Amman, Jan 31 (IANS) About $10 million were stolen from a vault of the Damascus-based International Bank for Trade and Finance (IBTF), a Jordanian bank said Thursday.

Amman, Nov 6 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The Syrian authorities have assured Moscow that there will be no use of chemical weapons against rebel forces, Russia's foreign minister said Tuesday.

Amman, Oct 23 (IANS) King Abdullah II of Jordan on Tuesday urged all political parties and powers as well as citizens to take part in the upcoming legislative elections.

Amman, Oct 5 (IANS) King Abdullah II of Jordan has dissolved the lower house of parliament and ordered new elections, state-run Petra news agency reported.

Abu Dhabi, Nov 21 (IANS) Eurofighter and Rafale, the two finalists in the fray for India's big combat jet order, have extended their dogfight to the UAE to win another commercial tender.

Abu Dhabi, Nov 11 (IANS) Johnny Cecotto Junior will be testing for India's Formula One Sahara Force India team at the upcoming young driver test in Abu Dhabi next week.

Manama (Bahrain), Feb 19 (IANS) Bahrain is preparing to host the region's biggest sporting event, the 2013 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, slated for April 19-21 at the Sakhir circuit.

Manama, Feb 18 (IANS/WAM) Bahraini security forces, in cooperation with a neighbouring country, has managed to bust a terrorist cell and arrest its eight members.

Manama, Dec 24 (IANS) Bahrain is gearing up to host the 33rd Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) Summit, which will focus on the Syrian crisis, military cooperation and economic unity.

Manama, Oct 20 (IANS) At least seven people have been arrested in raids conducted after a policeman was killed and another injured in a blast in Bahrain Thursday, reported Xinhua citing a security source.

2012 could be another atrophied year for India due to mediocre leaders without a cogent vision for the country. A country of 1.2 billion people, with boundless resources and energy, may again fail to meet the basic needs of its common citizens.

Dubai, Dec 7 (IANS) Pakistani spinners Saeed Ajmal and Mohammed Hafeez dominate the ODI rankings while Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli are the only two Indian batsmen in the top-10 in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings released here Wednesday.

Dubai, Oct 13(IANS) Mallika Sherawat, Sohail Khan and Urvashi Sharma added glitz and glamour to the red carpet to the world premiere of 'Azaan' here, along with the film's actors, Sachiin Joshi and Candice Boucher.

Tehran, July 2 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Iran will respond with its new indigenously built anti-radar ballistic missiles if Israel attacks the Islamic republic, the official media reported.

Tehran, July 1 (IANS) Iran summoned the Afghan charge d'affaires in the country to protest recent Afghan media reports that said Tehran was showing ill treatment to illegal Afghan refugees, Press TV reported.

Kush Island (Iran), June 23 (IANS) While Anaka Alankamony retained the girls Under-19 title, Kush Kumar annexed the crown in the boys Under-19 category as Indians delivered two gold medals at the 19th Asian junior squash championship that concluded here Saturday.

Tehran, June 24 (IANS) Police in Iran have recovered a haul of over one ton of illicit drugs during an anti-narcotics operation in the country's southeastern region, Fars news agency has reported.

Baghdad, Feb 18 (IANS) Up to 21 people were killed and 125 wounded in a series of bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad Sunday, while four others were killed during a gunfire attack in Mosul city.

Baghdad, Feb 17 (IANS) At least 15 people were killed and some 80 others wounded in a series of car bomb explosions in eastern Baghdad Sunday, Xinhus reported.

Santiago, Feb 6 (IANS) Tennis former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal made a winning return to the circuit after being out for more than seven months due to a left knee injury.

Baghdad, Jan 31 (IANS) A French journalist has been held here in the Iraqi capital for taking pictures without prior permission, Xinhua reported Thursday.

Tel Aviv, Feb 18 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The head of Russian presidential property management department has confirmed that the Kremlin will be soon equipped with a helicopter landing pad to help top officials avoid Moscow's heavy traffic jams.

Kabul, Feb 17 (IANS) Afghan police have seized nearly 1,250 kg of drugs in the country's southern province of Helmand, in the latest raid against narcotics and drug trafficking in the country, police said Sunday.

Kabul, Feb 16 (IANS) Afghan President Hamid Karzai reiterated Saturday that the Afghan security forces are entirely ready to ensure national security after NATO-led forces withdraw from the country by the end of 2014.

Jerusalem, Feb 7 (IANS) Israel is building a first-of-its-kind underground hospital in the northern city of Haifa that will protect patients and staffers from any missile attack, whether biological or chemical, a media report said.

Kuwait City, May 5 (IANS) For the first time in the history of the Asian Squash Championships, India made the men's and women's finals here Friday.

Kuwait City, May 4 (IANS) Joshna Chinappa led the Indian women's team's charge into the semi-finals with a 2-0 win over second-seeded Malaysia in their all-important final pool match of the 16th Asian Team Squash Championship here.

Kuwait City, Jan 1 (IANS/WAM) Investment in the petrochemical sector in the Gulf region would go up to $160 billion in the next five years, an energy report has revealed.

Kuwait City, Dec 18 (IANS) The last batch of US combat forces in Iraq crossed into neighbouring Kuwait Sunday, ending its nearly nine-year presence in the country.

Beirut, Feb 16 (IANS/EFE) Lebanon's energy and water minister has announced the launch of a pre-qualification phase for companies interested in developing oil and gas reserves in the country's territorial waters.

Beirut, Dec 18 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Two Russian nationals were abducted near the western Syrian port city of Latakia, the Russian embassy in Syria said Monday.

Beirut, Oct 19 (IANS) Lebanon's senior security official Wissam El Hassan died in Friday's car bomb explosion in a eastern district of Beirut, reported Xinhua citing security sources speaking on condition of anonymity.

Beirut, Sep 14 (IANS/AKI) Pope Benedict XVI Friday described himself as a "pilgrim of peace" and called for an end to the civil war in Syria.

Tripoli, Jan 17 (IANS) The trial of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, began Thursday but was postponed till May 2 due to the absence of his lawyer, Xinhua reported.

Tripoli, Jan 14 (IANS) Slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's eldest son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senoussi will stand trial in Libya as early as next month, Xinhua reported Monday.

Tripoli, Oct 21 (IANS) Khamis, son of slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has died following clashes with government forces, Xinhua reported.

Tripoli, Sep 12 (IANS) A US diplomatic personnel was killed Tuesday night after hundreds of protesters, agitated by an alleged US-made movie that insults the Prophet Mohammed, broke into the US consulate in Libya's Benghazi city, an interior ministry official said.

Muscat, Oct 16 (IANS) A 52-year-old homeless Indian worker in Oman, who has no job and is suffering from various diseases, has threatened to end his life unless he gets help to return to his home country.

Muscat, Oct 1 (IANS) Date palm leaves can help remove chemicals like pharmaceuticals and dyes from hospital waste water before it is discharged into the municipal sewers, says a scientist from a university in Oman.

Muscat, July 10 (IANS) A 30-year-old mason from India, who was reported missing by his friends last week, was found hanging from a tree in Oman's southern town of Salalah, Gulf News reported Tuesday.

Muscat, July 2 (IANS) India midfielder Lalrindika Ralte said in Tuesday's do-or-die match against hosts Oman in the AFC U-22 Championship qualifier even giving 100 percent may not yield a favourable result.

Gaza, Feb 16 (IANS) Hamas and Israel held indirect discussions, faciliated by Egypt, to further implement the November ceasefire that ended their clash in Gaza, a Hamas official said Saturday, reported Xinhua.

Gaza, Dec 8 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Khaled Meshaal, political leader of Hamas, has reached the Gaza Strip, setting foot on Palestinian soil for the first time in 37 years.

Gaza, Nov 26 (IANS) UN's special envoy to the Middle East has urged Hamas to abide by the Egyptian−brokered ceasefire with Israel for the interest of people in the Gaza Strip, Xinhua reported.

Gaza, Nov 25 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The body of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will be exhumed Tuesday as part of a renewed probe into his death, the Palestinian authorities said.

Doha, Dec 21 (IANS) VR Raghunath's brace helped India beat Japan 3-1 giving them their second win in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here Friday.

Doha, Dec 19 (IANS) Pakistan hockey captain Mohammed Imran hailed the Hockey Indian League (HIL), saying it will help players from both the nations to learn from their European counterparts.

Doha, Dec 19 (IANS) Pakistan hockey captain Muhammed Imran feels his team was under pressure to win the Asian Champions Trophy starting Dec 20 following their bronze medal finish at the Champions Trophy in Melbourne.

Doha, Dec 19 (IANS) India's chief hockey coach Michael Nobbs feels that Pakistan, who finished third in the Champions Trophy, are favourites to win the Asian Champions Trophy that begins here from Dec 20.

Riyadh, Feb 4 (IANS/EFE) Saudi Labor Minister Adel Faqih announced on the weekend that women will soon be allowed to work in pharmacies, a job held only by men so far, media reports said.

Riyadh, Feb 3 (IANS) US defence-tech giant Lockheed Martin has launched a branch here in the Saudi capital, a media report said Sunday.

Riyadh, Dec 24 (IANS) For the first time, women will represent 10 percent of the 150 seats of the Saudi Shura, or consultative council, in the coming legislative term, Xinhua reported.

Riyadh, Dec 24 (IANS) For the first time, women will represent 10 percent of the 150 seats of the Saudi Shura, or consultative council, in the coming legislative term, Xinhua reported.

Sharjah, Dec 8 (IANS/WAM) Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Oxfam GB, a member of an international confederation of 15 organisations working together in 98 countries.

Damascus, Feb 21 (IANS) At least 16 people were killed and 208 wounded Thursday when a suicide bomber blew up a car packed with explosives at a busy intersection close to the ruling al-Baath Party headquarters in capital Damascus, the state media reported.

Damascus, Feb 21 (IANS) Divorce rate has gone up by 45 percent and marriage rate has dropped over 40 percent in Syria since the outbreak of protests against the government, show a media survey.

Damascus, Feb 2 (IANS) Iran's supreme national security council chief Saed Jalili stressed Saturday that his country will keep supporting Syria in the face of foreign aggression, reported Xinhua citing the state TV.

Damascus, Jan 31 (IANS) The Syrian foreign ministry Thursday summoned the chief of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) and filed an official complaint about an Israeli air strike that targeted a military research centre in the capital, Xinhua reported.

Geneva, Feb 20 (IANS) Human Rights Watch Wednesday urged the UN Human Rights Council to launch "an independent, international investigation into war crimes" committed in the final months of the Sri Lankan conflict.

Geneva, Feb 20 (IANS) The nuclear test Feb 12 was a "self-defence" measure in reaction to America's ever increasing threat, a North Korean diplomat said here.

Dubai, Feb 18 (IANS) South Africa has been guaranteed the number-one position on the ICC Test Championship table at the April 1 cut-off date after victory in the Cape Town Test against Pakistan.

Dubai, Feb 17 (IANS) Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma Sunday urged the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund and UAE-based companies to invest in India's infrastructure sector, especially in aviation, telecom, ports and road transport.

Sanaa, Feb 17 (IANS) A Dutch national kidnapped four days ago by armed tribesmen in Yemen's western region has been freed, the Yemeni interior ministry said Sunday.

Sanaa, Feb 2 (IANS) Indian Nagarjuna Construction Company is seeking to invest $1.2 billion in Yemen, Yemeni official agency Saba reported.

Sana'a, Nov 28 (IANS) A Saudi Arabian military diplomat was Wednesday assassinated by unidentified gunmen in security uniforms in the capital city of Sanaa, Xinhua reported.

Aden (Yemen), Oct 9 (IANS) Yemeni security forces have captured an Al Qaeda leader linked to a suicide bombing that killed a top army officer earlier this year in the southern port city of Aden, Xinhua reported.