Egypt begins work on charter as Islamists press demos
Egypt's new cabinet held its first meeting on Sunday and urged parties to keep their demonstrations peaceful, as a panel named to amend the constitution called on all sides to contribute.
Norwegian woman 'nervous, tense' as she risks UAE jail
A Norwegian woman said she was "nervous and tense" as she risked 16 months in jail after she reported being raped by a coworker in the United Arab Emirates.
Iran's Khamenei says US can not be trusted
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Sunday that Washington was "not trustworthy", after former US officials and lawmakers urged diplomacy with the Islamic republic's incoming president Hassan Rowhani.
Deadly fighting rages across Syria
Deadly violence raged across Syria on Sunday as regime shelling killed at least 18 civilians in the northwest while 28 rebels died in Damascus battling government forces.
Yemenis battle for mosques in Sunni-Shiite divide
Sunni Muslim extremists and Shiite Zaidi rebels in Yemen are waging a battle for the control of mosques, in a spillover of the sectarian face-off rattling the Middle East.
EU foreign ministers ready to blacklist Hezbollah
EU foreign ministers decide Monday whether to blacklist the military wing of Lebanon's Hezbollah group, with an eye also on the conflict in Syria and the possible resumption of stalled Israel-Palestinian talks.
Elders ban women from shopping alone in northwest Pakistan
Tribal elders and Islamic clerics in northwest Pakistan have barred women from shopping in bazaars without a male relative.
Israel politicians cautiously welcome Kerry breakthrough
Israeli politicians on Saturday hailed an announcement by US Secretary of State John Kerry's of a breakthrough in talks with Palestinians but warned it was an opportunity that could not be missed.
Tourists flock to Pakistan Kashmir valley in rare boom
Success stories can be rare in Pakistan, but business is booming in one Kashmir tourist spot as the region rebuilds after a devastating earthquake and shrugs off associations with violence.
Afghan customs fines hike cost of US military pullout
A customs dispute between the Afghan and US governments has disrupted the withdrawal of American military equipment, dramatically inflating the cost of the drawdown.
Mugabe blasts 'insane' US for vote criticism
President Robert Mugabe on Thursday rebuked the "insane" US for criticising his push for elections without key reforms and told it to keep its "pink nose" out of Zimbabwe's affairs.
UN says special force ready to fight Congo rebels
The United Nations said Thursday it is ready to send troops into battle against rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after demonstrators accused peacekeepers of being too weak.
Kerry 'closer' in Mideast talks push
US Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday that his intense diplomacy in six visits to the Middle East was bearing fruit, narrowing gaps between Israel and the Palestinians.
Militant makes jihad calls in Kazakh language
Site Intel Group has uploaded a with a militant, allegedly Kazakhstan-born, calling for jihad in Syria.
Syrians use Ramadan humour to ease the pain of war
As Syria's Muslims observe the fasting month of Ramadan at a time of war for a third year running, many people are turning to black humour to help them cope.
Israel PM rejects EU 'external dictates' on borders
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday angrily rejected European Union guidelines barring the bloc's 28 member states from funding projects in Jewish settlements.
One year on, Bulgaria still hunts for anti-Israeli bus bomber
A year after an anti-Israeli bus bombing killed six people, Bulgaria is struggling to identify the attacker or confirm his suspected links to Hezbollah or Iran.
Top EU diplomat heads to Egypt for talks with new regime
The European Union's top diplomat was heading for Cairo Wednesday, a day after an interim government was sworn in to replace Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
Syria death toll hits 5,000 a month: UN
Five thousand people a month are dying in Syria's war, which has now generated the worst refugee crisis since the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
West demands tougher action against Iran arms to Syria
The United States on Monday led western calls for tougher UN action on Iran's arms supplies to Syria and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah.
