By Mohamed Arshi Mat Daud, NNN-Bernama

Kuala Lumpur : The Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB) is optimistic that proceeds from its upcoming first offering of Malaysian currency sukuk (Islamic bonds), a 500 million Ringgit (one USD = about 3.19 Ringgit) issue, will be fully utilized within two years.

By NNN-WAM

Abu Dhabi : The UAE and Kuwait have signed, at the end of the first meeting of the higher joint committee for cooperation, seven agreements and memorandums of understanding.

By NNN-KUNA

Riyadh : Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal has said that his country was looking forward to the upcoming Arab Summit to be held in Damascus.

Addressing the Saudi Shura Council Sunday, Prince Faisal indicated that the upcoming meeting for the Arab League's council would focus on items to be discussed in the Arab Summit, to be held end of March.

By NNN-KUNA

Gaza : Fourteen Palestinians were killed in the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip with 22 others injured on the second day of aggression on northern Gaza Sunday, a Palestinian medical official said.

Muaweya Hassanein, Director of Emergency at the Health Ministry, told KUNA the number of Palestinians killed by the Israeli attacks has reached 110.

By NNN-KUNA

Baghdad : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Iraq is hoped to motivate other regional leaders to visit the country and open wider doors for dialogue, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki said.

By NNN-KUNA

Gaza : US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has contacted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and discussed the developments in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Radio said.

The radio said Sunday Abbas asked Rice to do whatever it could to stop the Israeli military operations which were affecting the peace process.

By NNN-KUNA

Washington : The United States has urged Israel and Palestine to halt violence and resume peace talks.

This statement by the White House was issued Sunday shortly after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he would suspend peace talks with Israel over the latest Israeli military operations in Gaza.

By NNN-KUNA

Ramallah : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said that he will continue contacts with all concerned parties to bring about an end to the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.

By DPA

Vienna : Western nations are turning up the heat for Tehran at the UN nuclear watchdog's Board of Governors meeting starting Monday, demanding answers from Iran over intelligence on alleged covert weaponisation studies.

By KUNA

Kabul : One Canadian soldier and several Taliban insurgents were killed in separate incidents of violence in southern Afghanistan, the foreign military said here Monday.

A statement from the coalition forces' Bagram base said several insurgents were killed and eight suspects were detained during two separate operations to degrade Taliban leadership networks.