Early on, Al-Qaeda was a close-knit band of extremists with common cause, a centralized leadership, and a base from which to launch global operations.

• July 24, 2013

China must deepen reforms to address a slew of challenges confronting it, President Xi Jinping said in comments published on Tuesday that emphasize the government's determination to restructure the slowing economy.

• July 23, 2013

Iran condemned on Tuesday the European Union's decision to put the armed wing of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on its terrorism blacklist and said the move was "contrary to all political and legal norms, surprising and unacceptable".

• July 23, 2013

Belarusian Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makey says his country is interested in cooperating with all aspects of the European Union's Eastern Partnership program.

• July 23, 2013

The European Union called on Monday for the release of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi and demanded democratic elections as soon as possible.

• July 22, 2013

The Syrian deputy prime minister says Russia and Syria are discussing the possibility of Moscow giving a loan to Damascus.

• July 22, 2013

EU foreign ministers have agreed to list the military wing of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation.

• July 22, 2013

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling bloc won a decisive election victory on Sunday, cementing his grip on power but raising the possibility he could lose interest in difficult economic reform and shift focus to his nationalist agenda instead.

• July 21, 2013