World / Middle East

US-backed Syria force advances against IS in Tabqa: monitor 30 Apr 2017 - 09:52 am

Beirut: A US-backed Kurdish-Arab alliance is advancing against the Islamic State group in the key town of Tabqa near the jihadist bastion of...

Pope tells Egypt mass that dialogue can battle extremism 29 Apr 2017 - 07:56 pm

Cairo: Pope Francis appealed for dialogue to battle extremism as he addressed thousands of faithful on Saturday during a visit to Egypt to...

Turkish court formally blocks access to Wikipedia 29 Apr 2017 - 07:56 pm

ISTANBUL: In a move that social media users called censorship, a Turkish court on Saturday blocked access to Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia,...

Pope in Egypt rejects fanaticism, urges charity 29 Apr 2017 - 07:46 pm

Cairo: Pope Francis rejected fanaticism and appealed for charity on Saturday as he addressed thousands of faithful during a visit to Egypt to...

Egypt urges US to play 'active' Mideast peace role 29 Apr 2017 - 07:35 pm

Cairo: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday urged the United States to help restart negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, a statement...

12 years after Syria pullout, Lebanese wary of Iran 29 Apr 2017 - 01:36 pm

BEIRUT: Twelve years has passed since Syria pulled out troops from Lebanon following the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, which triggered...

Air attacks kill 4 in Syria's Idlib 29 Apr 2017 - 11:32 am

DAMASCUS/IDLIB, Syria: At least four people were killed and 11 others injured in airstrikes reportedly carried out by the Bashar al-Assad regime in...

Thousands of Egypt Catholics gather for Pope 29 Apr 2017 - 11:24 am

Cairo: Thousands of Egyptian Catholics waving the colours of the Vatican flag gathered amid tight security Saturday in a Cairo stadium where Pope...

Turkish internet users unable to access Wikipedia 29 Apr 2017 - 11:13 am

ISTANBUL: An internet censorship-monitoring network says Turkey has blocked Wikipedia, a free online encyclopedia. Turkey Blocks, which calls itself an independent "digital transparency...

IS claims responsibility for Baghdad bomb that kills 4 29 Apr 2017 - 10:39 am

BAGHDAD: The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a bombing that targeted a police station in Baghdad's center Friday night, and Iraqi officials...

Pope Francis visits Egypt to promote 'unity and fraternity' 28 Apr 2017 - 04:44 pm

Cairo: Pope Francis began a visit to Egypt on Friday to promote "unity and fraternity" among Muslims and the embattled Christian minority that...

Egypt issues law allowing president to appoint judges 28 Apr 2017 - 04:44 pm

CAIRO: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has ratified legal amendments that allow the president to make judicial appointments to its top courts, a...

Cyclists ride 'for peace' on Middle East tour 27 Apr 2017 - 06:34 pm

Eilat, Israel: A group of cyclists have embarked on a multi-day tour in Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories as part of an...

UK signals willingness to strike Assad forces in Syria 27 Apr 2017 - 01:03 pm

LONDON: Britain would be willing to join the U.S. in striking against Syria’s Bashar al-Assad in response to a chemical attack, Foreign Secretary...

Iraq forces retake town of Hatra southwest of Mosul 27 Apr 2017 - 12:50 pm

Hatra, Iraq: Iraqi forces on Thursday retook the town of Hatra, southwest of Mosul, on the third day of an operation that saw...

Palestinian urges MPs worldwide to back hunger strike 27 Apr 2017 - 11:52 am

RAMALLAH: Jailed Palestinian lawmaker Marwan Barghouti this week called on parliamentarians around the world to support hundreds of Palestinians jailed by Israel who...