Speaking in Jerusalem, Carter said Hamas would accept a peace deal even if it did not agree with some of the terms of the agreement.
Carter met exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in Damascus Friday and Saturday.
Singapore to host First Halal Food Exhibition
Singapore – (IINA) January 13, 2008 – As many as 100 local and foreign companies are expected to display their products at Singapore's First Halal Food Exhibition. The four-day event will begin on January 24 as part of the Singapore Expo. The expo is aimed at capturing a larger slice of the lucrative food industry in the country. The Singapore International Halal Showcase (Sihas) will be organized jointly by the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Adex Communications Pvt. Ltd.
Iraqi soldier kills four US soldiers
By DPA,
Baghdad : An Iraqi soldier Wednesday killed four US soldiers and wounded three others after an altercation west of the town of Mosul, 400 km north of Baghdad.
A security source told DPA that the "Iraqi soldier opened fire on a group of US soldiers after an angry dispute. The Iraqi soldier died in the fire exchange."
The incident increases the number of US soldiers killed in Iraq in November to seven, raising the number of US soldiers who have died since the US-led invasion in 2003 to 4,197.
Chopper crash: Pakistan Taliban claims Sharif was target
Islamabad : The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Friday claimed responsibility for "shooting down" a Pakistan Army helicopter in Naltar valley in Gilgit-Baltistan territory,...
19 policemen injured in NW Pakistan suicide attack
By Xinhua,
ISLAMABAD : A suicide bomber struck a check post in northwestern Pakistan early Monday, injuring at least 19 policemen, two of them critically, police said.
Local TV channels quoted police sources as saying that a suicide bomber tried to ram a mini-truck into the Baraakpul police check-post near Bannu of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) when around 30 security personnel were present in the building.
The suicider blew up himself some 16 meters away from the check-post when security forces opened fire on him.
Assad says peace talks with Israel needs US sponsorship
By SPA,
Dubai, United Arab Emirates : Syrian President Bashar Assad says peace talks with Israel need U.S. sponsorship.
In an interview with several Emirati newspapers that appeared Tuesday, Assad said the talks are still in a preliminary stage and U.S. involvement is needed at a later stage.
Assad, who also said Israel, must return all Syrian land as part of the peace deal, is currently touring the Gulf region.
Israel and Syria have announced that they had resumed peace talks after more than a year of indirect contacts through Turkish mediators.
21 killed in Afghanistan flash floods
By DPA,
Kabul : Flash floods triggered by torrential rains have killed at least 21 people in Afghanistan, officials said Thursday.
The worst affected area was the eastern province of Nangarhar, where the flooding, which began Wednesday night, killing 19 people, said Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, the provincial governor's spokesman.
Eight people were injured in the flooding while a dozen others were missing, he said.
The floods have destroyed thousands of hectares of crops, he added.
US Senate votes for new sanctions on Iran
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Washington: The US Senate voted Friday to impose broader sanctions on Iran targeting the country's domestic industries.
Seven killed as Yemen police clash with Al Qaeda suspects
By DPA,
Sana'a (Yemen) : Two police officers and five suspected Al Qaeda members were killed and six people, including four policemen, were injured in a clash in southeast Yemen Monday, a governor said.
The shootout erupted as police forces raided a house sheltering the suspects in the town of Tarim, some 900 km southeast of the capital Sana'a.
Salem al-Khanbashi, the governor of Hadhramout, told the official Saba news agency that one of the dead officers was a deputy superintendent of Tarim police.
German opposition party rips “criminal” Israeli flotilla attack
By IRNA,
Berlin : Germany's opposition party The Left (Die Linke) on Tuesday lashed out at Israel for what it termed its "criminal" attack on the Gaza peace flotilla.
The head of The Left Gregor Gysi said in a press release that the Israeli military action on the aid ships was "not justified" at all.
According to the Left Party, five Germans were aboard the Marmara, the main passenger boat in the protest flotilla.
A senior official of the party, Christine Buchholz was quoted saying that number included two female German lawmakers, Annette Groth and Inge Hoeger.
Obama calls US commander over Afghan violence
By IANS,
Washington : US President Barack Obama telephoned the top American commander in Afghanistan Saturday to discuss the ongoing violence over the Quran burning.
India, Saudi Arabia to deepen energy partnership
By Gyanendra Kumar Keshri,
New Delhi : With the strengthening of strategic ties, India and Saudi Arabia seek to transform the "buyer-seller" relationship in the...
OCHA: Millions in Need in Somalia
By Prensa Latina
United Nations : More than two million people in Somalia live in a vulnerable situation and are in need of humanitarian assistance, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported.
According to OCHA, the migration of people who flee Mogadiscio to escape armed violence among military men of Union of Islamic Courts and the provisional government backed by Ethiopia troops is also worrying.
Migration in the Somali capital has doubled during the last six months, reaching more than 700,000, OCHA report indicated.
Syrian FM affirms support to Lebanon agreement on solving crisis
By Xinhua,
Damascus : Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem affirmed support to the agreement reached by rival Lebanese parties during their talks in the Qatari capital Doha, the official SANA news agency reported.
Muallem made the remarks when attending the China-Arab Cooperation Forum in the Bahraini capital Manama, saying the deal would put an end to the political crisis in Lebanon.
NATO emphasizes importance of transferring Afghan security to gov”t
By KUNA
Bucharest : The high-level NATO meeting on Afghanistan emphasized the importance of working toward transferring the responsibility for security, development and reconstruction to the Kabul government.
This came in the final communique of the meeting, which concluded here Thursday night. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the NATO Summit.
The communique called on NATO members and organizations participating in the meeting to stand united in fulfilling the pledge they took to assist the Afghan people in their aspirations of a better future.
16 killed in Iraq violence
By IANS,
Baghdad: At least 16 people were killed and 30 injured when two car bombs ripped off a Shiite neighbourhood here Thursday night, Xinhua reported.
Iran ready for talks with world powers: Ahmadinejad
By IANS,
Tehran : Iran is ready to hold talks with world powers over global issues, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Monday, adding "from our point of view, Iran's nuclear issue is over".
Ahmadinejad said: "We are prepared to sit down to hold talks."
He, however, said Iran will neither halt uranium enrichment nor negotiate over its nuclear rights.
"From our point of view, Iran's nuclear issue is over. We continue our work within the framework of global regulations and in close interaction with the International Atomic Energy Agency," he was quoted as saying by ILNA website.
Pakistan will fight until the end: Zardari
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari Saturday said his country was fighting for its "survival" and promised that the ongoing offensive against the Taliban would continue "until the end".
"We are fighting a war for our sovereignty," Zardari said in a late-night television address to the nation. "We will continue this war until the end, and we will win it at any cost."
Egypt’s Morsi may face death penalty
Cairo: Ousted Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi may face death sentence for leaking national security documents to Qatar, state media reported.
"The indictment issued by the...
Pakistan cricketers get nod to play IPL
By Omar Khalid, IANS,
Karachi: Pakistan's cricketers cleared the final hurdle in their way to feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Wednesday when the country's interior ministry Wednesday gave them a clearance to play in India.
A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman told IANS that the board has received intimation from the interior ministry that it has no objection to the players' participation in the IPL.
Pakistan, India to hold 5th round of peace talks on July 21
By KUNA,
Islamabad : Pakistan and India will hold the fifth round of Composite Dialogue Process (CDP) on July 21 in New Delhi to discuss among others Kashmir and trade related issues.
Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir will head the Pakistani side to discuss with his counterpart the segments of "Peace and Security including Confidence Building Measures (CBMs)" and "Jammu and Kashmir", said a foreign office statement.
Both sides, it said, will look into the prospects of a just and peaceful resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
Blast outside Pakistan spy agency kills four
By DPA,
Islamabad : A car bomb exploded Friday outside the office of a Pakistani intelligence agency in the north-western city of Peshawar, killing at least four people, officials said.
Up to 16 people were wounded in the blast that took place in the city's Khyber Road area at around 6:45 a.m., said Abdullah Khan, a duty officer at the emergency department of the state-run Lady Reading Hospital.
"We have so far received four bodies and injured people are still pouring in," Khan said.
7 killed as protests against Khyber-Pakhtoonkhawa turn violent
By IANS,
Islamabad : Seven people were killed and nearly 100 wounded in Abbotabad city as protests against renaming of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) as Khyber-Pakhtoonkhawa turned violent on Monday, police and eyewitnesses said.
The protestors, who are also demanding the creation of a separate province of Hazara, also set the Cantonment Police Station on fire, badly damaging the building, Online news agency reported.
Terror revisited: 87 dead, 200 injured in Peshawar bombing
By IANS,
Peshawar/Islamabad : More than 80 people were killed in Pakistan's worst terror attack this year when a massive bomb blast ripped through a crowded market here Wednesday, hours after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton began a three-day trip to the country, local media reported.
Indonesia Joins UN Peace Mission Exercise In Bangladesh
By Bernama
Jakarta : Indonesia on Sunday sent 40 military personnel to join a UN peacekeeping force exercise in Bangladesh.
The exercise, code-named "Shanti Doot-2", was opened by Bangladeshi Air Force Chief of Staff Vice Marshal Zia Rahman at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT), an institute responsible for handling peace missions, Antara news agency on Tuesday quoted a press statement issued by the Indonesian Military (TNI) Headquarters as saying.
Turkey to defend historical tomb in Syria
Ankara : Turkish President Abdullah Gul Sunday vowed to protect the Suleyman Shah Tomb in Syria if it comes under attack, a media report...
Probe into graft charges against former Bangladesh speaker
By IANS,
Dhaka : The first-ever probe into the financial dealings of Bangladesh's parliament secretariat will be conducted by an 11-member all-party committee constituted by Speaker Abdul Hamid. The body will look into allegations of financial anomalies, misuse of power and wastage of public money against previous speaker Jamiruddin Sircar.
NATO outlines long-term engagement in Afghanistan
Cardiff: Western leaders meeting for a NATO summit in Wales Thursday outlined the long-term engagement in Afghanistan after the end of the NATO-led combat...
GCC Sec-Gen calls for backing up Arab League Darfur
By NNN-KUNA,
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia : Supporting the recently formed Arab League committee for peace in Darfur would help the Qatari-chaired group to bring peace to the troubled Sudanese region, said GCC Secretary General Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah Wednesday.
The statement came to commend the formation of the committee headed by Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jaber Al-Thani. The committee will prepare itself for a meeting to be held in Doha, Qatar, soon.
Doomsday forecaster sees systemic change opportunities in crisis
By IANS,
Dubai : A new economic model comprising positive elements of capitalism and a banking system that is not self-seeking is what is needed to fight the current global financial crisis, according to Toby Birch, investment guru who had predicted the crisis a year back.
Birch, who will be a keynote speaker at the 15th annual World Islamic Banking Conference in Bahrain Nov 23-25, said even in this time of crisis, opportunities for systemic change existed.
Pakistani President vows to jointly fight terrorism with Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : The visiting Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari vowed Tuesday to jointly fight militancy and terrorists with Afghanistan.
"Both countries are fighting together against terrorism promoted by non-state actors," Zardari told newsmen at a joint press conference with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai.
Zardari also emphasized that both countries "will not fall victim to their designs. We will cooperate to control stateless actors trying to create problems."
UAE, France discuss educational cooperation
By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi : French Ambassador to the UAE Alain Azouaou and Vice Chancellor of the UAE University Abdullah Al Khanbashi held discussions Monday to develop academic cooperation.
Mercy pleas of convicted terrorists rejected in Pakistan
Islamabad : In a significant development after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Wednesday lifted the moratorium on death sentences in terrorist cases, President Mamnoon...
Pakistan army kills over 90 militants in tribal region: spokesman
By IRNA
Islamabad : Pakistani security forces on Friday killed over 90 militants in two incidents in the country's tribal region, an army statement said.
The army conducted operations in two different locations of South Waziristan after the militants fired rockets at security forces, the statement said.
"Today at 12:30 pm, a convoy of Security Forces moving on Jandola- Wana Road was fired upon from Chaghmalai with small arms and rockets.
Security Forces retaliated and engaged militants/miscreants with small arms and rockets".
Southwest Pakistan earthquake kills at least 100
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck southwestern Pakistan early on Wednesday morning, destroying homes and killing at least 100 people, local officials reported.
Officials in the Baluchistan Province near the Afghan border expect the death toll to rise.
The quake struck at 4:09 a.m. local time (23:09 GMT Tuesday), 70 km (45 miles) north of Quetta, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Air strikes kill 9 suspected militants in Afghanistan
By Xinhua,
Kabul : Air raids against Taliban fighters in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province left nine insurgents dead on Thursday, deputy provincial police chief Faridullah Khan said.
"The NATO-led force carried out air raids against militants in Hazartak area outside Zabul's provincial capital Qalat this morning killing nine rebels," Khan told Xinhua.
He added bodies of the militants and few of their motorbikes had been left on the ground.
Iftar in an American masjid
Photo feature by Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net
Drive past farm-lands and old houses to arrive at Sharon Masjid or Islamic Center of New England in Sharon, Massachusetts. Nestled among trees it is a beautiful two-story masjid situated on a hill-top. First floor has place for making wudu and bathrooms while the top floor is musalla and also doubles up as a meeting hall.
General Odierno to take over US forces command in Iraq
By DPA,
Washington : General Raymond Odierno begins his third stint in Iraq Tuesday, when he takes over command of US forces there, hoping to build on the successes that have been gained under the troop surge.
Odierno has been credited with implementing the new strategy ordered by President George W. Bush in January 2007, while serving as the deputy commander to General David Petraeus.
Petraeus is leaving the position to become the head of US Central Command, which runs military operations in the Middle East and South Asia, including Afghanistan.
Number of US troops killed in Iraq touches 4,000
Baghdad, March 24 (Xinhua) The US military said Monday a roadside bomb killed four servicemen Sunday night, pushing the total number of US soldiers killed in action in Iraq to 4,000, days after the fifth anniversary of the war.
The military said in a statement that the four died when their vehicle came under a roadside bombing attack in southern Baghdad. One soldier was injured in the incident.
The new casualty figure came to light amid heated debate in the US presidential election campaign on whether the troops should be pulled out soon.
Acid hurled at four Pakistani cops
By IANS,
Islamabad : Four policemen were injured when thieves threw acid at them in Pakistan's Punjab province.
New Zealand frigate to monitor Gulf region
By Xinhua,
Wellington : The New Zealand frigate Te Mana began a five-month deployment in the Gulf region on Sunday, Radio New Zealand reported.
It was the third time the Navy has been sent to the Gulf regionas part of New Zealand's contribution to the international campaign against terrorism.
Te Mana joined a coalition of vessels monitoring shipping activity in the Gulf and started patrolling on Sunday.
Suicide attacks kill 17 in southern Afghanistan
By DPA,
Kabul : A suicide bomber killed 16 people in a crowded market in southern Afghanistan Thursday while another attack in the same region left a police officer dead, officials said.
The bomber struck the marketplace in Deh Rawood, a district in the southern province of Uruzgan, on its busiest day of the week, Juma Gul Hemat, the provincial police chief said.
Summary of Pervez Musharraf’s speech announcing his resignation as president
By IANS,
Islamabad : Following is the summary, as translated from Urdu and posted on the Dawn website, of the speech Pervez Musharraf delivered Monday announcing his resignation as Pakistan's president:
President Pervez Musharraf began his address to the nation at 13.13 PST at the President's House in Islamabad, saying: "Today is a day of an important decision for me."
Pakistan has completed Mumbai attacks probe: Gilani
By IANS,
Islamabad : Pakistan has completed its probe into the Mumbai attacks and would soon share this with India, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said, even as he pulled up the country's envoy to Britain for speaking out of turn on the issue.
"I assure the world, the media and the government and the people of India that the (Indian) dossier (on Mumbai) has been investigated and has been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice and after their approval, I will take you into confidence," Gilani told reporters here Sunday on his return from
the World Economic Forum meeting at Davos.
Sharia-compliant hotels flourishing in Dubai
By IINA,
Dubai : As Dubai's popularity among tourists and business people increases, there is a growing demand for Islamic Sharia-compliant hotels that apply a no-alcohol policy and tailor their services to suit Muslim culture. Some hotel chains follow a detailed set of Islamic rules for operating hotels, while others just adhere to Islam's ban on alcohol owing to local regulations or investor preference. The first major dry hotel in Dubai was the Taj Palace Hotel, which is managed by leading Indian hotel chain Taj and opened nearly a decade ago.
Pakistani Senate Committee summons ex-PM over financial irregularities
By IRNA,
Islamabad : A Senate committee summoned former prime minister Shaukat Aziz to appear before it on August 23 to explain alleged embezzlement of funds in a government-run program.
The three-member sub-committee of the Senate on Social Welfare decided that Shaukat Aziz, who was also finance minister, must explain the irregularities pinpointed in a committee report.
The committee also summoned two former social welfare and special education ministers, Dr. Attiya Inayatullah and Zobaida Jalal as well as senior officials.
14 killed in robbery of Baghdad jewellery shops
By DPA,
Baghdad : An armed robbery in a commercial area in the Iraqi capital resulted in the deaths of 14 people, government sources said Tuesday.
Gunmen robbed 11 shops, including eight jewellery shops, in the district of al-Bayaa in southern Baghdad.
They shot and killed 14 people and planted bombs in several cars near the area, the sources added.
Pakistan successfully test-fires short range missile
Islamabad : Pakistan Friday successfully test-fired its short-range surface-to-surface missile Hatf-IX (Nasr), the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
The test-firing was conducted...
OIC deplores desecrating Quran
By IINA,
Jeddah : A spokesman of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) General Secretariat strongly deplored the action by a US staff sergeant serving in Iraq for using the Holy Quran for target practice. The spokesman, in a statement, said that the action by the soldier was reprehensible and irresponsible and that it could not be condoned under any pretext.
Afghan security forces kill at least 5 suspected militants in Kabul
By Xinhua,
Kabul : Afghan security forces surrounded a hideout of suspected militants attempting to launch attacks in Kabul early Wednesday morning and the ensuing fighting left five militants dead, witnesses and officials said.
Firing erupted around 1 a.m. local time near a house located on the mountain near a traditional garden in western part of the capital, local residents said.
A Xinhua reporter on the spot saw ambulances rushed to the area for carrying bodies.
Death toll rises to 35 in Iraq wedding suicide attacks
By Xinhua,
Baghdad : The death toll rose to 35 in double suicide blast which struck a wedding convoy Thursday evening in northeast of Baghdad, and 76 others were wounded, police said.
The two suicide bombers, one of them a female, blew themselves off as a wedding convoy passed by a main street in the town of Balad Ruz, 30 km east of Baquba, the capital city of the restive Diyala province.
Police said the first female bomber blew herself up in front of the wedding convoy, and the second bomber went off as people nearby gathered to help the wounded.
Nahid submits draft of National Education Policy – 2009 to PM
By NNN-BSS,
Dhaka, Bangladesh : The draft of the National Education Policy-2009, formulated to make the country's existing education system modern, time befitting and scientific, was submitted to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid formally handed over the Education Policy to the Prime Minister at her Jatiya Sangsad office here.
Education Secretary Ataur Rahman and Additional Education Secretary Razia Begum, among others, were present on the occasion.
Triple blasts at Syrian ministry kill five
By IANS,
Damascus: At least five people were killed and 23 others injured after triple blasts targeted the main gate of Syria's interior ministry in Damascus Wednesday evening, Xinhua reported.
Militant leader killed in Pakistan’s tribal area
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : A militant leader was killed in Pakistan's tribal area on Wednesday, local TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.
The leader named Haji Namdar was killed in fierce firing in his own headquarters in Khyber Agency, said the report.
Haji Namdar is the chief of a religious group called "Amar Bil Maroof Wa Nahe Anelmunkir" close to Taliban, according to local media reports.
Islamic world undergoing dramatic transformations: UAE
By IANS/WAM,
Tehran : The Islamic World is undergoing major transformations that require both governments and parliaments to think out of the box and adopt...
Missile strike kills three in Pakistan’s tribal region
By IRNA,
Islamabad : At least three people were killed and four others injured in a missile strike at a house in Pakistan's tribal region on Sunday, local tribesmen said.
It is the second missile strike in two days in Pakistani tribal region and the local tribesmen said the missile was fired from a U.S drone.
The missile hit a house in North Waziristan tribal region, killing three persons and injuring four others, local tribesmen said.
Police tear gas opposition rally in Pakistan
By IRNA
Islamabad : Police fired tea gas and used batons to disperse a rally of opposition groups in the southwestern city of Quetta on Saturday, which are calling for elections boycott.
The All Parties Democratic Alliance (APDM) had organized the rally to ask the people not to cast vote in the February 16 elections.
The police arrested scores of APDM activists.
The demonstrators also pelted stones at the police.
Attacks originated from Pakistani soil, reiterates US
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Reiterating that Mumbai terror attacks originated from Pakistani soil, the United States has said its focus was on diplomacy to try to bring to justice those responsible and to prevent any further attacks.
Dismissing reports in Syrian newspapers blaming "Zionists or Israel or the United States" for the Mumbai attacks as "Dis-or misinformation", State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, Tuesday said: "It's just not true. Just not true. We know who is responsible."
Israeli leaders welcome Saudi peace proposal
By DPA,
New York : Israeli President Shimon Peres and Deputy Prime Minister Tzipi Livni publicly endorsed Saudi Arabia's peace initiative to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at a UN General Assembly meeting Wednesday.
Peres went out of his way by addressing Saudi King Abdullah directly during assembly's debate on how values of religion and peace can help settle political and armed conflict. But while Peres and Livni stressed the importance of the Saudi initiative, the king did not mention it in his address.
Iran ready to ease visa requirements
Tehran : A senior Iranian official Friday said Iran is ready to revoke visa requirements for visitors from other countries if the latter do...
Iran eyes n-fuel to power ships
By IANS,
Tehran : Iran will use nuclear fuel to power its merchant vessels, an Iranian MP said Tuesday.
Russian gets 25 years in jail for smuggling medicine into UAE
By RIA Novosti
Abu-Dhabi : A court in the United Arab Emirates has given a Russian national 25 years behind bars for smuggling and illegally selling medicine, the Gulf News newspaper said on Monday.
A Dubai Court sentenced the 40-year-old Russian national to life imprisonment, or 25 years in jail according to UAE laws, and fined him $13,600. He had been found guilty of smuggling medicine into the country and organizing its subsequent sale.
Israel ready to soften blockade on Gaza: EU
By DPA,
Luxembourg : Israel is ready to soften its blockade on the Gaza Strip by opening up to two land crossings into Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory, European Union (EU) diplomats said Monday.
Israel has been under increasing international pressure to reverse its embargo policy since late May, when its navy raided a flotilla bringing in aid to Gaza, killing nine activists.
25 killed, 55 injured in Pakistan bombings
By IANS,
Islamabad : Twenty-five people were killed and 55 injured in Pakistan's Quetta city Wednesday when a bomb went off and then a suicide bomber blew himself up, Xinhua reported.
Taliban deputy chief announces new offensive in Afghanistan
By DPA,
Kabul : The deputy of the Afghan Taliban's supreme leader Mullah Omar announced Wednesday that the militants would launch a new "strong and robust" operation in Afghanistan to counter more than 25,000 additional US and NATO forces due to arrive in the country this year.
"As the US and NATO wants to send more troops to Afghanistan, the Afghans too sense the need for a strong and robust operation to counter the new forces," Mullah Brodar Akhund, the Taliban movement's number two leader, said in a statement posted on their website.
Post-traumatic stress diagnosed in 40,000 US troops
By KUNA,
Washington : US military figures show nearly 40,000 diagnosed cases of post-traumatic stress disorder among U.S. troops sent to Iraq and Afghanistan, since 2003, according to data released on Tuesday.
The figures surged nearly 47 percent in 2007, following President George W. Bush's surge in troop levels in Iraq and extended Army tours from 12 to 15 months.
The statistics, released by the Army, showed the number of new PTSD cases formally diagnosed at U.S. military facilities climbed to 13,981 last year from 9,549 in 2006.
20 centuries old piers unearthed in Turkey
By Xinhua,
Ankara : Two ancient piers belonging to the first centry A.D. have been discovered by archaeologists in the ancient city of Aphrodisias in western Turkey, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported Thursday.
The nearly 2,000 year-old piers were discovered by a team of archaeologists led by Roland Smith, a professor of the Oxford University, during their excavations in the ancient city located near Karacasu town in Aydin province.
Palestinians protest against Israeli measures in Jerusalem
Ramallah: Clashes broke out Friday between Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers in several West Bank towns when hundreds rallied in Gaza against the recent...
Germany seeks probe into Palestinian minister’s death
Berlin: The German government Thursday called for a complete investigation into the death of Palestinian cabinet minister Ziad Abu Ein, who died Wednesday in...
British MPs to defuse Muslim-Jewish campus tensions
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS,
London : A group of British MPs began a tour of some of Britain’s biggest universities Monday to promote better relations between Muslim and Jewish students.
The tour is part of a campaign by the Coexistence Trust, which brings together Jewish and Muslim politicians in Britain, to address campus tensions flowing from the Middle East conflict.
The conflict has led to Jewish and Muslim students in Britain leaving hostile messages on internet sites, putting up inflammatory posters on campuses and Muslim youth joining extremist groups.
28 per cent of Malaysians yet to register as voters, says Election Commission
By NNN-Bernama,
Kuala Lumpur : Some 4.39 million Malaysians, or about 28 per cent of those above the age of 21, have yet to register as voters as at the end of last year, says Election Commission (EC) Deputy Chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar.
Of the total, the central state of Selangor had the highest number of unregistered voters at 787,000 followed by Johor state (605,000), Perak (526,000) and Sarawak (473,000), he told Bernama here Monday.
Israel not to release Palestinian prisoners
Jerusalem : Israel's chief peace negotiator Tzipi Livni announced Thursday that Israel will not release the fourth group of Palestinian prisoners due to Palestinians'...
Resistance Kills 11 Iraqi Soldiers
By Prensa Latina,
Baghdad : Insurgents killed 11 Iraqi Army soldiers in an ambush near the northern city of Mosul, police sources reported on Tuesday.
The soldiers were taking part in a large scale offensive launched in that area by US and Iraqi troops when the resistance attacked their vehicle.
The ambush was staged near Baaj locality, in Ninive province, and according to the media it was one of the deadliest attacks against the armed forces in the last few weeks.
According to the military, about 1,300 alleged members of the resistance have been arrested.
Pakistani jailbreak: senior officials transferred
By IANS,
Islamabad : Four senior officials have been transferred after Taliban militants stormed a jail in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and freed about 400 prisoners, a media report said Tuesday.
Gaddafi’s wife in talks to buy Croatian resort
By IANS/AKI,
Zagreb : The wife of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is negotiating to buy a tourist resort in Croatia, a media report said.