UN to use 鈥榟umanitarian pauses鈥� to try to reach Gaza鈥檚 starving
The United Nations said it would try to reach as many starving people as possible in Gaza after Israel announced it would establish secure land routes in for humanitarian convoys...
Middle East
Activist boat Handala seized off Gaza brought to Israel
Israeli forces brought the pro-Palestinian activist boat Handala into the port of Ashdod on Sunday, after seizing the vessel in international waters and detaining the crew, an AFP journalist saw...
Israeli fire kills 25 in Gaza
Gaza鈥檚 civil defence agency said Israeli fire killed 25 people on Saturday in the Palestinian territory devastated by more than 21 months of war.
Gunmen storm Iran courthouse, kill 6
Gunmen stormed a courthouse in southeastern Iran on Saturday, killing at least six people, including three law enforcement personnel, the judiciary said.
France defends move to recognise Palestinian state
France defended its decision to recognise Palestinian statehood amid domestic and international criticism on Friday, including against the charge that the move plays into the hands of militant group Hamas.
Aid groups warn聽of starving children in Gaza
Aid groups warned of surging numbers of malnourished children in war-ravaged Gaza as a trio of European powers prepared to hold an 鈥榚mergency call鈥� Friday on the deepening humanitarian crisis.
Quarter of children in its Gaza clinics malnourished: MSF
Doctors Without Borders charity said Friday that a quarter of all young children and pregnant or breastfeeding women screened at its clinics in Gaza last week were malnourished, blaming Israel鈥檚 鈥榩olicy of starvation鈥�.
Hundreds protest over water shortages in Iraq
Hundreds of Iraqis protested Friday against severe water shortages exacerbated by the summer鈥檚 sweltering heat in the central province of Babylon, an AFP correspondent said.
Iran holds N-talks with European powers
Iranian diplomats said they held 鈥榝rank and detailed鈥� nuclear talks on Friday with counterparts from Germany, Britain and France, who have threatened to trigger sanctions if Tehran fails to agree a deal on uranium enrichment and cooperation with UN inspectors.
International media groups urge Israel to allow access to Gaza
International news agencies Agence France-Presse, Associated Press and Reuters as well as the BBC on Thursday called on Israel to allow journalists in and out of Gaza, which is subject to a strict blockade...
100 NGOs warn 鈥榤ass starvation鈥� spreading across Gaza
More than 100 aid organisations and human rights groups warned on Wednesday that 鈥榤ass starvation鈥� was spreading in Gaza, as the United States said its top envoy was heading to Europe for talks on a possible ceasefire and aid corridor...
Syria launches probes into extrajudicial killings in Druze
Syria said on Tuesday that it had launched investigations into reported extrajudicial killings in the country鈥檚 Druze heartland, promising to punish perpetrators including any government-affiliated personnel after a week of sectarian bloodshed...
21 children killed from malnutrition, starvation in Gaza
The head of Gaza鈥檚 largest hospital on Tuesday said 21 children have died due to malnutrition and starvation in the Palestinian territory in the past three days, while Israel pressed a devastating assault...
South Syria violence deepens fears among minorities
A surge of violence in southern Syria has exacerbated fears among minority communities and exposed what analysts say is the Damascus authorities鈥� intent to rein in the Druze population...
Heatwave hits water, electricity supplies across much of Iran
A severe heatwave sweeping Iran has disrupted water and electricity supplies in much of the country, with reservoir levels dropping to their lowest point in a century, state media said Tuesday...