Beirut - Around 300,000 Lebanese waving flags and blue balloons demonstrated in Beirut on last Wednesday to honor Rafik al-Hariri, two years after the ex-premier's killing, and show support for the anti-Syrian government.

Thailand - Bangkok police plan to protect underage couples from the sting of Cupid's arrow, and cracked down on what is deemed to be “inappropriate” behavior. Patrols started after school hours in “high-risk areas,” like public parks, shopping malls and restaurants and expand in the evening to include nightclubs and bars.

Iran - A car loaded with explosives blew up last Wednesday near a bus carrying members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards in southeastern Iran, killing 11 of them and wounding 31. An al-Qaida-linked Sunni militant group reportedly claimed responsibility.

India - After decades spent squared-off against Pakistani troops on the Siachen glacier, the world's highest battleground, the Indian army is waging war on a different enemy -tonnes of rubbish scattered over the ice.

Spain - A trial for the 29 people accused of organizing the 2004 Madrid train bombings, which killed 191 people and injured 2,000, began last week.

The attack, which happened on March 11, 2004, exploded on four packed commuter trains and was the deadliest attack linked to al-Qaeda in Europe.