Latest in Region Highlight
Latest in Region
Iran sentences ‘Washington Post’ reporter Jason Rezaian to prison
Iran has sentenced “Washington Post” journalist Jason Rezaian to an undetermined prison term following his conviction last month on espionage charges, Iranian state media has reported. At a press conference in Tehran on Sunday, judiciary spokesperson Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi announced the punishment but failed to specify the length of Rezaian’s jail term. While Ejehi …
Putin, Syria and Pandora’s box
Russia plans to hit the “Islamic State” (IS) hard, but will it have the desired effect? Fiona Clark looks at some of the challenges at home and in Syria and what could be a Pandora’s box for the Russian bear. President Vladimir Putin seems to have learnt some verbal self-control since he came to power …
Putin, Syria and Pandora’s box
Russia plans to hit the “Islamic State” (IS) hard, but will it have the desired effect? Fiona Clark looks at some of the challenges at home and in Syria and what could be a Pandora’s box for the Russian bear. President Vladimir Putin seems to have learnt some verbal self-control since he came to power …
Al-Azhar condemns suicide attack in Cameroon, at least 10 dead
Boko Haram militants suspected of carrying out attacks
People looking to enter the EU can buy fake Syrian passports on social media
Amid a growing refugee crisis and an influx of asylum seekers, people looking to enter the European Union can now buy fake Syrian passports on social media that increase their chances of obtaining asylum in Europe. There are currently close to 20 million refugees around the world. That’s the largest number ever in history. Overwhelmed …
Hostage situation in a Mali hotel
170 people were taken hostage, 80 freed, mostly French and Turkish citizens
Khartoum calls on Egypt to investigate abuse of Sudanese people
Sudanese parliament foreign affairs committee expressed dissatisfaction on treatment of nationals in Egypt
‘Terrorists may have used PlayStation 4 to communicate’
The ‘Islamic State’ tracks the latest trends in encrypted messaging tools. So it’s possible that it may have used the popular game console or other hard-to-crack messaging apps, social media expert Jamie Bartlett says. DW: From what we know so far, the Paris attacks by the ‘Islamic State’ appear to have been planned, coordinated and …
In Libya, a safe haven for refugees
Migrants and refugees from Africa and beyond find shelter in a former major smuggling route to Italy. Karlos Zurutuza reports from Zuwara, Libya. Neither Suleyman, nor Ahmed or Rasool are HIV positive. It’s confirmed by the medical certificates hanging at the entrance of their small restaurant in downtown Zuwara. The Nabelsi brothers came from Djerba, …
Leaders in Vienna announce new timetable for Syria as shock from Paris attacks lingers
World leaders meeting in Vienna have announced new measures to bring an end to the war in Syria. The announcement came as the world reels from the brutal terrorist attacks in Paris overnight. World leaders attending a meeting in Vienna on Saturday said they had agreed to speed up efforts to end the war in …
Beirut: Shocked but not destroyed by bombings
The terrorist organization Islamic State has claimed responsibility for brutal twin bomb attacks in Beirut. Political scientist Bente Scheller tells DW why she is confident in Lebanon’s resiliency. Bente Scheller is a political scientist who specializes in foreign and security policy. She currently heads the Beirut office of Germany’s Heinrich Böll Foundation, a political think …
Egypt condemns Beirut bombings
The bombings were claimed by “Islamic State”
Lebanon mourns Beirut bombings as IS claims responsibility
The militant group “Islamic State” has said it carried out a twin suicide bombing in Beirut that killed more than 40 and injured 200. The target of the attack was Iran-backed Hezbollah’s stronghold in Lebanon’s capital. The explosions happened just minutes apart in front of the Burj al-Barajneh shopping center, police said Thursday. The Sunni …
‘Islamic State’ militant ‘Jihadi John’ targeted in Syria by US drone strike
US forces have launched an airstrike in Syria, targeting “Jihadi John.” The British national is suspected of appearing in several “Islamic State” beheading videos. Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said overnight on Thursday that the attack was carried out in the “Islamic State” (IS) stronghold of Raqqa in northern Syria. “We are assessing the results …
Twin blasts in Beirut kill scores of people
Two attackers activated their bomb vests during rush hour in a densely populated quarter of the Lebanese capital, killing dozens of people, officials said. The area is a known stronghold of the Shiite Hezbollah militia. The explosions happened just minutes apart in front of the Burj al-Barajneh shopping center, police said Thursday. At least 37 …
Iraqi Kurdish forces take key highway connecting IS strongholds in Syria, Iraq
Kurdish forces in Iraq have gained control of parts of the main highway connecting two “Islamic State” strongholds in Iraq and Syria. Backed by US airstrikes, the operation aims to take back the town of Sinjar. Kurdish peshmerga troops in Iraq, backed by US airstrikes, have taken control of a key highway connecting “Islamic State”-controlled …
EU invokes ‘dark memories’ in labeling Israeli products from the West Bank
Israeli wineries prepare to pursue new markets as European Union passes guidelines requiring clear settlement indications. Daniella Cheslow reports from Israel. Ester Kluge was visiting Israel from her native city of Ulm in Germany this month when she heard about the European Union regulations that require labeling the products of Israeli settlements in the West …
North African tourist industry in crisis
Following the deadly airplane crash over the Sinai last week, Russia has suspended all commercial flights to Egypt for several months. The tourist industry in northern Africa is now in crisis. Sharm-el-Sheikh, from where the Russian plane that crashed departed, isn’t the only tourist resort to be affected by Russia’s flight suspension. It can also …
Syrian forces break ‘Islamic State’ siege of Aleppo air base
The Syrian army has achieved a major victory at an air base besieged by the “Islamic State” militant group. The victory comes as President Bashar al-Assad’s forces ramp up their fight against the extremists. Assad’s forces on Tuesday broke a prolonged siege by “Islamic State” (“IS”) militants of an Aleppo military air base. Syrian government …
Talks end between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan in Cairo
The three countries agreed to hold another meeting between water resources and foreign affairs’ ministers as soon as possible
Most Syrian refugee children in Turkey are not in school: HRW
Over 400,000 Syrian refugee children in Turkey are not being educated, Human Rights Watch has said in a new report. Lack of schooling puts a whole generation in jeopardy and threatens to push more refugees to Europe. The 62-page report released by Human Rights Watch on Monday has called for Turkey and the international community …
Low oil prices force rethink on reforms in Gulf states
The rapid decrease in oil prices has caused widespread fear in the Gulf states. Far-reaching economic reforms are inevitable. The question is, can reforms work in an absolute monarchy? In the Gulf states, numerous savings measures are currently under way. In the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, subsidies were reduced, and fuel prices were raised. …
Activists protest Egypt’s UN vote for Israel
The demonstration was hosted by ‘The popular committee to support the Palestinian Intifada’, and was attended by several leftist activists who chanted against Israel and the Egyptian government.
Knesset imposes tougher punishment on Palestinian ‘stone-throwers’
Israeli forces raided a radio station and confiscated equipment Tuesday, amid continued tension in the Occupied Territories
Egyptian killed in Kuwait over PlayStation brawl
Kuwaiti citizen killed Egyptian expat Atef by running him over with car
Turkey’s elections response to ‘bloody putschists’ in Egypt, Syria: Brotherhood entities
The Islamist-rooted AKP gained just under 50% of the vote, according to initial results
118 Egyptians, 2 Sudanese attempt to illegally enter Libyan borders
The arrested are expected to face military courts on charges of attempting to illegally leave the country, and travelling in areas prohibited to civilians without prior permission.
More than 1,000 migrants rescued off coast of Libya: Italian coast guard
Ships from several different EU countries have particpated in a rescue mission in the Mediterranean Sea. Some of the vessels were part of the bloc’s new anti-smuggling operation. The Italian coast guard said around 1,042 migrants were rescued from overcrowded boats on Wednesday while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe. Vessels from Ireland, …
Abbas calls on UN for ‘special regime’ to protect Palestinians
Addressing the UNHRC, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called on the UN to establish a “special regime” to protect Palestinians. He also accused Israel of “extrajudicial killings” amid mounting tensions. During a special one-hour meeting at the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Palestinians are looking to the UN for …
Growing Egyptian support for Palestinian resistance movement
The current protest movement has the potential of turning into an intifada, says Palestinian historian