* General says Iraq talks critical The top US general in Iraq says the military alone cannot provide a solution to the country's conflict.
* Iraq: Hopes High For Baghdad Security Conference Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki says he hopes an international conference hosted by Baghdad will help build a regional consensus on how to end violence in his country.
* Sudan 'paralyzing' aid to Darfur The Sudanese government is "paralyzing" the aid operation in its conflict-torn western region of Darfur, the US special envoy to Sudan has said.
* IAEA freezes nuclear technical aid programs to Iran Delegates to a 35-nation meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Thursday approved the suspension of nearly two dozen nuclear technical aid programs to Iran.
* New York State Assemblyman Purchases a Home in Samaria The Amanah Settlement Organization, helping to keep Israel's Biblical heartland Jewish, held a fair in a Teaneck synagogue recently.
* Abdullah: America's moral vision can be asserted by leadership in peace Jordan's King Abdullah came to the US Congress on Wednesday to stress that the "core issue" facing the Middle East is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
* Netanyahu calls for early elections Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu called for early elections on Wednesday.
* Millions of Shiite pilgrims pour into Iraq holy city Around 2.5 million Shiite pilgrims flooded the Iraqi holy city of Karbala Thursday.
* Hungary's Jewish leaders fear attacks Leaders of Hungary's Jewish community have called on the country's Jewish residents to raise their alert level.
* Serbian and Kosovar negotiators prepare for diplomatic showdown The embittered Belgrade and optimistic Pristina negotiators huddled in their respective headquarters Thursday ahead of what were to be their last talks.