Freed American stays out of spotlight in Oman
MUSCAT: American Sarah Shourd stayed out of the spotlight for a second day Thursday, resting privately in Oman's sunny seaside capital after more than 13 months in an Iranian…
Iran MP says defecting diplomats have ‘mental’ problems
TEHRAN: An Iranian MP accused three diplomats who have defected in Europe to join the anti-government opposition of having "mental" problems, ILNA news agency reported on Friday. "Some of these…
Influential Israeli rabbi no longer damning Palestinians
JERUSALEM: Three weeks after saying God should smite the Palestinian people, the spiritual head of a religious party in Israel's ruling coalition sent out a conciliatory message wishing a "long…
Christian community of Iraq halved in seven years
The number of Christians in Iraq has dwindled to half of what it was before the American invasion in 2003, an Iraqi official said. Abdallah Al-Nofali, head of the government’s…
Can Russia Be Great?
CAMBRIDGE: In the 1950s, many Americans feared that the Soviet Union would surpass the United States as the world’s leading power. The Soviet Union had the world’s largest territory, the…
Iran’s president brings political baggage to NY
DUBAI: Iran's president will likely swagger into New York next week in much the same style as past visits for the annual UN General Assembly: ready to take his…
US Mideast envoy meets Lebanese leaders
BEIRUT: US envoy George Mitchell was in Beirut Friday to meet with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman as part of a renewed push by Washington to broker a comprehensive Middle East…
South Africa mothballs small nuclear plant scheme
JOHANNESBURG: South Africa is shelving the development of a cutting-edge nuclear reactor after the program failed to find private investors or customers abroad, the government said Friday. About 9.2 billion…
Israel not planning new settlement moratorium: gov’t official
JERUSALEM: Israel on Friday reiterated its refusal to extend curbs on settlement building which expire this month, despite US pressure and Palestinian threats to walk out of peace talks. "The…
Hezbollah condemns summoning of Lebanese general
BEIRUT: Hezbollah demanded Friday that Lebanese authorities withdraw a state summons for a former army general who called Prime Minister Saad Hariri a liar and urged people to topple his…