There has been an explosion near the Turkish ruling party's headquarters in the eastern city of Van, according to Turkey's state-run news agency.

Saudi-led coalition airstrikes hit a residential area in a Red Sea town in Yemen, killing at least 120 people in the deadliest strike against civilians since the March offensive began.

At least 19 people have drowned off beaches in southern Pakistan because of heavy waves and strong currents, rescuers said today.

Israel and Hamas have launched new attacks in the raging Gaza war, despite each side offering different truces to temporarily halt nearly three weeks of fighting ahead of a major Muslim holiday.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak says that the leader of the pro-Russian rebels has agreed to hand over both black boxes from Flight 17 to Malaysian investigators who are in Ukraine.

Fresh clashes have erupted between groups of Hindus and Muslims in the Indian portion of Kashmir, wounding three people.

Syria has denied rebel claims they hit President Bashar Assad’s motorcade in a rocket and mortar attack in Damascus.

More than 20 people have died when a suicide bomber attacked a funeral for a policeman in south-western Pakistan.

The Taliban’s reclusive leader has said his group is willing to start peace negotiations – even as he urged more attacks on foreign troops.

Iraqi militants unleashed a string of bombings and other attacks primarily targeting the country’s Shiite community, leaving at least 40 dead.

Bombings that hit markets and other insurgent strikes primarily targeting Iraq’s Shiite community killed 31 people today, challenging government efforts to promote a sense of stability by preventing attacks during a major Muslim holiday.

A bombing near a playground and other insurgent attacks killed 18 people including several children in Iraq today, challenging government efforts to promote a sense of stability by preventing attacks during a major Muslim holiday.

Six people, including two women and two children, have been killed in fighting between rebels and regime forces in the southern Syrian city of Daraa, activist groups said today.

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad attended prayers in a Damascus mosque to mark the start of a Muslim holiday yesterday, his first appearance in public since the bombing last month that killed four of his top security officials.

A Sudanese helicopter carrying a government delegation has crashed in a mountainous southern region, killing all 32 people on board including a Cabinet minister, a former presidential adviser, two generals and a TV crew.

Two car bombs have exploded in Libya’s capital, killing two people, an official said today.

Syria’s state-run TV has aired footage of the Syrian president performing Eid prayers in a mosque in Damascus.

The Taliban’s reclusive leader says his fighters have infiltrated the Afghan police and army and are successfully killing a rising number of US-led coalition forces.

Syrian security forces searching for anti-government protesters have raided houses in central Syria.

A suicide car bomber attacked Shiite Muslims in south-west Pakistan today at the start of an Islamic holiday, killing at least 10 people, officials said.

A car bomb exploded in south-western Pakistan today, killing at least five people.

Muammar Gaddafi’s spokesman said today a surrender-by-Saturday ultimatum to the fugitive dictator’s henchmen in his home town would be rejected.

Libyan rebels have pledged to launch an assault within days on Muammar Gaddafi’s home town, the ousted strongman’s last major bastion of support.

Libya’s warring sides in the Gaddafi stronghold of Sirte are now engaged in “discussions”, according to Nato.

Syrian security forces killed seven people as they opened fire to disperse thousands of protesters rallying against the country's regime on the first day of a Muslim holiday that marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, activists said.

A SUICIDE car bomber hit the central market of a major city in Russia’s North Caucasus yesterday, killing at least 17 and wounding more than 130 people in one of the worst attacks in the volatile region in years, officials said.

PRESIDENT Barack Obama warned that an obscure US Christian pastor’s plan to burn the Koran tomorrow to mark September 11 could provoke al-Qaida suicide bombings, as Asian countries urged Washington to prevent the act.

One of three Americans jailed for more than a year will be released on Saturday, Iran said today.

A JOYOUS Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan has the potential for misunderstandings or worse in the United States.

Paris jazzed up the Eiffel Tower with a multicoloured, disco-style light display as the world basked in New Year’s festivities with hopes that 2010 and beyond will bring more peace and prosperity.

SUICIDE bombers targeted Shi’ite worshippers as they left morning prayers at two Baghdad mosques, killing 24 people and wounding more than 50 others, police said.

Suicide bombers killed 17 worshippers as they left morning prayers at two Baghdad mosques today.

Three Islamic militants expected to be executed soon for the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people said today that they had no regrets.

Civil war broke out today amid a gang of Somali pirates holding a ship full of tanks and other weapons leaving three of them dead.

Pirates holding a Ukrainian ship laden with tanks and weapons today claimed they were celebrating the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr despite being surrounded by American warships and helicopters.

At least six people were killed and 30 others injured when a bomb ripped through a packed cinema in northern India, authorities said.

Fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Omar today called on Afghanistan's neighbours to help his militants oust the government of President Hamid Karzai and force foreign troops out of the country.

Malaysia’s first astronaut, a Muslim, has vowed to keep praying and fasting in space.

A ROADSIDE blast ripped through a pickup truck in southern Afghanistan yesterday, killing 14 villagers who were travelling to a provincial capital for holiday celebrations, an official said.

Nato's Secretary-General today said he is saddened by recent deaths of Afghan civilians, and that the alliance is committed to defending democracy in a nation once ruled by the repressive Taliban regime.

A roadside blast ripped through a vehicle in southern Afghanistan today, killing 14 villagers and wounding three as they travelled to a provincial capital for holiday celebrations, an official said.

Israeli troops killed seven Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip today, one of the bloodiest days of fighting during a four-month offensive.

Iraqi militants killed 15 homebound police recruits and nine shoppers buying food for the feast to celebrate the end of Ramadan.

Iraqi militants today killed 15 homebound police recruits and nine shoppers buying food for the feast to celebrate the end of Ramadan.