Peres accuses Iran of instigating Gaza violence
Israel's President Shimon Peres accused Iran Monday of encouraging the Palestinians to continue rocket attacks on Israel rather than negotiating a ceasefire, saying "they are out of their mind."
In Israel, Clinton calls for de-escalation in Gaza
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed "rock solid" support for Israel's security while calling for a de-escalation of the conflict in Gaza.
Israel halts threatened Gaza invasion as truce talks build
Israel on Tuesday halted a threatened Gaza ground offensive to give Egyptian-led truce talks a chance as top diplomats flew in to boost efforts to end nearly a week of cross-border violence.
Synchronized swimming: Kazakhstan won three bronze medals in Asian Championship
Kazakhstan national synchronized swimming team won three bronze medals at the 9th Asian Swimming Championship.
Record number back UN vote against death penalty
A record 110 countries on Monday backed a resolution voted every two years at a UN General Assembly committee calling for the abolition of the death penalty.
Israel mulls Gaza truce as toll tops 100
Israeli leaders Tuesday discussed an Egyptian plan for a truce with Gaza's ruling Hamas, reports said, before a mission by the UN chief to Jerusalem and as the toll from Israeli raids on Gaza rose over 100.
Water tensions overflow in ex-Soviet Central Asia
The ex-Soviet states of Central Asia are engaged in an increasingly bitter standoff over water resources, adding another element of instability to the volatile region neighbouring Afghanistan.
Syrian administration missed chances to settle the conflict: Kazakhstan Foreign Minister
Kazakhstan Foreign Minister considers the situation in Syria a direct threat to the international stability, while its administration "missed numerous opportunities to meet the lawful strives of its people halfway".
Gaza truce needs strong mediator, success for both sides
A ceasefire between Israel and armed groups in Gaza depends on each side's ability to claim victory and the credibility of the mediation, undermined by Israel launching strikes with a truce already in effect.
Benghazi row in Washington narrows on edited memo
The row over the assault on the US mission in Libya has narrowed to focus on how and why the CIA's determination that it was a terror attack was left out of a public "talking points" memo.
Gaza 'war not an option,' France's Fabius says in Israel
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Sunday a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza militants was an urgent necessity and France was willing to help broker a truce.
Ban vows peacekeepers will stay in threatened Goma
UN leader Ban Ki-moon vowed Sunday that peacekeepers will stay in the DR Congo city of Goma after UN combat helicopters and government troops failed to stop a rebel advance amid growing international alarm.
47 children killed in Egypt school bus tragedy: officials
Forty-seven school children were killed on Saturday when a train smashed into their bus in central Egypt after a railway signal operator fell asleep, officials said, prompting protests and resignations.
New Israel strike on Gaza kills 3, pushes toll to 80
Three people were killed early Monday morning in new Israeli air strikes on Gaza, pushing the death toll in six days of violence to 80 Palestinians.
Petraeus says knew from start Benghazi was terrorism
Former CIA chief David Petraeus told lawmakers Friday he knew from the outset that a deadly attack on a US mission in Libya was the work of terrorists, in his first outing since his resignation.
Obama reiterates US support for Israel
US President Barack Obama on Friday reiterated US support for Israel's right to defend itself during a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the conflict in Gaza.
Hamas says cabinet headquarters hit in Israeli strike
Israeli air strikes hit the cabinet headquarters of Gaza's Hamas government, the group said early Saturday, with eyewitnesses reporting extensive damage to the building.
Malaysia, Egypt call for help to end Gaza violence
Malaysia and Egypt have agreed to ask "international power brokers" to help stop escalating violence in the Middle East, the Muslim-majority Southeast Asian country said.
IAEA says key Iran nuclear site fully equipped
Iran is ready to significantly boost output at its most controversial nuclear plant, a new UN nuclear agency report showed Friday, taking Tehran closer in theory to being able to develop a nuclear weapon.
Afghan women learn literacy through mobile phones
Afghanistan has launched a new literacy programme that enables Afghan women deprived of a basic education during decades of war to learn to read and write using a mobile phone.
