Protests in Iran over targeting of Ukraine aircraft go to the heart of rifts in its society

Demonstrators consider ‘shadow government’ as they face rising violence

Damascus International Fair’s success masks issues with rebuilding the Syrian economy

Cypriot government says Varosha proposal violates UN Security Council resolutions

Wooden merchant ship found near Protaras transported cargo between Syria and Turkey

US survey failed to prepare ground forces for influx from Islamic State enclave in Syria

Human Rights Watch voices extradition fears on country of 4,000 political prisoners

September 1993 was the best of times for Palestinians. Now they face the worst of times

Washington risks conflict with Russia and Iran, President Assad’s chief backers

Analysis: Recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital demolishes 70 years of US policy

Bashar al-Assad praises troops amid continued push to drive Islamic State from the city

Transport minister pulls permits for 22,000 new Porsche Cayennes with cheat software

‘Tens of thousands come to pray in the lead-domed al-Aqsa mosque, the world’s third holiest Islamic site’

Isolating Iran empowers ultra-conservatives and confirm their view of US as ‘Great Satan’

Turkish president dismantling country’s secularism, which will alienate liberal Turks

John Hourican became chief executive of the Bank of Cyprus following the country’s economic melt-down in 2013

This week’s episode of ‘World View’ also looks at the prospect of a truce in Syria

US president’s order to ‘track and slay’ jihadi group’s leaders signals turnabout in policy

In Damascus, Homs, Hama, and coastal cities, Syrians live as normally as they can

Neither Russian military nor Syria’s coastal enclave is secure from attack

International Syria Support Group meeting in Vienna, but little hope of political settlement

UN human rights chief calls for ‘no amnesty’ for war crimes or crimes against humanity

No deliveries for five weeks to Taiz where 240,000 civilians are in urgent need of food

Saudi Arabia’s new king, Salman bin Abdel Aziz, has powerful domestic reasons for waging a war

Urgent plea for humanitarian access to Palestinian camp invaded by IS militants

Isolde Moylan, who retires this year, recalls the more challenging postings of her career

Number of refugees from Syria’s conflict has reached 25 per cent of Lebanese population

Nikos Anastasiades to veto talks on Turkish EU accession after maritime incident

Clashes between Syrian troops and fundamentalists escalate on border with Israel

Hamas wrong to seek to cover up military loss with political moves, says Netanyahu

Talks proceed despite Israel’s boycott and the failure of US deputy secretary of state William Burns to arrive

Blocs commanded by Shia fundamentalist rivals came a distant second and third

Aid agencies are being hampered by lack of access, trust and funds

Editor Kevin O’Sullivan casts his eye back over the highlights of an eventful 12 months in his editorial review of 2013

German report claims Syrian leader did not allow use of chemical weapons

Army remains a fragile bulwark against communal conflict

Assad dismisses chemical weapons charge, says any US intervention will fail

Syria has agreed to inspections and will halt local hostilities for their duration

Fears that former Egyptian president’s release would signal return to military rule

Clash outside Iranian embassy in Beirut leads to death and injuries