Netanyahu slams Erdogan’s words on Israel’s Gaza offensive as ‘anti-Semitic’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned as “anti-Semitic” Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s criticism of the latest military operation in Gaza, Israeli newspaper Hareetz reported on July 20.

Netanyahu told U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in a telephone conversation that Erdogan’s recent remarks, accusing Israel of massacring Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and carrying out war crimes “worse than Hitler” were anti-Semitic, adding that they “desecrated the memory of the Holocaust.”

Pakistan fully capable of defending itself, PM Nawaz

LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday gave an address on the occasion of Youm-i-Takbeer and said that Pakistan is fully capable of defending itself against any possible aggressive designs, DawnNews reported.

The premier congratulated the nation on the event and said that the country’s nuclear assets were in safe hands, adding that it was for peaceful purposes.

India visit a success, insist Sharif aides

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned to the federal capital on Tuesday evening where he was greeted by a volley of criticism from the media, which was up in arms that he had not mentioned Kashmir during his visit to India while he had been greeted by the T word (terrorism).

However, it did not take long for the prime minister’s senior aides to jump into action and address the criticism. They tried hard to convince many that the meeting had been a success.

Defiant PM Erdogan on tense trip to Germany

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged not to take a step back on his decision to visit Cologne where he will gather almost 20,000 Turkish supporters in the run-up to the presidential elections in August.“Some say ‘Well, my honorable Prime Minister, it would be good if you don’t go to Germany. Do not go.

On Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Last Day at Work, a Cabinet Meeting, Many Farewells

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will chair a cabinet meeting, meet his staff and attend elaborate farewells on his last day at work today as he prepares to demit office on Saturday, a day after the results of the general election are announced.

His last engagement at the South Block, his office of 10 years, is a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, in which the government is expected to clear Foreign Direct Investment in the pharma sector.

Dr Singh, 81, had announced earlier this year that he would not seek a third term should the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) secure a third successive win.

Concerted efforts needed to fight terrorism: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said terrorism was not a problem restricted to particular regions of the country, adding that concerted efforts were required to combat the menace.

The premier made these remarks during a visit to the Interior Ministry where he also reviewed the prospects of the constitution of a new force to tackle terrorists, DawnNews reported.

Prime Minister Sharif said the state would ensure the security of the citizens and would employ all possible measures for the purpose.

Sikh delegation told to remove turbans at Rome airport

NEW DELHI: Delhi's gurdwara management committee president Manjeet Singh GK and other members of a Sikh delegation were not cleared to board a flight from Rome after they refused to take off their turbans at the airport security check on Tuesday.

Manjeet Singh, who is also Delhi chief of Akali Dal (Badal), told TOI that the delegation had offered to let the staff touch their turbans and run a metal detector over it, but the Italian security insisted on them taking the turbans off.

LoC attack: PM Nawaz summons emergency session

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif has summoned an emergency meeting with the foreign ministry and other high-ranked security officials over the Indian attack on the Pakistani soldiers at the Line of Control (LoC) Thursday, Geo News reported.

According to the sources, the meeting will review the strained situation that has emerged between Pakistan and India along with the Indian allegations after the LoC attack.

As an Indian, I don't want Narendra Modi as my PM: Amartya Sen

New Delhi: Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has come out strongly against Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP poll panel chief Narendra Modi saying he would not like to see Modi as the Prime Minister of India.

Speaking exclusively to CNN-IBN Deputy Editor Sagarika Ghose, Sen said, "As an Indian citizen I don't want Modi as my PM, he has not done enough to make minorities feel safe."

As an Indian, I don't want Narendra Modi as my PM: Amartya Sen

New Delhi: Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has come out strongly against Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP poll panel chief Narendra Modi saying he would not like to see Modi as the Prime Minister of India.

Speaking exclusively to CNN-IBN Deputy Editor Sagarika Ghose, Sen said, "As an Indian citizen I don't want Modi as my PM, he has not done enough to make minorities feel safe."

No relief for Sajjan Kumar from Delhi High Court

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed Congress leader Sajjan Kumar's plea challenging framing of murder and rioting charges against him in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case relating to the killing of six people in Sultanpuri area here.

Justice Suresh Kait had reserved the order after hearing all the parties in the case. The court, which was to pronounce its order on April 29, had deferred it saying further hearing is required in the case.

Sajjan Kumar contested the trial court order, which in July 2010 framed charges against five accused, including him, for the murder of six people after the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.

KP governor calls on PM Nawaz

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Engineer Shaukatullah Khan called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday to discuss the law and order situation of KP province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), DawnNews reported.

According to DawnNews sources, the KP governor met with PM Nawaz in Islamabad. During the meeting, matters pertaining to the law and order situation of KP province were discussed.

Turkish PM urges ‘so-called’ new rulers of Egypt to release Morsi

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has again slammed the military overthrow of elected Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, calling for his “immediate” release.

“Any attitude that can drag [Egypt] into confrontation should be avoided. We expect that all politicians, Morsi and the prime minister [Hisham Qandil] in the first instance, will be immediately released,” Erdogan said today during the opening of a new metro line in Istanbul.Erdogan also raised his rhetoric against the countries that have shied away from describing the takeover as a “coup.”

Indian President, PM Condemn Bomb Blast At Bodh Gaya

NEW DELHI:Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh have condemned the series of bomb blast that took place at Buddhist's Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya on Sunday.

Pranab described the blasts as "a senseless act of violence targeting innocent pilgrims and monks" who had gathered to worship at the temple dedicated to the apostle of peace, Goutama Buddha.

Pak Prime Minister arrives in Beijing on five-day visit

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif arrived in China Wednesday morning on a five-day official visit, his first foreign trip since his party came to power in the May 11 general elections.

Sharif was accompanied by Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, as well as Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatimi flew in a special Pakistan Air Force plane.

Sharif, Singh likely to meet in September

BRUNEI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are likely to meet in September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the premier’s Special Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Tuesday.

Aziz made the statement after a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Brunei today.

Sujatha Singh to be next Foreign Secretary; name cleared by PM's office

Sujatha Singh, currently India's envoy to Germany, will be the next Foreign Secretary following an approval of her appointment by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, ending months of speculation on who will head the foreign services.

59-year-old Ms Singh, a 1976 batch IFS officer, was a close contender for the top job along with India's Ambassador to China, S Jaishankar, who is a batch junior to her. Jaishankar's name was doing the rounds for the post because of his excellent service record, particularly as envoy to China.

PM, Sonia flag off train connecting Banihal in Jammu and Qazigund in Kashmir

BANIHAL, J&K: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday flagged off the first train connecting Banihal in Jammu region with Qazigund in Kashmir Valley.

The newly constructed station here, 125 km from summer capital Srinagar, was decked up with flowers and garlands to receive the VVIPs for flagging off the first train which will pass through 11 km tunnel through Pir Panchal range.

The eight-coach train carrying school children and officials of IRCON and Railways reached Qazigund in 25 minutes.

Manmohan Singh condemns 'cowardly attack' on armymen in Srinagar

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday condemned the militant attack in Srinagar in which five army personnel were killed, and said the "cowardly attack" would not deter the security forces engaged in bringing peace and order to the Kashmir Valley.

Six people were injured in the attack which took place when militants opened fire on an army convoy on the outskirts of the city ahead of the prime minister's visit to Jammu and Kashmir.

Musharraf to be tried under Article 6 for treason: PM Nawaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif dropped the strongest hint on Monday to file a written request before the Supreme Court to try former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf for treason under Article 6 of the Constitution.

It is pertinent to mention that if convicted, Musharraf can face a possible death penalty or life imprisonment.

Addressing the National Assembly (NA), Nawaz Sharif said that the former president had committed treason by abrogating the Constitution and he should be tried under the law.