Iraqi official calls ship robberies petty crime
BAGHDAD: An Iraqi intelligence officer said Monday that the robberies of four ships anchored off the country's southern coast was petty crime and did not pose a larger threat to…
Defeat completes woes for African giants Ahly
CAIRO: A miserable weekend for African club football giants Al-Ahly of Egypt ended with a 1-0 Champions League loss at Algerian outfit JS Kabylie. The driver lost control of the…
Bahrain arrests 4 Shiite activists amid clashes
CAIRO: A Bahraini security official says four leading Shiite activists have been arrested as the kingdom's Sunni leaders try to end violent confrontations between Shiite protesters and anti-riot police. The…
Cash for Palestinians needed to support peace, Norway
RAMALLAH: The Palestinian Authority's budget is in the red and donors should make good on pledges to fill the gap, said Norway's foreign minister, who chairs a donor group that…
Gates, Petraeus differ on flexibility of Afghan exit
WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Robert Gates insisted Monday the July 2011 date to start withdrawing American troops from Afghanistan was set in stone, putting him at odds with his top…
American soldier killed in Iraq attack
BAGHDAD: An American soldier was killed in an attack in central Iraq, the US army said in a statement on Monday. "One United States Forces - Iraq - soldier was…
Iran says will begin work on new uranium plant in early 2011
TEHRAN: Iran is to start building its third uranium enrichment plant in early 2011, a top official said, defying world powers which have slapped new sanctions on Tehran for pursuing…
Israel rejects ‘preconditions’ for direct peace talks
JERUSALEM: Israeli officials on Monday rejected any "preconditions" ahead of an expected international invitation to direct peace talks with the Palestinians that would call for a complete settlement freeze. Their…
Twofour54 aims to cultivate Arabic creative content for the Middle East
CAIRO: Abu Dhabi has embarked on an ambitious plan to seize the title as the Middle East’s regional economic and cultural hub by moving away from a resource dependent economy,…
Egypt’s Raya H1 profit rises to $3.6 mln
CAIRO: Egypt's Raya Holding, a technology firm, made a net profit of LE 20.4 million ($3.6 million) in the first half of 2010, the stock exchange said in a statement…
