Berlin - The German Foreign Ministry welcomed Wednesday the
announcement of an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire between Israel and the
militant Hamas group aimed at ending months of violence in the Gaza
Strip.

The accord has the potential noticeably to improve security in
Israel as well as the economic situation of the people in Gaza,
spokesman Martin Jaeger said.

The truce is due to take effect at 6 am (0300 GMT) Thursday,
following which Israel is expected to ease crossing restrictions after
24 hours.

Israel imposed a blockade of the Gaza Strip in response to
near-daily rocket and mortar attacks on its southern towns and villages
and tightened it after Hamas seized sole control of Gaza in June 2007.

Bangkok - Cyclone-damaged Myanmar needs an estimated 32 million dollars in immediate emergency aid to help 52,000 farming families plant their rice this rainy season, the Food and Agriculture Organ

Berlin - The German government has made 70 million euros (110 million dollars) available for reconstruction projects in Afghanistan next year, Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul said We

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Washington, June 18 : The Pentagon has said that it would discourage Afghanistan from undertaking any missions in Pakistani territory and urged resolution of the issues through a tripartite mechani

Tehran - Iran's envoy at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Wednesday termed the new sanction plans by the United States and Britain against Iran illegal.