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Jordan Arrests Journalists over 'Offensive' Jesus Image

Jordan on Monday arrested a publisher and an editor at a news website over an image of Jesus deemed "offensive" to Christians, a judicial source said.

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Netanyahu Says Oman to Open Its Airspace to Israeli Carrier

Israel's prime minister on Monday announced that Oman will open its airspace to Israel's national airline.

The move appears to have no immediate practical effect because carrier El Al is still barred from flying over Oman's northern neighbor, Saudi Arabia. But it marks another sign of warming ties between Israel and Gulf Arab states, as Israel's behind-the-scenes dealings with its former foes become more public.

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Israel Becomes Member of Global Watchdog on Money Laundering

Israel on Monday became a full member of the global financial watchdog on money laundering and terror financing, officials said, after having previously been blacklisted by the organization.

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UN Proposes Yemen Rebels Withdraw from Hodeida for Joint Control with Govt

The UN has proposed Yemen's Huthi rebels withdraw from Hodeida as part of a ceasefire deal placing the flashpoint port city under joint control, according to a document seen by AFP Monday.

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Iraq Marks Anniversary of Victory over Islamic State

Iraq on Monday celebrated the anniversary of its costly victory over the Islamic State group, which has lost virtually all the territory it once held but still carries out sporadic attacks.

The government declared victory last December after a grueling three-year war in which tens of thousands of people were killed and hundreds of thousands displaced. Entire towns and neighborhoods were reduced to rubble in the fighting.

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'I Can't Breathe' Were Khashoggi's Final Words, Report Says

Jamal Khashoggi's final words were "I can't breathe," CNN said Sunday, citing a source who has read the transcript of an audio tape of the final moments before the journalist's murder.

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Syria Media Says No Attack on Airport after Reported Air Defence Fire

Syrian state media said Sunday that air defences had opened fire near Damascus airport, before withdrawing the report after what appeared to be a false alarm.

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U.N. Launches Aid Delivery from Jordan to 650,000 Syrians

The United Nations said Sunday it began delivering aid to hundreds of thousands of Syrians through the Jaber-Nassib border crossing with Jordan, which reopened two months ago. 

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Yemen Rebels Open to More Talks if 'Progress' Made in Sweden

Yemen's Huthi rebels are open to more talks with the rival government if progress is made this week at U.N.-brokered negotiations in Sweden, a spokesman said on Sunday.

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The Gulf Cooperation Council: An Alliance in Crisis

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which holds its annual summit Sunday in Riyadh amid a deep crisis, groups Sunni Muslim-led monarchies sitting on a third of the world's oil reserves.

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