Middle East talks 'constructive'
Israeli and Palestinian leaders meet in Washington for the first direct peace talks in nearly two years and agree a framework for negotiations.

Egypt spy chief poster campaign
Posters promoting Egypt's intelligence chief appear on the streets of Cairo, amid growing speculation over who will succeed President Hosni Mubarak.

US hails end of operation in Iraq
The US president hails the end of US combat operations in Iraq, saying the US has paid "a huge price" to "put Iraq's future in its people's hands".

Netherlands frees Yemeni suspects
Two Yemenis arrested in Amsterdam on suspicion of planning a terror attack are released, prosecutors in the Netherlands say.

Iran's Bruni slurs 'unacceptable'
France says that "insults" in Iran's media aimed at France's first lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, are "unacceptable".

Israel academics shun settlements
More than 150 Israeli academics say they will no longer lecture or work in Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Rabbi calls for Abbas to 'vanish'
An Israeli rabbi says the world would be better without Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, prompting strong criticism from US officials.

Biden in Iraq for mission change
US Vice President Joe Biden arrives in Iraq ahead of the official end of the US combat mission there at midnight on Tuesday.

Nails removed from 'abused' maid
Doctors remove 13 nails and five needles from a Sri Lankan housemaid who said her employer in Saudi Arabia hammered them into her body.

Call for Iraq deaths inquiry in UK
A full judicial inquiry into all those killed in the war in Iraq should be held, the UK-based Iraq Body Count campaign group says.