US threatens tough Iran sanctions
The US Defense Secretary says he expects "significant" new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme.

Shell wins Iraq oil field rights
A consortium led by Shell wins the rights to develop Iraq's giant Majnoon oil field, and other contracts are awarded.

UK in Palestinian food label dispute
The UK sparks a dispute by recommending food labels must distinguish Palestinian goods from Israeli settlement produce.

Iran rebuked over Nobel laureate
Norway and Sweden rebuke Iran for its treatment of Shirin Ebadi, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights lawyer.

Iraq PM 'blames rivals for lapse'
The lack of security in Baghdad is down to political rows, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is quoted as saying to parliament.

Egyptians build steel Gaza wall
Egypt begins building an enormous metal wall on its border with Gaza to try to curb smuggling, the BBC learns.

Al-Qaeda group claims Iraq attack
A group affiliated to al-Qaeda claims that it carried out four bomb attacks in Baghdad that killed scores of people.

West Bank deportation upheld
Israel's Supreme Court says the army was right to deport a Palestinian from Gaza studying in the West Bank.

Sacha Baron Cohen faces a huge libel action from a Palestinian
Bruno creator Sacha Baron Cohen faces a $110m libel action from a Palestinian man who says he was wrongly branded a terrorist in the 2009 film.

Body count
The politics of counting the Iraqi victims of violence

Palestinian feud
Alan Johnston reports on a family divided politically

On-screen niqab
The Saudi women TV anchors covered from head to toe

Migrant fears
Foreign workers bear the brunt of Dubai crisis

Violence returns
The disturbing questions raised by attacks in Iraq

Settlers stage Jerusalem protest
Thousands of Jewish settlers and their supporters protest in Jerusalem at a curb on West Bank settlement building.

Baghdad security chief fired
The Iraqi PM has fired the head of Baghdad's security forces after bombings killed 127 people on Tuesday, reports say.

Amnesty condemns Iran 'abuses'
Human rights in Iran are as poor as at any time over the past 20 years, an Amnesty International report says.

Jewish settler murder case opens
The trial opens in Jerusalem of a Jewish settler charged with murdering two Palestinians and a string of other attacks.

Jordan king appoints aide as PM
Jordan's King Abdullah has appointed a former aide as the new prime minister, following a snap dissolution of parliament.

Rosetta row 'would end with loan'
Egypt's head of antiquities will drop a demand for the permanent return of the Rosetta Stone if the British Museum agrees a loan.

Iraqi leaders face bombings anger
Iraqi MPs demand to grill top ministers over security after car bombings reported to have killed 127 people on Tuesday.

Saudis deny Iran abduction claim
Saudi Arabia denies Iranian claims that an Iranian nuclear scientist was detained on its soil by Saudi agents and handed to the US.

Iranians 'release three Belgians'
Iran frees three Belgians held since October for entering a prohibited area, Iranian media say.

Scores killed in Iraq bombings
A series of car bombings kills at least 127 people in Baghdad in what officials say is a bid to destabilise Iraq.

Iraqis top of EU list for asylum
The EU granted asylum to 16,600 Iraqis last year - by far the largest group, forming 22% of the total, official figures show.

EU backs two-capital Jerusalem
EU ministers call for Jerusalem to serve as the capital of both Israel and a future Palestinian state in a negotiated peace deal.

Dubai shares continue to tumble
Dubai's stock market slides for the second consecutive day on continuing fears about leading companies' ability to repay debts.

Four Dubai banks have ratings cut
Ratings agency Standard & Poor's cuts the credit ratings of four Dubai-based banks because of their exposure to Dubai World.

Iraq bombs may delay US plans
Newspapers in the Middle East suggest that neighbouring countries might have had a hand in recent Iraqi violence.

EU move seen as Palestinian gain
Mid-East papers agree that Palestinians stand to benefit from a joint EU statement on Jerusalem.

Iran students' day: Amateur video
Iranians defy strict government bans to film the annual Students' Day protests, marking the death of three students in 1953.

Lebanon views on government
Voters' views on long awaited new government

Abbas 'pushed' to stand down
Israeli and Arab commentators consider the reasons behind Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' decision not to stand in forthcoming elections.

Egyptians gear up for Eid al-Adha
Cairo's shopping frenzy ahead of Eid al-Adha festival

Analysis: Election debacle in Iraq
Rows over election law threaten Iraq's crucial poll

Morocco wine-makers see success
Morocco's wine growers sniff success abroad

Jerusalem's city of three faiths
Life in Jerusalem's heart where three faiths coincide

Leaders keep it in the family
Is North Africa succumbing to dynastic rule?

All quiet on Iraq's western front
Little evidence to support Iraqi claims of border infiltration

Q&A: Palestinian political turmoil
Key issues behind the Palestinian political crisis