Photo: Hundreds of Muslims throng the temple on Ugadi day, offering prayers between 5 am and 6 pm. A typical offerering to the deity is Vepapathi, which is made of jaggery and sugarcane.
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India
The Hindu Temple in Andhra Pradesh Where Muslims Seek Blessings for Ugadi
The Attacks in Brussels Should Be Recognised As a Wake-Up Call For India
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Southeast Asia
UK And Nahdlatul Ulema Signed MoU to Cooperate On Promoting Religious Tolerance And Countering Extremism
Malaysian Christian Lawyer Loses Appeal to Practice in Sharia Courts despite Extensive Education in Islamic Law
Thailand Steps Up Security after Uighurs 'Linked To Terror' Visit
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Arab World
Israel, Terrorists Closely Cooperating in Quneitra
Several Terrorists Killed in Syrian Army's Heavy Shelling North of Aleppo
Hezbollah Hits ISIL's Military Positions in Lebanon's Al-Qalamoun Region
Ex-Egyptian Deputy FM: Turkey Main Culprit behind Spread of Terrorism in Region
People Paying $1,000 to ISIL to Escape Raqqa
Kerry's Remarks about Iranian Missiles Show US Paralysis
Syria: Gov't Forces Take Full Control of 500 Settlements in 6 Months
Deputy Chief of Staff Reiterates Iran's Military Advisory Role in Syria
Greek Minister Calls for Broader Ties with Tehran
Iran, Total Set to Seal Petchem Deal
Iraq's Popular Forces Advance in Kirkuk's Taza Region
EC Secretary: Iran's Defense, Missile Program Not for Negotiation
Former FM: Pakistan Attaches Great Importance to Ties with Iran
Islamic State begins releasing kidnapped workers - Syrian Observatory
Kerry Visits Baghdad as Iraq Grapples With Political Strife
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Mideast
Freedom House Criticizes Erdoğan Remarks on Revoking Citizenship
Turkish PM Reiterates AKP’s Determinacy for the New Charter
Turkey’s Top Election Body Refuses Ducks Blame on Massive Data Leak
Project to renew 2,700 buildings in clash-hit Cizre to cost $1.3 billion
Istanbul police seize guns at anti-drug association linked to ISIL
Israel sharpens Turkey travel warning over 'immediate threats'
Greece sends more migrants to Turkey
Court orders opposition MHP to hold extraordinary party congress
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North America
Islamic State Fighters in Libya Doubled But Militias Check Growth: U.S
Obama to Discuss Islamic State at CIA Next Week
What is it like being Muslim in Mississippi?
Danish govt seeks Syria travel ban after arrests
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Europe
Radicalization of a Promising Student Turned Bomb Maker in Brussels
FSB Detains Islamic State Recruiters in Russian Region
Report: Radical Islamist Enclave Growing In South-East Europe
France's public conversation on Islam grows more shrill
UK brands eye growing Muslim consumer market
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Pakistan
Fight against Terrorism in Balochistan ‘Bearing Fruit’
ATC Issues Non-Bailable Arrest Warrants of Musharraf
Mamnoon Says Nation United In Fight against Terrorism
Pakistan Navy inducts surface to sea 'Zarb' missile after successful test
Pakistan, China air forces launch joint training exercise
Junaid Jamshed 'forgives' his attackers
Panama Leaks: PAT to launch million email campaigns
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South Asia
33 Militants Killed In Latest Air and Ground Operations of Afghan Forces
Senior Taliban Leader among 10 Killed In Afghan Forces Raids in Nuristan
Al-Qaeda Offshoot Claims Responsibility for Killing Bangladeshi Student
Deadly explosion plot to target Friday prayers thwarted in Nangarhar
Police Rescue 17 Civilians Kidnapped By Taliban in Herat Province
Afghan MPs approve Farid Hamidi as new Afghan Attorney General
Top Taliban leader Mullah Zakir proposes peace talks with Afghan govt and US
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Africa
ISIS Expanding in African Nations after Jahba Pledges Allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Guyana and Suriname to take part in Islamic summit
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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The Hindu temple in Andhra Pradesh where Muslims seek blessings for Ugadi
April 9, 2016
Located 120 km from Tirupati, the temple’s presiding deity is Lord Venkateswara
The practice of faith in India is so complex that it brings us many delightful surprises of cross-community rituals. One such instance are the Muslims who visit the Devunkadapa temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Kadapa district.
Located 120 km from Tirupati, the temple’s presiding deity is Lord Venkateswara, whom the Muslims treat as their son-in-law.
They believe that Lord Balaji married a Muslim woman named Bibi Nancharamma, who was the daughter of a general named Malik Kafur in 1311 AD.
People from Ananthapur, Chittoor and other districts make the annual pilgrimage.
thenewsminute.com/article/hindu-temple-andhra-pradesh-where-muslims-seek-blessings-ugadi-41374
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UK And Nahdlatul Ulema Signed MoU to Cooperate On Promoting Religious Tolerance And Countering Extremism
April 8, 2016
In the modern world, all countries had to deal with extremism, UK Ambassador to Indonesia Moazzam Malik said, adding that in doing so, the countries could learn from each other.
Indonesia had firsthand experience in promoting pluralism and moderation in religious practice, Malik said, adding that countering growing extremism required a concrete international program.
Islam Nusantara, the tolerant concept of Islam with an Indonesian spirit promoted by NU, is a strong platform to counter the radical interpretation of Islam that had become the roots of terrorism around the world, Malik said.
Through the cooperation, the UK did not only want to learn about the concept of progressive Islam Nusantara, but also wanted to encourage NU to spread its moderate and Islamic values to the world.
As the largest Islamic organization in the most populous country in Southeast Asia, NU introduced the concept of Islam Nusantara in 2015, aiming to create a genuine identity for Indonesian moderate Muslims that is different from that of Muslim societies in the Middle East.
NU chairman Said Aqil Siroj said through Islam Nusantara, the organization wanted to disseminate Islamic values combined with nationalism, since both concepts, when applied together, would make each other stronger.
"In conclusion, NU bases its values also on Pancasila, which is a form of tolerance," Said said.
Ulema (Muslim scholars) contributed more to society in Indonesia than in the Middle East, even though Indonesian ulema did not have high proficiency about Islam as a religious teaching compared to those in the Middle East, Said explained.
Aside from signing the MoU, the UK Foreign Ministry in cooperation with NU also started an exchange student program to enhance personal cooperation between Islamic universities in Indonesia and Islamic institutions in the UK.
"It is very important for people in the UK to see Islam in Indonesia," Malik asserted.
During the signing of the MoU, Malik was awarded honorary NU membership for being a foreign Muslim who promotes moderate Islamic values.
thejakartapost.com/news/2016/04/08/uk-nu-sign-mou-to-promote-religious-tolerance.html
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Israel, Terrorists Closely Cooperating in Quneitra
Sat Apr 09, 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- A glance at the developments in Quneitra, Syria's smallest province, shows the depth of cooperation between Israel and the terrorist groups to overthrow the Damascus government.
Israel occupied over 80 percent of Quneitra province in the six-day war in 1967; after this war about 1,000 UN peace-keeping troops were stationed in the Golan Heights to oversee truce between Syria and Israel.
The Syrian government was only given a small part of the province and the city of Quneitra.
After the start of the Syrian crisis in 2011, the terrorist groups backed by Israel tried several times to take control of Quneitra city, but to no avail.
In 2015, the western countries supporting the terrorist groups in Syria set up an operations room in the Jordanian capital, Amman, to hatch plots to occupy Quneitra city.
At last, the terrorist groups backed by Israel managed to enter the Quneitra province and occupy Quneitra city and a border crossing there by penetrating through the occupied Golan Heights.
The terrorists abducted several UN peace-keeping forces after taking control of Quneitra border crossing last year.
The Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television also directly covered the terrorists' control over Quneitra province which showed the close relation between West and its Arab allies to disrupt Syria's stability.
Meantime, international organization kept silent on Israel's blatant violation of international law while Israel voiced its satisfaction over Syrian government troops' withdrawal from Quneitra which clearly showed close relations between Israel and the terrorist groups.
After the fall of Quneitra, the Syrian army foiled the terrorists' plots to take full control of the strategic town of al-Ba'ath and the Hamidiyeh military base.
However, the villages bordering the Golan Heights and Hamidiyeh military base fell as a result of Israel's continued support for the terrorists and the terrorists established a supply route between Quneitra and Dara'a province.
The fall of Hamidiyeh military base and the villages bordering occupied Golan Heights helped the terrorists to take control of the town of al-Harreh and a strategic hill with the same name.
Meantime, the terrorists tried to break the Syrian army's siege of Beit Jen and Sasa towns and their surrounding villages, but they failed due to the vigilance of the resistance and popular forces.
If the terrorists had managed to break the siege of Beit Jen and Sasa towns, they could have paved their way to Damascus.
The terrorists have tried to break the Syrian army's siege of the towns controlled by the terrorists and attack Damascus by occupying al-Ba'ath and Khan Arnaba towns in Quneitra countryside, but each time they have failed to achieve their goal.
In a relevant development in late January, Charge d’affaires of the Syrian delegation to the UN Munzer Munzer denounced the deliberate inaction to compel Israel to end its occupation of the Arab territories and its flagrant violations of the international norms.
Addressing the Security Council session on “The Situation in the Middle East”, Munzer said no slight progress has been made to the effect of ending the Israeli occupation despite the hundreds of resolutions endorsed by the UN demanding Israel’s withdrawal from all the occupied Arab territories to the line of June 4, 1967.
The situation has deteriorated due to Israel’s suppressive and hostile practices against the Palestinian people and its continued settlement activities and systematic violations of the international humanitarian law, human rights laws and the international law, practices that have amounted to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The Syrian diplomat stressed that the UN should bear its responsibilities to deal seriously with the bitter situation resulting from the similar Israeli barbaric practices imposed in the occupied Syrian Golan since 1967, in implementation of its relevant resolutions, particularly the UNSC resolution no. 497 for 1981.
Israel, Munzer said, must be pressured to stop its settlement policy, confiscation of lands, terrorism, racial discrimination and theft of the natural resources in Golan, including water, oil and gas.
He also demanded that Israel be compelled to end its arbitrary arrest policy against the Syrian people in the Golan and immediately release all the Syrian prisoners in its jails without any conditions, on top of them prisoner Sudqi al-Maqt, who was rearrested in February 2015 for his work on verifying the Israeli occupation forces’ connection with and support to the armed terrorist groups in the disengagement zone after he had already spent over 27 years in the Israeli jails.
en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950121000769
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Freedom House Criticizes Erdoğan Remarks On Revoking Citizenship
Apr 08 2016
Democracy watchdog organization Freedom House issued a press release on April 6 criticizing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent statements on stripping “terrorist sympathizers” of their citizenship.
“This is a chilling escalation that should put the international community on notice that Turkish democracy is at a breaking point. Turkey already suffers from overly broad and overly vague definitions of terrorism and terror propaganda that have left thousands of people subject to arbitrary justice. Stripping citizenship from people in a state where authorities routinely ignore the rule of law will lead to more violence,” Mark P. Lagon, Freedom House’s president, said in the press release.
During a speech on April 5, Erdoğan lashed out at academics, journalists, politicians and civil servants who, he believes, support terror groups, saying the state does not have to “carry anyone who is in treason to the state and nation on its back.”
“We have to be determined to take all measures including revoking citizenship in order to eliminate supporters of the terrorist group. They cannot even be our citizens,” said Erdoğan in his remarks, which were followed by statements from Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ noting that required work would be done in that regard.
hurriyetdailynews.com/freedom-house-criticizes-erdogan-remarks-on-revoking-citizenship-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=97525&NewsCatID=339
---
India
The Hindu temple in Andhra Pradesh where Muslims seek blessings for Ugadi
April 9, 2016
Located 120 km from Tirupati, the temple’s presiding deity is Lord Venkateswara
The practice of faith in India is so complex that it brings us many delightful surprises of cross-community rituals. One such instance are the Muslims who visit the Devunkadapa temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Kadapa district.
Located 120 km from Tirupati, the temple’s presiding deity is Lord Venkateswara, whom the Muslims treat as their son-in-law.
They believe that Lord Balaji married a Muslim woman named Bibi Nancharamma, who was the daughter of a general named Malik Kafur in 1311 AD.
People from Ananthapur, Chittoor and other districts make the annual pilgrimage.
thenewsminute.com/article/hindu-temple-andhra-pradesh-where-muslims-seek-blessings-ugadi-41374
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The attacks in Brussels should be recognised as a wake-up call for India
8 April 2016
An attack claimed by Islamic Caliphate in Brussels has yet again brought attention to the growing menace of radicalisation among younger Muslims which, needs to be addressed and tackled with greater focus while ensuring innocent people are not targeted.
Muslim clerics, at last month’s World Sufi Forum addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, spoke about the greatness of a religion in whose name radicalised Muslims have taken extreme steps that are against the teachings of Quran.
Sympathisers
Full report at: dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-3530751/The-recent-attacks-Brussels-wake-call-India.html
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Southeast Asia
UK And Nahdlatul Ulema Signed MoU to Cooperate On Promoting Religious Tolerance And Countering Extremism
April 8, 2016
In the modern world, all countries had to deal with extremism, UK Ambassador to Indonesia Moazzam Malik said, adding that in doing so, the countries could learn from each other.
Indonesia had firsthand experience in promoting pluralism and moderation in religious practice, Malik said, adding that countering growing extremism required a concrete international program.
Islam Nusantara, the tolerant concept of Islam with an Indonesian spirit promoted by NU, is a strong platform to counter the radical interpretation of Islam that had become the roots of terrorism around the world, Malik said.
Through the cooperation, the UK did not only want to learn about the concept of progressive Islam Nusantara, but also wanted to encourage NU to spread its moderate and Islamic values to the world.
Full report at: thejakartapost.com/news/2016/04/08/uk-nu-sign-mou-to-promote-religious-tolerance.html
---
Malaysian Christian Lawyer Loses Appeal to Practice in Sharia Courts Despite Extensive Education in Islamic Law
Apr 09 2016
Christian lawyer Victoria Martin lost her appeal to be able to represent clients in sharia (Islamic law) courts, the Morning Star News reported.
Martin wanted to be able to practice in sharia court, because if any Malay (who are inherently Muslims as per the country's constitution) wanted to leave Islam, he or she would have no option to be represented by a non-Muslim lawyer.
Any ethnic Malay who wishes to leave Islam is relegated to a 'non-Malay' status, and has to undergo trial at the Islamic court, from which they are sent to "re-education" camps. Finally, as a matter of norm, their request to change religion is rejected.
Full report at: gconew.com/world/296964/malaysian-christian-lawyer-loses-appeal-to-practice-in-sharia-courts-despite-extensive-education-in-islamic-law.html
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Thailand steps up security after Uighurs 'linked to terror' visit
09 Apr 2016
BANGKOK: Thai police have stepped up security after two ethnic Uighur men from China linked to "foreign terror groups" visited a holiday island, a senior officer said on Saturday.
Fears of a militant attack in Southeast Asia have risen recently, especially after the Islamic State group claimed an attack in the Indonesian capital in January in which eight people, four of them attackers, were killed.
"At the end of March, two Uighurs came to Phuket and stayed one night and then left Thailand," police Lieutenant General Suchart Teerasawat told Reuters, referring to a tourist island on Thailand's Indian Ocean coast.
"These two have links to foreign terror groups", he said.
Suchart said police did not have information about who the Uighurs met or where they went on the island.
"We're investigating this. After staying one night the pair travelled to Malaysia and Indonesia. We understand they were eventually caught in Indonesia," he said.
Suchart said authorities were also investigating several ethnic Chechens following reports last week that some were on Phuket.
Full report at: channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/thailand-steps-up-securit/2681168.html
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Arab World
Israel, Terrorists Closely Cooperating in Quneitra
Sat Apr 09, 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- A glance at the developments in Quneitra, Syria's smallest province, shows the depth of cooperation between Israel and the terrorist groups to overthrow the Damascus government.
Israel occupied over 80 percent of Quneitra province in the six-day war in 1967; after this war about 1,000 UN peace-keeping troops were stationed in the Golan Heights to oversee truce between Syria and Israel.
The Syrian government was only given a small part of the province and the city of Quneitra.
After the start of the Syrian crisis in 2011, the terrorist groups backed by Israel tried several times to take control of Quneitra city, but to no avail.
In 2015, the western countries supporting the terrorist groups in Syria set up an operations room in the Jordanian capital, Amman, to hatch plots to occupy Quneitra city.
At last, the terrorist groups backed by Israel managed to enter the Quneitra province and occupy Quneitra city and a border crossing there by penetrating through the occupied Golan Heights.
Full report at: en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950121000769
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Several Terrorists Killed in Syrian Army's Heavy Shelling North of Aleppo
Sat Apr 09, 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian Army's artillery units opened heavy fire at the terrorist groups' strongholds near a Palestinian refugee camp in the Northern countryside of Aleppo city and inflicted a major death toll on the terrorists.
The terrorist groups' positions near Handarat camp came under the heavy shelling of Syrian artillery, which ended in the killing of at least 14 terrorists and wounding of many more.
Earlier reports said that the Syrian Army inflicted a heavy death toll on al-Nusra Front in the Northern city of Aleppo's neighborhoods and pushed the terrorist group back from battlefield.
The Syrian army's offensives on the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra in al-Rashedin in the Western part of Aleppo city faced the terrorist group a heavy death toll and ended in destruction of their military hardware.
Full report at: en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950121001065
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Hezbollah Hits ISIL's Military Positions in Lebanon's Al-Qalamoun Region
Sat Apr 09, 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement attacked the ISIL's military positions in Al-Qalamoun region of Lebanon on Saturday.
The ISIL's military positions were razed down by Hezbollah's artillery fire in Abu Hadish mountainous area of Jaroud al-Jarajir region in the Western part of Al-Qalamoun region.
ISIL's arms and ammunition depot was also destroyed in the Hezbollah attacks.
Scores of ISIL terrorists were killed and wounded in the artillery attack.
The ISIL terrorists have been present along the Syria-Lebanon border, specially in Jaroud region, since several months ago.
Full report at: en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950121000473
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Ex-Egyptian Deputy FM: Turkey Main Culprit behind Spread of Terrorism in Region
Sat Apr 09, 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- Former Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Haridi blamed Turkey for the vast presence of terrorist groups in the region, specially Iraq and Syria.
"Turkey's policies have led to the spread of the ISIL in Iraq and Syria and this extent of the ISIL infiltration and influence is the result of Turkey's direct and indirect support," Haridi told FNA on Saturday.
Noting that the international community is also fully aware of Ankara's support for the ISIL, he said, "Today Turkey is in a weak position."
Full report at: en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950121000222
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People Paying $1,000 to ISIL to Escape Raqqa
Sat Apr 09, 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- The ISIL extorts large sums from those Raqqa residents who intend to to abandon the terrorist group's stronghold city, media reports said.
Through their agents, the ISIL commanders receive $1,000 from each Syrian citizen in Raqqa in a bid to allow him/her to leave the ISIL-controlled city, the Arabic-language Sham news reported.
Residents of Raqqa say that the ISIL is facing a very bad financial situation and asks Raqqa residents for money on any possible excuse, the report said.
The ISIL has levied high taxes on Raqqa residents and the terrorists are looking to find people wrong to fine them in dollars accordingly.
Full report at: en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950121001040
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Kerry's Remarks about Iranian Missiles Show US Paralysis
Sat Apr 09, 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan underlined that US Secretary of State John Kerry's proposal to Tehran to hold talks on its missile program indicates Washington is in a state of paralysis and frustration with regard to Iran and its defense advancements.
"The Americans have always shown such behaviors and the US secretary of state's remarks can be studied from several aspects and show that the US is feeling passive and helpless with regard to Iran's defense capabilities and the the US-affiliates are feeling concern as they are watching the Americans' inability to support them," General Dehqan told reporters in Tehran on Saturday.
Full report at: en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950121000723
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Syria: Gov't Forces Take Full Control of 500 Settlements in 6 Months
Sat Apr 09, 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Russian Defense Ministry announced that the Syrian government forces have liberated some 500 settlements over the past six months and now control a significant part of the country.
"Over the past six months, government forces and patriotic militia, supported by the Russian air force, have liberated around 500 settlements, tens of thousands of square kilometers. A significant part of the territory is now controlled by government forces," Russian defense ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.
He added that most of the Lattakia region in Western Syria had been freed from terrorists, as well as major parts of the Hama and Homs regions and the city of Palmyra (Tadmur).
According to Konashenkov, many settlements are not only being liberated, but also agree to reconcile with the authorities thanks to the Russian reconciliation center's efforts.
"There are nearly 60 such settlements as of today, and another 20 are in active talks with representatives of the Russian center," he said.
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Deputy Chief of Staff Reiterates Iran's Military Advisory Role in Syria
Sat Apr 09, 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- Deputy Chief of Staff of Armed Forces Brigadier General Massoud Jazzayeri underlined that Iran is playing a military advisory role in Syria, elaborating on some recent reports about sending commandos to the war-hit Muslim state to fight against terrorism.
"Different sections of the (Iranian) Armed Forces are present in the region as advisors and it is nothing new," Jazzayeri told reporters in Tehran on Saturday in response to a question on the dispatch of commandos to Syria.
Elsewhere, he pointed to Iran's plans to stage several wargames in the Iranian new year (started on March 20), and said, "These drills will be held by the ground, naval and air forces according to the specified time-table."
His remarks came after an Iranian commander said earlier this month that the Army has dispatched a number of its commandos to Syria to help the war-hit country with advisory assistance against terrorism.
Full report at: en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950121000842
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Greek Minister Calls for Broader Ties with Tehran
Sat Apr 09, 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- Greek Minister of Labor, Social Insurance and Social Solidarity Georgios Katrougalos on Saturday said Athens is eager to expand ties with Iran in all spheres.
In a meeting with Iranian Ambassador in Athens Majid Motallebi Shabestari, Katrougalos said the two countries should cooperate more in social security and welfare, as well as job creation and economy.
Full report at: en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950121001079
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Iran, Total Set to Seal Petchem Deal
Sat Apr 09, 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- Director for Investment Affairs of the National Petrochemical Company (NPC) Amir-Hossein Fallah said Iran and the French energy giant Total will soon finalize talks over the development of a major petrochemical project.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Fallah said a top-level delegation from Total will visit Tehran in late April to finalize the deal.
Full report at: en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950121001054
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Iraq's Popular Forces Advance in Kirkuk's Taza Region
Sat Apr 09, 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iraqi popular forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) kicked off new special military operations in the Western part of the strategic village of Bashir, and made new military gains.
The Hashd al-Turkmani forces backed by artillery units advanced towards the Southwestern part of Bashir village.
Majority of the popular forces fighting against the terrorists in Taza region are Turkmen Shiites.
Full report at: en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950121000922
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EC Secretary: Iran's Defense, Missile Program Not for Negotiation
Sat Apr 09, 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- Secretary of Iran's Expediency Council Mohsen Rezayee lashed out at US Secretary of State John Kerry's interfering remarks about Tehran's missile program, underlining that the country's defense issues are no way open to negotiation.
"The Americans acted against the nuclear deal and aren’t qualified to talk about the regional issues, and Iran's missiles and our defense and missile program is not negotiable either," Rezayee, also a former top commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said in Tehran on Saturday.
Full report at: en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950121000583
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Former FM: Pakistan Attaches Great Importance to Ties with Iran
Sat Apr 09, 2016
TEHRAN (FNA)- Former Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar underlined that Iran enjoys a highly important position in her country's foreign policy.
"Iran has an important position in Pakistan's diplomacy and foreign policy and this hasn’t changed in the past years," Rabbani told FNA on Saturday.
She referred to the late March visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Islamabad, and said, "The visit removed ambiguities about relations between the two countries and proved that their friendly relations don’t change under any conditions and Islamabad's ties with Riyadh or any other countries cannot affect the strong, friendly and stable relations between the two neighboring states."
Full report at: en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950121000383
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Islamic State begins releasing kidnapped workers - Syrian Observatory
Fri Apr 8, 2016
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Islamic State fighters began releasing late on Friday some of the scores of cement plant workers they kidnapped northeast of Damascus this week, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.
Local municipality officials in two nearby towns managed to secure an agreement for IS to release 170 workers it had been holding since Wednesday, the Britain-based Observatory said.
IS seized the workers after launching an attack on Syrian government forces in the area where the cement plant is located, near the town of Dumeir.
Full report at: af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKCN0X5222
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Kerry Visits Baghdad as Iraq Grapples With Political Strife
April 8, 2016
BAGHDAD—Secretary of State John Kerry exhorted Iraq’s contentious political factions to quickly resolve internal wrangling that has distracted them from the fight against Islamic State during an unannounced visit to the country on Friday.
In a news conference here after meetings with Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi and other senior Iraqi officials, the U.S.’s chief diplomat said the militant group had suffered clear setbacks from the U.S.-led military campaign but remained a potent threat in the region and in its ability to launch terror attacks elsewhere.
“It is important to have a unified and functioning government as rapidly as possible in order to move forward, so that all of these operations are not affected and so that we give confidence to the coalition,” Mr. Kerry told reporters.
Full report at: wsj.com/articles/kerry-lands-in-baghdad-as-iraq-grapples-with-political-strife-islamic-state-fight-1460103813
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Mideast
Freedom House Criticizes Erdoğan Remarks On Revoking Citizenship
Apr 08 2016
Democracy watchdog organization Freedom House issued a press release on April 6 criticizing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent statements on stripping “terrorist sympathizers” of their citizenship.
“This is a chilling escalation that should put the international community on notice that Turkish democracy is at a breaking point. Turkey already suffers from overly broad and overly vague definitions of terrorism and terror propaganda that have left thousands of people subject to arbitrary justice. Stripping citizenship from people in a state where authorities routinely ignore the rule of law will lead to more violence,” Mark P. Lagon, Freedom House’s president, said in the press release.
Full report at: hurriyetdailynews.com/freedom-house-criticizes-erdogan-remarks-on-revoking-citizenship-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=97525&NewsCatID=339
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Turkish PM reiterates AKP’s determinacy for the new charter
Apr 08 2016
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has cited drafting of a new constitution as the most important pledge of their government to the Turkish people, as his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) having already moved to collect signatures for a constitutional amendment that would strip parliament members of immunity from prosecution and collectively review hundreds of outstanding dossiers.
“As we have openly stated during election rallies, the most important promise we have given to our nation is a new constitution. Our government’s primary goal is preparing a libertarian, democratic and just constitution which befits Turkey and our nation,” Davutoğlu said on April 8, while delivering a speech at a meeting in Istanbul to publicize reforms.
“We stand behind our promise we gave to our nation. Inshallah [God willing], we will make a civilian national constitution which everybody can call their own,” Davutoğlu said.
A commission set at the AKP has already begun preparations for the new constitution, with plans to accomplish the draft within few months so that “the public will have enough time to discuss its content.”
Full report at: hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-pm-reiterates-akps-determinacy-for-the-new-charter.aspx?pageID=238&nID=97535&NewsCatID=338
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Turkey’s top election body refuses ducks blame on massive data leak
Sat Apr 09 2016
Turkey’s top election authority has refused to take the blame for the leak of a database which appeared to contain personal information on nearly 50 million Turkish citizens, while a member of the main opposition party has suggested the leak was “an operation” by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government aiming to control the election system.
The explanation by Supreme Election Board (YSK) President Sadi Güven on April 8 came a few days after Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ said the number of people whose names had been leaked was comparable to the number of voters on the electoral register.
Implying there could be a political link, Bozdağ said earlier this week that the YSK shared information on the electoral register with all political parties.
“Where this was leaked from and finding out how it was leaked is what the investigation needs to focus on,” Bozdağ said.
Full report at: hurriyetdailynews.com/turkeys-top-election-body-refuses-ducks-blame-on-massive-data-leak.aspx?pageID=238&nID=97540&NewsCatID=509
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Project to renew 2,700 buildings in clash-hit Cizre to cost $1.3 billion
Sat Apr 09 2016
Justice and Development Party (AKP) government has initiated plans to demolish and rebuild a total of 2,700 houses in the Cizre district of southeastern Şırnak province after 78 days of anti-terror operations against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) severely damaged residential areas.
The project, estimated to cost some 4 billion Turkish liras ($1.3 billion), sparked criticism among a group of residents who demand increased transparency.
The district governorate in Cizre sent a notification to locals, asking that they vacate their houses immediately, in order to initiate efforts to demolish and rebuild the district’s damaged houses as part of an urban transformation project.
Full report at: hurriyetdailynews.com/project-to-renew-2700-buildings-in-clash-hit-cizre-to-cost-13-billion.aspx?pageID=238&nID=97543&NewsCatID=341
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Istanbul police seize guns at anti-drug association linked to ISIL
Sat Apr 09 2016
Istanbul police on April 8 seized seven shotguns and 16 handguns at a youth association which is suspected to have links with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Police raided the Şehremini Youth and anti-Drug Association in the Fatih district and the homes of its founders upon an anonymous tip that guns were stashed in the association’s building.
Full report at: hurriyetdailynews.com/istanbul-police-seize-guns-at-anti-drug-association-linked-to-isil.aspx?pageID=238&nID=97559&NewsCatID=509
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Israel sharpens Turkey travel warning over 'immediate threats'
Apr 09 2016
Israel on April 8 reissued and accentuated a warning to its citizens to avoid Turkey over the "immediate risks" of attacks, weeks after three Israelis were killed in an Istanbul suicide bombing.
"Following a situational assessment, we are reiterating and sharpening the high level of threat in Turkey," the counter terrorism bureau said.
Its warning came hours after the Turkish foreign ministry announced "progress towards finalizing the agreement" on restoring ties with Israel, a day after both sides held talks in London.
"There are immediate risks of attacks being carried out in the country, and we stress the threat applies to all tourism sites in Turkey," Israel's counter terrorism bureau said in a statement.
Full report at: hurriyetdailynews.com/israel-sharpens-turkey-travel-warning-over-immediate-threats-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=97557&NewsCatID=510
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Greece sends more migrants to Turkey
Apr 08 2016
Greece deported a second batch of migrants to Turkey on April 8 under an EU-Turkey deal to stem mass migration to the bloc, as Germany announced a sharp drop in asylum claims.
Greek officials said two boats carrying 124 migrants – most of them Pakistani men – had been sent back across the Aegean Sea where hundreds have lost their lives in a quest to reach Europe.
A small group of activists leapt into the water, clutching onto the anchor of the first ferry in an unsuccessful bid to stop the deportation, while a group of protesters chanted “EU, shame on you” and “Freedom for the refugees.”
Hours later, the boats arrived in the Turkish harbor town of Dikili, where security officials escorted the downcast migrants, clutching blankets and with small backpacks on their shoulders, off the vessels.
A Greek government statement said the migrants included 111 Pakistanis, four Iraqis, citizens of Bangladesh, India, Morocco and Egypt, as well as a man claiming to be of Palestinian origin.
One of the Pakistanis was not accepted by Turkish authorities at Dikili for undisclosed reasons and was returned to Lesbos, the statement said.
Full report at: hurriyetdailynews.com/greece-sends-more-migrants-to-turkey.aspx?pageID=238&nID=97521&NewsCatID=341
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Court orders opposition MHP to hold extraordinary party congress
Apr 08 2016
An Ankara court has accepted the demands of dissident Nationalist Movement Party’s (MHP) members to force an extraordinary party congress, appointing a three-member panel, consisting of Mehmet Bilgiç, Ayhan Erel and Ali Sağır, to organize the congress.
“They used the jurisdiction way, now we are going to start to use it. We will appeal against the decision,” MHP leader Bahçeli said on April 8, after the court’s ruling. Speaking to journalists, Bahçeli added that the party’s next congress would be on the scheduled day, which is on March 18, 2018 and the extraordinary congress “won’t be held.”
“The attempt to appoint a trustee panel to a party in the parliament is a ruling that is surprising. We don’t see the court’s ruling as the right decision and result in terms of law. We will appeal against the decision and will take it to an upper court,” MHP Deputy Chairman Semih Yalçın said on CNN Türk.
The party members filled the corridors of the courthouse before the first hearing was held. Only the lawyers of the parties involved in the case were allowed in the courtroom, while journalists were barred from entering.
The police took security measures in front of the courthouse and in the corridor.
Speaking to journalists about the court’s decision, one of the former MHP lawmakers who expressed his intention to run for party leadership, Sinan Oğan, urged Bahçeli to summon all the candidates and create a consultation mechanism.
“According to MHP’s bylaw, an absolute majority is needed in the first round, which means more than 600 votes are needed. I think the mergers will be in the second or third rounds. The person who gets the most of the votes in the third round will win. Mergers will definitely take place. We trust ourselves and we think that we will come out of the congress with success. There certainly won’t be a fight in our congress. We’ll start our preparations for the walk to the government,” Oğan said.
Full report at: hurriyetdailynews.com/court-orders-opposition-mhp-to-hold-extraordinary-party-congress.aspx?pageID=238&nID=97531&NewsCatID=338
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North America
Islamic State fighters in Libya doubled but militias check growth: U.S
Fri Apr 8, 2016
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Islamic State has doubled its fighters in Libya to between 4,000 and 6,000 in the last 12 to 18 months but militias in the North African nation have limited the hardline militants' growth, the commander of U.S. forces in Africa said on Thursday.
Islamic State's stronghold in Libya is the city of Sirte but it also has a presence in Derna and Benghazi in the east and Sabratha in the west, General David M. Rodriguez, head of U.S. Africa Command, told a news briefing.
"In Benghazi and Derna, (Libyan armed groups) have fought back against the Islamic State and made it much tougher for them to operate, as well as in Sabratha," he said.
"They are contesting the growth of ISIS in several areas across Libya," Rodriguez said, citing U.S. intelligence assessments for the growth of Islamic State, also known as ISIS.
Full report at: af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKCN0X50K7?sp=true
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Obama to discuss Islamic State at CIA next week
APR 9, 2016
US President Barack Obama will convene a meeting of his National Security Council next week at the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters to review the fight against Islamic State militants, the White House said on Friday.
The meeting, to be held on Wednesday, comes as the administration weighs a plan to increase the number of US special operations forces deployed to Syria to try to advance recent gains against Islamic State.
Full report at: jpost.com/Breaking-News/Obama-to-discuss-Islamic-State-at-CIA-next-week-450680
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What is it like being Muslim in Mississippi?
April 8, 2016
In the South, for some, religion is a way of life.
Each week, thousands gather at their chosen places of worship and bow their heads in prayer.
For a group of Mississippians, their reverence occurs not in churches or synagogues but in mosques around the state.
Approximately 5,000 Muslims live in Mississippi, according to data collected from the 2010 census by the U.S. Religion Census.
Those who practice the Islamic faith are doctors and lawyers, mothers and fathers, and active members of the community with a love of God and country just like their neighbors of different beliefs, said Emad Al-Turk with the International Museum of Muslim Cultures.
April is Islamic Heritage Month, and in an effort to reach out to the community, the museum is hosting a series of events to share the Muslim faith with Mississippians. All events are free and open to the public.
Full report at: clarionledger.com/story/news/2016/04/08/what-like-being-muslim-mississippi/82606346/
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Danish govt seeks Syria travel ban after arrests
APR 9, 2016
Denmark's government said on Friday (April 8) it wanted to ban travel to areas where terror groups were operating in conflict zones in a bid to facilitate the prosecution of fighters returning from Syria.
The move came in the same week that five men were detained in Denmark on suspicion of having joined the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria jihadist group while in Syria.
"It will simply be prohibited to set foot in certain areas," Justice Minister Soren Pind said in a statement.
Full report at: straitstimes.com/world/europe/danish-govt-seeks-syria-travel-ban-after-arrests
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Europe
Radicalization of a Promising Student Turned Bomb Maker in Brussels
APRIL 8, 2016
BRUSSELS — He attended Catholic school and studied electrical engineering. His immigrant family valued education and discipline. His brother carries the Belgian flag as a national martial arts champion.
But none of that stopped Najim Laachraoui from being drawn to the Islamic State, or from turning the technical skills that could have provided a bright future to building the bombs that, the authorities suspect, were used in the recent attacks in Paris and Brussels.
Mr. Laachraoui wheeled his handiwork into Brussels Airport on March 22 and, at age 24, blew himself up along with 15 bystanders, the authorities concluded after finding his DNA. Another attacker exploded a bomb nearby, and a third man detonated explosives on a subway, killing 17. The authorities suspect that bomb had also been made by Mr. Laachraoui.
Until that day, Mr. Laachraoui was an unseen yet central player and a crucial link between the cell that carried out the Paris attacks, organized by Abdelhamid Abbaoud, and the bombers in Brussels.
Full report at: nytimes.com/2016/04/09/world/europe/najim-laachraoui-paris-brussels-attacks.html
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FSB Detains Islamic State Recruiters in Russian Region
Apr,08 2016
The Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained recruiters for the Islamic State in Russia's southern Volgograd region, the Interfax news agency reported Friday.
One of the detainees was planning a terrorist attack in the region, according to an FSB spokesperson, Interfax reported.
The FSB and police officers in the town of Pallasovka said the so-called "Pallasovka Jamaat" was involved in recruiting people from the region to join the Islamic State in Syria.
Ammunition, explosives and other chemical compounds were seized from the detainees' residence, as well as religious and extremist texts, Interfax reported.
The Islamic State is a terrorist group banned in Russia.
themoscowtimes.com/news/article/fsb-detains-islamic-state-recruiters-in-russian-region/565145.html
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Report: Radical Islamist Enclave Growing In South-East Europe
9 Apr 2016
Balkan state and European Union neighbour Bosnia is a “safe-house for radicals” and enjoys a “stable terrorist infrastructure” according to a major German news magazine.
From a population of just 3.8 million an estimated 300 individuals have left 45-per-cent-Muslim Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslavian republic, to join the Islamic State. The only nation which has sent more citizens per-capita to the Islamic State is Belgium.
Not only is the nation a feeder state to ISIS, but it is also an exporter of terror and munitions to Western Europe. A profile by German news magazine Spiegel reports findings by the Bosnian security ministry which showed weapons used to attack the Charlie Hebdo offices and the Bataclan concert hall, both in Paris, had come from the nation.
Now quoting a former National Security Agency (NSA, U.S.A.) officer and expert on the region, the Spiegel article has cast Bosnia as a “sanctuary” for Islamic State fighters and leaders. John Schindler told the magazine that Bosnia is now “considered something of a ‘safehouse’ for radicals”.
Full report at: breitbart.com/london/2016/04/09/report-radical-islamist-enclave-growing-south-east-europe/
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France's public conversation on Islam grows more shrill
09/04/2016
There's a strange mood in France these days. Memories of the November terrorist strikes on Paris, which left 130 people dead, are still raw.
The state of emergency declared in the aftermath of those attacks remains in place. Heavily armed soldiers patrol the streets and train stations of Paris and other major cities. People watch each other warily on public transport.
A new campaign has been launched urging young French to join the country's defence forces as a more overtly militaristic tone creeps into public and political debate. Not everyone is in favour. Many of the army recruitment posters have already been defaced.
In the midst of all this, the long, vexed conversation about Islam in France, home to Europe's largest Muslim population, is becoming more strained than ever. In the wake of the Paris attacks which were carried out by Isil affiliates, Nicolas Henin, a French journalist who was held hostage by the group in northern Syria until his release in 2014, warned his compatriots against falling into their trap.
Full report at: independent.ie/world-news/europe/frances-public-conversation-on-islam-grows-more-shrill-34612243.html
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UK brands eye growing Muslim consumer market
08 April 2016
From young start-ups to business giants, British entrepreneurs are eyeing a rapidly expanding global market for Muslim consumers with a range of brands from clothes to greetings cards to online gym courses.
In contrast to France, where there has been an angry debate about Muslim-specific consumer products, the approach in Britain seems more business-minded.
"Halal doesn't only apply to food but also to business ethics, dress etcetera," said Rauf Mirza, director of The Muslim Lifestyle Expo (MLE), which organises trade fairs on Muslim consumer trends.
The MLE this week organised a networking event bringing together 150 business leaders, experts and young entrepreneurs in central London to trade tips on the best way to profit from an expanding sector.
Full report at: worldbulletin.net/uk-brands-eye-growing-muslim-consumer-market/171382/uk-brands-eye-growing-muslim-consumer-market
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Pakistan
Fight against terrorism in Balochistan ‘bearing fruit’
Sat Apr 09 2016
QUETTA: Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti and Inspector General of Police Ahsan Mehboob have expressed their resolve to root out the menace of terrorism from the province.
Addressing a ceremony held on the completion of training of the 7th Badge of Balochistan Police and Constabulary on Friday, the minister said: “There is no room for terrorists and efforts to wipe out terrorism have started bearing fruit.”
Commending the role of security forces in restoring peace, he said the government had purged the police department of political interference. Incidence of targeted killings and kidnappings for ransom had also been brought under control, he added.
dawn.com/news/1251020/fight-against-terrorism-in-balochistan-bearing-fruit
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ATC issues non-bailable arrest warrants of Musharraf
Sat Apr 09 2016
ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf in the judges’ detention case.
The ATC judge, Sohail Ikram, issued the arrest warrants after observing that Gen Musharraf left the country without obtaining a prior permission from the court.
When the court resumed the hearing of the judges’ detention case, Musharraf’s counsel Akhtar Shah submitted a power of attorney.
Judge says former president left country without taking permission from court in judges’ detention case
However, the judge asked him about the whereabouts of his client.
The counsel informed the court that Musharraf had gone abroad for medical treatment with the permission of the government.
Full report at: dawn.com/news/1250905/atc-issues-non-bailable-arrest-warrants-of-musharraf
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Mamnoon says nation united in fight against terrorism
Sat Apr 09 2016
ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain said on Friday that all institutions were on the same page on various issues, including fight against terrorism and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
“The entire nation is united in the fight to eliminate terrorism, which has improved the reputation of the country and harmony and consensus among national institutions will keep improving with the passage of time,” the president said while addressing a group of trainee army officials at the presidency.
The Director General Military Training, Maj Gen Ali Abbas Haider and officials of Command and Staff College Quetta Cantonment, where army officials were being imparted training, were present.
Talking about Zarb-i-Azb operation, the president said the operation would continue till elimination of the last terrorist. He noted that National Action Plan had the consensus of the whole nation through which the menace of terrorism would be removed.
dawn.com/news/1251018/mamnoon-says-nation-united-in-fight-against-terrorism
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Pakistan Navy inducts surface to sea 'Zarb' missile after successful test
Sat Apr 09 2016
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy test fired the "Zarb" surface to sea missile aimed at consolidating its defence capability to thwart any possible aggression by adversaries from the Arabian sea.
"The missile was fired from a strategic point located at a coastal area which successfully hit its target in the Arabian sea," a spokesman for the Pakistan Navy Commodore Nadeem Bokhari said in a statement issued from naval headquarters in Islamabad.
Zarb missile was formally inducted into Pakistan's Navy defence system soon after its successful launch.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zakaullah termed the missile's successful test as an addition into PN's strategic power against the enemy and said that Pakistan Navy will continue its efforts to modernise itself to meet defence and security challenges of present day maritime world.
dawn.com/news/1251049/pakistan-navy-inducts-surface-to-sea-zarb-missile-after-successful-test
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Pakistan, China air forces launch joint training exercise
Sat Apr 09 2016
SHANGHAI: China's air force on Saturday began joint training exercises with that of Pakistan, China's defence ministry said, as the two nations' militaries strengthen operational ties.
The countries call each other "all-weather friends", with ties underpinned by long-standing wariness of their common neighbour, India, and a desire to hedge against United States influence in Asia.
"China's Air Force hopes to widen the scope of cooperation and dialogue with all countries and regions," the Chinese defence ministry said in a statement on its website, adding that the exercise, called "Shaheen V", would run until April 30.
China has also long urged Pakistan to weed out what it says are militants from Xinjiang, who may be holed up in the tribal areas on the Pakistan-Afghan border, a region home to a mix of militant groups.
Full report at: dawn.com/news/1251047/pakistan-china-air-forces-launch-joint-training-exercise
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Junaid Jamshed 'forgives' his attackers
Sat Apr 09 2016
ISLAMABAD: Singer-turned-evangelist Junaid Jamshed has "forgiven" the group of men who attacked him at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport last month.
Jamshed took to Twitter on Saturday to announce his decision to forgive the attackers, who assaulted him after claiming he had committed blasphemy.
Police had identified three men in connection with the attack, and one of them was arrested on Wednesday.
In a separate tweet, Jamshed called for treating each other with mutual respect "irrespective of our ideologies" and "make Pakistan a safe haven for everyone".
Jamshed was attacked at Islamabad airport when he arrived there on a flight from Karachi on March 26, Dawn newspaper reported.
Full report at: dawn.com/news/1251038/junaid-jamshed-forgives-his-attackers
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Panama Leaks: PAT to launch million email campaign
Sat Apr 09 2016
LAHORE: The Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) has decided to launch a “million email campaign” to request the chief justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice of the Panama Leaks and order a probe.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the PAT Punjab chapter held here on Friday, with provincial president Basharat Jaspal in the chair.
PAT activists were also asked to run an SMS campaign for the same purpose.
dawn.com/news/1251005/panama-leaks-pat-to-launch-million-email-campaign
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South Asia
33 militants killed in latest air and ground operations of Afghan forces Sat Apr 09 2016
Sat Apr 09 2016
Afghan operationsAt least 33 anti-government armed militants were killed in the latest clearance operations conducted by the Afghan National Security Forces.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the operations were jointly conducted by Afghan Army and security forces from the other institutions, including the Afghan Air Force.
According to an operational update by MoD, at least 12 militants were also wounded and 12 more were arrested by the security forces during the operations.
At least 6 of the militants were killed in air and ground raids in Charchino district of Uruzgan province, MoD said, adding that 5 more were killed in Atghar district of Zabul.
The update further added that 4 militants were killed and 8 others were wounded during a separate operation in Kunduz.
The Afghan forces also killed militants during separate operations conducted in Kandahar, Helmand and Khost provinces, MoD added.
According to MoD, at least 9 Afghan soldiers also lost their lives during the operations conducted to suppress the insurgency activities of the internal and external terror groups.
khaama.com/33-militants-killed-in-latest-air-and-ground-operations-of-afghan-forces-0591
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Senior Taliban leader among 10 killed in Afghan forces raids in Nuristan
Fri Apr 08 2016
A senior Taliban leader was killed along with 9 others during the counter-terrorism raids conducted by the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the operations were conducted in Nurgeram district jointly by the Afghan army and police forces who were receiving air support by the Afghan Air Force.
A statement by MoD said the Taliban group’s shadow district governor for Nurgeram was killed along with 9 other militants in the raids.
The statement further added that 3 militants were killed and 2 others were wounded during an operation in Kamdish district of Nuristan.
MOD also added that 25 militants were killed in a separate operation in Gomal district of Paktika province.
At least 16 militants were killed and 10 others were wounded during the operations in Andar and Qarabagh districts of Ghazni province, MoD said, adding 8 others were killed during Kunduz and Nangarhar operations.
According to MoD, at least 2 soldiers of the Afghan National Army (ANA) forces also lost their lives during the same operations.
The anti-government armed militant groups have not commented regarding the reports so far.
khaama.com/senior-taliban-leader-among-10-killed-in-afghan-forces-raids-in-nuristan-0584
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Al-Qaeda offshoot claims responsibility for killing Bangladeshi student
April 9, 2016
A banned Islamist group in Bangladesh tied to the Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent has claimed responsibility for the killing of a student opponent of radical Islam.
The killing of 28-year-old Nazimuddin Samad on Wednesday night follows a string of similar attacks last year, when at least five secular bloggers and publishers were killed allegedly by radical Islamists.
According to SITE Intelligence monitoring group, Ansar al-Islam, the Bangladesh division of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, or AQIS, said in a statement posted online on Friday that its members carried out the attack in "vengeance." It said that Samad "abused" God, the Prophet Muhammad, and Islam.
It cited three examples from Samad's Facebook page without giving the text of his posts.
"This operation was conducted to teach a lesson to the blasphemers of this land whose poisonous tongues are constantly abusing Allah, the religion of Islam and the Messenger under the pretext of so-called freedom of speech," the statement said. It could not be verified independently.
Full report at: indiatoday.intoday.in/story/al-qaeda-offshoot-claims-responsibilty-of-killing-bangladeshi-student/1/638541.html
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Deadly explosion plot to target Friday prayers thwarted in Nangarhar
Sat Apr 09 2016
mosque explosion thwarted in NangarharA deadly explosion plot by the anti-government armed militants to target the Friday prayers was thwarted by the Afghan security forces.
According to a statement by the provincial government media office, the militants were looking to target the mosque in Khewa district using a gas cylinder packed with explosives.
The statement further added that the explosives were defused by the Afghan security forces before the militants manage to target the worshippers.
The anti-government armed militant groups including the Taliban insurgents have not commented regarding the report so far.
This comes as at least 12 civilians were killed or wounded in an explosion in Khewa district last week.
Full report at: khaama.com/deadly-explosion-plot-to-target-friday-prayers-thwarted-in-nangarhar-0585
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Police Rescue 17 Civilians Kidnapped By Taliban In Herat Province
Sat Apr 09 2016
At least 17 people kidnapped by Taliban militants have been rescued by police forces in western Herat province of Afghanistan.
According to the local security officials, the Taliban militants abducted the civilians from Zindjan district of Herat as they were on their way for weekend break.
Provincial police spokesman Abdul Rauf Ahmadi confirmed that the civilians were abducted around 2 pm local time but they were rescued during an operation that lasted until 6 pm.
Meanwhile, reports suggest a member of the police was also among those abducted by the militants.
Full report at: khaama.com/police-rescue-17-civilians-kidnapped-by-taliban-in-herat-province-0586
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Afghan MPs approve Farid Hamidi as new Afghan Attorney General
Sat Apr 09 2016,
The Afghan parliament has approved Farid Hamidi as the new Attorney General during a voting process organized in the Lower House of the Parliament, Wolesi Jirga.
He unanimously approved for the post after receiving 200 votes of confidence from the lawmakers present during today’s session.
Hamidi was introduced to the Afghan parliament by Vice President Sarwar Danish last week along with the nominees for the Ministry of Interior and member of the Supreme court.
His appointment as Attorney General comes as presidential special envoy for good governance Ahmad Zia Massoud insisted on the vital role of fight against corruption during a gathering in capital Kabul last week.
In his speech during a gathering in Kabul, Massoud said over 1,500 corruption cases are lying in the Afghan Attorney General which needs immediate follow up.
Massoud warned that the international aid to Afghanistan would dry up if the government fails to acquire a political will to fight the corruption.
He suggested a comprehensive reform in the judiciary institutions of the country in a bid to curb the growing corruption in the country.
khaama.com/afghan-mps-approve-farid-hamidi-as-new-afghan-attorney-general-0590
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Top Taliban leader Mullah Zakir proposes peace talks with Afghan govt and US
Sat Apr 09 2016
A senior Taliban leader Mullah Qayum Zakir has proposed that the Taliban leadership should hold peace talks with the Afghan government, United States and other Western countries.
In a letter to the Taliban group’s council, Mullah Zakir has proposed that the Taliban group should adopt a new strategy for the movement’s internal and external policies.
The 12-point proposal form by Zakir also includes implementation of Islamic law, and improving military strategy and coordination within the group, according to Al-Jazeera.
Meanwhile, the Taliban group spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid has said the group has not received the proposal by Mullah Zakir so far.
Mujahid has further added that the group will not participate in talks with the foreign governments and will keep its focus on bring back Sharia law.
The proposal by Zakir comes amid ongoing efforts to revive the Afghan peace process which stalled following the confirmation of Mullah Omar’s death last year.
The Taliban group has rejected to participate in direct peace talks as proposed by Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) comprising of Afghanistan, United States, Pakistan and China.
khaama.com/top-taliban-leader-mullah-zakir-proposes-peace-talks-with-afghan-govt-and-us-0589
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Africa
ISIS Expanding in African Nations after Jahba Pledges Allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
04/08/16
An emerging terrorist group in East Africa pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State group Thursday in the latest sign the militant Muslim group is expanding across Africa. The group calling itself “Jahba East Africa” gave bayah, or an oath of allegiance, to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and recognized him as the “rightful khalifa (leader) of all Muslims.”
The group may be made up of former supporters of al-Shabab, a terrorist group linked to al Qaeda that controls much of Somalia and has carried out attacks in Kenya and other East African nations. A spokesperson said the group included fighters in Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and condemned al-Shabab for being a “psychological and physical prison,” according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors terrorist activity.
Full report at: ibtimes.com/isis-expanding-african-nations-after-jahba-east-africa-pledges-allegiance-islamic-2350791
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Guyana and Suriname to take part in Islamic summit
April 9, 2016
GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- The Western Hemisphere's only two members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Guyana and Suriname, will participate in next week's 13th Summit of the OIC from April 10-15 in Istanbul, Turkey.
The president and the foreign minister of Guyana are expected to travel to Turkey. Suriname’s President Desi Bouterse will be represented at the summit by foreign minister, Niermala Badrisingh.
Guyana and Suriname's growing ties with Turkey have increased economic and political contacts, so there may be high level participation these two Caribbean countries with significant Muslim population. Islamic holidays such as Youman Nabi and Eid-ul-Fitr are national holidays in these countries.
Full report at: caribbeannewsnow.com/headline-Guyana-and-Suriname-to-take-part-in-Islamic-summit-29950.html
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