Middle East

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad addresses his new cabinet during a swear-in ceremony in Damascus on June 23
Iraqi authorities imposed a curfew on Diwaniyah, shortly after the car bomb went off at 0715 GMT
An Iraqi soldier mans a checkpoint on the outskirts of Baghdad as he secures the return of Shiite pilgrims from Karbala
Iraqi rescue and security personnel inspect the damage following a truck bomb in a crowded market in Diwaniya
Iran test-fires its short-range Fateh missile at an undisclosed location in Iran's Kavir Desert
The United States has two aircraft carriers close to the Gulf region
A member of the Free Syrian Army stands near the  "Al-Hosn" Crusaders Citadel on the outskirts of Homs
Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi (front left) chaired the meeting that was attended by 250 opposition figures
Iran insists it has a "right" to uranium enrichment under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
An Iraqi soldier mans a checkpoint on the outskirts of Baghdad as he secures the return of Shiite pilgrims from Karbala
Afghan and foreign journalists at a 2010 press conference in Kabul
An Iranian family looks at a display of a Shahab-3 missile in Tehran
Australian lawyer Melinda Taylor (R) and her interpreter from Lebanon, Helen Assaf, seen  following their release
A handout photo released by Australian Department of Defence in 2009 shows Australian soldiers in Afghanistan in 2009
Australia, a close ally of the United States, has some 1,550 troops stationed in Afghanistan
The funeral procession of a man allegedly killed by regime forces
White House hopeful Mitt Romney will travel to Israel this summer
Republican presidential hopeful and former governor Mitt Romney delivers remarks via satellite to the AIPAC convention
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
A convoy of NATO supply trucks driven by Pakistani drivers make their way as they prepare to cross into Afghanistan

Obama to face Syria scrutiny in Jordan

A day after challenging Israelis to embrace peace with Palestinians, US President Barack Obama Friday will face scrutiny over his strategy on Syria during an overnight stay in Jordan.
 

Palestinians invoke civil rights on Obama tour

Palestinians sour at Barack Obama's perceived failure to honour their historical struggle have invoked the US civil rights movement and South Africa's apartheid in a bid to win his sympathy.
 

Motorbike bomb kills six in Pakistan

A bomb planted on a motorbike killed six people and wounded another 15 on Friday in a crowded Pakistani market in troubled southwestern province Baluchistan, police said.
 

Women in white march to defend Algeria tradition

Covered from head to toe in white, their faces partly masked by embroidered triangular cloths, Algerian women marched through the capital Thursday to defend their traditional Islamic dress.
 

Putin welcomes China's Xi for landmark talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's new leader Xi Jinping are to hold landmark talks Friday in the hope of further cementing the two countries' partnership with a range of strategic agreements.
 

Pro-Assad cleric among 42 killed in Damascus bombing

A suicide bomb attack on a central Damascus mosque has killed 42 people, including Syria's most prominent pro-regime Sunni cleric, wounding dozens of others, the health ministry said.
 

Serena eases through Miami opener

Serena Williams got her quest for a record sixth Miami WTA title off to a brisk start on Thursday with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Italian Flavia Pennetta.
 

Putin welcomes China's Xi for landmark talks

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and China's new leader Xi Jinping are to hold landmark talks on Friday in the hope of further cementing the two countries' partnership with a range of economic and strategic agreements.
 

Struggling China boss needs the 'Becks effect'

China boss Jose Antonio Camacho will hope a sprinkling of stardust from the visiting David Beckham will rub off on his team as he fights for his job in Friday's crunch Asian Cup qualifier with Iraq.
 

Obama in direct peace appeal to young Israelis

In a powerful direct appeal to Israelis, President Barack Obama insisted that a two-state peace with the Palestinians could still be forged and is their only hope of true security.
 

Cyprus convicts Hezbollah man over anti-Israel plot

A Cypriot court has found guilty a self-confessed Hezbollah militant who had been accused of involvement in a plot to attack Israeli interests on the Mediterranean island popular with tourists.
 

Gunfire kills two in Lebanon's Tripoli

Two people were killed and 18 more wounded in renewed violence in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on Thursday, a security source told AFP.
 

'No indication' Syria rebels used chemical weapons: US

The United States has found no evidence to support a Syrian government allegation that opposition rebels used chemical weapons in an attack this week, a US official said Thursday.
 

IMF urges Iraq to bolster non-oil sector

The IMF forecast Thursday that Iraq's economy would grow around nine percent this year helped by surging oil production, but said Baghdad needs to do more to support private, non-oil business.
 

Gaza hardline Islamists claim rocket attack

A hardline Islamist group claimed a rocket attack against southern Israel on Thursday, in a statement that condemned a historic visit by US President Barack Obama to the region.
 

Capello plays down Chelsea link

Russia coach Fabio Capello insists he has had no contact with Chelsea after being linked with a move to the Premier League club.
 

Obama in direct appeal to young Israelis on peace

In a powerful direct appeal to Israelis, President Barack Obama Thursday insisted a two-state peace with the Palestinians could still be forged and was their only hope of true security.
 

Serena quick out of blocks in Miami

Serena Williams got her quest for a record sixth WTA title on the hardcourts of Miami off to a brisk start on Thursday with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Italian Flavia Pennetta.
 

Gunfire kills one in Lebanon's Tripoli

One man was killed and five others wounded in two separate exchanges of fire in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on Thursday, a security source said.
 

Police probe documents obtained in Abu Qatada search

Jordanian terror suspect Abu Qatada is under investigation over documents obtained by police during a search of his London home, Scotland Yard said Thursday.