Anissa Haddadi

Following fighting between Syrian forces and the opposition Free Syrian Army, troops loyal to the regime of President Bashar al Assad have threatened to bomb Homs, leaving activists fearing that an offensive is about to be launched against the city.

The Egyptian Salafist Nour Party would enforce a ban on serving alcohol to both foreigners and Egyptian nationals if it is elected.

A Norway-based Islamist has called on jihadists to target the United States in attacks similar to those which took place on 9/11.

The family of a former FBI agent, who vanished in Iran in 2007, has released a video of him in captivity.

The Muslim Brotherhood has called for a review of Egypt's peace treaty with Israel.

Sheikh Youssef al Qaradawi, the outspoken and influential Muslim cleric, has called for a UN-backed intervention in Syria if the Arab League's initiative fails to secure peace.

Somalia's militant Islamist group al-Shabab has taken its war against the Somali government and Kenyan troops to the next level by setting up a Twitter account.

The EU runs the risk of shooting itself in the foot if it imposes sanctions on oil from Iran, since it is reliant on crude from Tehran to help power struggling economies.

Ramin Mehmanparast, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, criticised the government of Bahrain over its latest crackdown on protesters.

The Syrian cartoonist Ali Ferzat was named journalist of the year at the 2011 Press Freedom Prize awards ceremony in Paris.

After a series of incidents of self-immolation since the beginning of the year, the Algerian government has decided to adopt the draconian measure of jailing those who survive their suicide attempts, Algerian press reported.

Prosecutors in Philadelphia announced Wednesday they had decided to stop efforts to execute Mumia Abu-Jamal, who has been on death row after being convicted of killing a police officer 30 years ago.

Israeli ministers reacted angrily after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was quoted saying she feared for the future democracy and the rights of women in Israel.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denied responsibility for the brutal crackdown led by Syrian troops on protesters, saying only a "crazy leader" would kill his own people.

Men who are found guilty of harassing women in Saudi Arabia will be publicly shamed and fined, according to new legislation that is still being drafted.

Mexico has uncovered a plot to smuggle Muammar Gaddafi's son, Saadi and his family into the country under false names and false documents.

Al Qaeda has called on Libyan fighters not to surrender their weapons to the National Transitional Council (NTC), as it warned them they would "return to slavery".

More than 20,000 children are putting their lives at risk by working in gold mines in Mali, according to a report by Human Rights Watch.

Saudi Arabia is considering acquiring nuclear weapons, following in the footsteps of Israel and Iran, its former intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal said.

A leading Japanese Food manufacture says radioactive cesium has been detected in its baby formula and has recalled the products.

Despite spending most of his time in hiding, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah made a rare public appearance in Beifut during celebrations for the Shia holy day of Ashura.

The head of the Syrian National Council has warned Iran and Hezbollah that their continued support of President Bashar al Assad will jeopardise their relationship with Damascus once the government is overthrown.

Up to 600 workers at the Chinese diamond mining company Anjin Investments have gone on strike to demand higher wages and improved working conditions.

France MPs will Tuesday discuss a proposal which calls for the ban and criminalisation of prostitution in France.

The United Nation's has called on the Vietnamese government to close down rehabilitation centres for drug users and sex workers, calling them "counter-productive."

Hamas is making contingency plans for the potential fall of the Syrian regime, Reuters reported Sunday.

The day of Ashura is marked by the entire Muslim community but for Shia Muslims it represents a major religious festival.

At least 22 people were killed and 46 wounded in two separate car bomb attacks targeting Shi'ite pilgrims in the city of Hilla in Iraq during a major religious ritual.

Laurent Gbagbo, the former Ivory Coast president is expected to make his first appearance at the International Criminal Court where he faces four counts of crimes against humanity.