Category: Middle East

UN says world faces largest humanitarian crisis since 1945

Famine was recently declared in parts of South Sudan, World Food Programme has air-dropped aid to catchment areas in the country. The world faces the largest humanitarian crisis since the United Nations was founded in 1945 with more than 20 million people in four countries facing starvation and famine, the U.N. humanitarian chief said Friday.

More U.S. boots on the ground

The Trump administration is signaling its readiness to put “boots on the ground” in Syria and Iraq to defeat the Islamic State and secure a stronger place for the United States in the negotiations on the future of both countries. It is a risky approach because of the presence of military forces from Russia, Iran, the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah and Turkey as well as various Syrian factions, including Kurds seeking to carve out an independent state along the Turkish border.

United Nations warns world faces largest humanitarian crisis since 1945

The world faces the largest humanitarian crisis since the United Nations was founded in 1945 with more than 20 million people in four countries facing starvation and famine, the UN humanitarian chief has said. The world faces the largest humanitarian crisis since the United Nations was founded in 1945 with more than 20 million people in four countries facing starvation and famine, the UN humanitarian chief has said.

Palestinian leader invited to White House in Trump call

In this Feb. 23, 2017 file photo, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas listens to his Lebanese counterpart Michel Aoun address a speech, at the presidential palace, in Baabda east Beirut, Lebanon. Abbas will speak by telephone with U.S President Donald Trump in the first contact between the two leaders since Trump took office.

Syria Kurdish-led fighters see force boosting in push on IS

The main Syrian Kurdish force fighting Islamic State militants in northern Syria claimed on Friday that it has enough fighters to take the extremists’ de facto capital of Raqqa with the help of the U.S.-led coalition – remarks that reflected a veiled warning to Ankara and also to rival, Turkey-backed opposition forces making headway toward the city. The comments by Cihan Sheikh Ehmed, the spokeswoman of the Syria Democratic Forces, came as U.S. troops are playing a bigger role on the ground in the battle to conquer Raqqa in northern Syria.

White House: Trump unaware of Flynn’s foreign agent work

President Donald Trump was not aware that his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, had worked to further the interests of the government of Turkey before appointing him, the White House says. The comments came two days after Flynn and his firm, Flynn Intel Group Inc., filed paperwork with the Justice Department formally identifying him as a foreign agent and acknowledging that his work for a company owned by a Turkish businessman could have aided Turkey’s government.

White House: Trump unaware of Flynn’s foreign agent work

In this Feb. 13, 2017 file photo, Mike Flynn arrives for a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Flynn, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, who was fired from the White House last month, has registered as a foreign agent with the Justice Department for work that may have aided the Turkish government in exchange for $530,000.

The Latest: Syrian Kurds see force boosting in push on IS

The Latest on the developments related to Syria’s civil war and the expected push against the Islamic State group’s main stronghold of Raqqa in northern Syria : U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces say they have enough fighters to take the Islamic State group’s de facto capital of Raqqa in northern Syria. The spokeswoman for the Syrian Democratic Forces said on Friday that their numbers are increasing, with residents of areas newly liberated from IS joining the ethnically mixed force.

Iraq: US Forces Evacuate ISIL Commanders from Western Mosul

Commander of Asa’eb al-Haq Movement affiliated to the Iraqi popular forces of Hashd al-Shaabi said that the US forces have carried out a rapid heliborne operation and evacuated two commanders of ISIL terrorists from Western Mosul in Northern Iraq. Javad al-Talaybawi said that the US forces carried out the heliborne operation in one of the Western neighborhoods of Western Mosul, evacuating two senior ISIL commanders to an unknown location after the commanders came under siege by Iraqi government forces in intensified clashes in Western Mosul.

Photos of the day – March 10, 2017

A displaced Iraqi girl cries before entering Hamam al-Alil camp, as Iraqi forces battle with Islamic State militants south of Mosul, Iraq; members of the Tibetan Youth Congress and supporters gather to mark the 58th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising while protesting against Chinese rule in Tibet on the eve of Tibetan Uprising Day, Bangalore, India; and the sun sets over the Maha-ThaKyarYanThi Buddhist Temple in Nyaypyitaw, Myanmar. These are some of the photos of the day.

U.S. Is Sending About 400 Marines To Syria

The Marines will join the approximately 500 U.S. troops already in Syria, such as these U.S. forces on the western outskirts of the northern Syrian city of Manbij on Sunday. Delil Souleiman /AFP/Getty Images hide caption The Marines will join the approximately 500 U.S. troops already in Syria, such as these U.S. forces on the western outskirts of the northern Syrian city of Manbij on Sunday.

Purged from Turkey’s army, officers seek asylum in Belgium

In this Saturday, July 16, 2016 file photo, Turkish soldiers secure Istanbul’s Taksim square, as supporters of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in Istanbul. In the wake of last year’s coup in Turkey, scores of military officers are seeking asylum in Belgium and elsewhere in Europe.

Putin hosts Netanyahu for talks set to focus on Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday for talks focusing on the situation in Syria and Israeli concerns about the role of Iran and its proxies there. Greeting Netanyahu at the start of their Kremlin negotiations, Putin emphasized a high level of trust between them.

US troops seem poised to take a prominent role in attacking the ISIS capital

US military forces seem poised to take a prominent role in the long-awaited battle to take down Raqqa, Syria, the capital of the self-proclaimed Islamic State. Though the Pentagon has long downplayed the role of US ground troops in the fight against the ISIS terror group in Iraq and Syria, recent deployments of many more ” boots on the ground ” suggest they may be front-and-center in the coming months.

US troops seem poised to take a prominent role in attacking the ISIS capital

US military forces seem poised to take a prominent role in the long-awaited battle to take down Raqqa, Syria, the capital of the self-proclaimed Islamic State. Though the Pentagon has long downplayed the role of US ground troops in the fight against the ISIS terror group in Iraq and Syria, recent deployments of many more ” boots on the ground ” suggest they may be front-and-center in the coming months.

Turkey Urges Bulgaria Not to Restrict Political Rights of Minorities

Turkey urged Bulgaria on March 09, not to restrict political rights of minorities and to comply with the “rule-based” European system, in reference to a recent law legislated by the Bulgarian parliament that restricts the number of ballot boxes to be established in Turkey to 35, according to HA1 4rriyet Daily News. “We call upon the Republic of Bulgaria to abandon such practices which are intended to restrict the political rights of minorities in the country and are fundamentally contrary to the European rule-based system,” announced the Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson HA1 4seyin MA1 4ftA1 4oAYlu.

The Latest: Turkey to extend state of emergency further

Turkey’s prime minister says a state of emergency that was imposed following the failed coup attempt in July will be extended “for a bit longer.” Turkey declared the state of emergency to facilitate its crackdown on the network of followers of U.S.-based Muslim Cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey accuses of orchestrating the July 15 failed attempt.

UN Rights Chief Decries Trump’s US Immigration Policies

Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein chronicled a litany of human rights concerns worldwide, including “chilling indifference” among some leaders in the European Union toward migrants, a crackdown on lawyers and activists in China, and a new Russian law that may have been used “arbitrarily” to curb free expression. The US was among more than 40 countries examined in a wide-ranging speech on Wednesday, where the United Nations was warned that 2017 could prove to be a “pivotal year” for human rights amid terror attacks, security crackdowns, populism and the rise of “authoritarian-minded leaders”.

UN Rights Chief Decries Trump’s US Immigration Policies

Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein chronicled a litany of human rights concerns worldwide, including “chilling indifference” among some leaders in the European Union toward migrants, a crackdown on lawyers and activists in China, and a new Russian law that may have been used “arbitrarily” to curb free expression. The US was among more than 40 countries examined in a wide-ranging speech on Wednesday, where the United Nations was warned that 2017 could prove to be a “pivotal year” for human rights amid terror attacks, security crackdowns, populism and the rise of “authoritarian-minded leaders”.

‘Peace partner’ Abbas meets terrorists

Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who is often touted by the West as a “peace partner” for Israel, recently met with Palestinian Arabs who carried out terrorist attacks and with the family of a terrorist, the Middle East Media Research Institute reveals. On March 5, he received in his office in Ramallah the family of Muhammad Al-Jallad, who died of his wounds after being shot while attempting to carry out a stabbing attack at a checkpoint in November 2016.

‘Peace partner’ Abbas meets terrorists

Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who is often touted by the West as a “peace partner” for Israel, recently met with Palestinian Arabs who carried out terrorist attacks and with the family of a terrorist, the Middle East Media Research Institute reveals. On March 5, he received in his office in Ramallah the family of Muhammad Al-Jallad, who died of his wounds after being shot while attempting to carry out a stabbing attack at a checkpoint in November 2016.

Iran starts construction of gas pipeline to Chabahar port

News selected on topics and regions – oil and gas, business, politics, IT, the South Caucasus, the Caspian Sea region, Central Asia Ranking of the Azerbaijani banking sector Baku, Azerbaijan, Mar. 7 By Emil Ilgar – Trend: Iran has started construction of the first phase of pipeline project from Iranshahr to Chabahar port, which is close to Pakistan border, the Governor of Iranshahr Nabi Nakhsh Davoudi told IRNA Mar.7. The total length of 56-inch pipeline is 280 km, but the first phase of that with 32 km has already began, and it is expected to be completed in 6 months. Last week, Iran inaugurated Iranshahr-Zahedan gas pipeline.

iSpy with my little iPhone

The annual Education Conference organized by Yedioth Ahronoth and its website Ynet provides the Hebrew-language newspaper with a myriad of juicy quotes about the current political state in the country, and even on the proper way for parents to raise their children. “The leaders are heating up the debate in order to gain political power,” reads the daily’s front page, quoting President Reuven Rivlin, the conference’s keynote speaker.

Rubble and ash in Mosul museum retaken from Islamic State

The antiquities museum in the Iraqi city of Mosul is in ruins, with exhibition halls housing piles of rubble and the basement filled with ankle-deep drifts of ash. Associated Press reporters were granted rare access to the museum on Wednesday after Iraqi forces retook it from the Islamic State group earlier this week.

Trent Reznor, Hans Zimmer & Massive Attack Record Music for Banksy’s…

Anonymous street artist Banksy has opened another dystopian destination, The Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem, a commentary on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with a piano bar reportedly featuring music from Trent Reznor ‘s Nine Inch Nails , composer Hans Zimmer and Massive Attack . The project includes an art gallery and hotel in the occupied West Bank city that is being operated by the local community.

Germany hopeful relations with Turkey can normalize

Germany’s foreign minister says he hopes a meeting with his Turkish counterpart will help bring relations between the two countries back to normal after tempers flared in the past week. Diplomatic relations have taken a dive since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Germany of “Nazi practices” after several German municipalities canceled events where Turkish government ministers were to address rallies in support of a national referendum that would give Erdogan more powers.

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Until the end of 2016, 11,613 medical visas and 8,491 medical attendant visas had been issued by the Indian embassy in Muscat. Until the end of 2016, 11,613 medical visas and 8,491 medical attendant visas had been issued by the Indian embassy in Muscat.

Turkish, US, Russian military chiefs discuss Syria tensions

The top generals from Turkey, the United States and Russia met Tuesday in Turkey to discuss mutual suspicions over northern Syria military operations, as Russia’s military announced a two-week long cease-fire between rebels and the government in the suburbs of the Syrian capital, Damascus. The Russian military said a cease-fire has been in place since Tuesday, March 6, and will extend until March 20, for the Eastern Ghouta region outside Damascus, but activists reported a number of airstrikes and artillery strikes by government forces, killing two civilians.