Dubai: A Gurudwara in Jebel Ali, UAE, organised an Iftar party, for the second consecutive time, inviting the people from Al Manar, a Quran Study Centre, as the guests of honour. Ten guests were present, including Islamic speaker Ahmad Hamid and Al Manar Centre representative Abdul Hadi.
Hamid said they completed the “crux of the mission”, which was “to share the principles of why they fast. This is the best time to share the principles of religion with everyone in this part of the world,” he said. Surinder Singh Kandhari, chairman of the Guru Nanak Darbar, also invited about 20 other Muslim friends.
Pak heat wave toll touches 1,150
Karachi: Power outages have just added to the existing anguish of the people in Pakistan as the country braves its deadliest heatwave, topping a record of 1,100 deaths. The highest temperature recorded was at a dangerous 121 degrees in Karachi. “The deadly heat wave that has killed several hundred people in Karachi, is clearly a harbinger of things to come with the changing climate,” Saleemul Huq, director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development in Bangladesh said. More than 14,000 people have had to be admitted hospitals and the morgues are overflowing.
IMF approves $506m bailout for Pakistan
Islamabad: The International Monetary Fund has approved the release of a $ 506 million loan tranche for Pakistan, as part of a three year bailout programme to support the country's economic reforms and growth. The Executive Board took the decision after the seventh review of the country's economy for January-March of the current year.
Fresh Lankan probe into people missing during civil war
Colombo: A Sri Lankan Presidential Commission of Inquiry, appointed to look into complaints about people that went missing during the civil war will now take fresh inquiries. The body was chosen to inquire into and report alleged abductions and disappearances that occurred between January 1, 1983 and May 19, 2009. This is the period when the Tamil separatist campaign erupted and was crushed by the military. Headed by Maxwell Paranagama, it has received 16,153 complaints from residents in the northern and eastern provinces and 5,200 complaints from the families of security personnel.
Taliban ambush kills 11 Afghan soldiers
Herat (Afghanistan): Taliban gunmen ambushed an army supply convoy from 207th Corps while it was travelling through Karokh district in Heart province. Eleven soldiers were killed while they were travelling in pickup trucks, Ehsanullah Hayat, spokesman for the governor of the western province of Herat said.
US supreme court allows same-sex marriage
Washington: In a 5-4 ruling the US supreme court has allowed the same-sex couples to marry. The decision settled one of the biggest civil rights concerns of the era. America became the 21st country to legalise same sex marriage who will now enjoy the same legal rights and benefits as married heterosexual couples nationwide and will be recognized on official documents such as birth and death certificates. In an emotional moment shown on television, President Barack Obama thanked lead plaintiff of the case Jim Obergefell saying, “I just wanted to say congratulations. Your leadership on this has changed the country.”
Vatican signs historic accord with Palestine
Vatican City: Two years after officially recognised it as a State, the Vatican has signed its first accord with Palestine. The treaty covers the activities of the Church in the Holy Land under the state's control. Palestinian foreign minister Riad Al-Maliki said, “it would not have been possible without the blessing of Pope Francis for our efforts to reach it.” After 15 years of discussions, the agreement was finalised in principle last month, something Israel isn't thrilled about and called a setback for the peace process.
