Afghanistan bans security firms, including ex-Blackwater
KABUL: Afghanistan has formally banned eight foreign private security firms, including the controversial company formerly called Blackwater, a spokesman for President Hamid Karzai said Sunday. The Afghan government announced in…
Libya releases South Korean pastor as diplomatic row ebbs
SEOUL: Libya has released a South Korean Christian pastor arrested for allegedly violating religious laws as Tripoli promised to end a months-long diplomatic row with Seoul, the foreign ministry said…
Ahmadinejad says US has ‘dragged the world in mud’
TEHRAN: Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad launched a vitriolic tirade against the United States and Israel on Sunday as he cast fresh doubt on the September 11 attacks, state media reported.…
PLO backs quitting peace talks over Israeli settlements
RAMALLAH: The Palestinian leadership ruled out further peace talks with Israel as long as it continued settlement construction in the occupied territories. The decision by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)…
Egypt rebuffs US concerns over human rights
CAIRO: Egypt on Saturday rejected US concerns over the recent cancellation of a human rights conference, a move that activists have called an example of Cairo's hostile attitude toward rights…
US novelist Franzen hit by UK recall
Tens of thousands of copies of the new novel by bestselling US author Jonathan Franzen, "Freedom," have been recalled after an early draft of the book was printed by mistake,…
On the path to greatness: A one-on-one interview with Croatian film star Zrinka Cvitesic
One of the few highlights of the Berlin Film Festival’s disappointing 2010 line-up was Jasmila Zbanic’s sophomore film, “On the Path”: A brilliantly audacious tale of the disintegrating relationship between…
Hamas and dialogue
LONDON: It is not the first time that Hamas has announced its desire to begin dialogue with the United States. The only thing that is new this time is its…
Bring religion back to the front lines of peace
JERUSALEM: Is religion the problem in the Middle East conflict? Or can religion be the solution? Many people have opted for the former, observing that so often the negative side…
A New Asian Security Constellation
NEW DELHI: Leading members of the governments of India and South Korea recently met to begin a new “strategic partnership.” They are not alone in doing so, for across Asia,…