Middle East
A British man and a female friend caught kissing in public in the UAE state of Dubai face up to a month in jail for indecency after a local mother reported her child had witnessed their indiscretion.
Iraqi authorities counted votes on Monday, a day after a parliamentary election in the Middle Eastern country. Preliminary results are expected in two or three days.
UAE bans Israeli dual citizens from entering country; Israeli PM, Mossad chief face arrest
Dubai's police chief is planning to seek the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the head of the Israel's secret service, Mossad, over the killing of a Hamas commander.
A part of the Dubai Mall, one of the world's largest shopping centers was closed on Thursday after an aquarium containing thousands of fish and sea animals started leaking.
A former senior British army officer, who was a commander in Afghanistan, said international media are being taken advantage of by "dark forces" who want to harm Israel.
Dubai's police chief yesterday directly accused Israel's Mossad spy agency of the hit-squad slaying of a Hamas commander in a luxury hotel room on 20 January. Lieutenant-General Dahi Khalfan Tamim said he was "99 per cent, if not 100 per cent" cer...
West 'pushing for new UN sanctions against Iran'
The US is circulating a discussion paper on possible further UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme, says a Western diplomat at the UN.
Hamas Gives U.N. Response to Gaza War Crimes Report
The Islamist group Hamas on Wednesday formally rejected allegations it had committed war crimes during last year's fighting in Gaza, charges made in a United Nations report.
Bomb kills 20 Shi'ite pilgrims in Iraq, banned Sunni candidates back in election race
A bomb killed at least 20 Shi'ite pilgrims on Wednesday as they poured into Iraq's holy city of Kerbala, triggering criticism of security forces and politicians before a potentially bloody March election.
Iran opposition's Karroubi calls for calm anniversary
TEHRAN — Iranian opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi called on his supporters on Wednesday to peacefully participate in next week's rally marking the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution, as authorities threatened to crack down on any protests.
Senior Fatah official in rare visit to Hamas-run Gaza
GAZA CITY — A senior member of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas' Fatah party made a rare visit to the Hamas-run Gaza Strip on Wednesday in a bid to encourage stalled reconciliation efforts.
Italian PM vows to do "everything" to halt Iran's nuke plans
Jerusalem - Addressing Israeli fears, visiting Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Tuesday that Iranian's nuclear plans had to be foiled, and promised to do what he could in this regard.
Ahmadinejad: Iran Ready to Send Enriched Uranium Abroad
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says his country is ready to send uranium abroad for further enrichment, in accordance with a U.N.-backed plan.
Iran Slams US Defense Missile Deployment in Gulf
Iran's parliament speaker Ali Larijani lashed out at U.S. plans to deploy defensive missiles in the Gulf, branding the decision a "political ploy" aimed at increasing its military strength in the region.
Iran to execute nine dissidents ahead of Feb 11 anniversary
Iran will execute nine dissidents "soon", an official said on Tuesday, as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stepped up a campaign to crush the country's opposition movement.
Seized weapons plane in Thailand not heading for Iran: official
TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran denied on Tuesday claims by Thailand that a planeload of North Korean weapons seized there in December was headed to Iran.
Female Suicide Bomber Kills 41 Shiite Pilgrims in Baghdad
A female suicide bomber on Monday killed at least 41 Shiite pilgrims in northern Baghdad who were making an annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Karbala.
Iran top judge rejects "political" hanging pressure
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's top judge said on Monday he would not succumb to political pressure from hardliners to carry out more executions against anti-government protesters, saying any such decision would be based on the law.
Israel set to respond to UN demand on Gaza war
JERUSALEM — Israel was to give UN chief Ban Ki-moon a letter on Friday in response to a UN demand that it probe alleged war crimes in its Gaza offensive which the Jewish state previously rejected, officials said.
Iran executes two dissidents and sentences to death nine more
Iran delivered a chilling message of intent to the country's reform movement yesterday when it hanged two men accused of participating in protests following last year's disputed presidential election and sentenced to death nine more.