Assad warns of 'regional war' if West takes military action: report
Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad warned Monday that Western military strikes risked igniting a "regional war" in the "powder keg" of the Middle East, in an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro.
Tiny rainforest frogs hear with their mouths
Some of the tiniest frogs on Earth have no middle ears or eardrums but can hear by using their mouths.
Obama starts to build support for Syria strike
The White House battled Monday for congressional authorization to bomb Syria, as two top Republicans warned that a "no" vote after President Barack Obama had threatened action would be catastrophic.
'Oldest' Gondwana land creature discovered
A 350-million-year-old fossilised scorpion discovered in South Africa is the oldest known land animal to have lived on Gondwana, part of Earth's former supercontinent.
Number of Syrian refugees passes 2 million mark: UN
More than two million Syrians have now fled their war-ravaged country, the UN refugee agency said Tuesday, lamenting the nearly 10-fold increase from a year ago.
Russia sends spy ship to Syria coast: report
Russia has sent a reconnaissance vessel from its Black Sea fleet to the coast off Syria, as Moscow anxiously watches Western plans for military action against the Damascus regime.
Clashes as Iran exiles claim dozens dead in Iraq raid
Clashes and explosions were reported in a camp housing Iranian exiles, with the group claiming Iraqi troops killed more than 50 of their members, charges officials steadfastly denied.
US interests under threat if Syria attacked: Iran
A senior Iranian official warned in Damascus on Sunday that US interests in the region would be at risk if Washington launched a military strike against his country's ally Syria.
Police block Istanbul's Gezi Park as peace protests erupt
Turkish police Sunday blocked the entrance to Istanbul's Gezi Park, the epicentre of anti-government protests in June, to prevent a demonstration against a possible military intervention in Syria.
Woman threatens to blow herself up in Dubai govt building
An Uzbek woman threatened to blow herself up on Sunday at the Dubai public prosecutor's office over a dispute with a man she claims is her son's father.
Mandela back home after long hosital stay
Nelson Mandela spent a first night back home after being discharged from hospital Sunday, but the South African government said the anti-apartheid hero remains critically ill and under intensive care.
Oil down as Obama seeks Congress approval on Syria
Oil prices fell in Asian trade Monday after US President Barack Obama's announcement that he would seek approval from lawmakers for military action against Syria eased prospects of an imminent strike.
Egypt's Morsi to stand trial for 'inciting murder': TV
Ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi is to stand trial in a criminal court for "incitement to murder", state television reported on Sunday, without giving a date for the trial.
Merkel hits out at Russia, China over Syria stance
German Chancellor Angela Merkel hit out at Russia and China over their stance in the Syrian crisis, saying in an interview published Saturday that their action weakened the United Nations.
Obama weighs 'limited' strike on Syria
President Barack Obama said the United States was weighing "limited, narrow" action against Syria, as UN inspectors left the country Saturday and opened a window into a possible strike.
UN experts leave Damascus hotel at end of weapons probe
A team of UN inspectors left their Damascus hotel in a convoy of cars Saturday following the conclusion of their probe into the alleged use of chemical weapons by the regime.
41 dead in Kenya bus disaster: police
At least 41 people were killed Thursday in a bus crash west of the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
Syria strike calls a 'challenge' to UN charter: Russia
Calls for a military intervention in Syria are an "undisguised challenge" to the United Nations charter.
US calls for release of Americans imprisoned in Iran
US Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday called for the release of two American dual citizens jailed in Iran, saying Washington was "deeply concerned" about their fate.
Obama not ready to order Syria strike but gives up on UN
President Barack Obama said Wednesday he had not yet signed off on a plan to strike Syria, but action appeared likely after Washington abandoned the hunt for a last-minute UN mandate.