World / Middle East

Intense Russian air strikes on rebel bastions ahead of ceasefire: monitor 26 Feb 2016 - 12:41 pm

Beirut: Russian warplanes carried out intense air strikes on rebel strongholds in Syria on Friday hours before a ceasefire was due to come...

Italian killing highlights assault on academic freedom in Egypt 26 Feb 2016 - 10:54 am

The killing of Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni, who disappeared on Jan. 25, the anniversary of the 2011 uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak’s...

Iranians vote in contest likely to shape post-sanctions era 26 Feb 2016 - 10:28 am

By Samia Nakhoul TEHRAN: Iranians voted in two crucial elections on Friday, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging a big turnout in...

Twin suicide bombing kills 12 at Shi'ite mosque in Baghdad-police, medics 26 Feb 2016 - 12:00 am

BAGHDAD: At least 12 people were killed in a twin suicide bombing on a Shi'ite mosque in Baghdad on Thursday, police and medical...

Russia says Syria ceasefire process underway despite U.S. sabotage attempts 25 Feb 2016 - 06:42 pm

File photo of the spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova during a news briefing in Moscow, Russia. REUTERS MOSCOW: Russia said...

Egypt's Sisi under attack on social media after television speech 25 Feb 2016 - 06:04 pm

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attends the opening ceremony of the 26th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) at...

Local IS chief captured in western Libya: ministry 25 Feb 2016 - 05:31 pm

File photo/ AFP Tripoli: A local chief of the Islamic State jihadist group and two aides have been captured in a city near...

Syria Kurds says they will respect ceasefire 25 Feb 2016 - 05:27 pm

Kurdish members of the Self-Defense Forces stand near the Syrian-Turkish border in the Syrian city of al-Derbasiyah during a protest against the operations...

Egypt hands Christian teens 5 years for contempt of Islam 25 Feb 2016 - 04:51 pm

Cairo: An Egyptian court on Thursday sentenced three Coptic Christian teenagers to five years in jail for contempt of Islam after they appeared...

Bahrain jails four men on terrorism charges: Prosecutor 25 Feb 2016 - 04:46 pm

DUBAI: A Bahraini court sentenced four people to five years in prison for plotting to receive explosives and weapons training to carry out...

Mortar attack kills four in Somali capital - Police 25 Feb 2016 - 02:11 pm

MOGADISHU: A mortar attack near Somalia's parliament building in the capital Mogadishu killed four people and injured eight others, police said on Thursday,...

Syria truce 'not binding' for Turkey if security threatened: PM 25 Feb 2016 - 01:28 pm

Turkish Prime Minister and the leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) Ahmet Davutoglu delivers a speech during a party's meeting at...

Iran's election: Voting figures and methods 25 Feb 2016 - 11:17 am

Tehran: Iranians are voting Friday to elect 290 members of parliament and 88 members of the Assembly of Experts, a panel of clerics...

Iran election field narrows to fewer than 5,000 hopefuls 25 Feb 2016 - 10:51 am

An Iranian student holds a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the anniversary ceremony of Iran's Islamic Revolution in Behesht...

Family says Iran arrests father of US prisoner 25 Feb 2016 - 07:49 am

Iranian-American consultant Siamak Namazi is pictured in this photo taken in San Francisco, California, in 2006 and provided by Ahmad Kiarostami. AHMAD KIAROSTAMI/HANDOUT...

No regrets, says Turkish man who sued wife for insulting Erdogan 25 Feb 2016 - 12:00 am

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes hands with a man who was about to allegedly attempt suicide off the Bosporus bridge in Istanbul,...

Pressure builds ahead of deadline for Syria ceasefire 25 Feb 2016 - 12:00 am

Syrian government forces patrol the Syrian city of Daraya, southwest of the capital, Damascus, on February 24, 2016. / AFP / YOUSSEF KARWASHAN...

Italy seeks more access to Egyptian probe into student murder 25 Feb 2016 - 12:00 am

Giulio Regeni Italian graduate student found dead, tortured by roadside. Collaboration on investigation has been limited - Rome court. Italy seeking more access...