Qatar power transfer seen as historic move in Arab world

The smooth and voluntary transfer of  power by HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani to HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad  al-Thani is unprecedented in the history of the Arab world, particularly the Gulf region,  Dr Mohamed al-Misfar, professor of political science at Qatar University, said yesterday in a comment on Qatar TV.

He said he had seen that there was a consensus among many politicians, sociologists, mediapersons and university professors in the Gulf region that HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad is an amiable and much loved personality. He also enjoys a deep perspective in discussing all issues of the area.

Israel warns Russia over Syria arms delivery

Israel has said it will act if Russia delivers promised anti-aircraft missiles to its ally Syria, in an apparent allusion to another air raid on the neighbouring country.

Moshe Yaalon, Israeli defence minister, issued his warning on Tuesday shortly after a senior official in Moscow said the Russian government reserved the right to provide Syria with state-of-the-art S-300 air defence missiles

Acid thrown on three women in Multan

MULTAN: Two people have thrown acid on three women, a mother and two daughters, in village Nauranga on the outskirts of Multan. Police said that they have arrested one suspect and the injured were shifted to Nishtar Hospital Multan.

According to police, Altaf and Naveed had some enmity with Aziza Mai and the accused wanted to take revenge from the woman.

“On Tuesday morning they went to her house and threw acid on her,” said police.

Saudi Arabia calls for strong stand against terrorism

Saudi Arabia condemned the bombings in Boston and in Iraqi cities recently, stressing the need for the international community to take strong stand against terrorist attacks.

“The international community is required to take a determined stand against all acts of violence and terror whatever might their source be and bring an end to the dastardly acts that target innocent people with the least consideration of humanitarian values,” Minister of Culture and Information Abdul Aziz Khoja said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency yesterday.

PM Fayyad set to quit: Palestinian official

RAMALLAH: Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has prepared a letter of resignation which he will submit to president Mahmud Abbas on Thursday, a senior Palestinian official said.

Abbas and Fayyad are known to have been at loggerheads over a raft of issues, including the resignation of the Palestinian Authority's finance minister, which Abbas refused to accept but which was agreed by Fayyad, a US-educated economist.

Hamas cracking down on 'inappropriate' hairstyles, says rights group

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories (AFP) - Hamas security forces in Gaza have been rounding up young men and forcing them to get haircuts on grounds of inappropriate hairstyles, a rights group has charged.

Some of the youths have even been beaten for styling their hair in a way deemed unacceptable to Gaza's ruling Islamist movement, or wearing low-hung trousers, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights said on Sunday.

Bahrain denies Iran mediation request

Manama: Bahrain’s foreign minister has denied reports that he had requested Algeria to mediate between his country and Iran.

“A brother does not mediate between his brother and a foreigner,” Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa was quoted as saying when he was asked about the tension between Bahrain and Iran and the chances of Manama requesting Algiers to mediate with Tehran.

“All countries can however convey Bahrain’s position to Iran so that the facts on the ground are obvious,” he said.

Saudi Arabia arrests 18 suspected spies

The Saudi authorities have arrested 18 suspected spies, including an Iranian and a Lebanese, on charges of espionage for a foreign country, the interior ministry said.

"Sixteen Saudis, an Iranian and a Lebanese were arrested in co-ordinated and simultaneous operations in four regions of the kingdom," including the capital Riyadh and Mecca, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.