Latest Middle East News
Thieves posing as NYC tourists swipe 87-year-old's necklace
NEW YORK (AP) — Thieves posing as New York City tourists drove up to an 87-year-old man and swiped his necklace, swapping it for one made of fake gold, police said Thursday. The snatch-and-switch happened June 16 near Cunningham Park in Queens. The thieves claimed to be travelers...

Sudan doctors: 8 people killed in mass rallies against coup
CAIRO (AP) — Sudanese security forces shot eight people to death during anti-coup protests Thursday, a medical group said as thousands marched to denounce the country’s military rulers and demand an immediate transfer of power to civilians. The Sudan’s Doctors Committee said...

Russian forces leave Snake Island, keep up eastern assault
SLOVIANSK, Ukraine (AP) — Russian forces withdrew from a strategic Black Sea island Thursday, potentially easing the threat to the vital Ukrainian port city of Odesa, but kept up their push to encircle the last stronghold of resistance in the eastern province of Luhansk. The...

Greece formally requests to buy F-35 fighter jets from US
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece has sent a letter of request to the United States to buy a squadron of F-35 fighter jets, the country’s prime minister said Thursday, part of efforts to bolster its defense capabilities amid continuing tensions with neighboring Turkey. Speaking to...

Iran says it's ready for new talks with US on nuclear deal
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Iran said Thursday it is ready for new indirect talks with the United States to overcome the last hurdles to revive its tattered 2015 nuclear deal with major powers amid a growing crisis over the country's atomic program. Iran’s U.N. Ambassador Majid Takht...

Live updates | Trudeau: Canada to up Latvia troop presence
MADRID (AP) — The Latest on the final day of the NATO summit in Madrid: ___ Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government will increase Canada's troop presence in Latvia as part of NATO’s commitment to strengthen its deterrence measures along...
UN rep in South Sudan urges authorities to prepare for polls
JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — The head of the United Nations mission in South Sudan urged the East African country's transitional government Thursday to set a date for elections as time passes. Nicholas Haysom told journalists in the capital, Juba that with barely eight months remaining...

Roglic aims to stop favorite Pogacar from winning 3rd Tour
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Primoz Roglic must find a way to stop his Slovenian rival Tadej Pogacar from winning the Tour de France for the third straight time. Pogacar is firm favorite to win the three-week race, which starts in Denmark on Friday and ends in Paris on July 24. ...

Erdogan: Nordic NATO bid could still be nixed if vows unkept
ISTANBUL (AP) — Just two days after agreeing to lift deal-breaking objections to Sweden and Finland’s NATO accession, Turkey’s leader warned Thursday that Ankara could still block the process if the two countries fail to fully meet his expectations. President Recep Tayyip...
European court bumps youths' climate case to top-tier panel
BERLIN (AP) — The European Court of Human Rights said Thursday that a complaint against 33 countries filed by six young Portuguese climate activists will be examined by the tribunal's top panel of judges, a move reflecting the case's legal significance. The activists, three of whom...
