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.
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
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.
18 August 2013
European leaders vow strong response to Egypt crisis European leaders vowed Friday to send a strong message on Egypt's bloody crackdown on supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, with Germany pledging to review ties with the country.
17 August 2013
Obama cancels US exercises, but not aid, with Egypt US President Barack Obama on Thursday canceled exercises with Egypt's military to protest the killing of hundreds of demonstrators but stopped short of suspending $1.3 billion in annual aid.