Iraqi bomb blasts leave 23 dead
At least five people are killed and 20 wounded in a twin car bomb blast in a bus station in the Iraqi town of Hilla.

Iran 'to ban' defaced banknotes
Iran says defaced banknotes are to be made invalid, after the appearance of opposition slogans on money, local media report.

Christmas celebrated around the world
A shaken Pope says Christmas Mass in St Peter's shortly after being knocked over by a spectator who jumped barriers.

Israeli settler shot in West Bank
An Israeli man has been shot dead in his car near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, Israel's military says.

Iran jails ex-government figure
An Iranian court jails a former government spokesman who crossed over to the opposition.

Israel teens to 'disobey orders'
About 200 Israeli teenagers say that they will not obey orders to evacuate settlements in the West Bank.

'Clashes' at Iran cleric ceremony
Police and opposition supporters clash in Iran during a memorial for a leading dissident cleric, opposition websites say.

Jewish Exodus ship skipper dies
The captain of Jewish immigrant ship the Exodus, which was refused entry to Palestine in 1947, dies at the age of 86.

Jesus-era home found by archaeologists in Nazareth
Israeli archaeologists say they have found the remains of the first dwelling in Nazareth that dates back to the time of Jesus.

New frontier
Yemen emerges as newest theatre in 'war on terror'

Watching flocks
Shepherds in the West Bank see livelihoods dwindle

Changing threat
Can Iraq thwart insurgents' new tactics?

Take the 'A' train
Israeli professors give lessons on the move

Cleric dilemma
Reformist's death a major challenge for Tehran

Shalit mediator holds Gaza talks
The German mediator trying to secure a deal for the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit visits Gaza, Hamas says.

Iraqi gas victims sue for damages
A court in the Netherlands is hearing a suit by Kurdish victims of 1988 poison gas attacks in northern Iraq.

World 'failed Gaza over blockade'
Aid agencies criticise the international community for failing to help end Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Freed Iranian convicts are hanged
The execution in Iran of two convicts freed by relatives at the last minute has gone ahead, reports say.

Iran's Mousavi loses public post
Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi is fired as head of Iran's Arts Institution, one of two public posts he holds.

Ahmadinejad denies trigger claim
President Ahmadinejad rejects as US forgeries papers allegedly showing Iranian plans to test a trigger for a nuclear bomb.

'Dozens killed' in Yemen strike
An air strike by Saudi Arabian planes in northern Yemen has killed at least 54 people, Houthi rebels say.

Iranians free condemned men
A crowd in Iran frees two men just before they are executed, officials say, though the convicts are later captured.

Dubai World briefs key creditors
Dubai World meets creditors, including executives from HSBC and Royal Bank of Scotland, to discuss its debt repayment plan.

Egypt bans Gaza border protest
The Egyptian government has banned a protest march into Gaza to mark the anniversary of last year's conflict.

'Clashes' as Iran cleric buried
Clashes are reported in the Iranian city of Qom after the funeral of an influential dissident cleric, Grand Ayatollah Montazeri.

Lockheed secures Morocco contract
US defence group Lockheed Martin wins a contract worth $841.9m to supply Morocco with 24 F-16 fighter aircraft.

Dubai aid 'was loan, not handout'
Abu Dhabi's last-minute $10bn bail-out of its UAE neighbour Abu Dubai was a loan, not a handout, it has emerged.

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's opposition chants back
A closer look at some of the chants used by Iran's pro-reform demonstrators, who have been protesting since the disputed Iranian presidential elections in June 2009.

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

Jerusalem Diary: Choir caught in disharmony
UK choir caught in arguments over boycotting Israel

Egypt's Muslim televangelist star
Muslim TV preacher with a global audience of millions

Crises multiply for divided Yemen
Crises multiply for beleaguered Sanaa government

Blair's admission
Former UK PM backed Iraq war regardless of WMD

Fully veiled on Saudi TV
The BBC Arabic Service's Amani Fikri meets a Saudi woman who presents TV programmes from behind the veil.

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