Stones or bullets? For now, the Palestinian leadership hopes protesters have learned lessons from the second intifada and stick to the former in clashes with Israeli security forces, officials say.
During that uprising, from 2000 to 2005, armed Palestinian security forces confronted the Israelis.
Full StoryCruise missiles fired from warships, the latest jets pounding far-off targets: Russian President Vladimir Putin's show of strength in Syria looks aimed at proving that a resurgent Moscow can rival the West, analysts said.
Since late September Russia has flexed its muscles in a bombing campaign across the war-torn country that has put a U.S.-led coalition in the shade and angered Washington and its allies.
Full StoryAn escalating cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians has raised fears of a wider uprising, or intifada. Here is a series of questions and answers describing the situation:
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There have been 70 presidents of the U.N. General Assembly, some memorable for their accomplishments, others for their political views, allegations against them, and the reputations of the countries they represent. The arrest of the 68th president, John Ashe of Antigua, in an alleged bribery case has put the spotlight on the presidency of the 193-member world body, which rotates every year by region. Here is a look at eight memorable General Assembly presidents:
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Full StoryTurkey is giving a European Union plan to assist the country in hosting over two million Syrian refugees only a lukewarm reception, indicating funding needs to be drastically increased and lamenting shortfalls in help over previous years.
The EU hopes that helping refugees inside Turkey will discourage Syrians from taking perilous sea and land routes to seek new lives within the bloc after an unprecedented influx in the last month.
Full StoryAs Barack Obama's secretary of State, Hillary Clinton loyally carried out his agenda, but since mounting her presidential bid she has split with the White House on several key issues, including global trade.
Drilling in the Arctic Ocean is too risky, she argues. Deportations? The administration's record rate of sending undocumented immigrants home is unnecessarily "breaking up families," according to Clinton.
Full StoryIran's nuclear deal with world powers has bolstered its central role in efforts to end the spiraling Syrian civil war, bringing Tehran back to the world stage, analysts say.
Though the conflict seems trapped in a military mire -- Russia's air campaign on behalf of Syrian President Bashar Assad being the latest intervention -- Iran is seen as a crucial diplomatic channel.
Full StoryThe deadly U.S. attack on a hospital in Afghanistan, which U.S. officials have called a "mistake," leaves open the possibility that the decision to open fire exceeded the authority under which American forces have operated since their combat mission ended nearly a year ago, officials say.
U.S. officials have declined to discuss most circumstances of the attack in Kunduz that killed 22 civilians, since American and Afghan investigations are under way.
Full StoryWhile Russian President Vladimir Putin's air campaign in Syria may have other aims, one result seems to be that it is hitting Islamists from Russia's Caucasus, say analysts.
High on the list of places Russia appears to have targeted are positions held by the Al-Nusra Front -- an al-Qaida associate with a high concentration of fighters from Chechnya, Dagestan and Muslim ex-Soviet nations in Central Asia.
Full StoryIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came under pressure Tuesday from right-wing allies in his razor-thin coalition to respond forcefully to Palestinian unrest, but that could risk provoking the violent escalation of an already volatile situation.
The dilemma for Netanyahu, long known as a wily political operator, was made clear Monday night, when several thousand right-wing protesters gathered in front of his residence demanding more security and new settlement construction.
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