Israel could launch military strike on Iran 'within nine months

Israel could launch an air strike against Iran within nine months in a bid to slow Tehran's progress towards building a nuclear weapon, according to a former senior White House aide. Dennis Ross, a veteran diplomat on the Middle East, said Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not necessarily feel restrained by objections from President Barack Obama, despite his country's historically close ties with Washington. His remarks came as Israel's chief of military intelligence, Gen Aviv Kochavi, said Israel was convinced Iran had enough radioactive material to produce four nuclear bombs. "Iran is very actively pursuing its efforts to develop its nuclear capacities, and we have evidence that they are seeking...

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Taliban will retake Afghanistan: US

LONDON: The Taliban are set to retake control over Afghanistan after NATO-led forces withdraw from the country. That’s according to a leaked US report, which also accuses Pakistan of assisting the Taliban in attacking NATO forces. The Times of London newspaper said the document’s findings were based on interrogations of more than 4-thousand Taliban and al Qaeda detainees. Pakistan denies the charge, describing the report as "frivolous" and going against the country’s policy of "non-interference". The leaked report comes as the US and Afghan governments are trying to enter peace talks with the Taliban. Despite the presence of about 100-thousand foreign troops, the UN says violence in Afghanistan is at its worst since the Taliban was ousted...

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UAE, Qatar stop trade finance to Iran over sanctions

 The central banks of UAE and Qatar have told lenders to stop financing trade withIran, bankers said on Thursday, cutting another source of credit for a country struggling under Western economic sanctions imposed over its nuclear programme. The Gulf has a long history of trade with Iran, especially in Dubai where there is a large Iranian trading community, and Gulf banks had been expected to fill a funding gap for the import of grains left by European lenders banned from financing trade by EU sanctions. "Banks in Dubai were asked by the UAE central bank to stop issuing letters of credit to finance trade with Iran. Before the sanctions, the central bank regularly checked on trading with Iran and wanted to know of all dealings...

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Taliban deny talks with Afghan govt

The Taliban have scotched reports they have planned direct peace talks with the Afghan government. Rumours have swirled for days that President Hamid Karzai's government was seeking direct talks, to be held in Saudi Arabia, in an effort to take charge of the peace effort that has so far been dominated by American efforts and talks with Taliban representatives. A statement on Wednesday from Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid rejected those reports as 'baseless.' He also noted that exploratory talks between the insurgency and the US-led international military coalition in Afghanistan have not yet reached the stage for negotiations. 'Before the negotiation phase, there should be trust-building between the sides, which has not started yet,'...

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Pakistan ready to complete whitewash against England

Courtesy: The News Tribe Dubai: England will try it best to avoid a whitewash at the hand of Pakistan in the three-match test series, as it is facing the host in the final test in Dubai on Friday. Pakistan leading the series with an unassailable merging of 2-0 and ready to complete 3-0.England would replace out of form Morgan with Ravi Bopara while Pakistan would replace Junaid Khan with Wahab Riaz.There are reports that the pitch of Dubai stadium will help spinners.Under Andrew Strauss England had won only against Bangladesh in the Sub-Contine...

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Azan inspires Hollywood actor Liam Neeson to convert to Islam

ISTANBUL (Turkey), 9 Rabi Al-Awwal/1 Feb (IINA)-Hollywood actor Liam Neeson has announced that he may convert to Islam as he was inspired by Islamic call to prayer (Azan) while filming in Istanbul, Turkey, media reports quoted the actor as saying on Monday. He was ranked at number 69 on Empire magazine’s 100 greatest movie stars of all time in 1997. Neeson, 59,   is an Irish actor, who has been nominated for an Oscar, a BAFTA and three Golden Globe Awards. He has starred in a number of notable roles including Oskar Schindler in Schindler’s List, Michael Collins in Michael Collins, Peyton Westlake in Darkman, Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars (the film Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and an...

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