Two blasts have hit the Syrian capital, Damascus, killing at least 40 and wounding 170 in what Syrian state TV say were "terrorist bombings". State TV footage of the blasts showed massive destruction in the al-Qazzaz suburb to the south of Damascus said to house a military intelligence complex. Damascus has been the target of several bombs in past months amid continuing anti-government unrest. The head of the UN observer mission in Syria, Maj Gen Robert Moo... Read more »

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said on Tuesday that Israel's new government, which will include the centrist Kadima party, should resume efforts to seek peace. But the Islamist movement Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, expressed its opinion of the surprise coalition agreement, which will see the Kadima party join Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. "We call on the Israeli government to seize the occasion of the enlargement of the coalit... Read more »

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is appealing for an extra $27m to fund its operation in Syria until the end of this year. The ICRC, the only international humanitarian agency working inside Syria, says hundreds of thousands of people still remain in need despite the ceasefire which came into force last month, the humanitarian needs remain enormous, it says. In the latest violence, activists said two civilians died in Idlib province. Whil... Read more »

An al-Qaeda leader in Yemen wanted in connection with the 2000 bombing of the American warship USS Cole has been killed in an air strike by fired from an unmanned drone. His death was confirmed by al-Qaeda and Yemen's embassy in the US. At least one other man died in the strike A Yemeni military official told that gunmen had attacked two army posts outside Zinjibar, the provincial capital of Abyan province, Bbc.co.uk reported.

Sudanese warplanes and long-range artillery bombarded South Sudan border areas Thursday, defying a UN Security Council ultimatum to end hostilities. "Their aircraft dropped bombs and artillery was fired targeting an SPLA (Southern army) base...this is an indication of preparation for a ground attack," Middle-east-online.com quotes Southern army spokesman Philip Aguer as saying. The UN Security Council on Wednesday demanded fighting between the arch-rivals s... Read more »

The owner of a private Tunisian TV channel has been fined for showing a controversial animated film. The award-winning French-American film, Persepolis, has been considered blasphemous by radical Muslims. The case of Nabil Karoui had been seen as an important test of free speech in Tunisia, where last year's popular uprising inspired political changes in the Arab world. When the film was broadcast last October, Islamist militants attacked the offices of the... Read more »

Saudi Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz has called “unacceptable” Iran’s attitude towards three islands under its control which Gulf Cooperation Council member UAE claims it owns. “I reiterate the kingdom’s condemnation to the unacceptable attitude of neighboring Iran that continues to ignore the legitimate right of the United Arab Emirates over its three occupied islands,” Alarabiya.net quotes Prince Nayef, who is also Saudi Arabia’s interior minister as s... Read more »

Unknown men have killed at least eight people protesting against Egypt's ruling generals near the defence ministry in Cairo. Witnesses described how the attackers set on them at dawn using rocks, clubs, firebombs and firing shotguns. Up to 100 people were also reportedly injured and are being treated at a field clinic in the Abbasiya district. Many of the protesters are supporters of a Salafist preacher barred from standing in the presidential election, Bbc... Read more »

Iraq's fugitive Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi has been charged with several murders, including those of six judges. Mr Hashemi is not expected to attend his trial, which opens on Thursday cause had taken refuge in the Kurdish north. Mr Hashemi, who was the most senior Sunni figure in Shia-dominated Iraq, fled in December 2011 after allegations that he was implicated in death squads. He denies the claims and has accused PM Nouri Maliki of fuelling sectaria... Read more »

The body of Libya's former Oil Minister Shukri Ghanem has been found in the Danube River, in Vienna. A police officer said there were no signs of violence to Mr Ghanem's body. The former prime minister, 69, worked as a consultant for a Vienna-based company. He apparently left his home early on Sunday, police added. Mr Ghanem defected from Libya as the country was engulfed in the uprising against Col Muammar Gaddafi last year. He served as Libyan prime minis... Read more »