Rebel News - Independent News and Analysis

A Saudi official says the account of a Sri Lankan maid who said her Saudi employers forced 24 nails and needles into her body is “fabricated.”

L. G. Ariyawathi's allegations were baseless and amounted to blackmail, said Saad al-Badah, the head of a Saudi government department responsible for foreign workers.

A gunman who had taken a number of people hostage at the Discovery Channel headquarters outside Washington is shot and the three hostages are safe, police says.

Montgomery County Police chief, J. Thomas Manger, said the gunman, James Lee, 43, has been taken into custody. It's not clear what his condition is. The hostages were safe and out of the building, CBS New, reported.

Despite impressive games by Hamed Haddad and Arsalan Kazemi, Iran loses against the US 51-88 at the preliminary round of 2010 FIBA World Championship in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Americans have won all the four games against Croatia, Slovenia, Brazil and now Iran on Wednesday and automatically advance to the elimination Round of 16 as the top seed in Group B.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has expressed concerns over food security due to the long lasting damage to the nation's agriculture.

He said floods have ravaged Pakistan's economy, and called the social impact of the disaster "serious."

Apple Inc unveiled a smaller, cheaper version of its Web-to-TV device on Wednesday, stepping up a battle with Google Inc and Microsoft Corp for control of the digital living room.

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs also rolled out a completely overhauled lineup of iPod media players and the latest version of iTunes, with a new logo that does away with the outdated image of a CD.

At least eight people have been killed in a fire bomb attack on a bar in the Mexican tourist town of Cancun. Local reports said the attack was carried out by a drug cartel which was trying to extort protection money from the bar owner. It has heightened fears that drug-related violence is spreading to tourist towns. Al Jazeera's Franc Contreras reports from Cancun.

Germany's Catholic Church unveils tougher guidelines on dealing with the sexual abuse of minors by priests, saying any such allegation must be reported to prosecutors.

The new guidelines are valid for three years and come in response to hundreds of allegations of abuse by the clergy across Germany, the BBC reported on Tuesday.

Muslims across the world observe Laylat al-Qadr, or the holy 'Night of Glory' marking the revelation of the holy Quran to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

Laylat al-Qadr is viewed as one of the most significant religious occasions for Muslims as special prayer rituals and services are held on the eves of the last ten odd days of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Alcohol-related hospital admissions across the UK have soared by two-thirds in the last five years, a major new study has found.

The Daily Telegraph published the findings of the study on Wednesday which say British hospitals admitted two people per minute for excessive use of alcohol.

Iran's basketball team will play against the United States in its fourth Group B match on Wednesday at the preliminary round of the 2010 FIBA world championship in Istanbul, Turkey.

Iran's basketball coach Veslin Matic said on Tuesday that "Iran has participated in the FIBA World Championship to make its dreams come true," adding, "The match between Iran and the US is not a political game."