France and the United States are reportedly competing to arm the Lebanese military and benefit from the Saudi grants as it desperately needs weapons to confront the increasing threats by militants, in particular along Lebanon's eastern border.

A source following up the army deals under two Saudi financial grants told al-Akhbar newspaper published on Tuesday that the U.S. arms are very different from the French arms that ODAS company is in charge of delivering to Lebanon.

Japan is working with Jordan to free both a Japanese journalist and a Jordanian pilot being held by Islamist extremists, officials said Tuesday, days after militants executed another hostage.

The self-styled Islamic State group apparently beheaded Japanese contractor Haruna Yukawa last week after a 72-hour deadline for a $200 million ransom passed without payment.

The U.N. said Monday that a rocket attack that killed 30 people in a city in eastern Ukraine deliberately targeted civilians, as Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned Western calls to rein in a pro-Moscow insurgency.

A senior U.N. official told an emergency Security Council meeting that the deadly rocket barrage on the port city of Mariupol came from pro-Russian rebel-controlled territory and sought to strike a civilian population, in violation of international humanitarian law.

A new round of peace talks between Libya's warring factions resumed in Geneva Monday to try and save the country from sinking into deeper chaos.

During a first round of U.N.-mediated discussions in the Swiss city earlier this month, warring factions from the strife-torn country agreed on a roadmap to form a unity government. 

Thousands of flights were canceled Monday as millions of Americans braced for a northeastern winter storm that New York's mayor warned could be one of the biggest blizzards in history.

Snow, which began falling early Monday across the region, is expected to accumulate steadily throughout the day before turning into a major storm expected to paralyze parts of New York and New England.

Yemen's powerful Shiite militia blocked access to Sanaa University on Monday as opponents to their takeover of the capital called for more demonstrations against their tightening grip on Sanaa.

The militiamen, known as Huthis, set up barriers along roads leading to Change Square just outside the university, a hotbed of opposition, witnesses and activists said.

Heavy snow and blizzard conditions were forecast to hit the U.S. northeast Monday, blanketing New York, Boston and beyond with up to a foot of snow.

With parts of the region already hit by a strong winter system over the weekend, residents braced for what the National Weather Service called possible "heavy snow and strong wind, even blizzard conditions."

U.S. President Barack Obama and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke the deadlock on a long-stalled nuclear pact Sunday as they hailed a new era of friendship between the world's two largest democracies.

After greeting Obama with a bear hug as he stepped off Air Force One, Modi then trumpeted the "chemistry" with his fellow leader on the first of a three-day visit to the Indian capital.

U.S. President Barack Obama pledged Sunday to maintain pressure on al-Qaida in Yemen, where the president and prime minister have resigned over the country's deepening crisis involving a Shiite militia.

Obama said his priority was to make sure Americans in Yemen were safe, describing it as a "dangerous part of the world."

The U.S. Department of State issued a new travel warning advisory to Lebanon over ongoing safety and security concerns, citing reports saying that future suicide bombing targets allegedly include Casino du Liban in Jounieh and Le Royal hotel in Dbayeh.

According to a statement issued by the embassy: “The development serves as an important reminder of the ongoing security concerns in Lebanon - even in areas which are normally considered less dangerous.”