Middle Orient News

KUWAIT (Reuters) – Kuwait’s ruler has dissolved parliament days after the government resigned, Al Jazeera television reported on Wednesday.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s presidential council paved the way for provincial elections on Wednesday when it signed a law seen by Washington as crucial to helping reconcile the nation’s factions.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran reported it will sign a final agreement to export natural gas via pipeline to Pakistan in April.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The outcome of the regular parliament elections in Iran will not affect the foreign policy of the government, regarding the nuclear plans, a political analyst said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s budget for the new Iranian year, which starts on 21 March, will be 20 per cent bigger than last year, at $304bn compared with $253bn.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Similar to other years, Iranians all across the country celebrated the ancient Persian tradition of Last-Wednesday-of-the-Year Fireworks (Chaharshanbeh Souri) as a prelude to Nowruz (the start of the new year).

TEHRAN (FNA)- Switzerland and Iran signed a huge deal on Monday for the supply of Iranian natural gas to Europe, sparking harsh criticism from the United States.

DUBAI (Reuters) – A top Hamas official said on Tuesday his group was ready to accept a Yemeni initiative for reconciliation with the rival Fatah, but did not say if that means it accepts to relinquish its grip over the Gaza strip.

GAZA (Reuters) – Israeli forces fired a missile at a group of Islamic Jihad militants in the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, wounding four, the Palestinian militant faction said.

GENEVA (Reuters) – Nearly one in five of Iraq’s population before the U.S.-led invasion five years ago are living as internally displaced people or refugees in other countries, a global relief agency said on Tuesday.