Once a dusty desert town, Mecca now soars above its surroundings with a glittering array of skyscrapers and luxury hotels.

At the start of this century, clean energy was all the rage. The revolution may still be happening, but it's taking its time, reports Peter Huck.

Tuition fees at New Zealand universities are among the highest in the world, according to a new report. New Zealand had the seventh-most expensive tuition fees for universities, with entrants paying more than $3600 a year.

Every now and then, Ramadan celebrations are marred by bickering between competing Islamic authorities over when Eid starts.

A group campaigning for an end to Saudi Arabia's ban on women drivers is calling on Subaru-maker Fuji Heavy Industries to pull out of the kingdom.

The most intense manhunt in history finally caught up with Osama bin Laden.

A Bahraini court has sentenced four men to death for killing two police officers during the pro-democracy protests.

Sunni-Shia hostility in the Muslim world is likely to deepen because of the demolition of Shia holy places in Bahrain.

New documents have raised questions over Britain's involvement in the Iraq war.

Saudi Arabia announced it would ban all protests and marches.

Investors flocked to oil and gold on world markets overnight amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, with violence in Libya gathering steam.

A court in the United Arab Emirates has ruled that a man can beat his wife and children as long as no marks are left.

Esquires has struck a "dream" deal with a Saudi Arabian sheikh ...

Prime Minister John Key has been ranked in a list of the top 20 wealthiest leaders in the world.

Herald blogger Dita Di Boni says building genuine self-esteem in young girls is never an easy task.

Hillary Clinton told Saudi college students that if Iran gets a nuclear weapon it could trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.