Latest from Jordan

Syria: 650,000 refugees

More than half a million people fled Syria's civil war last year, and the UN says that number could double by the end of 2013.

Syria the next 'threat'

Anxious to keep Syria's civil war from spiralling into even worse problems, President Barack Obama said yesterday he worried about the country becoming a haven for extremists when - not if - President Bashar Assad was ousted from power.

Jordan: Kingdom of desert castles

Jordan is famous for Petra, the fallen capital of a pre-Roman empire whose citizens carved impressive buildings directly into the rock.

Jordan: Dusty, dry and divine

How Syria's neighbours are drawn into its war

Syria's neighbours are increasingly being drawn into the country's civil war in a variety of ways, whether militarily or due to an exodus of Syrians fleeing the fighting at home.

Coroner lashes out at suicide reporting rules

Twelve Questions with Charlotte Ryan

Escaping Syria's civil war

Former NZ diplomat Warren Searell called Damascus home until the Arab spring made life far too dangerous. This is his story.

All Blacks fuming at book's steroids claim

Arab Spring heads into unknown

Pub Spy: The Red Hummingbird

Egyptian natural gas pipeline blown up

Club rugby wrap

Recap of all the club action action throughout Auckland, Counties Manukau and North Harbour.

Top 10 spots to propose

United States news organisation CNN International has released its top 10 places to propose to a loved one on Valentine's Day.

Slain son's death 'absolutely senseless'

The mother of a murdered Bay of Plenty teenager said today she was unable to describe how she felt about her son's "brutal, absolutely senseless death". A Mongrel Mob member ran down Jordan Herewini in Murupara last year.

PLO demands settlements freeze before talks

Leaders of the main moderate Palestinian factions have voted to oppose further negotiations while building continues in Jewish settlements.