Pakistan under pressure for action against Taliban

2014-01-22 10:55:08

The latest wave of militant attacks in Pakistan has led to calls on the government to launch a major offensive against the Pakistani Taliban in the restive North Waziristan tribal region, their last stronghold.

Geneva II could be first step to solve Syrian crisis

2014-01-22 09:18:01

Both delegations of the Syrian government and opposition arrived in Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday evening to embark on a dialogue for the first time since the eruption of the conflict in Syria nearly three years ago.

UN withdraws Iran invitation to Syria talks

2014-01-21 11:33:04

The UN secretary-general has withdrawn his invitation to Iran to join this week's Syria peace talks, saying he is "deeply disappointed" by Iran's statements Monday.

Syria peace conference to proceed without Iran

2014-01-21 10:00:33

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon decided Monday the Syrian peace conference would proceed without Iran, despite his earlier invitation extended to Tehran.

West, Iran activate landmark nuclear deal

2014-01-21 01:00:13

Iran has halted its most sensitive nuclear activity under a preliminary deal with world powers, winning some relief from economic sanctions on Monday in a ground-breaking exchange that could ease the threat of new war in the Middle East.

Baghdad bomb blasts kill 26

2014-01-20 21:23:59

Seven bomb explosions killed 26 people and wounded 67 in the Iraqi capital on Monday, police and medics said, as security forces battled Sunni Muslim militants around the western cities of Falluja and Ramadi.

Iran not to accept Geneva communique

2014-01-20 19:51:03

Iran will participate in the upcoming Geneva II conference on Syria without accepting the 2012 Geneva communique.

Syria opposition warns it won't go to peace talks

2014-01-20 16:36:52

Syria's main, Western-backed opposition says it will not attend UN-hosted peace talks in Geneva aimed at ending the country's civil war if Iran comes to the gathering.

Iran to halt production of enriched uranium

2014-01-20 16:27:49

Iran's nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi said that Iran would halt production of 20 percent enriched uranium by noon (0830 GMT) on Monday, the official IRNA news agency reported.

13 killed as suicide bomber hits Pakistan

2014-01-20 16:22:17

At least 13 people were killed and over 20 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up near a police check post jointly owned by police and Pakistan army on Monday morning, officials said.

World powers, Iran to activate landmark nuke deal

2014-01-20 16:20:51

World powers and Iran are due to start implementing a landmark deal on Monday curbing Tehran's nuclear programme, amid hopes that it will pave the way for a broad settlement of a decade-old standoff and ease fears of a new Middle East war.

Iran to suspend 20% uranium enrichment

2014-01-20 15:26:06

Iran said on Monday it will start its suspension of uranium enrichment up to 20 percent in a few hours.