HRH Prince Saud al Faisal, Saudi Arabia's long serving Foreign Minister, talked to Defence Viewpoints in Riyadh today. He's calling for greater efforts from the international community to resolve the Syria crisis, but "nobody is asking for a military force to conquer all of Syria." Read more below.

Afghan news round up for November 2013 compiled by Elayne Jude for Great North News Services, includes "Power on", mineral graft, the Rouhani effect, a poet passes, and Sandhurst, Afghan-style

The UNDP has released a report on the electrification of Afghan villages. Since 2002, the UNDP supported National Area Based Development Programme has implemented over 3,300 projects across Afghanistan. By October 2013, 127 micro hydro power plants had been built, benefiting close to 150,000 people. 52 new micro hydro projects are planned for 2014.

Only 33 percent of rural households have access to power, often intermittent. In remote areas such as regions near the Hindu Kush, the number of households with electricity is around eight percent. Most burn expensive kerosene, scarce firewood, or animal dung.