Egypt deploys troops ahead of national protests
CAIRO : Egypt's ruling generals have deployed troops across the country as the opposition calls for civil disobedience to mark the first anniversary of Hosni Mubarak's ousting as president, local media reported on Friday. Read Full Story

Muslim Brotherhood asks Egyptian military to cede power
Cairo, Feb.10 : A senior leader of the Muslim Brotherhood has reportedly called on the Egyptian military to give up civilian government control and return to the barracks. Read Full Story

Dubai to carry out beach cleaning drive
Dubai, Feb 9 : Dubai municipality authorities will hold a massive cleaning drive at Al Mamzar beach Friday in a bid to collect garbage from the beachside and sea along the coast. Read Full Story

Israeli workers launch nationwide strike for outsourced employees
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL: Israeli workers on Wednesday launched a strike for outsourced employees which shut down government offices, banks, airports, ports, rail services and other sectors of the country's economy, local media reported. Read Full Story

FIFA awards UAE win in Olympic qualifier
Abu Dhabi, Feb 8 : FIFA has ruled that the Iraq national team fielded an ineligible player in an Olympic qualifying match last November, and thus awarded a 3-0 victory to rival United Arab Emirates. Read Full Story

Israeli advertisement mocking Iran's nuke program removed
Jerusalem, Feb.8 : An Israeli commercial that makes a mocking reference to Iran's nuclear program and mysterious explosions inside Iran has been pulled from the air. Read Full Story

Yemeni vice president outlines national reconciliation as priority
Sana'a, Feb 8: Yemeni Vice President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi has said his priority as the country's next head of state will be to foster national reconciliation among separatists in the south and insurgents in the north, and undertake several democratic political reforms. Read Full Story

Iran's parliament summons Ahmadinejad for questioning over long list of accusations
Tehran, Feb 8 : The Iranian parliament has summoned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to answer a series of questions over the government's handling of foreign and domestic policy decisions, for the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Read Full Story

Egyptian interior minister denies police fired birdshots at protesters
CAIRO : Egyptian Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim on Tuesday denied that police used birdshot bullets to disperse protesters during recent deadly clashes in downtown Cairo, local media reported. Read Full Story

Iran detains alleged journalists working for BBC Persian
LONDON/TEHRAN : Iranian authorities have reportedly detained several people who allegedly worked for the Farsi-language service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The broadcaster denied the allegations. Read Full Story

Reports: Syrian rebels release eleven kidnapped Iranians
TEHRAN/DAMASCUS : Eleven Iranian pilgrims who were kidnapped by Syrian rebels earlier this month have been released through the joint efforts of Iran and Turkey, Iranian media reported on Tuesday. Read Full Story

Iranian parliament summons Ahmadinejad
Tehran, Feb 8 : The Iranian parliament has summoned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to answer questions about his alleged mismanagement of the country's economy, Iranian media reported. Read Full Story

Abu Dhabi court to give verdict on pirates
Abu Dhabi, Feb 7 : A court in Abu Dhabi will deliver its verdict March 6 on 10 pirates charged with hijacking MV Arrilah-I ship last April. Read Full Story

'Official' Iranian website calls for justified 'killing of Jews, destroying Israel in 9 minutes'
Tehran, Feb 7 : An Iranian website with close ties to the country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has laid out the legal and moral justifications to kill all Jews and annihilate Israel. Read Full Story

Egyptian military hints presidential elections may be held earlier than planned
Cairo, Feb 7 : Egyptian military rulers have suggested that presidential elections may be held earlier than planned in an apparent effort to stem the country's ongoing political turmoil. Read Full Story

Egyptian activists outraged over criminal trial of 44 NGO workers for illegal acts in country
Cairo, Feb 7 : Egyptian activists and civil society groups have expressed outrage over the announcement that 44 NGO workers, including 19 Americans, will face a criminal trial for illegal acts, calling it a 'politically motivated investigation into the foreign funding of pro-democracy groups.' Read Full Story

Iran arrests several journalists over links to BBC Farsi service
Tehran, Feb 7: Iranian authorities have reportedly arrested several people over alleged links to the British Broadcasting Corporation's Farsi-language service. Read Full Story

Britain recalls envoy in Syria for consultation
London, Feb 7 : British Foreign Secretary William Hague has said the country's ambassador in Syria has been recalled for consultation, following America's move to withdraw all diplomats from Damascus. Read Full Story

People working for BBC Farsi service held in Iran
Tehran, Feb 7 : A number of local people "secretly" working for the BBC Farsi-language service have been arrested in Iran, the Mehr news agency reported. Read Full Story

Iraqi envoy meets UAE attorney general
Abu Dhabi, Feb 7 : Iraqi ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Arshad Ismail Al-Musalli visited the UAE Attorney General Counsellor Salem Saeed Kubaish at his office Monday. Read Full Story

Doha declaration of Palestinian reconciliation signed
Doha, Feb 6 : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and chief of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Hamas politbureau Khalid Mashaal signed here Monday the Doha Declaration of the Palestinian reconciliation. Read Full Story

India considering all options to pay for oil imports from Iran
New Delhi, Feb 6 : With pressure from the US and Europe increasing for adhering to sanctions against Iran, India is considering all options to facilitate payment to the West Asian country in its extended neighbourhood for crude oil imports, as it has taken a decision not to comply with these sanctions. Read Full Story

India's Sobha group buys land in Dubai's Meydan for mixed-use project
Dubai, Feb 6 : Indian developer Sobha Group has obtained eight million square feet of land at Meydan City in Dubai for an undisclosed amount to build a mixed-use project, officials have said. Read Full Story

US aid to Egypt in peril amid crackdown on pro-democracy groups
Washington, Feb.6 : American aid to Egypt, which is estimated at an average of two billion dollars a year, is reportedly in peril with U.S. lawmakers threatening to block assistance in response to Egypt's crackdown on pro-democracy groups. Read Full Story

Iran 'to target any country that stages attack against it'
Tehran, Feb 6 : A senior Iranian military guard commander has said Tehran would target any country that attacks it. Read Full Story

Russian embassy in Libya stormed over veto on Syria
Moscow, Feb 6 : Dozens of Syrian protesters stormed the Russian embassy in Libyan capital Tripoli Sunday, a day after Russia and China blocked a UN resolution on the Syrian crisis. Read Full Story

Death toll rises to 12 as clashes in Egypt continue
CAIRO, EGYPT: The death toll from clashes between Egyptian security forces and protesters has risen to at least 12, officials said on Saturday. Dozens more have been injured. Read Full Story

Abu Dhabi airport auctions tickets
Abu Dhabi, Feb 5 : The Abu Dhabi International Airport Sunday launched an online auction for 60 tickets to 30 destinations. Read Full Story

UAE, Romania discuss cooperation
Abu Dhabi, Feb 5 : The UAE and Romania have held discussions on boosting cooperation in the education sector. Read Full Story

Iran prepares to strike back if attacked
Tehran, Feb 5 : Iran would strike back at any location from where attacks against it were mounted and was preparing itself against western plans aimed at mounting pressure on it, Fars news agency reported Sunday. Read Full Story

Iran to strike back if attacked
Tehran, Feb 5 : Iran will strike back at any location from where attacks against it are mounted, Fars news agency quoted a senior military commander as saying Sunday. Read Full Story

Muslim Brotherhood official calls on West to provide financial aid, diplomatic support to Egypt
Cairo, Feb 5: Egypt is on the brink of political and economic collapse and the West has an obligation to sustain the country with financial aid and diplomatic support, a senior Muslim Brotherhood official has warned. Read Full Story

India-Fest 2012 attracts thousands in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, Feb 5: Over 15,000 people were present on the first two days of the India Fest-2012, showcasing India's cultural diversity alongwith its cuisine, in Abu Dhabi. Read Full Story

Iran, trade deal high on India-EU summit agenda
New Delhi, Feb 5 : With the European Union (EU) imposing fresh sanctions on Iran, the country's oil supply issue will loom large when India hosts its summit with the EU next week. Read Full Story

3,000 candidates approved for Iran polls
Tehran, Feb 5 : Iran's high legislative body, the Guardian Council, has approved more than 3,000 candidates for the parliament elections, Press TV reported. Read Full Story

Khamenei warns 'consequences of war 10 times more detrimental for US'
Tehran, Feb 4: Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that Iran will respond on its nuclear program, saying the consequences of war would be "10 times more detrimental" for the US. Read Full Story

Khamenei warns Iran will back 'any nations, any groups' fighting Israel
Tehran, Feb 4: Iran's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that his country will back any group or nation targeting Israel. Read Full Story

'Israeli assets in US and worldwide under severe Iranian security threat'
Jerusalem, Feb 4: Israel's facilities in North America and around the world are on high alert, as they face an Iranian security threat, an internal document has said. Read Full Story

Taliban leader Mullah Omar 'sent letter to Obama indicating interest in peace talks'
Washington, Feb 4 : Mullah Omar, the reclusive leader of the Taliban, has reportedly sent US President Barack Obama a letter, indicating an interest to initiate peace talks. Read Full Story

Four die during clashes in Egypt over deadly soccer riot
CAIRO, EGYPT : Four people have died during ongoing clashes with Egyptian security forces as protesters have rallied across the country against the military regime, local media reported on Friday. Read Full Story

UAE bank opens branch in Egypt
Abu Dhabi, Feb 4 : The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) has opened its 29th branch in Egypt, it was announced Saturday. Read Full Story

Abu Dhabi to host aviation expo
Abu Dhabi, Feb 4 : The UAE will host an international aviation exhibition March 6-8 in Abu Dhabi, it was announced Saturday. Read Full Story

Israel 'plans attack on Tehran within months'
London, Feb 4 : Israel is planning to attack Iran "within months", the Daily Mail reported Saturday. Read Full Story

Iran to stop Europe oil exports
Tehran, Feb 4 : Iran will stop its oil exports to Europe, Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi said Saturday. Read Full Story

Iran starts cruise missile production
Tehran, Feb 4 : Iran Saturday began mass production of its latest anti-vessel cruise missiles, the official media reported. Read Full Story

Iran to set up space launch base
Tehran, Feb 4 : Iran plans to establish a national satellite launch base in the southeast of the country, adjacent to the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean, Press TV reported. Read Full Story

US tourists kidnapped, released in Egypt
Cairo, Feb 4 : Two American tourists and their Egyptian guide were kidnapped by local tribesmen in Egypt on their way back from a local monastery, but were later released unharmed, media reports said. Read Full Story

Emirates launches new US flights
Dubai, Feb 3 : Emirates Airlines has launched its new daily flights to Dallas city in the US, it was announced Friday. Read Full Story

Air Seychelles announces flights to Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, Feb 3 : Air Seychelles Friday announced direct flights from Seychelles' largest island of Mahe to Abu Dhabi. Read Full Story

Emirates ruler grants USD 3.25 million
Bangalore, Feb 3: Ras Al Khaimah ruler Sheikh Saud in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) granted USD 3.25 million (Rs.16 crore) to the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) here for buying equipment and funding research projects. Read Full Story

Egypt Interior Ministry expecting fresh round of violence
Cairo, Feb.3 : The Egyptian Interior Ministry is reportedly gearing up for a new cycle of recriminations and violence in the wake of the Port Said football stadium violence that led to the death of 74 persons. Read Full Story

Egyptian comedian jailed for three months for 'insulting Islam'
Cairo, Feb 3 : One of the Arab world's most famous comedians, Adel Imam, has been jailed for three-months by an Egyptian court for offending Islam. Read Full Story

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood slams 'foreign funded' protests
Cairo, Feb 2: The Muslim Brotherhood has slammed the ongoing protests in Egypt, and echoed the country's military rulers' view that secular and liberal were funded by foreign countries to spread chaos across the country. Read Full Story

Israeli commando unit formed to dismantle Iranian nuke programme
Jerusalem, Feb 2 : An elite unit of Israeli commandos called the 'Depth Corps' has reportedly been created to stop Iran's nuclear weapons programme. Read Full Story

Israel's military leaders warn against Iran attack over fears of war in Mid-East
Jerusalem, Feb 2 : Former Israeli Defence Chief Lt-Gen Amnon Lipkin-Shahak has warned against a strike on Iran, insisting that almost the entire senior hierarchy of Israel's military and security establishment is worried about a premature attack on Tehran over fears that it could lead the Middle East into a war. Read Full Story

74 killed in football violence in Egypt's Port Said
London, Feb 2 : At least 74 people have been killed in clashes between rival fans following a football match in the Egyptian city of Port Said. Read Full Story

No restriction on trade with Iran: India
New Delhi, Feb 1 : Two days after Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said India will not scale down its petroleum imports from Iran despite US and European sanctions against the Islamic republic, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma today said there is not restriction on Indian companies doing trade of commodities with that country. Read Full Story

UAE Exchange sells 40 per cent stake
Dubai, Feb 1 : UAE Exchange, one of the top currency exchange houses owned by Indian expatriate B R Shetty, has sold a 40 per cent stake to an Abu Dhabi investor, after abandoning plans for a share flotation. Read Full Story

73 killed in Egypt football match riot
Cairo, Feb 2 : At least 73 people died Wednesday when a riot broke out after a football match at a stadium in eastern Egypt, the state-run media reported. Read Full Story

53 killed in Egypt football riot
Cairo, Feb 2 : At least 53 people were killed and hundreds injured Wednesday when a riot broke out following a football match in northeastern Egypt, the official media reported. Read Full Story

UAE, ILO discuss human trafficking
Abu Dhabi, Feb 1 : Representatives of the UAE and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) have discussed ways to boost cooperation to fight human trafficking. Read Full Story

Egyptian tribesmen free 25 kidnapped Chinese workers
CAIRO, EGYPT : All twenty-five Chinese nationals who were previously kidnapped by Bedouin tribesmen in Egypt's central Sinai were released on early Wednesday morning, officials at the Chinese embassy in Cairo told the state-run Xinhua news agency. Read Full Story

IAEA inspectors did not visit Iran's nuclear sites
Tehran, Feb 1 : United Nations inspectors did not visit any of Iran's nuclear sites where uranium is being enriched. Read Full Story

Islamists, Liberal protesters clash outside Egyptian parliament
Cairo, Feb.1 : Tensions have sharpened between Islamists and liberals over the fate of the Egyptian revolution that toppled President Hosni Mubarak. Read Full Story

Iran 'renamed cargo ships to dodge West sanctions' on nuke equipment transfer
Tehran, Feb 1 : Iran has renamed over a dozen cargo ships in its container line in the past year to circumvent Western sanctions on arms transfers and on the supply of nuclear-related equipment, it has emerged. Read Full Story

Syria releases top Al Qaeda figure in retaliation against US' opposition to Assad regime
Damascus, Feb 1 : Syrian authorities have reportedly released a top Al-Qaeda figure and one-time confidant of the late Osama bin Laden, apparently in retaliation against the United States' position against the government of President Bashar al Assad. Read Full Story

Taliban ready for talks only with US and not 'illegal, powerless' Karzai government
Peshawar, Feb 1: The Taliban have said they were ready to "negotiate" with the US but not with the Washington-backed Afghan government, which it termed as "is illegal and powerless." Read Full Story

Bedouin tribesmen kidnap 25 Chinese workers in Egypt's Sinai
CAIRO, EGYPT : Bedouian tribesmen have kidnapped at least 25 Chinese workers in Egypt's central Sinai, officials at the Chinese embassy in Cairo told the Xinhua news agency on Tuesday. Read Full Story

Israel arrests Palestinian prisoner released in Shalit swap
TEL AVIV : The Israeli military on Tuesday arrested a Palestinian man who was released in October 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange deal to secure the release of Gilad Shalit, officials said. Read Full Story

25 Chinese nationals held in Egypt
Cairo, Feb 1 : As many as 25 Chinese nationals working for a cement factory in Egypt have been taken captive by some local people in Egypt's Sinai town of Arish, said the Chinese embassy officials in Cairo. Read Full Story

Iran launches Spanish language TV channel
Tehran, Feb 1 : Iran officially launched a Spanish-language international satellite channel Tuesday, IRNA news agency reported. Read Full Story

UAE leader meets scientists
Sharjah, Jan 31 : The ruler of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Tuesday met scientists who have developed ways to cure Alzheimer's disease and cancer. Read Full Story

UAE donates USD 5 mn to US clinic
Dubai, Jan 31: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has donated USD 5 million to the Cleveland Clinic in America's Ohio state to establish a chair in cardiology research. Read Full Story

'Nuclear' Iran may be wild card in 2012 US prez election
Washington, Jan 31: Israel's possible military action against Iran's nuclear program will have a huge impact on the 2012 White House election, an assessment has said. Read Full Story

Woods positive despite error strewn Abu Dhabi finish
Abu Dhabi, Jan.31 : American golfer Tiger Woods has said that he will remain positive despite a disappointing finish at the recent Abu Dhabi Championship. Read Full Story

UAE woman sets record of becoming first train attendant in Middle East
Dubai, Jan 31: A 28- year old woman has become the first train attendant not only in the Untied Arab Emirates, but in the Middle East. Read Full Story

Saudi Arabia beheads Pakistani drugs smuggler
Riyadh, Jan 31 : Saudi Arabia has beheaded a Pakistani man who was arrested for trying to smuggle drugs into the kingdom, the interior ministry has said. Read Full Story

Cattle raids in South Sudan leave more than 70 dead
JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN : Cattle raids in a remote region of South Sudan during the weekend have left at least 76 people killed and scores of others injured, officials said on Monday. It is the latest raid in a series of deadly clashes in the newly independent state. Read Full Story

'EU ban to cause hefty economic loss to Europeans'
Tehran, Jan 31 : The European Union (EU) ban on importing oil from Iran will be a "hefty economic loss" for the Europeans, the state-run Press TV quoted a senior Iranian minister as saying. Read Full Story

26 kg narcotics seized in Dubai
Dubai, Jan 30: Dubai Customs officials have foiled a bid to smuggle 26 kg of narcotic crystal meth into the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Read Full Story

Bomb blast hits military bus near Damascus, killing 6
DAMASCUS, SYRIA : Six people were killed on early Sunday morning when a bomb blast hit a bus carrying army personnel near the Syrian capital of Damascus, state-run media reported on Monday. Several others were injured. Read Full Story

Saudi Arabia beheads Pakistani man convicted of drug trafficking
RIYADH : Saudi Arabian authorities have beheaded a Pakistani man who was previously convicted of attempting to smuggle a large amount of heroin into the country, the government said on Monday. Read Full Story

Interpol chief calls on Pak to break terrorist- drug baron nexus
Dubai, Jan 30: Interpol Secretary General Ronald K Noble has stressed the need to break the nexus between terror and drug barons and appreciated Pakistan's efforts in this regard. Read Full Story

Egypt's military seeks to bolster ties with US amid tensions over raids on NGOs
Cairo, Jan 30: A delegation of senior Egyptian generals has arrived in Washington to mend rifts with the U.S., after relations between both sides hit a new low due an Egyptian government raid on pro-democracy and human-rights groups and travel bans imposed on several American employees. Read Full Story

Egyptian military seeks civilian panel's advice on early transfer of power
Cairo, Jan 30: Egypt's military rulers have sought advice from a civilian advisory council regarding the transfer of power to civilians before the June-end deadline. Read Full Story

Iraq outraged over US drones patrolling its skies
Baghdad, Jan 30 : Iraqi officials have expressed anger over American surveillance drones patrolling over its skies to protect the US embassy and consulates in the country. Read Full Story

Football boss tells team they are Al-Qaida's target
London, Jan 30 : Preston North End manager Graham Westley left his players bewildered after he sent a late-night text asking them to be prepared for a 9/11-style terror attack. Read Full Story

Iran predicts EU sanctions may increase global oil prices by 50 percent
Tehran, Jan 30 : Iran has predicted that global oil prices would increase by 50 per cent following European Union sanctions on crude oil exports. Read Full Story

Iran predicts EU sanctions may increase global oil prices by 50 percent
Tehran, Jan 30 : Iran has predicted that global oil prices would increase by 50 per cent following European Union sanctions on crude oil exports. Read Full Story