Topic: Qatar
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Why no safe zone in Syria, yet? 5 complications
The flood of Syrian refugees entering Turkey – as many as 5,000 a day for the last 10 days – has ratcheted up the pressure for a safe zone’s creation. But a safe zone is complicated and carries many risks.
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4 ways US and Iran can make nuclear talks work
The Moscow talks on Iran’s nuclear program ended in stalemate June 19, as both cynics and optimists anticipated. While low-level experts will meet in July, the next set of sanctions against Iran are scheduled to kick in within weeks, arguably restarting the whole negotiating process. The next time around, the parties should consider broadening their approach in these four ways.
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Briefing
Syria conflict: 5 warring factions
Syria is at the nexus of some of the Middle East's most central problems, meaning that fallout from its uprising is likely to ripple, in unpredictable ways, through the region. Here's a brief guide to the actors in the conflict.
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World's cheapest gas: Top 10 countries
While Americans and Europeans bemoan the cost of gasoline at the pumps, people in some other parts of the world enjoy filling up their tanks cheaply thanks to subsidies provided by wealthy, oil-rich governments. Here are the 10 cheapest countries on Earth to fill a gas tank.
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How do key countries rank on corruption?
Every year, the group Transparency International releases its Corruption Perception Index, which measures the perception of corruption – misuse of public resources, bribery, and backdoor deals, to name a few - in countries worldwide.
All Content
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Iranian officials dispatched to Turkey, Syria
The Iranian foreign minister is traveling to Turkey, where he is expected to request Ankara's help securing the release of 48 Iranians being held in Syria by rebel forces.
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Terrorism & Security
Rebels, observers dispute importance of Syrian prime minister's defectionSyrian Prime Minister Riyad Farid Hijab has defected from the Assad regime, but there have still been no defections among Alawite members of government, which would be the more telling sign.
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Syria: Despite prime minister's defection, Assad’s inner circle intact (+video)
On Monday, following the defection of Syria's Prime Minister Riad Hijab to Jordan fighting continued, particularly in Damascus and Aleppo. Though Hijab's departure was high-profile, it does not appear to be a threat to Assad's closest allies.
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Syrian prime minister defects from Assad regime (+video)
Syrian Prime Minister Riyad Hijab, a Sunni in Bashar al-Assad's Alawite-dominated government, is among the highest profile defectors to the opposition.
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Syria: Kofi Annan steps down (+video)
Citing the Syrian government's intractability, increasing violence and the international community's lack of consensus, former U.N. secretary-general Kofi Annan announced his resignation. He says there is still a chance for Syria to avoid the worst, 'if the international community can show the courage and leadership necessary.'
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Syria's rebels have a new villain: the United States
The US has stepped up its rhetoric against President Assad and is providing covert support to rebels. But for many fighting the Assad regime, it is not enough.
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Aleppo short on weapons, medical supplies as Syria's next big battle looms
The expected Syrian government offensive hasn't begun in earnest, but Aleppo's rebel-held neighborhoods are being pounded by shelling and gunfire and clinics are filling up with wounded.
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Saudi woman to compete without hijab in Olympics
One of the first two female athletes ever to compete from Saudi Arabia in the Olympics will not wear a headscarf in the judo competition, says judo federation chief. What will Saudi Arabians say?
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The Monitor's View: Moral mantle for action in Syria slips from UN to Obama
The Obama administration has all but given up on the UN acting on Syria. It's beefing up aid to rebels taking other steps. But China and Russia can still save the UN's moral leadership by backing tougher sanctions on Assad.
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Opinion: What would 'President Romney' do about Syria?
The same thing President Obama has been doing. Contrary to his condemnations of Obama's foreign policy, handling of the Syria crisis, and stance toward Bashar al-Assad, Romney would effectively have the same policy on Syria as Obama.
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Global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise (+video)
Despite global talks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, carbon dioxide production is up 3 percent in 2011, with three of the top five emitters being developing countries.
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Reinventing the city: An interview with architect Rem Koolhaas
'What I see more than anything is the inability of almost every political system to anticipate, mobilize, and take precautions for the future, even when it is obvious that cities will grow or shrink rapidly.' At the same time, 'The reinvention...of cities is taking place all over the world.'
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The Monitor's View: Syria on the brink of liberty?
So many nations – notably Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia – claim interests in Syria. It's easy to forget what still drives the civil war there: the seed of freedom planted even before the Arab Spring.
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Terrorism & Security
As Syrian conflict intensifies, UN prepares to extend its missionToday's assassination of two top government officials in Damascus raises the stakes of Syria's conflict yet again. Will the UN vote to continue its observer mission, or give it more teeth?
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Keep Calm
US Navy fires on fishing boat in sensitive Strait of HormuzFearful of a repeat of the bombing of the USS Cole, the US Navy says it fired only after giving warning to the Dubai-based, Indian-manned fishing boat.
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Terrorism & Security
Syria's top defector says Assad not afraid to use chemical weaponsSyria is believed to have the Arab world's largest stockpile of chemical weapons. An ex-official warned that Assad would use them if backed into a corner.
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Another day, another defector from Assad's Syria
The Syrian ambassador to Iraq defected today, the second prominent Sunni to do so in two weeks. With their departures, Syria's Sunni vs. Alawite conflict hardens.
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Saudi Arabia to send first-ever female athletes to Olympics
Saudi Arabia will send two women to the London Olympics. For the first time in Olympic history, every country competing in the Summer Olympics will include women.
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Global News Blog
Taliban commander admits war cannot be won. What does that mean?Taliban commander's comments, in interview with Afghan expert Michael Semple, suggest that Taliban might be ready for negotiation. But are the Taliban unified enough to act as one?
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Terrorism & Security
Annan and Assad agree on 'new approach' to Syrian conflict (+video)Support for further negotiated solutions with the Assad regime in Syria appears to be waning among world powers, however.
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Clinton says Russia, China should 'pay price' over Syria (+video)
At Paris meeting, US Secretary of State Clinton lambasted Russia, China for 'blockading' progress. The meeting came amid news that a top Syrian general has defected.
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Global News Blog
London's Shard: architectural marvel or enormous salt shaker?Built with Qatari funding and sniffed at by Prince Charles, the new skyscraper has 11,000 glass panels equal to eight soccer fields.
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Backchannels
July 4 calumny! Hotdogs and hamburgers blamed for making Kuwaitis fatIs nothing sacred?
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Turkey reinforces border: Assad's helicopters hammer northern Syria (+video)
Turkey reinforced its border with missile batteries Thursday. Syrian tanks massed 20 miles from the border with Turkey. Helicopters attacked Saraqeb, Syria.
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Turkish troops head to Syrian border
As several nations prepare for an emergency meeting of the Action Group for Syria, Turkey deploys troops to defend its border. The international community has so far been unable to come to consensus about next steps as the crisis continues.
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