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West Asia
Israel approves building 1200 homes in settlements as negotiation package
Israel approved building nearly 1,200 more settlement homes Sunday and prepared the release of more than two dozen long-held Palestinian prisoners – highlighting an apparent settlements-for-prisoners trade-off that got both sides back to peace talks after a five-year freeze. Yet concerns were mounting, especially among Palestinians, that the price is…
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West Asia
The Feminine ‘N’, the River of Art
My new book entitled “The Feminine (N), the River of Art” was published in Cairo a few days ago. In Arabic language the letter (N), or (Noon) as it is pronounced, and (ن ) as its written is considered to be a symbol of women, in the Arabic culture. In…
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South Asia
Flood water causes mass mortality of fish at Karachi Harbour
The torrential rain on August 03 last has caused not only misery for the citizens of Karachi, the biggest city of Pakistan and capital of Southern Sindh province, but also affected marine life, as the rain water flowing through Industrial Estate laden with toxic chemicals when entered Karachi Harbour resulted…
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West Asia
Yemeni gov’t uncovers al-Qaida plots to fire missiles at foreign embassies
Military and intelligence officials in Yemen said Wednesday they uncovered an al-Qaida plot to fire missiles at foreign embassies in the capital and to attack naval forces guarding international shipping in the Red Sea. Details of the plot, which was reminiscent of the suicide attack on the USS Cole in…
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West Asia
Egyptian gov’t demands ousted President supporters to end to pro-Morsi sit-ins
Egypt’s government on Wednesday demanded an end to sit-ins staged by supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi after foreign mediation failed. The government did not change its decision to end the sit-ins at the Rabia al-Adawiya Square in Cairo and Nahda Square in Giza, where Morsi’s supporters have been protesting…
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South Asia
Indian army says 5 Indian soldiers killed from Pakistani troops’ fire in Kashmir
India’s army says five of its soldiers were killed and another wounded when Pakistani troops fired at a patrol near the cease-fire line in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir on Tuesday. The incident could threaten recent overtures aimed at resuming peace talks between the nuclear-armed rivals. The military called…
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West Asia
Car bomb attacks targeting markets in and near Baghdad kills over 30
A wave of bombings, mainly targeting markets in and near Baghdad, killed 36 people on Tuesday, officials said, the latest in a surge of violence that has gripped Iraq. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, meanwhile, vowed to defeat “terrorists” behind the relentless attacks and chase them out of the battered country.…
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West Asia
Iran ready for serious and swift talks over nuclear program, President Rouhani says
Iran is ready for “serious” and swift talks with world powers over its controversial nuclear program, the country’s new president said Tuesday, echoing his own earlier calls for a better dialogue with the West. The remarks by Hasan Rouhani came at his first news conference as Iran’s president. The moderate…
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West Asia
Turkish former military chief and 18 politicians, journalists get life sentence
In a landmark trial, scores of people – including Turkey’s former military chief, politicians and journalists – were convicted on Monday of plotting to overthrow Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government soon after it came to power in 2002. Retired Gen. Ilker Basbug was the most prominent defendant among some…
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West Asia
Iranian President appoints reformist politician Jahangiri as first Vice President
Iran’s new President Hassan Rouhani appointed reformist politician Eshaq Jahangiri as his first vice president, Press TV reported Monday. Jahangiri, 56, was Iran’s former minister of industries and mines in the administration of ex-reformist President Mohammad Khatami from 1997 to 2005. Rouhani referred to Jahangiri’s “competence and his successful track…
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