http://www.mail.com/locations/1520-middle-east.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.28/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/locations/1520-middle-east.html http://www.mail.com/news/world/2106126-israel-to-discuss-military-draft-reform-proposal.html JERUSALEM (AP) — An official Israeli committee on Thursday handed the government its proposal for ending a contentious system that grants Jewish ultra-Orthodox seminary students automatic exemptions from military service, setting the stage for what could become the first major conflict in the new Israeli coalition government. These exemptions have generat... Thu, 23 May 2013 19:38:21 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2106126-israel-to-discuss-military-draft-reform-proposal.html 2013-05-23T19:38:21Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/2105032-west-bank-romance-prominent-omar.html CANNES, France (AP) — One of the more buzzed-about films at the Cannes Film Festival, "Omar," is set in the West Bank, and the Palestinian conflict is a key part of the plot. But the film's lead actor, Adam Bakri, says the location or political motif isn't that important. "The fact is that it is an international story, it happens in the West Bank but it d... Thu, 23 May 2013 19:27:37 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/2105032-west-bank-romance-prominent-omar.html 2013-05-23T19:27:37Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2104668-clashes-lebanon-feed-fear-syria-spillover.html BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanese supporters and opponents of Syrian President Bashar Assad fired heavy machine guns and lobbed mortar shells at each other Thursday in some of the worst fighting in the port city of Tripoli in years. The battles raised the five-day death toll to 16 and fed fears of the Syrian civil war spreading to Lebanon and other neighboring count... Thu, 23 May 2013 19:16:30 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2104668-clashes-lebanon-feed-fear-syria-spillover.html 2013-05-23T19:16:30Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2104648-obama-defends-drone-strikes-cure-all.html WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama on Thursday defended America's controversial drone attacks as legal, effective and a necessary linchpin in an evolving U.S. counterterrorism policy. But he acknowledged the targeted strikes are no "cure-all" and said he is haunted by the civilians unintentionally killed. The president also announced a renewed push ... Thu, 23 May 2013 19:01:19 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2104648-obama-defends-drone-strikes-cure-all.html 2013-05-23T19:01:19Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2104722-muslim-hardliners-london-terror-suspect.html LONDON (AP) — Two Muslim hardliners say the man seen wielding a bloody butcher's knife after the killing of a British soldier is a Muslim convert who took part in demonstrations with the banned radical group al-Muhajiroun. Meanwhile, British police on Thursday evening announced the arrests of two more suspects in the case. Police said a man and a woman, b... Thu, 23 May 2013 18:37:43 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2104722-muslim-hardliners-london-terror-suspect.html 2013-05-23T18:37:43Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2105974-israel-iran-unaffected-world-pressure.html JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's prime minister says a new report by the U.N. atomic agency shows that international pressure is having no effect on halting Iran's suspect nuclear program. In a confidential report, the International Atomic Energy Agency said this week that Iran has upgraded its uranium enrichment facilities and advanced in building a plutonium-p... Thu, 23 May 2013 17:54:38 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2105974-israel-iran-unaffected-world-pressure.html 2013-05-23T17:54:38Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2105918-ap-photos-egypts-languishing-islamic-antiquities.html CAIRO (AP) — Cairo, the Arab world's most populated city, is often referred to as an open-air museum of Islamic antiquities and the city of 1,000 minarets. But its rich history and contributions to Islamic art has languished. The city has seen some of its most beautiful antiquities looted or neglected over the last two years following the 2011 uprising th... Thu, 23 May 2013 17:48:56 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2105918-ap-photos-egypts-languishing-islamic-antiquities.html 2013-05-23T17:48:56Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2105278-who-22-deaths-worldwide-coronavirus.html GENEVA (AP) — World Health Organization officials said Thursday that their probe into the deadly new coronavirus that has now claimed 22 lives is being delayed because of a dispute over the ownership rights to a sample — a claim disputed by the researcher at the center of the issue. Dr. Keiji Fukuda, WHO's assistant director-general for health security, s... Thu, 23 May 2013 17:39:47 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2105278-who-22-deaths-worldwide-coronavirus.html 2013-05-23T17:39:47Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2105904-turkey-debates-alcohol-sales-ad-restrictions.html ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish lawmakers on Thursday began debating a bill that bans all alcohol advertising and tightens restrictions on sales of such beverages — a proposal the government insists is aimed at protecting the young from the ills of spirits but which secularists say is an example of the Islamic-based ruling party's encroachment on personal freedoms. ... Thu, 23 May 2013 17:35:10 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2105904-turkey-debates-alcohol-sales-ad-restrictions.html 2013-05-23T17:35:10Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2105906-s-sudan-leader-intl-court-humiliates-africa.html JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — South Sudan's president is criticizing the International Criminal Court, saying the court is designed to humiliate African leaders. Salva Kiir spoke Thursday during a visit by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who faces ICC charges related to Kenya's post-election violence in 2007-08 that killed more than 1,000 people. Kiir said th... Thu, 23 May 2013 17:32:18 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2105906-s-sudan-leader-intl-court-humiliates-africa.html 2013-05-23T17:32:18Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2104844-irans-rafsanjani-blasts-clerics-report.html TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Banned from upcoming elections, Iran's former president has leveled harsh criticism at the Islamic Republic's clerical rulers, saying they are doing a poor job running the country, an Iranian pro-reform website reported late on Wednesday. The remarks by Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani come days after a constitutional watchdog disqualified him... Thu, 23 May 2013 17:31:37 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2104844-irans-rafsanjani-blasts-clerics-report.html 2013-05-23T17:31:37Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/2105544-banned-iranian-director-rasoulof-coming-to-cannes.html CANNES, France (AP) — Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, whose movies are banned in his country and who has been sentenced to jail by the Islamic regime there, is coming to Cannes for a screening of his latest film, publicists for the movie said Thursday. "Manuscripts Don't Burn" tells the story of an Iranian author secretly writing his memoirs — and au... Thu, 23 May 2013 17:17:15 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/2105544-banned-iranian-director-rasoulof-coming-to-cannes.html 2013-05-23T17:17:15Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2104732-us-israel-raise-hopes-mideast-peace-restart.html JERUSALEM (AP) — The United States and Israel raised hopes Thursday for a restart of the Middle East peace process, despite little tangible progress so far from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's two-month-old effort to get Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table. As they met in Jerusalem, Kerry praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Ne... Thu, 23 May 2013 17:12:41 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2104732-us-israel-raise-hopes-mideast-peace-restart.html 2013-05-23T17:12:41Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2104980-gunmen-kill-7-iraqi-soldiers-central-iraq.html BAGHDAD (AP) — Gunmen killed at least seven soldiers in central Iraq on Thursday, officials said, in the latest episode of violence to hit the country in a particularly bloody month. The first skirmish took place in the early hours of Thursday when militants attacked an army check point in the town of Taji, killing four soldiers and wounding four others, ... Thu, 23 May 2013 15:54:07 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2104980-gunmen-kill-7-iraqi-soldiers-central-iraq.html 2013-05-23T15:54:07Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2105498-violence-somalia-scares-investors-aid-workers.html MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A spate of attacks by Islamic insurgents in Somalia's capital is forcing investors, businessmen and aid workers to have second thoughts about expanding operations in Mogadishu. African Union and Somali troops pushed al-Shabab insurgents out of the capital in August 2011, fostering a relatively secure peace that Mogadishu hasn't s... Thu, 23 May 2013 15:38:36 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2105498-violence-somalia-scares-investors-aid-workers.html 2013-05-23T15:38:36Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2105162-ap-interview-syria-conflict-uproots-palestinians.html DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria's fighting has uprooted more than half of the country's 530,000 Palestinians — descendants of refugees from a Mideast conflict half a century ago — and their situation is becoming increasingly desperate, the head of a U.N. aid agency said Thursday. The Palestinians in Syria are particularly vulnerable because of their refugee ... Thu, 23 May 2013 14:52:39 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2105162-ap-interview-syria-conflict-uproots-palestinians.html 2013-05-23T14:52:39Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2105102-iran-denies-drone-entered-bahrains-airspace.html TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — An Iranian semi-official news agency reports the country is denying that an unmanned drone violated the airspace of Bahrain, the strategic Gulf kingdom that hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. The Thursday report by ISNA quotes an unnamed official in Iran's Foreign Ministry. The statement did not elaborate, instead urging Bahrain's rulers... Thu, 23 May 2013 13:04:22 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2105102-iran-denies-drone-entered-bahrains-airspace.html 2013-05-23T13:04:22Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2104560-2011-jail-breaks-political-issue-egypt.html CAIRO (AP) — It was one of the most perplexing events of Egypt's revolution: orchestrated attacks on prisons around the country that broke out more than 20,000 inmates while police were tied down with the massive popular protests that swept autocrat Hosni Mubarak from power. The prison breaks added to the chaos during the 18-day uprising in 2011, and the ... Thu, 23 May 2013 06:38:50 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2104560-2011-jail-breaks-political-issue-egypt.html 2013-05-23T06:38:50Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2104550-submerged-structure-stumps-israeli-archaeologists.html TIBERIAS, Israel (AP) — The massive circular structure appears to be an archaeologists dream: a recently discovered antiquity that could reveal secrets of ancient life in the Middle East and is just waiting to be excavated. It's thousands of years old — a conical, manmade behemoth weighing hundreds of tons, practically begging to be explored. The problem ... Thu, 23 May 2013 06:29:25 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/2104550-submerged-structure-stumps-israeli-archaeologists.html 2013-05-23T06:29:25Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2103812-4-americans-killed-2009-us-drone-strikes.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration acknowledged for the first time Wednesday that four American citizens have been killed in drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen since 2009. The disclosure to Congress comes on the eve of a major national security speech by President Barack Obama in which he plans to pledge more transparency to Congress in his counterterrorism policy. ... Thu, 23 May 2013 02:45:12 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2103812-4-americans-killed-2009-us-drone-strikes.html 2013-05-23T02:45:12Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102900-kerry-us-allies-ready-to-step-up-aid-to-rebels.html AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — The U.S. and several key allies looked again Wednesday for a strategy to end Syria's civil war, their united efforts unable at the moment to stem the Assad regime's military gains and Washington still unwilling to join those providing the rebels with lethal military aid. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry allowed that President Barack... Wed, 22 May 2013 22:01:53 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102900-kerry-us-allies-ready-to-step-up-aid-to-rebels.html 2013-05-22T22:01:53Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2103300-house-committee-passes-iran-sanctions-legislation.html WASHINGTON (AP) — A new push to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions by crippling the country's economy gathered momentum on Capitol Hill Wednesday with approval of legislation by the House Foreign Affairs Committee that would impose even tougher economic sanctions against Tehran. And the Senate resolved that the United States should support Israel if it is fo... Wed, 22 May 2013 21:25:32 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2103300-house-committee-passes-iran-sanctions-legislation.html 2013-05-22T21:25:32Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102332-iaea-report-iran-expands-nuclear-technology.html VIENNA (AP) — The U.N. atomic agency on Wednesday detailed rapid Iranian progress in two programs that the West fears are geared toward making nuclear weapons, saying Tehran has upgraded its uranium enrichment facilities and advanced in building a plutonium-producing reactor. In a confidential report obtained by The Associated Press, the International Ato... Wed, 22 May 2013 21:24:47 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102332-iaea-report-iran-expands-nuclear-technology.html 2013-05-22T21:24:47Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2101898-egypt-leader-claims-victory-captives-release.html CAIRO (AP) — The safe release Wednesday of seven conscripts kidnapped by suspected militants in Sinai brought a victory for Egypt's Islamist president after months of criticism that his government is mismanaging the country. Seated with top military brass and senior officials, an animated Mohammed Morsi lauded the release as a show of how unified and stro... Wed, 22 May 2013 20:42:11 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2101898-egypt-leader-claims-victory-captives-release.html 2013-05-22T20:42:11Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102638-amid-signs-turmoil-sudan-oil-will-flow.html JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — Following a lengthy Cabinet meeting, South Sudan's government spokesman said Wednesday that the country will continue to export oil through Sudan and that there had been only a temporary slowdown in production. An official in South Sudan's oil ministry earlier told The Associated Press that Sudan had blocked the export of South Su... Wed, 22 May 2013 19:32:56 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102638-amid-signs-turmoil-sudan-oil-will-flow.html 2013-05-22T19:32:56Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2103580-palestinians-faith-kerry-effort.html RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Palestinians believe the U.S. effort to restart peace talks is doomed, and they're preparing instead to resume their campaign of seeking membership in key international organizations as soon as next month, officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday. As U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrives on another peace mission, Is... Wed, 22 May 2013 19:05:10 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2103580-palestinians-faith-kerry-effort.html 2013-05-22T19:05:10Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2103532-global-local-issues-iran-upcoming-election.html Main domestic and international issues facing Iran ahead of its June 14 presidential election: NUCLEAR QUESTION Four rounds of revived talks between Iran and world powers since last year have produced no important headway in the Tehran's impasse with the West. The U.S. and allies worry Iran's uranium enrichment could lead to atomic weap... Wed, 22 May 2013 18:35:19 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2103532-global-local-issues-iran-upcoming-election.html 2013-05-22T18:35:19Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102286-irans-ahmadinejad-to-outsider-options.html TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — By now, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is well-accustomed to enduring blows from Iran's ruling clerics as his reputation fell from favored son to political outcast. But their intended parting shot — barring his chief aid from the presidential race — may be just the opening act in Ahmadinejad's reinvention as a self-styled opposition force. Wed, 22 May 2013 18:16:20 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102286-irans-ahmadinejad-to-outsider-options.html 2013-05-22T18:16:20Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2103238-israeli-air-force-chief-warns-syrian-attacks.html JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's air force chief warned Wednesday that tensions with Syria could escalate into a "surprise war" and that Israel needs to be ready. The remarks by Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel echoed statements by Israel's military chief of staff a day earlier. "A surprise war could take shape today in many configurations," Eshel said at a strategy confere... Wed, 22 May 2013 18:14:52 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2103238-israeli-air-force-chief-warns-syrian-attacks.html 2013-05-22T18:14:52Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102590-eu-bid-to-label-hezbollah-wing-terror-group.html BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is reassessing whether to declare the Lebanese party Hezbollah's military wing a terrorist organization, a move it has long shied from despite pressure from the U.S., officials said Wednesday. The move is bolstered by Germany's change of heart on the issue after long resisting calls to list Hezbollah as a terrorist organ... Wed, 22 May 2013 17:46:03 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2102590-eu-bid-to-label-hezbollah-wing-terror-group.html 2013-05-22T17:46:03Z