Middle East
Saudi court jails Lebanese man for helping woman to convert - (10 days ago)
AFPA Saudi court jailed a Lebanese man for six years and sentenced him to 300 lashes after convicting him of encouraging a Saudi woman to convert to Christianity, local dailies reported Sunday.The same court sentenced a Saudi man convicted in the same case to two years in prison and 200 lashes for having helped the young woman flee the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom, local daily Al-Watan
Deal with ex-rebels ends crisis at Libya's Foreign Ministry - (10 days ago)
ReutersGunmen ended a nearly two-week siege of Libya's Foreign Ministry in the capital after reaching a deal with the government, its Supreme Security Committee said late on Saturday.In the oil-rich east, meanwhile, hundreds of leaders agreed to join forces to defend their territory against similar armed attacks.A commander of an SSE group stationed at the gates of the vacant Foreign Ministry
Syria rebels free UN peacekeepers held in Golan: Al-Jazeera - (11 days ago)
ReutersSyrian rebels have freed four Filipino UN peacekeepers who they had captured on the ceasefire line between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights last week, al Jazeera English television reported on Sunday.The channel quoted sources as saying the four had been "transferred to Israel". EGYPT
Iran condemns use of chemical weapons: Minister - (11 days ago)
Iran's foreign minister on Sunday condemned the use of chemical weapons and appeared to offer to mediate in the Syria crisis."We condemn chemical weapons," Ali Akbar Salehi told Germany's Der Spiegel newsweekly in an interview published on Sunday.His comments come after US Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday said there was "strong evidence" the regime of President Bashar al-Assad had used
Israel follows South Africa's model of apartheid against Palestinians: ECFR - (11 days ago)
The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) has issued a report tackling the situation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, warning that Israel risks the fate of apartheid state South Africa, embodied in international isolation, if it continues to entrench its illegal occupation of Palestinian land.The ECFR describes itself as a “pan-European” think tank that conducts research
Police stations bombed, British embassy cuts Libya staff - (12 days ago)
Bombs exploded outside two police stations in Libyas eastern city of Benghazi on Friday and Britain temporarily cut staff at its embassy in Tripoli because of security fears. The blasts, which caused damage but no casualties, were the latest signs of insecurity in Benghazi, the birthplace of the uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The government has also struggled to keep
Libyan police stations bombed, British embassy cuts staff - (12 days ago)
Bombs exploded outside two police stations in Libyas eastern city of Benghazi on Thursday and Britain temporarily cut staff at its embassy in Tripoli because of security fears. The blasts, which caused damage but no casualties, were the latest signs of insecurity in Benghazi, the birthplace of the uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The government has also struggled to keep
Egypt, Jordan Summon Israeli Ambassadors - (13 days ago)
Prensa LatinaThe governments of Egypt and Jordan condemned in separate statements the attacks by Jewish extremists against the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, transferred to Israeli ambassadors in both capitals. "The Jordanian government strongly condemns the assault to the Al-Aqsa Mosque by doznes of extremist Jewish settlers, who attacked the faithful, said the Jordanian Minister of Interior
Egyptian scholar: Palestine was never a Jewish homeland - (13 days ago)
Jerusalem PostTop Islamic Egyptian scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi Thursday told Hamas leaders in that “Palestine was never a Jewish homeland.”He said that Muslims would never make any concessions or recognize Israel.“Palestine,” he claimed, “was and will remain Arab and Islamic. The homeland cannot be sold for money.”Al-Qaradawi, who arrived in the Gaza Strip late
Israel apologizes to Egypt for diplomats' mistreatment - (13 days ago)
The Times of IsraelDeputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin offered a verbal apology to Cairo on Thursday for the rough treatment of three Egyptian diplomats at the hands of Israeli police in Jerusalem over the weekend.The incident occured on Saturday night, the night before Easter Sunday, or Joyous Saturday according to the Coptic calendar. A group of Egyptians led by Mostafa Al-Qouni, the
Syria troops, Hizbullah advancing on Qusayr: NGO - (13 days ago)
AFPFierce clashes between rebels and fighters loyal to President Bashar Al-Assad's regime raged Thursday around insurgent-held Qusayr in central Syria, a monitoring group said.An army officer told AFP the military seized control of Shumariyeh village near the town of Qusayr."The Syrian army seized back control of Shumariyeh in the Qusayr countryside, and troops are currently on their way to the
Egypt summons Israeli ambassador over allegations of mistreatment - (13 days ago)
Daily News EgyptThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned Israel’s ambassador to Egypt, Yaakov Amitai, to discuss allegations surrounding the mistreatment of staff members from Egypt’s embassy in Israel, the state-owned news agency reported on Wednesday evening. Amitai was also summoned to hear Egypt’s condemnation of recent Israeli airstrikes in Syria and the arrest of the
Israel asks Russia not to sell Syria advanced S-300 air shield: Officials - (13 days ago)
ReutersIsrael has asked Russia not to sell Syria an advanced air defence system which would help President Bashar al-Assad fend off foreign military intervention as he battles a more than two-year-old rebellion, Israeli officials said on Thursday.Citing US officials, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Israel had told Washington that Syria had already began payments for a $900
Hamas looks to root out Israel's spy networks - (13 days ago)
ReutersThe alleged spy buried his face in his hands inside a Gaza jail as he admitted passing intelligence to Israel during its battles with armed Palestinian groups."My handlers in Israel called me and told me that collaborators in Gaza don't know one another and that each worked alone, so hide and stay as you are," the man told visiting reporters, under the watchful eye of a plainclothed Hamas
Israel approves 296 West Bank settler homes: Army - (14 days ago)
AFPIsrael has given the go-ahead to build nearly 300 homes in the settlement of Beit El near Ramallah, a spokesman said, in a move likely to spark tensions as Washington seeks to rekindle peace talks."The Civil Administration has given the green light for 296 housing units at Beit El, but this is only the first stage of a process before actual construction can begin," he said, speaking on behalf
Influential Muslim cleric Qaradawi visits Gaza - (14 days ago)
AFPInfluential Muslim cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi on Wednesday started his first visit to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, crossing into the Palestinian territory at Rafah, on the border with Egypt.An AFP photographer said Egyptian-born Qaradawi, who is a citizen of Qatar and close to the Muslim Brotherhood, arrived in the territory shortly after 9:30 pm (1830 GMT).He has said the aim of the three-day
Abbas condemns Israeli arrest of Jerusalem's mufti - (14 days ago)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the arrest of Jerusalem's most senior Muslim cleric by the Israeli authorities, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Wednesday.Abbas regarded the detention step as a "severe violation of the freedom of worship" and called for the "immediate release" of the mufti of Jerusalem, Mohamed Hussein.According to AFP, Israeli police were questioning
Israeli ambassador summoned over 'mistreatment' of Egypt diplomats - (14 days ago)
Israeli ambassador to Egypt Yaakov Amitai has been summoned by Egyptian authorities following allegations that staff members at Egypt's embassy in Tel Aviv were being mistreated, foreign ministry spokesman Amr Roshdy said Wednesday.According to Roshdy, Israeli authorities attempted to stop Egyptian embassy officials from attending Coptic Easter mass on Sunday in Jerusalem's Church of the Holy
Cambridge University's cosmologist Stephen Hawking boycotts top Israeli conference - (14 days ago)
ReutersCosmologist Stephen Hawking has pulled out of an Israeli conference, joining an academic boycott of Israel to protest against its occupation of Palestinian lands, Cambridge University said on Wednesday.The wheelchair-bound Hawking, who has won international recognition for his work on black holes, had been due to speak at a prestigious conference in June organised by Israeli President
Syria Internet blackout enters second day - (14 days ago)
AFPSyria's Internet blackout entered into its second consecutive day Wednesday, which the state news agency blamed on a fault in optical fibre cables.Landline phone services between Syrian provinces have also been down since Tuesday, SANA said.US tech firms and the US State Department reported the blackout Tuesday but did not specify any reasons for it. A similar blackout happened last
Israel detains Jerusalem's top Islamic cleric: Police - (14 days ago)
AFPIsraeli police were questioning Jerusalem's most senior Muslim cleric on Wednesday for suspected involvement in a "disturbance" at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Holy City, a spokesman said.Mufti of Jerusalem Mohammed Hussein was taken from his home by detectives and was being questioned at a police station "on suspicion of involvement in a disturbance that took place yesterday (Tuesday)
President Assad says Syria able to face Israel - (15 days ago)
APSyrian President Bashar Assad is denouncing Israel and says his nation is capable of facing the Jewish state after its warplanes hit targets near Damascus over the weekend.Assad's comments were his first since the airstrikes. He spoke Tuesday after a meeting with Ali Akbar Salehi, the Iranian foreign minister, who was visiting Damascus.Assad stopped short of promising retaliation, but said the
Iranian FM meets Assad: Diplomatic source - (15 days ago)
Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, whose country is one of Syria's closest allies, held talks with President Bashar al-Assad on a previously unannounced visit to Damascus on Tuesday, an Iranian diplomatic source said."Salehi arrived in Damascus from Amman and was received by President Bashar al-Assad," the source said.In the Jordanian capital, Iran's top diplomat called for dialogue
Israel not getting involved in Syria civil war: Defence minister - (15 days ago)
AFPIsrael is not getting involved in Syria's civil war, Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon said on Tuesday, just days after two Israeli air strikes near Damascus sent regional tensions soaring.The raids struck several military targets in the early hours of Friday and Sunday, with a senior Israeli source saying they destroyed Iranian missiles en route to Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese Shiite movement
Israel PM freezes W.Bank settlement tenders: report - (15 days ago)
AFPIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a freeze on tenders for new West Bank settler homes, a report said Tuesday, with a rights group confirming not a single tender has been issued in months.The decision was taken in a bid to avoid hampering US efforts to renew peace talks with the Palestinians, Israel's army radio reported.Although the prime minister's office refused to
Bouteflika's health 'significantly improved': Algerian presidency - (15 days ago)
AFPThe health of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was hospitalised in France last month after suffering a mini-stroke, has "significantly improved," the presidency announced on Tuesday.Bouteflika's health "has significantly improved" but the 76-year-old president must observe "a normal period of rest prescribed by his doctors," it said in a statement carried by the national APS news
Syria cut off from global Internet as civil war rages - (15 days ago)
Internet connections between Syria and the outside world were cut off on Tuesday, according to data from Google Inc and other global Internet companies. Googles Transparency Report pages showed traffic to Google services pages from the country, embroiled in a civil war that has lasted more than two years, suddenly stopping shortly before 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT). Google traffic reports
Aid convoys roll slowly in Syria despite urgent need - U.N. - (15 days ago)
Bureaucratic hurdles still hamper delivery of aid in Syria where nearly one in three people need help, half of them children, the United Nations said on Tuesday. Aid requirements have risen dramatically in the past year as the civil war has escalated, with some 6.8 million deemed in need now compared with 1 million in March 2012, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Four UN peacekeepers detained in Syria near Golan - (15 days ago)
AFPFOUR U.N. PEACEKEEPERS DETAINED IN SYRIA NEAR GOLAN, UNCLEAR WHO DETAINED THEM - U.N. PEACEKEEPING SPOKESWOMAN EGYPT
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BBC SportWhen it's put to him that he might be the most talented athlete in the world to hold a racquet, a bashful Ramy Ashour admits "that's pretty great".The 25-year-old Egyptian is more than just the current squash world number one - his elastic, unorthodox brilliance and charisma could be the key to squash breaking out beyond its four walls and regaining a place on the wider sporting
Ministers in Prime Minister Hisham Qandil's cabinet following the recent reshuffle (new appointees are in italics): 1. Minister of Agriculture Ahmed Mahmoud Ali El-Gizawi2. Minister of Antiquities Ahmed Eissa3. Minister of Aviation Wael Maadawi4. Minister of Communication Atef Helmy5. Minister of Culture
AP— April 15, 2013: Two bombs explode in the packed streets near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring more than 140.— January 17, 2011: A backpack bomb is placed along a Martin Luther King Day parade route in Spokane, Washington, meant to kill and injure participants in a civil rights march, but is found and disabled before it can explode. White
The convenient marriage between Iran and the Arab left would have been unthinkable only a few years ago, given the traditional ideological paradoxes between patriarchal Persian Shiism, on the one hand, and leftist orthodoxy on the other.Indeed, a casual viewer of Hizbullah's Al-Manar television, or the Iranian-funded Al-Mayadin TV, these days would probably think that the two Shia propaganda
