Middle East

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Thousands Protest Mubarak Trial Ruling

Acquittal of Mubarak sons fuels rage in Tahrir Square

(Newser) - A mixed ruling in the Hosni Mubarak ruling set off street protests today, and by nightfall, a large crowd of up to 10,000 was back in Cairo's Tahrir Square to vent anger over the acquittals. Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison, but he and his two sons...

Syria-Linked Clashes Kill 7 in Lebanon

Tripoli fighting wounds another 22 people

(Newser) - Gun battles between pro- and anti-Syrian groups in northern Lebanon killed at least seven people and wounded 22 today, security officials said, as activists reported fresh shelling in a region in central Syria where a massacre last week left more than 100 people dead. The clashes were the latest to...

Huge Cyber Attack Targets Iran, Middle East

Dubbed Flame, the virus may have struck Iran's oil facilities

(Newser) - A surprisingly complex computer virus has struck Iran's oil facilities and spread across the Middle East, CNET reports. Dubbed Flame by analysts, the malware appears state-sponsored and designed to plunder data from personal computers and major networks alike, according to Russian Internet security giant Kaspersky Labs. "The complexity...

In the Holy Land, Attempts to Revive Jesus' Language

Schools in two villages teaching Aramaic

(Newser) - In two Holy Land villages—and, randomly, Sweden—efforts are being made to revive Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke that has been almost dead for centuries. The Palestinian village of Beit Jala, near Bethlehem, and the Arab-Israeli village of Jish, in the Galilean hills where Jesus taught, were both inspired...

Mitt and 'Bibi': Closer Than You Might Think

Romney and Netanyahu have been friends since the '70s

(Newser) - Mitt Romney has a close ally in the Middle East—so close that the GOP contender defers to him on issues, chats with him in near-shorthand, and once offered him his Rolodex, the New York Times reports. Romney's friendship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dates back to the...

Why Afghanistan Is a &#39;Fool&#39;s Errand&#39;
 Why Afghanistan 
 Is a 'Fool's Errand' 
Thomas Friedman
Apr 1, 2012 10:28 AM CDT

Why Afghanistan Is a 'Fool's Errand'

We cannot export democracy, just support democratic institutions

(Newser) - It's no surprise that US policies are failing in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, and around the region—they're completely missing what makes countries succeed, writes Thomas Friedman in the New York Times . The key, according to a new book, Why Nations Fail , is developing "inclusive" economic and political...

Ahmadinejad: We Don't Give a Damn About West's Bombs

Iran's president also takes aim at Israel and its supporters

(Newser) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad lashed out at the West today in a televised speech, saying "the Iranian nation will not give a damn for [your] bombs, warships, and planes." Taking an apparent shot at President Obama, he added, "They say all [options] are on the table. Well,...

US, Israel Real Threats to Middle East Peace
US, Israel Real Threats
to Middle East Peace
noam chomsky
Mar 4, 2012 4:30 PM CST

US, Israel Real Threats to Middle East Peace

Iran's pursuit of nuclear power doesn't seem to bother MIT prof

(Newser) - President Obama isn't the only one worried about the drumbeat toward war with Iran. So is MIT professor Noam Chomsky, who argues that Iran's pursuit of nuclear power—and perhaps weapons—is a defensive posture against the region's two main aggressors, the US and Israel. "Concerns...

Madonna Fans in Israel: Don't Bomb Iran Before Show

Facebook page asks government to hold off until after concert

(Newser) - Madonna is coming to Israel, and her hardcore fans there are begging the government to please hold off on a potential war with Iran, just at least until after Madonna's concert. The Israeli Madonna nuts are spreading the word through a Facebook group called "Bibi don't star...

Obama: Israel Not Sure About Bombing Iran

President urges diplomatic solution to nuclear crisis

(Newser) - President Barack Obama said today he does not think Israel has decided whether to attack Iran over its disputed nuclear program, a standoff that has the Middle East on edge. The president sought to assure allies and foes alike that the United States was working in lockstep with Israel to...

Tourism Spikes Worldwide
 Tourism Spikes Worldwide 
Jan 16, 2012 6:59 PM CST

Tourism Spikes Worldwide

Europe sees boost as Middle East, North Africa lose travelers

(Newser) - The economic crisis, Japanese disasters, and the Arab Spring couldn't stop tourists from globetrotting last year, AFP reports. European tourism surged the most—6% higher than in 2010—helping to fuel an international rise of 4.4% that clocked 980 million travelers, according to a UN report. But tourists...

Iran Arrests 'US Spies,' Short on Details

US agents sought to undermine Iranian elections: minister

(Newser) - Iran's intelligence minister says the country's secret services have arrested several people on charges of spying for the United States and seeking to undermine the March 2 parliamentary elections. Heidar Moslehi was quoted by state TV as saying that the suspects were in touch with their contacts outside...

Arab Body Calls for Pullout of Monitors in Syria

Arab Parliament angered by ongoing killings

(Newser) - A pan-Arab body called today for the immediate withdrawal of the Arab League monitors in Syria because President Bashar Assad's regime has kept up killings of government opponents even in the presence of the observers. The 88-member Arab Parliament said that Arabs are angered by the Syrian regime's...

Iran to World Leaders: Let's Discuss Nuke Program

Tehran offers comes after new Western sanctions

(Newser) - Iran said today it has proposed a new round of talks on its nuclear program with six world powers that have been trying for years to persuade Tehran to freeze aspects of its atomic work that could provide a possible pathway to weapons production. The country's top nuclear negotiator,...

US Hawking F-15s to Saudis
 US Hawking F-15s to Saudis 
Dec 29, 2011 5:32 AM CST

US Hawking F-15s to Saudis

For the paltry sum of $29.4B

(Newser) - As Iran continues its saber-rattling , the US is responding by beefing up the military might of a regional ally. The Obama administration will announce the sale of $29.4 billion in F-15s to Saudi Arabia, sources tell the AP , in a deal for 84 new jets and upgrades to 70...

Dead Sea Dried Up 120K Years Ago

And it's in danger of happening again

(Newser) - Scientists have discovered that the Dead Sea pretty much vanished 120,000 years ago when the earth was as warm, or slightly warmer, than it is today, reports the BBC . It's in danger of doing the same today, this time helped along by populated areas taking the water that...

Jordan's King to Syrian Prez: 'Step Down'

King Abdullah's comment is latest blow for Assad

(Newser) - Jordan's king said today that Syrian President Bashar Assad should step down for the good of his country, the first Arab leader to publicly make such a call as Syria's neighbors close ranks against an increasingly isolated regime. "If Bashar has the interest of his country, he...

Why Arab Intellectuals Missed Arab Spring
 Why Arab Intellectuals 
 Missed Arab Spring 
ANALYSIS
Oct 30, 2011 7:39 AM CDT

Why Arab Intellectuals Missed Arab Spring

No Thomas Paines, no Vaclav Havels—and maybe that's a good thing

(Newser) - The Arab Spring protests that have roiled the Middle East for the past 10 months may have ousted dictators and brought more democracy to the region, but they've done so with precious little help from the Arab world's intellectuals, writes Robert Worth in an analysis in the New ...

As US Leaves Iraq, It Eyes a Beefier Gulf Presence

US military looking to increase defense ties with states around region

(Newser) - The United States may be pulling out of Iraq by the end of 2011 , but that doesn't mean it's getting out of the Persian Gulf—in fact, the US military is looking to boost its combat presence in Kuwait and increase its military ties to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait,...

Abbas Hails 'Palestinian Spring' in Hero's Welcome

Triumphant president returns home

(Newser) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has received a hero's welcome in the West Bank, triumphantly telling his people the "Palestinian Spring" has begun following his historic speech to the UN last week. Abbas asked the world body on Friday to recognize Palestinian independence, defying appeals from Israel and the...

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