Food Aid Bypasses Somalia?s Needy, U.N. Study Finds

As much as half the food aid sent to Somalia is diverted to a web of corrupt contractors, a report found.

Upset by U.S. Security, Pakistanis Return as Heroes

A U.S. tour arranged by the State Department ended in a public relations fiasco when the group of Pakistani legislators refused to submit to extra airport screening.

Jerusalem Journal: Palestinian Family?s Eviction Stirs Old Ghosts in a Contested City

The removal of a Palestinian family has touched two nerves: the fate of East Jerusalem and the grievances of refugees from the 1948 war.

After Delay, Partial Iraq Vote Results Expected Thursday

The incomplete results will offer an incomplete picture of the vote but will nevertheless provide the broad outlines of the country?s political landscape.

Gates in Saudi Arabia to Discuss Iran

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will discuss military cooperation and Iran?s nuclear program, officials said.

With Biden in West Bank, Settlements Cloud Talks

Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. arrived in Ramallah to meet with Palestinian leaders a day after Israel said it would build 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem.

Delays on Arms Control Pact Bog Down U.S. Efforts to Reset Relations With Russia

After months of delay and discord, negotiators are making a fresh effort to wrap up a long-delayed arms control treaty.

Uproar in India Over Female Lawmaker Quota

A plan to reserve a third of the seats in India?s legislatures for women plunged Parliament into chaos and threatened the governing coalition.

Suspect?s Death Leads to Questions on Indonesia?s Border Security

A fugitive Islamic militant killed by Indonesian security forces traveled to Indonesia from the Philippines within the last few months, police officals said.

Myanmar Bars Democracy Advocate From Election

The ruling military junta announced a new election law that would likely prevent Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from participating in coming elections.

Iraqi Officials to Begin Releasing Vote Tallies on Wednesday

The partial results of parliamentary elections will provide an incomplete picture of the vote that will nevertheless provide the broad outlines of the country?s political landscape.

Ravaged Nigerian Village Is Haunted by Massacre

After ethnic violence flared in January in Jos, the military patrolled the city, but neglected nearby villages where reprisals took place over the weekend.

As Abuse Scandals Widen in Europe, Vatican Defends Response

The Vatican said Tuesday that local churches had ?acted swiftly and decisively? to address the growing child sex abuse scandal in Europe.

Police Kill Bali Nightclub Bombing Suspect

Counterterrorism forces shot and killed Dulmatin, one of Southeast Asia?s most-wanted Islamic militants, Indonesia?s president said Wednesday.

Japan Says It Allowed U.S. Nuclear Ships to Port

The agreements were made public in the United States years ago, but until recently the Japanese government had denied their existence.

Gates Tours Market in Former Taliban Town

Robert M. Gates?s visit to the village of Now Zad ? and his first walk through a market during wartime in Iraq or Afghanistan ? would have been unimaginable even three months ago.

Israel Intends to Build Civilian Nuclear Plants

Israel, widely believed to have nuclear weapons and possessing no oil, said on Tuesday that it intended to develop civilian nuclear plants for energy.

China and India to Join Copenhagen Climate Change Accord

The countries are the last two major economic powers to agree with the aims of the nonbinding agreement.

Editor Is Fired After Criticizing Chinese Registration System

Zhang Hong?s dismissal is a fresh warning that journalists who challenge government policy too directly can face retribution.

U.N. Honors the 101 Who Served and Died in Haiti

At United Nations headquarters in New York, co-workers, friends and family members shared their grief and memories.

Reporter Breaches Amsterdam Airport?s Security

A Dutch investigative journalist breached security checks at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, smuggling a refilled liquor bottle aboard passenger jets.

Britain Debates Costs of Free Home Care for Elderly

Prime Minister Gordon Brown?s plan to provide free care for the growing elderly population faces opposition at a time of record deficits.

Pennsylvania Woman Tied to Plot on Cartoonist

Prosecutors accused Colleen R. LaRose, who called herself ?JihadJane,? of involvement in a plot with militants.

European Leaders Call for Crackdown on Derivatives

The multiple, and at times seemingly conflicted roles, of investment banks like Goldman Sachs have also drawn scrutiny.

Maldives Ban Fishing of Sharks

The Maldives will make its territorial waters into a shark sanctuary, a government official said Tuesday.

Lag time in tracing tainted food puts kids at risk

Federal officials meet in Washington today to discuss ways to trace more quickly the path of contaminated food. Food often is ...

U.N. report: Much of Somalia's food aid diverted

Up to half the food aid intended for the millions of hungry people in Somalia is being diverted to corrupt contractors, radical ...

After Christmas incident, no-fly list nearly doubled

An intelligence official says the government has nearly doubled the number of people on the no-fly list since the attempted Christmas ...

Israel apologizes for embarrasing Biden

Israel apologized Wednesday for disrupting the visit of Vice President Biden with its announcement of 1,600 new homes in disputed ...

Gates: Some troops could leave Afghanistan early

Defense Secretary Robert Gates raised the possibility Wednesday that some of the U.S. forces involved in the Afghanistan surge ...

Iran leader: U.S. playing 'double game' in Afghanistan

Taking aim at the U.S., Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that it's the United States that is playing a "double ...

El Nino could whip up more active tornado season

Weather forecasters say the wetter-than-usual El Nio winter that has blasted much of the United States could be followed by an ...

China wages war on pervasive corruption

Public corruption is not exclusive to China, but it is considered a more serious problem here because it could threaten Communist ...

Allegations mount against N.Y.'s Massa

Hours after resigning amid allegations of sexually harassing staffers, former House member Eric Massa went on national TV Tuesday ...

6 killed in attack on aid group in Pakistan

Gunmen attacked the offices of an international aid group in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday, killing six eople working for the ...

Female WWII pilots to receive medals

Congress is awarding the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor, to members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots

Rove: 'Tea Party' may be risk to GOP

Karl Rove, the architect of George W. Bush's presidency, says the "Tea Party" movement could have lasting influence in the nation's ...

Q&A: Rove gives candid take on two presidents

Karl Rove helped engineer former president George W. Bush's 2000 and 2004 elections and was White House deputy chief of staff ...

Roberts: Presidential address is 'pep rally'

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts told an Alabama audience Tuesday that he found the atmosphere "very troubling" at January's ...

Internal report issues black eye for U.S. Embassy in Kabul

The State Department is failing to properly oversee nearly $2 billion in contracts to battle the drug trade, build infrastructure ...

Two held over helicopter 'laser attack'

Deputy head 'had sex with pupil in library'

Roy Chubby Brown 'punched woman in car park dispute'

One in seven secondary schools branded inadequate

Kidnap ordeal father returns to England

'Jihad Jane' held in plot to kill Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks

Plans to make banks reveal salaries over £500,000

Conservation group supports call for bluefin tuna trade ban

Campbell clinging to England dream

Radiation murder libel payout for Boris Berezovsky

Manchester United v AC Milan: Champions League preview

Chester City wound up in High Court

Fossilised egg gives clue to fate of ancient birds

On latest guitar game, players strum real strings

Gordon Brown stands firm in defence spending row

Andrew Grice: First skirmish in election battle

Kennel Club accused of failing to act on breeding concerns

Little hope of breakthrough at BA strike talks

Arsenal v Porto player ratings

Coronation Street star Beverley Callard reveals struggle with depression

Econoblog: The Budget could be damaging for Tories

A new Sharan ? at last

Kia unveils smoother Sportage at Geneva

Police dig up patio in body hunt

Former ITV boss Charles Allen takes helm at EMI

Brown freezes doctors' pay at economic 'crossroads'

Berezovsky wins Litvinenko libel case

US praises Cameron over Ulster

One in seven schools 'inadequate'

Let us jog your memory, Eliza ...

The last McQueen collection revealed

UK urges Karzai to start peace talks

'Jihad Jane' faces terror charges

Match of the Day 2, Gordon Brown 0

Northern Rock customers in arrears

Tech chiefs' letter attacks internet bill

ISPs, Google, Facebook, eBay and Yahoo sign letter saying clause threatens free speech and could lead to blocking of sites

Amendments made to the digital economy bill by the House of Lords threaten freedom of speech and will lead to British websites being blocked without due judicial process, the chief executives of leading technology companies said today.

The heads of the four largest UK internet service providers – BT, Orange, Virgin Media and TalkTalk – as well as Google, Facebook, eBay and Yahoo have all co-signed the letter, along with consumer groups, academics and the technophile television host Stephen Fry, objecting to amendment 120A to the bill, which was added to the bill last week with support from Liberal Democrat and Conservative peers.

Ministers had been seeking powers to amend copyright law and impose conditions or fees where infringements were taking place.

But the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats succeeded in removing the measures from the bill last week, replacing them with a more specific amendment handing courts the power to force internet service providers (ISPs) to block certain websites.

In a letter to the Financial Times , the online giants argue that the rules, if they become law, would fail to tackle copyright infringement as intended. The amendment has "obvious shortcomings", the 16 signatories say.

The letter says: "Endorsing a policy that would encourage the blocking of websites by UK broadband providers or other internet companies is a very serious step for the UK to take.

"There are myriad legal, technical and practical issues to reconcile before this can be considered a proportionate and necessary public policy option."

The amendment had been roundly criticised last week when it was added, as critics pointed out that it could be used to block sites such as YouTube.

But Lord Tim Clement-Jones, one of the backers of the amendment, said last week that the intention was to deal with "cyberlockers" – a system that allows individuals to swap large files directly, rather than sending them by email or storing them on websites.

The House of Lords passed the amendment last week, replacing a clause that would have given broad powers to ministers to change the Copyright Act to respond to new forms of online infringement without the need for primary legislation.

But the letter's signatories called the amendment "bitterly disappointing", and explained: "Put simply, blocking access as envisaged by this clause would both widely disrupt the internet in the UK and elsewhere and threaten freedom of speech and the open internet, without reducing copyright infringement as intended. To rush through such a controversial proposal at the tail end of a parliament, without any kind of consultation with consumers or industry, is very poor law-making."

Responding to the letter, the chief executive of UK music industry body the BPI, Geoff Taylor, said that the amendment provided a "clear and sensible" way of dealing with illegal downloading.

Taylor added that the signatories to the FT's letter have acknowledged that illegal downloading has to be dealt with.

"The amendment adopted by the House of Lords provides a clear and sensible mechanism to deal with illegal websites," he said.

"Contrary to the claims in the letter, service providers would in every case be able to ensure that the decision as to whether a site should be blocked is made by the high court. The court would be required to consider the extent of legal content on a website, any impact on human rights, and whether the website removes infringing content when requested. So the suggestion that the clause would lead to widespread disruption to the internet or threaten freedom of speech is pure scaremongering.

"The signatories to the letter recognise that dealing with illegal websites is a legitimate concern, and have argued in the past that action against illegal downloading should focus on commercial operators. Removing unfair competition from clearly illegal websites will encourage investment in legal online services and improve the legal internet experience for everyone."

The digital economy bill is expected to be pushed through before parliament is dissolved for the general election, widely expected to happen on 6 May. If it reaches a second reading by early April, when an election would be called, it could go into the "wash up" – the process at the end of a parliament when bills that have not been passed are hurried through. The government would need cooperation from the opposition to achieve that with the bill – but it is not clear whether the Tories, who have objected to elements of the bill, as the "landline tax" of £6 a year to help pay for next-generation broadband, would support it.

Lord Clement-Jones had said the provisions, approved by 165 votes to 140, would protect the creative industries by preventing access to websites where films and music were being provided illegally.

He told peers: "I believe this is going to send a powerful message to our creative industries that we value what they do, that we want to protect what they do, that we do not believe in censoring the internet but we are responding to genuine concerns from the creative industries about providing a process whereby their material can be satisfactorily accessed legally."

Lord Clement-Jones said the "blanket nature" of the government's original intention was "objectionable". He argued the new proposals were "more proportionate, specific and appropriate".

The bill extends the role of media regulator Ofcom to include communications infrastructure and media content, and to appoint providers of local news in ITV regions.

It also includes powers to stop under-age children getting hold of violent computer games and contains measures to help the switchover to digital radio.

UK 'least socially mobile' in developed world

Rachel Corrie civil action begins in Israel

Venables posed trivial risk, psychiatrist said

Violence in Pretoria threatens World Cup

News quiz: Wacky Wednesday

Driver discusses runaway Toyota Prius

Guardian Daily: A 999 calling

Tornado hits western Oklahoma

Samis can teach climate survival

Not smoking? There's an app for that

Facebook and iPhone applications can help you stub out your smoking habit

Are you one of the more than 2 million smokers ready to quit on No Smoking Day? Then today is your day! Don't worry, you won't be alone as there is an app for it – well, several. And this is how you can call it a day:

First of all, you install the WeQuit Facebook app to let everybody know what your are up to. It's best to grab one of your chain-smoking friends for a competition. The Facebook version of WeQuit helps you to reward your friend if they achieve success and punish them in case of failure, perhaps by throwing a sheep at them. You can also use WeQuit to bet your Facebook friends to see who can give up for longest, or sponsor someone to quit to raise money for charity.

Secondly, you can use your iPhone to download a free NHS Quit Smoking app. Here a real-time counter keeps track of the money saved – a significant amount considering the cost of cigarettes. It also displays the minutes, hours and days you've been smoke-free.

If you are in danger of a relapse, a button on the app can connect you to an adviser on an NHS helpline. If not, you might find some solace in downloading the No Smoking PhotoBook for £1.19 to show you beautiful "no smoking" signs from all over the world.

Good luck!

Ferguson: Beckham unlikely to start

Bent ends Sunderland's barren spell

Charles Allen to run EMI music arm

Industrial production falls amid snow

German exports fall as recovery slows

Exports in Europe's biggest economy dropped by 6.3 percent in January, raising fresh worries about the state of the German economy. Meanwhile, China's exports surged 46 percent in February.

Berlin takes aim at drug makers in health-care reform bid

German Health Minister Philipp Roesler wants to change the way drugs are priced on the lucrative German market as part of his health-care reform plans. However, tjhe proposals are already proving controversial.

Cologne literature festival delves into politics and power

Now in its 10th year, lit.COLOGNE has become more politicised than it ever intended. Program director Regina Schilling talks about trouble with China and visits from Nobel Prize winner Herta Mueller and artist Ai Weiwei.

Irish police arrest seven over cartoonist plot

Authorities in Ireland arrested seven Muslims who they say planned to kill a Swedish cartoonist after he drew a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad with a dog's body.

Putin's India visit part of Russia's balancing act with Asia's rising powers

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits New Delhi this week hoping to seal military cooperation deals worth around $4 billion (2.9bn euros). But experts says there will be more than just contracts up for grabs.

Sun begins new solar cycle, flinging radiation at the Earth

As a new solar cycle of activity begins this year, the Earth will once again be bombarded with increased radiation from the sun. This effect may damage satellites and interfere with GPS, television and communications.

Tourism in Germany fares well despite crisis

As the world's biggest travel trade fair, the ITB, opened its doors in Berlin, Germany was upbeat. The country's tourism industry managed to sail through the financial crisis in 2009 relatively unscathed.

Opinion: 100 days of EU solitude

Catherine Ashton's role of foreign-affairs chief was designed to give the EU a united voice with regards to foreign policy, but after 100 days in office, she has barely made herself heard.

Support-gathering meeting with Obama a success, Greece says

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said the US encouraged Athens' efforts to boost financial regulations, after his meeting with Barack Obama in Washington. The US response to the meeting was measured, however.

Bayern Munich advances in Champions League despite loss in Florence

A 3-2 victory at home wasn't enough to bring Fiorentina forward in the Champions League, where Bayern Munich have reached the quarter-finals on the away-goal rule.

Merkel backs European Monetary Fund

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is backing plans for a European Monetary Fund, as Germany and France outline plans to regulate financial market speculation.

Germany has love-hate relationship to daring Pop Art guru Mel Ramos

Some say Mel Ramos revolutionized art in the 1960s by melding it with advertising. A Tuebingen museum has devoted the first retrospective ever to the Californian who says he paints pictures of women, not women.

Court decision backs cheated investors

Following a ruling Tuesday, brokerage firms in Germany and abroad can now be on the hook for not looking out for the best interests of their investors.

German corporate bankruptcies have risen sharply

German corporate bankruptcies jumped considerably last year, rising by more than 11 percent and marking the first annual increase since 2003. The volume of debt more than doubled.

Myanmar unveils new election laws

The military junta of Myanmar, which is also known as Burma, unveiled the first details of new election laws on Tuesday.

India’s Women’s Reservation Bill clears first hurdle

Amidst uproar on Tuesday, India’s upper house in parliament, or Rajya Sabha, passed a bill that is to reserve a third of all seats in parliament for women.

Germany debates extending the statute of limitations for sexual abuse

As more and more allegations of sexual abuse in Catholic institutions come to light, German politicians debate whether to extend the statute of limitations for civil and criminal prosecution.

Silence reigns in Ireland's new suburbs

Since its building boom ended, Ireland has become a land of unoccupied and half-finished houses. Now, housing market analysts in the country are asking themselves the proverbial question: What went wrong?

Latvia eases immigration restrictions in bid for cash infusion

Latvia is desperate to attract new investors that could help the recovery of the country’s weak economy. But its recent easing of visa restrictions for non-EU citizens has sparked a nationalist outcry.

Sports psychologists make slow inroads into German soccer

Professional athletes are under enormous pressure, and for some players the burden can be too much. In soccer, more than other sports, the taboo on seeking help is a hard one to break. Could change be underway?

Police find stolen corpse of ex-president near Nicosia

DNA tests confirm the body of Cyprus ex-President Tassos Papadopoulos has been found, three months after it was robbed from its grave.

Deutsche Post's profit exceeds own predictions

Deutsche Post announced high profits in 2009, despite the global economic crisis. The reason? Strict cost management, said CEO Frank Appel.

Soprano Brueggergosman's 'long, languid' album is an ode to night

Soprano Measha Brueggergosman just released her second album on Deutsche Grammophon. It pays tribute to night time, with European works in five languages.

EU warns against protectionism in billion dollar Air Force contract

The EU has warned against US protectionism, after European aerospace giant EADS said it was dropping out of a multi-billion dollar contract bid process. American rival Boeing is now the only bidder.

German aid agencies face government shake-up

The German government has defended plans to merge the three main state-funded aid agencies, GTZ, DED and Inwent, into a more efficient organization. Development Minister Dirk Niebel says no job cuts are involved.

The World from Berlin: 'Europeans Shouldn't Be Pointing Their Fingers at Washington'

EADS and its American partner Northrop Grumman have abandoned their joint bid for a $35 billion contract to build tanker jets for the US military, citing unfair competition as their reason for withdrawing. German commentators on Wednesday sense more than a whiff of hypocrisy from European governments.

World Trade: German Exports Fall, Chinese Exports Explode

German exports surprisingly fell by 6.3 percent in January while Germany's biggest rival in world trade, China, enjoyed a 45.7 percent surge in February. It's worrying news for Germany which is relying on its export strength to drive its recovery. Analysts expect exports to grow this year, aided by a weak euro.

Better Late than Never: Germany Looks to Play Catch-Up in South America

While the rest of the world has been pursuing business opportunities in South America, Berlin has been sitting on its hands. Now, with Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle looking for a signature issue, that may change.

Nuclear Disarmament: The Missile Shield Deadlock between the US and Russia

The US and Russia are currently negotiating a successor to the START nuclear disarmament treaty. But continued American plans for a missile shield in Europe have proven to be a major stumbling block. President Obama's vision of a nuclear-free world is in danger.

An Economic Fire Department for Brussels: The Trouble with Calls for a European Economic Fund

A handful of European leaders want to move swiftly to create their own European take on the International Monetary Fund. The idea is to be able to independently address financial crises like that being experienced in Greece without the embarassment of turning to the IMF. But the move would be highly risky for everyone involved and could even paralyze the European Union.

Picture This: Cleaning Time

Tribulations at Toyota: The Search for the Gas Pedal Flaw

Toyota has recalled millions of vehicles due to reports of sticking gas pedals and unintended acceleration. But finding out exactly what causes the problem has proven difficult. An explanation for why most of the accidents have occurred in the US has likewise proven elusive.

Built on a Lie: The Fundamental Flaw of Europe's Common Currency

The euro is under attack like never before, as the promises on which it was based turn out to be lies. Hedge funds are speculating against Greek debt, while euro-zone politicians work behind the scenes to cobble together rescue packages. But fundamental flaws in the monetary union need to be fixed if Europe's common currency is to survive. By SPIEGEL staff.

Interview with Iraq Expert Brian Katulis: Americans Need 'to Just Simply Let Go'

High turnout in the recent Iraqi election is fueling hope that stability in the war-torn country may not be far off. But the challenges Iraq faces are still considerable. In a SPIEGEL ONLINE interview, Iraq expert Brian Katulis warns that the country must act decisively to ensure its own future before the United States finishes its planned withdrawal in 2011.

The World from Berlin: Abuse Investigation Needed 'Without a Moment's Delay'

The child-abuse scandal that broke out in Germany in late January has now spread across the country. As shocked German politicians argue over whether to lift the statute of limitations or impose civil penalties, newspaper commentators are unanimous in their call for swift and concerted action.

Berlin Poker Robbery: A Heist Unfit for Hollywood

Four men armed with pistols and a machete robbed a Berlin poker tourmanent on Saturday and made off with 250,000 euros. It was a spectacular heist, not because it was done well, but because it was so amateurish. The robbers left behind a wealth of clues and police are confident the criminals will be caught.

Saving the Euro: Berlin and Paris Take Aim at Speculators

Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are considering measures to limit the kind of speculation that has targeted the European common currency in recent weeks. If Brussels doesn't take action, France and Germany are prepared to go it alone.

US Tanker Jet: EADS Abandons Airbus 'Deal of the Century'

The stakes were huge -- a $35 billion contract for 179 tanker jets -- but in the end European aerospace giant EADS saw no chance in winning. On Monday, its US partner Northrop Grumman withdrew its joint bid with EADS to build tankers for the Pentagon based on an Airbus aircraft model. EADS officials claim the new bidding process was tailored exclusively for a Boeing win.

Sunken Heritage: Pipeline Engineers Find Historic Shipwrecks in Baltic Sea

Engineers surveying the Baltic Sea for a pipeline project have discovered several historic shipwrecks on the seabed, including an ancient Viking longboat and several ships from the 16th to 18th centuries.

Austrian Wins Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz Basks in Oscar Glory

Success at the Oscars has vaulted Christoph Waltz from a little-known Austrian character actor to the toast of Hollywood. He won the Oscar for best supporting actor for his portrayal of a suave Nazi officer in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds." The only Oscar winner from a German-speaking country this year admits he's shell-shocked by his sudden fame.

Picture This: A Day for Women

25 Minutes with Merkel: Germany's Top NATO General Shunned in Berlin

He's a four-star general and he heads up NATO operations in Afghanistan. But despite his expertise, Germany's top soldier Egon Ramms is virtually ignored by Berlin -- except for a meeting with Chancellor Merkel way back in 2007.

European Union Foreign Policy: Walking the Thin Line with Catherine Ashton

The EU's new top diplomat Catherine Ashton has only been in office for 100 days, but she is already running into stiff criticism. Her detractors claim she doesn't have enough dedication, stature or independence. But the EU's leaders chose her precisely because she lacked those qualities.

The World from Berlin: 'The Icelanders Are Right to Hold Their Ground'

Icelanders were out on the streets Sunday celebrating the results of a referendum that overwhelmingly rejected the reimbursement of Britain and the Netherlands for savings lost when Icesave collapsed. German commentators say that Iceland is right.

Catholic Scandal Spreads: Former Regensburg Choirboys Talk of 'Naked Beatings'

Former choirboys of the Regensburger Domspatzen have told SPIEGEL about sexual and physical abuse at two boarding schools attached to the famous Catholic choir. One former choirboy says it's "inexplicable" that the Pope's brother Georg Ratzinger, a former head of the choir, didn't know about it.

Arabs withdraw support to proximity talks: PLO official

Arab states have withdrawn their support to indirect proximity talks between the Palestinians and Israel after the latter approved plans to expand a Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem, a Palestinian official said Wednesday. "Some Arab countries told the U.S. administration that the Arab League (AL)'s decision regarding the indirect talks is no longer existed," Yasser Abed Rabbo, a member of the executive committee of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), told Voice of Palestine radio. ...

Arabs withdraw support to proximity talks: PLO official

Arab states have withdrawn their support to indirect proximity talks between the Palestinians and Israel after the latter approved plans to expand a Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem, a Palestinian official said Wednesday. "Some Arab countries told the U.S. administration that the Arab League (AL)'s decision regarding the indirect talks is no longer existed," Yasser Abed Rabbo, a member of the executive committee of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), told Voice of Palestine radio. ...

Gunmen hold polling station staff hostage in SW Pakistan

Gunmen held hostage several staff members of a polling station in Jaffarabad, a city in southwest Pakistan's Balochistan, police said. At least ten people were injured during the clashes between two groups in Noor Pur polling station, local officials said. &$&$Source: Xinhua&$&$ ...

Gunmen hold polling station staff hostage in SW Pakistan

Gunmen held hostage several staff members of a polling station in Jaffarabad, a city in southwest Pakistan's Balochistan, police said. At least ten people were injured during the clashes between two groups in Noor Pur polling station, local officials said. &$&$Source: Xinhua&$&$ ...

DNA test confirms Bali bombing mastermind killed

Indonesian police confirmed on Wednesday that the DNA test and physical characters of one of the terrorists killed in a raid on Tuesday on the outskirts of Jakarta was Dulmatin, a key figure behind 2002 Bali bombing that killed 202 people. Dulmatin, 39, was a senior member of the al Qaeda-linked terror network Jemaah Islamiyah. He was an electronic specialist and got training in al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan and his head was valued at 10 million U.S. dollars by the U.S. State Department. " ...

DNA test confirms Bali bombing mastermind killed

Indonesian police confirmed on Wednesday that the DNA test and physical characters of one of the terrorists killed in a raid on Tuesday on the outskirts of Jakarta was Dulmatin, a key figure behind 2002 Bali bombing that killed 202 people. Dulmatin, 39, was a senior member of the al Qaeda-linked terror network Jemaah Islamiyah. He was an electronic specialist and got training in al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan and his head was valued at 10 million U.S. dollars by the U.S. State Department. " ...

Kyrgyz president meets U.S. Central Command chief

Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev met Wednesday with General David Petraeus, head of the U.S. Central Command, to discuss improving cooperation between the two countries. Petraeus said the United States attaches great importance to cooperation with Kyrgyzstan and thinks highly of the development of their bilateral relations, the Kyrgyz presidential press office said. Petraeus appreciated Kyrgyzstan's support for the U.S.-led anti-terrorism operation in Afghanistan, the office said. Ba ...

Kyrgyz president meets U.S. Central Command chief

Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev met Wednesday with General David Petraeus, head of the U.S. Central Command, to discuss improving cooperation between the two countries. Petraeus said the United States attaches great importance to cooperation with Kyrgyzstan and thinks highly of the development of their bilateral relations, the Kyrgyz presidential press office said. Petraeus appreciated Kyrgyzstan's support for the U.S.-led anti-terrorism operation in Afghanistan, the office said. Ba ...

U.S., Palestinian journalists detained in Pakistan

Two American and one Palestinian journalists were detained Wednesday by the security officials in Sargodha city in the eastern Punjab province of Pakistan, local officials said. Local sources said the three foreign journalists reached Sargodha to meet five American suspects who were arrested on Dec. 10, 2009 as they were planning to attack different institutions in Pakistan. Officials are inquiring these journalists and further details will be given to media later, said police source. ...

U.S., Palestinian journalists detained in Pakistan

Two American and one Palestinian journalists were detained Wednesday by the security officials in Sargodha city in the eastern Punjab province of Pakistan, local officials said. Local sources said the three foreign journalists reached Sargodha to meet five American suspects who were arrested on Dec. 10, 2009 as they were planning to attack different institutions in Pakistan. Officials are inquiring these journalists and further details will be given to media later, said police source. ...

22 terrorists arrested, 5 killed in Indonesia's military operation

A military operation to fight against terrorists in Indonesia's Aceh province and Java Island for two weeks captured 22 terrorists alive and killed five others, Antara news agency quoted an official as saying on Wednesday. "We arrested 15 terrorists in Aceh and killed two. In Java Island, seven were arrested and three were killed," said Ansyaad Mbai, head of Anti-Terror Desk at the Coordinating Ministry of Politic, Law and Security Affairs in Banda Aceh, the provincial capital of Aceh. He ...

22 terrorists arrested, 5 killed in Indonesia's military operation

A military operation to fight against terrorists in Indonesia's Aceh province and Java Island for two weeks captured 22 terrorists alive and killed five others, Antara news agency quoted an official as saying on Wednesday. "We arrested 15 terrorists in Aceh and killed two. In Java Island, seven were arrested and three were killed," said Ansyaad Mbai, head of Anti-Terror Desk at the Coordinating Ministry of Politic, Law and Security Affairs in Banda Aceh, the provincial capital of Aceh. He ...

Three arrested for snatching corpse of former Cyprus president

Three men were arrested Tuesday for allegedly snatching the corpse of former Cyprus president Tassos Papadopoulos. The remains, stolen last December, were recovered Monday from a shallow grave in another cemetary after police received a tip-off and DNA tests identified it as that of the former leader. The three suspects were two Greek Cypriots and an Indian. One of the Greek Cypriots is serving a life sentence for the murder of two women. Police sources said the crime was masterminded b ...

Three arrested for snatching corpse of former Cyprus president

Three men were arrested Tuesday for allegedly snatching the corpse of former Cyprus president Tassos Papadopoulos. The remains, stolen last December, were recovered Monday from a shallow grave in another cemetary after police received a tip-off and DNA tests identified it as that of the former leader. The three suspects were two Greek Cypriots and an Indian. One of the Greek Cypriots is serving a life sentence for the murder of two women. Police sources said the crime was masterminded b ...

Presence of foreign troops not solution to Afghan problems: Ahmadinejad

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday that presence of foreign troops is not the solution to Afghanistan problems. "We do not believe that the presence of troops can solve the problems of Afghanistan, rather supporting the Afghan government is the solution to the problems," Ahmadinejad told a joint press conference with his Afghan counterpart President Hamid Karzai. In this regard, he stressed that "the annual expenditure of foreign troops in Afghanistan costs 100 billio ...

Presence of foreign troops not solution to Afghan problems: Ahmadinejad

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday that presence of foreign troops is not the solution to Afghanistan problems. "We do not believe that the presence of troops can solve the problems of Afghanistan, rather supporting the Afghan government is the solution to the problems," Ahmadinejad told a joint press conference with his Afghan counterpart President Hamid Karzai. In this regard, he stressed that "the annual expenditure of foreign troops in Afghanistan costs 100 billio ...

Spanish PM optimistic over hostage release

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said Wednesday that he was optimistic over the release of Spanish hostage Alicia Gamez. Gamez and two companions who work for a Catalan charity, Barcelona Accio Solidaria, were kidnapped by a group connecting with al-Qaida on Nov. 29 last year in the African nation of Mauritania. It is said that Gamez is going to be released in Burkina Faso along with an Italian hostage Filomere Kabouree. When asked about Gamez's possible release when ...

Spanish PM optimistic over hostage release

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said Wednesday that he was optimistic over the release of Spanish hostage Alicia Gamez. Gamez and two companions who work for a Catalan charity, Barcelona Accio Solidaria, were kidnapped by a group connecting with al-Qaida on Nov. 29 last year in the African nation of Mauritania. It is said that Gamez is going to be released in Burkina Faso along with an Italian hostage Filomere Kabouree. When asked about Gamez's possible release when ...

Russia's Strategic Missile Forces start drills

Russia's Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) kicked off on Wednesday a large-scale command-and-staff exercises involving over 2,000 servicemen, said a military spokesman. "The SMF are conducting command-and-staff drills on March 10-12 in line with the annual training program," said Vadim Koval as cited by the RIA Novosti news agency. Under guidelines outlined by the new military doctrine, said Koval, the SMF will conduct operations control involving conventional and nuclear warfare scenarios. ...

Russia's Strategic Missile Forces start drills

Russia's Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) kicked off on Wednesday a large-scale command-and-staff exercises involving over 2,000 servicemen, said a military spokesman. "The SMF are conducting command-and-staff drills on March 10-12 in line with the annual training program," said Vadim Koval as cited by the RIA Novosti news agency. Under guidelines outlined by the new military doctrine, said Koval, the SMF will conduct operations control involving conventional and nuclear warfare scenarios. ...

EU to tackle speculators amid Greek fiscal crisis

The European Commission will crack down on speculative trading blamed for aggravating the Greek debt crisis. "The commission has been actively working with euro area member states to design a mechanism which Greece could use in case of need," European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso said Tuesday in Strasbourg, France. He also indicated the commission was planning a European monetary fund, based on the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to prevent a recurrence of instability in the eur ...

EU to tackle speculators amid Greek fiscal crisis

The European Commission will crack down on speculative trading blamed for aggravating the Greek debt crisis. "The commission has been actively working with euro area member states to design a mechanism which Greece could use in case of need," European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso said Tuesday in Strasbourg, France. He also indicated the commission was planning a European monetary fund, based on the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to prevent a recurrence of instability in the eur ...

Turkey, S. Korea sign nuclear power plant agreement

Turkey and South Korea Wednesday concluded an agreement on a nuclear power plant to be built on Turkish northern coast of Black Sea. The agreement was reached between Turkey's state power company EUAS and Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO), a state-controlled utility, following the Turkey-South Korea Business Forum in Istanbul. After the agreement, Turkish and Korean experts will start technical studies. An intergovernmental agreement, like an earlier one signed between Turkey and Russia, i ...

Turkey, S. Korea sign nuclear power plant agreement

Turkey and South Korea Wednesday concluded an agreement on a nuclear power plant to be built on Turkish northern coast of Black Sea. The agreement was reached between Turkey's state power company EUAS and Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO), a state-controlled utility, following the Turkey-South Korea Business Forum in Istanbul. After the agreement, Turkish and Korean experts will start technical studies. An intergovernmental agreement, like an earlier one signed between Turkey and Russia, i ...

Syria, Kuwait sign loan agreement to expand Damascus water network

Syria on Tuesday signed an agreement here with the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) to provide Syria with loans to expand potable water network in Damascus, the Syrian official daily Al-Baath reported Wednesday. The amount of the loan stood at 15 million Kuwaiti dinars (51 million U.S. dollars). The project is expected to meet Damascus and its suburbs' demands of potable water till 2022 and improve the efficiency of the network and decrease water losses, the report said. ...