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Israel concerned Russian arms will reach enemies

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:24:01 -0400

Israel has warned Russia about sending arms to Syria. Justice Minister Tzipi Livni has spoken on Channel Two television's Meet the Press to condemn shipments of arms from Russia that she said may be used against Israel. She said: "These are not just any weapons, they are tie-breakers, and that's why there is a responsibility with all world powers, certainly Russia, not to supply such ...

Syrian bomb disposal experts on high alert

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:19:24 -0400

At least eight people have been killed and ten others injured in a bomb attack in the Syrian capital, Damascus. The incident took place in the north of the city, where cars and buildings were set alight by a bomb. The bomb had been concealed in another car which was parked near a school in the Rukn Eddin neighbourhood. Another explosive device was defused by military experts who had ...

Internet in Iran goes into coma ahead of presidential elections

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:40:01 -0400

Iran has reportedly gone into 'internet coma' by tightening internet controls ahead of next month's presidential election, mindful of violent protests inspired last time around over claims of fraud. Authorities refuse to officially confirm the new restraints, but former officials and media reports have accused the Supreme Council of Cyberspace of ordering them, reports News.com.au. According to ...

Saudi clerics blame Twitter for immoral souls

Sun, 19 May 2013 06:40:05 -0400

A leading senior religious clerics in Saudi Arabia has said that Saudi citizens using Twitter will risk damnation. Abdul Latif Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh's declaration comes as a move to attack the US-based microblogging service, the Huffington Post reports. According to the report, Saudi leaders fear that Twitter and other social media services are platforms for making the dissidents voice out their ...

Iran executes two spies working for CIA Mossad

Sun, 19 May 2013 06:00:01 -0400

Two Iranian spies, allegedly working for America's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Israel's Mossad were Sunday hanged in Iran, state-run IRIB TV reported. Mohammad Heidari, one of the executed men, had prepared information in a number of security issues and had given them to Mossad in several meetings outside the country, Xinhua cited the report as saying. Heidari received money in return ...

Conference on Syria settlement very soon UN chief

Sun, 19 May 2013 05:50:01 -0400

After consultations with UN Security Council permanent members, a conference on the Syrian settlement will take place "very soon", possibly at the beginning of June, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said here Sunday. "As I have been asked by the parties to convene this conference on the auspices of the United Nations, I'm now actively engaging with all the parties I have spoken to: the US, ...

Assad blasts West claims of chemical weapons in Syria as pretext to wage war

Sun, 19 May 2013 04:10:01 -0400

Syrian president Bashar Assad has said that claims of the West that the Syrian government used weapons of mass destruction against its countrymen are nothing but a pretext for waging war against Syria. The statement comes after US, Britain and Israel strongly put forth their opinions that there is evidence of chemical weapons being used in Syria, News 24 reports. However, Assad said that the ...

Car bomb kills eight in Syria

Sun, 19 May 2013 03:00:02 -0400

At least eight people were killed and 10 others wounded when a car bomb ripped through a Damascus district Saturday night, local media and activists said. A huge explosive device was planted under a car in the northeastern district of Ruken Addien, the state media said, adding that bomb squads dismantled another explosive device in the same area, reports Xinhua. Meanwhile, the oppositional ...

Ozzy Osbourne moves back in with wife Sharon

Sun, 19 May 2013 01:40:02 -0400

Sharon Osbourne, who was snapped wearing a huge diamond on her wedding finger again, is apparently giving her marriage another chance by letting her wild-man husband, Ozzy Osbourne, move back in with her. The couple, who were reportedly living apart with their marriage in shambles, is spending nights under the same roof once again, the Sun reported. The star's assistants were spotted moving ...

Suspected U.S. drone attack in Yemen kills 4 Al Qaeda militants

Sun, 19 May 2013 01:40:02 -0400

A suspected American drone attack has reportedly killed four Al Qaeda militants in the southern province of Yemen according to security officials. A fight between Yemeni forces and Al Qaeda in Abyan province last year had drove away militants from several cities that the outfit had ruled over for a brief period in 2011, Fox News reports. According to some security officials, the attack took ...

Sectarian Violence Kills 11 in Iraq

Sat, 18 May 2013 18:15:06 -0400

It was a violent day in Iraq Saturday with at least 11 people killed and 10 policemen kidnapped as hatred simmers between the ruling Shi'ite majority and the Sunni minority. Gunmen broke into the home of an anti-terrorism policeman in the Baghdad suburb of Rasheed, killing him, his wife, and two children. Another security officer was killed elsewhere in Rasheed. Police say gunmen killed a ...

Egypt hit with security abductions in Sinai

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:13:32 -0400

Security sources identified the abductors as members of the Al Qaida-aligned Tawhid W’al Jihad, which also maintains a presence in the neighboring Hamas-ruled Gaza ...

Netanyahu warns of more Israeli strikes on Syria

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:12:02 -0400

JERUSALEM // Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu held out the prospect yesterday of further Israeli strikes inside Syria, pledging to act to prevent advanced weapons from reaching Hizbollah and other militant groups. Although Israel has not publicly taken sides in the civil war between Syrian ...

Israel denies its forces killed Palestinian boy

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:12:01 -0400

JERUSALEM // Israel has completed an investigation into a decade-old French TV report that claimed Israeli forces killed a Palestinian boy in a gunbattle with Palestinian militants, saying the video was misleading and unfairly blamed Israel. France 2's images from September 2000, days after a Palestinian uprising erupted, allegedly showed the death of Mohammed Al Dura, cowering with his ...

Key Israeli politician calls for interim peace deal with Palestinians

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:11:41 -0400

Yair Lapid is pictured in January, 2013. He says that reaching a final peace agreement with the Palestinians is unrealistic at the current time and the sides should instead pursue an interim arrangement. (AMMAR ...

Israel to return settlements land to Palestinian owners

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:07:01 -0400

Jerusalem, May 19 : The state of Israel has said it would return the lands of a settlement evacuated in 2005 back to its original Palestinian owners, an Israeli daily said ...

Hezbollah takes fight to rebels as Syria’s war spills into Lebanon

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:55:57 -0400

Hezbollah launched a major offensive in support of the Assad regime today, with fighters from the Lebanese militant group playing their most significant role yet in Syria's two-year-old civil ...

Analysis West learns to jaw not war on Syria as the countrys civil war destabilises the region

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:55:56 -0400

Sunday's reports that the Syrian conflict was spilling over into Lebanon can be taken as further evidence that the sectarian civil war is destabilising the region. There are also signs that the unending strife is pushing the two players who really matter, America and Russia, towards trying for negotiations and a ceasefire based on the Geneva Accord signed last ...

Syria army in centre of Qusair amid assault on rebel town

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:47:32 -0400

Syrian government forces have launched a major offensive to retake the strategically important rebel stronghold of Qusair, near Lebanon. Syrian officials say the army have taken control of key points in the the city centre. According to opposition activists, government troops are being supported by militants from the Lebanese Hezbollah movement. More than 30 people are reported killed, mostly ...

EU delays plans to label West Bank settler goods

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:41:02 -0400

JERUSALEM, - The European Union has postponed plans to introduce separate labelling for products from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported on ...

Israel acts to deny Hezbollah arms says PM Netanyahu

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:08:35 -0400

Israel is "acting" to prevent weapons from Syria from reaching Lebanon's Hezbollah and will continue to do so, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on ...

UAE Foreign Minister Criticises Iranian Foreign Ministrys Statements Regarding Bahrain

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:08:04 -0400

Abu Dhabi, May 19 (BNA)-- UAE Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan strongly criticised the statements issued by the Iranian Foreign Ministry regarding Bahrain yesterday. He said the Iranian neighbours have got a real problem which is understanding how to deal with their neighbours. He added it is understood that Iran has local elections but still continues to throw its internal ...

Hezbollah steps up Syria battle Israel threatens more strikes

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:55:48 -0400

AMMAN (Reuters) - Lebanese Hezbollah militants attacked a Syrian rebel-held town alongside Syrian troops on Sunday and Israel threatened more attacks on Syria to rein the militia in, highlighting the risks of a wider regional conflict if planned peace talks ...

Cairo airport baggage handlers end strike that left passengers on 20 flights waiting

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:54:37 -0400

CAIRO - Cairo airport officials say baggage handlers have resumed work after a strike that left passengers on 20 international flights from Europe and Arab countries waiting several hours for luggage. Baggage handlers went on strike Saturday afternoon to demand stronger safety measures after a colleague died when a conveyer belt used to unload luggage fell on his head. His EgyptAir co-workers ...

Israeli government report disputes French TV claim about Gaza boys death in 2000

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:54:36 -0400

JERUSALEM - Israel has completed an investigation into a decade-old French TV report that claimed Israeli forces killed a Palestinian boy in a gunbattle with Palestinian militants, saying the video was misleading and unfairly blamed Israel. France 2 network's images from Sept. 30, 2000, days after a Palestinian uprising erupted, allegedly showed the death of Mohammed al-Dura, cowering with ...

Tough measures against expatriates raise concerns in Kuwait

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:49:05 -0400

Deportations of hundreds of expatriates coupled with controversial decision to limit morning hospital check-ups for Kuwaitis raise fears among ...

Oversupply from North America pushes oil prices lower

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:49:04 -0400

"Crude oil prices have continued their recent declines, despite the IEA increasing its forecast for oil demand for 2013," said CMC Markets analyst Michael ...

Pope Appeals for End of Violence in Syria

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:46:56 -0400

No News on Release of Abducted Metropolitan BishopsBy Junno Arocho EstevesVATICAN CITY, April 24, 2013 (Zenit.org) - At the conclusion of his weekly General Audience address, Pope Francis called for an end to the bloodshed in Syria.The Holy Father's plea comes at a difficult moment for the Church in Syria as there is no new developments in the abduction of two Metropolitan Bishops: ...

NZ ready to aid Middle East deal

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:30:00 -0400

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will tomorrow offer the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, New Zealand's assistance in the event that he can broker a breakthrough agreement between Israel and Palestine on a two-state solution. Mr Kerry has had an intense focus on the region with three visits there since taking over from Hillary Clinton in February. Mr McCully is scheduled to have his first formal ...

Iran tycoon may have to dump Mercedes for presidency

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:27:53 -0400

One of Iran's wealthiest men might have to wave a wistful goodbye to his armour-plated Mercedes if he wants to become president. Hardline media critical of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani have spliced images of him ensconced in a gleaming Mercedes with shots of another heavyweight candidate, Saeed Jalili, driving a locally assembled Kia Pride with, well, pride. The unspoken message: Mr Jalili, ...

Ori Allon to visit Israel to invest in start ups

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:20:14 -0400

After receiving investment proposals from over 1,000 Israeli start ups, Dr. Ori Allon, the former Israeli serial entrepreneur, will visit Israel at the start of June to look more closely at some of the entrepreneurs that have most impressed him. Last month, "Globes" revealed that Allon who has sold companies to Google and Twitter plans investing in Israeli start ups. Allon explained ...

Regime in biggest push yet for strategic city

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:18:25 -0400

Hezbollah made a huge push to retake the strategic city of Qusair from rebel forces Sunday, killing at least 32 people, opposition activists reported. Fierce shelling began to slam into the city near the Lebanese border around 10 p.m. Saturday and continued unabated throughout the next day, an activist told The Daily Star. "It is the biggest assualt yet, they [the regime] are using all ...

Likely US Drone Adds to Tally of Extrajudicial Killings in Yemen

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:17:50 -0400

A drone flying over southern Yemen bombed a passenger van on Saturday, killing at least four people and wounding several others, a local ...

Netanyahu Israel will take action to prevent Syrian weapons leakage to Hezbollah

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:56:21 -0400

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Israel would prevent the movement of weapons from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime to Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. He made no mention of past or future air ...

Abdullah bin Zayed strongly denounces Irans statement on Bahrain

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:55:01 -0400

WAM Abu Dhabi, 19th May 2013 (WAM) -- The UAE Foreign Minister, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, today strongly criticised a statement issued yesterday by Iran's foreign ministry on sisterly Bahrain. ''Our Iranian neighbours have a real problem in understanding and identifying the way in which they deal with their neighbours,'' Sheikh Abdullah told a press ...

Video Netanyahu takes aim at weapons ‘leaks’ in Syria

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:37:12 -0400

As fighting intensifies in Syria, Netanyahu says Israel aims to prevent a leak of advanced weapons from Syria to "terror organisations." Sunita Rappai ...

Report Iran hangs 2 alleged spies working for Israel US

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:32:36 -0400

By Yeganeh Torbati, Reuters DUBAI - Iranian authorities executed two men on Sunday convicted of working for Israeli and U.S. spy agencies, ...

HSBC Bank of Israel could cut interest rate again next week

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:29:42 -0400

HSBC analyst Jonathan Katz told "Bloomberg" that the Bank of Israel wants to drive home the message that they are determined not to let the shekel appreciate ...

Lavrov Discussed Iranian Role in Syria Peace Talks

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:23:20 -0400

MOSCOW, May 19 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov revealed on Sunday that he had discussed Iran's possible involvement in a conference to resolve the war in Syria, when he met his US counterpart John Kerry early in May.The Russians and Americans agreed during Kerry's visit to Moscow to set up a conference of international players to end the war in Syria. Moscow ...

Syria accused of ‘disappearing’ thousands

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:15:00 -0400

Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s private disco featured not only aspiring showgirls performing striptease acts as sexy nuns and nurses, but one woman dressed up as President Barack Obama and a prominent Milan prosecutor whom the billionaire media mogul has accused of persecuting him, ...

Egypt police close Israel border crossing to protest kidnapping of 7 colleagues in Sinai

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:13:59 -0400

CAIRO - Scores of Egyptian police have blocked a commercial border crossing with Israel to protest the abduction of their colleagues in the volatile Sinai peninsula. The closure Sunday left around 40 trucks stranded at Awja crossing, according to Ahmed Osman, a civil servant there. Suspected militants abducted seven Egyptian policemen on Thursday. Security officials said the kidnappers are ...

UN report said more than 80 percent of Palestinian children suffered from povert…

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:10:09 -0400

UN report said more than 80 percent of Palestinian children suffered from poverty in East Jerusalem GENEVA - United Nations (UN) criticized Israel`s segregation policies over East Jerusalem and said that more than 80 percent of Palestinian children in the region suffered from poverty.UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released its report titled "Palestinian Economy in East ...

Syrian Revolution General Commission stated mobile phone and internet were all down across Syria…

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:10:07 -0400

Syrian Revolution General Commission stated mobile phone and internet were all down across Syria DAMASCUS - Syrian Revolution General Commission (SRGC) stated that mobile phone and internet were all disconnected across Syria since Tuesday.SRGC, a Syrian coalition of 40 Syrian opposition groups, indicated on Wednesday that there had not been an internet and cell phone connection in any of the ...

Egypts new Justice Minister Suleiman said he would take Turkish judical system as model…

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:10:07 -0400

Egypt's new Justice Minister Suleiman said he would take Turkish judical system as model CAIRO - Egypt's newly appointed Minister of Justice Ahmed Suleiman has said, "I will work for our citizens to ease their proceedings at the courts by taking Turkey as a model."Ahead taking his new office, Suleiman spoke to Anadolu Agency and said that before he was appointed as a minister, ...

Assad forces enter centre of Qusayr with troops raising Syrian flag over recaptured municipality building.

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:08:26 -0400

DAMASCUS - Syrian troops backed by Lebanon's Hezbollah on Sunday entered Qusayr, a strategic rebel stronghold linking Damascus to the coast, a day after President Bashar al-Assad insisted he would not ...

Assad Hezbollah forces launch their promised assault on Qusayr

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:08:25 -0400

BEIRUT - Syrian troops backed by fighters from Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched an assault on the rebel-held central town of Qusayr on Sunday, after months of fierce fighting in the area, a watchdog ...

UAE top MidEast performer for tourism receipts in 2012

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:04:30 -0400

WAM ABU DHABI, 19th May, 2013 (WAM) -- The UAE has topped the Middle East region for international tourism receipts in 2012, according to data released by the UN's World Tourism Organisation. The UAE was ranked 31st in global list with receipts of about $10bn, just ahead of Saudi Arabia which was placed 35th, with revenues of $7.4bn. Middle East tourism receipts totalled $46.7bn last ...

Rising Dubai land values boost worth of Kuwaits IFA

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:47:08 -0400

Rising Dubai land values helped the Kuwaiti resort developer IFA Hotels & Resorts almost double the value of its investment portfolio during the first quarter of the year. The company, which owns the recently opened Fairmont on the trunk of the Palm and the under- construction Kingdom of Sheba hotel on the crescent, said the value of the resorts it owns increased from 30.5 million Kuwaiti ...

Bahrain e-Content Award 2013 Launched

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:35:27 -0400

Manama, May 19. (BNA) -- Under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa - Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technology (SCICT); Bahrain Internet Society (BIS) in collaboration with the eGovernment Authority (eGA) announces the launch of Bahrain eContent Award 2013. The award, an integrated part of the World ...

Egypt Police Mistreats Stranded Palestinians - Gaza

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:19:13 -0400

A Gazan official has said that hundreds of stranded Palestinians, including members of parliament and patients, were mistreated by Egyptian police during their return from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after performing hajj (Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca). Interior Ministry Spokesman Islam Shahwan told Asharq Alawsat on Sunday that he received complaints from stranded citizens who said they were ...

Egypt Judges Elect New Constitutional Court Chief

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:19:13 -0400

The general assembly of the High Constitutional Court approved Adly Mansour's appointment as Chief Justice on Sunday. Mansour will replace Maher al-Behiery who retires on June 30. A 2011 amendment to the law states that the president chooses the Chief Justice of the HCC from the three top deputies following the approval of the court's general assembly. Before the amendment, ...

Hundreds of Ansar al-Sharia supporters erect barricades in streets of Ettadhamen hurl rocks at police.

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:16:54 -0400

Clashes broke out between radical Islamists and police on Sunday after Salafist movement Ansar al-Sharia told its followers to gather "in large numbers" near Tunis for its annual congress, defying a government ...

The Devil We Know Revisited Israeli Thinking on the Future of the

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:11:47 -0400

[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: This article was written before the IDF Spokesman challenged the veracity of the Times of London quote (copy below) "Since I know the positions of the Intelligence Branch regarding events in Syria, I find the quotation is not reliable. I would even say ...

NGO Monitor Church of Scotland Fails to Correct a Terrible Wrong

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:11:47 -0400

PRESS RELEASE May 19, 2013 Contact: Lenny Ben-David NGO Monitor 054-216-8155 lenny.bendavid@ngo-monitor.org Church of Scotland's "revision" is no step forward Church should cut ties with religiously intolerant Sabeel organization Jerusalem - The Church of Scotland's "revision" of its April report "The Inheritance Of Abraham? A Report On The ...

PMW Bulletin PA daily Palestinians are Jesus descendants

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:11:47 -0400

[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: It is this simple: under the rules of the PA, it would be a capital offense to sell real estate to Jesus.] PMW Bulletin May 17, 2013 Official PA daily: "Palestinians [are] Jesus' descendants" and "Jesus' story is his [Palestinian] people's story" "Jesus... the virtuous patriotic Palestinian forefather... brought forth his ...

Boy not killedIsrael Government Review France 2 Al-Durrah Report

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:11:47 -0400

Contrary to the report's claim that the boy is killed, the committee's review of the raw footage showed that in the final scenes, which were not broadcast by France 2, the boy is seen to be alive. [For a copy of the complete report: http://bit.ly/15YM5zS ] Publication of the Report of the Government Review Committee Regarding the France 2 Al-Durrah Report, its Consequences and ...

Cabinet Approves Establishment of Two Committees to Strengthen

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:11:46 -0400

Cabinet Approves Establishment of Two Committees to Strengthen Economic Cooperation with China (Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser) The Cabinet, at its weekly meeting today (Sunday, 19 May 2013), approved the establishment of two committees the goal of which is to formulate an action plan for strengthening economic ties between Israel and China, as well as increase ...

Kuwait condemned over deporting expatriates for traffic offences

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:56:31 -0400

newspaper cited yesterday a senior interior ministry official as saying that as many as 1,258 foreigners have been deported for traffic violations since a crackdown began about a month ago. Foreign residents caught driving without a licence, using their cars to carry paying passengers, jumping a red light for a second time, or breaking the speed limit by more than 40kph, can be deported without ...

Paul Libya like Iraq

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:53:02 -0400

The guarding of U.S. diplomatic outposts like the consulate Benghazi in Libya should be treated like Baghdad with more military force, Sen. Rand Paul said Sunday. Appearing on CNN's "State of the Union," the Kentucky Republican said his focus isn't on the Benghazi talking points, but on not guarding the outpost more heavily. That decision was a "tragic error," he ...

Iran Presents Advances Applicable to Renewable Energy

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:52:56 -0400

Tehran, Amy 19 (Prensa Latina) A fuel cell battery that turns hydrogen into electricity and a treatment for solid waste that were used in plasma, are two of the technological advances presented today by the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Those inventions, applicable to the exploitation of renewable energy, had been announced some days ago. Other innovations include a 100-watt battery of ...

Syrian army Hezbollah kill more than 30 in border fighting

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:50:03 -0400

Assad's troops and Hezbollah operatives launch joint operation to retake Syrian town of Qusair near Lebanese border; opposition activists say fighting is heaviest yet involving Shi'ite terrorist ...

Hamas confiscates rockets from Fatahs armed wing

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:50:03 -0400

Hamas has confiscated rockets and other types of weaponry belonging to Fatah's armed wing, Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Palestinian sources revealed Sunday.The sources told the Fatah-affiliated Palestine Press News Agency that Hamas confiscated 100 rockets and 500 "combat units" when Fatah tried to move them from one location to another in the Gaza ...

Report Egyptian army pushes to attack kidnappers

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:50:02 -0400

The Egyptian army is pushing president Mohamed Morsi for a green light to attack the kidnappers of seven security officers, which have been held since last Thursday, according to a report in ...

Syria in frame Netanyahu vows ‘continued’ protection of Israel against ‘leakage of weapons to Hezbollah’

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:42:56 -0400

Syria Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting that he will prevent the transfer of weaponry to Hezbollah, implying Syria could be struck in the process. Fatal blasts battered Damascus in early May, allegedly executed by Israel. In public remarks made at his weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said with great emphasis that the Israeli government would "continue to ...

Pakistans Elections Turning Over a New Leaf

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:26:28 -0400

Pakistan's elections come at a key junction in the region's geopolitics, with the public firmly opposed to the US 'war on terror' being conducted on Pakistani soil with no regard for its sovereignty. ...

Iran Announces Execution of Spies

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:02:32 -0400

Tehran, May 19 (Prensa Latina) Iran announced the execution by hanging of two prisoners fund guilty of spying, one for Israeli secret services and the other for the US Central Intelligence Agency. The two men were sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, said the official Press TV network. The Israeli Mossad agent, identified as Mohammad Heidari, gathered classified information ...

Teva CFO I hope we can move more activities to Israel

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:58:19 -0400

"We'll have to examine the new tax environment. Israel is a priority, and over the years we've moved as much activity here as possible, partly because of the tax breaks. I hope we can continue to do this," ...

Former settlement to return to Palestinian hands NGO

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:56:58 -0400

A Palestinian woman gestures in front of graffiti sprayed on the wall of a mosque in the West Bank village of Burka, near Ramallah. The graffiti reads in Hebrew "War." (REUTERS/Mohamad ...

Assad says no info on journalists missing in Syria

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:56:54 -0400

In this photo, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, right, speaks during an interview with the Argentine newspaper Clarin and the Argentine state news agency Telam, in Damascus, Syria on Saturday, May 18, 2013. (AP ...

Al Dussari Condemns Blatant Iranian Threats against Bahrain

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:55:34 -0400

Manama, May 19. (BNA) -- The First Deputy Speaker of the Representatives Council Abdulla bin Khalaf Al Dussari has condemned the blatant threats made by an Iranian Foreign Ministry's official against the Kingdom of Bahrain. Al Dussari said the security bodies in Bahrain were fully authorised by the Constitution and the law to take any procedures they deem necessary against any Bahraini ...

Sixteen killed in Syria offensive

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:42:08 -0400

The Syrian military today launched an offensive to retake a strategic rebel-held town near the Lebanese border, a government official said, as activists reported that regime airstrikes and shelling of the town have killed at least 16 people, including opposition fighters.The western Syrian town of Qusair, home to about 20,000 residents, has been besieged for weeks by government troops.According ...

Assad casts doubt on US-Russian peace initiative

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:36:15 -0400

"To resign would be to flee," Assad said in an interview with the Argentine newspaper Clarin when asked if he would consider stepping aside as called for by US Secretary of State John ...

15 killed in suicide car bomb blast in NW Pakistan

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:29:50 -0400

ISLAMABAD, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 people were killed and 17 others injured when a suicide car bomb blast ripped through a market in Pakistan's northwest town of Dera Adamkhel on Saturday morning, reported local media Express. While some local media said that it was a car bomb blast, local Urdu TV channel Express and two other channels quoted unidentified sources as saying that it ...

Syrian army pushes assault on rebel-held town

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:13:03 -0400

This citizen journalism image provided by Edlib News Network, ENN, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows black smoke rising from what rebels say is a helicopter that was shot down at Abu Dhour military airbase which is besieged by the rebels, in the northern province city of Idlib, Syria, Friday May 17, 2013. Rights activists have found torture devices ...

McCain Strikes Could Force Obamas Hand on Syria

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:04:31 -0400

JERUSALEM, Israel -- GOP Sen. John McCain said Israel's second airstrike Sunday in Syria could be the incentive President Obama needs to take action in the wartorn country. "We need to have a game-changing action, and that is no American boots on the ground, establish a safe zone and to protect it and to supply weapons to the right people in Syria who are fighting, obviously, for the ...

General Motors Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Middle East Parts Distribution Center

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:04:10 -0400

Dubai, May 19. (BNA) -- General Motors has passed a major milestone with the 10th anniversary of its Middle East Parts Distribution Center (MEDC) located in the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai. The MEDC was initially leased from DHL, when it first opened in 2003. The center stocks and supplies GM service parts for its lineup of vehicles sold under the Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC brands. It ...

Algeria censors dailies over Bouteflika coma reports

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:56:41 -0400

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has been transferred to France for further medical tests after suffering a minor stroke. File photo: Louafi Larbi, ...

Tunisian police clash with Islamists over banned rally

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:55:26 -0400

KAIROUAN, Tunisia (Reuters) - Supporters of the hardline Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia clashed with Tunisian police on Sunday after the government banned its annual rally, saying it posed a threat to ...

Syria rebel removes bites soldiers heart group says

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:45:32 -0400

By Alastair Jamieson, Staff writer, NBC News A Syrian rebel commander has been caught on video cutting out the heart of a soldier and biting into ...

Syrian forces launch airstrike on rebel-held city of Qusayr

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:45:07 -0400

Syrian forces launched an attack Sunday on the rebel-held city of Qusayr, killing at least 13 people, opposition leaders and state-run media said. The airstrikes came after months of fighting on the outskirts of the city in Homs province near the Lebanese border, ...

Saudi vegetable seller dies from self-immolation

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:22:50 -0400

A Saudi newspaper says a vegetable seller who set himself on fire in Riyadh after police confiscated his goods for standing in an unauthorized area has ...

Arab League to hold emergency Syria meeting

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:14:13 -0400

An Arab League committee on Syria will hold anemergencymeeting on Thursday ahead of an international peace conference on ending the country's civil war, the bloc's deputy leader said on ...

Agricultural Charity Gives Aid to Israels Poor

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:14:07 -0400

JERUSALEM, Israel -- Almost two million Israelis live below the poverty level, including more than a third of the country's children. However, one charity is using a biblical principle to fill in the ...

Amir of Qatar meets Indian Finance Minister

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:13:42 -0400

Doha, May 19 (BNA) - The Amir of Qatar Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani met here today with Indian Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on the occasion of his visit to Qatar. Talks during the meeting dealt with relations between the two countries and matters of mutual concern, particularly financial and investment issues. EM E M BNA 1120 GMT ...

If youre touring the Middle East youre likely going to UAE

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:12:49 -0400

UAE's international tourism receipts are somewhat close to $10 billion The UAE is the world's 31st popular tourism destination and the most popular in the Arab World, ahead of Egypt -- ranked 32nd and Saudi Arabia ranked 35 -- in terms of tourism receipts, United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) data shows.In the Middle East, Turkey outranks the UAE, retaining 12th position ...

Join Oman Air See the world Get training worth over $5 million

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:12:47 -0400

Ever wondered why Oman Air cabin crew were so nice? Oman Air has committed RO2mn to staff training in 2013, having already invested more than RO3.3mn over the previous two years.In addition, Oman Air's Board of Directors has approved plans to fund full scholarships for 100 employees, enabling them to improve their academic qualifications in a range of administrative and technical ...

Iran road crash kills smuggled Afghanis

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:11:10 -0400

A CAR packed with Afghanis smuggled into Iran has collided with another vehicle and burst into flames, killing nine Afghanis and five Iranians, media reports say. The IRNA news agency said the crash occurred shortly after midnight in the southeastern province of Sistan Baluchistan, on a route Afghanis use to illegally cross the border in the hope of finding work in the Islamic republic. "The ...

16 killed in Syria offensive

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:09:41 -0400

18 May 2013 The Syrian military has launched an offensive to retake a strategic rebel-held town near the Lebanese border, a government official said, as activists reported that regime airstrikes and shelling of the town have killed at least 16 people, including opposition ...

Egyptian army mulls Sinai operation

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:07:42 -0400

President Mohamed Morsi has ordered the Egyptian army to free seven kidnapped Egyptian soldiers and police officers in the Sinai, officials said. Police and security officials in the Sinai planned a military operation during an emergency meeting Saturday, an unnamed military official told the Ma'an news agency. The army intends to carry out the operation only after intelligence has ...

ITP to publish Conde Nast Traveller Middle East

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:07:16 -0400

Arab Publishing Partners (APP), part of ITP Publishing Group, the Gulf region's largest consumer and business magazine publisher, and Cond Nast International, have announced the launch of international travel title Cond Nast Traveller Middle East. The magazine will be APP's first publication under licence agreement with Cond Nast ...

UN chief hopeful that international conference on Syria can take place in early June

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:00:33 -0400

MOSCOW - U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is holding out hope that an international conference to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the Syrian civil war will be held in early June. The U.S. and Russia have agreed to try to bring the Syrian regime and opposition to the negotiating table, but no date has been set. Neither Syrian President Bashar Assad nor the main Western-backed opposition ...

Tunisia Salafist movement calls on its supporters to gather in Tunis suburb after ban of its annual congress in central city of Kairouan.

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:54:21 -0400

TUNIS - Tunisian Salafist movement Ansar al-Sharia called on its supporters to gather in a Tunis suburb on Sunday, after the government banned it from holding its annual congress in the central city of ...

Bomb explodes near three embassies in Tripoli amid growing security fears

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:54:20 -0400

Latest bombings highlight inability of authorities to establish effective security in Libya, which has been awash since uprising with all sorts of ...

Iran hangs two spy suspects

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:54:14 -0400

Two Iranian nationals accused of spying for Israel and the United States were executed in Tehran at dawn Sunday, the prosecutor's office in Iran said. Mohammad Heidari was accused of collecting classified information and providing intelligence to Israel's Mossad agency, Iran's Press TV reported. The network said he allegedly received large sums of money from the Israeli spy agency ...

Report says Syria aims rockets at Israel

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:54:14 -0400

Satellite footage reveals Syria has surface-to-surface Tishreen missiles aimed at Tel Aviv, The Sunday Times reported. Reconnaissance satellites showed the Syrian army preparing to deploy missiles that carry a half-ton payload, the British newspaper said Sunday. The missiles have been put on standby and the military has orders to fire if Israel wages an attack on Syrian soil, the newspaper ...

Iran sanctions hurt Hezbollah and Assad report

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:34:59 -0400

Sanctions imposed against Iran are hurting the Islamic Republic's ability to support its regional allies Hezbollah and the Syrian government, U.S. Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen told Al Arabiya this ...

Iran said to execute two men for spying

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:22:24 -0400

Iran has in the past said it had successfully detected and dismantled spy networks operating inside the country. It has blamed the assassinations of scientists associated with its disputed nuclear programme on Western spy agencies, especially ...

Scottish News Yousaf on Middle East trade trip

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:17:03 -0400

May 19 2013 External Affairs Minister Humza Yousaf has travelled to Qatar to begin a three-day visit to promote Scottish exports and expertise in the Middle East. Humza Yousaf's trip follows First Minister Alex Salmond's visit to the country last October, and is aimed at further strengthening Scotland's economic, diplomatic and cultural links with the region. The Minister was ...

Syrian Troops Said to Strike Town Near Lebanon

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:13:54 -0400

AMMAN, Jordan -- The Syrian military on Sunday launched an offensive to retake a strategic rebel-held town near the Lebanese border, a government official said, as activists reported that regime airstrikes and shelling of the town have killed at least 16 people, including opposition ...

France in talks with U.S. Israel to buy drones minister

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:11:44 -0400

PARIS (Reuters) - France is in talks with the United States and Israel to buy intelligence-gathering drones to build up a modern fleet, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on ...

Paper Syrias Assad vows no dialogue with terrorists

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:04:44 -0400

Syria's President Bashar Assad (R) sits during an interview with journalists from Argentina in Damascus in this handout photograph distributed by Syria's national news agency SANA on ...

Russia gives Assad sophisticated missiles to repel enemies coming from afar

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:04:23 -0400

WASHINGTON - Russia's shipment of anti-ship missiles to Syria will "embolden" the regime and fuel the country's civil war, the US military's top officer said ...

U.S. Develops Anti-Rocket Laser

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:04:16 -0400

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- A U.S. defense major, mindful of the threat to Israel,has overseen the development of a laser that could destroy missiles ...

Revisiting U.S. Commitment To The Middle East

Sun, 19 May 2013 06:39:17 -0400

Two years ago on May 19, President Obama called for a new chapter in American diplomacy, promising to make it a top priority to support democracy and human rights in a changing Middle East. Some experts say that the U.S. has failed to live up to that commitment in places like Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. The conflict in Syria has also opened a darker chapter in the Arab ...

Syria Army Storms Rebel Town - Report

Sun, 19 May 2013 06:39:17 -0400

Syrian government forces have surrounded the rebel stronghold of Qusair and are storming it from several directions, says Syrian state TV. Fighting has gone on around the town, near the Lebanese border, for weeks. Syrian opposition activists said government air strikes and heavy shelling had killed at least 16 people in the town so far. Opposition groups say militants from the Lebanese ...

DreamWorks Studios Signs Additional Foreign Output Deals

Sun, 19 May 2013 06:20:52 -0400

David Garrett's Mister Smith brokers deals for the studio's output across Europe, the Middle East and Africa including one with Samuel and Victor Hadida's Metropolitan ...

Insect invasion Israel battles plague of locusts

Sun, 19 May 2013 06:13:15 -0400

By Dave Copeland, Cameraman, NBC News TEL AVIV - Israel’s Negev Desert is alive – with locusts.Huge swarms of the newly hatched critters have begun marching across the sand, devouring everything in their path.With the help of high-tech irrigation methods, much of Israel’s desert has been transformed into lush farmland that supplies supermarkets across the country with fresh ...

Three car bomb attacks leave 8 dead 50 wounded in southern Iraq

Sun, 19 May 2013 06:05:54 -0400

BAGHDAD, April 29 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed and 50 others injured when three car bomb attacks hit two cities in southern Iraq on Monday, an interior ministry source said. Two car bombs exploded in a market in Amarah, some 300 km southeast of Baghdad, killing six people and wounding 30 others, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. Another car bomb struck ...

Syrian activists Shelling near Lebanon kills 16

Sun, 19 May 2013 05:49:52 -0400

A Syrian supporting the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, holds a placard with his picture and the national flag as he participates in a protest outside the US Embassy in central London, Saturday, May 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Lefteris ...

PM Israel will keep stopping weapons transfer to Hezbollah

Sun, 19 May 2013 05:45:41 -0400

Sunday Times , reconnaissance satellites have revealed preparations made by the Syrian army to deploy surface-to-surface Tishreen missiles. Syrian President Bashar Assad, the report said, is ready to use these missiles should Israel decide to conduct a strike on ...

Kuwait deports hundreds for traffic offences

Sun, 19 May 2013 05:42:28 -0400

KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait has deported hundreds of expats for traffic offences in the past month, a report said on Sunday, drawing condemnation from a human rights group.The Al-Anbaa newspaper cited a senior interior ministry official as saying that as many as 1,258 foreigners have been deported for traffic violations since a crackdown began about a month ago.Foreign residents caught driving without a ...

Syria military pounds rebel town killing 13 activists

Sun, 19 May 2013 05:42:26 -0400

Syrian troops patrol the village of Haydariyah, some seven kilometers outside the rebel-held city of Qusayr, after taking control of it, on May 13, 2013. AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH ...

29 killed in South Sudan cattle raid local official

Sun, 19 May 2013 05:42:25 -0400

Refugees coming from the Nuba Mountains, in Southern Kordofan, cue for registration at UNHCR offices in Yida, Unity State, South Sudan on May 31 2012. (AFP PHOTO/Giulio ...

Kuwait deports 1258 expats in a month

Sun, 19 May 2013 05:40:16 -0400

The deportations have been criticised by the Kuwait Labour Union and former MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji, who claim they are a violation of human rights and are ...

Lack of govt staff delaying Bahrain projects

Sun, 19 May 2013 05:40:11 -0400

A growing number of new projects in Bahrain have been delayed as the government does not have enough staff to cope with the surge in the number of developments being proposed in the island state, a senior government civil servant has ...

Irans Revolutionary Guard warns against possible post-election turmoil in June

Sun, 19 May 2013 05:27:23 -0400

TEHRAN, Iran - Several Iranian newspapers are citing a senior Revolutionary Guard commander as warning his forces will be on watch for possible unrest after the June 14 presidential election. Col. Rasool Sanaeirad says a "possible riot in Tehran could spread" to other regions. He claims chances for turmoil are heightened because Iran is for the first time holding both presidential and ...

Assad Syrias future is up to Syrian people

Sun, 19 May 2013 04:52:34 -0400

Syrian President Bashar Assad says he won't step down before elections and the United States has no right to interfere in his country's politics. Assad has raised new doubts about a US-Russian effort to get him and his opponents to negotiate an end to the country's civil war. Assad says Syria's future is up to the Syrian people and a decision on his political future must be ...

Oman floats tenders for Sharqiya road projects

Sun, 19 May 2013 04:50:27 -0400

Oman’s Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources (MRMWR) has issued eleven tenders for the design and construction of internal roads in North and South Sharqiya. Six tenders were floated for the design and construction of internal roads in North Sharqiya governorate in the wilayats of Al Qabil, Bidiyah, Dima Wa Al Tayeen, Ibra, Mudhibi, Wadi Bani Khalid. The ministry also ...

Jewish Settlers Throw Molotov Cocktails at Palestinians Cars

Sun, 19 May 2013 04:49:28 -0400

Ramallah, May 19 (BNA) - Jewish settlers from Bethel settlement attacked citizens' cars by Molotov cocktails on the Ramallah-Nablus road near Jalazone Camp, burning a civilian vehicle. No injuries were reported. According to Palestinian media reports this morning, a group of settlers threw stones and Molotov cocktails at passing cars and burned a vehicle after being directly attacked by a ...

Conference on Syria Settlement to Take Place ‘Very Soon’ – UN Chief

Sun, 19 May 2013 04:45:44 -0400

MOSCOW, May 19 (RIA Novosti) - After consultations with UN Security Council permanent members, a conference on the Syrian settlement will take place "very soon," possibly, at the beginning of June, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Sunday. "As I have been asked by the parties to convene this conference on the auspices of the United Nations, I'm now actively engaging ...

Saudi Arabia to allow women into football stadia

Sun, 19 May 2013 04:43:56 -0400

According to English language Arab News, the president of the Saudi Football Ittihad Federation confirmed in a statement that it would create separate sections for women and families within ...

Anti-government anger in Turkey after Syria border bombings

Sun, 19 May 2013 04:37:12 -0400

Authorities in southern Turkey say they have detained four more suspects in connection with twin car bomb attacks last weekend. It means the total number of arrests after the bombs has risen to 17. Turkish media also say a car has been found which it is suspected was due to be used for a third attack. The announcements followed clashes with police in Reyhanli near the Syrian border where the ...

Kuwaits KPC suspends top officials after Dow payout

Sun, 19 May 2013 04:34:13 -0400

State-run Kuwait Petroleum Company (KPC) appointed a new chief executive and suspended other top officials after the country paid $2.2bn in damages to Dow Chemical Co over a scrapped plastics joint ...

Arab Parliament condemns surge in terrorist attacks in Iraq.

Sun, 19 May 2013 04:26:48 -0400

WAM CAIRO: The Arab Parliament on Saturday condemned the recent sharp rise in terror blasts in Iraq and emphasised that these attacks are unjustifiable and not acceptable in any heavenly religion as they seek to kill peaceful innocent people. The Speaker of the Arab Parliament, Ahmed Al Jarwan, in a press release, termed the bombings as "vicious, coward and sordid." On Friday, one ...

Twin blasts target military checkpoints in central Syria 2 killed

Sun, 19 May 2013 04:02:04 -0400

Two car bombs went off separately at military checkpoints in Syria's central province of Homs on Sunday morning, killing at least two people and injuring many others, the pro-government Sham FM radio said.The first car targeted an army checkpoint near a factory on the Homs-al-Masharfe road, killing one soldier and a civilian, the report said.The second one targeted another checkpoint on the ...

Al Quds Al-Arabi S-300 already delivered to Syria

Sun, 19 May 2013 03:34:39 -0400

Al Quds Al-Arabi: S-300 already delivered to Syria Al Quds Al-Arabi May 13, 2013 http://www.alquds.co.uk/?p=43881 Google translation Damascus - Al Quds Al-Arabi: ...A Syrian military source reports that Moscow delivered missiles to the Syrian army after the outbreak of the Syrian crisis and Syrians experts have completed their training on the missile system, which is now under full Syrian ...

Baroud lists 4 scenarios that may take place in Lebanon

Sun, 19 May 2013 03:21:04 -0400

Commenting on the Lebanese Parliament electoral subcommittee’s failure so far to reach consensus over an electoral law for use in te upcoming elections, former Interior Minister Ziad Baroud told LBCI on Saturday that one out of four scenarios may take place . "The first scenario is holding the elections according to the 1960 electoral law, the ...

Three Palestinians Arrested in West Bank

Sun, 19 May 2013 03:07:51 -0400

Occupied Jerusalem, May 19 (BNA) - Israeli occupation forces stopped three Palestinian men, claiming they were 'wanted', in the West Bank during Saturday night, an IOF spokesperson confirmed on Sunday. The arrests all took place in different parts of the West Bank and it was unclear if the arrests were connected to one another, Israeli daily (The Jerusalem Post) reported. The three ...

Police officers hurt in Kuwait prison brawl

Sun, 19 May 2013 03:07:03 -0400

Four inmates - a Saudi and three stateless residents - are accused of using "sharp edged objects" to attack the officers during a surprise raid on a ...

RPT-New Egypt central bank ruling a blow for local money market funds

Sun, 19 May 2013 03:00:00 -0400

Sun May 19, 2013 3:00am EDT (Repeats story that ran on May 15, with no changes) * Limits fund investments to only 2 pct of a bank's capital * C.bank concerned that funds lie outside its supervision * Investment bank Beltone could be among those hardest hit By Patrick Werr CAIRO, May 15 (Reuters) - Egypt's central bank, worried that banks are investing too much of their cash in local money ...

Egypt Suez Canal Development Project Will Raise Revenues 20 Folds - Official

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:51:48 -0400

The Suez Canal development project aims at turning the canal into "a global centre for industry and logistics" since 10 percent of the world's merchandise and 20 percent of all ships pass through the canal, said an advisor to President Mohamed Mursi. The project which is expected to raise the canal's revenues 20 folds will involve three phases, presidential advisor Ahmed ...

Iraq needs deep change to avoid sectarian war says paper

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:45:32 -0400

WAM ABU DHABI: What Iraq needs desperately is a system of more decentralised governance, where Baghdad is not calling all the shots - and targeting political opponents. There is reason to believe that a system drawing on the principles of federalism, with stronger regional administrations, is one way that Sunnis, Shias and Kurds could find common cause, according to a local newspaper. ...

Iran hangs 2 men convicted of spying for Mossad CIA

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:30:42 -0400

Sunday’s report says Mohammad Heidari, who was accused of providing Mossad with classified information in return of money, and Kourosh Ahmadi, who allegedly gave the CIA intelligence on Iran, were hanged. The report didn’t say when the men were arrested or tried. Iran occasionally says it has dismantled Western spying networks in the country and announces arrests of individuals on ...

Lebanon Efforts to reach consensus over vote law failed

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:30:39 -0400

The Lebanese Parliament electoral subcommittee adjourned on Saturday its seventh round of talks for further consultations over a new electoral law as the rival parties failed once again to reach consensus. The session, which was chaired by Lebanon Speaker Nabih Berri, was adjourned to ...

Report Syria has missile batteries aimed at Tel Aviv

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:22:37 -0400

Syria has surface-to-surface Tishreen missiles aimed at Tel Aviv and is ready to use them should Israel decide to conduct a strike on Damascus, British ...

Iran Two executed for spying for Israel and US

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:12:39 -0400

Iran has hanged two convicted spies, one found guilty of working for Israel, the other for the United States, the Tehran prosecutor's office announced. Mohammad Heydari was convicted of "receiving payment to provide intelligence on various security issues and national secrets in repeated meetings with the Mossad," Israel's intelligence agency, a statement said. Koroush Ahmadi was found guilty of ...

Ferry route to Lebanon Island from Friday

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:10:39 -0400

Dubai: Visiting Lebanon Island on The World islands just got easier as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in association with the Royal Island Beach Club, is launching daily ferry trips from Al Ghubaiba ...

Two hanged in Iran for spying prosecutor

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:02:14 -0400

TWO convicted spies have been hanged in Iran, one found guilty of working for Israel, the other for the United States, the Tehran prosecutor's office says. Mohammad Heydari was convicted of "receiving payment to provide intelligence on various security issues and national secrets in repeated meetings with the Mossad," a statement said. Koroush Ahmadi was found guilty of "providing ...

Obama does not foresee U.S. ground troops in Syria

Sun, 19 May 2013 01:53:32 -0400

Visiting U.S. President Barack Obama said here Friday he does "not foresee" a circumstance under which Washington would send ground troops to war-torn Syria. "I do not foresee a scenario in which boots on the ground in Syria -- American boots on the ground. (It) would not only be good for America but also would be good for Syria," Obama said at a news conference in the Costa ...

Darwish 2 colleagues face terrorism charges in Syria

Sun, 19 May 2013 01:40:21 -0400

Mazen Darwish who is a member of the International Federation of Journalists and the president of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, has been detained in the prison of the Syrian regime since February ...

Several flights without bags after Egypt airport strike

Sun, 19 May 2013 01:39:57 -0400

CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian officials say baggage handlers in Cairo's airport have gone on strike to protest a colleague's death, leaving passengers on 20 international flights from Europe and Arab countries waiting several hours for luggage.Airport officials say senior officials from the country's national carrier are meeting the baggage handlers to hear their demands, which ...

Oman Qatar eye $210m military deals with US

Sun, 19 May 2013 01:27:16 -0400

Governments in Oman and Qatar have expressed an interest in buying equipment worth more than $200m from the United States to protect its military aircraft from heat seeking ...

Qatar said to eye stake in Italys Versace

Sun, 19 May 2013 01:27:15 -0400

Qatar Holding and an Italian state-controlled investment fund are interested in investing in Italian fashion house Versace, Il Sole 24 Ore said on ...

Emirates trade surplus to pass $90 billion

Sun, 19 May 2013 01:27:12 -0400

The UAE economy growth is expected to lower to 3.9 percent in 2012 after a solid 2011, when the GDP expanded 5.2 percent led by high oil prices and a 10.2 percent increase in oil production, according to a review of the UAE economy by Global Investment House. Even as growth in oil sector is expected to slow down in 2012, the nonoil sector has continued its resurgence witnessing a 3.5 percent ...

Emirates Tim Clark tops inaugural Brits List

Sun, 19 May 2013 01:27:12 -0400

Clark has played a major role in the development of Emirates, joining the airline in the year it was formed, 1985. Earlier this month, Emirates posted a 52 percent increase in profits, ...

11 new tenders for internal roads floated in Oman

Sun, 19 May 2013 01:27:11 -0400

Ministry floats 11 tenders for Sharqiya internal roads The Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources (MRMWR) has floated as many as 11 tenders for the design and construction of internal roads in South and North Sharqiya.The ministry floated five tenders for design and construction of roads in South Sharqiya governorate in the wilayats of Sur, Jalan Bani Bu Ali, Jalan Bani Bu Hasan, ...

Robert Fisk Syrian war could go on for two three years

Sun, 19 May 2013 01:21:36 -0400

President Bashar al-Assad's troops in Syria are gaining ground. British Middle East reporter Robert Fisk met some of them when he visited the front lines earlier this month, and told DW about he ...

In a rare interview Syria’s Assad says he will not step down

Sun, 19 May 2013 00:49:16 -0400

BEIRUT, Lebanon -- In a rare interview published Saturday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad expressed doubt about the likely success of planned peace talks between his government and opposition forces and said he has no intention of stepping down. In the interview, given to Argentina's Clarin ...

Syria’s rebels take over oilfields once belonging to Assad

Sun, 19 May 2013 00:49:14 -0400

Al-Qaeda’s Syrian wing is helping to finance its activities by selling the product of oilfields that once helped to prop up the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Up to 380,000 barrels of crude oil were previously produced by wells around the city of ...

Al-Qaeda plunders Syrias oilfields

Sun, 19 May 2013 00:40:42 -0400

Up to 380,000 barrels of crude oil were previously produced for the regime by wells around the city of Raqqa and in the desert region to its east.These oilfields are now in rebel hands. The strongest faction in this part of the country is Jabhat al-Nusra, ...

Kobe says Jordan comparisons apple to oranges

Sun, 19 May 2013 00:32:38 -0400

Michael Jordan (left) and Kobe Bryant are compared by Phil Jackson in his new book. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images) Legendary NBA coach Phil Jackson writes in ...