The Obama administration has sent Congress a report that harshly criticizes the Egyptian government, accusing it of restricting free speech, arresting political dissidents and undermining democracy, The Associated Press (AP) reported Monday. The report recommends, however, that the U.S. continue sending it $1.3 billion in mostly military aid. The report, quietly submitted to
War-torn Syria has asked the UN atomic watchdog for help in converting a nuclear facility and shipping abroad potentially dangerous nuclear material, the head of the watchdog said Monday. "We have received a request from Syria early this year...we are studying the request," International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano told reporters according to
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamist AKP party received a heavy blow Monday, after learning it had lost its overall majority in Turkey's parliament after 13 years of undisputed - and increasingly autocratic - rule. After his prime minister initially attempting to put on a brave face and hail the emerging results as a
Iraqi forces advanced against the Islamic State (ISIS) jihadist group in Baiji on Sunday as they battled to retake the strategic town for a second time, officers said, according to the AFP news agency. Baghdad regained control of Baiji -- located on the road to ISIS hub Mosul and near the country's largest oil
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Sunday night emphasized his Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) "victory" in the elections, despite the party suffering a serious setback by not achieving the required majority for passing reforms in the Turkish constitution. During the traditional balcony speech at the party’s headquarters in Ankara, Davutoglu stressed the significance
A Turkish daily on Friday published images it said showed the Turkish spy agency helping to smuggle jihadists into Syria, the latest allegations by the newspaper accusing the authorities of aiding extremist groups across the border. The government had last week lambasted the Cumhuriyet daily for publishing video footage the paper said showed the
A rebel alliance including Al-Qaeda's Al-Nusra Front seized more territory in northwestern Syria overnight, strengthening its position on the borders of two key largely regime-controlled provinces, a monitor said Saturday. The Army of Conquest rebel alliance had made a series of sweeping gains in Idlib province, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a
An Egyptian court on Saturday overturned a February decision by another tribunal branding Hamas a "terrorist" group, a court official said, according to AFP. The official told the news agency that the earlier ruling was thrown out because the court that issued it was not "competent" to make such verdicts. The February ruling
Islamic State (ISIS) has conquered large parts of Syria and Iraq and set up 'branches' as far away as Libya and the Sinai Desert - but now, it has set its sights on Algeria. Months after successfully conquering the Libyan coastal city of Sirte, Algerian authorities say that ISIS has attempted to expand westward
Iran’s Deputy Chief of Staff reiterated on Friday that the Islamic Republic will not allow any inspection of its military sites, PressTV reported. “We will never allow any kind of visit to military centers, whether it is limited and controlled, or unlimited or in any other form,” Brigadier General Masoud Jazayeri said, according to
