Iran’s Ahmadinejad under fire from parliament speaker
TEHRAN: Hardline Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has come under fire from parliament speaker Ali Larijani, a fellow conservative who stood against him when he was first elected in 2005. Larijani…
Lebanon-Israel tensions grow over gas find dispute
BEIRUT: Israeli plans to drill for gas in the Mediterranean sea have alarmed Lebanon, which says it also has major gas reserves but may lose out because it lags behind…
Darfur rebel group woos refugees ahead of peace deal
KHARTOUM: Darfur's newly formed rebel Liberty and Justice Movement is set to seal a peace deal with Khartoum, even though it enjoys little backing on the ground in the war-torn…
Lebanon army vows to protect UN peacekeepers
BEIRUT: Lebanese army chief General Jean Kahwaji pledged on Friday that his troops would provide protection to UN peacekeepers, a week after a French patrol came under attack by villagers.…
Lloyd’s says won’t cover Iran petroleum shipments
LONDON: Lloyd's of London will not insure or reinsure petroleum shipments going into Iran, the insurance market said on Friday. US President Barack Obama signed into law last week far-reaching…
Four years on, Israel troops learn from Lebanon war
ELYAKIM TRAINING BASE: Four years after its devastating war in south Lebanon, Israel says it hopes peace will hold but keeps its troops at the ready, claiming Hezbollah is stockpiling…
Iran appears to back down on woman’s stoning amid outcry
LONDON: Iran appeared Friday to have backed down over the stoning of a woman for adultery amid an international outcry, although her lawyer said she remained in jail and could…
South Sudanese rally for independence, 6 months before vote
JUBA: Hundreds of supporters of south Sudan independence rallied in Juba on Friday, six months ahead of a crucial referendum that could lead to the partition of Africa's largest country.…
Gaza aid ship prepares to set sail from Greece
LAVRIO, Greece: A ship commissioned by a Libyan charity organization made preparations Friday to set sail to Gaza loaded with aid. It comes over a month after Israel raided Gaza-bound…
Oil set for 5 pct weekly gain on US demand
SINGAPORE: Oil rose 0.6 percent on Friday, heading for its biggest weekly gain since May, after data showed robust US demand growth and falling inventories, while positive economic indicators lifted…
