LONDON: Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri has issued his first specific “guidelines for jihad”, urging restraint in attacking other Muslim sects and non-Muslims and in starting conflicts in countries where jihadis might find a safe base to promote their ideas. The document, published by the SITE monitoring service, provides a rare look at al Qaeda’s strategy 12 years after the Sept 11 attacks on the United States and the nature of its global ambitions from North Africa to the Caucasus to Kashmir. While al Qaeda’s military aim remained to weaken the United States and Israel, Zawahri stressed the importance of “dawa”, or missionary work, to spread its ideas.
UN fears ‘deteriorating’ human rights in Afghanistan
KABUL: The UN human rights chief on Tuesday expressed fears that progress made in Afghanistan since the fall of the hardline Taliban regime in 2001 was draining away as Nato-led troops withdraw. Navi Pillay said on a visit to Kabul that she had heard growing evidence of a sharp reversal in human rights, especially for women, despite more than a decade of international intervention and billions of dollars of aid.“I do have serious concerns that the human rights situation in the country is deteriorating,” the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights told reporters.
Karachi operation: 30 suspects apprehended
KARACHI: Rangers and policemen arrested 30 suspects and recovered weapons during various targeted operations conducted in Karachi, moreover two alleged dacoits were shot dead in a police encounter in Musharraf colony area of the city. A Rangers spokesperson said that 19 suspects were arrested during operations were conducted in Chanesar Goth, Shah Faisal, Green Town, Rasheedabad, Taiser town, North Karachi, Quaid-i-Azam colony and North Nazimabad areas of Karachi. Moreover a police party allegedly came under attack while conducting an operation in karachis Musharraf colony area.
Iran confirms exchange of letters with President Obama
DUBAI: Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that President Hassan Rouhani had exchanged letters with US President Barack Obama, confirming direct communication between the leaders of the two countries. The United States and Iran cut off formal diplomatic ties in 1980, shortly after students and Islamic militants stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took American diplomats hostage. But officials from both countries have said they are open to direct talks in order to find a diplomatic solution to a decade-long dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme, over which the West has imposed economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Turkey will benefit from investing in Pakistan, says PM
ANKARA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that Turkish investors would benefit from investing in Pakistan, DNA reported.
Mr Sharif said this during a three-day visit to Turkey on the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to promote trade and economic ties between the two countries.The prime minister said that Pakistan enjoyed brotherly relations with Turkey. He also expressed his desire to further economic relations with Turkey.
2013 – The year of Presidential Elections in Azerbaijan
By Waheed Hussain
October 9, 2013 is marked as a day of presidential elections in Azerbaijan. As per Constitution the electioneering starts 60 days before the election take place. Accordingly, the campaign of candidates starts 23 days and finishing 24 hours before elections.The Azerbaijani Government has taken series of initiatives that serve to ensure free, transparent and fair elections.
Chinese firms ready to invest in energy sector
ISLAMABAD – Many Chinese companies have shown interest to explore Pakistan’s energy sector for making investment in hydro, solar and wind energy projects and help it in overcoming its energy problems, said Luo Sang, Vice Secretary of Sichuan Chamber of International Commerce during a meeting with Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Zubair Ahmad Malik, President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry was also present at the occasion.
Blair, Sheen to face off in court
Selma Blair wants to sue Charlie Sheen. The actress has threatened the Hollywood star with a retaliation lawsuit after she was fired from his sitcom Anger Management. The pair were costars on the program before the 41-year-old actress was kicked off the show – and it is said she will take legal action if she isn’t paid the $1.2 million she believes she is owed. Selma is demanding the payout to cover the episodes she would have made is she hadn’t have been fired from the show.
Selma was reportedly kicked off the sitcom after she complained about Sheen, claiming the crew had to wait while he was in his trailer learning lines.
However, an insider defended Charlie’s actions because – whereas Selma was in less than half of the scenes for each episode – he would have to learn over 44 pages of dialogue. “When you work 12 hours a day and have dates, it’s hard to memorize all the lines for tomorrow,” a source said. While Selma is threatening to press on with her claim of wrongful termination based on retaliation, it is said she was already going to be phased out to make the show less dull. ”One of our primary characters, Selma Blair, who played Kate, was written out because [the show] was not about our relationship, and the problem was too many people were still excited about the Two and a Half [Men] character and thinking the Anger Management character was a little dull,” Charlie previously said.
Mine collapse kills 27 in Afghanistan
KABUL: A coal mine collapse killed at least 27 miners in northern Afghanistan, officials said on Sunday, with rescue efforts underway to save about 12 workers trapped underground. Emergency teams rushed to the scene after the mine collapsed in a remote area of Samangan province on Saturday, and bodies were being brought out of the accident site. “We have 27 miners who died while they were working in an underground coal mine in Abkhorak coal mine in Ruyi Du Ab district,” said Mohammad Sediq Azizi, the Samangan governor’s spokesman.
One security man killed in IED attack in North Waziristan
NORTH WAZIRISTAN: At least one security man was killed and another was injured when a roadside Improvised Explosive Device (IED) targeted their vehicle near Miramshah, the administrative headquarters of North Waziristan, DNA reported.
