Government troops battling al-Qaida fighters in southern Yemen have made inroads into the militants’ strongholds, but the offensive on a strategic city has slowed because of concerns the extremists could launch a surprise counterattack, military offici… Continue reading
Egypt’s vice police on Thursday arrested the owner of a belly dancing TV station on suspicion of operating without a license, inciting licentiousness and facilitating prostitution, a security official said. Continue reading
Jailed Bahraini dissident Abdel Hadi Khawaja, on hunger strike for more than three months, is well but still continues his fast to protest a life sentence, his lawyer said on Thursday. Continue reading
A Japanese bank has halted transactions by the Iranian government after a US court ordered a $2.6 billion asset freeze over the 1983 bombing of US barracks in Beirut, a bank spokesman said on Thursday. Continue reading
An Israeli tank shell fired into the Gaza Strip on Thursday wounded seven Palestinians, leaving two of them in critical condition, Palestinian medical officials told AFP. Continue reading
Babylon’s Hanging Gardens were one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but heritage appears to be no match for Iraq’s booming oil industry in a dispute over a new pipeline. Continue reading
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is “doomed,” Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Wednesday, urging the international community to increase pressure on his embattled regime. Continue reading
In his first interview since December, Syrian President Bashar Assad insisted Tuesday his regime is fighting back against foreign mercenaries who want to overthrow him, not innocent Syrians aspiring for democracy in a yearlong uprising. Continue reading