TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iran’s economic growth during the first 9 months of the current (Iranian) year surpassed 6%, said president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad here on Sunday as he submitted the new Iranian year’s budget bill to the parliament.

AMMAN (JT) — King Abdullah on Sunday said the region was in urgent need of activating the Quartet of Mideast peace mediators.

DAMASCUS (Agencies) — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday his negotiations with Hamas leader Khaled Mishaal had been “fruitful” and that talks to form a unity government would continue.

BAGHDAD (AFP) — At least 25 US troops were killed across Iraq in one of the deadliest days for the American forces since the invasion began, as the military said Sunday 3,200 new troops had arrived to quell Baghdad violence.

WASHINGTON (AFP) —  US Democrats forged ahead Sunday with plans to introduce a resolution in Congress condemning President George W. Bush’s decision to send more troops to Iraq, where the US toll rose sharply.

TEHRAN (AP) — Adamant not to budge under pressure, Iran on Sunday announced new short-range missile tests, and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismissed criticism that new UN Security Council sanctions were hurting the economy.

SUSIYA — The turnout is good. Four coach loads of people have come from all over Israel. There are two from Jerusalem, one from Tel Aviv and one from Herzliya. On a sunny January mid-morning, the maybe 200 people walking across the arid hills in the southern West Bank, with …

MOGADISHU (Reuters) — Kenya has sent about 30 prisoners shackled hand-and-foot on a plane to Somalia after arresting them near the border on suspicion of belonging to an ousted Islamist movement, their representatives said on Sunday.

N’DJAMENA (AFP) — A “quiet war” is under way between Chad and Sudan fuelled by instability in the western Sudanese region of Darfur, a special US envoy said here Saturday.

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