In-depth: From northern Homs to Madaya, the Assad regime is tightening sieges on rebel-held towns, starving out locals who in turn are forced to eat grass.
Analysis: As the Ukraine crisis developed, many analysts speculated a new "cold war" was looming. Russia's pragmatic rapprochement with Saudi Arabia and backing of Egypt tells a different story.
President Mahmoud Abbas says he is resigning from the Palestine Liberation Organization's top leadership body, a move seen as an attempt to tighten his grip on power.
Following an Israeli strike on Syria that was said to have targeted Islamic Jihad members, the group denied any attack on Israel launched from Syrian territory.
