European Union countries have been hesitant to join the U.S. in imposing sanctions against Iranian oil exports. But all 27 EU members approved an embargo on oil imports from Iran in the latest sanction directed against the country for its nuclear program.

The freely elected Parliament held its inaugural session in Cairo. There are high expectations, as well as concerns, about the agenda of the Islamist-dominated legislature, which will have a key role in writing a new constitution.

When they ruled Afghanistan, the Taliban outlawed CDs and DVDs on the grounds they were un-Islamic. But now the Taliban make their own CDs in an attempt to recruit Afghans to their side.

A plea deal has been reached in the court martial case of Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich. He was the last person facing charges in the killings of 24 Iraqis at the village of Haditha in 2005. Monday, he admitted to one charge of dereliction of duty. The case became a touchstone for criticism of the Iraq war. Originally, several Marines were charged with murder in the case. But the Marines who killed the Iraqi civilians that day claimed that their actions were tragic — but legal under the official rules of engagement in a complex war fought in and among the people. Melissa Block talks to NPR Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman for the latest.

More than a decade after the U.S. charged into Afghanistan, American troops are still in the lead combat role. But with the U.S. military planning to withdraw by the end of 2014, the Americans now want to see Afghan troops at the forefront of the fighting.

The Inquisition revolutionized record-keeping and surveillance techniques that are still used today, says Cullen Murphy. His new book God's Jury draws parallels between some of the interrogation techniques used in previous centuries with the ones used today.

The Arab League has launched a new plan to stop the crisis in Syria. The plan was announced in Cairo by the premier of Qatar. It comes after the Arab League's own observers completed a month-long mission in Syria.