Muslim pilgrims throng Mount Arafat for hajj climax

Monday for the high point of the annual hajj, praying for an end to disputes and bloodshed.

Officials said they expected around 1.5 million pilgrims to descend on the site, where they were to offer prayers and later in the day to listen to the annual sermon from Saudi top cleric Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Sheikh.

Helicopters hovered overhead and thousands of troops stood guard to organise roads flooded by men, women and children streaming towards Mount Arafat.

Iran urged to build Pakistan side of gas pipeline

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has asked Iran to construct the Pakistani side of the gas pipeline as well because international sanctions were preventing Islamabad from raising funds for this project, said an official statement issued on Friday.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, who conveyed this message to his Iranian counterpart Ali Tayyebnia at a meeting in Washington, also urged him to help remove the restrictions that prevented better trade ties between the two countries.

U.N. names envoy to lead Syria chemical weapons mission

The United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon Sunday named Sigrid Kaag to lead the U.N.’s joint mission with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to eliminate Syria’s arsenal.

The U.N. Security Council, which is set to vote on Kaag’s nomination Wednesday, has formally approved a first joint mission with the OPCW, Agence France-Presse reported.

Pakistani man travels 6,387 km on foot to perform hajj

While most Muslims fly, drive or sail from across the world to perform the hajj in Makkah, a Pakistani man made the trip in a far more traditional manner; travelling on foot from Pakistan to Islam’s holiest city in Saudi Arabia.

Kharlzada Kasrat Rai, 37, began his trip from Karachi on June 7, travelling 6,387 kilometers (3,968 miles) through Iran, Iraq and Jordan on foot. (Photo courtesy: Facebook)

Turkey's EU minister slams progress report's release day

EU Minister Egemen Bagis slammed Oct.13 the European Commission’s choice of date for the release of the Progress Report on Turkey.

The bloc is set to release the report on Oct. 16, coinciding with the second day of the Eid al-Adha (Kurban Bayrami).

“We said to the EU: Eid al-Adha is like Christmas so don’t release it that day. But they don’t listen. No comments until the end of Bayram,” Bagis wrote in his Twitter account.

Malaysian court rules use of 'Allah' exclusive to Muslims

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia: A Malaysian court ruled on Monday that a Christian newspaper may not use the word "Allah" to refer to God, a landmark decision on an issue that has fanned religious tension and raised questions over minority rights in the mainly Muslim country.

‘NAB to pursue cases against Sharif, Zardari’

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Chaudhry Qamar Zaman has decided to reopen and pursue major corruption cases, including those against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, former president Asif Ali Zardari and other prominent politicians.

“The new chairman sought details of the high-profile cases and decided to go for across-the-board accountability,” NAB spokesman Ramzan Sajid claimed while talking to this correspondent on Sunday.

Sinai suicide bomber kills 4 soldiers in Egypt: security

CAIRO: A suicide bomber rammed his car into an army checkpoint in Egypt's restive Sinai Peninsula on Thursday, killing four soldiers, security officials told.

Another three soldiers were wounded in the attack on the Al-Reesa checkpoint just south of North Sinai's main town of El-Arish, the officials said.

Libya PM released after several hours held by militia

TRIPOLI : Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan was released on Thursday several hours after being seized from a Tripoli hotel by former rebel militiamen, the foreign minister said.

"He has been freed but we have no details so far on the circumstances of his release," Mr Mohammed Abdelaziz told AFP.

Twenty pilgrims killed in road accident in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district

HOSHIARPUR (Punjab): Twenty pilgrims were killed while 40 others were injured when an overloaded mini truck carrying them fell in a gorge in Manguwal village in the district early Thursday.

"The pilgrims were returning from Chintpurni shrine in Himachal Pradesh and were headed to Begowal falling in Punjab's Kapurthala district when the accident occurred," Hoshiarpur SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill told over phone.

Top Turkish court approves conviction of 237 suspects in coup case

The Supreme Court of Appeals approved the convictions of 237 suspects in the “Balyoz” (Sledgehammer) coup-plot case this morning, including former First Army Gen. Çetin Dogan, former Air Force Gen. Halil Ibrahim Firtina, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputy and former general Engin Alan, former Navy Adm. Özden Örnek and other high-ranking retired generals.

Freed Canadians barred from leaving Egypt

Two Canadians released from an Egyptian prison after being held without charges since mid-August have barred from flying out of the country, Cairo airport officials said.

John Greyson, a Toronto-based film-maker and York University professor, and Tarek Loubani, a physician from London, Ontario, had checked in for a flight to Frankfurt, Germany on Sunday, but were prevented from boarding the plane after their names appeared on a "stop-list" issued by prosecutors, the airport officials said.

Blast on Peshawar's outskirts kills

PESHAWAR: A police officer says a bomb exploded in northwest Pakistan near a vehicle carrying officials taking part in an anti-polio campaign, killing at least six people.

Police official Samiullah Khan says Monday morning's bomb killed four police officers and two members of a local peace committee riding in the van.

Karzai says Nato air strike killed five civilians

KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai criticised his Nato allies on Sunday over an air strike in the country's east that he said killed five civilians, including three children.

The strike on Friday followed a mortar attack on a joint Nato-Afghan base near a village just outside Jalalabad city, Nato and local officials said.

Scores killed as Egypt marks war anniversary

At least 51 people were killed in clashes between supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and police in Egypt, as thousands of the military's supporters marked the anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.

Loyalists of deposed President Mohamed Morsi, overthrown in a July military coup, tried to converge on Cairo's Tahrir Square for the anniversary celebrations on Sunday, when police confronted them.

Scores killed as Egypt marks war anniversary

At least 51 people were killed in clashes between supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and police in Egypt, as thousands of the military's supporters marked the anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.

Loyalists of deposed President Mohamed Morsi, overthrown in a July military coup, tried to converge on Cairo's Tahrir Square for the anniversary celebrations on Sunday, when police confronted them.

Kayani decides to call it a day

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had one less worry by Sunday evening.

Unexpectedly, a press release from the Inter Services Public Relations, the media wing of the armed forces in general and the army in particular, landed in various media houses and inboxes without any fanfare.

The short statement was of great significance as it contained a message from Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani that he would retire in November when his second three-year tenure ended.

Protesters step up attacks on houses of Congress leaders in Seemandhra

HYDERABAD: Angry Seemandhra protesters stepped up their attacks on the residences and other establishments of Congress ministers, MPs and MLAs on Monday. The ruling party leaders are already the target of the protesters for the last 65-odd days of the agitation launched to oppose the division of Andhra Pradesh. But despite the heavy police presence outside their premises, the attackers came in huge numbers on Monday and sent across a clear message: 'Quit your posts or else face the brunt of the people's fury.'

No Kargil-like situation in Kashmir, says Indian army chief

Indian Army Chief Bikram Singh today said there was no 'Kargil-like situation' in Jammu and Kashmir, where an encounter to stop a major infiltration attempt from across the border has entered the 11th day.

His comments came as two terrorists were reportedly killed this morning during another infiltration bid at Guguldhar area near the Keran sector where Indian troops have engaged in an encounter since September 24, when almost 40 terrorists tried to cross over from Pakistan.

No Kargil-like situation in Kashmir, says Indian army chief

Indian Army Chief Bikram Singh today said there was no 'Kargil-like situation' in Jammu and Kashmir, where an encounter to stop a major infiltration attempt from across the border has entered the 11th day.

His comments came as two terrorists were reportedly killed this morning during another infiltration bid at Guguldhar area near the Keran sector where Indian troops have engaged in an encounter since September 24, when almost 40 terrorists tried to cross over from Pakistan.

Syria warns Turkey will ‘pay dearly’ for rebel support

Ankara :Syrian President Bashar al Assad warned Turkey it will “pay dearly” for supporting rebels fighting to overthrow his regime, in an interview broadcast Friday on Turkish television.

“In the near future these terrorists will have an impact on Turkey. And Turkey will pay very dearly for its contribution,” Assad told the opposition station Halk TV.

Syrian jets parked in Iran: German intelligence

BERLIN – Iran has allowed Syria’s regime to station fighter jets on its territory to keep them safe from foreign attack, German intelligence services believe according to a media report on Sunday.

News portal Spiegel Online said the report, marked “classified,” pointed to close military ties between Damascus and Tehran beyond the deployment of Iran-backed Hezbollah militia on the side of regime forces.

Over two dozen politicians join Afghan presidential poll fray

Kabul : Over two dozen politicians, including some former ministers, have registered their names to contest in the next Afghan presidential election set for April 5 next year.

Sunday was the busiest day for the election commission here when half of the presidential hopefuls offered their candidacy, Xinhua reported.

The registration period for the candidates was set Sep 16-Oct 5.

Sincere dialogue needed on issues between India, Pak: Salman Bashir

Pakistan High Commissioner to India Salman Bashir on Sunday said there was need for a "broad-ranging, sincere and clear sighted" dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad to resolve all issues between the two countries.

PIA plane catches fire midair over Karachi

KARACHI - A Dubai-bound passenger flight of Pakistan International Airline (PIA), PK 213, made an emergency landing at Karachi Airport after one of its engines caught fire minutes after taking off from Sunday.

According to PIA spokesman Mashoor Tajwar, all the 62 people on board, including the crew members of the plane, remained safe in the incident. He said a team of experts and engineers has started the plane’s inspection from various aspects.

India lightning strikes kills 32 people

At least 32 people including nine children were killed over the weekend by lightning strikes in the eastern Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand, officials have said.

"About 24 people including seven children were killed Saturday and Sunday by bolts of lightning across Bihar," State Disaster Management Minister Renu Kumari Kushwaha said.

Freed Canadians barred from leaving Egypt

Two Canadians released from an Egyptian prison after being held without charges since mid-August have barred from flying out of the country, Cairo airport officials said.

John Greyson, a Toronto-based film-maker and York University professor, and Tarek Loubani, a physician from London, Ontario, had checked in for a flight to Frankfurt, Germany on Sunday, but were prevented from boarding the plane after their names appeared on a "stop-list" issued by prosecutors, the airport officials said.

Blast on Peshawar's outskirts kills

PESHAWAR: A police officer says a bomb exploded in northwest Pakistan near a vehicle carrying officials taking part in an anti-polio campaign, killing at least six people.

Police official Samiullah Khan says Monday morning's bomb killed four police officers and two members of a local peace committee riding in the van.

Karzai says Nato air strike killed five civilians

KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai criticised his Nato allies on Sunday over an air strike in the country's east that he said killed five civilians, including three children.

The strike on Friday followed a mortar attack on a joint Nato-Afghan base near a village just outside Jalalabad city, Nato and local officials said.

Scores killed as Egypt marks war anniversary

At least 51 people were killed in clashes between supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and police in Egypt, as thousands of the military's supporters marked the anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.

Loyalists of deposed President Mohamed Morsi, overthrown in a July military coup, tried to converge on Cairo's Tahrir Square for the anniversary celebrations on Sunday, when police confronted them.

Kayani decides to call it a day

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had one less worry by Sunday evening.

Unexpectedly, a press release from the Inter Services Public Relations, the media wing of the armed forces in general and the army in particular, landed in various media houses and inboxes without any fanfare.

The short statement was of great significance as it contained a message from Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani that he would retire in November when his second three-year tenure ended.

Protesters step up attacks on houses of Congress leaders in Seemandhra

HYDERABAD: Angry Seemandhra protesters stepped up their attacks on the residences and other establishments of Congress ministers, MPs and MLAs on Monday. The ruling party leaders are already the target of the protesters for the last 65-odd days of the agitation launched to oppose the division of Andhra Pradesh. But despite the heavy police presence outside their premises, the attackers came in huge numbers on Monday and sent across a clear message: 'Quit your posts or else face the brunt of the people's fury.'

No Kargil-like situation in Kashmir, says Indian army chief

Indian Army Chief Bikram Singh today said there was no 'Kargil-like situation' in Jammu and Kashmir, where an encounter to stop a major infiltration attempt from across the border has entered the 11th day.

His comments came as two terrorists were reportedly killed this morning during another infiltration bid at Guguldhar area near the Keran sector where Indian troops have engaged in an encounter since September 24, when almost 40 terrorists tried to cross over from Pakistan.

November-December elections in five states including Delhi, verdict on Dec 8

New Delhi: Assembly elections will be held in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Delhi between November 11 and December 4 this year. Counting of votes will be held on December 8, a Sunday, for all the five states, Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath announced today.

Naxal-affected Chhattisgarh will vote first in two phases for its 90 Assembly seats on November 11 and 19. The rest of the states will have single-phase elections.

Mombasa youths protest Muslim cleric killing

Chaos have erupted in Mombasa after Muslim youths engaged police in running battles to protest the killing of a prominent Muslim cleric Sheikh Ibrahim Ismail.

Our Correspondent in the coastal city says the youths started demonstrating soon after the lunchtime prayers have also torched Salvation Army Church in Majengo.

At least one youth has been shot in the stomach, and tension is reported to be high as police try to contain the angry youths.

Syria warns Turkey will ‘pay dearly’ for rebel support

Ankara :Syrian President Bashar al Assad warned Turkey it will “pay dearly” for supporting rebels fighting to overthrow his regime, in an interview broadcast Friday on Turkish television.

“In the near future these terrorists will have an impact on Turkey. And Turkey will pay very dearly for its contribution,” Assad told the opposition station Halk TV.

Nawaz meets Kayani; appointment of new CJCSC discussed

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Friday called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad and discussed various matters pertaining to national security, media reported.

The appointment of a new Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee came under discussion during the meeting, sources said, adding that a name for the post is likely to be announced in next couple of days as serving CJCSC General Khalid Shameem Wynne is retiring on Oct 8th.

Afghanistan secure World Cup berth

Afghanistan secured their passage to Australia and New Zealand in 2015 by beating Kenya comprehensively for the second time in succession in Sharjah, sealing their maiden World Cup qualification. They finished second in the World Cricket League Championship - nine wins in 14 matches - and joined Ireland as the second Associate team in the 2015 World Cup, while the remaining two spots for Associates will be decided by a qualifying tournament in New Zealand in 2014.

Journalist kidnapped in Waziristan

MIRAMSHAH: Gunmen have kidnapped a journalist from one of Pakistan's tribal areas on the Afghan border, where Taliban militants are active, relatives said Friday.

Lal Wazir, 38, who works for a local newspaper in the South Waziristan town of Azam Warsak was taken from a shop by six masked gunmen on Thursday, his uncle Ibrahim Wazir told AFP.

Gunmen kill Kenyan Muslim cleric: police

MOMBASA :Gunmen in Kenya killed four people including a Muslim cleric in a drive-by shooting, police said Friday, an attack likely to inflame tensions in the key port city of Mombasa.

Radical preachers have said the killing was an “execution” by the police, claims the force has denied.

Explosive Mumbai thrash Perth, knock out Otago

Mumbai Indians boast of some of the biggest hitters in T20 cricket in their line-up and they fired in unison to storm into the semi-final of the Champions League, achieving their target in just 13.2 overs. The target was 150, but in order to topple Otago on net run rate, they needed to achieve it within 14.2 overs. The strategy was clear and Dwayne Smith and Rohit Sharma made it look ridiculously simple against a Perth Scorchers attack that failed to contain a determined top order. It meant that the semi-final line-up had three IPL teams in it.

Karachi raids: Six ‘TTP men’ killed in encounters

Karachi :Six alleged militants of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan were killed in two encounters with the police and the Rangers in Karachi on Wednesday.

A large cache of weapons and 200kg of explosives were also recovered, officials claim.

The Tuesday night encounter was carried out on a tip-off, according to anti-extremist cell (AEC) of the Crime Investigation Department (CID).

World population to shoot up to 9.7 billion in 2050: Study

PARIS :The world's population will rise to 9.7 billion in 2050 from the current level of 7.1 billion and India will overtake China as the world's most populous nation, a French study said Wednesday.

A bi-annual report by the French Institute of Demographic Studies (Ined) projected there would be 10 to 11 billion people on the planet by the end of the century.

The projections ran parallel to forecasts by the United Nations, the World Bank and other prominent national institutes.

World population to shoot up to 9.7 billion in 2050: Study

PARIS :The world's population will rise to 9.7 billion in 2050 from the current level of 7.1 billion and India will overtake China as the world's most populous nation, a French study said Wednesday.

A bi-annual report by the French Institute of Demographic Studies (Ined) projected there would be 10 to 11 billion people on the planet by the end of the century.

The projections ran parallel to forecasts by the United Nations, the World Bank and other prominent national institutes.

Syria jihadists advance toward Turkey border post: NGO

BEIRUT :Hundreds of jihadist fighters from the al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have advanced in northern Syria towards a border post with Turkey, an NGO said Oct. 2.

"Hundreds of ISIL fighters advanced overnight towards Bab al-Salameh, which is closed from the Turkish side," said Rami Abdul Rahman, who heads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Fifteen killed, several injured in Hangu suicide attack

HANGU: A suicide bomber ran a vehicle full of explosives into the headquarters of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Mullah Nabi Hanfi group in the Spin Tall region of Hangu, Express News reported on Thursday.

The blast killed 15 of the group’s members and injured several others.

The injured were taken to a nearby hospital for medical assistance.

Bangladesh pacer Alauddin Babu concedes record 39 runs in an over

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh bowler Alauddin Babu on Wednesday created an unwanted world record of conceding a massive 39 runs off one over during a Dhaka Premier Division match against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club.

Bowling to former Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura, the pacer conceded five off the first ball, which was a no-ball, and then followed it up with a wide. He then went for 6, 4, 6, 4, 6 before sending down another wide and finishing off with a six.

Srinagar encounter ends, sources say terrorist may have escaped in the dark

New Delhi: The siege in Srinagar's Ahmadnagar area ended on Thursday after the terrorist, who was trapped in the area, managed the escape in the dark, sources said. Despite assurance from Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that ceasefire violations will be curbed, terrorism has reared its head in Jammu and Kashmir.

Ferguson replaces Clarke in India squad

Callum Ferguson has been recalled to the Australian ODI squad for the India tour after the captain Michael Clarke formally withdrew due to his chronic back condition. Nic Maddinson has also been added to the squad for the Twenty20 match that precedes the seven 50-over matches.

Syria's Assad will remain in office: Minister

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad will remain in office, and has the right to decide to run for reelection next year, Information Minister Omran al-Zohbi said on Tuesday.

"Syria is staying put: the state, the nation, the people and the president. This is the Syrians' choice," Zohbi told journalists.

Suicide bomber kills five Iraq police

TIKRIT: A suicide bomber killed five police in Iraq on Tuesday, an officer and a doctor said, as an Al-Qaeda front group claimed a wave of deadly bombings.

The attack in Tikrit, which hit the counter-explosives police headquarters for Salaheddin province, also wounded seven police.

The bombing came a day after 13 bombs in and around Baghdad killed at least 50 people.

Retired brigadier, three family members murdered in Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI: A retired brigadier, his wife and two daughters were killed by firing in Gulistan Colony on Tuesday, DawnNews reported.

Doctor Sikander Malik was the principle of the private medical college, and was residing within the medical facility's residential area.

Unknown men entered Brigadier (rtd) Doctor Sikander Malik's home, in the residential area of a private medical centre in Rawalpindi, and shot him in the head, along with his wife and two daughters.

One Syrian injured in shelling at Chinese Embassy in Damascus

BEIJING : China says a mortar shell that landed within its embassy compound in Syria's capital has slightly injured a Syrian employee and caused slight damage to the property.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei also said Tuesday that "China is shocked at the attack and strongly condemns" it.

Bomb attack on police van kills five in Pishin

QUETTA: A bomb targeting police killed at least five people and wounded five others in Pishin district of restive southwest Balochistan province on Monday, police said.

The attack was staged in Pishin district, 40 kilometres north of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province which is racked by a separatist insurgency and sectarian violence.