PERSIAN GULF

IRAN LEADER SAYS HE APPROVES OF TALKS WITH U.S. ON IRAQ

TEHRAN, Iran – Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said yesterday that he approves of talks between America and Iranian officials on Iraq, but warned that the America must not try to “bully” Iran. It was the first confirmation that Mr. Khamenei, who holds final say on all state matters in Iran, is in favor of the talks.

His comments came hours after President Bush spoke in favor of such a meeting, saying American officials would show Iran “what’s right or wrong in their activities inside of Iraq.”

Mr. Khamenei said that “if the Iranian officials can make the U.S. understand some issues about Iraq, there is no problem with the negotiations.”

“But if the talks mean opening a venue for bullying and imposition by the deceitful party (the Americans), then it will be forbidden,” he said.

– Associated Press

WESTERN EUROPE

EUROPEAN UNION HANDS CHECK TO PALESTINIAN ARABS

The European Union yesterday handed a check for about $77 million to Karen AbuZayed of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, intended to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinian Arabs in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the British Broadcasting Corporation reported.The money from the European Union, which was the largest donor to the Palestinian Arabs in 2005, will be distributed by the United Nations – although the network quoted Ms. AbuZayed as saying that “we cannot go soft on our principles” with regard to a Hamas government.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

SPAIN CHARGES 32 IN PLOT TO DESTROY HIGH COURT

A Spanish judge has charged 32 Islamists for membership of a terrorist organization, conspiracy to commit a terrorist act, and forgery of documents as part of a plot to blow up Madrid’s National Court, the British Broadcasting Corporation reported. A Moroccan national, Mohamed Achraf, who allegedly set up the “Martyrs for Morocco” group while serving time for fraud in a Spanish prison, is suspected by Spanish authorities of planning the attack that a Spanish judge in the case, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, said could have killed 900 people.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

EAST ASIA

SINGAPOREANS CONVICTED FOR TRAFFICKING HUMANS BOUND FOR U.S.

Seven Singaporean parents were charged in court yesterday for using their children’s birth certificates to obtain forged Singaporean passports for Chinese children smuggled into America, Reuters reported. Unlike Chinese, Singaporeans do not require a visa to enter America.The parents allegedly cooperated with a Malaysian group and received about $1,200 for each false passport and about $300 for each child successfully smuggled into America, the wire service said.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun