New Afghan war commander makes debut in Kabul

KABUL: US General David Petraeus made his public debut Saturday as commander of the war in Afghanistan, attending the celebration of US independence Day at the heavily-guarded American embassy.

The four-star general, who arrived in the Afghan capital Kabul on Friday, wore military fatigues as he stood in a receiving line with ambassador Karl Eikenberry, greeting some of the 1,700 guests on the embassy lawn.

Petraeus, who replaced the sacked US General Stanley McChrystal, has said the near nine-year war in Afghanistan is likely to get tougher before significant improvements are seen.

World Father’s Day today

ISLAMABAD: Father’s Day, a beautiful festive occasion that acknowledges and appreciates the important role played by a father in raising the child and consequently building a stronger society is being celebrated today (Sunday).

Father’s Day is a day honouring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society.

It is celebrated on the third Sunday of June in 55 countries of the world and on other days elsewhere. It complements Mother’s Day, the celebration-honouring mothers.

Historians have recorded that there was a tradition to celebrate Father’s Day even thousands of years ago. Their study say that 4,000 years ago in Babylon a son called Elmesu carved a father’s day message on a clay card. In his message Elmesu wished his father a long and healthy life.

The tradition of celebrating Father’s Day as seen today originated in the twentieth century. Father’s Day festival is considered extremely important as it help acknowledge the contribution of fathers to individual families and to societies as large.

Besides observance of Father’s Day provide children an opportunity to express love and respect for their fathers. The sentiment goes a long way in strengthening father-child relationship and consequently in the emotional development of a child.

My Sweet Dad

Whenever I am angry whenever I am sad

Nobody cares for me except my dad

He reads my mind he stands by my side

There is no doubt that he is my proper guide

Whenever I make a mess or something goes wrong

He asks me not to worry and to be strong

He has all the qualities that a father should have

He is just perfect and he has no match

‘Best’ is the only word that describes his personality

This is the truth and the only reality

— Priscilla Ambrose

11 killed as militants storm Yemen jail

SANA: Four heavily armed militants thought to belong to Al Qaeda stormed their way into the intelligence headquarters of Yemen’s second-largest city on Saturday, killing at least 11 people, security officials said.

In a telephone interview, a witness outside the heavily guarded building, in an upscale neighborhood of government offices in Aden, a port city about 200 miles south of Sana, the capital, said that the gunmen had escaped with several detainees.

The witness spoke on the condition of anonymity because of fear of reprisals.

Security officials would not comment on whether anyone had been freed, but Qaeda suspects are often held there, they said.

The blatant attack highlighted American concerns that Yemen’s weak central government may not be up to the challenges posed by an increasingly effective foe who is often able to attack at will inside and outside the country.

“We were hit where we least expected it,” Yemen’s information minister, Hassan al-Lozy, told Al Arabiya news channel. “This is a serious escalation from these terrorist elements.”

No group claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack, which killed seven security officers, three women and a 7-year-old child, the Yemeni government. Said.

But on Friday, Al Qaeda issued a statement on militant Web sites threatening to “set the ground on fire under the tyrants of infidelity in Saleh’s regime and his U.S. collaborators,” a reference to Yemen’s president, Ali Abdullah Saleh.

11 killed as militants storm Yemen jail

SANA: Four heavily armed militants thought to belong to Al Qaeda stormed their way into the intelligence headquarters of Yemen’s second-largest city on Saturday, killing at least 11 people, security officials said.

In a telephone interview, a witness outside the heavily guarded building, in an upscale neighborhood of government offices in Aden, a port city about 200 miles south of Sana, the capital, said that the gunmen had escaped with several detainees.

The witness spoke on the condition of anonymity because of fear of reprisals.

Security officials would not comment on whether anyone had been freed, but Qaeda suspects are often held there, they said.

The blatant attack highlighted American concerns that Yemen’s weak central government may not be up to the challenges posed by an increasingly effective foe who is often able to attack at will inside and outside the country.

“We were hit where we least expected it,” Yemen’s information minister, Hassan al-Lozy, told Al Arabiya news channel. “This is a serious escalation from these terrorist elements.”

No group claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack, which killed seven security officers, three women and a 7-year-old child, the Yemeni government. Said.

But on Friday, Al Qaeda issued a statement on militant Web sites threatening to “set the ground on fire under the tyrants of infidelity in Saleh’s regime and his U.S. collaborators,” a reference to Yemen’s president, Ali Abdullah Saleh.

NKorea vows to blow up South propaganda facilities

SEOUL: North Korea vowed Saturday to launch an all-out attack against South Korean loudspeakers and other propaganda facilities along their heavily fortified border, warning it can even turn Seoul into a sea of flame.

Originally posted here:
NKorea vows to blow up South propaganda facilities

Israeli warplanes raid Gaza

GAZA CITY: Israeli warplanes launched six overnight raids on the Islamist-run Gaza Strip, Palestinian security officials and witnesses said, adding that nobody was wounded in the attacks.

An Israeli military spokesman said on Saturday only that two air raids had taken place, and that they targeted a tunnel in the south linking Gaza to Israel and a weapons workshop in the north.

The Palestinian sources said Israel carried out five air strikes in the southern part of Gaza near Rafah and the border with Egypt, as well as a sixth raid east of Gaza City.

Most of the tunnels dug by the Palestinians to evade the Israeli blockade connect the enclave with Egypt, but some also run to Israel, which says they are used by militants to launch attacks.

The Israeli spokesman said the raids were launched in response to recent rocket attacks from Gaza.

The enclave has been mostly quiet since the end of a devastating 22-day Israeli offensive in January 2009, but the past week has seen several incidents along the heavily guarded border.

At least 3 dead in suicide car bomb in Kabul

KABUL: A suicide car bomber attacked the heavily fortified Afghan capital early Tuesday, killing at least three people, police said.

Initial reports of the explosion in western Kabul indicated that U.S. vehicles were targeted, said Abdul Ghafor Sayedzada, the chief of the city police”s criminal investigation unit. The area around the blast site is also home to Afghan government buildings.

At least 12 wounded people were evacuated to hospitals, said Mirza Mohammad, a doctor who was treating the injured. Interior Ministry spokesman Zemeri Bashary said the blast wasnear the Afghan Ministry of Energy and Water.

Fire at US embassy in Pakistan: spokesman

ISLAMABAD: A fire broke out in the US chancery building in Islamabad on Sunday but there were no immediate reports of any casualties, a US embassy spokesman said, ruling out any terrorism in the incident.

“There was a small fire in the main chancery building,” embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire said. It had now been extinguished, he added.

“We have no report of any injuries or any casualties,” he said. The spokesman ruled out any act of terrorism in the incident.

“We don”t have any reason to believe it was terrorist related,” he said.

There was a small fire on the first floor of the chancery which is the main embassy building, he said.

The extent of damage was not immediately clear and the spokesman said an assessment was underway.

He said the embassy was evacuated but the number of staff leaving the building was not given.

The US embassy is in the heavily guarded diplomatic enclave. Access to the area is restricted.

US Consulate condemns Peshawar blasts

PESHAWAR: The US Consulate in Pakistan Monday condemned the blasts that apparently targeted the US Consulate building.

The US Consulate official said the Consulate is garnering information about the blasts.

Police and witnesses said at least three bombs exploded in quick succession close to the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar.

Gunfire was also heard close to the heavily guarded and fortified building in Peshawar, said police officer Aziz Khan.

Two of the blasts took place around 20 yards (meters) from the main entrance to the building, an Associated Press reporter close to the scene said.

The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad said it could not comment.

Local TV footage showed soldiers taking up defensive positions on the road outside the consulate. One soldier hit the ground in the middle of the road and began firing as a large explosion sent up a plume of gray smoke nearby.

Rescue workers carried at least one wounded man away on a stretcher, his clothing soaked with blood.

Khyber Road where the US Consulate building is situated, is being air-monitored by the helicopters.

Rachel Uchitel,Jaimee Grubbs Pics

TrendPK.com Rachel Uchitel?,Jaimee Grubbs Pics:According to RadarOnline.com is reporting that Rachel Uchitel, first reported last week to have had an affair with Tiger Woods, will admit to the relationship in a press conference Thursday. Uchitel’s attorney, Gloria Allred, will reportedly “make a statement about Ms. Uchitel’s relationship with Tiger Woods” at the

TrendPK.com Rachel Uchitel?,Jaimee Grubbs Pics:According to RadarOnline.com is reporting that Rachel Uchitel, first reported last week to have had an affair with Tiger Woods, will admit to the relationship in a press conference Thursday. Uchitel’s attorney, Gloria Allred, will reportedly “make a statement about Ms. Uchitel’s relationship with Tiger Woods” at the [...]

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