Noda picks allies for key Cabinet spots

APJapan Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda arrives at his official residence in Tokyo on Friday.

Japan’s new Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda picked close allies Friday for key positions in his Cabinet as he tries to steer his troubled nation through disaster recovery, a nuclear crisis and a lengthy economic slump.

Clinton urges EU to ban Syrian oil

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was urging EU leaders to press ahead with plans to ban the sale of Syrian oil to the 27-member bloc, officials said, after Britain expressed hope new sanctions would be agreed to within days.

A worker points at a damaged oil pipeline at the site of a bomb blast in the western town of Talkalakh, Syria, on July 29. The European Union reportedly will seek a ban on the sale of Syrian oil to the 27-member bloc to step up pressure on President Bashar Assad's regime. ((SANA/Associated Press) )

In talks on the sidelines of an international meeting in Paris on Libya, Clinton was raising Syria’s violent crackdown on protests with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and British Foreign Minister William Hague, officials said.

UN Chief 'Sincerely Hopes' Israel, Turkey Improve Relations

Photo: Reuters

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (file photo)

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he sincerely hopes Israel and Turkey will improve their relationship, following Ankara's decision to expel Israel's ambassador and suspend all military agreements.

Ban told reporters Saturday that both countries are very important to the region, and to the Middle East peace process.

Analysis: Will the UN Palmer Report have any impact Israel's policy towards Gaza?

The UN report on last year's flotilla raid will leave Israel with a sense of vindication over its controversial Gaza policy.

12:06PM BST 02 Sep 2011

The Palmer Report brings Israel long-sought vindication of its blockade of Gaza. While the report levels strategic criticisms at their military response, the key message Israel will take away is that their blockade of Gaza is valid under international law and that Israeli navy was entirely justified to intercept a vessel attempting to breach it.

New regime outlines roadmap for future

A new era ... a Libyan Rebel fighter yells anti-Gaddafi slogans as he celebrates in the streets of Tripoli. Photo: Getty Images

TRIPOLI: Libya's new leaders have won huge international support for their plans to rebuild the war-shattered country but face threats of a long guerilla campaign from the defeated strongman Muammar Gaddafi.

Boosted by promises of billions of dollars in cash from unfrozen assets of the Gaddafi regime, the rebel National Transitional Council prepared to put into practice a plan for bringing democracy to Libya.