Malaysia ‘Imam Idol’ seeks to put friendly face on Islam
Suicide bomber kills five children in Afghanistan
Atheist Kills Himself to Escape "100 percent Muslim" Nation
Use of term ‘Hindu terror’ worrisome, says RSS ideologue
Muslim reality TV show eyes expansion
Is fear of Islam the new McCarthyism?
As Some Young Muslims Turn to Radicalism, Concern Grows
US academic slams church's anti-Islam plan
Eight more gunned down in Karachi
‘Gojra has, will remain a scar on history of Pakistani Christians’
15 militants killed in Orakzai
France: Super-rich Muslim women to prove ban is not biased against the poor
Kashmir: 15 dead since Friday, curfew continues
Bloody Sunday: 8 die as Valley stir worsens
Israel fears Turkey spy chief is ‘supporter of Iran’
I won't apologise for Pakistan terror remark: UK PM David Cameron
ABC1-TV: Compass – Sex, Faith and Marriage
1,000 Pakistanis will die this week
UN faults Israel's human rights
Zardari, Nawaz lack self-respect: Imran
Persian, Arabic Experts Write To Pm, Sonia Over Awards
26/11: Pakistan wants Indians to testify in its courts, says envoy
Five rockets slam into Israeli resort of Eilat
Qalam publishes two plays for Emirati writers
Bangladesh: Jamaat leaders sent to jail
14 jailed for Sunamganj BDR mutiny
Pakistan flood toll crosses 1,300
Smiles replace glares in rare border stance
Govt Fumbles As J& K Flames Spread Fast
Krishna frowns at Law Ministry's Haj lapse
Can the authorities in Kashmir break vicious circle of violence?
UAE, Saudi To Ban Weblinks On Blackberry
Taliban does not possess Stinger missiles: U.S.
Saddam’s Invasion Still Hurting Iraq-Kuwait Ties
Pak has as much fissile material as India: Report
Kasab's death plea enters last lap today
EU gives $39m in aid to Pakistan
Rahat misses show on visa hassle; organizers file complaint
Islamabad working to contain Taliban: Haqqani
US 2011 drawdown in Afghanistan will be ‘limited’
US has plan to attack Iran: Mullen
Iraq civilian death toll almost doubles in July
Qaeda says it held talks on hostage killed in Sahara
Iraq Shia bloc rejects incumbent Maliki as PM
Iran says three jailed US hikers should stand trial
Shun ‘ill attempts’ to oust govt, PM tells Khaleda
Blast in Gaza wounds 24 Palestinians
High Iraq deaths cast doubt on US stability talk
Israel warns Hamas after rocket fire
Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim calls for end to sodomy trial over 'affair' claim
Women man border outposts
For Indonesian Christians, Gatherings Bring Tension
Yemen's Shiite rebels free 100 soldiers: mediator
Israel okays compromise on deporting migrant children
Immigrant Maids Flee Lives of Abuse in Kuwait
Gates Cites Peril in Leak of Afghan War Logs by WikiLeaks
American and Iraqi Versions Differ in Latest Chapters of War’s Story
WikiLeaks Guilty, At Least Morally - U.S. Defense Chief
U.S. Cleared in Afghan Crash That Led to Rioting
China says it disapproves of EU sanctions against Iran
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
Photo: Malaysia's top "Young Imam" Muhammad Asyraf hugs his emotional mother after winning competition in Kuala Lumpur
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Suicide bomber kills five children in Afghanistan
02 Aug, 2010
KANDAHAR: A suicide attacker detonated a car bomb in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar on Monday, killing five children and injuring one other, a police official told AFP.
“Five children were killed in the first blast and one child is wounded,” said Kandahar deputy police chief Fazel Mohammad Shairzad.
The car bomb was followed by a roadside bomb explosion 10 metres away, after police arrived at the scene, and wounded two policemen, said district criminal investigations chief Mohammad Hussain.
The suicide bomber was targeting Dand district governor Ahmadullah Nazick, but the explosives detonated prematurely, the Kandahar provincial government said in a statement.
Nazick had been travelling in a convoy along a road in Dand.
An AFP reporter said the dead children were immediately taken away in body bags, leaving charred body parts of the suicide attacker and small pools of blood at the scene.
In recent months, targeted assassinations have become increasingly common in restive Kandahar, birthplace of the Taliban movement, and in Dand district alone at least nine members of the council have been killed.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/14-suicide-bomber-kills-four-civilians-in+-kandahar-zj-01
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Malaysia ‘Imam Idol’ seeks to put friendly face on Islam
By Beh Lih Yi
02 Aug, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s top “Young Imam” has vowed to soften the stern image of clerics and energise young Muslims after winning a hugely popular TV talent show search for a top young Islamic leader.
The show, which attracted worldwide attention, saw 10 finalists tackle tasks such as reciting verses from the Quran, washing corpses and slaughtering sheep according to Islamic rules.
Following the reality TV formula of shows such as “American Idol” and “The X Factor,” one contestant was eliminated each week until the series drew to a close on Friday night.
Religious scholar Muhammad Asyraf Mohammad Ridzuan, who saw off nine rivals to win the “Young Imam” title, said he wanted to reach out to youngsters to spark their interest in the religion.
“I want to be an imam who is friendly to the youth, cool, relaxed, able to play with children and engage the elderly,” the 26-year-old said after the finale, as he hailed the show as a “victory of Islam”.
“I want to play football with the kids in my neighbourhood and still be a spiritual leader among them,” said the soft-spoken Asyraf, clad in a black long robe over a suit and wearing a white Islamic skullcap.
Religious authorities in Malaysia, where more than 60 per cent of its 28 million population are Muslim, regularly make headlines with morality raids on hotels and nightclubs, looking for illicit drinking and sex.
In a development that alarmed rights activists, three women were caned in February for having sex out of wedlock – the first time the punishment under Islamic law had been carried out on women in Malaysia.
But there is a debate even among Muslim leaders over whether the punishment-based approach is appropriate, or whether they should instead seek to persuade and inspire.
The show’s creators said a main reason for the success of the programme was that it has sought to make Islam more appealing to young people.
“I think it’s because it’s breaking a lot of traditions and a lot of stigma about the religion partly because of the title itself, ‘Young Imam’,” said Zainir Aminullah, editor of pay-TV operator Astro which airs the show.
“There is a certain image of an imam, but these boys are handsome, they are well-groomed, they speak well, they are extremely articulate,” added Zainir, who said he would consider continuing the show next year.
Imams play a broad role in Muslim society, including leading prayers at the mosque and counselling troubled individuals.
The 10 finalists, who were chosen from 1,000 candidates, faced written and practical tests on religion each week. They were quarantined in a mosque dormitory and banned from using phones, the Internet and television.
They also had to persuade youngsters away from sex and drugs.
Even as the show ended, the popularity of the programme continues to rise.
Its official Facebook page added 7,500 fans overnight to nearly 60,000 after Friday’s finale.
“People always tend to associate Islam with terrorism, jihad or something very rigid, but look at these young imams and you will realise that perception is wrong,” said Fadhilah Salleh, a 25-year-old student.
“This is a new phenomenon and it is taking us to somewhere positive,” she told AFP.
For winner Asyraf, whose immediate plan is to set up a “Young Imam” club to engage the youth through arts and motivational classes, also promised to ditch the traditional, stern image that youths often shy away from.
“We represent the first generation of young imams. We want to attract the young, we want to be more open, flexible and approachable as young imams,” he said.
“All of these are now my new objectives,” Asyraf added with a smile.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/international/malaysia-imam-idol-seeks-to-put-friendly-face-on-islam-280
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US academic slams church's anti-Islam plan
02 Aug 2010
Stephen Zuness Chairman of Middle East Studies at the University of San Francisco
A radical Christian church in Florida has announced that they are having a 'burn-the-Quran-day' on the 9/11 anniversary.
The church's leader, Terry Jones, commented that he hoped all Christians and politicians would join in burning Muslims' holy book. Jones' church is known as the Dove World Outreach Center. Pastor Terry Jones is also the author of the book titled, "Islam is of the Devil."
The following is a transcription of a telephone interview with Mr. Stephen Zunes who is Chairman of Middle East Studies at the University of San Francisco.
Press TV: Please comment on the decision of this Florida church. Why should this be?
Zunes: It's incredibly sensitive and there's been more subtle prejudices for many years. This is the first time I've heard of something to this extreme. Unfortunately, it is an individual church; moreover, it's not a denomination, it's just a handful of extremists. Nonetheless, it's quite disturbing. There are quite a few Christian groups that are condemning this as well. We have seen this kind of extreme rhetoric for some time now. It is affecting this ugly undercurrent of Islamophobia in American society.
Press TV: Sure. Professor, how do you evaluate the US administrations' policies, especially that of President Bush's in spreading hatred towards Islam?
Zunes: Well, the Bush administration in particular took advantage to promote Islamophobia and advance the radical agenda over much of the Middle East. On the one hand, he would make statements that were not against Muslims, as a whole, etc. I don't think they could have gotten away with the invasion of Iraq and the threats against Iran and support for the oppression of Palestinians unless they were taking advantage and exacerbating anti-Islamic sentiments.
Press TV: What would the impact of such acts be regarding how other people perceive America if this is not stopped?
Zunes: I think if you really look at Western history, you can see scapegoat minorities. You have the Jews in Europe and obviously attacks against Muslims and even Christian persecutions. It shows an ugly aspect of Western societies despite claims of religious pluralism.
Press TV: Professor, this particular church says it's doing this on the anniversary of 9/11. My question to you is, although, you're saying it's just a handful of people, will such acts really guarantee another 9/11 will not happen? Will anyone be safer?
Zunes: Not at all. This kind of extremism coming from the United States will only encourage extremism elsewhere. This whole myth of the clash of civilizations is a problem, and what we need is a dialogue of civilizations.
Press TV: How far is this going?
Zunes: I don't think this particular event is going very far at all. There is the Islamic Culture Center in downtown Manhattan, and because it happens to be a few blocks from 9/11, you're having people acting really hysterically about it, including former vice president nominee Sarah Palin and others. They are forgetting over 100 Muslims died in the 9/11 attacks, and the Islamic community in this country should be just as outraged as anybody. So you have some politicians taking advantage of this sort of thing, but all you really have is just a handful of fanatics.
Press TV: We do not have a lot of time left. Let me get to my last question. Israel has been raging deadly wars in the Middle East region and is holding the Gaza Strip under seize for several years, and yet no synagogues have been raided or set on fire by Muslims. Are acts like burning the Quran fair dealings towards Muslims?
Zunes: It's completely unfair and it's completely indicative of a deep racist undercurrent by this tiny minority which is going to this extreme. It shows a need for people in the United States to learn what Islam is really about and to reach out and get to know people; to not let these petty predators lead people to such extreme behavior.
Press TV: Many thanks. Stephen Zunes, Chairman of Middle Eastern Studies, at the University of San Francisco, we thank you.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=137097
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Eight more gunned down in Karachi
By Azfar-ul-Ashfaque
02 Aug, 2010
KARACHI: At least eight people, including an activist of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and two Awami National Party workers, were gunned down in separate incidents of targeted killings as the violence that had erupted on Saturday following an arson attack on an MQM office spread to other parts of the defunct East and West districts of the city on Sunday.
Tension prevailed in parts of Orangi Town amid rattle of gunfire and spread to Shah Faisal Colony, Model Colony and adjoining areas of Malir where businesses were closed following the targeted killing of the MQM worker in Azeempura within the remit of the Al-Falah police station on Sunday evening.
Police said the MQM worker, Jamil Khanzada, was targeted shortly after he had visited the Azeempura graveyard in the evening.
They said two gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire on Khanzada as he stepped out of the graveyard and sped away. The victim was rushed to a nearby private hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
An MQM spokesman said the victim was a former councillor of UC-5 of Shah Faisal Town. A couple of hours later, two ANP activists were shot dead in Model Colony.
The area police said that 40-year-old Wazeer Khan alias Wazeerzada and 20-year-old Tahir Punjabi were standing outside a snooker club near Komal Ground when they were sprayed with bullets by unidentified motorcyclists.
The victims were taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), where they died, the police said.
An ANP spokesman said both the victims were party workers. Wazeer Khan was area president of the ANP, he added.
The killings were followed by heavy gunfire that forced people to stay indoors and markets’ closure in Malir and Shah Faisal Colony.
A 13-year-old boy was wounded when a stray bullet hit him in Shah Faisal Colony. He was shifted to the JPMC for medical treatment.
The police said the situation turned precarious with the killing of a senior ANP worker on Friday followed by an arson attack on the MQM office in the Abidabad area on Saturday. Frequent exchanges of fire had been reported during the last couple of days in different localities.
In the early hours of Sunday, four passers-by — Abdul Munim, Farhan, Israr and Javed — were wounded in the crossfire between two rival groups near Kati Pahari within the remit of the Orangi Town police station.
The wounded victims were shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where 40-year-old Abdul Munim died. He was a resident of Nazimabad 3.
In Sector A-3 of Baldia Town, 35-year-old Mohammad Iqbal was found shot dead near a furniture shop within the remit of the Saeedabad police station.
The killing was carried out after 4am, the police said, adding that there was no eyewitness to the incident. The body was moved to the Civil Hospital Karachi for a post-mortem examination where doctors said he suffered a bullet wound in the head.
The police said a case (FIR673/2010) had been registered on the complaint of the victim’s brother, Tariq. The victim originally hailed from Faisalabad.
In Nusrat Bhutto Colony, a cloth trader was found shot dead at a desolate place within the remit of the Shahrah-i-Noor Jahan police station.
Area SHO Amir Lashari said: “Shaukat Ali, 34, was found shot dead at a desolate place near Tohid mosque in the early morning. The body was shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for a post-mortem examination.” The victim suffered a gunshot wound in the head, he added.
The victim was married and had a cloth shop in the area. A case (FIR 493/2010) was registered at the Shahrah-i-Noor Jahan police station against unknown men on the complaint of the victim’s uncle, Mohammad Momin.
An unidentified man was found shot dead at a desolate place near the Malir rive embankment on Sunday.
The Korangi Industrial Area police said the trussed-up body with visible marks of torture and bullet wounds on it was shifted to the JPMC for a post-mortem examination. The body was later taken to the Edhi morgue for want of identification.
Earlier, a passer-by was targeted by armed men riding a motorcycle in Gulshan-i-Bihar, where he had gone to visit his uncle.
Alam Zeb was wounded in the firing carried out within the remit of the Pakistan Bazaar police station. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died, the police said.
In the Aligarh Bazaar area, some ANP workers sitting outside a shop were sprayed with bullets late on Saturday night.
The police said that Naveedur Rehman, Imran and Aziz suffered bullet wounds and were rushed to the Civil Hospital Karachi for treatment.
The ANP spokesman described the condition of the wounded workers as stable.
The police said two people were wounded when unidentified motorcyclists opened fire at a teashop in Orangi Town.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/local/anp,-mqm-workers-among-eight-gunned-down-280
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‘Gojra has, will remain a scar on history of Pakistani Christians’
02 Aug, 2010
LAHORE: The Community Development Initiative (CDI), along with the civil society, organised a memorial for the Gojra incident that took place on July 30 and August 1 last year. Around 100 houses of Christians were burnt and another 100 were ransacked and looted, while at least seven Christian people were burnt alive over allegations of blasphemy.
CDI Executive Director Asif Aqeel said that the memorial was being held to pay homage to those who had been killed without any reason and all those who had been affected by the incident. He said that as a matter of fact, the Gojra incident has remained and would remain a scar on the history of Pakistani Christians.
Full report at:
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\08\02\story_2-8-2010_pg7_34
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15 militants killed in Orakzai
02 Aug, 2010
GHALANAI, Aug 1: Fifteen militants were killed and eight others injured when military planes attacked their hideouts in parts of upper Orakzai Agency on Sunday.
Sources said that fighter jets targeted militants’ positions in Toor Kanrha, Nareek and Fareed Gharhi areas.
Four hideouts were destroyed in the bombing.
Security forces took control of these areas and started a search operation to consolidate their positions. They seized a large quantity of arms during search operation.—Correspondent
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/15-militants-killed-280
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France to target super-rich Muslim women who wear burkas to prove ban is not biased against the poor
02 Aug, 2010
Super-rich Muslim women who shop at luxury boutiques wearing black burkas are to be targeted by the French government in a clampdown on Islamic veils, it emerged today.
As parliament adopted a formal motion declaring such dress to be ‘an affront to the nation’s values’, French MPs made it clear that they were not stigmatising the poor.
Many have criticised the anti-burka lobby, which includes President Nicolas Sarkozy, for focusing on poor Muslim housewives living on housing estates.
Ban: Super-rich Muslim women who wear black burqas are to be targeted by the French government in a clampdown on Islamic veils
But, as in London, some of the most high-profile women who cover their faces in public belong to women from fabulously wealthy families from the Gulf.
Full report at:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1277200/France-target-super-rich-Muslim-women-wear-burqas-prove-ban-biased-poor.html#ixzz0nfdqgYdn
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Kashmir: 15 dead since Friday, curfew continues
Aug 2, 2010
SRINAGAR: Curfew remained in force in the entire Kashmir Valley on Monday which has been hit by a fresh wave of violence since Friday.
One person identified as Tariq Ahmed, who was hit by a teargas shell three days back in Bijbehara in south Kashmir, succumbed to his injuries last night, police sources said.
With his death, the total number of people who died in the Valley since Friday has gone up to 15 which includes eight persons who were killed in separate incidents yesterday.
Security forces maintained a tight vigil across all the ten districts in Kashmir to maintain law and order, the sources said.
In New Delhi, the Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS) had met last night for the second time in a month to take stock of the situation.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kashmir-15-dead-since-Friday-curfew-continues/articleshow/6246783.cms
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Bloody Sunday: 8 die as Valley stir worsens
M Saleem Pandit
Aug 2, 2010
SRINAGAR: Even as the embattled Omar Abdullah government tried to grapple with worsening street protests, four people were killed in a blast at a police camp in Khrew in Pulwama district, with at least 35 others injured, after a fire triggered by protesters reached the armoury where explosives recovered from terrorists were stored.
This took the toll of those killed in Sunday's violence to eight, the highest number of people dead on a single day since the current spiral of people's frenzy began on June 11.
With the Valley reporting more violence and killings on Sunday, the Centre was forced to call a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to take stock of the situation. There were indications that CM Omar Abdullah may be called to Delhi for consultations on how to stem the cycle of violence. The Centre also felt that the security forces needed more support from the state's leadership. The total number of people killed since June 11 now stands at 29.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bloody-Sunday-8-die-as-Valley-stir-worsens/articleshow/6245770.cms
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Israel fears Turkey spy chief is ‘supporter of Iran’
2 August 2010
JERUSALEM - Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has expressed concern over Turkey’s appointment of a new spy chief he called a “supporter” of the Jewish state’s archfoe Iran, army radio reported Sunday.
“Turkey is a friendly country, a strategic ally, but the nomination in recent weeks of a new chief of the Turkish secret services who is a supporter of Iran worries us,” he told a meeting of his centre-left Labour party.
Barak added that the appointment could result in “the Iranians having access to secret information,” in a recording of his remarks broadcast by military radio.
The Turkish official, Hakan Fidan, 42, was appointed to head the National Intelligence Organisation, known by its Turkish acronym MIT, on May 27 after serving as undersecretary for foreign affairs to the prime minister and representing Turkey at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Full report at:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2010/August/middleeast_August9.xml§ion=middleeast&col=
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I won't apologise for Pakistan terror remark: UK PM David Cameron
Aug 2, 2010
LONDON: Prime Minister David Cameron has refused to apologise for his comment that Islamabad is "exporting terror", said a government source who insisted that "he meant it".
Daily Mail quoted government sources as indicating that Cameron would not withdraw his suggestion that Pakistan was "exporting terror".
A government source said Cameron would not apologise for his outspoken remarks and added: "No, he said it and he meant it."
During his India visit, Cameron July 28 warned Pakistan against exporting terrorism to India, Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world.
Cameron said: "We want to see a strong, stable and democratic Pakistan, but we cannot tolerate in any sense export of terrorism, whether to India, Afghanistan or anywhere in the world."
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/I-wont-apologise-for-Pakistan-terror-remark-UK-PM-David-Cameron/articleshow/6247368.cms
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ABC1-TV: Compass – Sex, Faith and Marriage
Aug 2, 2010
Compass explores the sexual rules of three different faiths to find out what goes on in Jewish, Muslim and Hindu bedrooms.
They say you should never talk about sex and religion in the same sentence, but for some Australians they go together, like love and marriage. This program features three very different Australian couples who let us into their homes and lives to talk about the private and sacred rituals that are part of their religious practice.
For many observant Jewish women, the Mikvah or ritual immersion in pure water is a monthly pre-requisite before sex. They follow the Jewish laws of ‘Family Purity’ which require married couples to sleep in separate beds during menstruation and for approximately seven days afterwards. During this time, husband and wife do not touch.
Full report at:
http://www.jwire.com.au/events/aug-22-1015p-m-abc1-tv-compass-sex-faith-and-marriage/10807
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1,000 Pakistanis will die this week
Aug 2, 2010
There would be more than 1,000 Pakistanis who would have to die this week, either by natural or by human disasters. If we look at the statistics from last 5 days, we will come to know that more than 800 people are died and 584 injured since July 26.
Starting from Monday, July 26, 2 adults died and 8-year-old girl injured when an electricity poll dilapidated due to heavy rains in Umar Kot. 19 others died and 11 went missing during flood in Barkhan. 1 woman, a 10-year-old child and 2 men died, when a coaster went off the road in Mirpur Khas, injuring 30 others.
2 men shot to death and one injured in two separate incidents in Quetta. 9 killed including 3 policemen, while 22 injured in a suicide bomb blast in Nowshehra. 1 man killed and 1 injured in Mandi Bahauddin in a firing incident. 1 FC personal died and one policeman injured when terrorists opened fire on check post in Peshawar. 3 others got killed and 4 injured in target killing incidents in Karachi. 2 sisters killed in Toba Taik Singh.
Full report at:
http://www.markthetruth.com/pakistan-news/652-1000-pakistanis-will-die-this-week.html
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UN faults Israel's human rights
Aug 2, 2010
GENEVA - A UN panel of experts called Friday on Israel to fall in line with international norms on civil rights and to take action against targeted killings, torture and impunity for security forces.
The UN Human Rights Committee also called for an end to the blockade of Gaza and questioned the independence of Israel's own inquiry into a naval raid on a Gaza-bound relief supply ship in which nine Turkish nationals dead.
In conclusions on its review of Israel's application of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the committee also urged a halt to restrictions on Palestinians and raised concerns about discrimination.
Full report at:
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Zardari, Nawaz lack self-respect: Imran
02 Aug, 2010
KASUR: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan has termed the remarks passed by British Prime Minister David Cameron insulting, saying it is not for the first time that such derogatory comments have been ignored.
Imran Khan said this while talking to party leaders and the media people at a local hotel on Shahbaz Road here on Sunday.
“Our rulers should have promptly reciprocated, but they lack self-respect and leadership qualities. Under these circumstances, President Asif Ali Zardari’s insistence on touring the UK has bewildered every loyal Pakistani”, he said.
Mr Khan said Nawaz Sharif had kept a mum on the issue as he, like other politicians, had assets in billions in the UK and other European countries and he had no courage to take any risk.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/national/camerons-remarks-zardari,-nawaz-lack-selfrespect-imran-280
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PERSIAN, ARABIC EXPERTS WRITE TO PM, SONIA OVER AWARDS
Charu Sudan Kasturi
Aug 02 2010
Four senior Arabic an scholars have and Persian scholars have accused the UPA government of ignoring talented young academicians in these languages for a prestigious annual Presidential awards.
The scholars have written to the Prime Minister, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and HRD minister Kapil Sibal on this.
The Maharshi Badrayan Vyas Samman, started in 2001 by the NDA, is to be awarded to scholars under 40 in traditional languages -five in Sanskrit, one in Pali and one each in Arabic and Persian. It requires academic work based on modern scientific principles. But only one Persian scholar and no Arabic scholar has been picked over the past four years -including 2010 -for the awards.
Full report at: Hindustan Times
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26/11: Pakistan wants Indians to testify in its courts, says envoy
Aug 2, 2010
WASHINGTON: Claiming that Pakistan policy of supporting some terrorist groups has changed, its ambassador here says Islamabad has asked India to send its officials to testify before Pakistani courts to help convict those responsible for Mumbai attacks.
"The individuals who were responsible for the Mumbai attack are all now under arrest," Pakistan's ambassador to US Husain Haqqani told CNN on Sunday when asked about Pakistan's lack of action against Lashkar-e Taiba (LeT) terror group behind the Nov 26, 2008 Mumbai attack.
"And we have requested our Indian neighbours to provide us with evidence in the sense of allowing Indian officials who have knowledge of this matter, to travel to Pakistan and give evidence in our court," he said. "And we will be able to complete the prosecution process and convict these people."
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/26/11-Pakistan-wants-Indians-to-testify-in-its-courts-says-envoy/articleshow/6246521.cms
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Five rockets slam into Israeli resort of Eilat
2 August 2010
Five rockets slammed into the southern Israeli resort of Eilat on Monday but there were no immediate reports of casualties, army radio reported.
Israeli police confirmed that a series of explosions had taken place in Eilat but could not confirm a rocket attack.
“There were a number of explosions heard in and around Eilat,” police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said.
“As yet, nothing has been found on the ground,” he added.
The radio said at least one of the rockets had landed in the sea.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle09.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2010/August/middleeast_August21.xml§ion=middleeast
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Muslim reality TV show eyes expansion
2 August 2010
KUALA LUMPUR - Producers of an Islamic reality TV show which sought the best young Muslim leader are hoping other Muslim countries will adopt the program’s format after a successful first series in Malaysia.
Religious scholar Muhammad Asyraf Ridzuan, 26, from Penang, was named the winner of Malaysia’s “Imam Muda” or “Young Imam” show during Friday’s live finale, beating 27-year-old religious teacher Hizbur Rahman.
The 10-episode, primetime program sought to stimulate interest in Islam among the young and create some modern role models for them by combining a reality TV format with traditional religious teachings.
The show attracted interest in Malaysia and overseas as the contestants dressed in sharp-looking black suits recited verses from the Koran, sang hymns, washed corpses and slaughtered sheep according to Muslim rules, and counseled promiscuous young Malaysians.
As the last man standing, Asyraf won a scholarship to the Al-Madinah University in Saudi Arabia, a job as a cleric at a mosque in Kuala Lumpur, a car, an iPhone, an all-expenses paid pilgrimage to Mecca, and a cash prize.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/international/2010/August/international_August66.xml§ion=international
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Qalam publishes two plays for Emirati writers
2 August 2010
Abu Dhabi - Qalam, the publishing initiative of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) to promote Emirati authors, announced the release of two new books entitled “Beautiful” by Jamal Matar and “Evening Talks” by Saleh Karama Al Ameri.
The new publications are part of Qalam’s ongoing efforts of promoting authors and the book industry in the United Arab Emirates, under a comprehensive cultural strategy set out by ADACH that seeks to make Abu Dhabi a hub for culture in the region via local, national and worldwide projects.
In the five plays in the book “Beautiful”, the Emirati play writer Jamal Matar addresses social issues like spinsterhood, problems that women face and stories told by grandmothers to their grandchildren. In the book, the author stands by the cultural identity and old heritage.
Full report at:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2010/August/theuae_August15.xml§ion=theuae&col=
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Jamaat leaders sent to jail
Aug 2, 2010
The International Crimes Tribunal on Monday in its first ruling ordered the jail authorities to send the four detained top Jamaat-e-Islami leaders in jail in connection with war crimes during the 1971 Liberation War.
The accused are Jamaat Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami, Secretary General Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojahid and two senior assistant secretaries general Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Mollah.
They were kept in jail till further order, the crimes tribunal ruling added.
During the hearing of the complaint petition, the lawyers for Jamaat leaders prayed to the tribunal to withdraw the order of arrest against the Jamaat big wigs.
They also prayed to the tribunal to provide the Jamaat leaders with all the copies of the tribunal orders and charges against them.
Full report at:
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=25092
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14 jailed for Sunamganj BDR mutiny
Aug 2, 2010
The Special Court-3 of Bangladesh Rifles on Monday sentenced 14 BDR men of 8 Rifles Battalion to different terms of rigorous imprisonments for their involvement in Sunamganj BDR mutiny in February 25-26 last year.
The court also fined Tk 100 for each of the 14 BDR men, reports our staff correspondent in Sylhet.
The maximum penalty of the mutiny is six years' imprisonments while the lowest is four months jail sentence.
The convicts are Subedar Maj Gouranga Chandra Das, Nayek Subedar Abul Hossain, havildars Md Abdul Jalil, Md Badiul Alam and Md Maniruzzaman, nayeks Md. Harun Ur Rashid, Md Abdul Wahid and Md Hiru Ullah Khan, lance nayeks Abdur Rahim, Biplab Kumar Pandit and Umar Faruque Hossain, and sepoys Maniruzzaman Sheikh, Sumon Marma and Toriqul Islam.
Full report at:
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=25099
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Use of term ‘Hindu terror’ worrisome, says RSS ideologue
Aug 02 2010
Nagpur : RSS ideologue M G alias Baburao Vaidya on Sunday expressed worries about the usage of newly coined term “Hindu terror”, appealing Hindu leaders to remove the blot.
“The word Hindu terror has earned its place in the media and no one knows who invented it. Though somebody gives credit to NCP president Sharad Pawar, others say it was Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh who has coined the concept,” Vaidya wrote in his weekly column in a local Marathi daily here.
He admitted that the government had accused right wing Hindu organisations Abhinav Bharat and Sanatan Sanstha were involved in violence and some arrests had been made but none of the accused had been convicted by the courts till date.
He said the term “Hindu terror” was being used to woo Muslim votes in the country and defame Hindus.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/use-of-term-hindu-terror-worrisome-says-rss-ideologue/654796/
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Pakistan flood toll crosses 1,300
Aug 02 2010
Peshawar : Over 1,300 people have died and tens of thousands others rendered homeless from the massive flood in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, officials said on Sunday.
The number of deaths caused by surging flash floods and lashing downpours in the country crossed 1,300.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is the worst hit province in the recent flooding, as over 567 houses were absolutely razed down to ground by flash floods, 90 highways were damaged, 58 big thoroughfares were closed for traffic; while, 104 people are still unaccounted for, Geo TV reported.
Dawn News, Pakistan
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Atheist Kills Himself to Escape "100 percent Muslim" Nation
Aug 02 2010
A 25 year-old air traffic controller, Ismail Mohamed Didi, was found hanged from the control tower of the international airport in the Maldives on Tuesday, July 13, after he apparently killed himself to escape persecution for his rejection of religion. The suicide is the latest tragedy in a series of persecutions of non-believers in a nation that claims to be "100 percent Muslim." The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) is raising the issue with the United Nations and representatives of the Maldives government.
Ismail Mohamed Didi’s story was reported in the independent Maldivian newspaper, Minivan News. The newspaper published two emails that Ismail sent to an international humanitarian organization* on June 23 and 25, in which he says he is an atheist and requests assistance for his asylum application, after claiming to have received several anonymous threats on June 22. In the emails, he says he "foolishly admitted my stance on religion" to work colleagues, and the news had "spread like wildfire."
Full report at:
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/pakistan-flood-toll-crosses-1-300/654540/
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GOVT FUMBLES AS J& K FLAMES SPREAD FAST
By Naseer Ganai
Aug 02 2010
Violence hits villages as seven die in firing Worried PM chairs urgent strategy meet Centre likely to call all- party meet on J& K
MASSIVE anti- India protests spread rapidly in the Kashmir valley over the weekend with civilians targeting the security forces even in remote areas like Uri on the Line of Control (LoC).
Worried over the escalating violence, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh convened a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security ( CCS) on Sunday, the second such in less than a month.
The protests on Sunday were fuelled by the deaths of seven persons. Among those who died in the day’s violence was an 18- year- old girl from Khrew village and two in Pampore of Pulwama district. Four were killed in an explosion as an angry mob set fire to a police station in Khrew. As the death toll mounted and the fresh wave of protests since Friday threatened to spin out of control, Singh convened an urgent meeting of the CCS. However, a fumbling government was reportedly at a loss for a clear strategy in the face of the crisis – over a dozen have been killed and more than 130 injured since Friday.
Full report at: Mail Today
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Krishna frowns at Law Ministry's Haj lapse
Nagender Sharma & Jayanth Jacob
Aug 02 2010
The external affairs minister has slammed the law ministry over the absence of government lawyers during a recent hearing in the Delhi High Court on a case to decide who will organise this year's Haj.
ANGRY EXCHANGE MEA unhappy that top govt lawyers were absent from case hearing A WORRIED MOILY HAS ASSURED KRISHNA OF APPROPRIATE ACTION AND IS LEARNT TO HAVE PULLED UP AN ADDL SOLICITOR GENERAL
The Ministry of External Affairs has slammed the Law Ministry for its casual handling of the ongoing dispute in the Delhi High Court on who will organise this year's Haj.
External Affairs Minister, S.M. Krishna, has conveyed his displeasure to Law Minister M.
Veerappa Moily, on the absence of top government lawyers during a court hearing in the sensitive matter on July 26.
Full report at: Hindustan Times
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Can the authorities in Kashmir break vicious circle of violence?
By Manoj Joshi
Aug 02 2010
CLICHÉD or not, the only way to describe the situation in the Valley is that it is “ complex”. It is so because it is the outcome of several factors that have generated a vicious cycle that the authorities are finding hard to break.
That cycle begins with violent street protests which lead to a tough police response, culminating at times in the police shooting dead a protester.
Thereupon, protests against the death create a fresh cycle of violent protests which, more often than not, lead to yet another shooting.
Though the anger of the public is manifest — with even middle- aged matrons now hurling stones at the police — it is also manipulated by separatists who have links to the Pakistani intelligence agencies.
Full report at: Mail Today
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UAE, SAUDI TO BAN WEBLINKS ON BLACKBERRY
Aug 02 2010
Days after India threatened to suspend BlackBerry services over security fears, the United Arab Emirates said on Sunday that it would block key features on the smart phones.
The UAE too cited national security concerns while saying it would suspend messaging, e-mail and Web browsing services starting October 11.
Neighbouring Saudi Arabia indicated it would follow suit.
It is unclear if the UAE ban will affect only local users or foreign visitors with roaming services as well.
Blackberry data is encrypted and several governments -including India -fear its messaging system could be exploited by terrorists or criminals who cannot be monitored by local authorities.
India had recently warned Canada-based RIM, the makers of BlackBerry, that if it did not allow it to monitor email and SMSes, it would have to close down operations in India.
Hindustan Times
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Taliban does not possess Stinger missiles: U.S.
Aug 02 2010
Washington: The U.S. on Sunday said the Taliban did not have American Stinger missiles as revealed in Wikileaks documents on Afghan war, even as it expressed concern over Pakistan's ISI maintaining links with extremist elements.
“It [ISI's links with terrorist outfits] is a concern, there's no question about it. But I would say that we walked out on Pakistan and Afghanistan in 1989 and left them basically holding the bag. And there is always the fear that we will do that again. I believe that's the reason there's a certain hedge,” said U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates.
When asked about the Taliban having Stinger missiles, Mr. Gates said, “I don't think so.” He repeated the same answer when asked twice during the interview.
Full report at:
http://www.hindu.com/2010/08/02/stories/2010080257741500.htm
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Saddam’s Invasion Still Hurting Iraq-Kuwait Ties
Aug 02 2010
Wounds from Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait 20 years ago still run deep and mar ties between the two neighbours despite efforts to overcome what has been described as the Iraqi ex-dictator’s worst mistake.
The August 2 assault was rapidly met with a concerted international military response that pushed Saddam’s forces out of the emirate and eventually led to his ouster by a US-dominated coalition in 2003.
As a result of that invasion, Iraq continues to pay war reparations to Kuwait, and disagreements over the two countries’ land and maritime borders persist.
“This was one of the most dreadful decisions he (Saddam) ever, ever took,” foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari told AFP.
Full report at:
http://www.asianage.com/international/saddam%E2%80%99s-invasion-still-hurting-iraq-kuwait-ties-458
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Pak has as much fissile material as India: Report
Sachin Parashar
Aug 2, 2010
NEW DELHI: Pakistan may already have not just more nuclear warheads than India but also almost as much fissile material as its eastern neighbour to assemble an almost equal number of more nukes. These worrying disclosures for India are a part of a report on world nuclear stockpile by top US nuclear experts and researchers Hans M Kristensen and Robert S Norris for the prestigious Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.
Titled `Global Nuclear Weapons Inventories, 1945-2010', the report said Pakistan had already assembled 70-90 nuclear warheads against India's 60-80. Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists and Norris of National Resources Defense Council also said in the report that Pakistan had produced enough fissile material to manufacture 90 more warheads.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Pak-has-as-much-fissile-material-as-India-Report/articleshow/6245066.cms
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Kasab's death plea enters last lap today
Shibu Thomas
Aug 2, 2010
MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Monday will take up the state government's plea to confirm the death sentence awarded to Pakistani gunman Ajmal Amir Kasab. The application is scheduled to come up before a division bench of Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice Vijaya Kapse-Tahilramani.
Justice Desai is the senior-most judge in the high court after the Chief Justice. Both Justice Desai and Justice Tahilramani, who have long years of experiences in dealing with criminal cases, were public prosecutors at the high court before being appointed as judges.
Though a confirmation case requires the convict to be present during the hearings, a source in the prosecution office told TOI that Kasab was unlikely to be produced from his high-security prison cell in Arthur Road jail for the first hearing. "Directions regarding the case and documents are normally given by the judges in the first hearing,'' said the officer.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Kasabs-death-plea-enters-last-lap-today/articleshow/6245737.cms
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EU gives $39m in aid to Pakistan
Aug 02 2010
BRUSSELS: The European Union (EU) has given 30 million euros (about $39 million) in aid to Pakistan so it could help the most needy, including those hit by the current floods in the country, a media report said.
The European Commission announced this on Saturday.
Geo TV said at least 800 people have been killed in floods in northwest Pakistan, while thousands of others have been affected.
"I am pleased that our decision to provide new humanitarian funding for the most vulnerable people in Pakistan will also be able to benefit the people, who have suffered from this disaster," said Kristalina Georgieva, EU humanitarian aid commissioner.
The UN has said about one million people have been affected by the floods.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/EU-gives-39m-in-aid-to-Pakistan/articleshow/6242858.cms
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Rahat misses show on visa hassle; organizers file complaint
August 02, 2010
GURGAON: Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was slapped with a police complaint for failing to turn up for concert here but his manager claimed the artiste and his entire troupe did not get their visas.
Khan, who has lent his voice to numerous Bollywood hits like 'Lagan lagi...', 'Jiya dhadak dhadak jaaye' and 'Bol na halke halke', was to perform at the concert today but after he failed to make an appearance, the organizers lodged a complaint against him.
According to organisers Trzy Event, they paid Rs 27 lakh to the singer for the show and had already sold 800 tickets worth Rs 20 lakh besides other expenses.
"We have filed a case of fraud in Gurgaon sector 29 police station. We have suffered a huge loss due to this last minute cancellation. I can't believe that Rahatji, who is a regular in Mumbai and is shooting a reality show there failed to obtain a visa," organizer Dishant Badlani said.
Full report at:
http://thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=109591
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Islamabad working to contain Taliban: Haqqani
August 02, 2010
WASHINGTON: Pakistan on Sunday said its security forces were working to contain both the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban as the country's ambassador to the US underscored that Islamabad did not share the militants ideology for the region.
"The Pakistani intelligence services are working effectively to contain all the terrorists, including the Taliban from Afghanistan and Pakistan," Ambassador Husain Haqqani said, brushing aside WikiLeaks' reports suggesting that the Pakistani intelligence services had links to the Afghan militants.
"Over the last two years, Pakistan and the US have entered into a special collaborative relationship," he said while appearing in the CNN's GPS programme, aired on Sunday.
Full report at:
http://www.thenews.jang.com.pk/8-2-2010/69337.htm
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US 2011 drawdown in Afghanistan will be ‘limited’
02 Aug, 2010
WASHINGTON: Amid growing clamor against the war in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert Gates cautioned Sunday that large numbers of US troops will remain in the country after a “limited” July 2011 drawdown.
Despite mounting casualties and public doubts, Gates said the US-led force was making headway in the war and Taliban insurgents would not be able to wait out American forces because a major troop withdrawal was not on the horizon.
“I think we need to reemphasize the message that we are not leaving Afghanistan in July of 2011,” said Gates, referring to a deadline set by President Barack Obama for the start of a withdrawal.
“My personal opinion is that drawdowns early on will be of fairly limited numbers,” he told ABC’s “This Week.”
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/21-us-2011-drawdown-in-afghanistan-wil-be-limited-sk-12
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US has plan to attack Iran: Mullen
02 Aug, 2010
COLOMBO, Aug 1: Sri Lankan police are cracking down on illegal FM radio stations broadscasting radical pro-Al Qaeda, pro-Wahabi and anti-Sufi programmes.
Three out of an estimated five such stations have been raided so far, according to media reports. These stations have neither obtained clearance from the Sri Lanka Telecom Regulatory Commission (TRC) nor have they brought in the foreign-made equipment legally.
The police have detected two stations in Puttalam and one in Beruwela, both Muslim-dominated localities near Colombo, according to Lakbimanews.
The illegal stations were running with the blessings of local Muslim politicians and elements in the government’s Religious Affairs Department, The Nation said.
In 2009, Beruwela saw a violent confrontation between followers of Sufis and Wahabi school of thought, in which two Wahabis were killed.
There have been clashes in Kattankudy, a Muslim majority town in the Eastern province, as well as Beruwela in the Western province. This year’s Sufi festival in Beruwela on July 12, was held under heavy police protection.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/international/us-has-plan-to-attack-iran-mullen-280
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Iraq civilian death toll almost doubles in July
02 Aug, 2010
BAGHDAD: The number of civilians killed by violence in Iraq almost doubled in July from June, a sign that insurgents may be trying to exploit political tensions after an election that produced no outright winner.
A total of 396 civilians were killed by bomb blasts or other attacks last month, after 204 died in June and 275 in May.
The July toll was a far cry from the dark days of all-out sectarian war in 2006/07 but remained high.
Overall violence has fallen sharply since the height of the sectarian war that followed the US-led invasion in 2003. But bombings and assassinations still occur on a daily basis.
Iraqi political parties are still trying to form a government after inconclusive parliamentary elections in March.
The monthly casualty statistics, issued by the interior, defence and health ministries, showed that 89 police officers, 50 soldiers, and 100 suspected militants were killed in July and another 955 militants were arrested.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/international/iraq-civilian-death-toll-almost-doubles-in-july-280
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Qaeda says it held talks on hostage killed in Sahara
02 Aug, 2010
ALGIERS: The leader of al Qaeda’s North African wing said in an audio recording the group had been negotiating the release of a hostage it executed last month, contradicting French officials who had said there were no talks.
Michel Germaneau, 78, was killed after a raid in the Sahara desert involving French troops failed to free him. France said it launched the raid because his captors had given no proof he was alive and did not engage in talks on his release. In an audio recording posted on radical forums, Abdelmalek Droudkel, the leader of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb – also known by the nom de guerre Abu Musab Abdul-Wadud, contested the French account.
“France’s president launched a cowardly military action while negotiations were under way to release Michel Germaneau,” said the voice on the recording. The recording’s authenticity could not be independently verified but the voice was the same as in previous recordings issued by Droudkel. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has promised to punish Germaneau’s killers and Prime Minister Francois Fillon said last week that France was at war with al Qaeda’s north African branch. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has denied there is any increased threat of militant violence in France following the raid and the hostage’s execution.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\08\02\story_2-8-2010_pg4_5
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Iraq Shia bloc rejects incumbent Maliki as PM
02 Aug, 2010
* Rejection major setback in process of forming a new govt
BAGHDAD: One of Iraq’s main Shia political blocs has rejected Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s claim to a second term and halted government formation talks until his party nominates a new candidate, politicians said.
Though expected, this is a major setback in the process of forming a new government at a time when civilian deaths are rising and US troops are planning to halt combat operations. Almost five months after Iraq held a parliamentary election meant to set it on a course towards stability after years of war, sanctions and insurgency, Iraqis are no closer to knowing who their next prime minister will be.
Full report at:
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\08\02\story_2-8-2010_pg4_6
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Iran says three jailed US hikers should stand trial
02 Aug, 2010
* Foreign Ministry spokesman says the Americans have been detained for illegal entry into Iranian territory
* Tehran rebuffs Obama’s call to free US detainees
TEHRAN: Iran reiterated on Sunday that the three Americans jailed a year ago should stand trial on charges of illegally crossing the country’s borders.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Iran is also considering other possible charges against Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal including intentionally acting against Iranian security, according to a state media report. There has been no indication from Iran so far that formal charges against the three have been filed.
The Americans’ families and the US government say the three are innocent and accidentally crossed Iran’s border while hiking in northern Iraq.
Full report at:
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\08\02\story_2-8-2010_pg20_1
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Shun ‘ill attempts’ to oust govt, PM tells Khaleda
02 Aug, 2010
DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday asked Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia to shun ‘ill attempts’ to topple the government and launch programmes that serve public interest.
Referring to BNP chairperson’s remark that the ground for greater unity of people and stronger movement has been created, she said, “Stop killing the innocent people in the name of creating ground.”
“How, being a Muslim, Khaleda Zia gives direction for burning another Muslim to death,” she questioned, referring to the death of Faruk Hossain in a pre-strike arson attack.
Faruk was allegedly killed by strike supporters who set fire to his taxicab near Moghbazar rail crossing on the night before the June 27 strike called by the BNP.
Full report at:
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\08\02\story_2-8-2010_pg20_6
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Blast in Gaza wounds 24 Palestinians
2 August 2010
GAZA - An explosion in the house of a Hamas commander in the Gaza Strip has wounded 24 people, a Hamas official and medical workers in the Palestinian territory said on Monday.
Hamas blamed Israel for the explosion, which it said targeted field commander Alaa al-Danaf. The Israeli military, through an army spokeswoman, denied any involvement.
Medical workers said the blast had wounded 24 people inside and outside al-Danaf’s house. It was unclear if he was killed in the blast, which occurred at a time of renewed cross-border violence between militants and the Israeli army.
A Hamas commander and rocket-maker was killed in an Israeli air strike at the weekend after a rocket fired from the enclave exploded in the Israeli city of Ashkelon.
Issa Batran, whose caravan was hit by a missile, was the first Hamas commander killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza since Israel wound up a three-week military offensive against the territory’s Hamas Islamist rulers in January 2009.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2010/August/middleeast_August19.xml§ion=middleeast
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High Iraq deaths cast doubt on US stability talk
2 August 2010
BAGHDAD — While concern is rising in the U.S. about the war in Afghanistan, the Americans are anxious to show evidence of progress in their other conflict — Iraq.
New Iraqi government figures tell a different story, however, showing civilian casualties hitting their highest level in more than two years — figures the U.S. rushed on Sunday to dispute.
The rejection of the figures, compiled by the Iraqi ministries of defense, interior and health, comes at a delicate time. The American military has pronounced Iraq’s security as stabilizing and is going ahead with plans to send home all but 50,000 troops by the end of the month, leaving Iraq’s nascent security forces in control. The last American soldier is due to leave by the end of 2011.
Full report at:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2010/August/middleeast_August18.xml§ion=middleeast
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Israel warns Hamas after rocket fire
2 August 2010
JERUSALEM — Israel’s prime minister issued a stern warning Sunday to Gaza’s Hamas rulers after a weekend of rocket attacks from the Palestinian territory on Israeli communities.
Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet that Israel holds the Islamic militant group responsible for the rare flare-up in violence and would retaliate for any attack against its people.
“I see the Hamas as directly responsible for any attack that comes from the Gaza Strip toward the state of Israel and the international community should see it this way as well,” Netanyahu said. “Israel reserves the right to defend its citizens and we will continue to use all means to protect the people of Israel and the children of Israel.”
The attacks, including a rocket fired Friday at an Israeli city six miles (10 kilometers) from Gaza, caused damage but no injuries. No Palestinian group took responsibility for the attacks.
Full report at:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2010/August/middleeast_August20.xml§ion=middleeast&col=
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Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim calls for end to sodomy trial over 'affair' claim
Aug 2, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Monday launched a bid to have sodomy charges against him struck out over allegations a female prosecutor had an affair with the star witness.
In a sensational twist, a junior prosecutor was dropped from the case last month after a leading political blog said she was romantically involved with Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 25, who has accused Anwar of sodomising him.
Anwar, a former deputy premier who was sacked and jailed on separate sex and corruption counts a decade ago, said the revelation was more proof that he is the victim of a conspiracy to end his career.
"It just supports our contention right from the beginning that this is all a farce, a politically motivated trial, trumped-up charges," he told reporters.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Malaysias-Anwar-Ibrahim-calls-for-end-to-sodomy-trial-over-affair-claim/articleshow/6246801.cms
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Women man border outposts
Yudhvir Rana
Aug 2, 2010
AMRITSAR: The women cadets in Border Security Force (BSF) are raising the bar. At a time when women are still waiting for permanent commission in the Army despite a government notification, they were recently made part of Beating the Retreat ceremony at Wagah. And now, they have been put on night vigil at our border outposts — after months of non-combat duty.
Considered the country’s second line of defence, border outposts are barely a couple of hundred feet inside the international border. It may not be long before BSF women recruits begin patrolling the international border round-the-clock.
During a visit to a border outpost near the Indo-Pak border in Amritsar district, TOI observed a young female constable on night duty. Fully alert and not displaying even a speck of fear, the young sentinel stated matter of factly, “What is there to fear? I am a trained soldier and always ready to challenge any miscreants or infiltrators from Pakistan.”
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Women-man-border-outposts/articleshow/6246074.cms
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For Indonesian Christians, Gatherings Bring Tension
By AUBREY BELFORD
Aug 2, 2010
BEKASI, INDONESIA — Sitting in the shade of a tree in an empty lot, the congregants raised their hymn books and, in response, the police, lined up in a ragged cordon, raised their riot shields. Sunday service was starting for the local Batak Christian Protestant Church and, for the third time in three weeks, the local authorities prepared for a clash.
Across the barricade, enraged young Muslim men in white skullcaps surged forward as the first song in praise of Jesus Christ chimed out. Using their own speakers, they tried to drown out the hymn with their own Arabic chant, “la ilaha ilallah” — there is no god but Allah.
Scenes such as this have become an increasingly frequent sign of religious tension across the Indonesian capital and its urban sprawl, home to more than 20 million people.
Full report at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/world/asia/30iht-indo.html?src=me&ref=world
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As Some Young Muslims Turn to Radicalism, Concern Grows
By SOUAD MEKHENNET
Aug 2, 2010
FRANKFURT — Before Abi left her parents’ house in northern Germany last year, she asked her father, “Daddy, what can I bring you from my journey?” He looked up from his book and answered, “Some perfumed oil.” “Will do,” she said, hugging him goodbye.
He is still waiting, more than a year later, for her to return.
Abi, now 23, and her husband never made the trip they said they had planned to Saudi Arabia to visit Mecca and Medina. Instead they became part of a growing number of young Muslims from Germany and other European countries who travel to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region, eventually ending up in the camps of groups affiliated with Al Qaeda or the Taliban.
One German man, Eric Breininger, was later reported killed in a battle with Pakistani troops.
A Turkish-language Web site announced that in recent days nine foreign fighters were killed as they traveled to carry out operations with the Taliban. Two of them were identified as Germans, from Bonn and Berlin.
Full report at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/31/world/europe/31muslim.html?src=me&ref=world
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Yemen's Shiite rebels free 100 soldiers: mediator
Aug 2, 2010
SANAA (AFP) - Yemeni Shiite rebels on Sunday set free 100 soldiers captured in recent fighting, days after announcing the release of 200 other troops, a mediator told AFP.
Sheikh Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ahmar said the latest batch of soldiers released had been held by the Huthi rebels in the region of Al-Amishiya in northern Amran province.
"They have arrived in my home town of Amran and are my guests," said Sheikh Hassan, a pro-government prominent tribal chief who helped to mediate the prisoners' release.
He said the rebels promised to free another 128 soldiers "tomorrow or the day after."
On Wednesday, the Shiite rebels let go 200 soldiers they had captured two days earlier and promised to release other prisoners, both civilian and military, in the coming days.
The rebels and the army engaged in deadly fighting in July that lasted nine days, rattling an already fragile truce agreed in February which had ended a six-month round of fighting in a conflict that started in 2004.
http://www.enews.ma/yemen-shiite-rebels_i182227_0.html
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Israel okays compromise on deporting migrant children
Aug 2, 2010
JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel on Sunday approved a compromise ministerial plan to deport 400 children of foreign workers while allowing another 800 to remain in the Jewish state, the prime minister's office said.
A majority of cabinet members approved the recommendation of a commission created by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in November 2009 to decide the fate of the children, all of whom were threatened with deportation.
According to the government's decision, children of migrant workers who have lived in the country for more than five years and who speak Hebrew will be allowed to remain in the country with permanent residency permits.
Full report at:
http://www.enews.ma/israel-okays_i182214_0.html
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Is fear of Islam the new McCarthyism?
By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite
Aug 2, 2010
Religious freedom and the right of free expression are the strongest source of power Americans have for combating radicals who use Islam as the excuse for their violent extremism. The struggle with such extremists will not, indeed cannot, be won with military force, but through the power of our values. If there is a "narrative" abroad in the world that justifies violence against the West because the West "hates Islam," the way to correct that narrative is with the practice of our cherished ideals of religious freedom and tolerance for diversity of opinion.
Instead, however, conservatives such as Newt Gingrich want us to reject not only violent extremists, but also Islamic ideas, especially ideas on religious law, that is, Sharia law. Full report at:
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2010/08/is_fear_of_islam_the_new_mccarthyism.html
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Immigrant Maids Flee Lives of Abuse in Kuwait
By KAREEM FAHIM
02 Aug, 2010
KUWAIT — With nowhere else to go, dozens of Nepalese maids who fled from their employers now sleep on the floor in the lobby of their embassy here, next to the visitors’ chairs.
In the Philippines Embassy, more than 200 women are packed in a sweltering room, where they sleep on their luggage and pass the time singing along to Filipino crooners on television. So many runaways are sheltering in the Indonesian Embassy that some have left a packed basement and taken over a prayer room.
And in the coming weeks, when Ramadan starts, the number of maids seeking protection is expected to grow, perhaps by the hundreds, straining the capacity of the improvised shelters, embassy officials say. With Kuwaiti families staying up into the early hours of the morning, some maids say they cook more, work longer hours and sleep less.
Full report at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/world/middleeast/02domestic.html?_r=1&ref=world
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Gates Cites Peril in Leak of Afghan War Logs by WikiLeaks
By ERIC SCHMITT and DAVID E. SANGER
02 Aug, 2010
WASHINGTON — Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates said Sunday that an announcement by the Taliban that they were going through classified military dispatches from Afghanistan posted by the Web site WikiLeaks “basically proves the point” that the disclosures put at risk the lives of Afghans who had aided American forces.
“Growing up in the intelligence business, protecting your sources is sacrosanct,” said Mr. Gates, a former director of the C.I.A. He said that while it was up to the Justice Department to investigate who supplied the documents to the Web site, run by Julian Assange, an Australian activist who is an outspoken opponent of American and NATO involvement in Afghanistan, he had been “mortified, appalled” at Mr. Assange’s willingness to make public documents that listed the names of individual Afghans.
Full report at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/world/02wiki.html?ref=world
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American and Iraqi Versions Differ in Latest Chapters of War’s Story
By TIM ARANGO
02 Aug, 2010
BAGHDAD — When gunmen ambushed Iraqi security checkpoints in a large Sunni neighborhood of Baghdad last Thursday, terrorized residents said the attack reminded them of the worst days of the war. The United States military said it was unaware of any gunfighting.
On Sunday, when The Associated Press reported that July was the worst month for Iraqi casualties in more than two years, the United States military denied it. Yes, Iraqis are still dying, the American command said, but in strikingly fewer numbers than Iraqi government ministries have told the news media.
Full report at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/world/middleeast/02iraq.html?ref=world
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WikiLeaks Guilty, At Least Morally - U.S. Defense Chief
02 Aug, 2010
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - WikiLeaks is at least morally guilty over the release of classified U.S. documents on the Afghan war, Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Sunday, as investigators broaden their probe of the leak.
The whistle-blowing website published tens of thousands of war records a week ago, a move the Pentagon has said could cost lives and damage the trust of allies by exposing U.S. intelligence gathering methods and names of Afghan contacts.
Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, the top U.S. military officer, appeared on television talk shows renewing those concerns amid fears WikiLeaks may publish more documents.
"My attitude on this is that there are two areas of culpability. One is legal culpability. And that's up to the Justice Department and others -- that's not my arena," Gates told the ABC News show "This Week with Christiane Amanpour."
Full report at:
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/08/01/world/international-uk-usa-afghanistan-wikileaks.html
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U.S. Cleared in Afghan Crash That Led to Rioting
By RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr. and MUJIB MASHAL
02 Aug, 2010
KABUL, Afghanistan — The Kabul police have cleared a United States Embassy vehicle of fault for a deadly collision on Friday that set off anti-American rioting near the embassy, a senior police official said Sunday.
After the crash, hundreds of enraged onlookers threw rocks, chanted “Death to America” and set ablaze two American vehicles.
The intensity of the response revealed the deep-seated hostility toward Americans and raised fears of a repeat of the pandemonium that swept the city and left 14 people dead after a fatal crash in May 2006. In that case, a truck in an American convoy plowed into a dozen Afghan cars and killed at least five people.
Full report at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/world/asia/02afghan.html?ref=world
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Israeli rabbis clamp down on Jewish burka
02 Aug, 2010
Israeli rabbis are to clamp down on the growing number of devout Jewish women wearing the burka by declaring the garment an item of sexual deviancy.
By Adrian Blomfield in Jerusalem
telegraph.co.uk
The move was prompted by the husbands of some burka-wearing women Photo: Tim Whitby / Alamy
At the insistence of the husbands of some burka-wearing women, a leading rabbinical authority is to issue an edict declaring burka wearing a sexual fetish that is as promiscuous as wearing too little.
A small group of ultra-orthodox Jews in the town of Beit Shemesh chose to don the burka, usually associated with women in repressive Islamist regimes, three years ago in a bid to protect their modesty.
Full report at:
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China says it disapproves of EU sanctions against Iran
02 Aug, 2010
BEIJING — China said Friday it opposed tough new sanctions imposed by the European Union on Iran over its contested nuclear programme, again calling for more talks to resolve the standoff.
"China disapproves of the unilateral sanctions put in place by the EU against Iran," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement.
"We hope the relevant parties will adhere to diplomatic means on the issue, and properly resolve the issue through talks and negotiation," she said.
The spokeswoman welcomed Iran's announcement that it was ready for immediate talks with the United States, Russia and France over an exchange of nuclear fuel, saying she hoped talks would begin "as soon as possible".
Full report at:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g9B4Wd8XyO9yUuJaV2rrgJaaaAag
10:13 PM
Sultan Shahin
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