Turkey, US in row over Erdogan’s remarks on Israel

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s strong-worded criticism against Israel and the United States over the former’s military operations in Gaza has transformed into a diplomatic spat between Ankara and Washington, with Erdogan calling for the U.S. to be “self-critical” over its Israel policy.

“If America is still saying that ‘Israel is using its right to self-defense’ then it should be critical of itself. It’s America who is offensive,” Erdogan told TGRT on July 20 in an interview.

Five NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan - officials

Five NATO soldiers were killed in an incident in southern Afghanistan, coalition officials said Tuesday, without giving the cause of the deaths or releasing the nationalities of the victims.

US condemns Karachi airport attack; offers help with probe

WASHINGTON: Condemning the terrorist attack on Karachi's Jinnah International Airport, the United States on Monday offered Pakistan its help in investigating the incident on the country's largest airport.

“(We) join the Pakistani people in condemning this attack. We have offered assistance to the relevant Pakistani authorities in investigating this crime,” Deputy Spokesperson at the State Department Marie Harf said, while wishing the injured speedy recovery and condoling with families of the victims.

Two arrested for throwing objects at White House

Washington:  The US Secret Service Thursday arrested two men for throwing objects at the White House, the perimeter around which was locked down for an hour as a precaution.

The suspects were identified as Evan J. Graham and Vaughn Greenbrier Lerriche, according to NBC television.

Graham threw over the north fence of the presidential mansion an object that looked like a cassette tape and Lerriche threw various papers over the south fence.

Musharraf, Osama doc to be released soon and sent abroad, claims Pak politician

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has assured the United States that former president retired General Pervez Musharraf will soon be released and allowed to go abroad.

The claim was made by former interior minister and a leader of the All Pakistan Muslim League Mian Zahid Sarfaraz.

Addressing a news conference on Sunday, Sarfaraz said that Sharif and US Secretary of State John Kerry had discussed the release of Musharraf and Dr Shakil Afridi, who had allegedly helped the US trace Osama bin Laden's hideout in Abbottabad.

Zawahri vows Al Qaeda to free Aafia, Guantanamo inmates

DUBAI: Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri said the group would spare no effort to free Aafia Siddiqui as well as the hunger striking inmates at Guantanamo Bay, according to an audio recording posted on the Internet on Wednesday.

“The (hunger) strike by our brothers at Guantanamo unmasks the true ugly face of (the United States of) America,” Zawahri said in an audio recording posted on an Islamist website and whose authenticity could not be verified.

Obama hosts Ramzan dinner at White House

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama saluted Muslim Americans on Thursday for their contributions in helping build the United States as business entrepreneurs, technology innovators and pioneers in medicine.

Obama spoke at a White House dinner he hosted to celebrate the Islamic holy month of Ramzan. The meal, or iftar, breaks the day of fasting when Muslim families and communities eat together after sunset.

US denies "rumours" of nuclear energy talks with Pakistan

The United States has flatly denied "rumours" from Islamabad that it had discussed the possibility of civil nuclear energy cooperation with Pakistan, but said it was supportive of Islamabad's efforts with its energy problems.

"We'd seen those rumours, but I can confirm there was no discussion of civilian nuclear technology," State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell told reporters Wednesday when asked about such reports from Islamabad citing official source.

Kerry arrives in India on three-day visit

US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in New Delhi on Sunday to participate in the fourth round of Indo-US strategic dialogue, even as the US announced to invest $100 million in India's burgeoning clean energy sector.

Kerry, 69, accompanied by a high-level delegation arrived here on a three-day visit, the first one after assuming the charge of the state department earlier this year.

No US-Taliban talks scheduled: State Department

The United States has not scheduled talks with the Taliban, the State Department said, after reports that discussions with the Afghan insurgent group could begin this week in Qatar.

"Reports of a meeting being scheduled or on the books aren't accurate," spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters, saying Washington had "never confirmed" the date and place of any specific meeting.

US welcomes new PM Nawaz

WASHINGTON: The United States welcomed the swearing-in of Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday as a “significant milestone” in the nation’s democracy.

“We look forward to working with him and the newly democratically elected government of Pakistan,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

“The United States stands with all Pakistanis in welcoming this historic, largely peaceful and transparent transfer of civilian power, which is a significant milestone in Pakistan’s democratic progress.”

NIA team reaches Chhattisgarh, begins probe into Naxal attack

New Delhi: A high-level team of officials of anti-terror agency NIA on Monday reached the deadly Naxal attack site in Chhattisgarh and began its probe to find out possible lapses on the part of the central forces or the state government.

Ahead of its arrival, Minister of State for Home RPN Singh told reporters, “Action will be taken if anyone is found guilty.”

Syrian opposition split as peace moves forge ahead

International efforts to end the conflict in Syria accelerate on Monday with key talks in Brussels and Paris, amid a push for a new peace conference despite growing divisions within the Syrian opposition.

US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet his Russian and French counterparts in Paris to advance an initiative for an international conference on ending the more than two-year conflict.

One dead after fresh Myanmar anti-Muslim riots, says police

OAKKAN, Myanmar: One person was killed and nine injured after mobs attacked mosques and burned homes in central Myanmar, authorities said on Wednesday, in the latest religious unrest to erupt in the nation.

Riots sparked on Tuesday in the small town of Oakkan, around 100 km north of Yangon after a woman accidentally knocked into a young monk, authorities said, amid acute Buddhist-Muslim tensions following a series of attacks in March.

"A man died in hospital of his injuries this morning," a police official told AFP.

Death anniversary of Urdu fiction writer A. Hameed

The 2nd death anniversary of well known Urdu fiction writer A.Hameed is being observed today (Monday‚ April 29).

Abdul Hameed‚ known as A Hameed‚ was born in 1928 in Amritsar (British India).

He passed his secondary education in Amritsar‚ passed intermediate in Pakistan as a private candidate and join Radio Pakistan as an assistant script editor. After working some years for Radio Pakistan‚ he joined Voice of America.

Manchester United secure 20th league title beating Aston Villa 3-0

Manchester: Manchester United won their 20th league title on Monday when a Robin van Persie hat-trick led them to 3-0 victory over Aston Villa and gave them an unassailable 16-point lead over last season's Premier League champions Manchester City.

Van Persie's goals after two, 13 and 33 minutes - the second among the best scored at Old Trafford - propelled Alex Ferguson's side to victory in front of a jubilant home crowd.

US asked Erdogan to delay Gaza trip: Kerry

The U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said today he told Turkey’s prime minister during a meeting in Istanbul to delay his planned visit to Gaza to because of the “critical timing,” but added that it was Erdogan’s decision to make or postpone the visit.

“We have expressed to [Recep Tayyip Erdogan] that we really think that [the visit] would be better delayed and shouldn’t take place at this point for many different reasons. Of course the prime minister will make his own decision on that,” Kerry told reporters in Istanbul, adding that the issue would be further discussed during Erdogan’s upcoming trip to Washington.

Erdogan had been expected to visit Gaza this month but postponed it until he travels to Washington to meet U.S. President Barack Obama on May 16.

Russia seeks to underpin Afghan security after NATO pullout

MOSCOW: Russia wants to play a role in keeping Afghanistan stable after the withdrawal of most NATO combat troops by maintaining government military hardware on Afghan soil, a senior military official said on Wednesday.

Follow up:

In a meeting with foreign military attaches in Moscow, Sergei Koshelev underscored that Russia is worried about threats to its security after the pullout of most foreign forces from Afghanistan, which borders ex-Soviet states in Central Asia.

“We cannot fail to be concerned by the danger of the restoration of a regime on Afghan territory that would foster the spread of terrorism, drug trafficking and instability,” said Koshelev, the Russian military’s point man for foreign ties.