IN BRIEF Fri, Oct 31, 2008 | Add a comment MIDDLE EAST Israeli army razes homes MUGHAYIR EL DIR, West Bank — The Israeli army knocked down shacks in a West Bank village for the second straight day Thursday, leaving dozens of...

Nuclear outlook seen as ‘bleak’ Tue, Oct 28, 2008 | Comments 1 WASHINGTON — The long-term outlook for keeping U.S. nuclear weapons safe and reliable is "bleak,” Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday. In part, he said, that was because...

US considering implications of nuclear decline Sun, Oct 26, 2008 | Comments 3 WASHINGTON - The mighty U.S. arsenal of nuclear weapons, midwived by World War II and nurtured by the Cold War, is declining in power and purpose while the military's competence in handling the...

US envoy takes new nuclear proposal to NKorea Fri, Sep 19, 2008 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Washington's top nuclear negotiator took a new proposal to North Korea on Wednesday to try to salvage a derailed disarmament pact amid reported signs of...

Analysis: North Korea nuclear deal falling apart Fri, Jun 16, 2006 WASHINGTON (AP) -- A rare foreign policy success for the Bush administration is imploding as North Korea backs away from pledges to abandon nuclear weapons, pretty much as the president's...

UN nuclear watchdog says Iran blocking arms probe Sat, Jul 5, 2008 VIENNA, Austria (AP) -- Iran has steadfastly blocked a U.N. investigation into allegations it tried to make nuclear arms and the probe is now deadlocked, the International Atomic Energy...

Kim Jong Il may be gravely ill, jeopardizing talks Wed, Sep 10, 2008 WASHINGTON (AP) -- North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il may be gravely ill, perhaps the victim of a stroke, U.S. and other Western officials said Tuesday after he failed to appear for a...

US nuclear envoy meets China in N. Korea impasse Sat, Jul 12, 2008 BEIJING (AP) -- The top U.S. nuclear envoy met with his Chinese counterpart Saturday as part of the latest round of talks aimed at breaking a deadlock over verification of North Korea's...

Iran to increase cooperation with IAEA Mon, May 26, 2008 VIENNA, Austria (AP) -- A senior envoy said Friday that Iran wants to expand its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, but said the IAEA should not be cast as a "U.N....

Obama tells Israel he's committed to its security Wed, Jul 23, 2008 SDEROT, Israel (AP) -- From the solemnity of a Holocaust museum to a dusty village battered by Hamas rockets, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama on Wednesday professed "an...

Rice says Iran not serious at weekend nuke talks Mon, Jun 23, 2008 ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice accused Iran on Monday of not being serious at weekend talks about its disputed nuclear program despite the...

Iran nuclear talks stall, even with US at table Sat, Jul 19, 2008 GENEVA (AP) -- A U.S. decision to bend policy and sit down with Iran at nuclear talks fizzled Saturday, with Iran stonewalling Washington and five other world powers on their call to...

Iran president would welcome direct talks with US Mon, Sep 24, 2007 TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran's hardline president said Monday he would welcome direct talks with the U.S. if both parties are on equal footing, adding such talks could happen "in the near...

Iran says any attack would provoke fierce reaction Wed, Jul 2, 2008 MADRID, Spain (AP) -- With Middle East tensions building, Iran's oil minister warned Wednesday that an attack on his country would provoke an unimaginably fierce response. Minister...

Beef dispute confronts Rice on Korean visit Sat, Jun 28, 2008 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Beef bested bombs. America's chief diplomat found herself vouching for the purity of U.S. cattle Saturday, wading into a bitter trade dispute that for South...

ElBaradei: Mideast could burn if Iran attacked Wed, Sep 19, 2007 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- The U.N. nuclear watchdog chief warned in comments aired Saturday that any military strike on Iran could turn the Mideast into a "ball of fire" and...

Bush ends Europe trip with good news Mon, Jun 16, 2008 LONDON (AP) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown handed President Bush good news on two fronts Monday: a modest increase in Britain's troops for the tough Afghanistan fight and a fresh...

Report: Assad says talks with Israel need US sponsor Thu, Sep 6, 2007 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Syria's president said he was willing to hold direct peace talks with Israel in the future under U.S. sponsorship, laying out his vision of how...

Iran's foreign minister slams US foreign policy Fri, May 30, 2008 STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) -- Iran's foreign minister said Friday that the United States should conduct a "serious review" of its foreign policy after the presidential election - a signal...

Russia Urges Iran to Join Nuclear Talks Mon, Jul 31, 2006 UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- Russia's U.N. ambassador is urging Iran to drop its opposition to talks with six key nations trying to ensure that its nuclear program is peaceful. Ambassador...