US combat mission in Iraq to end on schedule Aug 31
WASHINGTON: The United States will end its combat mission in Iraq as scheduled on August 31 despite the recent flare-up in violence, President Barack Obama said in a speech prepared…
Saudi insurer ‘to pay pirates 20-million-dollar ransom’
RIYADH: A Saudi insurance company is to pay Somali pirates a 20-million-dollar ransom to free a hijacked ship and its 14-member crew held hostage for five months, a newspaper reported…
Syria says UN Lebanon tribunal has ‘political goals’
DAMASCUS: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said in reports on Monday that the UN tribunal probing the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri has "political goals." "The…
Four candidates, one voice in Rwandan campaign
NAIROBI: In most election campaigns, candidates try their best to explain what they would do better than the incumbent. But in Rwanda, voters would be hard pressed to tell one…
Ahmadinejad says ready for ‘face-to-face’ talks with Obama
TEHRAN: Hardline Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday he was ready for "face-to-face" talks with his US counterpart Barack Obama on issues concerning the international community. "We are hopefully…
Kenya to vote on new constitution
NAIROBI: Kenyans will vote Wednesday on a proposed constitution that would rein in the president's powers and address some of the injustices that fuelled deadly violence the last time voters…
Suicide car bomb kills 5 kids in south Afghanistan
KANDAHAR: A suicide car bomber blew himself up next to a police truck bringing a southern Afghan official to work early Monday, killing five children nearby, officials said. The blast…
Somali pirates hijack cargo ship with 23 crew including Egyptians
NAIROBI, Kenya: Somali pirates hijacked a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship with 23 crew onboard during an early morning raid Monday, the European Union Naval Force said. The crew onboard the 17,300-ton…
Peres, Mubarak discuss direct Israeli-Palestinian talks
CAIRO: Israeli President Shimon Peres and his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak discussed on Sunday efforts to relaunch direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians, the Egyptian presidency said. The two…
Sex sells at China computer game show
At the door to a major computer game expo in Shanghai, visitors are greeted by columns of Chinese girls in white boots and miniskirts, the name of a computer parts…