World / Middle East

Turkish border crossing closed as Syrians flee govt offensive 06 Feb 2016 - 01:28 pm

Oncupinar, Turkey: Turkey was preparing Saturday for a new influx of refugees fleeing a major offensive by Syria's Russian-backed regime, with tens of...

Islamist Shebab fighters seize Somali port: Governor 06 Feb 2016 - 12:23 pm

The loss of the Somali port of Merka to Shebab insurgents is one of the biggest setbacks for the African Union force in...

Al Qaeda mourns death of top commander in Yemen 06 Feb 2016 - 10:39 am

File picture of Jalal Baleedi, who was killed by drone strike in Yemen DUBAI: Al Qaeda's branch in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) mourned...

Up to 20,000 stranded at Syria border with Turkey: UN 06 Feb 2016 - 12:00 am

Syrian refugees wait behind the border fence to cross into Turkey on the Turkish-Syrian border, near the southeastern town of Akcakale in Sanliurfa...

14 Filippinos, 3 Iraqis, 1 Palestinian among the 19 dead in the hotel fire in Iraqi Kurdish region 06 Feb 2016 - 12:00 am

Representative image Arbil, Iraq: A fire at a hotel in the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region killed 19 people and injured dozens...

Turkish opposition journalists set for March trial 06 Feb 2016 - 12:00 am

Can Dundar Istanbul: Two Turkish opposition journalists accused of espionage and trying to overthrow the government in a case that has caused global...

Pentagon welcomes Saudi anti-IS troop proposal 06 Feb 2016 - 12:00 am

Washington: The Pentagon on Friday welcomed Saudi Arabia's pledge to commit ground forces to fight Islamic State jihadists in Syria, should the US-led...

Dutch PM to meet Davutoglu on migrant crisis 06 Feb 2016 - 12:00 am

The Hague: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will meet his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu next week seeking to firm up plans to tackle...

Travel agency in isolated Gaza recalls the “golden” 1950s 05 Feb 2016 - 06:13 pm

Palestinian travel agent Nabil Shurafa stands at the entrance of his office in Gaza City February 4, 2016. Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa Shurafa travel...

Human Rights Watch praises Tunisia on judicial reforms 05 Feb 2016 - 06:00 pm

Tunis: Human Rights Watch has praised Tunisia on judicial reforms which it said amounted to a "significant breakthrough" in protecting the rights of...

UN wants to see willingness to reach Syria peace deal: envoy 05 Feb 2016 - 05:54 pm

Rome: The UN's Syria envoy said Friday he was looking for confirmation that key international players were willing to push ahead with peace...

Erdogan calls Russian claim of Syria invasion plan 'laughable' 05 Feb 2016 - 05:40 pm

File photo Ankara: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday blasted as "laughable" Russia's accusation that Turkey was actively preparing to invade Syria. "I...

Two Palestinian youths shot in clashes with Israeli troops in Jenin 05 Feb 2016 - 05:36 pm

File photo Ramallah: Two Palestinian young men were shot with live ammo as clashes with Israeli troops renewed on Friday afternoon in the...

Top Iraq Shiite cleric to end weekly political messages 05 Feb 2016 - 04:10 pm

Baghdad: Iraq's top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani will no longer provide weekly political messages that have had a major impact on...

Migration flow from Turkey must be reduced: France, Germany 05 Feb 2016 - 04:02 pm

Athens: The huge flow of migrants and refugees to Europe via Turkey must be slowed, the interior ministers of France and Germany said...

Over $11bn pledged for Syria 05 Feb 2016 - 02:39 am

From left: British Prime Minister David Cameron, Lebanese Prime Minister Tamman Salam, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah, Turkish Prime Minister...

Fear stalks Libya's growing jihadist haven 04 Feb 2016 - 05:44 pm

This file photo taken on March 16, 2015 shows forces loyal to Libya's Islamist-backed parliament General National Congress (GNC) preparing to launch attacks...