Main headlines

March 21, 2013

Kurds celebrate on March 21, 2013 Nowruz, the Persian New Year festival, and flash victory signs in the southern Turkish city of Diyarbakir. (AFP)
21:00 GMT

After 30 years of armed struggle the imprisoned Kurdish leader finally tells supporters to move out of Turkey and lay down their arms.

The United Nations will open an investigation into an alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday.
14:03 GMT

The United Nations will open an investigation into an alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday.

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and US President Barack Obama leave after holding a joint press conference at the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem, on the first day of Obama's three day trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories. (AFP  / Saul Loeb)
08:44 GMT

U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday showed solidarity on the key issues that have stirred tensions between them in the past, AP reported.

A Fatah movement member stands next to a mural of the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in the Ain al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese city of Sidon. (AFP PHOTO/MAHMOUD ZAYYAT)
07:58 GMT

The Palestinian Authority president lays out his plans in a set of draft talking points for visiting U.S. President Barack Obama.

Egyptian protestors pray during a demonstration to show their support for their country's military and against the ruling Muslim Brotherhood, on March 15 in Cairo. (AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI)
07:23 GMT

A panel of judges send their recommendation to the high administrative court in a bid to dismantle the ruling party.

Relatives of prisoners of Palestinians held in Israeli jails burn pictures of US President Barack Obama during a protest against his visit to the region at the Jabalyia refugee camp, in the northern Gaza Strip. (AFP PHOTO / MAHMUD HAMS)
06:59 GMT

As the U.S. president tours Israel, militants in the tiny Gaza Strip decide to hit one of the Jewish state's southern towns.

Nesirky said he had briefed Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Jaafari's comments to reporters.
05:06 GMT

The United Nations says Syria has made no formal request for a UN investigation into government claims that opposition rebels have used chemical weapons.

March 20, 2013

Kuwait is to grant citizenship to 4000 'bidoon' or stateless people residing in the country, after years of protests. (File photo)
16:45 GMT

Kuwait is to grant citizenship to 4000 'bidoon' or stateless people residing in the country, AFP reported on Wednesday.

US President Barack Obama meets Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (AFP Photo)
13:49 GMT

US President Barack Obama has arrived in the holy land and announced the unbreakable bond between Israel and the US.

Iraqi civilians inspect the damage following a car bomb attack that happened late at night in Kirkuk, north of Baghdad, on Wednesday, that killed one and wounded several. (Photo: AFP / MARWAN IBRAHIM)
11:00 GMT

An Iraqi militant group linked to al-Qaeda claimed responsibility on Wednesday for attacks that killed dozens of people across the country the day before.

French hostage, Philippe Verdon, has been killed in Mali, according to Mauritania's ANI news agency (YOUSSOUF IBRAHIM / AFP)
10:06 GMT

French hostage, Philippe Verdon, has been beheaded by al-Qaeda’s wing in north Africa in retaliation for France’s intervention in Mali, Mauritania’s ANI news agency reported on Tuesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) attends a special Knesset (Israeli parliament) session in Jerusalem. (TOPSHOTS/AFP PHOTO/GALI TIBBON)
06:57 GMT

Netanyahu has not yet responded to the invitation, which arrived on his desk on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia arrested 18 people accused of being involved in espionage activity. (Photo used for illustrative purposes)
05:06 GMT

Saudi Arabia arrested 18 people accused of being involved in espionage activity.

March 19, 2013

Lebanon's President, Michel Sleiman, described Syria's airstrike on Lebanon as "unacceptable"
16:06 GMT

Lebanon's President, Michel Sleiman, slammed a Syrian airstrike on Lebanese territory as “unacceptable,” while Damascus denied any attack of that nature.

A Syrian rebel aims his weapon as he takes position behind a makeshift barricade during clashes with regime forces in the Salaheddine district of Aleppo. (AFP PHOTO/JM LOPEZ)
13:25 GMT

According to the opposition commander for the province of Aleppo, the attack came from regime forces.