Lakhdar

Peace talks between the warring parties in Syria, which were scheduled to open on Jan. 25, will instead begin in Geneva on Jan. 29 and last for six months, the United Nations' Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura has said.  

The 26th Carthage Film Festival in Tunisia, a showcase for Arab and African cinematographers, opened amid heavy security on Nov. 21 in a country rocked this year by deadly jihadist attacks.

Iran can play a major role in persuading Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to cooperate in peace talks, EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said April 28.