News Archive - 28 June 2014

>The remarks came two days after the monarch ordered all necessary measures to protect the country against potential "terrorist threats" resulting from turmoil in neighbouring Iraq, where Sunni Islamist militants have captured some cities from the government of Shi'ite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki."We will not let a band of...

>Outside powers have often exploited ethnic and religious divisions in Muslim states and "they dream of a war between Shi'ites and Sunnis" that would not happen, he said in Tehran, according to an official statement.He warned against what he called Western propaganda about "a cast of morons and Saddam...

>BAGHDAD/ARBIL (Reuters) - Iraqi forces launched an airborne assault on rebel-held Tikrit on Thursday with commandos flown into a stadium in helicopters, at least one of which crashed after taking fire from insurgents who have seized northern cities. Witnesses said battles were raging in the city, hometown of former dictator...

>* Saudi alarm about ISIL insurgents rises as they near border* Inclusive Iraq government seen key to quelling rebelsBy Lesley WroughtonSHANNON, Ireland, June 28 (Reuters) - Saudi King Abdullah pledged in talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to use his influence to encourage Sunni Muslims to join...

KUALA LUMPUR- The terror link that is being forged between Malaysian militants and the other fighters from Middle Eastern groups, including off-shoots of al-Qaeda, has become the primary concern of intelligence agencies in the region. While veteran fighters have joined in the Syrian civil war, which has now turned into...

Benghazi suspect Ahmed Abu Khatallah was in federal court Saturday, charged with providing support and resources to terrorists in the deadly 2012 attack. His capture is unlikely to benefit President Obama politically.

(MENAFN - AFP) The head of BNP Paribas has conceded the bank will be "punished severely" ahead of what is expected to be a multi-billion dollar fine for breaching US economic sanct...

As the Middle East continues to be torn apart in the fighting provoked by the Sunni gunmen of Isis across vast swathes of Iraq and Syria, Israel has unexpectedly intervened with an offer to provide "effective and reliable assistance to moderate Arab states who are dealing with extremists".

The rise of jihadists in Iraq has set the West on edge, but Damascus sees it is an opportunity to legitimise its battle against rebels and promote it as a war on "terror".

US and Mexico reach the World Cup's second round again, but not they want to go further.

Israeli Internet goes fast; Dunn Medical Devices draws more funds; Indians make fun of app Yo.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — British police say an England fan had part of his ear bitten off by a compatriot during a World Cup match in Brazil.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while in Dushanbe expressed his administration's commitment to an early realisation of Central Asian South Asia (CASA) electricity project which envisages sale of surplus electricity by Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan during the summer months to electricity-deficient South Asian countries namely Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Pegah Donna remembers attending the annual CHIN Picnic as a teen with her family after they moved to Canada from Iran.

It is as close as you will come in Brazil to an Argentinian receiving a compliment. Lance! — the nation’s leading sports newspaper — wanted to reflect the supreme performance of Leo Messi against Nigeria last week.

The deserts of Iraq and Syria this week are alight with the flames of bloody sectarian war. Sunni and Shiite militias, armed to the teeth with the weapons of modern warfare, march to the beat of ancient religious quarrels, and while doing so have either defeated or faced down the...

Eight-month-old Robert Hill, wearing headphones and a German beanie, is oblivious to the cheering from his grandmother Jo Loeffler, grandfather Mirko Loeffler, pointing at center, and other soccer fans watching the broadcast of the World Cup soccer game between Germany and the United States.

Australia must go on to reach the final of the 2015 Asian Cup, ex-captain Paul Wade says, because trying is no longer good enough

The deserts of Iraq and Syria this week are alight with the flames of bloody sectarian war. Sunni and Shiite militias, armed to the teeth with the weapons of modern warfare, march to the beat of ancient religious quarrels, and while doing so have either defeated or faced down the...

The UN Roundtable meeting series seeks to organize high-level discussions with senior UN officials, including officials from member states and regional organizations, on timely issues related to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and international security.

The U.S. incarceration rates are higher than Russia, Cuba, and, Iran — countries not typically known for their hesitancy toward strict punishment. According to a new report from MLive, Michigan imprisons people at a rate of around 628 inmates per 100,000, beating out all the aforementioned countries. Surprisingly, this...

June 28 (Reuters) - World Cup top scorers as of Saturday. Goals Player Team 4 Thomas Mueller Germany Lionel Messi Argentina Neymar Brazil 3 James Rodriguez Colombia Karim Benzema France Arjen Robben Netherlands Robin van Persie Netherlands Xherdan Shaqiri Switzerland Enner Valencia Ecuador 2 Memphis Depay Netherlands Islam Slimani Algeria...

The United States government doesn't want to destroy its land mines just yet, and the reason comes down to this: Mines can be useful. On Friday, during a conference in Maputo, Mozambique, U.S. officials announced that the country's military will no longer acquire anti-personnel mines. It will also take...

In this Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014 photo, Iranian soccer players Mohammad Reza Bazaj, right, and... Brazilian players celebrate after Brazil's opening goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer... Fans of Brazil pray before a live broadcast of the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between...

Perhaps no politician in modern times has been as qualified to be president but never made it than Howard Henry Baker, who died Thursday at age 88. He was a political leader of uncommon talents in sho

By Rachna Kapoor, Leh, June 28 : The Greatest Love Story Ever Told premiered on the first day of the third Ladakh International Film Festival here at the Druk White Lotus School popularly known as Rancho School.

Clermont Foot have appointed former France international Corinne Diacre as their new manager after Helena Costa's resignation.

Peshmerga are now deployed along areas that far exceed previously accepted borders of Kurdish region. The onslaught by Sunni Arab militants in northern Iraq has prompted the country's Kurds to deploy the famed peshmerga security forces in defence of their autonomous region.

“Those Iraqis have been fighting each other for centuries,” a friend recently said to me. I have heard this mistaken view too often.

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping said Saturday his country will never seek hegemony no matter how strong it becomes, even as his neighbors worry about Beijing's actions in several territorial disputes.

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s top Shiite cleric ratcheted up the pressure Friday on lawmakers to agree on a prime minister before the newly elected parliament meets next week, trying to avert months of wrangling in the face of a Sunni insurgent blitz over huge tracts in the country’s north and west.

Pablo Zabaleta has warned that Argentina must balance their attacking flair with defensive stability or face elimination from the FIFA World Cup.