He's practically a one man band, but Rami Abdurrahman's influence extends far beyond his modest home in this small English city.

Amid all the bloodshed, confusion and deadlock of Syria's civil war, one fact is emerging after 2 1/2 years - no conflict ever has been covered this way.

The US has urged the Syrian Government to allow immediate aid convoys to starving civilians cut off in rebel-held suburbs of Damascus.

The destruction of Syria's chemical weapons stockpile is well under way, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, has won a Nobel Peace Prize.

A tweet that appeared to suggest Israel had attacked Syria sent US oil prices soaring - until traders realised the post referred to the 40th anniversary of a war.

Syria's foreign minister has claimed that his government is fighting a war against al-Qaeda-linked militants who eat human hearts and dismember people while they are still alive, then send their limbs to family members.

Inspectors charged with the enormous task of overseeing the destruction of Syria's deadly chemical weapons stockpiles have kicked off their mission, racing to meet tight deadlines against the backdrop of civil war.

Prime Minister John Key says a draft Security Council resolution on Syria does not go far enough in ensuring the Syrian regime is held to account.

Rachel Smalley went to Syria with the help of World Vision and saw the impact of the country's refugee crisis through the eyes of a 14-year-old girl.

The five permanent members of the often-divided UN Security Council have reached agreement on a resolution to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons arsenal.

The UN Security Council, long paralysed by deep divisions over how to deal with the Syrian conflict, is about two days away from agreeing on a resolution to require Damascus to dismantle its chemical weapons stockpiles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that he could not be sure attempts to persuade Syria to surrender its chemical weapons would succeed.

The trajectory of the rockets that delivered the nerve agent sarin in last month's deadly attack is among the key evidence linking elite Syrian troops based in the mountains overlooking Damascus to the strike that killed hundreds of people.

The poison gas attacks in Damascus were launched from a military base controlled by Bashar al-Assad's forces.

In a televised address, French President Francois Hollande says he hasn't ruled out the "military option" against Syria.

Two of the strongest advocates of the need to "teach Bashar al-Assad a lesson" appear to be having difficulty in ensuring their actions have many supporters.

Another year, another crisis in the Middle East. For those who struggle to keep track of them, here's a cut out and keep guide to the world's tinderbox.

Key international players were moving on two diplomatic fronts on the Syrian crisis at the United Nations and Geneva.

A look at how the past days' parallel tracks - pushing for approval of a military attack while pausing to give diplomacy a chance - unfolded.

When someone pulls a rabbit out of a hat, it's natural to be suspicious. Magicians are professionals in deceit - and so are diplomats. But sometimes the rabbit is real.

Editorial: The Russian plan for Syria's chemical weapons might not amount to punishment, but it would reinforce the international abhorrence of such weapons.

America's threat of military action against Syria's regime receded into the distance yesterday as Washington and its allies decided to test a Russian proposal.

New Zealand is now firmly blaming the Syrian Government for the chemical weapons attack against civilians.

US President Barack Obama has said that recent diplomatic steps offer "the potential to remove the threat of chemical weapons" inside Syria without the use of force.