Main headlines

May 27, 2013

Syrian opposition activists protest outside the venue of the main opposition National Coalition meeting in Istanbul on May 26 (AFP)
09:41 GMT

After four days of negotiations in Istanbul, the Syrian opposition failed to reach a consensus on its own make-up, with religiously moderate elements being sidelined

18 people have now died in Saudi Arabia from the SARS-related virus. Image for illustrative purposes only, from CBCnews.com
09:07 GMT

18 people in Saudi Arabia have died from a SARS-related respiratory virus, as the World Health Organisation seeks more information on the virus and how to prevent it.

John Kerry sits in between Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the World Economic Forum.
08:54 GMT

US Secretary of State John Kerry and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced a plan to revive the Palestinian economy on Sunday, that involves investing some $4 billion dollars in Gaza and the West Bank.

A screengrab from Nasrallah's youtube video 'My Lebanon', believed to have been made in 1988. Image via YouTube.
08:31 GMT

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah can be seen in a video recently made public, believed to have been made in 1988, showing him talking of his wishes to make Lebanon part of a Greater Islamic Republic.

Man inspects a rocket that landed in Israel (used for illustrative purposes)
07:29 GMT

The rocket attacks comes a day after two Grad rockets struck the Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut

A Bahraini MP has come forward to call for a Gulf Army as a prelude to a Gulf Union. Image courtesy of chinadaily.com
04:00 GMT

A Bahraini MP has come forward to call for a unified Gulf Army to help protect the region.

Iranian newspapers show their support of Rafsanjani, before his disqualification by the GC. AFP Photo
04:00 GMT

The recent banning of two key presidential candidates in the Iranian elections have made the path to power easier for conservatives running in the election easier, observers say.

May 26, 2013

FSA supporters in Lebanon
12:53 GMT

Free Syrian Army denies it had anything to do with the double rocket attack on the Hezbollah stronghold of southern Beirut

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will send representatives to the US-Russia brokered peace conference, planned for some time in June
12:40 GMT

Walid Muallem was speaking in Baghdad after he made a surprise visit to the Iraqi capital on Sunday

Israeli President Shimon Peres speaks to the press on the final day of the World Economic Forum (AFP)
11:57 GMT

Speaking at the World Economic Forum event at the Dead Sea, Jordan, Shimon Peres urged all parties to sieze this moment to re-start peace talks

US Senator John McCain. Image courtesy of salon.com
11:26 GMT

US Senator John McCain has come forward to say that Washington is ready to provide Jordan with Patriot missiles in a bid to protect the country from any spillover from the Syrian conflict.

Supporters hold portraits of Iranian presidential candidate and lead nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili during a campaign rally in Tehran on May 24 (Atta Kenare / AFP)
10:49 GMT

The French Foreign Ministry criticized the vetting process for the upcoming presidential elections

A view of the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa mosque, otherwise known as Al Haram Al Sharif, taken from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem
10:38 GMT

Secretary General of the Arab League General Nabil El Araby has urged the UN to take urgent steps to protect Al Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem

Lebanese Sunni militia men hold a meeting in the Sunni district of Bab Al Tabbaneh in Lebanon. AFP Photo
09:42 GMT

The Syrian National Coalition has called on Hezbollah fighters who are fighting on behalf of the Syrian regime to defect, one day after Hezbollah leader Nasrallah pledged 'victory' in Syria

Lebenon caretaker PM Najib MIkati
09:08 GMT

Najib Mikati called for calm following attacks on Hezbollah stronghold in the Lebanese capital whilst President Michael Sleiman called the perpetrators "terrorists"