World
Putin signs law banning smoking in public places - (87 days ago)
The law, called "On protecting the health of citizens from the danger of passive smoking and the consequences of the use of tobacco," makes smoking illegal in restaurants, cafes, hotels, trains and a host of other
Firefox smartphone system challenges Android, iOS - (87 days ago)
Mozilla Foundation, which campaigns for open development of the online world, showed off the first commercial version of the Firefox OS on the eve of the opening of the world's biggest mobile fair in Barcelona, Spain.Smartphones equipped with Firefox OS look familiar to those on other systems, with an array of apps, or application programmes, to be made available on an online store, and a mapping
Qatar cuts jail term for maverick poet to 15 years: Lawyer - (87 days ago)
"My client was sentenced today to 15 years in prison," Mohammed Nejib al-Naimi
Syria regime ready to talk 'with all who want dialogue': Muallem - (87 days ago)
"We are ready for dialogue with all who want dialogue, including those who are carrying arms," Muallem said at the Moscow talks with Lavrov, who warned there was "no acceptable alternative" to a political solution and that further bloodshed risked Syria's
Mortar hits Damascus church: Report - (87 days ago)
"Terrorists launched on Sunday a mortar round at a Roman Catholic church in Qassaa in Qishle street in Old Damascus, causing material damage and hurting a woman," said the Arabic daily Al-Watan, using the regime's term to describe rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad's regime. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which also reported the launch of a mortar into the Damascus
Kerry opens first official overseas trip in London - (87 days ago)
Kerry's maiden diplomatic meeting abroad was on Monday with British Prime Minister David Cameron for talks expected to focus on the crisis in Syria and Iran's nuclear program. Later, he will see Foreign Secretary William Hague before flying to Germany for meetings in Berlin. Kerry arrived on London late Sunday as the Obama administration launched a frantic effort to try to salvage a
Israel tests new Arrow missile interceptor - (87 days ago)
The U.S.-backed Arrow missile is designed to shoot down incoming missiles at altitudes high enough to allow for any non-conventional warheads to disintegrate safely. The test was of a new generation Arrow III, which is intended to bolster defences against threats to the Jewish state, including from Iran and Syria. Designers say the system has proved a success in up to 90 percent of live
Palestinians warn about possible Obama visit to Al-Aqsa - (87 days ago)
Palestinian political and religious leaders stressed Sunday that US President Barack Obama should not visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem in a way that might compromise its "Muslim sovereignty." Obama will be arriving in Israel and the Palestinian territories in the spring, and Palestinian media is speculating that he will visit the contested site, referred to as the Temple Mount by
Syria jihadists claim bus bombing on Hama factory - (87 days ago)
"Thank God, your brothers in Al-Nusra Front... carried out a martyrdom (suicide) operation that targeted an army factory in the town of Tal Baraq in Hama province," on February 6, the jihadist group said in a statement posted on the Internet. According to its account, one of its fighters "drove a bus loaded with 2.5 tonnes of explosives" towards a group of "shabiha" or pro-regime
Kabul orders US forces out of two Afghan provinces - (87 days ago)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai demanded Sunday the withdrawal of US special forces from Wardak and Logar within two weeks, accusing them of fuelling "insecurity and instability" in the volatile provinces neighbouring the capital Kabul. "In today's national security council meeting... President Karzai ordered the ministry of defence to kick out the US special forces from
UN experts probe Iran-linked arms ship in Yemen - (87 days ago)
The UN team, escorted by army general Nasser al-Taheri, inspected the contents of the ship which Saba said includes surface-to-air missiles, Katyusha rockets, explosives, ammunition and surveillance systems. The Yemeni coastguard, in coordination with the US navy, intercepted the Jihan II in the Arabia Sea and authorities have said the ship carried rockets and explosives that came from
Bruiser Anastasiades, new Cyprus president - (87 days ago)
During campaigning, he painted himself as a safe pair of hands trusted by the movers and shakers in Europe, and as a man who can rebuild a national reputation tarnished under the stewardship of communist Demetris Christofias. Christofias's five-year term saw Cyprus sink into the worst economic recession in its history, with the once prosperous country suffering harsh austerity
Syrian opposition says captures suspected nuclear reactor site - (87 days ago)
Al-Kubar site, around 60 km (35 miles) west of the city of Deir al-Zor, became a focus of international attention when Israel raided it in 2007. The United States said the complex was a North Korean-designed nuclear reactor geared to making weapons-grade plutonium. Omar Abu Laila a spokesman for the Eastern Joint Command of the Free Syrian Army said the only building rebels found at the
One killed in fierce Syria-Lebanon border fighting - (87 days ago)
Lebanese President Michel Sleiman demanded on Sunday that Syria "refrain from firing towards Lebanese territory." He also stressed, in a statement, the need to "respect the neutral position of (Lebanon) which means not interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, notably Syria." The violence was triggered by the death hours earlier of another Lebanese man, who was killed on
French photographer dies after Syria shelling: ministry - (87 days ago)
"We confirm his death," a ministry spokeswoman said on Sunday. Voisin, 38, had suffered head and arm injuries from shrapnel when a shell exploded near Idlib in northern Syria. Turkish surgeons operated on Voisin on Friday in the border city of Antakya. His pictures have been published in major French and British newspapers and he collaborated with AFP in January, providing
Israel demands Palestinian leaders reduce tensions - (87 days ago)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the same time ordered the transfer of January arrears of tax revenues that Israel collects on the behalf of the Palestinians but has been withholding, the government said in a statement. "Israel passed an unequivocal demand to the Palestinian Authority to calm down the territory," the statement said. "In order that the non-payment of taxes that
Pope, on last Sunday, says following God's wishes - (87 days ago)
Pope Benedict, speaking in his last Sunday address before becoming the first pope in almost six centuries to step down, said he was following God's wishes and that he was not abandoning the Roman Catholic Church. Benedict, speaking in a strong voice to tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square, said he would continue to serve and love the Church by praying and meditating after his
Thousands of Palestinian prisoners stage hunger strike - (87 days ago)
Some 3,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails were staging a one-day hunger strike Sunday in protest at the death of an inmate, an official said, as Israel's security forces braced for demonstrations. "About 3,000 prisoners announced that they would refuse meals," Israel Prisons Service spokesperson Sivan Weizman, told AFP. "It's just the meals of one day; three meals." Arafat Jaradat, a
Turkey says will not remain silent over Syria 'crimes' - (87 days ago)
"Every day a large number of innocent children and women fall dead in Syria," Erdogan, a key backer of Syria's opposition, said in a speech in the United Arab Emirates. "We will not remain silent on those committing crimes against their people... We will not remain silent on the brutal dictator in Syria," Erdogan added. Turkey's southern neighbour Syria has been locked in a
Regional leaders sign eastern DR Congo peace deal - (87 days ago)
Regional African leaders signed a deal Sunday aimed at pacifying the troubled east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. "It is my hope that that the framework will lead to an era of peace and stability for the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the region," said United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon, who was present at the signing ceremony in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. "It
John Kerry embarks on sweeping tour of Europe, Mideast - (88 days ago)
A plane carrying the news US secretary of state and his team took off from Joint Base Andrews outside Washington at around 7:15 am local time (1215 GMT). Kerry will visit the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar from February 24 to March 6. The first stop will be London, where Kerry will meet with senior British
Saudi beheads Jordanian over drug trafficking - (88 days ago)
Faris Salam Salama al-Maghrebi was arrested while attempting to "smuggle a large amount of amphetamine" stimulant capsules into the kingdom, the ministry said in a statement carried by SPA state news agency. He was beheaded in the northern Jawf province, it said. His execution brings to 16 the number of people beheaded in Saudi Arabia so far this year. In 2012, the kingdom executed 76
Egypt aborts gas smuggling to Gaza - (88 days ago)
Last week, Egyptian and Palestinian officials told AFP that Egyptian forces flooded the tunnels in an attempt to shut them down. Dozens of tunnels have been destroyed since August following the killing of 16 Egyptian soldiers in a militant attack near the Gaza border. Cairo said some of the gunmen had crossed into Egypt via the tunnels, a charge denied by Palestinians, and ordered an
Obama asks Supreme Court to overturn gay-marriage ban - (88 days ago)
The Barack Obama administration took another step toward institutionalizing gay marriage, formally asking the US Supreme Court to strike down a 1996 law defining marriage exclusively as a union between a man and a woman. The request was contained in a legal brief filed Friday with the US court, whose nine justices will next month review whether or not to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act
Italy heads to polls in landmark elections - (88 days ago)
Italians began voting on Sunday in one of the most closely watched elections in years, with markets nervous about whether it will produce a strong government to pull Italy out of recession and help resolve the euro zone debt crisis. Voters started casting their ballots at 0700 GMT. Polling booths will remain open until 2100 GMT on Sunday and between 0600-1400 GMT on Monday. Exit polls will come
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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
