There are 17999 articles

  • Israeli soldier's family urges swap

    The parents of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier held in the Gaza Strip since 2006, have begun a 12-day march from their home to the Israeli prime minister's residence to press for a prisoner swap. Aviva and Noam Shalit, the soldier's parents, left their home in Israel's north on Sunday and were joined by hundreds of supporters. "Today we go out.. More

  • Kashmir killings provoke protests

    Fresh protests have rocked Indian-administered Kashmir as thousands took to the streets defying a curfew to demonstrate against the killing of two young men by security forces. Demonstrators chanted "we want freedom" and "blood for blood" on Saturday in the town of Sopore in response to the killings a day earlier. Police have said.. More

  • Karzai picks new cabinet nominees

    Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, has nominated seven new cabinet ministers, including a replacement for his interior minister who resigned earlier this month. General Bismullah Mohammadi, the defence ministry chief of staff, was nominated on Saturday to take over the interior ministry. Mohammadi, a Tajik, was a commander in the Northern Alliance.. More

  • G8 leaders criticize Gaza blockade

    The leaders of the world's eight richest nations have called for Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip to be relaxed in order to allow more aid to reach the civilian population of the beleagured coastal territory. G8 leaders meeting in Canada issued a wide ranging statement on Saturday, addressing global security concerns ranging from Israel's blockade.. More

  • Afghan strategy 'still on course'

    Military commanders and senior political officials have said US strategy in Afghanistan will not change following the departure of General Stanley McChrystal as commander of foreign forces in the country. McChrystal has been replaced by General David Petraeus after a Rolling Stone magazine article claimed the general and his aides made disparaging.. More

  • G20 split over global recovery

    World leaders are divided as they arrive in Toronto for G20 discussions over how to tackle the global economic crisis. European delegates at the summit have said that they want to focus on austerity measures to cut the deficits, while the US is looking to maintain stimulus spending to encourage growth. "That's the delicate balance that we need.. More

  • Israel invites EU ministers to Gaza

    Israel's foreign minister has invited his Italian counterpart to lead a delegation of European ministers on a visit to the Gaza Strip. The invitation was made during a meeting between Avigdor Lieberman and Franco Frattini in the Italian city of Rome and comes as calls mount for Israel to ease its three-year blockade of the territory. "Frattini.. More

  • UN blasts razing of Jerusalem homes

    The UN secretary general has criticized municipal authorities in Israel for pressing ahead with a plan to raze Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem, calling it illegal. Ban Ki-moon's office said on Wednesday that he was "concerned about the decision by the Jerusalem municipality to advance planning for house demolitions and further settlement activity.. More

  • UN to probe Sri Lanka war 'abuses'

    The United Nations has set up a high-level panel to look into allegations of human rights abuses in the final months of the civil war in Sri Lanka. Ban Ki-moon, the secretary-general, launched the investigation on Tuesday. His spokesman said it was established "to advise him on the issue of accountability with regards to any alleged violations.. More

  • Road shipments to Gaza begin

    Road shipments of goods to the Gaza Strip are under way following Israel's decision to change the conditions of its blockade of the Palestinian territory. Al Jazeera's Nicole Johnston, reporting from the Keram Abu Salem crossing, said on Tuesday more than 100 lorries loaded with goods had begun arriving in the coastal enclave. Israel has said it will.. More

  • Deadly bombings strike Iraq's north

    Two senior members of a government-backed Iraqi militia have been killed in separate bomb attacks north of the capital, Baghdad. Raad Tami al-Mujamai and Khamis Sabaa al-Aqabi were killed when bombs attached to their cars detonated on Tuesday in the town of Buhriz, 60km northeast of Baghdad, police said. The two were members of a local Awakening Council,.. More

  • Jerusalem demolition plan approved

    The Jerusalem planning committee has given initial approval to a proposal for demolishing 22 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem's Silwan neighborhood to make room for a tourist centre. Nir Barkat, the mayor of Jerusalem, requested approval for the controversial plan on Monday. Palestinians describe the plan as "forced displacement", but.. More

  • Deaths in Istanbul bus bombing

    Four people have been killed and 12 others wounded in a bomb attack on a bus carrying military personnel and their families in Turkey's largest city, Istanbul. The remote-controlled roadside bomb was detonated close to a military housing complex on Tuesday morning. Three of those killed were army soldiers, while the fourth was a 17-year-old girl,.. More

  • Israel to allow more Gaza goods

    Israel has said it will loosen its siege on the Gaza Strip by letting into the territory all goods other than "weapons and materials that Hamas uses". Sunday's announcement came after a meeting of the Israeli security cabinet and weeks of international pressure to end the crippling blockade on the Palestinian enclave. The office of Binyamin.. More

  • Deadly blasts target Iraq bank

    Two car bombs have exploded outside the headquarters of the Trade Bank of Iraq in Baghdad, killing at least 26 people and injuring 53 others, security officials have said. The near-simultaneous blasts occurred shortly after 11am [0830 GMT] on Sunday in the Yarmouk neighbourhood in western Baghdad. Iraqi security forces say suicide bombers drove two.. More