US Upgrades Air Travel Security for 14 Nations

Starting this month visitors from 14 countries that are linked to terrorism will not automatically receive extra security when landing at U.S. airports like originally planned. (more…)

Al-Maliki, Allawi vie for right to form next Iraqi government

Iraq’s main political groupings, feuding over the results of the country’s elections, sought to broker alliances in a bid to form the biggest bloc of seats in parliament and earn the right to name the next prime minister.

Former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, whose secular alliance won a small majority in parliamentary elections on March 7, said he initiated talks yesterday to form a coalition and vowed to reach out to political allies and foes alike. His rival, Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki, was also engaged in talks after declaring that his second-placed Shiite Muslim group won’t accept the results and might even challenge them in court. (more…)

Bin Laden threatens US over alleged 9/11 plotter

Osama bin Laden threatened in a new message released Thursday to kill any Americans al-Qaida captures if the U.S. executes the self-professed mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks or other al-Qaida suspects. (more…)

Clinton: Israel is hurting US credibility

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton accused Israel of undermining U.S. credibility as a Mideast peacemaker Monday on the eve of critical talks between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel recently announced new housing plans for east Jerusalem, an expansion that the Obama administration has strongly criticized. Clinton renewed that disapproval, telling a pro-Israel audience that provocative Israeli land policies in areas claimed by the Palestinians are not in Israel’s long-term interests. (more…)

U.S. House passes historic healthcare overhaul

Ending the Democrats’ decades-long quest to create a healthcare safety net to match Social Security, the House of Representatives on Sunday night approved sweeping legislation to guarantee Americans access to medical care for the first time, delivering President Obama the biggest victory of his young presidency. (more…)

Clinton Defends U.S. Criticism of Israeli Plans

Ten days after harshly rebuking the Israeli government for a new housing plan in Jerusalem, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday that the Obama administration would push back “unequivocally” when it disagreed with Israeli policies, but that America’s support for Israel was “rock solid, unwavering, enduring, and forever.” (more…)

US ambassador praises Suleiman ‘s leadership

The US embassy issued a statement that President Michel Suleiman and US Ambassador to Lebanon Michele Sison met Monday at Baabda Palace, where she reiterated her “support for a strong and independent Lebanon” . (more…)

Israeli PM: No concession on Jewish settlements

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out any concession on the building of settlements in occupied East Jerusalem, despite international pressure.

Mr Netanyahu said he had written to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to remove any doubt about the issue.

He made the remarks hours before he left for Washington to address the influential pro-Israeli group, Aipac.

He has been invited to meet President Barack Obama on Tuesday, indicating a possible thaw in relations. (more…)

Syria’s link to Hezbollah clouds honeymoon with U.S.

Emboldened by its strong ties with Iran and Turkey, Syria is ignoring U.S. demands that it stop backing Hezbollah, despite the risk that this will spoil its rapprochement with Washington and raise regional tensions.

Syria’s support for the armed Lebanese Shi’ite movement is at odds with its stated aims of improving relations with the United States and resuming peace negotiations with Hezbollah’s arch-foe Israel, diplomats and political analysts said. (more…)

Lebanese Police graduate from U.S. training program

The U.S. embassy in Lebanon Thursday announced the graduation of Lebanese police officers from an American training course amid internal debate over the nature of this program, stating that “the first class of 73 Internal Security Forces (ISF) cadets and officers” graduated on Wednesday “from the newly developed Community Policing training class.” (more…)