Middle East

Sport

Land Rover BAR win America's Cup World Series in Muscat

The British bulldog spirit was in evidence in Oman where Sir Ben Ainslie had to show all his trademark fighting spirit to win the America’s Cup World

28/02/2016

Syria

Fragile ceasefire is holding in Syria

Officials say this is despite the agreement being breached at least 9 times in 24 hours.

28/02/2016

Syria

Obama calls for strikes on Syria to stop, except US-led attacks on ISIL

US President Barack Obama has urged all parties to stop attacks — both ground and aerial — in Syria. However, he stressed Washington-led strikes

27/02/2016

Syria

Syria ceasefire appears to be holding, despite reports of sporadic strikes

A ceasefire the United Nations has described as the best hope for peace in five years of civil war in Syria appears to be holding. “Let’s pray that

27/02/2016

Syria

Syria: relief and anger as ceasefire begins

A few hours before the start of a US-Russia-negotiated “cessation of hostilities” in Syria, residents of the former rebel stronghold of Baba Amr in

27/02/2016

Syria

UN Security Council calls on all sides in Syria conflict to respect new ceasefire

The official start of the halt in fighting has now come into force and Syria's government and insurgents have said they will comply

27/02/2016

Syria

Scepticism in Aleppo as Syria truce due to come into effect

With a fragile truce agreement coming into force in Syria on Friday night, there are hopes that it could be a step towards bringing peace to the

26/02/2016

Israel

Palestinian journalist reportedly agrees to end hunger strike in Israel

It's reported Mohammed al-Qiq, who was detained by Israel in November, has agreed to end a three-month hunger strike.

26/02/2016

Syria

Fresh fighting ahead of planned Syria ceasefire

Just hours before a Russia-US agreed ceasefire is supposed to begin in Syria, the Kremlin has denied claims its jets have attacked civilian positions

26/02/2016

Turkey

Turkey frees journalists after court rules detention violated their rights

Turkey has freed two prominent journalists after the country’s top court ruled their detention violated their rights. The arrest of Can Dundar

26/02/2016

Turkey

Turkey: detained journalists expected to be freed, still face trial

Turkey’s Supreme Court ruled on Thursday (February 25) that the detention of two prominent opposition journalists had “violated their rights.” Can

25/02/2016

Economy

Poorer Egyptians pay the price for the country's foreign currency crisis

Egypt's foreign currency crisis is causing big problems as much of its food and energy is imported and ordinary people are suffering amid rising prices.

25/02/2016

Syria

UN airdrop in Syria goes 'off target'

The United Nations says the planned ceasefire due to come into force in Syria this weekend is set to rescue the population from “the abyss” and end

25/02/2016

Syria

Syrian opposition outlines concerns over ceasefire plan

The main umbrella opposition group the High Negotiations Committee says it is ready to test the truce for two weeks.

25/02/2016

Syria

Syria conflict: First UN airdrop to besieged civilians in Deir al-Zour

The United Nations says it is ready for a huge aid effort if the fighting stops in Syria. There is no sign of that yet in the Damascus suburb of

25/02/2016

United Arab Emirates

Dubai forum aims to boost education and innovation opportunities for women

Boosting opportunities for women in education and innovation. That has been the theme of the second day of the Global Women’s Forum in Dubai –

24/02/2016

Turkey

Clashes after protest against military operations and curfews in Turkey

Water cannon and tear gas were used against a crowd of demonstrators in the city of Diyarbakir

24/02/2016

Turkey

Erdogan says Syria ceasefire plan will only serve to benefit Assad

A US-Russian plan for a ceasefire in Syria has been heavily criticised by the Turkish President

24/02/2016

Syria

Syria: Talbiseh under attack - reports

The town of Talbiseh in Syria’s Homs province was under attack on Wednesday, videos posted on social media websites purported to show. The video

24/02/2016

Culture news

Shopping carts, selfie sticks and a changing earth - contemporary art in Jeddah

Jeddah's annual contemporary art festival - called 21, 39, from the city's latitude and longitude - this year has the theme environmental change under the title 'Earth and Ever After'.

24/02/2016

Syria

Syria could fall apart if fighting continues, warns America's Kerry

America is warning that unless fighting stops in Syria, the country could fall apart. It comes as the government of President Bashar al-Assad and

24/02/2016

United Arab Emirates

Dubai event turns spotlight on women and diversity

Thousands of people have gathered in Dubai to talk women and diversity. The IMF’s Christine Lagarde and Jordan’s Queen Rania are among the speakers

23/02/2016

Syria

Assad regime accepts US-Russian truce deal

The Syrian government says it accepts a plan by Russia and the United States for a ‘cessation of hostilities’ between regime forces and rebels

23/02/2016

Syria

Syrian government and opposition groups 'accept ceasefire plan'

The Syrian government said on Tuesday that it accepted a halt to “combat operations” in line with a US-Russian plan, and said it would coordinate

23/02/2016

Jordan

Jordan: Bad weather forces closure of iconic Petra ruins

The ancient ruins of Petra in Jordan have been closed to visitors, amid fears of flash floods and rock slides. Braving bad weather, tourists visited

23/02/2016

Syria

Hopes and fears for the Syria ceasefire

The US and Russia announce ceasefire in Syria Truce takes effect at midnight, 27 February Excludes action against ISIL, the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra

23/02/2016