ISLAMABAD (BNO NEWS) — The United States on Tuesday said it condemns the terrorist attacks during Muharram processions on Sunday and Monday in Muzaffarabad and Karachi.

The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad said in its condemnation that the attacks targeted innocent people. “We extend our condolences to the victims’ families and friends, and to the Pakistani people,” a brief statement said.

Dozens of people were killed in the attacks, which left scores of others injured.

WALA I NOW, AFGHANISTAN (BNO NEWS) — Spain’s Minister of Defence, Carmen Chacon, made a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Monday, the NATO-led ISAF alliance said on Tuesday.

It was Chacon’s fourth visit to Afghanistan in the past twenty months. The minister arrived at a local airport in Qala I Now where she was greeted by Colonel Manuel Sierra, a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) commander. Chacon thanked the troops for their commitment and encouraged assigned soldiers to continue with the “important” mission of training Afghans.

While being accompanied by Chief of Army Staff General Coll Bucher and Lt. Gen. Rodriguez Fernandez, the chief of the Spanish defence staff, Chacon visited Spain’s new base in Afghanistan, built to receive the increasing Spanish troops responsible for carrying out mentoring missions in Bagdhis province.

The new base is expected to open early next year.

(Adds official details about crew of UK ship)

LONDON (BNO NEWS) — An official with knowledge of the situation on Tuesday said that Somali pirates have hijacked two more vessels, including a UK-flagged chemical tanker.

The official, who’s authenticity was confirmed by BNO News, asked her name and affiliation not to be published because she was not authorized to speak on the issue.

The British ship, dubbed the St. James Park, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on Monday at around 4.30 p.m. local time, the official said. The European Union naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR), the force which is patrolling the waters off Somalia, confirmed the information.

A total of 26 crew members are on board. The group exists of three Filipinos, three Russians, one Georgian, two Romanians, five Bulgarians, two Ukrainians, one Polish, six Indians and three Turkish. No UK citizens are on board, the force said.

The ship sent a distress message as it was transiting the International Recognized Transit Corridor (IRTC). “The ship sent a distress message and a warship from Task Force 151 was able to get in contact with the ship using his Somali translator who reported that the ship has been hijacked,” EU NAVFOR said in a statement. The M/V St James Park began her journey on Sunday, and was registered with MSC HOA but did not join a group transit.

EU NAVFOR said the ship is now heading towards the Somali coast and is monitoring the situation. “The main tasks of EUNAVFOR mission Operation ATALANTA are to escort merchant vessels carrying food of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), the protection of vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy,” it said.

The hijacking of the British ship was followed by yet another hijacking about half an hour later, which the European Union naval force was not immediately able to confirm. The unnamed official said it was a Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier called the Navios Apollon, carrying 19 crew members.

No one was injured as the pirates took control of both ships, but its crew members remain captive.

The latest hijackings came on the same day that other Somali pirates released a Singapore-flagged container ship called the Kota Wajar. The ship and its 21 crew members had been held captive since the early morning of October 15 when they were hijacked about 300 nautical miles north of Seychelles.

The ship was released outside Haradere off the coast of Somalia, according to the European Union naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR). “EU NAVFOR is monitoring the situation,” it said.

It was not immediately clear if any ransom was paid to secure the release of the crew members. The Canadian warship HMCS FREDERICTON from TF 508 provided medical and logistical assistance after they had been released.

At least nine ships with 237 crew members on board remain hijacked in the region.

LONDON (BNO NEWS) — An official with knowledge of the situation says Somali pirates have hijacked a Panamanian-flagged ship off Somalia with 19 crew members on board.

THE HAGUE (BNO NEWS) — Nearly all Dutch send their new year’s greeting by post cards, according to a poll by TNT Post released on Tuesday.

The poll held by the national postal company shows that 96 percent of the Dutch send their New Year’s wishes by post, rather than online. Around 39 percent of the interviewed people said they send some of their New Year’s wishes by e-mail, while 21 percent said they send some through social networking websites such as Hyves, which is extremely popular in the Netherlands.

It should be noted that only 527 people were interviewed during the poll.

Most of the New Year’s post cards, about 90 percent, are send to family, followed by friends (83 percent), acquaintances (65 percent), colleagues (35 percent) and partners (10 percent).

When asked who they would absolutely not send a New Year’s card to, ten percent named their employee as in a person. Health and happiness are the most popular themes on the post cards.

Those who participated in the poll were also asked about their habits around New Year’s Eve. About one-third of those said they were not looking forward to spending the evening with their family, while ten percent said they did not like the fact that most stores are closed on January 1st. The poll also showed that older people usually enjoy the holiday more than younger people.

While most New Year’s wishes to colleagues are brought with a hand shake (47 percent), about 30 percent give each other three kisses and even a hug. About ten percent say they only verbally communicate their wishes to colleagues.

Women, according to the poll, prefer being kissed by their colleagues than men. The H1N1 swine flu pandemic, at least among those interviewed, does not play a role in this. Around 77 percent said they do not realize potential health risks when wishing others a happy new year.

TNT Post also asked those interviewed who they would like to wish a happy new year by sending a post card. Around 10 percent answered Dutch singer Marco Borsato, one of the country’s best selling artists. Borsato gained a lot of media attention this year when his company, The Entertainment Group, went bankrupt. The singer since has severe money problems.

Other results from the poll show that New Year’s wishes via social networking websites such as Facebook and Hyves are mostly send to friends (88%) and acquaintances (71%). About half of those say January 6, the Christian holiday of Epiphany, is the most fitting day to receive New Year’s cards.

It also shows that men more often keep their New Year’s post cards, while women often keep only those with a special handwritten message.

Around 56 percent said they spend January 1st with their family, partner and/or friends. The number one topic during this period are the plans for the new year.

The TNT Post poll was held in early December and was conducted by ISIZ and Stadspeil Amsterdam. The main group existed of Dutch citizens of 18 and above.

(Eds: Adds Foreign Office comments about possible diplomatic actions and also adds confirmation of the British Ambassador to China visiting the Chinese Foreign Ministry.)

BEIJING (BNO NEWS) — China on Tuesday executed a British man convicted of smuggling drugs into China despite international pressure, UK and Chinese officials said.

Earlier on Tuesday, China’s Supreme People’s Court cleared the way for his execution after it approved his death sentence. Prime Minister Brown, his relatives and human rights groups had asked the government to spare his life, saying he had mental problems and was lured into the crime.

A number of high-ranking British officials, including Prime Minister Brown, immediately voiced their condemnation after the execution was carried out.

“I condemn the execution of Akmal Shaikh in the strongest terms, and am appalled and disappointed that our persistent requests for clemency have not been granted,” Brown said in a written statement from his office. “I am particularly concerned that no mental health assessment was undertaken. At this time our thoughts are with Mr. Shaikh’s family and friends and I send them our sincere condolences.”

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband also condemned the execution. “I join the Prime Minister in expressing my deepest condolences to Mr Shaikh’s family and friends,” Miliband said.

Miliband said both Britain and China are “completely committed” to fight drug trade, but said the issue is whether Shaikh is another victim of it.

“The UK is completely opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances,” Miliband said in his written statement. “However I also deeply regret the fact that our specific concerns about the individual in this case were not taken into consideration despite repeated calls by the Prime Minister, Ministerial colleagues and me. These included mental health issues, and inadequate professional interpretation during the trial.”

The British Ambassador to China, William Ehrman, visited the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing on Tuesday afternoon to “voice his condemnation,” a spokeswoman said.

A spokeswoman for the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office did not want to comment on a report from Sky News that China’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom would be summoned today. “There may be further diplomatic activities here in London later today,” she said when asked if there would be any diplomatic response.

Chinese state media said Shaikh was executed by lethal injection. Shaikh, who was 53 years old, is the first citizen of a European country to be executed in China in more than half a century.

LONDON (BNO NEWS) — Top official with knowledge of the situation says Somali pirates have hijacked the UK-flagged St. James Park chemical tanker in the Gulf of Aden with 26 crew on board.

BEIJING (BNO NEWS) — China on Tuesday executed a British man convicted of smuggling drugs into China despite international pressure, Prime Minister Brown and Foreign Secretary David Miliband said.

Earlier on Tuesday, China’s Supreme People’s Court cleared the way for his execution after it approved his death sentence. Prime Minister Brown, his relatives and human rights groups had asked the government to spare his life, saying he had mental problems and was lured into the crime.

Prime Minister Brown immediate condemned the execution in a statement issued by his office.

“I condemn the execution of Akmal Shaikh in the strongest terms, and am appalled and disappointed that our persistent requests for clemency have not been granted,” Brown said. “I am particularly concerned that no mental health assessment was undertaken. At this time our thoughts are with Mr. Shaikh’s family and friends and I send them our sincere condolences.”

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband also condemned the execution. “I join the Prime Minister in expressing my deepest condolences to Mr Shaikh’s family and friends,” Miliband said.

Miliband said both Britain and China are “completely committed” to fight drug trade, but said the issue is whether Shaikh is another victim of it.

“The UK is completely opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances,” Miliband said in his written statement. “However I also deeply regret the fact that our specific concerns about the individual in this case were not taken into consideration despite repeated calls by the Prime Minister, Ministerial colleagues and me. These included mental health issues, and inadequate professional interpretation during the trial.”

It was not immediately clear how Shaikh was executed. Shaikh, who was 53 years old, is the first citizen of a European country to be executed in China in more than half a century.

LONDON (BNO NEWS) — UK Prime Minister Brown says he condemns the execution of Akmal Shaikh in “the strongest terms.”

LONDON (BNO NEWS) — British Foreign Office spokesman says convicted drug smuggler Akmal Shaikh has been executed in China.