Asian Lite News Archive

Category: Arab News

  • Israel warns Hamas

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    Missing Israeli teenagers’ bodies found in West Bank  Bodies of three missing Israeli teenagers, kidnapped over two weeks ago, were found Monday evening in an area in the West Bank controlled by Palestinian Authority, Israel’s military confirmed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed the Palestinian Islamist organisation Hamas for the teenagers’ killings, Xinhua reported citing…

  • ISIS Declare Islamic State

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    Militant group Isis has said it is establishing a caliphate, or Islamic state, on the territories it controls in Iraq and Syria, BBC reported. It also proclaimed the group’s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as caliph and “leader for Muslims everywhere”. Setting up a caliphate ruled by the strict Islamic law has long been a goal…

  • Netanyahu warns Iran

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    Israeli Prime Minister  urged the P5+1 countries not to surrender to Iran ahead of a deadline for a permanent nuclear deal, media reported Monday. Netanyahu Sunday said in a statement that Iran should be stripped of its uranium enrichment capacities, Xinhua reported. According to the statement, Netanyahu said that Iran is “interested in obtaining a…

  • Iraq gets Russian fighter jets

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    Iraq has received the first batch of fighter jets it ordered from Russia to help fight Sunni insurgents, the Iraqi defence ministry said. BBC quoted the ministry as saying that five Sukhoi Su-25 attack aircraft would enter service in “three to four days”. The deal with Russia “was aimed at increasing the firepower of the…

  • Saudi king pledges to crush terrorism

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    Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz has said his government was determined to confront terrorism and will adopt all measures to protect its citizens and expatriates, a media report said Sunday. In his Ramadan message on Saudi Television King Abdullah expressed hope that militants who instigate terror in different parts of the world would return…

  • Russia rejects terrorism in Arab world

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    Russia has rejected the unabated terrorism existing the Arab region, as the country’s visiting Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said here Saturday that his country will not stand idly toward the rampant terrorism in the region. “Russia will not stand idly toward some groups’ attempts to spread terrorism in the region, including Syria and Iraq,”…

  • Cameron greets Muslims

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    Despite his busy schedule, British Prime Minister David Cameron find out time to greet Muslims all over the world to greet during Ramadan. “Muslims are our biggest donors – they give more to charity than any other faith group,” said Cameron. The full text message – “I want to send my very best wishes to…

  • Saudi role in Egypt verdict

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    Saeed Naqvi says Saudi vendetta played a role in the jailing of hree tAl Jazeera journalists in Egypt Al Jazeera journalists in Egypt were given severe sentences because that is the way the Saudis wanted it. The Qatari channel was always an eyesore to the Saudis but was recently being tolerated, even encouraged, by Riyadh…

  • Obama downplays ISIS threat in Iraq

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    President Barack Obama Friday downplayed the threat posed by Islamic militants making advances in Iraq, saying the US has been under “serious threat” during his entire presidency, Xinhua reported. In an interview with ABC channel, Obama was asked about the threat by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), as his former ambassador…

  • UN body concerned over West Bank

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    The UN human rights office has expressed concern over the operations by Israeli security forces after three Israeli teenagers went missing in the West Bank, a UN spokesperson has said. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was concerned that the three teenagers have still not been located, after being missing for 15…

  • ISIS, #NO2ISIS war escalates on Net

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    A propaganda war is escalating across the social media between members of the ISIS and a growing number of its opponents, who are publicly countering the terrorist organisation through a successful #NO2ISIS campaign, The Muslim News from London reported. ISIS, formally an insular group, based in Syria and now Iraq, is now using the social…

  • Nouri rejects national govt

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    Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has rejected calls for a national salvation government to help counter the offensive by jihadist-led Sunni rebels, BBC reported. Such calls represented a “coup against the constitution and an attempt to end the democratic experience”, he warned. The US has led appeals to the country’s political leaders to rise above…

  • Why Punjabis taking Iraq jobs?

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    Jaideep Sarin and Parminder Singh Bariana visit Hoshiarpur in Punjab and Yamunanagar in Haryana to find out the reason for youths taking risky jobs in civil-war hit Iraq. Joblessness, better money drives youth to Iraq  Joblessness, poor land holdings, vice-like grip of the drug mafia and, of course, the lure of better money is what drives…

  • Abu Dhabi to fund Manchester homes

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    Abu Dhabi United Group, which owns Manchester City football club, will invest in a plan by Manchester City Council to build new homes, Abu Dhabi United Group is an investment company owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Nahyan and was formed to enable him to buy Manchester City Football Club in 2008. It has also…

  • All Syrian chemical weapons removed

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    The United Nations Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Joint Mission announced Monday that Syria has removed all of its declared chemical arsenal from its territory. “The joint mission welcomes the removal of the remaining 7.2 percent of chemical weapons material from the Syrian Arab Republic,” Xinhua quoted the international team of experts…

  • ISIS link shocks Cardiff Muslims

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    Cardiff has an ongoing problem with the radicalisation of young Muslims, said an academic who has studied the issue, BBC reported. Dr Suraj Lakhani, of Cardiff University, who recently completed his doctorate – A Social Analysis of Radicalisation in the UK, told BBC Radio Wales: “As far as I’m aware, there has been an issue…

  • Egypt sentences three Al Jazeera journalists

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    An Egyptian court Monday sentenced three Al Jazeera journalists to seven years in prison, media reported. The guilty verdicts were delivered against Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, Al Jazeera reported. Greste and Fahmy were sentenced to seven years in prison while Baher Mohamed was sentenced to an additional three years for possessing arms.…

  • Kerry arrives in Iraq

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    US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad Monday for talks on the situation in the violence-hit country, media reported. During his Iraq visit, Kerry will meet Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari as well as both Shiite and Sunni leaders, CNN reported. The militants of the Islamic…

  • Isis capture key border posts

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    Isis militants have reportedly captured two more key border crossings, to Jordan and Syria, in western Iraq. Now the rebels control three border crossings in Anbar province, Iraq’s largest, BBC reproted. Meanwhile, in the north, reports say the airport in the town of Tal Afar has also fallen to the rebels. The militants’ gains in large parts of…

  • Emiratis urged to leave Lebanon

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    The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised citizens not to travel to Lebanon at this time due to the  the unstable security situation there. UAE’s Charge D’Affaires in Lebanon Hamad Mohammed Al Junaibi urged the Emirati citizens who are in Lebanon to leave the country immediately and to coordinate with the UAE embassy in…

  • Iran opposes US intervention in Iraq

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    Iran strongly opposes any kind of US intervention in Iraq, the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Sunday. “Iran believes that people and government as well as religious leaders of Iraq can end the adventurism,” IRNA cited Khamenei as saying during a meeting with top Iranian judiciary officials. Blaming the western countries for fomenting…

  • Palestine to approach UN

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    The Palestinian leadership plans to approach the United Nations Security Council in a bid to stop Israel’s offensive against the Palestinian territories, that surged following the disappearance of three Israeli teenagers June 12 near the West Bank. The leadership, in a press statement Sunday, said it has made intensive contacts for the convening of an…

  • UK raps Egyptian death senctences

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    The British government expressed concern over the Egyptian Court’s confirmation of 183 death sentences. An Egyptian court on Saturday upheld the death sentences for 183 Muslim Brotherhood members, including leader Mohamed Badie, media reported. Of the 683 defendants in the case, 183 were sentenced to death, four were sentenced to life imprisonment, and 496 defendants…

  • Demonising Muslims over ISIS is wrong

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    Sir Peter warned against “demonising the Muslim community itself” over the ISIS crisis  Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy, who also leads the Prevent counter-terrorism strategy for the Association of Chief Police Officers, warned against “demonising the Muslim community itself” as it emerged the Security Service has made tracking British jihadists fighting in Syria…

  • British, Dutch jihadists on the rise

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    Britain’s intelligence agencies intensified operations to identify the people appearing in a video which urges young British-Muslims to join the Jihadi movement in the Middle East. Meanwhile,  the Dutch Minister of Interior Ronald Plasterk said the number of Dutch jihadists travelling to Iraq is on the rise. Though Pasterk did not give numbers, during a…

  • Nuri days are numbered

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    As Iran and the US asking for a leadership change, the days of Nuri in the office are numbered In the face of Sunni militants’ menacing advance towards Baghdad, US President Barack Obama has asked Iraqi leaders to come up with a political solution because “if they don’t, there won’t be a military solution to…

  • ‘India can stabilise West Asia’

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    Eminent journalist Saeed Naqvi says  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi must place West Asia on his radar because this vital part of our near abroad is in rapid change. A new West Asia is emerging. We must engage at the highest level and help shape this change, taking heart from Raees Amrohvi’s optimism many moons ago.  “Jup raha hai…

  • Essex murder sparks race row

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    Kaliph Anaz looks into the murder of Saudi Arabian student in Essex.  “This isn’t the first attack on a Muslim student and certainly is not the last on a member of the Muslim community in the UK” said Omar Ali, president of the Federation of Student Islamic Societies The Muslim Council of Britain said: With the current…

  • Major powers supply weapons in Syria

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    A UN inquiry commission report has revealed influential states are supplying Syrian government and opposition forces the weapons to carry out war crimes and violate human rights, Xinhua reported. Presenting the latest report of UN Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry on Syria, its chairman Paolo Sergio Pinheiro said, “Influential states had turned away from…

  • Pakistan faces Iraq model crisis

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    C Uday Bhaskar, Distinguished Fellow, Society for Policy Studies, is analysing the new Iraqi crisis for Asian Lite, the international newspaper for the Asian diaspora. Can Pakistan be saved from going the Iraq way?  The Pakistan military launched Zarb-e-Azb, a major offensive operation against terror groups operating from North Waziristan Sunday, a week after the…

  • Saudi accused of helping ISIS

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    The Iraqi government in a statement accused neighbouring Saudi Arabia of supporting the insurgents and providing them with financial support – allegations Riyadh has rejected. The Sunni rebel group Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) grew out of an al-Qaeda-linked organisation in Iraq with an estimated 10,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria. Joined in its…

  • Training for journalists in London

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    The Thomson Reuters Foundation, London, the charitable arm of Reuters, will be running a seminar in London for journalists from across the world. We have been asked to alert journalists about this seminar and encourage them to apply to take part. The seminar, held on 22 – 24 October 2014, will focus on how to cover…

  • Jordanian is new UNHCR chief

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    The UN General Assembly has approved the nomination of Jordan’s UN ambassador, Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein, as the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, a media report said Tuesday. Zeid al-Hussein was nominated by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon earlier this month to replace Navi Pillay, who took up the post Sept 1,…

  • Jordan on alert over Iraq violence

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    Jordan’s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said the security forces are on alert to protect the country from effects of the ongoing violence in Iraq, media reported Tuesday. “Jordanian security forces are on alert and ready to protect the country from the developments in Iraq,” Xinhua quoted Judeh as saying. “We are concerned about the safety…

  • Iraq forces retake ISIS held town

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    The Iraqi security forces on Monday recaptured a city in western province of Anbar, while the Sunni militants took full control of a city in northern part of the country, an official said. The Iraqi army, police and border guards fought sporadic clashes with gunmen in the city of Qaim, some 330 km northwest of…

  • Netanyahu asks Abbas for help

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    Israel Monday asked Palestine to help in finding the three teenagers allegedly kidnapped last week, a statement the Israel prime minister’s office said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday spoke to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas over phone, asking him to help finding the three teenagers, Xinhua reported. “I expect you to assist in returning the…

  • UAE Exchange organises parenting session

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    As a part of their employee engagement program, UAE Exchange had organized a ‘Right Parenting Lifestyle Guidance’ session at their headquarters in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The two hour session was conducted by a well-known pediatrician, author , columnist and public speaker Dr. Mandar V. Bichu. Explaining the vision of these sessions, Dr. Bichu told Asian…

  • Israeli jets launch airstrikes on Gaza

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    Israeli war jets Saturday night carried out a series of intensive and successive airstrikes on various military targets in southern, central and northern Gaza Strip, injuring one person, officials said. Israeli war jets, which hovered over the coastal enclave at night, fired several air- to-ground missiles at various targets that belong to militant groups, security…

  • Iran ready to help Nouri

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    Iran is ready to assist the Iraqi government in its battle against extremist Sunni insurgents, President Hassan Rouhani has said, BBC reported. He denied Iran had sent troops to fight in Iraq. However, an Iraqi source told the BBC that 130 Iranian Revolutionary Guards had entered the country to provide military training and advice. The insurgents…

  • Iraqis urged to take up arms

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    An influential Shiite cleric Friday called on Iraqis to take up arms against insurgent groups that have taken control of large parts of the country, his representative said.   “The situation in Iraq is very serious and entails those who are able to volunteer to take up arms to defense their homeland,” Sheikh Abdul Mehdi…

  • Haj made affordable

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    Domestic Haj companies have forged an alliance to provide 10,000 local pilgrims the opportunity to perform Haj this year for SR2,750. The price for a low-cost Haj will range between SR2,750 and SR5,000 while those wanting extra services have to pay SR9,800 and more. Pilgrims opting for low-cost services will be given tents in different…

  • Kuwaiti expats feel inflation’s heat

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    Rising rents in Kuwait rival the weather as the hottest topic of debate in Kuwait this summer. Landlords often ignore the five-year rule and raise rents against the law. Many tenants are ignorant or unsure of what to do but a growing number of both local and expat renters in Kuwait are not ready to…

  • KSA boasts over 18,000 expat academicians

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    According to the Saudi Gazette , there are more than 18,000 expatriate men and women academics teaching in various Saudi universities and colleges, the Ministry of Higher Education said According to a report published by Al-Hayat newspaper, the ministry said the total number of the university teachers in the Kingdom’s government and private universities and…

  • Al-Ahsa festival expects 1.4m visitors

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    The third Al-Ahsa shopping and entertainment festival opened with organizers estimating that it would attract 1.4 million visitors. Al-Ahsa Gov. Prince Badr bin Muhammad Al-Jalawi, chairman of the region’s Tourism Development Council, opened the event. The organizing committee has estimated that the event would make SR480 million. The festival will take place over 22 days…

  • Iraqi foreign minister in London

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    Middle East Minister Hugh Robertson met Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari in London on Thursday. Mr Robertson strongly condemned the actions of the terrorist group, ISIL, and made clear that the Iraqi government has the United Kingdom’s full support in its efforts to bring security to Iraq.  Mr Robertson urged Iraqi leaders to work together to unite the…

  • Bahrain airport ready for FIFA cup

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    Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the managing body and operator of Bahrain International Airport (BIA), has installed thee large TV screens in the departure concourse of BIA, in preparation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The screens have been set up in three different locations, namely opposite gate 13, gate 16 and the coaching station to…

  • Etihad may invest EUR1.25bn in Alitalia

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    Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is prepared to invest up to 1.25 billion euros ($1.7 billion) in Alitalia over the next four years under a possible tie-up between the two carriers, says Italian Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi  , according to a Reuters report. Of that, 560 million euros would be used to buy new shares in…

  • Singapore hotel group to enter Gulf

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    Singapore-based Banyan Tree Group, which operates luxury hotels and resorts in Southeast Asia, the Seychelles and Maldives, has plans to enter the GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) market with its recently revealed special serviced apartment brand Cassia. Cassia lies in a niche sector between hotels and serviced apartments, Ho Kwon Ping, executive chairman of Banyan Tree…

  • Emirates introduces world’s first ”Pele-ane”

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    Emirates, an Official FIFA Worldwide Partner, has unveiled the first Boeing 777-300ER to feature the distinguishable signature of Emirates Global Ambassador and three times World Cup winner, Pele, just hours before the first World Cup match kicks off in Brazil. The first Emirates ”Pele-ane” will be connecting football fans with the action this summer on…

  • Dubai Airports reduces screening time

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    Dubai Airports has launched new measures to cut security screening time, while urging passengers to save time by packing smartly, as its terminals brace for the summer rush. Lorne Riley, head of corporate communications, Dubai Airports, told XPRESS that over 100 automatic tray return machines have been installed at security check-in areas to cut transaction…