Iraqi forces searched on Wednesday for a kidnapped United Arab Emirates diplomat, and a top official in the Persian Gulf country said the attack raised concerns about Iraqр# widespread insecurity. Read more…

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday rejected a possible European offer for incentives, including a light-water nuclear reactor, in return for quitting uranium enrichment. Read more…

Mount Merapi shot a large cloud of searing hot ash and gas into the sky Wednesday, ending two days of relative calm and underscoring the dangers still facing thousands of people living on the volcanoр# slopes. Read more…

China evacuated as many as 320,000 people as the strongest typhoon on record to enter the South China Sea in May bore down on the south coast on Wednesday, causing flight and shipping delays around the region. Read more…

The Hamas-led Palestinian government said Wednesday it is activating a new security unit made up of militants, despite a veto by moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Read more…

Israel will reopen the countryр# main cargo border crossing with the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, military officials said. Read more…

Defense lawyers put a series of witnesses on the stand in Saddam Husseinр# trial Wednesday, and the ex-Iraqi leader attended the session after being kept out of the courtroom a day earlier. Read more…

A gunman stormed into a meeting at Turkeyр# top administrative court on Wednesday and opened fire, wounding five judges, the Ankara governorр# office said. Read more…

The Bush administration said Monday it will restore normal diplomatic relations with Libya after deciding to remove Moammar Gadhafiр# country from a list of state sponsors of terrorism. Read more…

The United States imposed sanctions on Venezuela Monday, banning all arms sales to one of its major oil suppliers for what it says is its lack of help in the war on terrorism, a State Department official said. Read more…