China, Japan plan first joint military exercise

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama called on China’s defence chief on Friday to enhance the “transparency” of the communist giant’s militar

Iraq war inquiry

LONDON: Britain’s top diplomat at the United Nations in the build up to the 2003 Iraq war told an inquiry on Friday that attempts to win international

Eating time is important too!

LONDON: When you eat may be just as vital to your wellbeing as what you eat, says an Indian-American researcher. Experiments in mice revealed that the

Holiday hopes turn to heartache for Gazans

As rumours swirled of an imminent prisoner exchange deal, Nur al-Aqel felt sure she would spend this year’s Eid-ul-Azha feast with her father, who has

German minister under fire over Afghan strike

BERLIN: After media revelations over a deadly bombing in Afghanistan claimed the scalp of Germany’s top general, the press and opposition turned their

‘Signs emerge for progress in Myanmar’

ROME: Opportunities are emerging for a breakthrough in the political stalemate in military-ruled Myanmar, including the possibility of talks with the

Pushing alternative crops in Afghan opium fight

NAD ALI, Afghanistan: From the helicopter, you can see the empty fields of southern Afghanistan’s Helmand River valley. Now comes the question: when t

Space shuttle Atlantis aims for morning landing

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida: With clear, crisp weather back home, space shuttle Atlantis aimed for an on-time landing on Friday morning in Florida to wrap

World powers censure Iran over N-work

VIENNA: The UN nuclear watchdog censured Iran on Friday and demanded it immediately halt construction of a newly-revealed uranium enrichment plant as

Israel approves construction of new illegal buildings in West Bank

OCCUPIED-AL-QUDS/CAIRO: Israel has approved construction of 28 new illegal public buildings in the occupied West Bank, the defence ministry said on Fr

US-Russia will miss nuclear treaty deadline

MOSCOW: The United States and Russia will fail to reach a deal on a key nuclear arms treaty before it expires early next month, the Interfax news agen

‘Russia assures Iran on missile delivery’

MOSCOW: Russia has assured Iran it will honour a deal to supply the Islamic Republic with advanced S-300 air-defence missiles, Tehran’s ambassador to