25 illegal Pakistani immigrants caught in Turkey

Ankara, Aug 5 - Twenty-five Pakistani illegal immigrants were caught in Turkey's Aegean province inside a minibus draped with a Turkish flag, which recently has become a symbol to show solidarity against the July 15 failed coup attempt. Police teams stopped the minibus during a road check at the entrance of the Izmir highway on Thursday night, Hurriyet Daily News reported on Friday.

Islamic State likely to continue to threaten U.S., Obama says

The Islamic State group will probably continue to be a threat to the U.S. even after it is ousted from key strongholds in Iraq and Syria, President Barack Obama said Thursday, warning that lone-wolf believers will still be inspired to launch attacks that are harder to detect and prevent. Speaking to reporters after meeting with his top national security advisers in the Pentagon, Obama said the U.S. has to do a better job disrupting terror networks and intercepting the internet messages that can get to troubled individuals and inspire them to act.

Why the Next President Must Regionalize Iraq

Iraqi government forces drive their armoured vehicles during an operation, backed by air support from the US-led coalition, in Fallujah's southern Shuhada neighbourhood to retake the area from the Islamic State group on June 15, 2016. Pfeifle was the deputy national security advisor for strategic communications and global outreach during the surge in Iraq from 2007 to 2009 to divide Iraq into three semi-autonomous regions along sectarian lines.

Could Clinton’s VP pick hurt her chances with Israel supporters?

Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's recent Vice Presidential pick of Tim Kaine has in many ways been regarded as a "safe choice", nominally aiding her White House bid without the risk some more outspoken running-mates, like Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, could potentially have posed. A former governor and current senator for the swing-state of Virginia, Tim Kaine worked as a missionary in Honduras and speaks fluent Spanish, an asset in an election where Hispanic voters could tip the scales in critical battleground states like Florida, Nevada, Colorado, and Arizona.

U.S., Israel close many gaps in defense aid talks, hope for deal soon

The United States and Israel have closed many of the remaining gaps in negotiations over a new multibillion-dollar military aid package for Washington's top Middle East ally, and the two sides hope to reach a deal soon, a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday. Jacob Nagel, acting head of Israel's national security council, wrapped up three days of closed-door discussions in Washington over a new 10-year defense pact, including a meeting with U.S. national security adviser Susan Rice.

Turkey shakes up security forces in post-coup crackdown

Turkey on Friday detained almost 300 members of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's guard and began shaking up the security forces one week after a failed coup, as US President Barack Obama denied having any prior intelligence of the putsch. An armed Turkish police officer stands guard during a funeral ceremony for victims of the failed July 15 coup attempt, in Ankara on July 17, 2016 Supporters celebrated the coup's failure to unseat Erdogan, but the Turkish strongman faced growing global criticism over the mass detentions and sackings of tens of thousands of people.

Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 21 Jul 2016

US senator Ted Cruz, a failed challenger for the Republican nomination for the presidency, was booed at the party's convention yesterday for not endorsing his former rival Donald Trump. Cruz - who described Trump in May as "a pathological liar", "a narcissist" and "utterly immoral" - left the stage under a barrage of protest.

Failed Turkey coup attempt poisons relations with US

The failed coup attempt in Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's firm crackdown on the alleged plotters have aggravated ties between Washington and Ankara, already poisoned by the war in Syria and human rights issues. Although they are NATO allies and officially partners in the fight against the Islamic State group, the United States and Turkey have seen their relations take an icy turn in recent months.

Obama, Erdogan discuss status of cleric Gulen in call

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan discussed the status of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, blamed by Turkish authorities for masterminding a recent failed coup, during a call on Tuesday, the White House said. The Turkish government has filed material in electronic form about Gulen with the U.S. government, which has been waiting for a formal extradition request, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.

The Latest: Hundreds of demonstrators support Turkish gov’t

For the fourth night in a row, hundreds of demonstrators have taken to Turkey's squares in a new show of support for the government after a failed coup attempt. First called for by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the night of the coup, the "democracy meetings" have been held in all of Turkey's major cities every night for the past four nights.

Failed Turkey Coup Puts New Strains on U.S. Policy

The failed coup attempt in Turkey has fueled a sharp conflict with Washington over the fate of a Turkish cleric in the U.S., while posing a broader challenge to the West's efforts to fight terror and promote liberal democracy. Senior Turkish government officials are pressing the Obama administration to extradite cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom they blame for orchestrating the attempted coup.