UNITED NATIONS  – Israel must investigate allegations that its army violated international law during its three-week war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, the new U.S. envoy to the United Nations said on Thursday. “We expect Israel will meet its international obligations to investigate and we also call upon …

BAGHDAD  – Gunmen killed three candidates on Thursday in separate incidents two days before provincial elections in Iraq, police said. Police said all three were from the Sunni Arab minority. Hazem Salem Ahmed, a candidate from the National Unity List, was shot outside his home in Mosul, the volatile capital …

WASHINGTON  – Defense Secretary Robert Gates will give President Barack Obama his formal recommendation on new U.S. troop deployments to Afghanistan within days, the Pentagon said on Thursday. “I would think in the coming days the secretary hopes to be able to present the president with his recommendation,” said Pentagon …