Mideastern airlines lead global recovery
CAIRO: Airlines based in the Middle East increased capacity by 13 percent in the first six months of this year according to a new report by the International Air Transport…
Ashton says unable to attend Mideast peace talks
BRUSSELS: European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Saturday she could not attend next month's Middle East peace talks because of a China trip, and she had no place…
Level of US role in peace talks key to success, say experts
WASHINGTON: The Obama administration will relaunch direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks next week, ready to intervene as needed in what analysts hope will mean unprecedented US engagement and pressure. The new…
Kenya should ‘clarify its position’ on world court, says Annan
NAIROBI: Former UN chief Kofi Annan said Sunday Kenya should clarify its position on the International Criminal Court after it last week hosted Sudan's Omar al-Bashir, wanted for genocide. "Like…
Israeli theatre folk say ‘no’ to settlement performances
JERUSALEM: Leading lights of the Israeli theatre world have vowed to boycott Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, drawing threats from right-wingers who say the rebels risk losing public…
As US military bases close, Iraqis left behind
AL-FARIS: Just about every man from the village of al-Faris has worked at the nearby Taji military base. The American money and influence is seen in the new cars, the…
Egypt drops probe on TMG land deal, shares jump
CAIRO: Egypt's General Prosecutor dropped an investigation filed by 45 parliament members over a state land sale between a former housing minister and Talaat Moustafa Group (TMG), the ex-minister's lawyer…
Joy and tears greet US Army troops back from Iraq
WASHINGTON: Mothers cried and children squealed with delight as a company of US troops arrived back from Iraq on Saturday, after a year-long tour marked by desert heat and monotony.…
Netanyahu spells out essentials for peace deal
JERUSALEM: Just ahead of renewed talks with the Palestinians, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday restated what he said were essential components of a peace agreement, chief among them…
Al-Qaeda says responsible for killing 8 Yemen troops
ADEN: Al Qaeda's regional wing claimed responsibility for an attack on a checkpoint in southern Yemen on Saturday in which eight soldiers were killed, a security official said. State media…