Middle East

World News

Tensions Rise In Jerusalem After Second Attack

10:23am November 06, 2014

by Emily Harris

A Palestinian driver crashed into Israeli pedestrians, killing one, for the second time in weeks. Tensions are rising in Jerusalem over the most inflammatory issue between Israelis and Palestinians — the Old City Hill that is holy to both sides.

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Iranian women chant during a demonstration in front of the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran, marking the 1979 takeover just days ahead of a key meeting between the two nations' top diplomats over Iran's nuclear program.

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Iranian Rally Marking Anniversary Of U.S. Hostage Crisis Has A Twist

4:07pm November 05, 2014

by Peter Kenyon

It's been 35 years since the storming of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran triggered a 444-day hostage crisis. Today saw more cries of "Down with America," plus some interesting demands from the crowd.

An Israeli police officer gestures in front of the vehicle of a Palestinian motorist who rammed into pedestrians in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

World News

Palestinian Slams Minivan Into Pedestrians In Jerusalem Attack

8:50am November 05, 2014

by Krishnadev Calamur

One person was killed and 13 were wounded. Police shot and killed the driver who left his auto and began attacking people with a metal rod. Israel described the incident as a terrorist attack.

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Rebel Group Encounters Setback In Syria

8:07pm November 03, 2014

Robert Siegel talks to Washington Post reporter Liz Sly about her recent report from Syria, where moderate rebel groups were routed over the weekend in the northern part of the country.

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Supreme Court Case Tests Status Of Jerusalem

6:23pm November 03, 2014

by Nina Totenberg

Can U.S. citizens born in Jerusalem list Israel as their place of birth on their passports? A 12-year-old boy is contesting the U.S. position that no one has sovereignty over the city.

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Israel's West Bank separation barrier, shown here with the Jewish settlement Maale Adumim in the background, symbolizes the division between two societies that had much more interaction a generation ago.

For Palestinians, A Bridge-Building Bus Trip To Israel Turns Sour

1:59pm November 03, 2014

by Emily Harris

The constant friction between Israelis and Palestinians has taken its toll on "normalization" efforts between the two sides. Nowadays, many Palestinians consider it a dirty word.

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Ajmal Khan, vice chancellor of Islamia College University, talks with journalists after his release from Taliban captivity in August.

World News

A Taliban Hostage's Story: Educating Children Who Have No Teachers

1:02pm November 03, 2014

by Philip Reeves

During his four years as a prisoner, professor Ajmal Khan came across boys in remote Waziristan who were hungry to learn. He taught them math and science, but his captivity became a lesson, too.

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Iranians protest in Isfahan, Iran, last month in solidarity with women injured in a series of acid attacks. Several women have been attacked by assailants on motorcycles who threw acid on their faces, purportedly because they were "badly veiled."

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After Acid Attacks And Execution, Iran Defends Human Rights Record

3:04pm November 02, 2014

by Peter Kenyon

Iranian officials are lashing out at a U.N. report portraying Iranians as suffering from an opaque justice system, regular oppression of women and religious persecution under President Hassan Rouhani.

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A video of a celebration centering on two men drew discussions on social media — and the attention of Egyptian prosecutors.

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Three Years In Prison For Egyptian Men In Purported Gay Marriage Video

12:57pm November 01, 2014

by Bill Chappell

The event included the presentation of a ring and a cake featuring two of the men. After a video was posted online, one site asked, "Is This Egypt's First Gay Marriage?"

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Israel Reopens Disputed Religious Site In Jerusalem To Worshippers

11:33am October 31, 2014

by Krishnadev Calamur

The Temple Mount, sacred to both Muslims and Jews, was closed Thursday following the attempted assassination of a right-wing Jewish activist. More than 1,000 security personnel have been deployed.