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DUBLIN: The Olympic flame arrived in Dublin on a cross-border peace mission Wednesday to celebrate Northern Ireland reconciliation and strong British-Irish ties. A high-speed convoy sped the symbol of the London Games to the Irish capital after a dawn ceremony at the border between the Republic of Ireland and the British territory of Northern Ireland. There, two Olympic medal-winning boxers …

BOLU, Turkey: So excited was Goksu Uctas at the thought of becoming Turkey’s first Olympic gymnast, she wanted the five Olympic rings tattooed on her arm. For now, though, the London-bound athlete has settled for a silver necklace of the famous symbol, which she twirls excitedly in her fingers. While Turkey excels at wrestling and weightlifting — the nation’s men …

BEIRUT: The Future Movement parliamentary bloc handed a memo Friday to U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly documenting breaches of national sovereignty by the Syrian army. The memo will be sent to U.N.-Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan. “Lebanon is an easy target for the Syrian regime in light of the country’s political instability and the great influence that …

CARACAS, Venezuela: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez jokingly raised the possibility of teaming up with President Barack Obama to lobby for baseball and softball to be brought back to the Olympics. Chavez made the remark during a televised speech Tuesday night, saying he’s sorry that the two sports won’t be played at the London Games. Baseball and softball were last played …

DAMASCUS: The president of the Syrian Olympic Committee says nine athletes from the war-torn country have qualified for the London Olympics and will compete “despite all pressures, media war and threats to ban them.” Gen. Mowaffak Joumaa says Syria plans to send up to 10 athletes and several officials even though a travel ban looms against top officials. Joumaa says …

DOHA: When Qatari sprinter Noor al-Malki makes her debut at the London Olympics, she will not be among those contending for a medal. Breaking her own national record in the 100 meters will be enough of a prize. But even this modest goal presents a challenge. The 17-year-old, whose oil-and-gas rich country is sending women to the Olympics for the …

TOKYO: Tokyo organizers have expressed their delight that the Japanese capital has made the cut to be one of three contenders to host the 2020 Summer Olympics. The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday decided the race for the 2020 Olympics will come down to a contest between Tokyo, Madrid and Istanbul. Doha, capital of the Gulf state of Qatar, and …

LAUSANNE, Switzerland: The two leading members of Saudi Arabia’s Olympic equestrian team will miss the London Games after they were banned for eight months on Wednesday. The International Equestrian Federation announced the decisions against Khaled Abdulaziz Al Eid and Abdullah Waleed Sharbatly, whose horses tested positive for anti-inflammatories at separate events in the Middle East. Al Eid, the 2000 Sydney …