Stories

Abbas calls for full Palestinian Statehood

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he rejects the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with temporary borders.

Iraq sees dangerous period as 60 die in new violence

Iraq is bracing for a most dangerous period as at least 60 people were killed in bomb attacks on Friday across the country amid a political deadlock following the March 7 general election -- the second since U.S.-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein´s regime in 2003.

Mitchell-Abbas meeting ends without progress

A meeting held in Ramallah between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and U.S. peace envoy George Mitchell over resuming the peace talks ended on Friday night without achieving any progress, a senior Palestinian official said.

NATO to hand over control of Afghanistan

NATO has agreed to begin handing over control of Afghanistan, to the Afghan government this year. The agreement was reached after a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Estonia.

Iraq witnesses bloodiest day in weeks after string of bomb attacks

Iraqis on Friday witnessed the most bloody day in the past three weeks, with at least 60 people killed and 117 others wounded in a string of car and roadside bombings in Baghdad and western Anbar province.

32 killed in string of bomb attacks in Baghdad

A string of car bombs and roadside bombs explosions killed at least 32 people in Baghdad Friday, an interior ministry source told Xinhua.

UN to impose new sanctions against Iran soon: U.S. vice president

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday that the United Nations will announce new sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program soon.

U.S. envoy visits Middle East amid Israel´s rejection against Jerusalem building halt

United States special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell arrived in the region on Thursday, several days before he was originally slated to meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

Israel rejects east Jerusalem freeze

As US Middle East envoy George Mitchell arrives in Israel in another effort to relaunch peace talks, the country´s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the Jewish state won´t halt construction in East Jerusalem.

Israeli PM rejects calls for east Jerusalem freeze

Israel´s Prime Minister has rejected US calls to halt settlement construction in disputed east Jerusalem, hampering new efforts for a resumption of peace talks.