‘Huge rise’ in Iraqi death tolls An estimated 655,000 Iraqis have died since 2003 who might still be alive but for the US-led invasion, according to a survey by a US university.

N Korea: Sanctions ‘an act of war’ North Korea says it regards US pressure to curtail its nuclear weapons program as a declaration of war.

Al-Qaida escapee from U.S. prison urges followers in new video to go nuclear An al-Qaida member who escaped from a U.S. prison in Afghanistan urged his followers in a new video aired Tuesday to acquire nuclear technology.

Congo: 11,000 child soldiers ‘missing’ At least 11,000 children in Congo are still missing or in the hands of armed groups three years after the end of the country’s bloody civil war.

Jews at Risk as Turkey Goes Radical Throughout the centuries, the sultans of Ottoman Turkey never issued edicts, firmans or fatwahs against the Jewish people living in their dominions.

Lebanese parliament speaker: Hizbullah to remain armed Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said in an interview published Wednesday with the British newspaper Guardian that Hizbullah will remain armed and fully operational in southern Lebanon.

Future ‘radicalized’ Islamists trained in U.S. prisons Many “radicalized” Islamists capable of committing terrorist attacks in the future are acquiring their jihad beliefs and training right now.

Abbas: Recognizing Israel not required Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said in an Arabic-language interview neither Hamas nor his own Fatah party is required to recognize the Jewish state.

Explosions rock Baghdad as US arms dump catches fire US soldiers battled a blaze Wednesday in an ammunition depot that caught fire overnight, causing a thunderous series of explosions that rocked Baghdad.

Jordan’s King warns Palestinian statehood at risk due to feuding Jordan’s King Abdullah warned feuding Palestinians on Wednesday that their hopes of statehood could be permanently wrecked within months unless they step back from the brink of civil war.