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Middle East

Israeli FM charged with breach of trust
Israel's powerful foreign minister was charged Thursday with breach of trust for actions that allegedly compromised a criminal investigation into his ...
Russia positions itself for fall of Syrian regime
Syria's most powerful ally and protector, Russia, began positioning itself Thursday for the fall of President Bashar Assad, saying for the first time ...
Americans extend gold tally at short-course worlds
Matthew Grevers and Olivia Smoliga won men's and women's 100-meter backstroke and Ryan Lochte anchored a relay victory Thursday at the short-course ...
Hamas stages first West Bank march since 2007
The Islamic militant group Hamas staged on Thursday its first public demonstration in the West Bank since 2007, illustrating its improving ties with ...
Turkey Patriot defenses to be ready next month
The Patriot air defense missiles being deployed to protect Turkey from spillover from Syria's civil war will become operational at the end of January, ...
Britain pays Libyan $3.5 million over rendition
A former Libyan dissident and his family have accepted 2.2 million pounds ($3.5 million) from the British government to settle a claim that the U.K.
OPEC not concerned about US pickup in oil output
OPEC does not see increased U.S. oil output as a threat to its interests but is skeptical about current forecasts on the boom of American shale oil ...
US airlines to lead industry recovery in profits
U.S. airlines will lead a recovery in the global sector's profits next year, mainly thanks to cost cuts and restructuring measures taken to address ...
Protesters slam Turkish coup plot trial
Turkish police on Thursday used pepper spray and water cannons to push back hundreds of protesters trying to enter a courthouse where prosecutors were ...
UN nuke inspectors renew efforts to engage Iran
Envoys from the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency opened talks with Iranian officials on Thursday, seeking ways to restart negotiations with world powers ...
Russia acknowledges Assad losing control
Syria's most powerful ally, Russia, said for the first time Thursday that President Bashar Assad is losing control of his country and the rebels might ...
Spain seizes $36.5 mln in Mubarak-linked assets
Spanish police say they have seized some €28 million ($36.5 million) of assets linked to deposed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. A police statement ...
US, Syria opposition disagree over terrorist label
The U.S. and the head of the new Syrian opposition coalition being feted at a conference in Morocco Wednesday publicly disagreed over designating a ...
New UN, international efforts to engage Iran
International officials pursued a two-pronged effort Wednesday to engage Iran over concerns the country may have worked on nuclear weapons, with a U.N
Autopsy on former Turkish leader inconclusive
Authorities investigating former President Turgut Ozal's death in office in April 1993 found traces of toxic material in samples from his exhumed body ...
Israeli police: Palestinian shot dead after attack
An Israeli police spokesman says a Palestinian was killed after he threatened officers near a holy site in the West Bank. Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld ...
Bomb blast in eastern Libyan city wounds 4
Libyan police officials say a bomb blast outside a police station in the eastern city of Benghazi has wounded four people, two of them seriously.
Afghanistan, Pakistan pursue peace despite attack
The leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan are determined to press ahead with peace efforts after a meeting in Turkey, the country's president said ...
Egypt opposition urges 'No' vote on constitution
Egypt's main opposition alliance called for a "No" vote in the referendum on a disputed constitution rather than a boycott, hours after Islamist ...
OPEC keeps output target on hold amid weak economy
OPEC ministers agreed to keep their daily crude production target unchanged at a meeting Wednesday. But in a sign of internal rivalries, they failed ...
Greece expels Syrian ambassador, 2 other diplomats
Greece has expelled Syria's ambassador to Athens and another two Syrian diplomats, the foreign ministry says, nearly five months after shutting down ...
Israeli minister: World would sacrifice Israel
Israel's hawkish foreign minister lashed out at the international community on Wednesday, criticizing its policies toward the Palestinians and ...