Latest in Region Highlight
Latest in Region
Top cop kidnapped in Libya’s Benghazi
“Bearded men stopped him at a traffic light on Venezia Street and kidnapped him at gunpoint,” the official said
Israeli army exercise forces Palestinian evacuation
The Israeli military acknowledged issuing 24-hour evacuation orders
Syria conflict kills 60,000, says UN, as clashes rage
Analysis has shown a steady increase in the average number of documented deaths per month since the beginning of the conflict
Crude bomb found near home of Delhi rape suspect
Protests in India, which continued on Monday and on New Year’s Eve, have also spilled to other parts of the world with people taking to the streets in Hong Kong, Islamabad, London and Kathmandu
West Bank vehicle torched in ‘price tag’ attack
Palestinian security sources said about 20 settlers arrived at Qusra and threw stones at the residents’ homes
Syria backs plan for talks to end conflict
On Sunday, regime forces unleashed a fierce offensive in the central city of Homs after overrunning Deir Baalbeh
Wave of Iraq attacks kills 22
total of 15 shootings and bombings struck 13 cities and towns in the north, central and south of Iraq
Nine Taliban fighters found dead in Pakistan
Pakistan’s seven northwestern tribal districts are rife with homegrown insurgents and are strongholds of Taliban and Al-Qaeda operatives
Brahimi says has Syria plan all world powers may back
Brahimi held talks in Moscow on Saturday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on his end-of-year bid to accelerate moves to halt the conflict that monitors say has killed 45,000 people
Libya church blast kills two Egyptians
Christians in Libya are mostly expatriates, including migrant workers from neighbouring Egypt
Saudi 2012 surplus hits $102.9bn on rising revenues
Saudi Arabia continues to use part of its surplus to repay its public debt
Obama signs law against Iran’s influence in Latin America
Washington has repeatedly stated it is closely monitoring Tehran’s activities in Latin America
Russia sees chance of Syria solution but Assad defiant
Brahimi and Lavrov revealed no details of any peace initiative that may be under discussion
Arab League chief arrives in West Bank
Israel said it would not transfer tax and tariff funds it collects for the Palestinians this month in response to their successful bid for upgraded UN status
India appeals for calm after gang-rape victim dies
Gang-rapes are a daily occurrence in India and many go unreported by victims who have little faith in an often painfully slow justice system
Maliki angry as protesters block Iraq highway
For the sixth consecutive day
PLO reorganisation key to Palestinian unity
The organisation is recognised as the “sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people” and engages in activity on their behalf on the international stage
Syria peace envoy urges ‘real’ change
The envoy unveiled his initiative in Damascus as Russia denied the existence of a joint peace plan with the United States
Iran president sacks cabinet’s sole woman
The minister had proposed price hikes for a number of medicines but Ahmadinejad was opposed to the price rises and dismissed the minister
The world visits Gaza
Increased opening at the Rafa crossing continues to make Egypt most of the world’s access point to Gaza
Syria military police chief defects to opposition
The high-level defection, while not a strategically significant development in the 21-month-old conflict, will be a blow to morale for Assad’s forces, which are hitting back at a string of rebel advances across the country
Gulf states lash out at Iran, urge rapid Syria transition
By Assaad Abboud Manama (AFP) – The six Gulf states sharpened their tone against their Shi’a neighbour Iran on Tuesday, demanding an immediate halt to its “interference” in their internal affairs while urging a rapid political transition in its ally Syria. Concluding a two-day summit in Manama, the Gulf Cooperation Council …
Suicide underscores grim conditions at Guantanamo
Other Guantanamo detainees have reported finding “scissors and sharp objects in their cells”
Protest against Iraq PM blocks highway to Syria
Sectarian tensions are still significant in Iraq, which suffered years of brutal confessional violence
UN leader presses Mali government to hold free elections
Ban and western countries have raised concerns about interference in the government by the Mali military,
NATO says Syria regime firing ‘Scud-style missiles’
The latest launches were detected on Thursday and that was corroborated by an activist in the rebel-held town of Marea in the northern province of Aleppo
Oman holds first local elections
Oman’s elected Majlis Al-Shura has the authority to question ministers and advise the government on socio-economic issues but has no legislative power or role in defence, internal security or foreign policy
Darfur peacekeeper shoots dead three colleagues
UNAMID has expressed “grave concern” about an upsurge of violence in parts of Darfur
Nephews of Syria vice president arrested: NGO
Along with five of their friends over their support for democratic change
Israel poised to build thousands of new settler homes
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday reiterated Israel’s right to increase Jewish presence in all parts of “united” Jerusalem