North Africa

UK Supreme Court hears Libya rendition claim

The UK Supreme Court began hearings in the case of Libyan Islamist leader Abdel Hakim Belhaj, who claims the British government assisted in his 2004 rendition by US forces.

Watching the Shadows

Last UK detainee released from Gitmo

The last remaining British inmate at Guantánamo Bay, Shaker Aamer, was released to the UK, bringing the number detainees at the facility to 112.

Greater Middle East

Putin pries Western leaders from anti-Assad stance

British Prime Minister David Cameron is now the first Western leader to take Vladimir Putin's bait in agreeing that Bashar Assad can be part of a Syrian "transition government."

Watching the Shadows

US sentences Muslim cleric to life imprisonment

The US sentenced Egyptian-born cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri to life in prison for supporting terrorism. The European Court of Human Rights had earlier barred his extradition.

Greater Middle East

Bahrain: protests against British base deal

Protests were held in the Bahraini island city of Sitra against an agreement signed between the kingdom and Great Britain to establish a new military base in the Persian Gulf state.

Europe

Scotland to have more independent powers

The UK's Smith Commission on devolution concluded that Scotland's parliament should have greater independence, but the country's leaders found it insufficient.