The State Department announced the appointment the same day it released its 2012 report on religious freedom that recorded a 'continued global increase in anti-Semitism.'

John Brennan met with Defense Minister Ya'alon; the Defense Ministry did not provide details of the meeting; Russian FM Lavrov says Russia plans to go ahead with sale of missile defense systems to Syria.

In joint White House press conference, President Obama cites need for further evidence before making Syria decision; Erdogan: Turkey in 'full consensus' with U.S. on need to end Syria bloodshed.

Competing interests undermine attempts to convene a global summit on Syria and make military intervention increasingly unlikely.

The ouster of Acting Commissioner Steven Miller came five days after an IRS supervisor publicly revealed that agents had improperly scrutinized certain groups, including Tea Party members, for tax exempt status.

At Washington meeting this week, Erdogan, Obama to discuss evidence of chemical weapons use, Israel relations, Iraq energy also on agenda.

The potential peace conference to bring Syrian government and rebels to the negotiating table may slide to early June, U.S. State Department spokeswoman says.

ABC released 12 versions of the administration's "talking points" on Benghazi that appeared to show how various agencies - particularly the State Department and the CIA - shaped what became the Obama administration's initial playbook for explaining how four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, were killed in the attack.

The explosions near the Syrian border that claimed 46 lives exacerbated tensions between between locals and Syrian refugees - and among Hatay Province's ethnic groups.