Truly alarming Syria conflict boosts worldwide refugee numbers to highest number for almost two decades

The Independent - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

By the end of 2012 there were 45.2m people considered as forcibly displaced due to persecution, conflict, and human rights violations, of which over 15m were international refugees and almost one million were still seeking asylum. The figure nearly matches the one at the height of the crises in Rwanda and former Yugoslavia.According to a report from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), ...

Limited US arms to Syria unlikely to harm Israel experts

Fox News - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

An Israeli army Cannon Unit maneuvers during a drill in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights near the border with Syria on June 12, 2013. US plans to arm Syrian rebels have raised fears in Israel that the weapons could fall into the wrong hands, but analysts played down the threat -- provided no big guns are ...

Analysis Putin basks in isolation over Syria as Obamas charm falls flat

Reuters - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

Russia's President Vladimir Putin gestures during a media conference after a G8 summit at the Lough Erne golf resort in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland June 18, ...

Children of Syria fly kites for peace

MSNBC - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

Hundreds of Syrian children currently living in a refugee camp in Jordan decorated kites with messages of hope and peace to fly on World Refugee Day. TODAY.com's Dara Brown ...

Six jailed to 10 years in Bahrain over attack

Middle East Online - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

DUBAI - A Bahraini court sentenced six people to 10 years in prison on Wednesday after they were convicted of carrying out a bombing that wounded two people, the official BNA news agency ...

Suicide bomber rocks Yemen market

Middle East Online - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

The attacker, riding a motorbike, "blew himself up at the entrance of the market where there were many passersbyOne civilian was martyred," the Ansaruallah (Supporters of God) rebel group said on its ...

Abu Dhabi International Airport wins Best Airport in the Middle East award

Middle East Online - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

ABU DHABI - Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) has received the prestigious "Best Airport for the Middle East region" award from the Airports Council International ...

Latest blow to Egypts tourism Luxors governor

Christian Science Monitor - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

President Morsi has enraged residents in Luxor, one of Egypt's main tourism destinations, by appointing as governor a former member of Al Gamaa ...

Senegal breaks with Iran over arms smuggle

afrol News - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

Senegal today has broken all ties with Iran, following the January seizure of an arms shipments destined to its Casamance rebels. The move could spell a large setback for Iran all over ...

African dreams of Egypt-like revolt

afrol News - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

All over Africa, the dramatic events in Tunisia and Egypt are followed, with opposition groups and dissidents hoping the same could happen in their country. Mostly, these are only dreams, but some could come ...

Excerpts Egypt risks 30 June protest violence. 3000 jobs in Saudi

IMRA - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

Excerpts: Egypt risks 30 June protest violence. 3,000 jobs in Saudi for Egyptians. Russia urges softening Iran sanctions. Fiji offers 500+troops for Golan June 19, 2013 +++SOURCE: Fox News 19 ...

New York City timelapse

SINA - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

Thrash Lab's "Empty America" timelapse travel series takes you to New York City. All the bridge and tunnel people have been sent home and Manhattan has been wiped empty! Penn Station, Wall Street, Central Park, Times Square, The Met and Fifth Avenue have never looked so ...

Iran Welcomes Home Football Team After World Cup Place Booked

New York Times - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

DUBAI ...

Taliban confirms talks with U.S. in Qatar on Thursday

West Australian - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

DUBAI (Reuters) - The Taliban's spokesman in Qatar said representatives of the Afghan insurgency would meet U.S. officials for preliminary peace talks on Thursday but no time had been set.The spokesman, Mohammed Naeem, told Reuters by telephone that no Afghan government officials would be at the meeting. A team of U.S. negotiators arrived in Qatar earlier on Wednesday and held a meeting ...

Qaddafis move to Oman breached sanctions UN

The National - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

UNITED NATIONS // A daughter and son of late Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi moved from Algeria to Oman in breach of UN sanctions, a UN ambassador said yesterday. The United Nations and international police organisation Interpol may soon issue a global alert over members of the Qaddafi family and other Qaddafi associates who are on the run and face UN sanctions. Aisha Qaddafi and Mohammed ...

Intl Meeting on Israel-Palestine Peace Process Concludes in Beijing

Prensa Latina - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

Beijing, Jun 19 (Prensa Latina) China today urged to seek a gradual and pragmatic solution in order to reach tangible results in the complex peace process between Israel and Palestine, during an international meeting sponsored by the United Nations in this capital. This annual UN meeting to promote peace between Israel and Palestine concluded in Beijing today, organized by the UN for the first ...

Indian FM Begins Visit to Iraq Oil Among Priorities

Prensa Latina - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

New Delhi, Jun 19 (Prensa Latina) The Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid, begins a two-day visit to Iraq aimed at reviving bilateral relations and negotiate greater purchases of oil to the Arab nation, currently its second largest supplier. The Indian foreign minister is scheduled to meet with his Iraqi counterpart Hoshiyar Zebari, and Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, to discuss mutual ...

Hamas Iran relations suffering from Syria conflict

Jerusalem Post - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

Hamas to Hezbollah: Leave Syria and focus on fighting Israel instead "Our relations with Iran were affected both on the political and the financial levels," said Ghazi Hamad, deputy minister of foreign affairs in the Hamas-run government in the Gaza Strip.Hamad declined to provide any figures for the amount of aid Hamas receives from Iran or give details of any cutbacks, other than to ...

Saudis Syria role driven by fear of Shiite full moon

Jerusalem Post - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

RIYADH - Saudi Arabia's former intelligence chief, Prince Muqrin, once told American diplomats the Middle East's so-called Shi'ite Crescent where the Muslim sect holds sway was "becoming a full moon" as Iranian influence spread.For the kingdom's Sunni ruling princes, that fear, revealed in a 2009 US embassy cable released by WikiLeaks, now focuses on Syria. ...

Iran blamed for angry World Cup scenes

Global Times - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

Iranian players celebrate after the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between South Korea and Iran in Ulsan, South Korea on Tuesday. Photo: CFPSouth Korean media blamed Iran on Wednesday for angry scenes at a tense World Cup qualifier which ended with fans pelting debris onto the pitch and the visiting coach under fire for a rude gesture.Local newspapers said Iran's players had goaded ...

Israel to permit 40 gas exports

Globes - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

Israel will keep 60% of its natural gas reserves for domestic use and permit the export of the remaining 40%. After three years of discussions and a major public campaign on the subject, the cabinet will finally be asked on Sunday to approve a joint decision that will be submitted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Energy and Water Resources Silvan Shalom, Minister of Finance Yair ...

Indiabulls plans move into Saudi Bahrain markets

Construction Week Online - Wednesday 19th June, 2013

One of India's largest listed real estate developers has announced plans to launch offices in some Gulf countries as part of an overseas expansion. In December, Indiabulls Real Estate Ltd, which has delivered 3.3m ...