POLITICS

Yemen: President Saleh in Saudi to Sign Power-Transfer Deal

Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh looks on as he attends a gathering of supporters in Sanaa
After months of protests calling for his departure, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital to sign a transfer deal which would see his deputy Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi take power ahead of early elections.
Lebanese President Suleiman reviews army troops with Defence Minister Ghosn during a military parade to celebrate the 68th anniversary of Lebanon's independence day in downtown Beirut

Lebanon Celebrates Independence Day

Lebanon celebrated its 68th independence anniversary with a 50-minute Independence Day military parade in Beirut, but opposition leaders insisted the country's sovereignty is still incomplete.
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Mariano Rajoy

Merkel Urges New Spanish Leader to Reform Quickly

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Spain's prime minister-elect, Mariano Rajoy, to make necessary changes as soon as possible to prevent another crisis on the scale of Italy or Greece, as markets reacted badly to news of his victory at the polls.
Demonstrators protest against the passing of the Protection of Information Bill outside Parliament in Cape Town

Black Tuesday: 'Secrecy Bill' Passed in South Africa

South African MPs have approved a controversial Protection of State Information Bill despite widespread criticism, prompting protesters to call the day "Black Tuesday", the darkest day for South African democracy since the end of apartheid in 1994.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad , his brother Maher and brother-in-law Asef Shawkat stand during funeral of late President Hafez al-Assad in Damascus

Syria: Who are Assad’s Strongmen?

Despite months of protests the Syrian regime, Assad's inner circle has remained loyal and launched a brutal crackdown against the democracy movement, that has left thousands dead.
Saif al-Islam is seen after his capture, in the custody of revolutionary fighters in Obari, Libya

Libya: Saif Gaddafi's Captor Named as Defence Minister

Libya's transitional Prime Minister Abdurrahim el-Keib is poised to nominate a new cabinet on Tuesday that will be in office until next year, when the North African country will stage the first elections since the overthrow of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in August.
Danielle Mitterrand, the widow of former French President Mitterrand, points to a point in Kenya on a map of the world in her Paris office

Danielle Mitterrand dies, aged 87

The widow of the former French President Francois Mitterrand and outspoken human rights activist Danielle Mitterand has died overnight, aged 87.
Former Khmer Rouge leader Nuon Chea attends his trial at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) on the outskirts of Phnom Penh in this November 22, 2011

Cambodia Returns to the ‘Killing Fields’: Khmer Rouge Leaders on Trial

The three defendant on trial in Cambodia before the Extraordinary Chamber in the Courts of Cambodia, a UN-backed Tribunal , Nuon Chea, 85, Kieu Samphan,78, and Ieng Sary, 86, deny charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes for their alleged roles in the deaths of up to 2.2 million people the Khmer Rouge four-year-rule from 1975 to 1979.
Death toll hits 33 on third day of Egypt clashes

Egypt: Parliamentary Elections Factfile

Despite three days of clashes between protesters and the security forces, which left at least 33 dead, the Egyptian authorities have announced that the parliamentary elections expected to take place in a week's time will proceed as scheduled.