Egypt arrests 16 Africans trying to enter Israel , report

Egyptian authorities arrested 16 Ethiopians and Eritreans who were trying to illegally cross the Egypt-Israel border Saturday.

Officials say they were arrested during two different attempts to enter Israel.

Illegal immigration to Israel through Egypt has increased over recent years. (more…)

Senior Syrian official arrested over spying for Israel, report

Israeli newspapers reported that Syria recently arrested a senior official on suspicion of handing over information to an “Egyptian spy” who allegedly worked in the service of Mossad.

The report was based on the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi Friday report. (more…)

Russia to buy two warships from France

After a long hesitation and arduous negotiations, Russia has decided to buy at least two of France’s advanced Mistral-class amphibious warships in an unprecedented military deal between Moscow and the West, the two nations said Friday. (more…)

Dutch police arrest 12 on suspicion of terrorism

Dutch authorities have arrested 12 men of Somali origin they believe were about to carry out a terrorist attack, authorities said Saturday.

The country’s intelligence service provided information that led to the arrests in Rotterdam, Public Prosecution Service spokesman Wim de Bruin told CNN. (more…)

Abbas: No Israelis in an independent Palestinian state

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Saturday that when a Palestinian state is established, it would have no Israelis in it. (more…)

Christmas Eve bombings in Nigeria kill 31, report

Five blasts went off in the Nigerian city of Jos Friday night as residents were celebrating Christmas Eve, leaving 31 dead, a regional government official said. (more…)

Bkirki is the focal point on Christmas day in Lebanon

As the Christians in Lebanon celebrate Christmas the focal point today is Bkirki the headquarters of f the patriarchate and the winter residence of Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir. (more…)

Pope urges peace in the Middle East

In his traditional Christmas message delivered Saturday to crowds braving winter’s chill, Pope Benedict XVI urged peace in the Middle East and asked for God’s comfort upon beleaguered Christian communities in Iraq and elsewhere in the region. (more…)

Report: Obama Is Set to Shuffle His Staff

President Obama is planning the first major reorganization of his administration, preparing to shuffle several positions in the West Wing as he tries to fortify his political team for the realities of divided government and his own re-election. (more…)

WikiLeaks to show Israel behind Dubai murder

The founder of WikiLeaks has said leaked US diplomatic cables, to be released soon, will prove that the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad was involved in the murder of Hamas commander Mahmoud Al Mabhouh in Dubai last January.

The statement by Julian Assange in an interview with Al Jazeera on Wednesday, proves what the Dubai Police have been saying all along, police chief Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim told Gulf News Thursday. (more…)