Latest in Region Highlight
Latest in Region
Tunisia PM says committed to ‘principle’ of resigning
Prime minister’s speech as clashes between security forces and gunmen rocked the central Sidi Bouzid region, leaving at least six policemen dead
Syria chemical disarmament on track
A rebel attack near Damascus triggered power outages across the country.
Saudi women inching closer ever to the wheel
Conservative religious figures are still opposed to women driving.
Hundreds stage Tunis anti-government protest
Protesters demand the resignation of Tunisia’s Islamist-led government, ahead of a national dialogue aimed at ending months of political deadlock.
Israel vows to stop Syria arms transfers
Israel has carried out several air strikes inside Syria this year that officials said were aimed at preventing shipments of advanced weapons to Hezbollah
Hopes for Syria peace meet fade as rebels dig in heels
A defiant Assad has shown no sign of backing down
Protests force Tunisia leaders away from slain police ceremony
The top officials had to leave the memorial ceremony after 20 minutes
Saudi rejects seat on ‘double-standards’ Security Council
The Gulf country rejects membership one day after it was elected to the UN Security Council
Attacks including Baghdad car bombs kill 66 in Iraq
The country is currently witnessing its worst violence since 2008
Lebanese official in Syria for deal on kidnapped ‘pilgrims’
The nine Lebanese nationals were kidnapped in May, 2012 in Syria
Opposition to attend Friends of Syria meeting on 22 October
It is estimated that the conflict in Syria has claimed the lives of 115,000 since March, 2011
Bomb kills 12 as war-related deaths near 500,000 in Iraq
Kirkuk (AFP) — A bomb ripped through a crowd of worshippers at a Sunni mosque in Iraq, killing 12 people as a study put the death toll in the war-torn country at nearly half a million since the US-led 2003 invasion. Three children, a policeman and an army officer were among the dead from the …
Iran, Britain to appoint envoys within 2 weeks: report
Tehran (AFP) – Iran and Britain agreed Wednesday to name a charge d’affaires to each other’s country within two weeks, following a break in diplomatic ties since 2011, state news agency IRNA reported. “This agreement was reached at a bilateral meeting between (deputy foreign minister) Mohammad Takht Ravanchi and his British counterpart, Simon Gass,” on …
Iran says nuclear talks to continue in ‘a few weeks’
Geneva (AFP) – Iran and world powers will meet in Geneva in “a few weeks” to continue negotiations over Tehran’s controversial nuclear drive, Iran’s foreign minister said Wednesday. “The continuation of the negotiations will be in Geneva in a few weeks,” Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on his Facebook page. Iran, the United States and five …
Iran, US teams in ‘useful’ talks on sidelines of nuclear meet
AFP- Geneva — Iranian and US delegations held “useful” bilateral talks Tuesday evening on the sidelines of high-profile nuclear talks in Geneva, a senior State Department official said. “As had been expected, Under Secretary (Wendy) Sherman and members of the US delegation held a bilateral meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister (Abbas) Araqchi and members …
21 killed as truck hit by blast in south Syria: NGO
AFP- A powerful blast ripped through a pickup truck in the southern province of Daraa in Syria early Wednesday, killing 21 people including four children, a monitoring group said. “Twenty-one people were killed in the Nawa area (of Daraa), among them four children and six women, in a blast that detonated as their vehicle went past …
Bomb explodes near Swedish consulate in Libya, none hurt
The Swedish mission is one of the few remaining diplomatic offices remaining in Benghazi
UAE to try 30 Emirati, Egypt Islamists on Nov 5
Prosecution has accused the group of having “established and managed a branch for … the international organisation of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, without a permit.”
Libyan PM freed after several hours held by militia
Gunmen seized Prime Minister Ali Zeidan in Tripoli Thursday and held him for several hours before he was freed
Tens of thousands of political prisoners in Syria
HRW’s Joe Stork: “Arbitrary detention and torture have become business as usual for Syrian security forces.”
Syria warns Turkey will ‘pay dearly’ for rebel support
Relations between once close allies Damascus and Ankara have deteriorated since a popular uprising which began in March 2011 in Syria snowballed into a full-blown conflict
UN rights monitor condemns deadly Sudan crackdown
Amnesty International puts the death toll at over 200, many with gunshot wounds to the head and chest.
Saudi bails activist arrested over reformist meetings
Activist Waleed Abulkhair was arrested for holding “unauthorised” gatherings with reformists
Aleppo stalemate fuels rebel frustration
The conflict in Syria has cost more than 115,000 lives since it erupted in March 2011 with peaceful protests that became a civil war after a harsh regime crackdown on dissent.
Libya protesters attack Russia’s embassy
Dozens of angry protesters tried to storm Russia’s embassy in Tripoli after reports that a Russian woman had killed a Libyan army officer
Fresh Sudan fuel protests erupt after Friday prayers
Activists had called for stepped-up protests after the weekly Muslim prayers, and security forces responded with a massive deployment
Iraq bombs target Sunni worshippers in Baghdad
The blasts are the latest in a wave of sectarian attacks in the city
Sudan braces for new protests as death toll rises
The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies and London-based Amnesty International said 50 people were killed after being shot in the head or chest
New Sudan riots after 29 dead in fuel protests
Thursday’s protests came after anti-riot forces deployed from early morning at major road intersections in Khartoum
Israel challenged by Iran charm offensive
Rouhani’s diplomatic overtures, which stand in stark contrast to the belligerent statements so commonly heard from his predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, are proving to be quite a challenge to the Israeli premier