AL JAZEERA

Armed men damaged a studio used by Al Jazeera television in the West Bank on Wednesday, witnesses said, linking the attack to the channel's coverage of documents that have embarrassed Palestinian leaders.

Hundreds of angry protesters burnt tyres and blocked roads across Lebanon Tuesday after a Hezbollah-backed politician was named prime minister, shifting the balance of power in the country towards Syria and Iran.

An audio message released by Osama bin Laden on Friday warned that French hostages held by Islamic militants will be killed if President Nicolas Sarkozy does not withdraw French forces from Afghanistan.

Osama bin Laden warned France on Friday that the country should leave Afghanistan if it wanted to see its captive nationals alive, in a televised audio-recording.

Tunisian President Zine al-Abedine Ben Ali stepped aside on Friday after failing to quell the worst anti-government unrest in his two decades in power.

The governor of key Pakistani province of Punjab who opposed the controversial blasphemy law was assassinated on Tuesday.

A sum up of top events that shaped United States in past decade (2000-2010). Part 2 covers 2004 to 2008 on weapons of mass destruction, Iraq, Bush second term, Hurricane Katrina, Housing bubble burst, and Barack Obama as the first Black president.

France is verifying the authenticity of a broadcast message by an al-Qaeda off-shoot demanding troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in return for the safety of their nationals kidnapped in Niger. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) also suggested direct negotiations with al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden over hostages' issue. Five French nationals along with two Africans, all employees of French firms Areva and Vinci operating in the mining town of Arlit in Niger were kidnapped on September 16.

Israel is to discuss a 90-day construction freeze in West Bank proposed by the United States, sources say. At the recent Washington meeting between Israeli Prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, US reportedly proposed an incentive package to reinstate a moratorium on West Bank settlement building. However, the proposal does not include a suspension of settlement activity in East Jerusalem.

Dubai's police chief plans to seek the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the head of Israel's spy agency over the killing of a Hamas leader in the emirate, Al Jazeera television reported.

The Doha Tribeca Film Festival, Qatar's first film event, said on Monday it wants to create a hub for regional filmmakers in the Gulf Arab state, through education initiatives and community involvement.

The inauguration of Barack Obama dawns with broadcast media swinging for the fences there are even cable networks as diverse as BET, TV One, Al Jazeera and ESPN are offering live coverage of Obama's swearing-in.