Iran's Zarif to visit Syria ahead of peace talks
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is due to travel to Tehran ally Damascus in the next few days, media reported Sunday, amid preparations for a Syria peace conference.
Israel unveils 1,800 settler homes after Kerry visit
Israel unveiled plans Friday for more than 1,800 new settler homes in a move the Palestinians said was aimed at forcing Washington to abandon its Middle East peace drive.
Pakistan honours teenage bomb hero with bravery award
A Pakistani teenager who sacrificed his life to stop a suicide bomber, saving the lives of hundreds of students, has been handed the country's highest award for bravery.
Killing of boy, 4, by US troops frays Afghan ties further
Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Friday condemned US troops for killing a four-year-old boy in the southern province of Helmand, in a fresh strain to troubled relations between Washington and Kabul.
UAE made me 'a scapegoat': US man jailed for YouTube gag
An American jailed for nine months in the United Arab Emirates for making a spoof YouTube video mocking Dubai teenagers returned home Thursday, comparing the experience to being in a "cage."
Malaysia, Turkey aim to conclude free-trade deal
Malaysia and Turkey pledged Friday to wrap up a free-trade deal this year as embattled Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan prepared to return home to a political crisis.
Russia blocks new UN Syria statement
Russia on Wednesday blocked a British-drafted UN Security Council statement condemning the Syrian government attacks on the city of Aleppo, diplomats said.
First chemical arms material shipped out of Syria
The first shipment of chemical weapons materials left Latakia port Tuesday under a deal to rid Syria of its chemical arsenal.
S.Sudan government says poised to retake key town
South Sudan's government said it was poised to recapture a key town from rebel forces, as peace talks being held in neighbouring Ethiopia appeared to be making slow progress.
Morsi arrives in court for new hearing in murder trial
Egypt's deposed president Mohamed Morsi arrived at the courthouse on Wednesday for the second hearing in his murder trial, as police braced for rallies by his Islamist supporters.
Racing: Kazakhstan's Shagirov and Moroz in 4th place overall at Africa Eco Race 2014
Kazakhstan racers Kanat Shagirov and Alexandr Moroz are in the 4th place in the general ranking after Stage 7 of the Africa Eco Race 2014.
Obama didn't believe his own war strategy: Gates
Former defense secretary Robert Gates has delivered a scathing critique of President Barack Obama's handling of the war in Afghanistan in a revealing new memoir, US media reported Tuesday.
Japan PM to visit Africa, Mideast with cash pledge: reports
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Africa and the Middle East this week, reports said Monday, bearing development cash pledges as Tokyo pushes back against growing Chinese influence in the resource-rich region.
Commercial catching of sturgeons at Caspian banned
A moratorium on commercial fishing of sturgeons at the Caspian Sea came into force on January 1, 2014.
Shagirov and Moroz in 5th place after 5 stages of Africa Eco Race 2014
Kazakhstan's crew of pilot Kanat Shagirov and navigator Alexandr Moroz finished the 5th stage of Africa Eco Race 2014 in the 4th place.
Syria opposition re-elects Jarba as leader
Syria's main opposition National Coalition re-elected Ahmad Jarba as its leader during a general assembly meeting in Istanbul on Sunday, the coalition said in a statement.
Turkey PM says 'favours' retrial of coup plot officers
Turkey's embattled Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday he would favour retrials for hundreds of military officers jailed for coup-plotting.
Deadly clashes kill 11 as Morsi backers rally in Egypt
At least 11 people were killed Friday in clashes across Egypt as police dispersed thousands of protesters demanding the reinstatement of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, the health ministry said.
Israel denies killing Buenos Aires bombers
Israeli officials Friday denied claims by a former envoy that Israel had killed most of those behind bombings at its embassy and Jewish charity offices in Argentina in the 1990s, media said.
Important library in north Lebanon torched
A decades-old library owned by a Greek Orthodox priest in north Lebanon's majority Sunni city of Tripoli was torched late Friday, a day after a sectarian scuffle, a security source said.
