World - Ahram Online

World

Iraq VP barred from overseas travel in political crisis

A judicial committee decides to prevent Tareq al-Hashemi and a number of his guards from traveling overseas due to issues related to terrorism, in latest development in a political crisis after US troops completed a pullout

Observer advance team to Syria within 72 hours

Israel frees 550 Palestinians in Shalit swap

Most of the released prisoners are from Fatah as Israel seeks to create divisions within Palestinian resistance movement

Pakistan's leader returns home amid scandal

Pakistani President Zardari returns home after being told by doctors he could leave Dubai where he spent two weeks undergoing medical treatment

Breaking: Syria finally agrees to Arab observer mission

Syria finally gives its consent to an Arab observer mission to monitor a deal to end nine months of bloodshed, ending weeks of prevarication that had prompted the Arab League to adopt sanctions against the country

Bahrain opposition urges talks

Five opposition groups in Bahrain, led by Al-Wefaq, call on the government to start a national dialogue to end the Kingdom's 10-month crisis

Syria set to agree observer deal: Arab diplomat

Palestinian commander's bodyguard killed in Lebanon

An attack on the head of Palestinian party Fatah's police force in the Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon kills his bodyguard

Region

Last US troops leave Iraq, ending war

Last US troops leave Iraq ending almost nine-year war that toppled Saddam Hussein and left country facing enormous political, economic challenges

Obama urges unity as he thanks troops after Iraq

Iraq takes control of last US military base

Iraqis burn US flags to celebrate troop withdrawal

Analysts: Iran to exploit power vacuum as US quits Iraq

Syria releases female blogger Razan Ghazzawi on bail

Syrian Centre for Media and Free Expression says Razan Ghazzawi, a Syrian-American blogger, was released from detention on bail of $300

Saudi prince buys $300 mn stake in Twitter

Saudi billionaire Walid Bin Talal buys a combined investment of $300 million in the social networking site Twitter

Iraqis joyful as US leaves but wary of leaders

Iraqis optimistic of the US withdrawal, however believe that the country situation will only improve if politicians work on fighting corruption and adopt reforms

Gulf leaders to meet as region struck by upheaval

Gulf Cooperation Council holds its first annual meeting since the Arab spring started, Several regional issues impose themselves on the summit this year, including relations with Iran as well as the situation of Syria and Yemen

Israel, US 'determined' to halt Iran nuclear drive: Barak

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak says the Jewish State and the US are determined to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons

International

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, 69, has died

Kim Jong Il, North Korea's mercurial and enigmatic longtime leader, died of heart failure

Japan preparing for unexpected after Kim's death

Japan's prime minister urges his ministers to strengthen information gathering efforts and boost security coordination after North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il dies

16 bodies found, 37 feared dead in Russian oil rig disaster

Investigation underway into sinking of ship off Sakhalin island, officials suspect safety rules violation a contributory factor

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