LHC orders govt to produce anti-drone activist on Feb 20

ISLAMABAD: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday ordered the government to produce an anti-drone activist — who was apparently detained by the country's intelligence agencies — at a hearing on Feb 20, his lawyer said.

Kareem Khan was picked up from his home on the outskirts of Islamabad on Feb 5, according to his legal team, just days before he was due to testify before European parliamentarians.

Islamist group prays for earthquake in Sochi during Winter Olympics

SOCHI, RUSSIA: A militant Islamist group has urged followers to pray for an earthquake in Sochi during the Winter Olympics to avenge Muslims who died there fighting "Russian infidels".

The appeal was made by a local branch of the Caucasus Emirate, a group which is waging an insurgency for an Islamist state in Russia's North Caucasus and called on supporters last year to attack the Games.

Turkish government working on anti-corruption reform: Minister

The government is working on an anti-corruption reform, the Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said yesterday, continuing his mission to soothe investors’ concerns regarding political transparency and stability in Turkey.

16,400 Russians to perform Haj this year, says ministry

Russian pilgrims praised the Saudi authorities for their constant efforts to develop and upgrade facilities for Haj pilgrims.

Elias Umakhanov, vice president of the Haj Council of Russian Federation, said it made it easy for them to perform the rituals at the holy sites.

Umakhanov, who is on a visit to the Kingdom, hailed the public transport system between Makkah and Madinah, the train service at the holy sites and the infrastructure projects, Haj Ministry officials said.

US Ambassador Nancy Powell to meet Modi on February 13

US Ambassador Nancy Powell has sought a meeting with Narendra Modi which will take place on Thursday in Gandhinagar, signalling an end to America's boycott of the BJP leader after nearly nine years.

Powell apparently wants to discuss with the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate issues related to the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and his vision for the country, sources said.

They said the Ambassador's request for meeting has been accepted by Modi and exact time and date are being firmed up.

Iran slams Pakistan over border guards abduction

TEHRAN: Iran on Sunday denounced what it called Pakistan's inability to secure its own borders after five Iranian soldiers were kidnapped and taken into its eastern neighbour by extremists.

“We are unhappy with the Pakistani government over the abduction of our guards and their transfer to Pakistan,” Fars news agency reported quoted police chief Esmail Ahmadi-Moghadam as saying.

Jaish-ul Adl, the rebel group formed in 2012 whose name in Arabic means Army of Justice, has said it was behind the kidnapping in Iran's restive southeast province of Sistan-Baluchestan.

Roadside bomb kills eight Afghan soldiers: official

KABUL: A roadside bomb ripped through an Afghan army vehicle in southwestern Afghanistan on Sunday and killed eight soldiers, officials said.

The vehicle was hit in the Dilaram district of Farah province, said defence ministry spokesman General Zahir Azimi.

Mohammad Sarwar Sebat, the governor of neighbouring Nimroz province, told AFP the soldiers were transporting ammunition to Farah from their base in Nimroz when the blast struck them.

Govt’s committee waiting for Taliban’s response

ISLAMABAD: The government negotiators holding talks with the Taliban are anxiously waiting for a reply from the leadership of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan to the conditions set by them.“We have put two conditions — talks will be held within the parameters of the Constitution and their scope will be limited to insurgency-affected areas of the tribal belt,” a member of the government’s committee told Dawn.He said now the ball is in the Taliban’s court and the future of peace negotiations, which began on Thursday, would be determined by their response.

Khuzdar graves are of missing persons, concedes minister

ISLAMABAD: Expressing serious concern over the discovery of mass graves in Balochistan, provincial Health Minister Rahmat Saleh Baloch claimed on Saturday that all the decomposed and mutilated bodies found in Tootak area of Khuzdar district were of those who had been missing since long.“This is intolerable and a cause of serious consternation, especially among the youths losing all hopes fast,” the minister said while talking to Dawn.

More children dying in Afghan violence, says UN report

KABUL:The number of children killed and wounded in Afghanistan's war jumped by 34 per cent last year as the Taliban stepped up attacks across the country and continued to lay thousands of roadside bombs, the United Nations said Saturday.Overall civilian casualties were up by 14 per cent, reversing 2012's downward trend and making 2013 one of the deadliest years of the 12-year war for civilians, the UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan said in a report.

Shutdown in Karachi on MQM’s call

A complete shutdown of the city was being observed on Saturday on the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's 'appeal' to observe a day of mourning across Sindh against extra-judicial killings of its party members, DawnNews reported.Businesses, commercial centres and shops were shut in most parts of the country's financial capital.

Govt negotiators looking at TTP demand to meet PM, COAS, DG ISI

ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Pervez Rashid on Friday said the government committee was taking into consideration the demand by the Taliban committee to meet the prime minister, army chief and director general Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), DawnNews reported.

Speaking to media representatives, Rashid said the government was awaiting recommendations from its negotiators on the demand put forth by the Taliban committee, adding that whatever recommendations are brought forward would be facilitated and implemented by the government.

TTP negotiators authorised to agree on ceasefire: sources

ISLAMABAD: The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has given its negotiators the authority to agree on a ceasefire if the government agrees to halt troop deployment, DawnNews quoted sources as saying.

The authority was delegated to the negotiating body headed by Maulana Samiul Haq in a contact between members of the group with Qari Shakeel, who is heading the nine-member monitoring committee of the TTP.

At least 22 killed in Nigeria attack

At least 22 people were Thursday found dead in an attack in Nigeria's Plateau state, a security source said.

The security source, who declined to be named, told Xinhua that he counted 22 bodies with over 10 houses razed down by attackers at Mavo in Wase local government area of southern part of the state.

He said the gunmen stormed the villages at about 2 a.m. Thursday.

Treason case: Court resumes hearing, Musharraf fails to appear

ISLAMABAD: The special court constituted to try former military ruler Pervez Musharraf for treason resumed the case's hearing on Friday with the retired general failing to appear before it, DawnNews reported.

The three-judge court, headed by Justice Faisal Arab of the Sindh High Court, began the proceedings.

During the proceedings, Musharraf's lawyers filed requests in the court to not issue any directives before any decisions on the ex-army strongman's plea for exemption and other miscellaneous petitions have been announced.

Iraqi Parliament speaker in bid for ‘joint Iraq decision’ on oil exports to Turkey

Iraqi Parliament Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi has underlined the importance of reaching a joint decision by the federal government in Baghdad and the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on the controversial issue of planned pipe oil exports to Turkey.

Al-Nujaifi described the aim of his visit as being to normalize bilateral relations between the two neighbors, adding that “he had succeeded in bringing the views of the two countries closer to each other.”

Bomb defused in Karachi’s Baldia Town

KARACHI: A two kilogram bomb planted by unidentified men was defused on Friday in the Baldia Town area of Karachi, DawnNews reported.

The bomb was planted next to a shop near Baldia's Chandni Chowk.

Moreover, in a targeted operation led by Rangers in the city's Sohrab Goth area, at least eight suspects, including three alleged members of a banned organisation were arrested from the Hasan Noman Colony.

Cracks appear in Balochistan ruling coalition

QUETTA: Balochistan’s coalition government, led by Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, is facing a new dilemma as differences have emerged between the allied parties on the issue of empowerment; and PML-N ministers and advisers and those in the allied parties have decided to quit the provincial cabinet.

A joint meeting of the PML-N and its allied PML-Q ministers and MPAs was held here on Thursday night in which it was observed that the PML-N and its allied parties’ members have not been given enough powers to run their departments.

“The meeting decided that all ministers and advisers of PML-N and its allied parties will resign from the cabinet,” Akbar Askani, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Fisheries, said after the meeting. All ministers and advisers of both the parties would resign from the provincial cabinet en masse.

‘TTP Peshawar chief’ owns up to Tuesday’s sectarian attack

MIRAMSHAH: A TTP militant claiming to be the Peshawar district chief of the banned group has accepted responsibility for Tuesday evening’s suicide attack on a hotel that left nine people dead.

Although the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan had denied its involvement in the explosion at Pak Hotel in Koocha Risaldar locality of the old city area, Mufti Hasaan Swati told reporters on Wednesday that the bombing had been carried out to avenge an attack on a seminary in Rawalpindi in November.

“It was carried out to avenge the death of innocent students of Madressah Taleemul Quran.”

Egypt's Sisi to run for president, says Kuwaiti newspaper

CAIRO: Egyptian army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has said he will run for president, a Kuwaiti newspaper reported on Thursday.

Al Seyassah quoted Sisi as saying that he had no alternative but to meet the demands of the Egyptian people for him to run in the elections.

“I will not reject the demand,” said Sisi, who is seen as a decisive figure that can ease political turmoil that has hit Egypt's economy hard. “I will present this to the Egyptian people to renew confidence through free voting.”

Taliban commander, three guards gunned down in Waziristan

PESHAWAR: Unidentified gunmen opened fire on a vehicle on MIramshah-Mirali road in Pir Kallay area of North Waziristan tribal region killing all its occupants, who were later identified as a local Taliban commander and his bodyguards.

Security sources told Dawn.com that the assailants fled from the scene after carrying out the attack.

Those killed in the attack were identified by locals as Shafiq, a Taliban commander, and his three guards, according to the security sources.

US warns Russia Olympics of 'toothpaste' bomb

The United States has issued a warning to airports and to some airlines flying to Russia for the Olympics to watch for toothpaste tubes that could hold ingredients to make a bomb on a plane, a senior US security official said.

The official on Thursday did not say whether any specific intelligence led to the warning, which was not issued to the public, according to Reuters news agency.

ABC News first reported the warning.

At least 41 militants killed in Egypt

Cairo: At least 41 militants were killed and score of others injured Monday in an army raid on hideouts of hardline Islamists in Egypt's North Sinai province, a security source said.

"At least 15 dangerous jihadist elements were killed and wounded in the village of Goes Abou Raad in southern Rafah city, while 26 others were killed and injured in the village of Wady Al-Akhder in Sheikh Zuweid city," Xinhua quoted the source as saying.

Other 12 militants were arrested in the crackdown with weapons, explosive materials and ammunition in their possession, he added.

Two militants detained with suicide vests in Afghanistan

Afghanistan's National Directorate for Security (NDS) has captured two militants along with four suicide vests, foiling possible terror attacks in Kabul.

"Personnel of NDS arrested 2 members of Haqqani terrorist network with four suicide vests, six pieces of AK-47 and nine magnetic bombs and other explosives in Kabul province yesterday," Xinhua reported citing an NDS statement issued Tuesday.

PM appeals for 'peaceful' Andhra bifurcation as anti-Telangana MPs stage protest

New Delhi: With the Telangana issue dragging its feet and uncertainty over the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday stressed on the need to have a “peaceful” bifurcation, in a meeting with leaders of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS).

"Nothing should be said or done that can inflame passions. I appeal to all that the bifurcation process should be peaceful," the PM told the TRS delegation headed by party chief K Chandrasekhar Rao.

Arrest warrants challenged in SC

ISLAMABAD: Five days after rejection of his review petition, former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf approached the Supreme Court again on Tuesday, but this time for questioning the issuance of bailable arrest warrants against him by the special court where he is facing treason charges.

“Today Musharraf has filed two petitions challenging the Jan 31 special court order of issuing bailable warrants of arrest and the Jan 10 order in which the trial court decided to make provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) applicable in the treason case,” Advocate Chaudhry Faisal Hussain, a member of his legal team, told reporters.

Suicide blast near Imambargah kills nine, injures 50 in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: Nine people were killed and 50 others injured when a powerful bomb blast ripped through a local hotel frequented mostly by Shias in the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday night, said officials.

The incident took place at Pak Hotel near Imambargah Alamdar in Kucha Risaldar, a Shia dominated neighbourhood of Peshawar.

Police officer Rizwan Khan said that the hotel is frequented mostly by Shias who visit Imambargah Alamdar next door. Most of the dead and wounded were Shias, he added.

Musharraf to appear before special court, says spokesman

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf “intends” appear before a special court set to try him for high treason, his spokesman said Tuesday, after speculation he could escape trial by going abroad for medical treatment.

The 70-year-old is facing treason charges, which can carry the death penalty, over his imposition of a state of emergency in 2007 while he was president.

“We can confirm that former President Musharraf has posted bail and intends to appear in the special treason court on February 7th, 2014,” Raza Bukhari, a spokesman for Musharraf, said in a press statement.

Suspected SIMI operative arrested near Ujjain, explosives seized

UJJAIN: Over a month after seven SIMI suspects were nabbed from the vicinity of temple town Ujjain triggering unrest in the area, another operative was arrested late on Monday. The terror suspect was held from Mahidpur, 50 km Ujjain along with a haul of explosives.

The anti-terrorist squad swooped down on the densely populated Nagori Mohalla in Mahidpur and arrested Juber, son of Mohammad Hussain, and recovered 200 detonators, gelatin rods and explosive powder which were hidden in a cooler.

Russia says Syria will ship chemical weapons

Russia has said its ally Syria will soon ship more chemical weapons abroad for destruction after the government of President Bashar al-Assad was accused of dragging its feet on disposing of the arms.

Syria has failed to meet its deadline to eliminate all chemical agents by next week, but Russia said the government  would be able to complete the removal by March 1.

India's top court stays execution of Delhi car bomber

New Delhi :India's Supreme Court on Friday stayed the execution of a Sikh militant convicted over a car bombing two decades ago, after his wife said he had developed mental illness while languishing on death row.

The Supreme Court announced it would review a plea for clemency for Devender Pal Singh Bhullar, who was convicted over a car bombing in the Indian capital that killed nine people and injured more than 20 in 1993.

Taliban attack checkpoints; one Afghan policeman killed

KANDAHAR: An Afghan official says the Taliban have attacked three police checkpoints overnight in the southern province of Helmand.

The police repelled the attacks but lost one officer.

Police chief of Marjah district, Zamaria Zarak, said on Friday that at least 13 insurgent fighters were killed in the gunbattles that followed the checkpoint attacks.

Nawaz Sharif, Zardari launch Thar Coal power project

MIRPURKHAS: Prime Minister and former president Asif Ali Zardari Friday jointly performed groundbreaking of the US 1.6 billion dollar Thar Coal power project to help the country meet its energy needs.

The project will initially provide 660 MW of power for Pakistan's energy starved industrial units.

It will complete in 2017 and help spur economic development and bring energy security to the country.

New Zealand crush India by 87 runs in fifth ODI to complete 4-0 series victory

NEW DELHI: India crumbled to an embarrassing 87-run defeat in the fifth and final one-day international against New Zealand to crash to a 0-4 series loss at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Friday. Chasing a victory target of 304 runs, India were bundled out for 216 runs in 49.4 overs.

India lost their last hope of victory when Kane Williamson had captain MS Dhoni caught by James Neesham at long-off.

Dhoni hit 3 fours in his 72-ball 47 before falling to Williamson.

India were struggling with seven wickets down with the dismissal of Ravindra Jadeja off Kyle Mills.

Indian executed for murdering sponsor

An Indian worker convicted of murdering his Saudi sponsor in Wadi Al-Dawasser was executed on Thursday, the Interior Ministry said.

The court found Muhammad Latif had killed Dhafir Al-Dossari by hitting him with an iron pipe during a dispute. The man then hid the body in an abandoned well.

TTP wants enforcement of Sharia: spokesman

MIRAMSHAH: The objective of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is enforcement of Sharia in the country, according to its spokesman Shahidullah Shahid.

Talking to Dawn from an unspecified location on Thursday, he said what mattered was enforcement of Sharia, “whether through peace or war”.

He expressed satisfaction over the formation of a four-member team by the government for talks with the outlawed TTP.

Suicide bombers storm Iraq ministry building, 18 killed

Baghdad, Reuters—Six suicide bombers burst into an Iraqi ministry building, took hostages and killed at least 18 people including themselves on Thursday before security forces regained control, a senior official said.

The brazen attack on the building belonging to the Ministry of Transportation in northeast Baghdad coincides with a month-long standoff between the Iraqi army and anti-government fighters in the western province of Anbar.

IED blast kills three security personnel, wounds four in Khuzdar

QUETTA: A security forces' convoy was targeted in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack near Balochistan's Jhao area followed by gunfire, killing three security personnel and wounding four others, DawnNews reported.

A Frontier Corps' spokesperson said that the security convoy was traveling from Wadh area to Bela when it struck a remote controlled explosive device planted on the roadside near Jhao area in Khuzdar district of Balochistan, killing three personnel and wounding four others.

He added that following the blast, militants who had taken positions in nearby mountains opened fire on the security personnel.

Turkey removes around 800 more police officers

The government sacked or reassigned around 800 police officers on Jan. 30, as it pressed on with a purge of the country's police force in response to the ongoing high-level graft probe.

Senior officers were among those removed from their posts in the latest wave of sackings in the capital Ankara and the western port of Izmir, according to reports.

More than 500 police officers were removed in Ankara and another 274 in Izmir.

PM chairs meeting of high-powered Taliban talks committee

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday morning gave guidelines for holding negotiations to the four-member committee formed to facilitate talks with Taliban militants, DawnNews reported.

The first meeting of the committee, chaired by the prime minister, discussed in detail the framework and strategy for the talks.

Al-Sudais, Indian CG discuss Haram expansion, Haj services

Indian Consul General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai briefed Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs, about the preparations being made in India for Haj pilgrims.

Kidwai called on Al-Sudais at his Makkah office recently to brief him on the preparations and also to offer condolences to him on demise of his father Shaikh Abdulaziz Al-Sudais.

Al-Sudais briefed the Indian envoy about the ongoing expansion projects at Haram and the commitment of the Saudi leadership to ensure that pilgrims perform rituals without any problems, a statement issued by Presidency of Two Holy Mosque Affairs said.

Saudis have Pak commitment of nuclear bomb: US expert

Given the rapid increase of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, a former CIA analyst suspects the country has a commitment to provide a nuclear bomb to Saudi Arabia.

"One of the great unknowns is whether they (Saudi Arabia) have already got a deal with the Pakistanis for a bomb. That's one of the mysteries of the contemporary Middle East and South Asia," said Bruce Riedel, a former CIA analyst who is currently with the Brookings Institute, an eminent American think-tank.

Turkey, Iran to establish high level cooperation council during Erdogan's Tehran visit

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan departed for Tehran Jan. 28 for his first meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Turkey and Iran will sign an agreement to establish a high-level cooperation council during the visit, after Western countries eased sanctions on Tehran over an interim nuclear deal.

Paying a two day visit to Tehran, Erdogan will hold talks with Rouhani, First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, and the religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei. He will also deliver a speech at the international institute of the Iranian Foreign Ministry. According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, a visit to Turkey by President Hassan Rouhani will also be on the agenda. Spokeswoman Marzihe Afkham described the visit as “very important.”

Grenade attacks on law enforcers wound six in Karachi

KARACHI: At least six persons, including two Rangers personnel, were wounded in grenade attacks in Karachi's Nazimabad area on Wednesday whereas five other persons were killed in different incidents of violence in the city, DawnNews reported.

A Rangers checkpost and a police mobile van were targeted in two separate hand-grenade attacks in Nazimabad area of Karachi.

Rescue and emergency teams reached the site of attack and shifted the victims to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Obama threatens to veto new Iran sanctions bill

WASHINGTON: United States President Barack Obama says negotiations to limit Iran's nuclear program will be difficult and may not succeed, but he's warning Congress he will veto new economic sanctions against Tehran while the discussions are ongoing.

Obama described the US on Tuesday as cleared-eyed about longstanding mistrust between Iran and six world powers that are working to prevent the Islamic republic from enriching enough uranium to build nuclear weapons.

PML-N resolves to take battle to TTP bastion

ISLAMABAD: Although the government and the military continued to discuss matters behind closed doors, government officials took pains on Tuesday to argue that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had made up his mind to take the battle to the TTP stronghold in North Waziristan Agency (NWA).

“More than one option is being considered for going into NWA; it’s just a matter of time now,” a government official privy to the development told Dawn.

He added that the military planning would take time, but the ball had been set rolling by the PML-N government in meetings between the prime minister and the army chief over the past week or so.

‘Chand Raat Eid Festival’ wins Community Event of the Year Award

Sydney :Chand Raat Eid Festival (CREF) has received ‘Community Event of the Year 2014’ Award. Syed Atiq ul Hassan, the Director of CREF was also the finalist for the ‘Local Citizen of Year Award’.  The ceremony was held at Bicentennial Park in Sydney Olympic Park on Australia Day.

The Auburn City Council Award Ceremony was held during the official function of the Australia Day 2014 celebrations organised by the Auburn City Council and Sydney Olympic Park Authority. The event was attended by many government officials, parliamentarians and community leaders. More than 6,000 people joined the colourful Australia Day celebration.

Gunmen kill senior Egyptian Interior Ministry Official

CAIRO: Gunmen on a motorbike shot dead Tuesday an Egyptian police general in Cairo, who was also an aide to the interior minister, security officials and medics said.

The brazen morning attack comes a day after Egypt's military backed its chief Field Marshall Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who led the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, to run for the presidency.

It also coincided with the start of a second trial against Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected president, whose ouster in July has polarised Egypt amid a sweeping police crackdown on his supporters, mostly Islamists.

Al-Qaeda linked rebels bomb Syrian defence minister's town

BEIRUT: A suicide bomber from an Al Qaeda-linked rebel group killed 13 soldiers in an attack on the Syrian defence minister's hometown, an opposition monitoring group said on Tuesday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a Saudi militant who came to Syria to fight with the country's al Qaeda affiliate, the Nusra Front, blew himself up late on Monday at an army checkpoint in the village of Rahjan in central Hama province.

Syria's nearly three-year conflict began as peaceful protests against President Bashar al-Assad's rule but has devolved into civil war that has killed more than 130,000 and brought violence to every region.

Sexual harassment case: Suspended Aligarh Muslim University professor sent to jail

ALIGARH: Suspended chairman of department of law Aligarh Muslim University was sent to jail after his bail plea was rejected.

Professor M Shabbir's bail plea was rejected by Additional Chief Judicial magistrate Vinay Kumar on Monday.

The matter is now scheduled to be taken up in the court of the Additional District Judge today.

Prof Shabbir was suspended in the first week of December following a charge of sexual harassment by a girl student.

Centurion Ross Taylor leads New Zealand to seven-wicket win against India in 4th

HAMILTON: India slumped to their second consecutive series defeat overseas as New Zealand rode on Ross Taylor's unbeaten century to thrash the visitors by seven wickets in the fourth one-dayer and take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match rubber on Tuesday.

Chasing 279 for victory, the Kiwis reached 280 for three in 48.1 overs with Taylor scoring a match-winning 127-ball 112 not out to take the hosts home with 11 balls to spare.

Taylor also shared two important partnerships - first with Kane Williamson (60) putting on 130-run for the third wicket and then with skipper Brendon McCullum (49 not out), an unbroken 92 runs for the fourth wicket.

Gunmen open fire at Sisli municipal building in Istanbul downtown

Armed gunmen opened fire late Jan. 27 on the municipal building of Sisli, one of the most vibrant and central districts on Istanbul’s European side.

The attack caused no casualties, police said, although the assault seemed to target Mustafa Sarigül, the Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) candidate for Istanbul mayor and the current mayor of Sisli, ahead of the March 30 local elections.

The attack also came in the wake of an attack against a Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) election office in Istanbul’s Esenyurt district that killed party adviser Cengiz Akyildiz on Jan. 26.

Interim Syria govt must be free of Assad regime: KSA

The Cabinet on Monday reiterated the Kingdom’s stance that Bashar Assad and his regime should not have any role in the interim Syrian government. It also denounced the terrorist bombings in Egypt.

The Cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, said the Geneva 2 conference should form the interim Syrian government, which should be allowed to work without any external interference.

Rahul Gandhi: In 1984, central govt tried to stop riots; in 2002, Modi govt abetted riots

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has drawn a distinction between the 2002 Gujarat riots and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots on the grounds that while the violence in Gujarat was aided and abetted by the Narendra Modi state government, in the 1984 riots the government tried to stop the violence.

Bilawal asks political parties to unite against Taliban threat

KARACHI: Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and son of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has called on the country’s political leadership to wake up to the threat posed by militant groups including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan(TTP).

Speaking to the BBC's Lyse Doucet in an interview, Bilawal said some of the country’s political leaders were afraid to take a clearly defined position on the issue of talks with the Taliban.

Pakistan: 9-year-old Hindu girl raped, killed in Punjab province

A nine-year-old Hindu girl was raped and killed in Punjab province of Pakistan, officials said on Sunday. Basti Kata, a resident of Mauza Ghunia in Rahim Yar Khan district, located 400 km from provincial capital Lahore, said his daughter went missing while playing outside his home on Thursday.

Narendra Modi mocks Congress for not naming Rahul Gandhi as PM candidate

New Delhi:  Narendra Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, today mocked the Congress for not naming Rahul Gandhi its presumptive PM for the 2014 general elections despite much clamour, at its mega conclave two days ago.

Mr Modi alleged that there were several reasons for that decision taken by Congress president and Rahul's mother Sonia Gandhi. Primarily, that her party "is staring at certain defeat."  "I see a very human, sensitive reason for the decision.

UN: Iran invited to attend Syrian peace conference

NEW YORK: Iran has been invited to attend a meeting of foreign ministers in the Swiss city of Montreux on Wednesday ahead of internationally brokered peace talks between Syria's warring factions, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said Sunday.Ban said he had issued the invitation to Iran after ''speaking at length in recent days'' with Iranian Foreign Minister Javid Zarif, who had ''pledged that Iran would play a positive and constructive role in Montreux.''Ban spoke to reporters at an impromptu briefing Sunday late Sunday afternoon.

Blasts at Bangkok anti-govt rally wound 28: emergency centre

BANGKOK: Explosions injured almost 30 people in central Bangkok on Sunday during a continuing “shutdown” protest aimed at toppling the Thai government, an emergency centre said.

Twenty-eight people were taken to several hospitals across the city, according to the Erawan Emergency Centre. Protesters said the injuries were caused by two separate blasts at a rally.

Witnesses said the explosions occurred about two minutes apart.

Twenty Pakistani soldiers killed in attack on army convoy

At least 20 Pakistani soldiers were killed on Sunday when an explosion hit an army convoy in the northwestern region of Bannu, intelligence and military sources said.At least two dozen others were wounded in the attack in a town near North Waziristan, a lawless Pakistani region on the Afghan border where many militant groups are holed up in remote mountain camps.Shahidullah Shahid, spokesman for the proscribed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed that the militant organisation was responsible for the attack and said that their attacks on security forces would continue.

Armed attacks kill JUI-S leader, ExpressNews workers in Karachi

KARACHI: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Samiul Haq (JUI-S) leader Mufti Usman Yar Khan along with his driver and a personal guard was gunned down by unknown miscreants on Karachi’s Sharae Faisal, while a separate attack killed three people who worked for ExpressNews television channel Friday night, DawnNews reported.Police said another person was injured in the attack on Mufti Usman that took place near Awami Makaz.A spokesman for Karachi police said attackers sprayed bullets at the car of the provincial deputy chief of JUI-S, a religious party headed by Samiul Haq known in the West as “father of the Taliban”.