Hezbollah turns Beirut bastion into fortress
Streets leading into powerful Hezbollah's stronghold in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital have been cordoned off, as guards in civilian clothes search a long line of cars.
Obama congratulates Mali's Keita on election win
US President Barack Obama on Tuesday congratulated Mali's new leader Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on his election victory and vowed to work with him as the country emerges from months of conflict.
Eritrea dreams of ending isolation to boost development
Long criticised for backing rebel groups across the Horn of Africa, Eritrea has said that ending its isolation is crucial for economic growth, blaming external threats for its slow development.
Same-sex couples tie knot in New Zealand
Dozens of same-sex couples said "I do" Monday as New Zealand became the first Asia-Pacific country, and only the 14th in the world, to legalise gay marriage.
Germany considering halting arms exports to Egypt: Merkel
German chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday that stopping arms shipments to Egypt would be an appropriate way to put pressure on the country as it is gripped by deadly violence.
19 August 2013
Kazakhstan wants to ban gay 'propaganda'
Kazakhstan parliament wants to follow in Russia's footsteps and put through a bill banning homosexuality 'propaganda' in Kazakhstan.
19 August 2013
Australian PM's support slumps ahead of election
A defiant Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd warned Monday not to write him off as a new poll showed his popularity slumping barely three weeks away from elections.
India, Iran looking to resolve oil tanker dispute
New Delhi and Tehran were Saturday working to resolve a dispute over the detention of an Indian oil tanker by Iranian naval guards for allegedly polluting sea waters in the Persian Gulf.