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Blast by Boko Haram kills 27 at Nigeria church
Pak Info Minister offers to quit
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Afghan MP among 19 killed in attack
Egypt to free jailed blogger: Family
Japan, India to push ahead with three infrastructure projects
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Blast by Boko Haram kills 27 at Nigeria church Abuja, December 25 Boko Haram, which wants to impose Islamic sharia law across the country split roughly equally between Christians and Muslims, has escalated its tactics this year and increased the sophistication of the explosives it uses. St Theresa's Catholic Church in Madala, an Abuja satellite town about 40 km from the centre of the capital, was packed out when the powerful bomb exploded during a Christmas service. "We were in the church with my family when we heard the explosion. I just ran out," Timothy Onyekwere told Reuters. "Now I don't even know where my children or my wife are. I don't know how many were killed but there were many dead." Boko Haram, which in the Hausa language spoken in northern Nigeria means "Western education is sinful", is loosely modelled on the Taliban movement in Afghanistan. The sect was blamed for dozens of bombings and shootings in the north, and has claimed responsibility for two bombings in Abuja this year, including Nigeria's first suicide bombing on the U.N. headquarters in August that killed at least 23 people.
— Reuters
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Pak Info Minister offers to quit
Karachi/Islamabad, Dec 25 Awan, who was elected to the National Assembly or lower house of Parliament from Sialkot, broke down as she said she did not wish to carry on working as the Minister for Information when her party and cabinet colleagues were not satisfied with her performance. She told Gilani: “I believe that under your leadership and in the ownership of the President, we have to move forward.” Awan, whose announcement left her colleagues surprised, said she would continue to provide her “full support and backing to the party and government.” Gilani met Awan soon after the cabinet meeting and assured her that he would address her reservations, officials said. Awan told reporters that she had informed the PM about her “reservations and concerns,” including interference by outsiders in her ministry. “The Prime Minister tore up my resignation and promised he would address all my reservations and concerns,” Awan said. Awan said she did not want to continue as a minister if certain persons created “obstacles in her path and problems and difficulties.” “If people interfere in the ministry and non-cabinet members try to exercise the minister’s rights, then how can the minister perform?” she asked. Awan said she had told the PM that she should be allowed to work freely with a team of her choice. She had reportedly faced criticism from leaders of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party for her perceived failure to defend President Asif Ali Zardari and the government in the face of a series of crises. Awan was strongly criticised when she held a press conference in Islamabad with another PPP minister Babar Awan after the Supreme Court ordered a probe into a secret memo sent to the US seeking its help to avert a possible coup in Pakistan following the killing of Osama bin Laden in a covert American raid in Abbottabad on May 2. The two had lashed out at the judiciary and used harsh language, prompting Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry to ask Gilani to make the government’s stance clear. Firdous Awan was also criticised for her contradictory statements when Zardari had to rush to Dubai recently for medical treatment, which led to confusion and rumours in the country about the impending removal of the government. She is the third PPP leader to hold the information portfolio since the current government came to power in early 2008. Her predecessors were Sherry Rehman, now Pakistan’s Ambassador-designate to the US, and Qamar Zaman Kaira. Awan, who was inducted as Information Minister during a revamp of the Cabinet in February this year, had announced in November that Pakistan had decided to give the Most Favoured Nation status to India. Hours after her announcement, Pakistan government had issued several confusing statements which made no direct mention of the significant step. — PTI
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Thousands attend Imran Khan’s ‘tsunami’ rally Karachi, December 25 The rally began with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party's leaders addressing the crowd gathered at the Bagh-e-Quaid, adjacent to the mausoleum of Jinnah. 'Peace in Karachi, a stable and progressive Pakistan' read a giant banner on centre stage. The rally lit up once Imran Khan entered the venue and went to the main stage to resounding cheers and slogans. Every time cricketer-turned politician Imran waved back with a big smile to the sea of people carrying red and green party flags and many wearing caps, the crowd cheered with slogans 'Imran Khan Zindabad', 'Tehreek-e-Insaaf Zindabad'. All roads leading to the Quaid-e-Azam park, the venue of the rally adjacent to the Jinnah's mausoleum, were jammed with buses, trucks, cars, motorcycles and pedestrians who were eager to reach the place. Mindful of the response to Imran's call for Karachiites to attend the rally in large numbers and show their support for a change in the country and against corruption, the organisers had set up giant video screens outside the park for people who could not find a place inside. People had started entering the venue since morning and even though the rally started late and Imran arrived at least three hours late it didn't dampen the spirits of the people. "We are here because of Imran Khan. We believe he can make a better Pakistan and bring changes," shouted Maleeha, a hijab-clad woman who had come with her fiance to the rally.
— PTI
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Afghan MP among 19 killed in attack Kabul, December 25 The attacker detonated his vest after mourners gathered for the funeral of a government official in Taluqan city, the capital of Takhar province. "We have 19 dead including an MP, Abdulmutalib Baig, and about 40 wounded, mostly civilians," said Takhar provincial governor Abdul Jabar Taqwa. "I was also invited to this ceremony but I didn't go. The target was either me or the MP." Baig was a former Mujahedeen commander and the former police chief of Kunduz province, he added. Provincial police chief General Khair Mohammad Temor, who confirmed the death toll and number of wounded, said no women were among the dead. "A suicide attacker wearing a suicide vest attacked the funeral procession," he said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility and the Taliban were not reachable for comment. — AFP
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Egypt to free jailed blogger: Family
Cairo, December 25 Mona Abdel Fattah told AFP a court ordered Alaa, who was remanded into custody on October 30, released, and that he was expected to be freed in the next few hours. The blogger, who was also jailed under ousted president Hosni Mubarak, was accused of inciting violence during an October 9 demonstration by Coptic Christians in Cairo. A judicial source said Abdel Fattah was banned from travelling under the conditions of his release. He faces charges of vandalism during the demonstration that degenerated into clashes with soldiers in which at least 25 people were killed. The young man refused to undergo questioning by the military prosecution on the grounds that the military itself was implicated in the case and that it had no right to try civilians. — AFP
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Japan, India to push ahead with three infrastructure projects
Tokyo, December 25 The projects involving Japanese companies are part of a bilateral initiative agreed to in 2006. These relate to building a freight railway linking Delhi and Mumbai and industrial complexes along the rail corridor, known as "the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor," officials were quoted as saying by Kyodo news agency. The three projects concern the building of a solar power generation system, seawater desalination and gas-fired power production. The envisioned accord between Noda and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh is expected to give momentum to efforts by the Japanese public and private sectors to export infrastructure systems so as to boost Japan's economic growth. Under the solar power generation system project, Hitachi Limited and the government-linked New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization plan to operate the system on a trial basis, supplying power to industrial parks. Mitsubishi Corporation, another trading company, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited, plan to develop a gas-fired power generation project in areas where electricity supply is tight. Following the accord by the premiers, the two countries will sign a memorandum of understanding on the three projects. The signing ceremony will possibly be held in January. — PTI
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Islamist militant group Boko Haram said it planted bombs that exploded on Christmas Day at churches in Nigeria, one of which killed at least 27 persons on the outskirts of the capital.
Addressing Gilani during a televised cabinet meeting held in Karachi, 41-year-old Awan said: “While endorsing your leadership, I don’t think I can continue as a member of the cabinet. With your permission, I would like to submit my resignation.”