A German court on Wednesday convicted a former Syrian intelligence service agent for complicity in crimes against humanity, in the first court case worldwide over state-sponsored torture by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government.

As the sound of gunfire grew closer, Mahfouz Ahmed knew to scoop up his children and run, before getting caught in the line of fire between Yemen's warring sides.

US President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi spoke about this week's rocket strikes on the US embassy in Baghdad, the White House said Tuesday, with both leaders saying those responsible should be "held fully to account."

A German man went on trial Tuesday for allegedly spying for Egypt while he was working in Chancellor Angela Merkel's press office. 

The United States said Monday it would hold Iran to account for its Iraqi allies after rocket fire hit the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, but insisted it would not be drawn into an escalation.

An Israeli court said Monday it would start hearing witnesses in the corruption trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on April 5.

From Mosul's rubble-strewn streets to ancient churches at Karamlesh, badly damaged by the Islamic State group, Archbishop Najeeb Michaeel is preparing for the first-ever papal visit to Iraq.

A young man was shot dead on Monday during a protest in the capital of Iraq's southern Dhi Qar province over poor public services, a local medical source told AFP.

Thousands marched in Algeria's capital and other cities Monday to mark the second anniversary of the "Hirak" protest movement that forced long-time president Abdelaziz Bouteflika from power.

A volley of rockets on Monday targeted the high-security zone in the Iraqi capital that is home to the U.S. embassy, the military and security sources said.