Rockets hit Israel from Lebanon
Rockets are fired from Lebanon into northern Israel raising fears that the current conflict in Gaza could spill over.

Canada expels US woman deserter
A US army deserter and mother of three is ordered to leave Canada after her appeal for refuge fails.

Women banned from Baghdad shrine
Iraqi authorities close a major Shia shrine in Baghdad to women amid security concerns as the rite of Ashura reaches its climax.

Blackwater men plead not guilty
Five employees of US security firm Blackwater plead not guilty in a US court to the manslaughter of 17 Iraqis in 2007.

Baghdad bomb kills Shia pilgrims
A female suicide bomber kills at least 35 Shia pilgrims including Iranians near a shrine in Baghdad, Iraqi police say.

European flight lands in Baghdad
The first commercial flight between Western Europe and Baghdad in at least 17 years lands in the Iraqi capital.

Suicide bomb kills many in Iraq
A suicide bombing kills at least 23 people at a Sunni gathering in a town south of Baghdad, Iraqi police say.

Israel bombs Gaza into the night
Israel makes 60 air strikes on the Gaza Strip in a single night after the first daily truce to allow in humanitarian aid expires.

Israel accepts truce 'principles'
Israel says it accepts the principles of a truce plan for Gaza but its military offensive against Hamas has resumed.

Vatican deplores Gaza situation
The Vatican's justice minister criticises Israel's actions and compares Gaza to a "big concentration camp".

Obama's strategic silence on Gaza
The BBC's Richard Lister reports on President-elect Barack Obama's unwillingness to comment on Israel's invasion of Gaza.

Oil price rises on Gaza conflict
Oil rises briefly above $48 a barrel on fears of heightened Middle East tension after Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Payout for US air passenger forced to cover Arabic T-shirt
An air passenger forced to cover his T-shirt because it displayed Arabic script is awarded a payout of $240,000, his lawyers say.

Backing the war
Israelis strongly back offensive in Gaza - for now

Rallying cry
Hezbollah woos crowds at Ashura rally in Lebanon

Treasure hunt
How easy is it to set up a new museum in Iraq?

Who is a civilian?
What can be defined as military target?

Tehran offers to 'protect' Ebadi
Iran says it will provide security for Nobel Peace Prize-winning lawyer Shirin Ebadi, amid global concern for her safety.

Iraq shoe thrower trial postponed
The trial of the Iraqi journalist who threw shoes at US President Bush is postponed pending an appeal against the charges.

Dane held for 'shooting Israelis'
A Danish man of Palestinian origin is arrested on suspicion of shooting and wounding two Israeli salesmen in Denmark.

Gaza aid boat 'rammed by Israel'
A boat taking medical supplies to Gaza has been rammed by the Israeli navy in international waters, activists say.

Group storms UK embassy in Iran
Demonstrators storm the compound of the British Embassy in Iran, the Foreign Office confirms.

Iraq signs foreign troops deals
Iraq signs deals with the UK and Australia for their troops to stay after a UN mandate expires on 1 January, Baghdad says.

Iraqi-Canadian 'spied for Saddam'
An Iraqi-born Canadian citizen is charged in the US of conspiring to spy from 2000 for the former Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein.

Turkey 'hits PKK targets in Iraq'
Turkish fighter planes bomb suspected Kurdish rebel positions in northern Iraq, Turkish military sources say.

Dubai sex man faces massive bill
A British man convicted of having sex on a Dubai beach has been left with a legal bill of tens of thousands of pounds.

Oil rises on Middle East tensions
Crude oil prices rise on concerns Israel's attacks on Hamas could threaten supplies from the Middle East.

Oil falls back below $39 a barrel
More bad economic news from the US on Tuesday sends oil prices falling back below $39 a barrel.

Mideast papers on Gaza
Commentators in the Palestinian press are united in dismay at the Israeli operation in Gaza.

Papers fear end of Gaza truce
Israeli and Palestinian papers anticipate violence when a truce between militant groups in the Gaza Strip ends.

Iranian blogs on Obama victory
Iranians blogging in Farsi give their reaction to Obama's election victory.

Iraqis comment on US troop deal
The Iraqi cabinet approves a security pact with the US, which foresees a US troop withdrawal by the end of 2011.

Gaza voices on the closure
People in Gaza may be without UN food aid from Saturday, after Israel refused to allow in emergency supplies. The territory has been sealed off since 5 November; Israel says continued mortar fire from Gaza militants is to blame. Three Gazans describe how the enforced closure has affected them.

Next in Iraq
A year of change ends, but what about the future?

The road to Bethlehem
BBC reporter reaches end of epic Bethlehem trek

Voices: Gaza ceasefire ends
People in Gaza and Sderot consider what lies ahead

Major Israeli settlement 'unlawful'
Major settlement 'unlawful' under Israeli law

Sexy secrets of the Syrian souk
Exploring the exotic world of Syrian lingerie