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Friday, October 28, 2005

China and North Korea: 'China's leader heads to N. Korea. Chinese President Hu Jintao is headed to North Korea for a rare summit with the North's reclusive leader, Kim Jong Il, the government said.' (CNN)

Pakistan: 'Quake copters may be grounded. Helicopters ferrying supplies to Pakistan's quake survivors in the Himalayas may have to be grounded if donors don't get more relief aid, a U.N. official has warned.' (CNN)

India: 'Indians flee approaching cyclone.Thousands of people living along the south-east Indian coast have been evacuated ahead of a cyclone bearing down from the Bay of Bengal.' (BBC)

Iran: 'Annan 'dismayed' by Iran remarks. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has voiced his "dismay" over remarks by Iran's president calling for Israel to be "wiped off the map".' (BBC)

China: 'China clamps down on environmental monitoring group. In a sign of China's growing unease over the growing influence of environmental activists, police in Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang province have arrested a local man who attempted to set up his own environmental monitoring group.' (Independent)

Thursday, October 27, 2005

Uzbekistan: 'Uzbekistan "Believers are not even allowed to visit each other". Members of the Full Gospel Church in Jizak, at an informal meal to celebrate the harvest festival last Tuesday (25 October), had their meal broken up the ordinary police, the National Security Service (NSS) secret police and officials from the Public Prosecutor's office.' (Forum 18)

India: 'Hindu extremist attacks Curb Christian Festival. Revival meetings in Rajasthan cancelled after more than 50 attacks on Christians.' (Compass Direct)

Uzbekistan: 'Harassed' BBC shuts Uzbek office. Uzbekistan is accused of hiding the truth about the Andijan uprising. The BBC is suspending its newsgathering operations in the Central Asian state of Uzbekistan due to security concerns.' (BBC)

Thailand: 'Six dead in south Thailand raids. Security is heavy in Thailand's southern provinces. At least six people have died in a wave of co-ordinated attacks in southern Thailand, which officials blamed on suspected Muslim militants.' (BBC)

Iran: 'Iran's leader says Jewish state 'should be wiped from map'. Iran's hardline President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has stirred up a diplomatic storm and risked further isolating his country by saying that Israel should be "wiped off the map". Iran's refusal officially to recognise Israel's right to exist is a major obstacle to improved relations between Tehran and the West and has fuelled Israeli fears that the Islamic republic is bent on building a nuclear bomb. Yesterday's diatribe - the first such outburst in many years by an Iranian leader - will have done nothing to assuage fears.' (Independent)

Iraq: 'Sunni groups join forces for Iraq vote. Iraq's Sunni Arabs, who turned out in larger numbers for a constitutional referendum after boycotting January's parliamentary vote, are now flexing their political muscles for the December 15 assembly election, Sunni Arab officials told CNN.' (CNN)

Pakistan: 'U.N. appeals for more quake relief. The United Nations on Wednesday raised its appeal for donations for victims of the South Asia earthquake to $550 million ahead of a donors conference, the world body's top humanitarian official said.' (CNN)

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Nepal: '"Tourists trapped" in Nepal snow 'Hundreds of tourists are stranded in a remote northern district of Nepal after heavy snowfall, reports say.' (BBC)

Pakistan: 'Rich world 'failing' on quake aid. Many of the world's richest countries have so far failed to support a UN appeal for victims of the South Asian quake, a top UK-based charity has said.' (BBC)

Iraq: 'Iraq votes for constitution despite Sunni rejection. A majority of Iraqis have voted for the new federal constitution, which will divide the country into three regions and weaken central government.' (Independent)

Pakistan: 'Volcano fears could force 150,000 to flee quake area. The Pakistani army has flown two geologists to an isolated north-western valley to investigate reports of volcanic activity that could force 150,000 people already hit by the earthquake to flee Himalayan foothills.
The geologists left yesterday to survey the Alai valley after villagers reported what they said could be a volcano, said Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan. Scientists hope the villagers are mistaken and speculated that aftershocks of the earthquake on 8 October and landslides could be responsible for the reports.' (Independent)

Syria: 'A draft U.S.-French resolution being circulated Tuesday among the U.N. Security Council says Syria "must detain" Syrian officials or individuals suspected of involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.' (CNN)

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

China and Indonesia: 'Global alert from bird flu intensifies. The European Commission was set to announce a ban on imports of live birds as a fourth death from avian flu was confirmed in Indonesia and the global alert from the disease intensifies. Tuesday's announcement by Indonesia came as China reported a new outbreak among geese in the eastern province of Anhui and Germany ordered tests on dead wild fowl.' (CNN)

Nepal: 'Amnesty offer for Nepal Maoists. The Nepalese government has made a fresh amnesty offer to the country's Maoist rebels. The authorities said that rebels who surrendered by mid-January next year would be given a mass amnesty. There has been no immediate response to the government's offer from the Maoist rebels. ' (BBC)

China: 'Chinese mark Taiwan anniversary. In a break from tradition, China is marking the 60th anniversary of the end of Japanese rule in Taiwan. Senior officials held a ceremony in Beijing on Tuesday, and a special photography exhibition is also being staged to mark the occasion.' (BBC)

Kyrgyzstan: 'Kyrgyzstan protests pressure PM. Hundreds of protesters rallied on Monday for a third day in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek to call for the resignation of PM Felix Kulov. They said he was indirectly responsible for the death of an MP who was shot by inmates as he visited a jail last week.' (BBC)

Syria and Lebanon: 'Sanctions against Syria on hold as UN completes Hariri report. Western governments are expected to hold back before proposing to punish Syria with economic sanctions because of its alleged role in the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri, and instead allow the UN investigator to complete his inquiry.' (Independent)

Iraq: 'Twenty killed as bombers target Baghdad hotels used by TV crews.' (Telegraph)

Monday, October 24, 2005

Pakistan: 'U.N. appeals for quake refugees. Aftershocks rattle region as 800,000 living without shelter. The United Nations warned that 800,000 people remain without shelter more than two weeks after South Asia's colossal quake, and repeated its urgent appeal for more aid. As powerful aftershocks continued to rattle the region, a top U.S. commander said the United States would step up its relief efforts.' (CNN)

Lebanon: 'Lebanon arrest after Hariri probe. Lebanon has taken its first steps in response to the UN report into the murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, arresting one man.' (BBC)

Afghanistan: 'Jail term for Afghan journalist. The editor of a women's rights magazine in Afghanistan has been sentenced to two years in jail for blasphemy.' (BBC)

Pakistan: 'India and Pakistan finally co-operate as strong aftershock hits. Pakistan and India are planning to allow earthquake victims across the disputed Kashmir border, bringing the nuclear-armed rivals closer in the wake of a shared tragedy that killed nearly 80,000 people on both sides of the heavily fortified frontier. Meanwhile, as a strong aftershock measuring six on the Richter scale struck the quake zone, General John Abizaid, chief of US Central Command, toured the destruction in Pakistan's half of the divided Himalayan region and promised to "do whatever is possible to help Pakistan".' (Independent)

Friday, October 21, 2005

Pakistan: 'Annan pleads for more quake aid. Amount pledged is 90 percent short of needs, U.N. chief says. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called for a greater world response to the earthquake victims in Pakistan, where relief agencies say thousands in the Himalayas face death from exposure.' (CNN)

China: ''Grave' bird flu threat to China. China faces a "grave" threat from bird flu, Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu has warned.' (BBC)

Kyrgyzstan: 'Kyrgyz leader orders prison probe. Tynchbek Akmatbayev was said to be in prison to inspect conditions Kyrgyzstan's president has ordered an inquiry after a member of parliament and at least two others were killed by inmates during a prison visit.' (BBC)

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Pakistan: 'India and Pakistan unite as death toll approaches 80,000. Telephone lines between the Indian and Pakistani-held areas of Kashmir have been restored for the first time in more than 15 years to allow Kashmiris to call their relatives across the ceasefire line and find out if they are safe after the earthquake.'(Independent)

Krygyzstan: 'Uzbek claims and extremism law cause little change. Uzbekistan has made unproven allegations of a link between Kyrgyzstan and the Andijan uprising. Despite the Uzbek claims and the passage of a new Kyrgyz extremism law, Forum 18 News Service has found little change in Kyrgyz government policy towards Muslims.' (Forum 18)

China: 'Chinese GDP grows 9.4 percent. China's gross domestic product in the third quarter of 2005 grew 9.4 percent from a year earlier, marking the ninth successive quarter of annual growth of 9 percent or higher, the National Bureau of Statistics has said.' (CNN)

Afgahanistan: 'US probe into 'Taleban burnings'. The US military says it will investigate claims that US soldiers publicly burnt the bodies of two Taleban fighters in Afghanistan.' (BBC)

Malaysia: 'Cancer takes Malaysia's first lady. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's wife, whom he described as his No. 1 supporter, died Thursday after a nearly four-year battle with breast cancer. She was 64.' (CNN)

Pakistan: 'UN urges greater quake response. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has warned of a second wave of deaths from the Pakistan earthquake unless much more aid is immediately provided.' (BBC)

Lebanon: 'Annan 'to receive Hariri report' UN chief Kofi Annan is to receive a keenly-awaited report on Thursday on the killing of Lebanon's former prime minister, a UN spokesman has said.' (BBC)

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Lebanon: 'Abbas discusses arms in Lebanon. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas says he is prepared to hold talks without pre-conditions on the issue of Palestinian weapons in Lebanon.' (BBC)

Pakistan: 'Extra UK aid reaches earthquake zone. More than 23,000 ration packs have been sent to Pakistan as further relief for the earthquake victims, days after Tony Blair pledged extra support for the region.' (PM News)

China: 'China Crisis: threat to the global environment. Spectacular growth now biggest threat to environment. Western politicians queue up to sing its praises. Economists regard it with awe and delight. Other countries are desperate to imitate it. Yet there is another side to China's exploding, double-digit-growth miracle economy - it is turning into one of the greatest environmental threats the earth has ever faced.' (Independent)

India: 'Christian arrested under anti-conversion law. Hindu extremists accuse children’s home operator of converting 11 children. A Christian worker is in jail in Indore, in the north-central state of Madhya Pradesh, after authorities arrested him on October 7 for “converting young children from poor Hindu families to Christianity.”' (Compass Direct)

Turkmenistan: 'In its survey analysis of religious freedom in Turkmenistan, Forum 18 News Service reports on the almost complete lack of freedom to practice any faith, including denials of the right of legally registered religious communities to worship. In a typical example of this approach - which other religious minorities have also experienced - police raided a legally registered Baptist church in northern Turkmenistan, claiming that "individuals can only believe alone on their own at home." Unregistered religious activity continues – in defiance of international human rights agreements – to be attacked. There has been an increase in attempts to impose a state religious personality cult of President Niyazov on all Turkmen citizens, with mosques being particularly targeted. Turkmenistan continues to fail to implement its international human rights commitments, and also continues to take direct governmental action to deny religious freedom to peaceful Turkmen citizens.' (Forum 18)

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Pakistan: 'Earthquake victims in urgent need of shelter from snows' (Independent)

Pakistan: 'Row mars S Asia quake aid effort. Pakistan and India have failed to agree terms under which Indian army aircraft would join the search-and-rescue mission to reach earthquake survivors. ' (BBC)

Kashmir: 'Kashmir minister killed at home - Kashmir's junior education minister was killed after two attackers infiltrated his home in the high-security area of Srinagar, the capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.' (CNN)

Iraq: 'Iraq result delay over fraud fear. Iraqi election officials say the formal result of the country's vote on a new constitution will be delayed, amid accusations of fraud. ' (BBC)

Monday, October 17, 2005

Pakistan: 'Doctor's diary: 'Same story everywhere' (BBC)

Pakistan: 'Weather raises quake relief fears. There are fears about the survivors. Bad weather is still hampering efforts to help victims of the South Asian quake - but heavy rains eased on Monday bringing some hope.' (BBC)

China: 'Chinese astronauts land safely. A space capsule carrying two Chinese astronauts landed by parachute early Monday in the country's northern grasslands after five days in orbit, the government announced. It said the astronauts were "in good health."' (CNN)

Friday, October 14, 2005

Pakistan: 'Uncoordinated aid efforts after earthquake could result in duplication, WHO warns' (BMJ)

Pakistan: 'Tent cities for quake survivors. Pakistan is to set up tent cities to shelter hundreds of thousands of people made homeless by last week's earthquake that killed at least 25,000 people.' (BBC)

Iraq: 'Tensions rise as Iraq's referendum nears U.S. and Iraqi forces take precautions in Diyala province. We learned from the last elections and completely changed our voting system, and so have the terrorists," said Amer Latif, head of the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq for Diyala province, slightly shaken but determined after having just survived an attack on his life.' (CNN)

China: 'China spacecraft orbit corrected. Astronauts on China's Shenzhou VI spacecraft have adjusted its trajectory after it started moving too close to the Earth, state media has said.' (BBC)

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Pakistan: 'The struggle to treat quake victims. Thousands of survivors are still awaiting medical treatment five days after a massive earthquake struck Pakistan. In Balakot, the worst affected area, a temporary clinic has been set up to treat people, but it is overwhelmed by demand.' (BBC)

China: 'Chinese children hurt in shooting. A man armed with homemade guns has shot and wounded 16 children at a primary school in the eastern Chinese province of Anhui, according to state media.' (BBC)

Syria: 'Syrian general in UN inquiry found dead. General Ghazi Kenaan, Syria's Interior Minister, "committed suicide", according to the official news agency in Damascus.' (Independent)

Turkey: 'Turkey gets tough on farmers. Turkish authorities have ordered poultry farmers in a quarantined area in western Turkey to hand over birds for culling or face fines and possible jail sentences as Turkey tried to contain an outbreak of suspected bird flu.' (CNN)

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Pakistan: ' One by one, their cries stopped and 1,500 students died.' (Independent)

Pakistan: 'Rescue teams lose hope of finding survivors.' (Telegraph)

Afghanstan: 'Police: 19 killed in Afghan ambush. Suspected Taliban rebels ambushed a police convoy in southern Afghanistan and killed 19 officers, the deadliest attack on police in several months, an official said Tuesday.' (CNN)

China: 'China astronauts blast into space. China has successfully launched its second manned spacecraft, carrying two Chinese astronauts into orbit.' (BBC)

Pakistan: 'Aid floods into earthquake region. Aid is pouring into regions affected by Saturday's South Asian earthquake, after relief efforts were temporarily suspended because of bad weather. But correspondents say there is concern about a lack of co-ordination, with supplies yet to reach remote areas.' (BBC)

Iraq: 'Deal may boost Iraq constitution vote. Car bombs kill dozens as nation prepares for referendum. A deal struck in last-minute talks Tuesday night between a major Sunni Arab party and the Shiite-Kurd coalition could aid approval of the proposed Iraq constitution this weekend.' (CNN)

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Pakistan: 'We've lost a generation of children. Pakistan mourned a lost generation of children in the earthquake-devastated Kashmir area yesterday. United Nations officials predicted that the number of deaths among young people would rise to 15,000.' (Telegraph)

Pakistan: 'Tragedy on one of the world’s main fault lines. International aid in the form of everything from doctors to helicopters has begun pouring into South Asia following its devastating earthquake. But there is anger among residents of Pakistani Kashmir’s flattened capital, Muzaffarabad, at how slow their government’s response has been.' (Economist)

Iraq: 'Iraq orders 'corruption' arrests. Iraq has issued arrest warrants for 27 senior officials from the US-backed interim government over suspected embezzlement of more than $1bn.' (BBC)

Monday, October 10, 2005

Iraq: 'Iraq to take strict poll measures. Iraq has announced stringent security measures ahead of next Saturday's referendum on the new constitution.' (BBC)

Pakistan: 'Desperate struggle to reach earthquake survivors as toll hits 30,000' (The Independent)

Friday, October 07, 2005

Afganistan: 'Afghan initial poll winners named. Afghan poll officials have announced initial results from September's parliamentary elections and excluded 300 polling stations for fraud.' (BBC)

Uzbekistan: UZBEKISTAN: 'Growing attempts to isolate religious groups from support' (Forum 18)

Pakistan: 'Eight die in Pakistan sect attack. Police in Pakistan say at least eight people were killed and 20 injured when gunmen opened fire as worshippers gathered for Friday prayers.' (BBC)

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Middle East: 'HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN BEGINS Bustling cities throughout the Middle East fell eerily quiet Tuesday as the sun fell below the horizon on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.' (CNN)

Azebaijan: 'Police Violence Mars Election Campaign' (Human Rights News)

Iran:'Britain blamed Iran yesterday for a spate of roadside bomb attacks that killed at least eight British soldiers in the past six months.' (Telegraph)

Iraq: 'Iraq's parliament has reversed its decision to change the rules governing a referendum next week on the country's new constitution.' (BBC)