Abbas has no choice but to override U.S. objections and seek U.N. recognition of a state of Palestine, after rival Hamas' popularity has soared.

The firing of the general indicates that Congo is getting tough on its army.

When the tiny desert nation of Qatar was chosen to host the latest round of United Nations climate change negotiations, environmentalists were stunned.

She said her remarks were based on initial intelligence assessments.

Nearly 3,000 soldiers and police defected to the rebels in Goma.

The highly anticipated report says the Rwandan military is commanding and supporting the rebel force that overtook a major city in eastern Congo this week.

Thousands of Congolese soldiers and policemen joined group.

President Thein Sein's agreement to allow more scrutiny by U.N. inspectors suggests a willingness to go beyond reforms that have improved relations with Washington.

The U.S. secretary of state will try to wring an elusive truce deal from Israel and Gaza's militant Hamas rulers after earlier efforts to end more than a week of fighting broke down amid a furious spasm of violence.