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Norwegian takes charge of UN Syria mission amid violence

A veteran Norwegian peacekeeper headed to Damascus on Saturday to take charge of a UN mission overseeing a troubled truce as monitors reported 10 deserters killed in clashes with the army and Lebanon... Full story

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Hollande warns of wave of layoffs after France’s presidential vote

France’s Socialist presidential frontrunner Francois Hollande said on Saturday he was expecting a wave of layoffs to follow next weekend’s election, but pledged his government would not stand idly by as... Full story

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EU urges ‘irreversible’ Myanmar reforms

The EU’s chief diplomat urged Myanmar to make its progress towards democracy ‘irreversible’ after meeting Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday amid Western efforts to bolster reforms in the former pariah state. Full story

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US may let Iran partially enrich uranium

The United States could let Iran partially enrich uranium in return for strict measures to curb its ability to build a nuclear bomb, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday. In what would be a major concession... Full story

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After Bin Laden, al-Qaeda ‘essentially gone’: US official

Nearly a year since a US raid that killed Osama bin Laden, his core al-Qaeda network in Pakistan is ‘essentially gone’ but its affiliates remain a threat, US intelligence officials said on Friday. Full story

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‘Israelis being fooled on Iran’

Israel’s former security chief Yuval Diskin on Saturday accused top ministers of misleading the public about the chances any pre-emptive military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities succeeding. Full story

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G Bissau junta frees PM, president seized in coup

Guinea-Bissau’s coup leaders released the country’s ousted prime minister and interim president on Friday after more than two weeks of captivity, allowing the former leaders to travel to Ivory Coast. Full story

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‘Four die’ in attack on Afghan governor compound

Two bodyguards and two suicide attackers were killed in a fire-fight inside the governor’s compound in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province on Saturday, an official said. Full story

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Bin Laden family arrive Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has allowed the three widows and children of slain al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden entrance into the kingdom on humanitarian grounds, a Saudi-owned daily reported on Saturday. Full story

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Romania left-wing leader made PM

Romanian President Traian Basescu wasted no time Friday naming a left-wing opposition leader to succeed the toppled centre-right prime minister in a bid to reassure financial markets. Full story

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Scientists detect subatomic particle

European scientists said Friday they had detected a subatomic particle that sheds light on one of the basic forces of nature which determines the structure of matter. Full story

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Sudan rejects UNSC role in border dispute

Sudan on Saturday rejected UN Security Council involvement in efforts to end weeks of border clashes with South Sudan. ‘Sudan confirms that it rejects any efforts to disturb the African Union role and take the... Full story

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Fugitive Chinese activist ‘under US protection’

A leading Chinese activist who escaped from house arrest last weekend is now under US ‘protection’ and Washington and Beijing are in talks over his status, an overseas rights group said on Saturday. Full story

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Second person involved in UK ‘spy in bag’ death

Another person was most likely involved in the death of a British spy whose decomposing body was found padlocked in a holdall, an expert told the inquest into his death on Friday. Full story

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