Egyptians are beginning to realize that the military and the regime it backs are not there to serve the interests of the people. Hitherto, only supporters of the Ikhwan al-Muslimoon (Muslim Brotherhood) were concerned; now this has spread to the wider society. Students have also joined in large numbers.
Hamid Karzai is furious at the Americans. They have killed another innocent child and injured two women in a bombing raid in Afghanistan. Karzai has been demanding a halt to such attacks and total ban on night raids in people's homes before he signs the Bilateral Security Agreement that would allow American troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond the 2014 deadline.
Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf (PTI), the party headed by cricket-star-turned politician Imran Khan, has named CIA director John Brennen and the CIA station chief in Islamabad, Craig Osth as the principal accused in the murder of six people in a drone strike on a madrassa in Tall, Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district. PTI Information Secretary Dr Shireen Mazari made the announcement at a press conference in Islamabad on Monday.
While the people of Syria continue to suffer as a consequence of the foreign-inspired war in the country, the so-called poliitical opposition led by the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) as well as the mercenary rebel and takfiri forces refuse to participate in dialogue scheduled for Geneva on January 22, 2014 to resolve the crisis. They are, however, losing the battle inside Syria, both politically and militarily.
Details of the Iran-six powers interim nuclear deal have now been released. For limited sanctions relief (though the major sanctions would remain in place), Iran has agreed to cap its nuclear program at its present level. It has also agreed to provide access to IAEA inspectors. This allows a six-month time period for the parties to work on a comprehensive agreement. US allies Saudi Arabia and Israel are most upset over the deal.
Kashmir dispute is the longest unresolved issue facing the world. The rights of the Kashmiri people to self-determination have been denied since the problem arose in October 1947. Unfortunately, there is little information about the dispute outside a core of Kashmiri activists and the people of Pakistan. The Toronto seminar was meant to break this situation by bringing together a vast array of speakers to highlight the issue.
Iran and the six powers finally agreed on the wording of an interim agreement in Geneva over Tehran's nuclear program. The deal is for six months during which Iran will not expand its nuclear program. In return, it would get relief of about $4.2 billion in oil revenue sales. Relief on medicines and import of gold and metals would also be provided.
People's anger over continued US drone strikes was evident in the massive rally organized by the Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI) party led by Imran Khan. Tens of thousands blocked the ring road in Peshawar leading to Torkham border with Afghanistan. They demanded an immediate end to drone strikes that have killed thousands of people in Pakistan since they were first launched in 2004.
President Hamid Karzai wants American troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond the 2014 deadline and he has agreed to all their terms but he does not want to take responsibility for the deal. He is trying to be clever by asking the Loya Jirga to take responsibility while at the same time he has said its signing should be postponed until after the presidential elections next April.
General Sisi wants to be the president of Egypt. His zionist cousins in Tel Aviv would be pleased. They have been waiting for this for 65 years. Now they have a great opportunity with one of their own taking direct control in Egypt, arguably the most important country in the Arab world.
The House of Saud is in panic mode. Its policies are unravelling both at home and abroad. Its long standing ally and protector, the US, is no longer as keen to lend a helping hand or ear, as it used to. The Saudis can read the writing on the wall. They see their end coming soon. What will come first: King Abdullah going to his grave--he is 90 years old--or the collapse of the Nejdi clan?
he choice of Pakistan's new army chief has the chattering classes in a tizzy. Who will get the nod: will it be Lt Gen Haroon Aslam, Lt Gen Rashad Mahmood, Lt Gen Tariq Khan or Lt Gen Raheel Sharif? In less than 10 days, people will find out but the question on everyone's mind though not uttered is whether the new chief would keep out of politics.
The third round of talks between Iran and the sextet started in Geneva today amid guarded optimism that there may be an interim deal at last. It is still too early to tell but all signs point to progress. The next two days will show what can be expected.
The main terrorist sponsors in the Middle East--Saudi Arabia and zionist Israel--collaborating closely with each other, appear to be behind the twin suicide attacks earlier today in Beirut. Their target was the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Lebanon. At least 23 people have been killed and 146 injured according to Lebanese health ministry officials.
An updated list of Guantanamo Bay detainees' list has been released by the Pentagon but it does not include the name of Aamer Shakir, the British detainee. Instead, the US has provided a second list of detainees who will not be released. They will also not be charged with any offence but since the US considers itself above the law, it claims it can do what it likes.
There is immense suffering in Gaza, the tiny Strip that is sandwiched between Israel, the Red Sea and Egypt. The zionist regime has blockaded the tiny Strip with its 1.5 million inhabitants from all sides (including the sea), the Egyptian regime is also collaborating with the zionists adding to the suffering of the people of Gaza. Raw sewage flows in the streets forcing people to walk through it (photo). 90 percent of Gaza's water is undrinkable.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan announced in Islamabad today that the government would press treason charges against General Pervez Musharraf. The charges relate to Musharraf's suspension of the constitution, imposition of a state of emergency and the sacking of judges that refused to provide legal cover to his illegal moves in 2007. Most people, however, are skeptical about whether Musharraf would be punished.
Afghans are adamant that they are completely against the presence of US troops in their country. This was confirmed again today when thousands of angry Afghans protested in the eastern city of Jalalabad. They are also totally opposed to the immunity clause the Americans are demanded for their troops if they stay in Afghanistan past the 2014 deadline.
There are clear signs that Turkey is making important changes in its policies that had led to serious disagreements with many of its neighbours. These primarily related to its policy on Syria where the AKP government had made the overthrow of Bashar al-Asad a central plank of its policy. This has failed and Turkey is changing course. It is also taking steps to reduce sectarian tensions. These are welcome developments.
