Palestinians’ expectations for Obama are mixed 16 hr ago | Add a comment JERUSALEM — Palestinians hold mixed expectations that Barack Obama will be able to bring them a state of their own, though both moderates and hard-liners greeted his election with optimistic...

Afghan elections may need U.S. surge 16 hr ago | Add a comment CORNWALLIS, Nova Scotia — U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday he would like to add significant U.S. forces to the war in Afghanistan before national elections scheduled for next...

IN BRIEF: Pope considers change in mass 17 hr ago | Add a comment EUROPE POPE CONSIDERS CHANGe in MASS VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI is considering a change to the Mass liturgy, said Cardinal Francis Arinze, who heads the Vatican office for sacraments....

Soldiers’ rampages haunt Congo refugees 17 hr ago KIBATI, Congo — Looting soldiers tried to rape one woman and fatally shot another at a refugee camp, witnesses said Friday. Meanwhile, the United Nations prepared to send more peacekeepers to...

High costs in Iraq but success, too Thu, Nov 20, 2008 | Add a comment WASHINGTON — A war that once seemed likely to end in a panic of helicopters fleeing the American embassy now seems destined to conclude as the result of a parliamentary process. A landmark...

Iraqi lawmakers fight over accord Yesterday | Add a comment BAGHDAD — Iraqi lawmakers persevered Thursday in debate on a proposed security deal with the U.S. There were raucous attempts by opposition lawmakers to disrupt proceedings ahead of next...

IN BRIEF: Judge releases five Algerians Yesterday Judge releases five Algerians WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Thursday ordered the release of five Algerians held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the continued detention of a sixth. U.S....

Palestinian president offers peace assurances Yesterday RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas took his case for a peace deal directly to ordinary Israelis Thursday. He assured them in Hebrew-language newspaper ads that a...

Zimbabwe opposes former President Jimmy Carter Carter’s trip Yesterday | Add a comment JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Former President Jimmy Carter and others are pressing ahead with a humanitarian mission to Zimbabwe, though the state newspaper in the troubled southern African...

Israel will spurn anti-racism event Wed, Nov 19, 2008 | Comments 1 JERUSALEM — Israel will boycott a U.N. conference on racism next year, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Wednesday. He said it would be biased against Israel and would aim to delegitimize the...

Ships avoid path used by hijackers Tue, Nov 18, 2008 | Add a comment MOGADISHU, Somalia — Odfjell SE, a major Norwegian shipping group, on Tuesday ordered its more than 90 tankers to sail around Africa rather than use the Suez Canal after Somali pirates seized...

China invests heavily in Cuban products Tue, Nov 18, 2008 | Add a comment HAVANA — China’s president was signing dozens of trade and investment deals with communist ally Cuba on Tuesday. It was part of a Latin America trip on which Chinese businessmen have...

IN BRIEF: Cells grow new windpipe Wed, Nov 19, 2008 | Add a comment EUROPE Cells grow new windpipe LONDON — Doctors have given a woman a new windpipe with tissue grown from her own stem cells, eliminating the need for anti-rejection drugs. If successful, the...

Iraq may be gambling on its security forces Mon, Nov 17, 2008 BAGHDAD — The U.S.-Iraqi security pact now before parliament calls for U.S. forces to leave Iraq’s cities by June 30 in recognition of an improved security climate, but the deadline...

US supply line threatened by Pakistan truck halt Sun, Nov 16, 2008 | Add a comment PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan temporarily barred oil tankers and container trucks from a key passageway to Afghanistan, threatening a critical supply route for U.S. and NATO troops on Sunday...

Iraq's Cabinet approves security pact with US Sun, Nov 16, 2008 | Add a comment BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraq's Cabinet on Sunday approved a security pact with the United States that will allow American forces to stay in Iraq for three years after their U.N. mandate expires at the end...

New faces join talks on economy Sun, Nov 16, 2008 | Add a comment WASHINGTON — There were new faces at Saturday’s emergency economic summit, nations whose smaller and historically weaker economies mean they rarely get a seat at the global financial...

Security pact faces vote today Sat, Nov 15, 2008 | Add a comment BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Cabinet will vote today on a security pact with Washington. The plan would keep U.S. forces in the country for three more years. In a bid to secure support from the...

Foes fear Putin will act to regain top position Sat, Nov 15, 2008 | Add a comment MOSCOW — Russian lawmakers moved to lengthen the presidential term from four to six years on Friday with a vote that opponents called a step toward Vladimir Putin’s return to power. The...

Rockets from Gaza Strip strike deep into Israel Sat, Nov 15, 2008 | Comments 1 GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Hamas militants bombarded a major southern Israeli city with rocket fire Friday, unleashing their most powerful weapons yet in a week of tit-for-tat fighting that...