KUAR NewsRoom

Israel-Hamas prisoner swap deal near (2009-11-23) CAIRO (Reuters) - Israel has softened its terms for a prisoner swap with Hamas and the two are nearing a deal to exchange hundreds of jailed Palestinians for an Israeli soldier held in the Gaza Strip, officials said on Monday.

Iraq parliament passes new vote law (2009-11-23) BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's parliament on Monday approved an amended law needed to hold an election next year, but the new text risks being vetoed a second time -- which could delay both the vote and next year's partial U.S. troop withdrawal.

Gunmen kill 21 in Philippine political war (2009-11-23) MANILA (Reuters) - Gunmen abducted and killed at least 21 people in the southern Philippines on Monday, apparently to prevent a woman filing her husband's nomination to run for provincial governor in elections next year, the military said.

Congo warlords in the dock at Hague court (2009-11-23) THE HAGUE (Reuters) - The world's first permanent war crimes court opens its second trial on Tuesday when two Congolese warlords face charges they ordered subordinates to attack civilians, rape women and enlist child soldiers.

Tajikistan fails to curb abuse of women: Amnesty (2009-11-23) ALMATY (Reuters) - The government of the Central Asian state of Tajikistan is failing to protect women from violence and abuse, human rights group Amnesty International said in a report on Tuesday.

Peacekeepers should prepare to leave Darfur: Sudan

(2009-11-23) UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Khartoum's U.N. envoy, rejecting a bleak U.N. assessment of the situation in Sudan's conflict-torn western Darfur region, said on Monday it was time for international peacekeepers to prepare to leave.

Jordan king dissolves parliament, calls election (2009-11-23) AMMAN (Reuters) - Jordan's King Abdullah has dissolved parliament halfway through its four-year term and called for early elections, state television reported Monday.

Saudi Arabia seeks to curb flu and stop protest at haj

(2009-11-23) RIYADH (Reuters) - More than two million Muslims gather this week for the annual haj pilgrimage to Islam's holy city of Mecca, where Saudi authorities hope to minimize spread of the H1N1 virus and prevent any political demonstration.

Remains of British hostage found in Lebanon (2009-11-23) BEIRUT (Reuters) - A forensics team has found the remains of a British journalist kidnapped by Palestinian militants in Lebanon 24 years ago, the British embassy said on Monday.

India tests nuclear-capable missile after sunset (2009-11-23) BHUBANESWAR, India (Reuters) - India's army tested a nuclear-capable Agni missile after sunset on Monday for the first time to demonstrate it could be fired whenever required, defense officials said.