Lionel Messi's appeal against a four-match ban in World Cup qualifying for insulting a referee's assistant was being heard by FIFA Thursday. Messi, who was to testify by video, is not expected to get an immediate verdict. The FIFA appeals panel typically gives a detailed verdict within...

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said a Moscow-backed plan to set up so-called de-escalation zones inside Syria would "50 percent" solve the six-year conflict, in comments published Thursday. Erdogan Wednesday discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin a plan floated by Moscow for...

French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron accused his far-right rival Marine Le Pen Thursday of spreading lies by suggesting he had an undisclosed offshore fund. Macron's party said it was taking legal action after an internet campaign suggested shortly before a televised debate between...

Iraqi's oil ministry Thursday asked foreign companies and investors to bid for a project to build and operate a 300,000 barrel-per-day export-oriented refinery in Fao, near the southern city of Basra. Bidding documents provide for two investment models -- build-own-operate and...