The Latest Qatar News

Bankers see M&A recovery after deals dip 7% to $750bn

LONDON A DROP in European takeovers has depressed global merger and acquisitions (M&A) activity so far this year, but bankers see activity picking up as a rally in stocks and bonds helps compensate for a prolonged eurozone recession. ...
Published: 18 May 2013 - 03:00 UTC

Video Kidnapping prompts Egypt-Gaza border closure

Egyptian police close Rafah border crossing to protest against government's inaction over the kidnapping of security forces in Sinai. Lindsey Parietti ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 23:41 UTC

Egypt Damac settle disputes

Egypt has said it had settled disputes with the Dubai-based developer Damac involving projects dating back to the Mubarak era, an agreement the government hopes will reassure prospective investors, Reuters has reported. The settlement, which covered two disputes involving housing projects near Cairo and the third involving a piece of land on the Red Sea, means that Damac would withdraw a suit ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 22:17 UTC

Arab International Festival postponed until 2014

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - A Detroit area street festival has been postponed for a year to allow organizers to focus on a move to a new location at a Dearborn park. Arab International Festival director Fay Beydoun says more time was needed to make sure a "quality event" is put together in 2014. The 18-year-old festival is held each June by the American Arab Chamber of Commerce. It is ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 22:11 UTC

Port of Houston signs Puerto Rico Middle East service agreements

The Port of Houston has signed new shipping agreements with companies traveling to the Middle East and Puerto Rico. The Port of Houston Authority said Friday that it has signed two agreements that will add new service to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and locations throughout the Middle East. In one agreement, National Shipping of America, a San Francisco-based shipping company, added a new 14-day ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 22:08 UTC

Egyptian security forces clash with protesters in central Cairo

Egyptian protesters shout anti-President Mohammed Morsi slogans during a protest in Tahrir Square, in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, May 17, 2013. Hundreds of protesters gathered to demand early presidential elections and the removal of the Muslim Brotherhood's regime. (AP Photo/Hassan ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 22:03 UTC

Hundreds march in Cairo for Mursi ouster

Egyptian protesters shout anti-Mursi slogans in Tahrir Square, among hundreds who gathered to demand early presidential elections and the removal of the ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 21:10 UTC

Political change on Algeria horizon as old guard succumbs to old age

North Africa and the Sahel and is an important bulwark against terrorist groups linked to Al-Qaeda. Any further instability in North Africa, where Tunisia, Libya and Egypt are already struggling, could embolden the armed militants. So far Algeria has been buoyed by high oil prices and, with almost $200 billion in foreign reserves, it has spent lavishly to try to buy off the discontent. But ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 21:10 UTC

Shaikh Khalid Calls on Bahraini Athletes to Achieve Good Results during 18th Arab Athletics Championship

Manama, May 17. (BNA) - President of the Bahrain Athletics Association Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa called on Bahraini athletes to exert tremendous efforts during the 18th Arab Athletics Championship, due to be hosted by Doha, Qatar, from May 21 to 24. Shaikh Khalid urged members of the Bahraini team to spare no effort to represent the kingdom and honour it during such a mega Arab ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 21:09 UTC

Bahrain Takes Part in Donors’ Conference on Mali

Luxemburg, May 17. (BNA) -- The Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the international donor conference to aid development in Mali held recently in Belgium, Brussels. Bahraini Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union Ahmed Mohammed Al Dossary led the Kingdom's delegation to the conference. The conference, which followed another similar meeting held in Addis Ababa, ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 21:09 UTC

Arab International Festival is canceled in wake of religious tensions

A man and children dance in a circle while International Yemen singer Abdul Rahman sings on Saturday, June 16, 2012, on Warren Avenue during the 2012 Arab International Festival in Dearborn. / Jarrad Henderson/Detroit Free ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 21:00 UTC

Jordan Finally Front Center In ‘Fruitvale’

CANNES, FRANCE (CBS SF/AP) – Before ';Fruitvale Station,'; Michael B. Jordan was glimpsed sporadically in supporting roles on TV shows like ';The Wire'; and ';Friday Night Lights,'; and in films like ';Chronicle'; and ';Red ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 20:48 UTC

Arab Parliament seeks support for Comoros

WAM MORONI, MAY 17th, 2013 (WAM): The Arab Parliament will hold a session in Moroni, the capital of Comoros, in the near future in presence of all its members, Speaker of the Arab Parliament, Ahmed Mohammed Al Jarwan, has announced. "The Arab Parliament will also launch an initiative to build a new Moroni with modern hospitals and universities. The Parliament will seek to find supporters ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 20:40 UTC

Russia sends advanced cruise missiles to Syria

WASHINGTON - Russia has sent advanced anti-ship cruise missiles to Syria in a move that underscores its support to the beleaguered regime of President Bashar Al Assad in the war-torn Arab nation, officials citing credible intelligence reports said here. The New York Times reported Friday that the new missiles sent to Syria have an advanced radar system that makes them "more effective". ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 20:39 UTC

US slams Russian anti-ship missiles going to Syria

WASHINGTON -; The Obama administration is criticizing Russia's decision to provide Syria with anti-ship missiles, which it says will only worsen the civil ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 20:08 UTC

Several Thousand Rally in Egypt

Cairo, 17 May (Prensa Latina) Thousands of protesters converged on Cairo''s Tahrir Square on Friday to join a planned rally in solidarity with the recently-launched "Rebel" campaign, which aims at "withdrawing confidence" from Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and bringing about early presidential elections. Hundreds of marchers coming from Sayyeda Zeinab Mosque and ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 20:06 UTC

Gaza business smuggles in KFC from Egypt

Gaza across the Egyptian border. Mohammed al-Madani, financial manager of al-Yamama company, said the business idea came when employees contacted a friend who works at the KFC in al-Arish, Egypt, with some orders and they were able to smuggle the food through a tunnel within three hours, The Christian Science Monitor reported Friday. "Then we asked ourselves, 'Why don't we ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 19:32 UTC

Violence taints Qatars PSG dream

Springtime in Paris. Any place in the world that combines season and city to better effect would have to be very special indeed. And what better setting than the Trocadero, just across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower, to fete the newly super-rich, newly glamorous Parisian football team after a famous achievement? Unfortunately, the occasion degenerated into a violent confrontation between police ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 18:58 UTC

China supports peace in Middle East Xi says

China would like to further strengthen communication and coordination with Saudi Arabia to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East, ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 18:46 UTC

Arab spending focus of U.S. hearing

Corruption and economic growth must be considered when assessing the underlying cause of Middle East revolutions, a U.S. lawmaker said. A vendor frustrated with economic conditions in Tunisia committed suicide in December 2010, sparking the country's Jasmine Revolution and opening the door to the so-called Arab Spring. Former U.S. Secretary of ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 18:36 UTC

Hundreds march in opposition to Egypts Morsi

Protesters frustrated with Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi said three marches took place Friday to press for early elections. Opposition groups have expressed frustration with Morsi, who marks his first year in office next month. He's the first democratically elected president in Egyptian history. Criticism against his administration ranges from his oversight of a weak economy to the ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 18:20 UTC

Russia ‘does not understand’ uproar over arms sales Lavrov

Russia's foreign minister said Friday he did not understand the international uproar created by Moscow's continuing weapons cooperation with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad."I do not understand why the media is trying to create a sensation out of this," said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. "We have not hidden that we supply weapons to Syria under signed ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 17:34 UTC

Saudi Arabia says hackers sabotage government websites

RIYADH (Reuters) - Several government websites in Saudi Arabia were sabotaged in a series of heavy cyber attacks from abroad in recent days, disabling them briefly until the attacks were repelled, the government ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 17:09 UTC

Michael Jordan Once Forced A Young Bow Wow To Get Rid Of His Allen Iverson Shoes

(WSCR) Michael Jordan takes his brand very, very seriously. And when a young Bow Wow came to his house wearing a pair of Allen Iverson’s Reebok shoes, Jordan wasn’t ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 17:04 UTC

In ancient Egypt summer was baby-making season

The peak period for baby-making sex in ancient Egypt was in July and August, when the weather was at its hottest.Researchers made this discovery at a cemetery in the Dakhleh Oasis in Egypt whose burials date back around 1,800 years. The oasis is located about 450 miles (720 kilometers) southwest of Cairo. The people buried in the cemetery lived in the ancient town of Kellis, with a population of ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 16:18 UTC

Egypt Fears of spurious charges in trial of another opposition activist

There are credible fears that the charges against a well-known opposition activist in Alexandria may be spurious and in retaliation for his activism, Amnesty International said as his appeal hearing is due to resume. On 12 March, the activist Hassan Mostafa was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison for insulting and attacking a public prosecutor in Alexandria - accusations he vehemently ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 16:07 UTC

Impregilo-led group wins 1.7 bln-euro contract in Qatar

MILAN | Fri May 17, 2013 12:02pm EDT MILAN May 17 (Reuters) - A consortium led by Italian builder Impregilo has won a contract worth around 1.7 billion euros ($2.2 billion) to build a metro line in Doha, Qatar, Impregilo said in a statement on Friday. Impregilo has a 41.25 percent stake in the consortium, it said. ($1 = 0.7798 euros) (Reporting By Danilo ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 16:02 UTC

KFC smuggled to Gaza from Egypt via tunnels– video

A delivery company in Gaza is transporting Kentucky Fried Chicken from Egypt through underground tunnels for residents. Families order their meals a day in advance, and they are transported to the blockaded region through the Hamas-run tunnel system. Delivery company Alyamama reportedly charges around $35 (23) for a family ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 15:52 UTC

Actor dressed as woman feels Egypts sexual harassment

As part of a documentary TV series, a young male actor took to the streets of downtown Cairo dressed as a woman and experienced sexual harassment ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 15:39 UTC

Jordan finally front and center in Fruitvale

CANNES, France -- Before "Fruitvale Station," Michael B. Jordan was glimpsed sporadically in supporting roles on TV shows like "The Wire" and "Friday Night Lights," and in films like "Chronicle" and "Red Tails."That changes emphatically with "Fruitvale Station," a Sundance hit that premiered Thursday night at the Cannes Film Festival. ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 14:58 UTC

Iranian constitutional watchdog head suggests disqualifying candidates seeking full US ties

TEHRAN, Iran - The head of Iran's constitutional watchdog says it may disqualify candidates in June presidential elections who seek full relations with the United States. Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, secretary of the Guardian Council that vets candidates, said Friday on state radio that some nominees may hope that international sanctions over Tehran's disputed nuclear program will end if ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 14:31 UTC

Palestinian President in Egypt With Heavy Agenda

Cairo, May 16 (Prensa Latina) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will pursue a heavy agenda of vital issues in this capital, one of which is a meeting today with his Egyptian counterpart, Mohamed Morsi. Abbas arrived in Cairo last night, just 48 hours after delegations from his Al Fatah organization and Hamas, the Islamist entity that rules the Gaza Strip, agreed to form a transitional ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 13:43 UTC

Egypt closes border after kidnappings

Cairo - Egyptian police closed the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Friday in protest at the kidnapping of colleagues in the Sinai peninsula, a security source and witnesses ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 13:39 UTC

Pro-Assad hackers attack UK newspaper FTs website Twitter feed

Financial Times was hacked on Friday, apparently by the "Syrian Electronic Army", a group of hackers and on-line activists who say they support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.Stories on the FT's website have had their headlines replaced by "Hacked By Syrian Electronic Army" and messages on ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 13:36 UTC

At least 32 killed by blasts outside Sunni mosque in Iraqs Baquba

Sunni Muslim mosque in Baquba, about 50 km (30 miles) northeast of Baghdad, after Friday prayers, police and medics said.Attacks on Sunni and Shiite mosques, security forces and tribal leaders have spread since security forces raided a Sunni protest camp ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 13:36 UTC

Bahraini security forces raid sheikhs house opposition

The most senior Bahraini Shiite cleric, Sheik Isa Qassim, center, talks to worshipers after midday prayers Friday, May 17, 2013, in Diraz, Bahrain. (AP Photo/Hasan ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 13:36 UTC

Tunis to decide by Saturday on Salafist rally ban

Saif Eddine Errais, center, spokesman of radical Islam Salafist group Ansar al-Sharia speaks during a press conference, Thursday, May 16, 2013 at the "Errahma" mosque in Cite Khadra, near Tunis. (AP Photo/Amine ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 13:35 UTC

Egypt police shut Rafah crossing to protest abductions

Gaza on Friday in protest at the kidnapping of colleagues in the Sinai peninsula, a security source and witnesses said.Three policemen and four soldiers were abducted on Thursday by armed men who are demanding the release of a group of prisoners held at a police station in the North Sinai town of El-Arish, official media reported.The captured policemen worked at the Rafah border terminal, a ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 13:35 UTC

Syria rebel heart eater says ready to face trial if Assad does

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian rebel commander who rose to international notoriety for footage of him cutting out and eating the organ of a slain soldier said he was willing to face trial for his actions if ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 13:15 UTC

Palestinian President Receives Arab League Secretary General

Cairo, May 17 (BNA)-- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas received here today Arab League Secretary General Nabil Al Arabi. They discussed regional developments, mainly in Palestine, in light of Israel's continuous settlement policy and repeated incursions of Al-Aqsa Mosque which will undermine the two-state solution and cause failure of the international efforts to reach a just and ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 12:20 UTC

Iran may ban candidates who seek ties with US

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- The head of Iran's constitutional watchdog says it may disqualify candidates in June presidential elections who seek full relations with the United ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 12:10 UTC

Israel justice minister slams Russia arms to Syria

Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni on Friday slammed Russian arms deals with Syria, after US media reported further weapons shipments to the Damascus regime.Livni's comments also come in the wake of a surprise visit by CIA chief John Brennan to Israel to discuss the situation in Israel's war-torn neighbour."The transfer of arms to Syria is clearly not positive and does not ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 12:10 UTC

Turkey detains prime suspect in car bombings near Syrian border

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish police have detained a man they believe to be one of the main perpetrators of car bombings that killed more than 50 people near the Syrian border, officials said on ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 12:04 UTC

Report Bahrain police search home of top Shiite cleric who backs protests

A policeman clears away smoldering tires set ablaze as a form of protest by Bahraini government opponents across a street in Karzakan, Bahrain, on Thursday, May 16, 2013. A Bahraini demonstrator was sentenced to three months in prison Thursday for hanging a Bahraini flag from his truck during a 2011 rally, a defense lawyer said, in one of the first cases based on tougher codes for alleged insults ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 12:02 UTC

Ban Ki-moon in Russia for talks about Syria sanctions

Ban Ki -moon was in Russia Friday to discuss sanctions on Syria and other issues with Russian President Vladimir Putin, officials said. Russia has come under criticism for its unwillingness to impose sanctions on Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime but the Russian government has said it has no interest in seeing Assad remain in power, RIA Novosti said. The Russian government has been ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 11:55 UTC

Qatar Fears Assad Retaliation

ABU DHABI [MENL] -- Qatar, alarmed by the Syrian military offensive againstSunni rebels, fears an insurgency campaign sponsored by President BasharAssad. Arab diplomatic sources said Qatar's Emir Hamad has expressed concernsthat Assad might order a destabilization campaign against supporters of theSunni rebels in Syria. The sources said Hamad appealed to the United Statesfor military ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 10:48 UTC

Jamal Al Bah re-elected Chairman of Arab Family Organisation

WAM SHARJAH, May 17th, 2013 (WAM)--The General Assembly of the Arab Family Organisation has unanimously re-elected during an extraordinary meeting Jamal Obaid Al Bah as a chairman of the organisation and Mervet Al Talawi as a deputy chairperson. The meeting was attended by Huda bin Yousif, secretary general of the organisation, Board of Directors and members of the general assembly. The ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 10:43 UTC

Saudi Arabia dedicates more labs to track deadly coronavirus

RIYADH // Saudi Arabia has dedicated nine additional laboratories to help investigators track a deadly new respiratory virus related to Sars that appears to be centered in the kingdom. Thursday's Health Ministry announcement follows its report that two health care workers became ill this month after being exposed to patients with the virus. Experts are closely studying whether it can ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 10:16 UTC

Egypt police close Gaza border to protest kidnap

RAFAH, Egypt -; An Egyptian security official says policemen at the country's main crossing point into the Gaza Strip have closed the border on their own initiative to protest the abduction of their ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 10:14 UTC

CIA chief makes unannounced Israel visit

JERUSALEM -- An Israeli defense official says the head of the American CIA spy agency has made an unannounced visit to Israel.The official says CIA chief John Brennan met Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon. He did not disclose other details.The official spoke Friday on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the visit with reporters. Brennan's trip comes amid ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 10:10 UTC

Angry Egyptian policemen close crossing with Gaza

GAZA - Egyptian policemen blocked the crossing into the Gaza Strip on Friday to protest against the kidnapping of Egyptian security forces in the Sinai, witnesses and sources said.Locals said police had placed barbed wire across the entrance to the border and closed the gates with chains, leaving hundreds of Palestinians stranded on both sides of the fence.Islamist gunmen abducted seven Egyptian ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 10:08 UTC

Arab Magazine Challenges Attitudes About Arab Women

– With a subtle blend of colour and shadow, 20-year-old Sumoud Farraj prepares for a photo shoot. Next month, along with three other young Arab women, she’ll appear in a designer miniskirt on the cover of Lilac, an Arabic-language women’s ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 10:08 UTC

Ban says must not lose momentum on Syria conference

Syria should be held as soon as possible, but that no date had yet been agreed."We should not lose the momentum," Ban said of a U.S.-Russian proposal to bring the Syrian government and opposition representatives to a peace conference."There is a high expectation that this meeting should be held as soon as possible," he said after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 10:04 UTC

Thousands at risk after gunmen ransack S. Sudan hospital MSF

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said Friday, warning the attack leaves some 100,000 people without lifesaving healthcare. As well as looting drugs, beds and equipment, the attackers' "extraordinary...systematic and purposeful damage to the infrastructure" has left the hospital unusable without major ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 10:04 UTC

Irans Ahmadinejad to join Thai water summit

In this file photo, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivers a speech for the Iranian New Year, Nowruz, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, March 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Office of the Supreme ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 10:04 UTC

Number of Syrian refugees tops 1.5 million UNHCR

United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday. "The fact that more than 1.5 million have registered or have appointments with UNHCR sadly means the actual number is much higher," UNHCR said in a statement issued in Geneva. "Refugees tell us the increased fighting and changing of control of towns and villages, in particular in conflict areas, results in more and more ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 09:46 UTC

Iraqis in southern city mourn 2 Shiite fighters killed in Syria

BASRA, Iraq - Hundreds of Iraqis in a southern city have attended the funeral of two Shiite fighters killed in Syria. In Basra, mourners on Friday carried the coffin of Mohammed Aboud, who they say was killed by a sniper fire near the shrine of Sayida Zeinab outside the capital of Damascus five days before. The coffin of the other slain fighter, Hassan Ali, was rushed to Baghdad at the start of ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 09:45 UTC

Qatar buys into Milan skyscraper project

ROME (AFP) - Qatar's sovereign wealth fund has bought a 40-percent stake in a new 290,000-square metre skyscraper project near the centre of Milan with a commercial value of 2.0 billion euros ($2.6 billion), the companies said on Friday.The project has already involved the construction of the skyscraper headquarters of Italy's biggest bank UniCredit by Argentine architect Cesar ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 09:43 UTC

Qatar Air keen to be new Boeing 777 launch customer

Qatar Airways' top executive said the Middle Eastern carrier wants to be a launch customer for Boeing Co's forthcoming 777X mini-jumbo jet, and that the airline plans to open at least three new routes to the United States in the next 12 to 18 ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 08:54 UTC

Egypt says dispute with Dubais Damac is over

Egypt has said it has settled disputes with the Dubai-based developer Damac involving projects dating back to the Mubarak era - an agreement the government hopes will reassure prospective ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 08:54 UTC

Kuwait to start medical care segregation on June 1

Health Minister Mohammad al-Haifi, who is also a surgeon, ordered that the outpatient clinics at the public hospital in Jahra, west of Kuwait City, will only receive Kuwaiti patients in the morning from next ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 08:54 UTC

Bahrain urgently need to reform economy says IMF

Bahrain, which last year boosted state spending to quell political unrest, urgently needs to reform its economy to stop its debt burden becoming unsustainable, The International Monetary Fund has ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 08:54 UTC

Golan peacekeeping force suffers third abduction UN

UNITED NATIONS - Syrian rebels seized three UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights in the third abduction in two months in the ceasefire zone between Syria and Israel, the UN said ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 08:53 UTC

Before privatization Kuwait Airways signs deal with Airbus to buy planes

KUWAIT CITY -- Kuwait Airways Co. (KAC) signed a deal with Airbus to buy 15 A320neo and 10 A350-900 planes with options for 10 more, five from each category, chairman Sami al-Nasef said on ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 07:48 UTC

Egypt court to keep Mubarak in prison over illicit gains

Egypt's Cairo Criminal Court refused Sunday an appeal submitted by former President Hosni Mubarak and decided to keep him in prison pending investigations over illicit gains charge, official Nile TV reported. The appeal was submitted against a decision issued by illicit gains authority on April 24 to renew detention of Mubarak for more 15 days over illegally making fortunes for him and his ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 07:17 UTC

Workers Struggles Europe Middle East Africa

The metal workers union, IG Metall, has warned of industrial action if an agreement is not reached in a wage dispute by the end of the week. The union is calling for a 5.5 percent increase in wages in 2013 for over 3.5 million metal workers in industries ranging from automobiles to electronics. Almost 400,000 workers have already held shorter "warning strikes" affecting major companies ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 06:55 UTC

Evidence of torture by regime in Syrias Raqa HRW

Documents and torture equipment found in Syrian security buildings in rebel-held Raqa show detainees were tortured when President Bashar al-Assad's regime held sway over the city, Human Rights Watch said on ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 06:41 UTC

Remains of soldier who lived 1400 years ago found in Egypt

Archaeologists found the 1,400-year-old remains of a soldier in Aswan, a city in southern Egypt, Minister of State for Antiquities Ahmed Eisa said. The soldier's remains were discovered in a field that dates to the Late Roman Period and Early Middle Age near the border of Egypt and Nubia. The find shows that conflicts broke out periodically along the frontier between Egypt and Nubia, a region ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 06:10 UTC

12 killed in mosque blast in Iraqs Kirkuk

People clean the blast site at a Shiite mosque in Kirkuk, northern Iraq, May 16, 2013. At least 12 people were killed and 25 others injured as a suicide bomber blew himself up at a Shiite mosque in northern Iraq's Kirkuk on Thursday, local police sources said. (Xinhua/Dena Assad) At least 12 people were killed and 25 others injured as a suicide bomber blew himself up at a Shiite mosque in ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 05:36 UTC

Kuwait-Azerbaijan relations discussed in Milli Majlis

Speaker of Azerbaijan`s parliament Ogtay Asadov has met head of Kuwait-Azerbaijan friendship group Mubarak Saleh Al-Najada. They discussed prospects for development of Kuwait-Azerbaijan ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 04:32 UTC

Australian exporters face regulation for sheep abuse in Kuwait

Three Australian exporters are facing further regulation of their live export operations to Kuwait, as sheep sold and slaughtered in Kuwait have suffered breaches in animal welfare, an Australian government investigation reported.The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) on Thursday released findings that Australian live sheep exports were being traded outside of an approved ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 04:28 UTC

UN chief discusses Middle East peace with Israeli Palestinian leaders

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in separate phone talks during the last two days, discussed the Middle East peace process with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders, a spokesman told reporters here on Thursday."In the past two days, the secretary-general had phone conversations with the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas," said ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 04:27 UTC

CIA chief in Israel to discuss situation in Syria

The US Central Intelligence Agency director John O. Brennan arrived in Israel Thursday evening to discuss Syrian crisis with Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya' alon, Israel's Channel 2 Television reported.This is Brennan's first visit to the country since US President Barack Obama appointed him to the post in March. He is scheduled to meet with Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 04:27 UTC

Israels ultra-orthodox Jews protest against military conscription

Some 30,000 ultra-orthodox Jews protested on Thursday night in Jerusalem against the Israeli government's plan to conscript yeshiva students to the Israel Defense Force (IDF), local media reported.The demonstrators arrived at the district recruitment bureau in Jerusalem, and confronted with a large force of Israel Police and the Border Police, throwing objects and bags filled with water at ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 04:27 UTC

Six killed in fresh mortar attacks in Syrian capital

Six people were killed Thursday when armed groups fired mortar shells at a suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus in clashes between rebels and government troops in the vicinity of a central prison in the northern city of Aleppo, the state media said.Mortar shells fired by rebels killed six people and injured 37 others at the suburb of Jaramana, some 10 kilometers southeast of Damascus, local ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 04:27 UTC

UN Security Council condemns brief detention of peacekeepers in Golan Heights

The UN Security Council on Thursday "strongly condemned" the brief detention of three UN peacekeepers and the looting of a United Nations observation post in the Golan Heights.The Security Council, in a press statement released here, "strongly condemned the incident on May 15 in which a group of anti-government armed elements detained three United Nations military observers from ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 04:27 UTC

Study says India Jordan Bangladesh Hong Kong worlds most racially intolerant

INDIA, Jordan, Bangladesh and Hong Kong are among the the most racist countries in the world - but Britain is among the most accepting of different races, a survey has found. The World Values Survey asked people in more than 80 countries what type of people they did NOT want as neighbours. More than 40 per cent of those quizzed in India, Jordan, Bangladesh and Hong Kong said they didn't ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 03:31 UTC

World Briefing | Middle East Iraq Attacks Kill at Least 21 People

Car bombs exploded in Shiite neighborhoods of Baghdad for the second day in a row on Thursday, part of a series of attacks in the capital and elsewhere that left at least 21 people dead, officials said. One of the blasts hit a bus and taxi stop in the Sadr City neighborhood of eastern Baghdad, right, killing at least 9 people and wounding 16, the police said. Beyond the capital, suicide bombers ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 03:04 UTC

Syria on target U.S. wants 20000 troops arriving in Jordan

The Pentagon plans to relocate an effective military force beginning with 200 then up to 20 000 soldiers and station them in Jordan in order to be prepared for a possible military intervention in ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 02:44 UTC

Obama and Erdogan Assad must go

Moscow have proposed to halt the violence. At a joint White House news conference, the Turkish and U.S. leaders restated their position, but Obama admitted: "There is no magic formula for dealing with an extraordinarily violent and difficult situation like Syria’s." The talks came a day before another key player, Russian President Vladimir Putin, was to meet U.N. ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 02:07 UTC

Qatar lifeline feeble substitute for IMF loan as Egypt default risk soars

People walk past the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters building during 2013 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington , April 18, 2013. REUTERS/Yuri ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 02:07 UTC

Mursi holds crisis talks over kidnappings

Mohammad Mursi Thursday held crisis talks with his defense and interior ministers over the kidnapping of policemen and soldiers in Sinai, as negotiations were underway to secure their release. Egyptian security services were in talks with the kidnappers via mediators for the release of three Egyptian policemen and four soldiers held at gunpoint overnight in the Sinai peninsula, state media ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 02:07 UTC

Beware the ‘birds’ Palestinians decry jailhouse informers

RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories: Former Palestinian prisoners are speaking out to warn those still held in Israeli jails about a group of undercover informers, who are known as "birds," seeking to trip them up. The network apparently stretches far and wide, with these "birds" tasked with wheedling out confessions that lead to convictions through a mixture of charm, ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 02:07 UTC

Obama says diplomatic military options still open on Syria

U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday that both diplomatic and military options remain open for Washington in dealing with the Syrian ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 02:06 UTC

Arab and ultra-Orthodox towns to get less space for parks under new guidelines

Israeli Arab The Housing Ministry has quietly devised new guidelines under which Arab and Haredi ‏(ultra-Orthodox‏) towns should be planned with significantly less space for parks than other ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 01:56 UTC

Qatar Airways resumes Boeing 787 flights to London Heathrow

(eTN) - Qatar Airways' sales teams have been blitzing the East African markets of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda with news, that the airline has resumed their Doha to London flights with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the first B787 destination outside the Gulf since the FAA and global regulators lifted the flight ban on this aircraft type. It is understood that all 5 of the B787's ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 00:39 UTC

Son of disappeared Arab man in Mali also arrested had been trying to sue the military

BAMAKO, Mali - Relatives say Mohamed Ould Ali, an employee of the International Committee of the Red Cross, has been arrested in Mali's capital. He had been attempting to sue the Malian military for his father's recent disappearance. Ali belongs to the country's minority Arab ethnic group. He is the son of Ali Ould Kalbali, a 70-year-old man who disappeared along with seven other ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 00:38 UTC

A UN special commission will investigate the use of chemical weapons in the Arab nation. The Syrian Government had filed an official complaint with President of the Security Council and to the general secretary after the Israeli attack. There is evidence

The UN special commission studying possible violations committed in Syria have revealed evidence that the armed opposition has used sarin gas in their attacks on the population and noted that no documented use of chemical weapons by the government of Bashar al Assad The Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria has announced that the tests based on testimonies of victims and medical personnel in ... ...
Published: 17 May 2013 - 00:25 UTC

US slaps sanctions on Syrian ministers airline

Syria , targeting four ministers, one airline and one TV station, just as a new peace conference is being broached to end the 27-month conflict in the Arab nation. The Department of Treasury blacklisted the ministers of defense, health, industry and justice, the government-owned Syrian Arab Airlines and Al-Dunya Television, a privately owned 24-hour satellite channel. The airline was accused of ... ...
Published: 16 May 2013 - 23:45 UTC

Investigators Cigarette smuggling proceeds may have funded terrorism

Some of the proceeds of a multimillion-dollar cigarette smuggling operation may have gone to terrorist groups, New York officials said Thursday. State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly announced the indictment of 16 people on charges that include enterprise corruption, money laundering and tax crimes. Some of the defendants were ... ...
Published: 16 May 2013 - 23:20 UTC

UPDATE 1-New York says breaks cigarette-smuggling ring linked to militants

Thu May 16, 2013 6:54pm EDT (Recasts with actual arrests and charges; adds sourcing from authorities, details on smuggling operation, quotes) By Mark Hosenball May 16 (Reuters) - Fifteen men of Palestinian origin have been arrested on charges of running a multi-million-dollar cigarette smuggling ring in New York, and New York authorities who announced the arrests on Thursday said several of the ... ...
Published: 16 May 2013 - 22:54 UTC

When Managing Talent Dont Let Michael Jordans Failure Become Your Failure

Chicago Bulls. Michael Jordan 1997 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Several years ago I had the pleasure of working with a certified R&D rock star. I'll call him Tom. Tom had led teams that had created an endless string of top-selling products. The company saw so much promise in their golden boy that they put him through a top executive MBA program, eventually promoting him to president of ... ...
Published: 16 May 2013 - 22:36 UTC

Phil Jackson Compares Jordan Bryant

(CBS) For the first time, former Bulls and Lakers coach Phil Jackson is making the comparison the sporting world has waited for. Jackson, who coached both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant in the prime of their careers to a combined 11 NBA Finals championships, had often kept quiet when asked to compare the two players – until now. In his ... ...
Published: 16 May 2013 - 22:12 UTC

Syrian Strife Spilling Over Infecting Region

The conflict in Syria is taking a steep toll on its neighbors. Videos from Syria being posted to the Internet show a now-familiar theme - a country ripping itself apart - neither side willing to give in. Syria's neighbors are reeling from the fallout and spillover... a point driven home by two car bombs in southern Turkey, leaving more than 40 dead. Middle East analyst Steven ... ...
Published: 16 May 2013 - 21:36 UTC

Bahrain jails demonstrator for insulting flag

MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — A defense lawyer in Bahrain says a demonstrator has been sentenced to three months in prison for hanging a Bahrain flag from his truck during 2011 rallies.Thursday's ruling is among the first based on tougher penalties imposed last month for insulting the Gulf state's king or national symbols. The measures seek to quell more than two years of protests led by ... ...
Published: 16 May 2013 - 21:36 UTC

Russia seeks to resume negotiations in the Arab-Israeli conflict - Lavrov

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Published: 16 May 2013 - 21:27 UTC

Bahrain University Students Council Elections Held

Manama-May-16(BNA) University of Bahrain (UoB) President Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Janahi today hailed the spirit of fair play and honest competition in the elections of the students' council members. He described the elections as part of the fledgling democratic experience in the Kingdom of Bahrain, pledging full support for the newly-elected students' council. He also hailed the ... ...
Published: 16 May 2013 - 21:20 UTC

UAE Egypt discuss cooperation in civil aviation

Cairo, 16 May 2013 (WAM) - Director General of General Civil Aviation Authority Saif Mohamed Al Suwaidi met here today with Chairman of Egypt's Civil Aviation Authority Mohamed Ibrahim Sharif and discussed with him ways to enhance cooperation between the two authorities. The meeting also discussed coordination ahead of the general assembly elections of the International Civil Aviation ... ...
Published: 16 May 2013 - 20:51 UTC

Arab Journalism Award honours its outgoing fourth Board of Directors

WAM DUBAI, May 16th, 2013 (WAM)--Dubai Press Club (DPC) honoured the fourth Board of Directors of the Arab Journalism Award (AJA) to mark the end of its three-year tenure in accordance with the statute of the AJA. The Board of Directors attended the honorary ceremony of 15 winners of the AJA, held under the patronage and presence of the UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, ... ...
Published: 16 May 2013 - 20:51 UTC

UAE to participate in Bahrain Meetings of Ministers of Youth and Sports and National Olympic Committees

WAM DUBAI, May 16th, 2013 (WAM) -- The UAE is to participate in the meetings of Ministers of Youth and Sports and the Heads of Olympic Committees in the countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf ( GCC ), hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain from 15th - 20th of May. The UAE delegation will leave for Bahrain tomorrow to attend the meetings. The delegation includes Ibrahim ... ...
Published: 16 May 2013 - 20:51 UTC

From The Heart Of Egypts Revolt The Pulse Of Artistic Life

Egyptian folk singer Dina El Wedidi performs at Qasr El Nil Theater during the Downtown Cairo Arts Festival. Wedidi says efforts to revitalize venues like the Qasr El Nil are important because there aren't enough places for musicians of the post-revolution explosion to perform. Egypt's capital, Cairo, is now synonymous with protests and sometimes violence. Late at night, the ... ...
Published: 16 May 2013 - 20:16 UTC

Jackson details Jordan-Kobe differences in book

Phil Jackson details the differences he saw between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant in his new book, ';Eleven Rings'; due out next week. '; (Jamie Squire/Getty Images) Phil Jackson penned a new book, ';Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success,'; to be released next week, ... ...
Published: 16 May 2013 - 20:01 UTC

Jackson compares Jordan Bryant in new book

Phil Jackson details the differences he saw between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant in his new book, ';Eleven Rings'; due out next week. '; (Jamie Squire/Getty Images) Phil Jackson penned a new book, ';Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success,'; to be released next week, ... ...
Published: 16 May 2013 - 20:01 UTC

Rev. Refaat Fikri Egypt Has No Political Will to Protect Copts

Rev. Refaat Fikri, head of the Media Center for the Evangelical Church in Egypt, said the problems facing Egyptian Christians have been going on since the 1970s and looks to continue as there is a lack of political will by the ruling regime to solve ... ...
Published: 16 May 2013 - 19:49 UTC

Crime Rate Explodes in Post-Revolutionary Egypt

, saying the police inherited "this mess." According to the report, armed robberies rose from 233 in 2010 to 2,807 in 2012. Break-ins in private homes went from 7,368 in 2010 to 11,699 in 2012. There have also been increasing numbers of firearms coming into the country, Osman said. Human rights activists in Egypt said the thousands of criminals released during the revolution factored ... ...
Published: 16 May 2013 - 18:51 UTC

Going to Hell for Using Twitter Saudi Arabia Condemns Social Networks

A top Saudi Arabia official has suggested that using Twitter, which reportedly is growing in popularity in the western Asian country, is leading people to "lose their ... ...
Published: 16 May 2013 - 18:32 UTC

Oman Qatar seek FMS deals

Two U.S. allies in the Middle East are seeking to purchase Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures Systems in deals worth $210 million. The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, in notifications to the U.S. Congress, said the Foreign Military Sales deals would include associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support. If approved by Congress, the United States would sell two ... ...
Published: 16 May 2013 - 18:22 UTC

Seven Security Personnel Kidnapped in Egypt

Cairo, May 16 (Prensa Latina) Seven members of Egyptian security forces were abducted by unidentified gunmen in a bold operation in the Sinai Peninsula on Thursday, confirmed an official source. According to reports, the action was carried out at a checkpoint near the Green Valley, on the highway linking Rafah and El Arish cities, and the kidnapped are an Armed Forces member, four port security ... ...
Published: 16 May 2013 - 17:41 UTC