Syrian opposition seek to heal deep divisions in Istanbul
They were due to continue through Sunday evening, the coalition said.
Latest in Tag: AFP Highlight
Latest in Tag: AFP
Diplomats grapple for deal in third day of Iran nuclear talks
The hoped-for agreement — seen as a first step ahead of further talks on a final deal — could see Tehran freeze its nuclear efforts for as long as six months in exchange for some relief from the sanctions that have battered its economy.
Qaeda chief says Nusra Front alone runs Syria ops
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said troops, backed fighters from Lebanon’s Shiite militant group Hezbollah, recaptured parts of Base 80 in the north.
Findings of Arafat death probe handed to Palestinians
Some 60 samples were taken from the remains of the late Palestinian leader in November last year for a probe into whether he was poisoned by polonium.
Democrats unseat Republicans in NY, Virginia in US voting
Tuesday’s vote was the first major round of balloting in the United States since President Barack Obama won a second term in the White House last year. Some races were seen as litmus tests for future national voting.
Russia ‘ready to host’ Syria regime, opposition for talks
The news agency quoted Bogdanov, who represented Russia at talks in Geneva on Tuesday with US officials and UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, as saying that the consultations “do not necessarily have to end in some sort of agreement.”
French woman reported missing in Egypt
Airport security had escorted the woman to the nearby four-star Baron hotel after she landed.
One dead as gunman opens fire at LA airport
The motive for the shooting was unclear, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation said it could not rule out terrorism.
BBM welcomes over 20 million new active users in first week
BBM Community grows to more than 80 million active users across BlackBerry, Android and iPhone devices globally
US spy chiefs hit back in Europe row
The revelations came as a senior official said President Barack Obama was considering banning US spies from tapping the telephones of allied leaders, in the wake of German outrage over alleged snooping on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s communications.
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In pictures: Pro-Morsi Al-Azhar students clash with security
Student supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi and the Muslim brotherhood clashed with security forces outside their university. The CSF on site fired tear gas to disperse students protesting in support of ousted President Mohamed Morsi. Rock-throwing was exchanged between the two parties. Students chanted against the military and the police as they blocked Al-Nasr …
South Africa to sentence 20 extremists for Mandela death plot
The “Boeremag” organisation had planned a right-wing coup in 2002 to overthrow the post-apartheid government.
Israel arrests Hamas members in West Bank
Hamas has ruled the Gaza Strip since it took over the territory in 2007, but many of its members remain in the West Bank, which is home to the Palestinian Authority, dominated by president Mahmud Abbas’s Fatah party.
Peace envoy visits Syria as Russia slams rebel threats
The envoy has been on a regional tour, taking in Turkey but not Saudi Arabia which opposes the peace initiative and takes a hard line against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Kuwait upholds jail for Shia over prophet tweets
Naqi was tried on charges of insulting Islam’s Prophet Mohammed, in addition to his wife Aisha and several companions, who are revered by Sunni Muslims.
Turkey police fire tear gas to disperse court protesters
The Ankara court on Monday rejected a demand by the victim’s lawyers that the defendant be detained and ruled instead that he could take part in hearings via video conference for security reasons.
First Egyptian sumo wrestler soars to top flight
The Japan Sumo Association raised 21-year-old Egyptian Abdelrahman Ahmed Shaalan, who goes by the ring name of “Osunaarashi” (Great Sandstorm), to the “makuuchi” division.
Saudi women ‘drive-in’ falters amid threats
One of the videos uploaded to YouTube shows a woman cloaked in black and wearing dark sunglasses driving a car in an area of the Saudi capital, apparently without being stopped.
Money doesn’t grow on trees but gold leaf does: study
Geochemist Mel Lintern said it appeared the trees sucked up the gold particles from 30 metres (100 feet) below the ground through their roots.
EU restarts membership talks with Turkey after 3-year break
Keen to breathe new life into Ankara’s long-stalled effort to prise open the EU door, the 28-nation bloc agreed to the resumption in principle in June, but then postponed talks in protest over Turkey’s spring crackdown.
Qatar upholds 15-year sentence against maverick poet
“The Court of Cassation sentenced Mohammed al-Ajami to 15 years in prison,” confirming the sentence given to the poet by an appeals court in February, Nejib al-Naimi told AFP.
Lebanese say Syria captors tormented them with lies
Termos was among 11 Shia men abducted by rebel fighters in northern Syria in May 2012 as they were returning from a pilgrimage to a Shia sacred site in Iran along with female relatives.
Bill curbing Jerusalem talks sparks Israel cabinet battle
It was approved late on Sunday by a 5-4 majority within the nine-member ministerial committee responsible for preparing draft legislation to put to parliament.
Attack on government buildings in Iraq kills two
Iraq is suffering its worst violence since 2008, when the country was just emerging from a brutal sectarian conflict, and authorities have so far failed to curb the surge in unrest.
Pressure mounts on Syria opposition to join talks
US Secretary of State John Kerry was to meet Arab League representatives in Paris later on Monday ahead of a Tuesday meeting of the opposition and its Western and Arab backers.
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In Pictures: Egyptians mourn dead following church attack
AFP- Egyptians mourn the dead of the attack on the Virgin Mary Coptic Christian church in Cairo, after gunmen on a motorbike shot dead three people Sunday night including an eight-year-old girl, in a shooting attack on a group standing outside the church in Al-Waraq neighbourhood following a wedding ceremony. Photos by AFP
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In Pictures: Al-Azhar Pro-Morsi students clash with police
Al-Azhar University students clashes with the police on Sunday during an anti-army protest. Nearly 3,000 students initially blocked the main Nasr road leading to the campus, and clashes with police ensued leaving reports of injury. Tear gas was fired by the police while students used rocks and fireworks in return. Photos by Ahmed Al-Malky …
Thousands protest against austerity in Italy, Portugal
Several people were seen being detained during the protest in Rome after around 100 militants threw rocks at police guarding the finance ministry, who charged and chased them into side streets.
AP chief slams US leak probe as attack on journalism
The AP found itself under scrutiny after it published a report in May 2012 recounting the Central Intelligence Agency’s thwarting of a plot by Al-Qaeda in Yemen to bomb a US-bound jet.
Afghan peace on the table as Pakistan PM heads to US
Daniel Markey, a senior fellow at US think-tank the Council on Foreign Relations, said that since coming to power in May Sharif had impressed Washington with his willingness to be a partner.