ANKARA • Turks voted yesterday in local elections that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described as a matter of survival for Turkey and which were tarnished by violence that left two party members dead in the country’s south-east. Mr Erdogan, who has dominated Turkish politics for more than 16 years, thanks in part to strong […]

According to the report, government forces killed 1,421 people, including 187 children and 244 women. Syrian government forces carried out 214 chemical attacks since 2011, according to a Syrian watchdog. In a statement on Wednesday, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) said these attacks have claimed the lives of at least 1,421 people.  A total […]

Dozens of civilians have been killed in the latest bout of fighting in Syria’s Yarmouk camp for Palestinian refugees. An estimated 60 percent of Syria’s Yarmouk refugee camp for Palestinians has been destroyed as government forces and their allies escalate a military offensive against armed groups in the Damascus-area camp, according to a watchdog group.  […]

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is set to hold talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul to repair relations. Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is set to travel to Kabul for talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Pakistan’s foreign ministry says, the latest in a series of engagements aimed at reducing mistrust […]

Iranian foreign minister also says prisoner swap could be negotiated if the US drops its ‘regime change’ rhetoric. Iran has softened its tone about whether the release of the US prisoners held in the Islamic Republic is negotiable while taking a tougher stance on the possibility of Washington walking away from a landmark nuclear deal […]

Officials announce agreement over the establishment of up to 40 theatres over the next five years, state media reports. Saudi Arabia’s first cinema in decades will open in the capital later this month, officials have said, while also announcing an agreement over the opening of dozens of theatres by 2023. Saudi state media said on […]

The parliamentary and presidential polls had previously been slated for November 2019. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for snap parliamentary and presidential elections to be held on June 24, more than a year earlier than planned. In an address at his presidential palace on Wednesday, Erdogan said the country urgently needed to make […]

Measure comes after toy drone was reportedly shot down over King Salman’s palace in Riyadh, with heavy gunfire. Authorities in Riyadh have called on drone enthusiasts to register with authorities before operating the aerial devices after a toy drone was reportedly shot down near the royal palace in the capital. On Saturday, videos posted online […]

The sentence comes after Genena claimed to be in possession of documents that could incriminate senior army officials. An Egyptian military court has sentenced Hisham Genena, the country’s former top auditor, to five years in prison for “spreading news that harms the armed forces.” Genena, a top campaign aide to former presidential hopeful Sami Anan, […]

Political analyst Marwan Bishara discusses the effectiveness of the US missile strikes on Syria. The missile strikes by the United States and its allies have solved little, since “the man responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Syria remains at large,” Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst said. “We more or less expected these attacks. […]