Syrian tanks opened fire on poor Sunni districts in Latakia on August 16, residents said, the fourth day of a military assault on the northern port city aimed at crushing protests against President Bashar al-Assad.

A series of bomb attacks has hit several Iraqi cities, killing at least 60 people. The worst attack took place in the south-eastern city of Kut where police said two near-simultaneous bombs killed at least 37 people.

Thousands of Palestinian refugees have been forced to flee a camp in the Syrian port of Latakia amid shelling by government troops, the UN says.

The trial of Egypt's former President Hosni Mubarak will take place behind closed doors, Judge Ahmed Refaat announced on August 15, citing "the public interest" as he barred television cameras from the court.

Gold fell 0.4 percent on August 15, on course for a third consecutive session of loss, as a revived risk appetite drives investors to stocks and away from safe havens.

At least 34 people have been killed in a twin bombing in the south-eastern Iraqi city of Kut, Iraqi officials say.

The US-ASEAN Business Council (ABC) has realised its commitment to enhance cooperation between businesses of the two sides by launching its first official ASEAN Working Committee.

Japan's economy contracted less than expected in the last quarter, showing stronger signs of recovery from the deadly tsunami.

Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Fereidoon Abbasi said here Sunday that the first phase of Bushehr nuclear power plant will be commissioned by the end of August if the tests underway are completed, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) denied Sunday media reports that Syrian gunboats pounded the impoverished al-Ramel neighborhood in Latakia with heavy machine guns.