News updates

The United States has confirmed publicly for the first time that a Pakistani doctor long suspected of collecting vital evidence before the assassination of Osama bin Laden was indeed working for them. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta told 60 Minutes on CBS, in a profile to be broadcast today, that Shakil Afridi helped provide proof that the compound in Abbottabad to …

Minister of Haj Bandar Hajjar, left, meets with Sri Lankan Senior Minister for Urban Development Abdul Hameed Mohamed Fowzie at his office in Jeddah on Wednesday. (SPA)     RIYADH: Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar said Wednesday that around 80 countries have requested an increased quota of Haj pilgrims, but the ministry has to restrict the number of Hajis according to …

The tragic death of a 16-year-old Pakistani girl who was also a computer genius has cast a spotlight on an industry with huge potential for the country's youth.  Arfa Karim Randhawa, who became the world's youngest Microsoft Certified Professional at the age of nine, died at the weekend after a heart attack following an epileptic fit. After Arfa passed the …

Sri Lanka and the State of Qatar signed nine Memoranda of Understanding yesterday following the visit of the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani. The Emir arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday on a two-day state visit on an invitation by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. President Rajapaksa warmly welcomed the Emir of Qatar and his delegation …

  Malaysian politician says justice has been served and pledges to topple the government in next elections. Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett spoke to Anwar Ibrahim after the verdict at the Kuala Lumpur High Court   Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been acquitted in a surprise end to a politically charged sodomy trial. The popular leader has called the trial a government …