Today Middle East News

Syrian Refugees Hunt for Work in Lebanon

BEIRUT — Nearly one-half million Syrians have fled to Lebanon because of Syria’s ongoing civil war.  Many of these are families... 

What’s Behind the Drop in Syrian Refugees to Jordan?

ZAATARI REFUGEE CAMP, JORDAN — The constant flow of refugees from Syria into Jordan has slowed to a near halt in recent days, raising... 

France Wants Hezbollah Armed Wing on EU Terror List Soon

PARIS — France said on Thursday it hoped an initiative could be agreed upon by the end of June to put the armed wing of Hezbollah... 

Rafsanjani Calls Iranian Leaders Ignorant

Former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has accused Iran’s leadership of incompetence and ignorance just days after he was... 

Syrian Opposition Figure Offers Transition Plan

A prominent Syrian opposition figure has proposed a transition plan for the war-torn country, requiring President Bashar al-Assad to... 

In Mideast, Kerry Looks to Jump-Start Peace Talks

JERUSALEM/RAMALLAH — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met separately Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and... 

Hezbollah Fighters Pose New Threat In Syria

WASHINGTON — The civil war in Syria is taking a new, and possibly ominous turn, in the battle for Qusair, a small but strategic town... 

Syrian Troops Show Strength Ahead of Peace Talks

AMMAN — The Syrian government says it has made significant progress in recapturing territory from opposition forces, even as it apparently... 

Kerry Calls on Syrian Government to Make Peace

AMMAN — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says Syrian President Bashar al-Assad risks increasing international support for his opponents... 

Kerry Presses US-Russian Plan for Syrian Peace Talks

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets Wednesday in the Jordanian capital with senior diplomats from 11 nations, as part of a U.S.-Russian... 

Wave of Violence Continues in Iraq

New attacks in three Iraqi cities have killed at least eight people and wounded dozens more, a day after more than 70 died in assaults... 

Diplomats: Iran Acts to Expand Sensitive Nuclear Capacity

VIENNA, AUSTRIA — A U.N. nuclear agency report due this week is expected to show Iran further increasing its capacity to produce... 

Iran Bars Candidacies of Rafsanjani, Ahmadinejad Aide

IA conservative body in Iran has barred two prominent figures from competing in next month’s presidential election: moderate... 

Kerry Mideast Talks on Syria to Include Russian Call for Involving Iran

STATE DEPARTMENT — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is in the Middle East this week for talks to promote an international peace... 

Egyptian Army Boosts Forces in Sinai After Kidnapping

EL-ARISH, EGYPT — The Egyptian army sent reinforcements into the Sinai Peninsula on Monday after President Mohamed Morsi said there... 

Turkish Peace Initiative with Kurds Meets Resistance

ISTANBUL — The Turkish government’s initiative to explain its peace moves with an outlawed Kurdish rebel group is facing increasing... 

Car Bombs Kill Dozens in Iraq

CAIRO — A wave of car bombings and suicide attacks against Shi’ite Muslims ripped through Iraqi cities Monday, killing at least... 

Hezbollah Militants Killed in Syria, Activists Say

Syrian activists say at least 23 Hezbollah militants have been killed in fighting for the town of Qusair, as Syrian forces press a... 

Syrian Rebels Suffer Setbacks From Fighting in Town Near Lebanon Border

TRIPOLI, LEBANON — Syrian government troops backed by fighters from Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement have been in fierce battles... 

Report Says Iran Hangs 2 Spies Working for Israel, US

DUBAI, UAE — Iranian authorities executed two men on Sunday convicted of working for Israeli and U.S. spy agencies, Iran’s... 

Netanyahu Takes Aim at Weapons ‘Leakage’ in Syria

JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held out the prospect on Sunday of further Israeli strikes inside Syria, pledging to... 

Syrian Troops, Hezbollah Attack Rebel-Held Qusair

Syrian government troops backed by warplanes and Lebanese Hezbollah militants have attacked the rebel-held town of Qusair, as part... 

US News

Broadwell expresses remorse for affair that cost Petraeus CIA post

RALEIGH, N.C. — The biographer whose extramarital affair with then-CIA director David Petraeus triggered his resignation says she... 

Big needs: Red Cross needs donations for disaster relief at home and in Oklahoma

Need: Whether a family loses their house to a fire in the Central Valley or in a disaster like this week’s tornado destruction in... 

Forecasters predict busy, active 2013 hurricane season

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s Climate Prediction Center has called the forecast 2013 North Atlantic hurricane... 

Tulsa-area businesses, groups help with relief for tornado survivors

Area retailers, restaurants and other venues are raising money and taking donations for Oklahoma tornado victims. If you are looking... 

India News

Need for centre of excellence in every varsity: Mukherjee

Expressing concern over the declining standards of higher education, President Pranab Mukherjee Saturday called for identifying at... 

Uttar Pradesh DIG’s wife hangs herself over son’s suicide

Depressed over her son’s death seven months ago, wife of a senior police official posted in Uttar Pradesh allegedly hanged herself... 

First batch of Navy officer cadets at INA pass out

The first batch of 60 Navy officer cadets who joined the Indian Naval Academy (INA) here passed out on Saturday on completing its flagship... 

Mumbai attacks case: Trial of Pakistani suspects adjourned till June 1

ISLAMABAD: The trial of seven Pakistani suspects, including Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, charged with involvement...