[25 Oct 2013] US negotiator urges Congress to hold off on new anti-Iran...
U-S Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman says she has asked Congress to put new sanctions against Iran on hold.
Sherman -- who is also the main...
U-S Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman says she has asked Congress to put new sanctions against Iran on hold.
Sherman -- who is also the main U-S negotiator in the negotiations on Iran\'s nuclear energy program -- says the pause should be taken to see whether talks with Iran can gain traction. The remarks come days after Iran and the five permanent members of the U-N Security Council plus Germany held a new round of talks in Geneva to resolve issues related to Tehran\'s nuclear energy program. Over the past few years, the U-S Congress has imposed several rounds of illegal unilateral sanctions on Iran to pressure the country to halt the uranium enrichment component of its nuclear energy program.
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[27 Oct 2013] Bahrain opposition boycotts national dialog over crackdown...
Bahrain\'s opposition group say they\'re going to continue their boycott of a national dialog over the Manama regime\'s ongoing crackdown on...
Bahrain\'s opposition group say they\'re going to continue their boycott of a national dialog over the Manama regime\'s ongoing crackdown on dissent.
They\'ve stressed that the recent release of the leader of the main opposition bloc, al-Wefaq, is not enough for them to return to the national dialog. This, just days after a Bahraini court ordered the release of Khalil al-Marzuq and said his case will be reviewed in mid-December. Marzuq was charged with encouraging anti-regime violence in the tiny island state in the Persian Gulf. He has rejected the charges. His arrest had prompted the Shia-led opposition to suspend political talks with the regime. Bahrain has been the scene of almost-daily protests against the regime since mid-February 2011, despite a heavy-handed crackdown on pro-democracy rallies.
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[28 Oct 2013] Reports suggest that Syrian army has retaken control of...
Reports coming out of Syria suggest that the army has retaken control of the ancient Christian town of Sadad from al-Qaeda-linked militants....
Reports coming out of Syria suggest that the army has retaken control of the ancient Christian town of Sadad from al-Qaeda-linked militants.
This follows week-long clashes in the town, which is located north of Damascus. Al-Nusra Front insurgents had recently captured key areas of the town, including a checkpoint that gave them control of the western part. The fighting forced many people to flee to the nearby city of Homs or remain trapped in their homes. Sadad has a strategic location near the main highway leading to the Syrian capital.
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[28 Oct 2013] Clashes erupt between students police at al Azhar...
Clashes have once again erupted between Egyptian police and students at Cairo\'s al-Azhar University.
Egyptian security forces fired tear gas to...
Clashes have once again erupted between Egyptian police and students at Cairo\'s al-Azhar University.
Egyptian security forces fired tear gas to disperse students protesting in support of ousted President Mohamed Morsi. The protesters managed to take their march outside the university campus and blocked a main road as they chanted against the military that ousted Morsi in July. The protesters were seen throwing rocks at security forces and a number of students were arrested. There are no immediate reports on casualties. Clashes also erupted on Sunday when students tried to move their protest out of the campus.
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[28 Oct 2013] Saudi Arabia suspends aid to Yemen - English
The Saudi Prince, Turki Bin Faisal, announced in a speech in Washington DC this week, that the kingdom\'s aid to Yemen is currently \"on...
The Saudi Prince, Turki Bin Faisal, announced in a speech in Washington DC this week, that the kingdom\'s aid to Yemen is currently \"on hold\" amid the political uncertainty of the country.
Saudi Arabia is a main player in Yemen\'s power transfer deal and is obliged to aid Yemen during the transitional period.
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[29 Oct 2013] In Bangladesh, scores injured demanding the premier resign...
Scores of people have been injured as riot police in Bangladesh used tear gas and rubber bullets against opposition supporters on the third and...
Scores of people have been injured as riot police in Bangladesh used tear gas and rubber bullets against opposition supporters on the third and final day of a general strike.
A senior officer was seriously injured in the capital Dhaka when protesters hurled a small explosive device at a group of riot police. At least 16 people have been killed in political violence since Friday. The main opposition party led by former premier Khaleda Zia, who has close relations with military leaders, is demanding that a caretaker administration oversee an election scheduled for January. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instead proposed an all-party interim government led by her to oversee the January polls. She says previous caretaker governments have paved the way for a military coup.
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[30 Oct 2013] Bahraini court sentenced 10 anti-regime protesters to jail...
A Bahraini court has sentenced 10 anti-regime protesters to jail as part of Manama\'s continued crackdown on dissent.
Nine protesters were...
A Bahraini court has sentenced 10 anti-regime protesters to jail as part of Manama\'s continued crackdown on dissent.
Nine protesters were sentenced to terms of three-months to one-year in prison for taking part in protests against the al-Khalifah regime. Another protester was also given a six-month jail term for an alleged attack on a police station. The court had charged him with aggression against police, possession of petrol bombs and taking part in an unauthorized protest aiming at undermining public security. Meanwhile, tensions in the small Persian Gulf island nation continue to flare as police raid the headquarters of the main opposition bloc, called al-Wefaq. No word yet on the fate of those inside the H-Q, as regime forces refuse to allow anyone in or out of the building. Al-Wefaq\'s lawyer and the group\'s senior members have also been prevented from entering the building. The complex houses a museum that documents the Bahraini regime\'s human rights violations.
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[03 Nov 2013] Israel issues tenders to build 1859 new settler units -...
Israel issues tenders for more settler units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds. Settlement watchdog, Peace Now says the tenders were...
Israel issues tenders for more settler units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds. Settlement watchdog, Peace Now says the tenders were published for a total of 18-hundred-59 settler units. According to the NGO, about two-fifths of the units will be built in occupied east Jerusalem al-Quds. The announcement comes only days after Israel gave the final approval for 15-hundred new settler units in east Jerusalem al-Quds. Israel\'s settlement activities have been a main obstacle in the so-called peace talks between the Palestinian Authority and Tel Aviv. The Palestinian Authority has condemned the move as a flagrant violation of international law, saying it plans to turn to the UN Security Council and international courts to stop Israel\'s illegal activities. Israel\'s settlement activities are illegal under international law.
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[04 Nov 2013] Saudi Arabian FM accuses Iran of intervention in Syria -...
Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of military intervention in Syria.
Saudi foreign minister Saud al-Faisal says Iran has deployed troops to Syria...
Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of military intervention in Syria.
Saudi foreign minister Saud al-Faisal says Iran has deployed troops to Syria and that the country\'s under occupation. Faisal was speaking at a joint news briefing with US secretary of state John Kerry in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia has been the main supplier of weapons and funds to the insurgents fighting the Syrian government. The weapons which include Israeli missiles are purchased on the black market. Last week, French newspaper Le Figaro reported that Saudi Arabia\'s intelligence chief is the real mastermind behind the insurgency in Syria and leads the militants from a command center in neighboring Jordan. In his absence, Le Figaro says, a CIA officer leads the militancy.
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[06 Nov 2013] Riyadh urged to halt policy of terrorism against Syria And...
The Syrian information minister says Saudi Arabia is responsible for death and destruction throughout the Muslim world today -- including in Syria....
The Syrian information minister says Saudi Arabia is responsible for death and destruction throughout the Muslim world today -- including in Syria. Omran al-Zoubi made the remarks in a television interview, in which he advised Riyadh to halt its policy of terrorism against Syria and other regional countries, such as Iraq, Lebanon, and Algeria. He had particularly scathing criticism of the Saudi foreign minister, saying Saud al-Faisal has always driven Saudi policy toward failure. The comments came after a meeting between Faisal and his U-S counterpart, John Kerry. During the meeting on Monday, the Saudi official reportedly lamented the international community\'s inaction on the Syrian crisis, particularly the U-S decision not to intervene militarily. Syria has long accused Saudi Arabia of being one of the main regional patrons of the foreign-backed militants, which provides military and financial support to them.
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[17 Nov 2013] A curfew in Rawalpindi remains in force following deadly...
Now to Pakistan, where authorities have extended a curfew in the city of Rawalpindi, two days after clashes left at least nine people dead and...
Now to Pakistan, where authorities have extended a curfew in the city of Rawalpindi, two days after clashes left at least nine people dead and nearly 70 others injured.
The curfew was clamped in the northern city hours after gunmen opened fire at Shia Muslims who were holding Ashura processions. Right now all the main entry points into Rawalpindi have been blocked by containers as the Shia community prepares to hold funerals for the victims. In the capital Islamabad, telecommunication authorities have suspended mobile phone services. Army troops have also been deployed to Multan in the eastern Punjab province where one person was shot dead. Meanwhile, Pakistani government has ordered the Lahore High Court to launch an independent probe into the violence.
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[20 Nov 2013] 29th session of COMCEC underway in Istanbul - English
The Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Co-operation of the Organization of Islamic Co-operation (COMCEC) was established in...
The Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Co-operation of the Organization of Islamic Co-operation (COMCEC) was established in Mecca in 1981. The OIC is an organization of 57 Muslim countries that make up 22% of the world\'s population but only 11% of the world\'s GDP.
The Organization of Islamic Co-operation has been working for four decades to contribute to the economic development of its members. Today the organisation has four trillion dollar economies, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, who together are responsible for nearly half of all the intra-OIC trade and foreign direct investment.
This session of COMCEC covered topics ranging from the expansion of intra-OIC trade, financial co-operation, and better infrastructure to sustainable tourism and poverty eradication.
Over 500 delegates from more than 50 countries and a dozen international organizations have met here today in Istanbul at the 29th international COMCEC conference. The main message of the conference is the need for greater co-operation and co-ordination between the member states of the OIC to increase trade which will be beneficial to all their economies.
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[20 Nov 2013] Bomber rams explosive Laden car into bus carrying off duty...
Militancy on the rise in Egypt\'s northern Sinai. Eleven soldiers have been killed and nearly 40 others injured in an attack in the coastal city of...
Militancy on the rise in Egypt\'s northern Sinai. Eleven soldiers have been killed and nearly 40 others injured in an attack in the coastal city of el-Arish.
The Egyptian soldiers were killed when a bomber rammed his explosive-laden car into their bus on its way to the capital Cairo. Officials say the soldiers belonged to the Second Field Army that\'s fighting militants in the Sinai Peninsula. No person or group has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack yet. Tensions in Sinai have been on the rise following the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi by the army in early July. Militants have mainly targeted policemen, soldiers and politicians. One of the deadliest attacks happened back in August when militants pulled 25 police recruits off a bus and shot them dead on the main road linking Rafah to el-Arish
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[20 Nov 2013] Egyptian soldiers killed and injured after coming under a...
Militancy on the rise in Egypt\'s northern Sinai. Eleven soldiers have been killed and nearly 40 others injured in an attack in the coastal city of...
Militancy on the rise in Egypt\'s northern Sinai. Eleven soldiers have been killed and nearly 40 others injured in an attack in the coastal city of el-Arish.
The Egyptian soldiers were killed when a bomber rammed his explosive-laden car into their bus on its way to the capital Cairo. Officials say the soldiers belonged to the Second Field Army that\'s fighting militants in the Sinai Peninsula. No person or group has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack yet. Tensions in Sinai have been on the rise following the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi by the army in early July. Militants have mainly targeted policemen, soldiers and politicians. One of the deadliest attacks happened back in August when militants pulled 25 police recruits off a bus and shot them dead on the main road linking Rafah to el-Arish.
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[20 Nov 2013] Two fresh US strikes kill at least seven civilians in...
A woman was among the dead in the attacks in Nuristan province. Two other civilians including a child were also injured. Officials say the victims...
A woman was among the dead in the attacks in Nuristan province. Two other civilians including a child were also injured. Officials say the victims had no links to militants. Earlier in the day, a U-S drone strike killed two people in eastern Kunar province. Police say those killed were Taliban members. However in many other similar cases, civilians were found to be the main victims. Civilian killings at the hands of foreign forces have been a source of friction between Kabul and Washington since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan.
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[22 Nov 2013] A top UN official urges Israel to end the crippling...
UN officials are calling on Israel to end the blockade of the Gaza Strip. They\'re warning that the situation in the Palestinian territory may get...
UN officials are calling on Israel to end the blockade of the Gaza Strip. They\'re warning that the situation in the Palestinian territory may get even worse.
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees says the Israeli blockade has paralyzed Gaza\'s construction industry. Robert Turner also said that the demolition of tunnels used by Gazans to transfer goods and construction materials to the enclave has put U-N projects on hold. This, after Egyptian authorities also stepped up the destruction of the tunnels in recent months. Meanwhile, another U-N official, James Rawley has also waned about the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory over a lack of fuel there. Gaza\'s fuel crisis has led to the closure of its main power plant in recent months. Israel imposed its all-out land, aerial, and naval blockade on Gaza in June 2007 after the victory of Hamas in elections there.
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[22 Nov 2013] Tens of thousands of Bahrainis protest against al Khalifa...
In Bahrain, tens of thousands of demonstrators pour onto the streets to protest against the regime\'s crackdown on dissident.
The march was...
In Bahrain, tens of thousands of demonstrators pour onto the streets to protest against the regime\'s crackdown on dissident.
The march was called by Bahrain\'s main opposition group al-Wefaq. The protesters called for the release of political detainees. Ahead of the rally, al-Wefaq issued a statement accusing the Al Khalifa regime of failing to implement recommendations made by an inquiry commission. Al-Wefaq has also condemned the continuation of arrests, political trials and discrimination against the Shia majority in the Persian Gulf island. Bahraini authorities have stepped up their crackdown on anti-regime activists over the past few weeks. Several people have been sentenced to lengthy jail terms while other activists have received life sentences.
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[22 Nov 2013] Bahraini regime forces attack anti-government protesters...
Bahraini regime forces have attacked anti-government protesters at a demonstration held to condemn the repression.
Saudi-backed Bahraini...
Bahraini regime forces have attacked anti-government protesters at a demonstration held to condemn the repression.
Saudi-backed Bahraini forces fired tear gas to disperse the protesters in the village of Daih, west of the capital Manama. On Friday, tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest against the regime\'s crackdown. The demonstration was called by Bahrain\'s main opposition group, al-Wefaq. Ahead of the action, al-Wefaq issued a statement accusing the ruling Al Khalifah regime of failing to implement the recommendations made by a commission of inquiry. Al-Wefaq also condemned the continued arrests, political trials, and discrimination against the Shia majority in the Persian Gulf island nation.
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[26 Nov 2013] Iraqi Kurdish leaders reach agreement on new government -...
Officials in Iraq\'s Kurdistan Region say they\'re making progress with forming the new government following September\'s elections....
Officials in Iraq\'s Kurdistan Region say they\'re making progress with forming the new government following September\'s elections.
Kurdistan\'s main opposition party - the Change Movement - came second in the elections. The party has now agreed to join the government with the winning Kurdistan Democratic Party.
The Change Movement and the Democratic Party have enough seats to form a majority. But Kurdistan\'s Islamic parties are also trying to join the new government. It\'s unclear who will take on the role of the opposition.
The Change Movement is still discussing details of the new government with Kurdistan\'s Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani.
The Democratic Party\'s historical partner - the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan - will also join the new government - despite its third place finish in the elections. However, officials say that Prime Minister Barzani wants to include other parties rather than continue the duopoly between the Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union.
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[26 Nov 2013] Iran urges reforms in the structure of ECO after almost...
The 21st ministerial meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization-ECO!
On Tuesday, the 21st Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the ECO was...
The 21st ministerial meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization-ECO!
On Tuesday, the 21st Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the ECO was held on in the Iranian capital, Tehran. The council accounted for the reports of the ECO and its institutions on progress achieved in the main activity area of the organization that focus, among others, on transport, trade, energy, environment and agriculture. The meeting was started by a short speech by Iran\'s President, Hassan Rouhani who urged some reforms in legal, structural, institutional and planning aspects of the organization after some three decades of activity.
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[30 Nov 2013] Foreign backed insurgents in Syria increasingly using...
Foreign-backed insurgents in Syria are increasingly using kidnapping as a means to fund their activities in the northern city of Aleppo....
Foreign-backed insurgents in Syria are increasingly using kidnapping as a means to fund their activities in the northern city of Aleppo.
Militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant have been named as the main culprits in insurgent-controlled areas. A London-based opposition group says that 80-percent of kidnappings target activists and journalists. Only this week, two Swedish journalists were abducted by insurgents. The missing are a combination of foreign and Syrian journalists. 30 journalists are currently being held and 52 have been killed in the country since early 2011.
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[30 Nov 2013] Iran opens Sadr elevated expressway - English
The biggest elevated expressway in Iran; Sadr elevated expressway is the first elevated bridge with unique pier in Iran. The project took 26 months...
The biggest elevated expressway in Iran; Sadr elevated expressway is the first elevated bridge with unique pier in Iran. The project took 26 months to complete during which 11 kilometers of bridge was constructed.
All the phases of this project have been carried out by Iranian engineers, technicians, and architects.
This bridge consists of main bridge over 22 meters wide and 6 km long and the deck construction was carried out with four launching gantries for the first time in Iran.
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[01 Dec 2013] Security forces clash with protesters near Manama - English
Bahraini security forces have once again clashed with anti-government protesters in the suburbs of the capital Manama.
The clashes broke out in...
Bahraini security forces have once again clashed with anti-government protesters in the suburbs of the capital Manama.
The clashes broke out in the village of Sanabis following the funeral of 15-year old Ahmad Abdul-Amir Ali. He was critically injured in an explosion near a warehouse on Friday. Reports say Ahmad died because the ambulance taking him to hospital was stopped by security forces. Bahrain\'s main opposition group al-Wefaq called the teenager a martyr and urged people to participate in his funeral.
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[Media Watch] Samaa News : Karachi Main MWM Pak Kay Rehnuma Maulana...
[Media Watch]Samaa News : Majlis e Wahdat Muslimeen Karachi Kay Deputy secretary general Maulana Deedar Ali Jalbani Shaheed Kardiye gaye سما...
[Media Watch]Samaa News : Majlis e Wahdat Muslimeen Karachi Kay Deputy secretary general Maulana Deedar Ali Jalbani Shaheed Kardiye gaye سما نیوز : مجلس وحدت مسلمین کراچی کےڈپٹی سیکرٹری جنرل مولانا دیدار علی شہید کر دیے گئے - Urdu
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[08 Dec 2013] Thai PM dissolve parliament, hold elections soon - English
Thailand\'s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawat says she will dissolve the parliament and hold elections as soon as possible.
Shinawat did not...
Thailand\'s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawat says she will dissolve the parliament and hold elections as soon as possible.
Shinawat did not immediately set a date for the polls. The ruling party has confirmed that Yingluck would run in the upcoming elections. Meanwhile, anti-government protesters are still out on the streets. Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has reacted to the announcement, saying that the parliament\'s dissolution is not his aim. He\'s also called for the protest campaign to go on. Meanwhile, demonstrators are gathering outside the government house in a \"final showdown\" to topple the prime minister. Violence suddenly ended last week with both sides pausing to celebrate the birthday of the nation\'s king. On Sunday, the main opposition lawmakers resigned from parliament en masse, exacerbating the nation\'s political divide.
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[10 Dec 2013] Militants seizes border crossing from other insurgents in...
More infighting breaks out between militants in Syria as the national army pushes ahead with operations across the country.
The opposition...
More infighting breaks out between militants in Syria as the national army pushes ahead with operations across the country.
The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says a militant group calling itself the Islamic Front seized a crossing on the Turkish border from other insurgents. The capture of the Bab al-Hawa crossing came a few days after the Islamic Front took control of some arms depots of the Free Syrian Army. The Islamic Front does not recognize the F-S-A, which is one of the main armed opposition groups fighting the government. Meanwhile, masked gunmen have abducted a prominent Syrian human rights lawyer in Douma, a suburb of Damascus. Razan Zaytouni had accused al-Qaeda-linked insurgents of kidnapping activists and lawyers.
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