Middle East

World News

American Couple Detained In Qatar Allowed To Return Home

4:54pm December 03, 2014

by Sam Sanders

Qatari officials had accused Matthew and Grace Huang of murdering their 8-year-old adopted daughter last year. The Huangs, who were acquitted on appeal, argued that their case had racial overtones.

A Somali man walks in front of a high-rise apartment building under construction in Mogadishu on Nov. 4. Somalia, along with North Korea, is seen as the most-corrupt country in the world, according to the Corruption Perception Index released today by Tran

World News

Which Countries Are The Most Corrupt?

2:54pm December 03, 2014

by Krishnadev Calamur

North Korea and Somalia are perceived to be the most corrupt countries, according to the Corruption Perception Index released today by Transparency International. Denmark is seen as least corrupt.

Secretary of State John Kerry, left, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, center, and Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari prior to a round table meeting of the global coalition to counter the Islamic State.

World News

Kerry: Coalition Offensive Against ISIS Having 'Significant Impact'

1:00pm December 03, 2014

by Eyder Peralta

Meeting with envoys from other countries that joined the fight against the so-called Islamic State, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said their commitment will be measured in years.

World News

French Lawmakers Vote To Recognize Palestinian State

7:41am December 03, 2014

by Eleanor Beardsley

The lower house of Parliament took the non-binding action on Tuesday. France is the fifth European country to make such a move in the last month, following Sweden, Britain, Spain and Ireland.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired two senior Cabinet ministers on Tuesday and called for early elections that could be held early next year.

World News

Israel's Netanyahu Fires Ministers, Calls For Early Election

8:24pm December 02, 2014

by Greg Myre

The prime minister has more than two years left in his term. But with his coalition fracturing, Benjamin Netanyahu said it was "impossible" to lead a government under the current conditions.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter told a news conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Tuesday that FIFA wasn't responsible for the working conditions of laborers who are building the stadiums for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He said the companies that employed the

FIFA Chief Rejects Responsibility For Welfare Of Workers In Qatar

4:57pm December 02, 2014

by Krishnadev Calamur

Sepp Blatter, who heads soccer's governing body, said the companies that employed the migrant laborers building the infrastructure for Qatar's 2022 World Cup were responsible for their safety.

World News

Wife, Son Of Islamic State Leader Reportedly Detained In Lebanon

1:52pm December 02, 2014

by Eyder Peralta

Lebanese authorities say they detained the wife and son of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi near the border with Syria. The two are being interrogated.

Iraqi Finance Minister Hoshyar Zebari announced Tuesday that the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan region have started implementing a deal under which Baghdad resumes funding Kurdish civil servant salaries in return for a share of Kurdish oil exports.

World News

Iraq, Kurds Agree On Deal Over Oil Exports, Budget

10:15am December 02, 2014

by Krishnadev Calamur

The agreement could ease some pressure on Iraq's government, which is facing an economic crisis, and on Kurdish authorities who have had trouble paying government employees and security forces.

World News

In Israel, A Clash Over What The Nation Is And Who It's For

7:44am December 02, 2014

by Emily Harris

Israel's prime minister says the country needs to be officially defined as a Jewish state, but opponents say that would undermine its goal of equality for all.

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American Couple Detained In Qatar Remains In Limbo

6:28pm December 01, 2014

Melissa Block talks to Eric Volz, family representative for Matthew and Grace Huang, the American couple cleared by a Qatari appeals court in the death of their adopted daughter.

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