Pakistani court attack leaves at least 11 dead
Gunmen burst into a court in a busy shopping area in the heart of Pakistan’s capital on Monday, killing at least 11 people in a suicide-bomb and gun attack likely to shatter any prospect of meaningful peace talks with Taliban insurgents.
Karzai says Afghan war fought in Western interest
Expressing “extreme anger” toward the US government, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said in an interview with The Washington Post that the war in Afghanistan was not fought with his country’s interests in mind.
Israel’s Netanyahu bullish ahead of White House talks
Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to resist “pressures” as he arrived in Washington for talks with US President Barack Obama on the peace process and Iran’s nuclear program.
Syrian troops tighten grip on Yabroud rebel stronghold
The Syrian troops on Monday recaptured areas in the surroundings of a key contested town north of the capital Damascus, the official news agency SANA reported.
Iran, world powers to resume expert-level nuclear talks Wednesday
Expert-level nuclear talks to discuss the details of a possible comprehensive agreement on Iran's nuclear issue will start in the Austrian capital Vienna on Wednesday, Press TV reported on Monday.
Israel sees sharp rise in settlements construction
Israel started building 2,354 housing units in the settlements throughout 2013, a 123 percent rise from 2012, the Central Bureau of Statistics published on Monday.
UAE ready to respond to any major oil spill incident
The Minister of Environment and Water of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Rashid Bin Fahad said on Monday the Gulf Arab state is ready to respond to any major oil spill incident.
Israel PM must abandon settlement policies to make peace: Palestinian official
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erikat on Monday urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take into consideration the views of US President Barack Obama in order to reach a comprehensive peace that satisfies all parties.
12 Afghan Taliban inmates mistakenly freed on fake letter: local media
A dozen Taliban inmates have been wrongly released from the central jail in the southern Kandahar province, a former stronghold of Taliban insurgents, Afghan newspapers reported Monday.
Iran's nuclear program is "undoubtedly" peaceful: president
Iran's nuclear program is undoubtedly peaceful and the West knows about it, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said.