LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — In an emotional televised address, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif vowed Monday to hunt down and defeat the militants who have been carrying out attacks like the Easter bombing that targeted Christians and killed 72 people. “We will not allow them to play with the lives of the people of Pakistan,” Sharif … Continue reading
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan’s prime minister on Monday vowed to eliminate perpetrators of terror attacks such as the massive suicide bombing that targeted Christians gathered for Easter the previous day in the eastern city of Lahore, killing 70 people. The attack underscored both the militants’ ability to stage large-scale attacks despite a months-long government … Continue reading
CHARSADDA, Pakistan (AP) — When Islamic militants stormed the university campus in this Pakistani town, chemistry professor Hamid Hussain was carrying a concealed pistol. Locking his students in his classroom he opened fire on the assailants, buying his pupils enough time to escape before he was gunned down. The survival of Hussain’s students in a … Continue reading
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush is making it clearer that his call for the U.S. refugee program to give preference to Christians fleeing Syria does not exclude Muslims. His campaign says Bush supports accepting women and children regardless of their religion and does not exclude Syrian Muslims broadly, as long … Continue reading
CAIRO (AP) — The recent decision to ban all female staff from wearing the full face veil aims to put an end to student complaints of “poor communication” in class, the head of Egypt’s Cairo University said Friday. Although the head-to-toe covering known locally as the niqab is “not a phenomenon” among his teachers, Gaber … Continue reading
MOUNT ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Muslim pilgrims from around the world gathered before dawn Wednesday in the valley of Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia for a day of prayer that marks the pinnacle of the annual hajj pilgrimage. Some 2 million pilgrims packed should-to-shoulder for an emotional day of repentance and supplication. Many wept … Continue reading
JERUSALEM (AP) — A rectangular hilltop compound in Jerusalem is ground zero of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, it is Islam’s third holiest spot and is home to an iconic golden-domed shrine. But to Jews it is the Temple Mount, their holiest place, and the only religious site in the … Continue reading
BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A Dutch national who was held in captivity by Islamic militants for more than three years has left Mali and is headed back home, officials said Tuesday. Sjaak Rijke, who was abducted from a hotel in northern Mali in November 2011, flew into Mali’s capital Bamako on Tuesday. He stepped out … Continue reading
LONDON (AP) — British police, under pressure to stem the flow of would-be militants eager to join the Islamic State group, on Monday arrested an 18-year-old man suspected of planning to travel to Syria. Hours earlier, they freed on bail three other U.K. teens detained in Turkey, allegedly on their way to link up with … Continue reading
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe defended his policy toward terrorism, as the flag at his official residence flew at half-staff Monday in a mark of mourning for two hostages killed by the Islamic State group. During a long day of parliamentary debate, Abe parried numerous questions about his handling of the … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 