By Louis Charbonneau / 29 June 2013

How deep is the divide separating Russia and the United States on Syria? A photo from the recent G8 summit in Northern Ireland says it all - two grim-faced leaders slouched in their chairs, Barack Obama biting his lip and Vladimir Putin staring at the floor.

The awkward photo opportunity, which went viral on the Internet, highlights the increasingly tense relationship between the former Cold War foes who find it difficult to agree on a series of high-profile issues, including Syria and a fugitive U.S. intelligence contractor whom Putin refuses to extradite.

Source : Reuters / 10 June 2013

Syria is suffering from a severe shortage of life-saving medicines, health care infrastructure and workforce amid its escalating conflicts.

Syria's once advanced pharmaceutical industry was brought into almost a complete halt. The country, which used to be the biggest exporter of medicines in the Middle East, is now a major consumer of medicines as it has to meet the needs of 23 million Syrians.

Source : Julian Borger and Mona Mahmood / 20 May 2013

The EU decision to lift Syrian oil sanctions to aid the opposition has accelerated a scramble for control over wells and pipelines in rebel-held areas and helped consolidate the grip of jihadist groups over the country's key resources.

By AFP / 2 May 2013

Violence in Iraq rose sharply in April, killing 460 people according to AFP figures, as May started off with attacks that left 13 people dead yesterday, including six police and four anti-Qaeda fighters.

Source : Al Arabiya / 6 Apr 2013

Hundreds of Europeans have traveled to Syria to engage in the fight against President Bashar al-Assad, a year-long study by the London-based International Center for the Study of Radicalization has found.

The study, entitled “European foreign fighters in Syria,” was released on Tuesday, and put the figure at up to 600 individuals from 14 countries, including the United Kingdom, Austria, Spain, Sweden and Germany.

Source : BBC / 2 Apr 2013

More than 6,000 people died in Syria in March, the deadliest month since protests against the government began two years ago, activists say.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based activist group, said it recorded 6,005 deaths last month.

Source : Arab news / 16 Mar 2013

The number of registered Syrian refugees jumped 10 percent in just one week to more than 1.1 million, a UN aid official said yesterday.

Fighting in Syria has escalated in recent months, with the regime stepping up attacks on opposition strongholds. The UN refugee agency said the number of Syrians fleeing to neighboring countries has risen to 8,000 a day from 3,000 in December.

By Eman El-Shenawi / 15 Mar 2013

Amid killings, international condemnation and aggressive politics, Syria’s macro-economic concerns may not be at the forefront of people’s minds. However, the country is facing harsh economic realities, despite the lack of official information.

Repairing the damage caused by two years of fighting could cost up to $80 billion, says Abdullah al-Dardari, former deputy premier for economic affairs under President Bashar al-Assad. This figure has caused shockwaves, amid warning signs in recent months of a looming fiscal collapse.

Al Arabiya with Agencies / 14 Mar 2013

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged Arab states to help Lebanon cope with the rising numbers of Syrian refugees flooding to the country and stretching its scare resources.

Mikati said Lebanon will need at least $370 million in support this year under the current conditions.

Source : Reuters / 13 Mar 2013

A boy of 12 sees his best friend shot through the heart. Another of 15 is held in a cell with 150 other people, and taken out every day to be put in a giant wheel and burnt with cigarettes.

Syria's children are perhaps the greatest victims of their country's conflict, suffering "layers and layers of emotional trauma", Save the Children's chief executive told Reuters.