• UK Muslim juror who refused to take veil off is ordered to stand down by judge because he wouldn't be able to see her facial expressions
• Saudi sends military gear to Syria rebels: diplomat
• U.S. war game sees perils of Israeli strike against Iran
• India eyes Pakistani route for Afghan mine access
• Malaysian Muslim leaders slam Christian conversion attempts

Details:

UK Muslim juror who refused to take veil off is ordered to stand down by judge because he wouldn't be able to see her facial expressions:

A Muslim woman was barred from serving on a jury yesterday because she refused to remove her veil. In an extraordinary ruling, a judge said she could not sit on an attempted murder trial because her full face covering, known as the niqab, concealed her expressions. The woman was about to take the oath in the case at Blackfriars Crown Court in London when the judge interrupted to ask if she was prepared to remove the garment which covered her whole face, apart from a narrow slit through which her eyes could be seen. Judge Aidan Marron QC, said it was ‘desirable' that her face was ‘exposed' during the trial and asked her to remove the veil. When she refused she was told to stand down and a white male member of the jury pool was sworn in her place. In the presence of the rest of the jury, Judge Marron said: ‘I wonder whether I can address the lady who is veiled. ‘Would you prefer not to remove your veil in this particular case?' The woman, who was wearing western clothing including a fitted grey jacket, replied: ‘Yes.' Judge Marron added: ‘I entirely understand that, but in this particular case it is desirable that your face is exposed, so I'm going to invite you to stand down. I hope you understand.'

Saudi sends military gear to Syria rebels: diplomat:

Saudi Arabia is delivering military equipment to Syrian rebels in an effort to stop bloodshed by President Bashar al-Assad's regime, a top Arab diplomat said a few days ago. "Saudi military equipment is on its way to Jordan to arm the Free Syrian Army," the diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity. "This is a Saudi initiative to stop the massacres in Syria," he added, saying that further "details will follow at a later time." The announcement came two days after the conservative Sunni-ruled kingdom said it had shut down its embassy in Syria and withdrawn all its staff. It also followed a brief meeting on the Syrian crisis last week between Jordan's King Abdullah II and the Saudi monarch King Abdullah in Riyadh. There was no official reaction to the statement from the Saudi capital, but Jordan flatly rejected the report."Jordan categorically denies the report," government spokesman and information minister Rakan Majali told AFP.

U.S. war game sees perils of Israeli strike against Iran:

A classified war simulation held this month to assess the repercussions of an Israeli attack on Iran forecasts that the strike would lead to a wider regional war, which could draw in the United States and leave hundreds of Americans dead, according to American officials. The officials said the so-called war game was not designed as a rehearsal for American military action - and they emphasized that the exercise's results were not the only possible outcome of a real-world conflict. But the game has raised fears among top American planners that it may be impossible to preclude American involvement in any escalating confrontation with Iran, the officials said. In the debate among policy makers over the consequences of any Israeli attack, that reaction may give stronger voice to those in the White House, Pentagon and intelligence community who have warned that a strike could prove perilous for the United States. The results of the war game were particularly troubling to Gen. James N. Mattis, who commands all American forces in the Middle East, Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia, according to officials who either participated in the Central Command exercise or who were briefed on the results and spoke on condition of anonymity because of its classified nature. When the exercise had concluded earlier this month, according to the officials, General Mattis told aides that an Israeli first strike would be likely to have dire consequences across the region and for United States forces there.

India eyes Pakistani route for Afghan mine access:

India will explore a route through Pakistan to transport iron ore from Afghanistan, the head of a consortium involved in the $11 billion project said, hoping that economic benefits will outweigh political hostility. Despite a spike in tension in Afghanistan and uncertainty over the future once foreign combat forces leave in 2014, India was committed to developing the Hajigak mines and a 6 million tonne steel plant alongside, CS Verma, chairman of Steel Authority of India, told Reuters in an interview. A contract is to be signed in two months in what will be the biggest foreign investment in Afghanistan's resources sector, larger than the $4.4 billion the Chinese are investing in the Aynak copper mine. Mining work is expected to begin in late 2014 just when Afghan security forces take over security responsibilities and it remains a big concern whether they will be able to tackle a Taliban insurgency at its worst. For the Indians, the challenge of transporting the ore out of the landlocked country is an additional issue given they have no direct access. Pakistan is the obvious route and the alternative is a longer way westwards to Iran and then shipping it through the port of Chabahar that India has promoted to reduce Afghanistan's dependence on Pakistan. But Verma told Reuters that the consortium made up of seven state and private firms was looking to move the ore along Pakistani roads crossing over to India, believing the benefits far outweighed political hostility between the two countries. "What we have here is a gold mine, more than just an iron mine. I believe this is what everyone else will eventually realise. Ultimately the economic interests of everyone in the region including Pakistan will take precedence".

Malaysian Muslim leaders slam Christian conversion attempts:

"There is a movement from the Christians, a group who are trying to convert the Muslims through various means. For example, they use the approach of helping the poor, by giving all kinds of aid..." Malaysian Muslim leader, Ibrahim Ali says. The leaders argue that criminalizing proselytizing acts could caution people who embark on conversion efforts in a country in which Islam is the official religion. Meanwhile, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has called on Muslims and Christians to remain calm. In Malaysia, converting Muslims is illegal according to the Federal Constitution. The matter attracted attention late last year when Islamic authorities stormed into a church following a tip-off that it was subtly converting Muslims living below the poverty line. While Muslims say they have evidence proving such attempts, Malaysian Christians deny involvement in trying to convert Muslims to Christianity.