Middle East
Merkel, Putin discuss Middle East flashpoints at Kremlin meeting
January 11, 2020
Merkel, Putin discuss Middle East flashpoints at Kremlin meeting
German Chancellor Angela Merkel met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Saturday for talks set to focus on…
Ukraine demands punishment for Iran plane downing
January 11, 2020
Ukraine demands punishment for Iran plane downing
Ukraine on Saturday demanded that Iran punish those guilty for the downing of a Ukrainian airliner and compensate victims while…
Thousands of young Syrians opt to learn Russian at school
January 11, 2020
Thousands of young Syrians opt to learn Russian at school
DAMASCUS (Reuters) – Omar al-Tawil, a 15-year-old school boy in Damascus, is one of 24,000 Syrian youngsters now learning Russian…
Oman ruler backs policy that made kingdom vital mediator
January 11, 2020
Oman ruler backs policy that made kingdom vital mediator
Oman’s new royal ruler pledged Saturday to follow the non-interference policy that made the kingdom a vital regional mediator under…
US rejects Iraq request to discuss troop withdrawal
January 11, 2020
US rejects Iraq request to discuss troop withdrawal
The United States on Friday rejected a request by Iraq to start talks on pulling out its 5,200 troops, notching…
Iran says unintentionally shot down Ukrainian airliner
January 11, 2020
Iran says unintentionally shot down Ukrainian airliner
Iran on Saturday said it unintentionally shot down the Ukrainian airliner that crashed this week killing 176 people, calling it…
Airstrikes hit rebel-held Syrian town despite new cease-fire
January 10, 2020
Airstrikes hit rebel-held Syrian town despite new cease-fire
BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian warplanes bombed a major rebel stronghold in the country’s northwest on Friday, less than 24 hours…
Iran to download plane black box after missile blamed for crash
January 10, 2020
Iran to download plane black box after missile blamed for crash
DUBAI (Reuters) — Iran said on Friday it wanted to download black box recordings itself from a Ukrainian airliner that…
Iraqi PM tells US to decide mechanism for troop withdrawal
January 10, 2020
Iraqi PM tells US to decide mechanism for troop withdrawal
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi has told the U.S. secretary of state to send a delegation…
Crash may be grim echo of US downing of Iran flight in 1988
January 10, 2020
Crash may be grim echo of US downing of Iran flight in 1988
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Western allegation that Iran shot down a Ukrainian jetliner and killed 176 people offers a…