“International relations” on The Daily Caller

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s president dashed expectations that he would announce sweeping reforms Wednesday and instead took a tough line, blaming two weeks of popular fury on a foreign conspiracy. (more)

NEW YORK (AP) — A magnitude-6.5 earthquake shook eastern Japan off the quake-ravaged coast on Monday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reported, prompting Japan to issue a tsunami alert. (more)

AJDABIYA, Libya (AP) — Libyan rebels clinched their hold on the east and seized back a key city on Saturday after decisive international airstrikes sent Moammar Gadhafi’s forces into retreat, shedding their uniforms and ammunition as they fled. (more)

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A scenic seaside city echoed with gunfire Saturday as protesters defied government forces in Syria’s second day of nationwide unrest, burning tires, attacking businesses and setting the offices of the ruling party aflame. (more)

BEIJING (AP) — China called Tuesday for an immediate cease-fire in Libya where the U.S. and European nations have launched punishing airstrikes to enforce a U.N. no-fly zone. (more)

JERUSALEM (AP) — Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin visited a Jewish holy site in Jerusalem soon after arriving in Israel Sunday on a trip that has raised speculation she is honing her foreign policy credentials before a run for the U.S. presidency next year. (more)

ZEITOUNIYA, Libya (AP) — The international military intervention in Libya is likely to last “awhile,” a top French official said Monday, echoing Moammar Gadhafi’s warning of a long war ahead as rebels said they were fighting to reclaim a city under the Libyan leader’s control. (more)

CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian voters overwhelmingly approved changes in the constitution, opening the way for parliamentary and presidential elections within months, according to final results from a landmark referendum announced Sunday. Opponents fear the swift timetable could boost the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood and members of the former ruling party. (more)

PARIS — A French official says Mirage and Rafale fighter jets are flying over the Libyan city of Benghazi and could strike Libyan tanks. (more)

The U.N. Security Council on Thursday approved a no-fly zone over Libya and authorized “all necessary measures” to protect civilians from attacks by Moammar Gadhafi’s forces. (more)

TOBRUK, Libya (AP) — The U.N. Security Council on Thursday authorized “all necessary measures” to stop Moammar Gadhafi in Libya — including strikes by sea and air — hours after he vowed in harrowing terms to launch a final assault and crush the weeks-old rebellion against him. (more)

TOKYO (AP) — Australia, Britain and Germany advised their citizens in Japan to consider leaving Tokyo and earthquake-affected areas, joining a growing number of governments and businesses telling their people it may be safer elsewhere. (more)

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A “blood money” deal to free a CIA contractor who killed two Pakistani men removes a major thorn in relations between the United States and Pakistan, but bruising from the incident and disagreements over Afghanistan mean the alliance will likely remain stormy. (more)

CAIRO (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton implored Egyptians on Tuesday to complete their fragile and unfinished democratic transition while fighting continued next door in Libya and Bahrain called in foreign security forces to put down anti-government protests there. (more)

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s interior minister on Tuesday dissolved the country’s widely hated state security agency, which was accused of torture and other human rights abuses in the suppression of dissent against ousted President Hosni Mubarak’s nearly 30-year rule. (more)

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s transition to democracy after 30 years of authoritarian rule faces a major test on Saturday when Egyptians vote in a referendum on amendments to the constitution. Opponents are pushing heavily for a “no” vote, saying the changes don’t go far enough and that the ruling military is rushing the process. (more)

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Supporters of a no-fly zone over Libya introduced a U.N. resolution Tuesday aimed at stopping Moammar Gadhafi’s planes from bombing civilians, with France urging quick action but Russia and Germany expressing misgivings. (more)

KORIYAMA, Japan (AP) — Japan was considering spraying water and boric acid over a stricken nuclear plant in a desperate measure to contain radiation after officials said Wednesday that many fuel rods were damaged, in an escalating crisis caused by last week’s earthquake and tsunami. (more)

SOMA, Japan (AP) — Japan’s nuclear crisis deepened dramatically Tuesday. As safety officials sought desperately to avert catastrophe, the government said radioactive material leaking from reactors was enough to “impact human health” and the risk of more leaks was “very high.” (more)

Often compared to President Kennedy, President Obama may well find that Libya has become his Bay of Pigs. (more)