Activists say clashes have flared up between Syrian troops and rebels on the southern outskirts of Damascus as part of a weeks-long government push to advance on opposition-held areas.

Afghan traditional leaders will meet next week to decide whether to support a security pact that could allow some US troops to stay in the country after 2014, an official said Tuesday. Around 2,500 tribal elders and other civilian leaders are expected to take part in the “loya jirga” starting November 21 …

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Turkish ambassador to Cairo on Nov. 11 over Ankara’s calls for ousted President Mohamed Morsi to be released. Hüseyin Avni Botsalı met with Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister Hatem Seif al-Nasr who said that