Arab League says no progress in indirect talks

CAIRO: The head of the Arab League says indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians are failing and sees no chance for a shift to direct negotiations.

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Arab League says no progress in indirect talks

Obama: there is hope for Middle East peace

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama says there is hope for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, but that does not mean that he is blindly optimistic.

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Obama: there is hope for Middle East peace

Britain convicts 3 over airliner bomb plot

LONDON: A jury has convicted three British Muslims of conspiracy to murder in a plot to blow up passenger planes over the Atlantic Ocean.

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Britain convicts 3 over airliner bomb plot

UK pledges 665 m pounds aid to Pakistan

LONDON: British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said both his country and Pakistan enjoy a very positive and mutually supportive relationship which would continue in future as well.

Talking to the media during his visit to the Islamic Centre in Tooting, south west London on Thursday to support the re-election of Labour MP Sadiq Khan, he said this relationship has burnished and nurtured under the Labour Government.

Responding to a question on Kashmir, he said the UK position on the issue has been absolutely clear. “We support strong and improved relations between Pakistan and India and it is up to them to decide the matter through bilateral dialogues.”

Answering another question, the Foreign Secretary said there would be no cut in international aid even though the Labour Government has said that on winning May 6 general elections the public spending would be curtailed to reduce deficit.

“We are absolutely committed to meet the UN target of 0.7 per cent of national income going to the international development.”

He spoke of the 665 million pounds assistance being provided by Britain over the next four years to alleviate poverty in Pakistan through improvement in education and health facilities.

The Foreign Secretary said the UK Government, ahead of a crucial EU conference later this month, is backing Pakistan’s entry to a trade scheme which can bring benefits to it of around 250 million Euros a year.

Mr.Miliband rejected impression that vast majority of British Muslims are radicalised. On the contrary he said they are proud and committed British citizens who are getting education, jobs and totally committed to their community.

“The radicalization is among a small minority. The vast bulk of British Muslims are proud, committed, law abiding British citizens and we should celebrate for them.”

Earlier, addressing the community leaders, he lauded Pakistan-US strategic partnership and said this will help the South Asian country to tackle the issue of extremism and at the same time provide much needed economic assistance to revive Pakistan’s economy.

Afghan Taliban free Greek national

CHITRAL: Afghan Taliban militants have released a Greek NGO worker eight months after kidnapping him from Pakistan”s northern Chitral region on the Afghan border, a senior Pakistani official said Thursday.

Athanasios Lerounis, chairman of the Greek Volunteers, was kidnapped and his guard shot dead by gunmen outside his museum in the remote Kalash valley in September last year.

He has been working on a cultural project in the region since 2001, officials said.

The militants freed the man in Afghanistan”s Nuristan province and Pakistani officials brought him to Chitral Wednesday night.

“He is here. He looks fine. He is healthy,” the official said.

He said no ransom was paid.

While Chitral has been generally peaceful, it is opposite the insurgency-plagued Afghan provinces of Kunar and Nuristan.

Miliband lauds Pak-US strategic partnership

LONDON: British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said both his country and Pakistan enjoy a very positive and mutually supportive relationship, which would continue in future as well.

Talking to the media during his visit to the Islamic Centre in Tooting, south west London on Thursday to support the re-election of Labour MP Sadiq Khan, he said this relationship has burnished and nurtured under the Labour Government.

Responding to a question on Kashmir, he said the UK position on the issue has been absolutely clear. “We support strong and improved relations between Pakistan and India and it is up to them to decide the matter through bilateral dialogues.”

Answering another question, the Foreign Secretary said there would be no cut in international aid even though the Labour Government has said that on winning May 6 general elections the public spending would be curtailed to reduce deficit.

“We are absolutely committed to meet the UN target of 0.7 per cent of national income going to the international development.”

He spoke of the 665 million pounds assistance being provided by Britain over the next four years to alleviate poverty in Pakistan through improvement in education and health facilities.

The Foreign Secretary said the UK Government, ahead of a crucial EU conference later this month, is backing Pakistan’s entry to a trade scheme which can bring benefits to it of around 250 million Euros a year.

Miliband rejected impression that vast majority of British Muslims are radicalised. On the contrary he said they are proud and committed British citizens who are getting education, jobs and totally committed to their community.

“The radicalisation is among a small minority. The vast bulk of British Muslims are proud, committed, law abiding British citizens and we should celebrate for them.”

Earlier, addressing the community leaders, he lauded Pakistan-US strategic partnership and said this will help the South Asian country to tackle the issue of extremism and at the same time provide much needed economic assistance to revive Pakistan’s economy.

“Pakistan-US relationship is absolutely key. The two countries have forged a new security and economic relationship. We are very much and supportive of Pakistan economically, socially, economically and security wise,” he said.

Eid ul Azha Being Celebrated in Gulf

Eid ul Azha Being Celebrated in Gulf, Eid-ul Azha is being celebrated in Britain, Europe and Gulf States including Saudi Arabia with religious fervor. Some two million Hajj pilgrims have offered Eid prayers in Saudi Arabia.
The pilgrims will collect pebbles to throw at walls at the Jamarat Bridge on three occasions over the next three days in an act that symbolises the rejection of the devil’s temptations.
US President Barack Obama sent greetings on behalf of the United States to pilgrims performing Hajj in Saudi Arabia, and Muslims worldwide celebrating Eidul Azha.
Muslims in Britain are celebrating Eid with religious zeal and zest. UK’s Foreign Secretary David Miliband has offered his warmest regards to Muslims, both in the UK and all over the world, at this special time of year.
During his message the Foreign Secretary said he was proud of the consular support the UK offered British Muslims who have taken part in the Hajj and said that this time of year is an important time of reflection for Muslims all over the world.

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Eid ul Azha Being Celebrated in Gulf was first posted on November 27, 2009 at 11:11 am.