Latest in Region Highlight
Latest in Region
Syria opposition talks intensify as bombs hit army
The SNC was due to give its delayed response on Saturday to proposals for a new broader-based body
Russian Orthodox patriarch in Bethlehem
The head of a community of some 150 million Orthodox believers arrived in Jerusalem on Friday
Myanmar political leaders urged to make stand on unrest
Unrest has left at least 180 people dead since June and displaced 110,000
Fears blight ‘Malala Day’ in schoolgirl’s hometown
People around the globe are expected to hold vigils and demonstrations honouring Malala
Kuwait frees royals accused of criticising government
Young royal Sheikh Meshaal Al-Malek Al-Sabah was detained for a few days in July for expressing political views deemed offensive
Iraq cancels $4.2 bn Russia arms deal over graft concerns
Had the deal been finalised and implemented, it would have made Russia Baghdad’s second-biggest arms supplier, after the United States
Syria’s Assad denies civil war as opponents hold talks
If support for rebels from abroad stopped, Assad told state-run Russia Today, “I can tell that in weeks we can finish everything.”
Syrian rebels shell regime strongholds in Damascus
Syrian rebels shell home to Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite minority on Wednesday
HRW: Let peacekeepers access Darfur death site
The deadly militia attack happened on Friday in Sigili village, about 30 kilometres southeast of the North Darfur state capital El-Fasher
Iraq expels Turkish firm from oil exploration deal
The exploration deal was for a tract of land in oil-rich Basra province and had been awarded in May to Kuwait Energy, TPAO and Dragon Oil of the United Arab Emirates
UK to start talks with armed Syria opposition
Britain will also be increasing its aid to Syrian refugees by £14 million
Bahrain revokes citizenships of 31 Shi’a activists
The Gulf state has experienced unrest since March last year when the authorities crushed protests led by the Shi’a Muslim majority
Israel to build 1,213 new settlement homes
The Palestinians also condemned the announcement, saying it illustrated why they plan to approach the United Nations to seek non-member status at the General Assembly later this month.
Israel says preparing to counter Palestinian UN bid
Such a move is likely to be voted through easily, requiring only a simple majority in the 193-member General Assembly, where the Palestinians have widespread support
No crisis in South Kordofan, Sudan says as aid deal lapses
Despite months of talks about how to get assistance into rebel-held areas of the two border states, where fighting began more than a year ago, the number of people affected by the war has continued to increase.
Egyptian immigrant attacked in Greece
Growing number of violent incidents aimed at immigrants in Greece prompts embassy warnings
UN orders global sanctions against Haqqani network
The Taliban dismissed the UN sanctions, as they did with the US move in September.
Bombs, air strikes shake Syria after worst violence in weeks
The rebels have scored significant gains in recent weeks and hold swathes of territory in the north
Israel’s Barak disavows aide’s comments on Egypt leader
Israel has watched warily as the Brotherhood has gained increasing power in post-uprising Egypt, fearing for the future of the crucial, if cold, peace treaty between the two states
Hollande backs Lebanon over Syria crisis
The Beirut stop was a last-minute decision taken by Hollande to express France’s solidarity with Lebanon
Sudan does not fear Israel, says vice-president
Israel refused all comment on Khartoum’s allegations about the blast
Syria rebels seize oilfield, blast rocks Damascus
The Observatory says more than 36,000 people have died since the uprising against Assad’s rule broke out in March 2011
Ultra-nationalist ‘Russian March’ calls for Putin’s ouster
The Russian president has been facing a nascent protest movement against his rule since an election that returned him to the Kremlin for a third term in May
Abbas: I did not give up on the right of return
The Palestinians have always demanded that the Jewish state recognise their right of return to homes in modern-day Israel in keeping with UN General Assembly Resolution 194
Kuwait opposition to go ahead with ‘illegal’ march
Opposition leaders insist they have no desire to undermine the Al-Sabah ruling family and on Friday pledged their loyalty to the emir while renewing their demand for the new electoral law to be repealed.
Syria opposition accuses US of undermining revolt
US denies it is trying to control Syria’s next leadership
‘Militia attack’ kills 13 in Sudan’s Darfur
Tensions escalated when tribal militia aligned to the government became involved, along with anti-regime rebels
Threat to close Holy Sepulchre over water dispute
A dispute with an Israeli water company threatens to close Christianity’s holiest site, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
Syrian outsiders bogged down in battle for Aleppo
Air strikes and shelling have destroyed families, devastated homes and ruined businesses. Mushrooming piles of rubbish lie rotting in the streets.
Iranians burn US flags to mark embassy seizure
The demonstrators also chanted anti-British and anti-Israeli slogans, and burnt Israeli flags