Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike as agreement reached with Israeli officials

Palestinian prisoners have agreed to end an almost month-long hunger strike after reaching an Egyptian-brokered agreement with the Israeli authorities.Babolat Aero Racquets

The Israeli Prison Service confirmed that the deal will end the mass strike of over 1,600 prisoners which began on April 17th. They say the prisoners have agreed not to engage in terrorism inside the jail in exchange for the restoration of several privileges that had been taken away before last October.Babolat Pure Drive Racquets

Relatives of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike celebrate in Gaza City after hearing that the prisoners have agreed a deal with Israel to end their fast in exchange for an easing of their conditions.

Israel has agreed to return inmates in solitary confinement to the general prison population, allow visits from prisoners’ families living in Gaza, and end administrative detentions, as well as returning cell phones and television sets to the cells.

The hunger-striking prisoners are currently under medical supervision.Wilson Tennis Racquets

Leaders of the Palestinian prisoners signed the agreement on behalf of all the hunger-striking inmates from all groups and organizations including the Islamic Jihad and Hamas.Babolat Tennis Racquets

Relatives of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails celebrate the signing of a deal by the prisoners to end a hunger strike, in Gaza City May 14, 2012.

A Palestinian woman holds a portrait of a relative held in an Israeli jail during celebrations after a deal to end the prisoner's hunger strike was agreed to, in Gaza City May 14, 2012.

Palestinians wave flags as they celebrate the signing of a deal to end the Palestinian prisoners hunger strike, in the West Bank city of Ramallah May 14, 2012.

A girl holds a portrait of a Palestinian held in an Israeli jail during celebrations after a deal to end a prisoners hunger strike was agreed, in the West Bank city of Ramallah May 14, 2012.

Greece to pay pack debt when possible: nationalist party leader

Greece should pay back its debt load to international creditors after serving Greek people's fundamental needs first, Panos Kammenos, head of the newly-founded nationalist Independent Greeks party, said Friday ahead of the May 6 general elections.taylormade drivers

In a speech at his party's final rally under the Acropolis hill,Kammenos accused the conservative and socialist coalition partners of New Democracy and PASOK that support the bailout deals with international lenders to resolve the two-year Greek debt crisis, of condemning Greeks to poverty with the ongoing harsh austerity.taylormade irons

"We will pay back our dues, when we will be able to do so, not under such pressure...They call us dangerous, but we are just independent Greeks...We are dangerous for those who sell off Greece," Kammenos said.callaway drivers

He called on Greek voters to support his party, resist further salary cuts, tax increases and the privatization of public assets that critics call a sell off and "take their destiny into their own hands."taylormade r11 driver

Founded as a splinter anti-austerity and anti-bailout party from the main Right New Democracy party this year, the Independent Greeks could garner some 10 percent during Sunday's polls, according to pollsters.taylormade rocketballz driver

Kammenos has not excluded the prospect of supporting an anti-bailout coalition government formed mainly by Leftist parties, if New Democracy and PASOK will not win parliamentary majority, as opinion polls showed, and will fail to clinch new pro-reform coalition partners.taylormade r11s driver

He argued that the next government can overcome the debt crisis that threatens Greece with disorderly bankruptcy since late 2009 focusing on solving chronic problems, such as corruption and waste of funds, rather than continuing on the austerity path that has fuelled recession.

The pro-bailout forces reply that such rhetoric and way of thinking is dangerous, since adds political instability to the financial woes, alarms lenders and international financial markets and could lead Greece to default and out of the eurozone.

Indian vocalist brings music in Pakistan

In Pakistan, the streets of Karachi filled with melodic Sufi tunes thanks to the Indian vocalist Kailash Kher and his band Kailasa. The fundraising concert, organized by the Medical Aid Foundation, comes just days after Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari visited India. He held talks with the Indian Premier Manmohan Singh on trade and culture.Wilson Tennis Racket

Music has no boundaries.

In the back drop of Pakistani President Asif Zardari's visit to India where according to the president he held very fruitful talks with the Indian premier, this cross-border concert by an Indian artist comes as a breath of fresh air for the violence struck Karachi.

It was a two hours ride of pure and passionate music.

The audience swayed to lilting melodies and head-banged to thumping tabla and drum beats all along.Babolat Tennis Racket

Pakistan shares many similarities with India including language, clothing and especially music.

The crowd, both young and old were mesmerized by the variety of musical performances of the band.

They hoped such events would continue in the future.

This initiative had a greater cause behind it.Head Tennis Racket

Dr. Saira Khan, has been holding such fund raisers for a number of cancer hospitals she plans to build in Pakistan.

Dr. Saira Khan said, "We have been doing this from 1980 through the medical aid foundation and we made the first cancer hospital in Pakistan called Rahat Kada, this event is for the new building. We got the land in donation, it is 8000 square yard land and then we asked Kailash to sing for us, we find him very humane and humble."

Kailash Kher shared his experience of his first visit to Pakistan and also promised to perform again in future.Prince Tennis Racket

Many young Pakistani singers have performed on Indian stage as well as films.Wilson Blx

Experts say, despite fighting three wars, India and Pakistan share a deep rooted history, they say the hearts and minds of people can only be won with love and peace, and that war is not the answer to any conflict.Wilson Tennis Racquets

CCTV's Danial Khan said, "Where, at one point this event is focusing on raising funds for a cancer hospital, many believe that this initiative will also give a boost to cross border cultural exchanges, which they say will greatly help in stabilizing the relationship of the two countries."

Annan says Syria peace plan very much alive

The UN Arab league Peace envoy for Syria, Kofi Annan says his peace plan is very much alive despite the fact that Damascus missed Tuesday’s deadline to cease attacks and pull its armies from Syrian cities. Annan also reports that the next 48 hours are crucial and urged all governments to push the Syrian government to comply with its commitments.scotty cameron putter

Kofi Annan flies into Turkey but it is his peace plan that is having trouble getting off the ground. He is vowing not to give up.

U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan speaks during a news conference at Hatay airport, southern Turkey, April 10, 2012.

Kofi Annan said, "I believe it’s a bit too early to say the plan has failed. The plan is still on the table, and is a plan we are all fighting to implement. It’s a plan the council has endorsed. It’s a plan the Syrians have endorsed. And from the comments made by the opposition they are also prepared to go along with it if the government misses commitments to pull the troops out. And so I think the plan is very much alive. And if you want to take it off the table, what would you replace it with?"TaylorMade R11S Irons

What indeed would replace it - the plan has united the Security Council for the first time in this crisis, and in a letter to the council Annan is urging all member states to urge Syria to implement what it has signed onto and fast. Perhaps Syria’s closest ally, Russia, is pushing too - in Moscow strong words for the Syrian Foreign Minister from his Russian counterpart.

U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, third from left, is welcomed by Syrian refugee children upon his arrival at Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province, Turkey, Tuesday, April 10, 2012.

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, said, "We think that their actions need to be more active and stronger in the application of the Annan plan."

Damascus however says it is starting to comply. Walid Mouallem, Syrian Foreign Minister, said, "We have already withdrawn our military units from several Syrian provinces."TaylorMade RocketBallz Driver

But Annan says it is not enough, and on the ground violence continues to rage. Scores are reportedly killed in the last 24 hours. The United States while giving Annan a couple more days is already looking past the plan’s failure.TaylorMade R11 Driver

Susan Rice, US Ambassador to the United Nations, said, "We face a moment of truth coming up the US view is that it is outrageous but by no means unexpected or surprising that the government has yet again had made commitments and broken them."TaylorMade R11s Driver

US, Pakistani military officials meet for first time since fatal airstrikes

Senior US and Pakistani military officials have met in Islamabad in what many see as an unprecedented escalation in diplomatic efforts between the two nations. The meeting follows sideline talks between US President Barack Obama and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani at the Seoul nuclear summit on Tuesday and comes ahead of a high profile visit to Pakistan by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. But how likely are these measures to ease current tensions? titleist 910d2

Wednesday’s meeting between the United States and Pakistan’s top military brass is the highest level military meeting since 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed by NATO forces last November.

In the interim the countries have exchanged a number of thinly veiled criticisms of each other during the most tense period of their diplomatic alliance.titleist 910D3

On Tuesday US President Barack Obama met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister on the side lines of a nuclear summit in Seoul for the he most prominent talks since the killing of Osama bin Laden.Ping G20

Afterwards the President expressed his most candid views to date on the troubled US-Pakistan alliance.

Obama said, “There have been times – I think we should be frank – over the last several months where those relations have had periods of strains, but I welcome the fact that the parliament of Pakistan is reviewing, after some extensive study, the nature of this relationship, I think it’s important for us to get it right, I think it’s important for us to have candid dialogue, to work through these issues in a constructive fashion and a transparent fashion, and my expectation is that as a result of the review that’s taking place in Pakistan, as well as the work that we’re doing on the American side that we can achieve the kind of balanced approach that respects Pakistan’s sovereignty but also respects our concerns.”TaylorMade Drivers

In spite of this Pakistan’s parliament is pressing ahead with a review of recommendations from its national security committee on future ties with Washington.Taylormade r11 Driver

They include a end to U.S. drone attacks in the tribal regions of Pakistan and the possible reopening of supply routes to NATO troops in Afghanistan.

Adding momentum to this latest upsurge in American diplomatic efforts is the proposed visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the coming weeks.

An escalation of activity which implies, analysts say, a final push ahead of elections in both countries in the coming months.TaylorMade RocketBallz Driver

Political analyst Imitiza Gul said, “I think elections in both countries basically is making their respective positions harder or making it very difficult for the leadership in both countries to re-position themselves and redefine the terms of engagement. However given the current situation I think both countries should be able to find a middle way at some stage and after the pakistani parliament is through the recommendations that have come from various sources as far as the resetting of the relationship with the US is concerned.”TaylorMade R11S Driver

Reporter: “The unprecedented level of interaction between top civil and military leaders reveals the depth of concern over diplomatic relations between the United States and Pakistan.”

With the strain showing in what is an election year for both sides potentially, little choice remains but to push forward with these tricky negotiations.

Pacific island nations need to build resilience against shocks: IMF deputy chief

WASHINGTON, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Pacific island nations face challenges and they need to build buffer against external shocks, said Zhu Min, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday. taylormade drivers

"Those countries are obviously very diversified, they are very different in terms of cultures and economic structures. But they are facing common challenges," Zhu said at a high-level conference hosted jointly by the IMF and the government of Samoa on regional economic and development issues.taylormade irons

The senior official noted that the Pacific countries have very narrow base for production and export, and very limited space for diversification.callaway drivers

In order to build resilience to external shocks, Zhu said the first priority is to "try to build fiscal buffer in good years, particularly when growth is strong."

Zhu insisted that it is also important for Pacific countries to safeguard the socially and economically vulnerable, saying that they need to build more social safety net and provide service flows for all the people, particularly for the vulnerable in the downturn.

Zhu expressed high hope for the conference. "We very much expected to see very fruitful conversation with them to exchange views. We bring our knowledge, our forecast for the global financial situation to them, and they also bring their local knowledge for us to understand their situations better," he said.

Policymakers from 10 Pacific island nations, representatives from regional development partners, international organizations, academia, and the private sector attended the conference.

Bahrain shuts down embassy in Damascus

MANAMA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Bahrain's Foreign Ministry on Thursday evening announced the shut-down of its embassy in Damascus in what could be seen as part of the Gulf state's pressure against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.ping drivers

"Bahrain has decided to shut down its embassy in Damascus and withdraw all its diplomatic staff due to the worsening security condition", the ministry announced.

In a statement, the ministry called upon Bahraini citizens in Syria to leave the unrest-torn country immediately.ping irons

It also urged Bahrainis to contact the Kingdom's embassy in Amman, capital of Jordan, for emergency.callaway irons

However, it is still not clear whether the Syrian ambassador to Bahrain has been called back in turn.

In February, Bahraini lawmakers called for the expulsion of the Syrian ambassador for the country's alleged crackdown against anti- government protesters