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Report: Iran lifts ban on popular newspaper
An Iranian news agency reports that the judiciary has after just a day lifted its ban on a popular newspaper which ran a photo of a Baha'i temple. (AP, 2:31 p.m.)
Iran frees activist on bail in mass trial
Iran's official news agency reports a political activist and former head of the Tehran municipal council has been released on bail in the mass trial of opposition figures accused of fomenting the post-election unrest. (AP, 7:31 a.m.)
Prisoner swap could win release of popular leader
At the top of the list of Palestinian prisoners likely to be freed in a possible swap for an Israeli soldier is a firebrand politician many Palestinians believe is a likely future president who can pull them out of their current political deadlock. (Associated Press Writer, 2:21 p.m.)
Google documents Iraqi museum treasures
Google is documenting Iraq's national museum and will post photographs of its ancient treasures on the Internet early next year, Google chief Eric Schmidt announced Tuesday. (Associated Press Writer, 1:51 p.m.)
Iran said ready for uranium exchange on its soil
Iran said Tuesday it was ready to exchange its low-enriched uranium with a higher enriched material, but only on its own soil, to guarantee the West follows through with promises to give the fuel. (Associated Press Writer, 8:12 a.m.)
Yemen conflict inflaming Saudi-Iranian rivalry
For years just an obscure fight raging in remote desert mountains, Yemen's war with Shiite rebels has been dragged up to a new level, inflaming the rivalry between the Middle East's two powerhouses Saudi Arabia and Iran. (Associated Press Writer, 3:31 a.m.)
Israeli aircraft strike arms operations in Gaza
Israel's military says it has carried out three airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, targeting a weapons-manufacturing facility and weapons smuggling tunnels. (AP, 2:31 a.m.)
Iraq elections face delay
A senior official said Tuesday that Iraq must delay a national vote scheduled for January because of a political dispute, and the vice president who triggered the crisis indicated he would veto a key election law for a second time. (Associated Press Writer, 12:42 p.m.)
Israel, Hamas in prisoner deal talks
JERUSALEM - Israel and the Islamist group Hamas appeared to be nearing a deal last night to exchange a captured Israeli soldier for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, possibly including a popular leader, a move with far-reaching implications not only for stalled Middle East peace talks but for a range of regional relations. (New York Times, 2:10 a.m.)
For Israel, Shalit case is personal
Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Michael B. Oren, said yesterday that in his first few months on the job, one of his tasks has been to get American military commanders to understand why Israel has become so obsessively focused on winning the release of captured soldier Gilad Shalit, held by Hamas fighters in Gaza since 2006. (Globe Staff, 2:06 a.m.)