Middle-East
Iraqi protesters: At least 15 stabbed in Baghdad square
Anti-government protesters say at least 15 people have suffered stab wounds in Baghdad's Tahrir Square, the epicenter of their movement, after political parties and Iran-backed militia groups briefly joined them, raising fears of infiltration by authorities.
Lebanese central bank slashes interest rates amid crisis
Lebanon's central bank says it's dramatically lowering interest rates on dollar and Lebanese pound deposits and loans as part of measures to deal with a burgeoning economic crisis.
Iran president: Tehran hasn't closed window on talks with US
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says Tehran hasn't closed the window on talks with the U.S. but reiterated his government's standing condition that the Trump administration lift sanctions imposed on Iran before any negotiations can take place.
Israeli PM escapes domestic woes to meet Pompeo in Lisbon
Looking to escape his legal and political woes at home, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was headed Wednesday toward a warmer embrace in Portugal for a meeting with like-minded ally U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Iranian president calls for help to end war in Yemen
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday urged the United States and Europe to help end war in Yemen, official IRNA news agency reported.
Hundreds of Syrian refugees in Lebanon return home
Hundreds of Syrian refugees have headed home in the first batch to leave Lebanon since protests broke out in the small Arab country more than a month ago.
Iraqi parliament accepts prime minister's resignation
Iraq's parliament formally accepted the prime minister's resignation on Sunday, but the path to replacing Adil Abdul-Mahdi was clouded with legal questions that one lawmaker described as a "black hole in the constitution," which does not clearly spell out the next step.
Iraqi officials: 2 protesters dead in more violence
Iraqi officials say two protesters have been shot dead and at least 26 wounded in Baghdad and southern Iraq in continued unrest after Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi announced he intended to resign.
Iran opposition leader compares supreme leader to shah
A website long associated with detained opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi has quoted him as comparing a crackdown on protesters under Iran's supreme leader to another carried out under the country's ousted shah.
Iran cancels soccer matches in Tehran due to severe air pollution
Two soccer matches in Iran Professional League were canceled after the Iranian capital was cloaked in dangerously high levels of air pollution, Tehran Times daily reported on Saturday.