(Reuters) – Following are developments in the fighting in the Gaza Strip as of 0500 GMT: (* Denotes new or updated items) *GAZA – Palestinian witnesses report heavy fighting east of the city of Gaza where Hamas militants fired anti-tank missiles and mortar bombs at advancing Israeli forces who responded …

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel said on Sunday the job of stopping arms smuggling from Egypt to the Gaza Strip should be done by Egyptian forces and rejected the idea of an international force. European and Israeli diplomats have said an international force is part of a package mediators are trying …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi exchanged views over the phone Friday on promoting further development of bilateral relations in 2009 and international and regional issues of common concern. On the situation in the Gaza Strip, Yang said China is seriously concerned and …

TEHRAN (FNA)- The first shipment of Iranian crude oil of 65,000 metric tons arrived in Karachi on Friday to fulfill supply of local refineries. The shipment is being carried out on the fresh agreement between Iran and Pakistan on the condition of 90 days deferred payment. According to reports, the …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Kuwaiti Acting Communications Minister Abdulrahman Al-Ghunaim recently received a delegation from Iran’s Telecommunications Infrastructure Company (TIC) – Tehran’s representative in a joint sea fiber cable project between Kuwait and Iran. TIC is a leading Iranian public communications infrastructure company, sources told al-Anba. The minister invited the delegation to …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran has decided to pay India in euros instead of US dollars for the tea it imports from this country, Tea Board of India chief Basudeb Banerjee said after returning from a three-day visit to Iran. India exports 11-12 million kg of tea to Iran every year at …

After several days of outages due to the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute, heating in Serbian households was back to normal on Friday thanks to gas imports from Hungary and Germany. Dusan Bajatovic, general manager of Srbijagas, told Balkan Insight that between four and five tons of natural gas should arrive daily …

Kosovo and Albania said they will soon sign an agreement creating a ‘mini-Schengen’ zone allowing free movement across their borders, a deal that could lead to a wider no-border zone in the region. Travel between Albania and Kosovo is currently possible by showing one’s passport or driver’s license. “The agreement …

The leaders of Macedonia’s four main political parties agreed on March 22 as the date for holding presidential and local elections, seen as a test for the country’s democratic credentials. Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, leader of the ruling centre right VMRO DPMNE party, told local media that parliament speaker Trajko …

GAZA (Reuters) – Israeli aircraft, tanks and ships pounded the Gaza Strip for a 15th day Saturday and militants from Hamas fired rockets back at Israel, both sides defying international efforts to put a stop to the conflict. In the latest exchange of fire, eight Palestinians were killed by an …