Sunday, December 17th, 2017
Turkey slams Austria ‘discrimination’ over new govt programme
ANKARA, DEC 17 (DNA) – Turkey slammed the incoming Austrian government, a coalition between conservatives and the far-right, for “discrimination” after its programme contained a pledge that Vienna will not agree to Ankara joining the EU. The landmark coalition deal, marking the return to power in Austria of the Freedom Party (FPOe), has sparked ripples of concern throughout Europe after a year of successes for far-right movements in Europe. The chancellor-elect, Sebastian Kurz of the conservative People’s Party (OeVP), already has a deeply-fractious relationship with Ankara due to his staunchRead More
Karachi expresses solidarity with Palestinians
KARACHI, Dec 17 (DNA): In a show of solidarity with Palestinian people and a protest against the United States move to recognize Jursalem as Israeli capital, a large number of Karachiites participated in the Jamaat-e-Islami million march,on Sunday. Score of people from all walks of life participated in the march. Protesters carrying placards and banners chanted slogans against the US. Workers and leaders of several other religions and political parties also participated in the march. Addressing the crowd at Karachi’s University Road, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan chief Senator Sirajul Haq has urged theRead More
Marriyum vehemently condemns terrorist attack on church in Quetta
ISLAMABAD, DEC 17 (DNA): Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb while vehemently condemning the dastardly terrorist attack on a church in Quetta Sunday said terrorists were targeting Pakistanis indiscriminately without caring for colour, creed, sect, ethnicity, religion and age group of the people. In a statement, she said terrorists, through their detestable acts wanted to halt the process of peace, progress and development in the country. “The whole nation is arrayed against the scourge of terrorism and would thwart their reprehensible designs with unity,” the minister reiterated.Read More
Libyan commander says UN deal ‘over’
TRIPOLI, DEC 17 (DNA) – East Libya-based military commander Khalifa Haftar has announced the expiry of a UN-backed political deal to resolve the conflict in war-torn Libya. “On Dec. 17, 2017, the validity of the so-called political agreement comes to an end,” Haftar said in a televised speech on Sunday. “With this, the bodies that resulted from the deal would automatically come to an end,” he added. Haftar, whose forces control parts of Libya, said he would never “follow any party unless it was elected by the Libyan people”. “AllRead More
Qatar, Palestine leaders discuss US Jerusalem move
DOHA, DEC 17 (DNA) – Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani held talks on Sunday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss developments in the Palestinian territories. Abbas briefed the Qatari emir on Palestinian measures to confront a U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and ways to protect East Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque against Israeli violations. Tamim, for his part, reiterated his country’s support for the Palestinians “in taking all necessary measures for the protection of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem”, it added. Abbas arrived inRead More
Sri Lanka holds mass wedding ceremony for 100 Chinese couples
COLOMBO, DEC 17 (DNA) – Sri Lanka hosted a grand wedding ceremony in capital Colombo on Sunday for 100 Chinese couples with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe gracing the event. The ceremony held at the Colombo Municipal grounds was named by the Government of Sri Lanka as a “Royal Wedding Ceremony”. Some of the couples were dressed in traditional Kandyan wedding attire while some others were wearing the traditional Chinese wedding attire and some were in western wedding gowns and suits. Sri Lankan drummers and dancers receivedRead More