Middle East

Syria

Rebels leave Zabadani under UN-backed deal

Dozens of injured fighters waited to board buses on Monday in the rebel-held Syrian town of Zabadani. After months under siege from government

28/12/2015

Turkey

Kurdish groups in southeastern Turkey call for self-rule

Kurdish groups in southeastern Turkey are calling for self-rule. It follows a summit of the Democratic People’s Congress (DTK), a coalition of

28/12/2015

Saudi Arabia

Millions of amphetamine pills seized in Saudi drugs bust

Authorities in Saudi Arabia have reportedly seized more than five million amphetamine pills. Eleven people have been arrested, nine of them are said

28/12/2015

Israel

Israel shoots dead Palestinian brothers, aged 17 and 23

Israeli forces have killed two Palestinian brothers near the West Bank city of Nablus. They were aged 17 and 23 according to the Palestinian health

27/12/2015

Syria

US-backed Arab rebel alliance captures Syrian dam from ISIL

In Syria, the US-backed Kurdish Arab rebel alliance has captured a dam on the River Euphrates from the group calling itself Islamic State, or

27/12/2015

Syria

Syrian rebel group names successor to slain leader

The powerful Syrian rebel group Jaysh al Islam has named the successor to its chief Zahran Alloush, killed in an air strike east of Damascus on Friday.

26/12/2015

Turkey

Ethnic Turks repatriated from eastern Ukraine

Hundreds of ethnic Turks living in conflict-ridden eastern Ukraine are being repatriated by the Turkish government.

26/12/2015

Syria

Top rebel commander killed in Syria strikes

The leader of powerful rebel group Jaysh al Islam has been killed in strikes in a suburb east of Damascus. The death of founder Zahroun Alloush and

26/12/2015

Turkey

Erdogan dissuades Bosphorus Bridge jumper

A dramatic scene on Istanbul’s Bosphorus Bridge on Friday as Turkish President Erdogan dissuaded a man from committing suicide. Erdogan motorcade

25/12/2015

West Bank

Bethlehem Christmas festivities 'subdued' amid ongoing violence

Christmas Day in the West Bank town of Bethlehem saw hundreds of Christians and tourists from around the world gather to celebrate mass at the

25/12/2015

Cyprus

Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders make historic joint appeal for reunification

For the first time ever the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities have delivered a joint televised message for Christmas. They

25/12/2015

Syria

Rebels could leave Yarmouk under UN-backed deal

An agreement to give safe passage to militants and rebel fighters in southern Damascus could come into effect as soon as Friday, says the Syrian

25/12/2015

Syria

Syrian Christians celebrate in Damascus

Just a few kilometres away from the frontline, Christians in the Syrian capital Damascus gathered for a rare celebration on Thursday amidst the

25/12/2015

Turkey

Fighting intensifies in southeastern Turkey

Hundreds of mourners have marched through streets of the Turkish city of Diyarbakir to reach the city centre with the coffins of two PKK militants

25/12/2015

Egypt

Arab League demands Turkey withdraw troops from Iraq

Foreign ministers of the Arab League held an emergency meeting in Cairo on Thursday at the request of the Iraqi government. On the agenda: finding a

24/12/2015

Saudi Arabia

More than 20 dead in Saudi hospital fire

Blaze started in intensive care and maternity

24/12/2015

Turkey

Erdogan vows to continue fight against PKK

Fighting continued in the Turkish town of Cizre Wednesday, as government forces shelled buildings they say were being used by the outlawed Kurdistan

23/12/2015

Israel

Fatal attack in Jerusalem at the Jaffa Gate

There was a fatal attack in Jerusalem when two Palestinians went on a stabbing spree outside the Jaffa gate, one of the main entrances to the Old

23/12/2015

Syria

Russia rejects human rights report which accuses it of possible war crimes in Syria

Defence officials in Moscow are dismissing an Amnesty International report on Russian strikes in Syria – saying it’s based on unfounded allegations

23/12/2015

Syria

Amnesty International accuses Russia of Syrian war crimes

Amnesty International is accusing Russia of war crimes for its attacks in Syria. The NGO says airstrikes have cost hundreds of civilian lives and

23/12/2015

Turkey

Turkish pro-Kurd politician criticises Ankara during Russia visit

Russia says it is ready to work closely with ethnic Kurds to fight the self-proclaimed Islamic State. It came as Selahattin Demirtas, leader of a

23/12/2015

Turkey

Istanbul: one person dead in Sabiha Gokcen airport blast

A blast at Sabiha Gokcen — Istanbul’s second-largest airport — has killed one person and injured another. Both victims were female cleaners, who were

23/12/2015

Syria

Syria: Amnesty says 200 civilians die in Russian air strikes

Group condemns Russia's "shameful failure"

23/12/2015

Yemen

Saudi-led strikes in Yemen criticised by the UN for hitting civilian areas

The comments came from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights at a session of the Security Council

22/12/2015

Turkey

Alarm over Kurdish civilian casualties in operation Turkey says is targeting militants

Tens of thousands have fled their homes in numerous locations where the operation is taking place

22/12/2015

Business Series

After a volatile 2015, a look forward to 2016

On the season finale of Business Middle East we summarise a volatile year and discuss the 2016 forecast for global and MENA markets with Nour Eldeen

22/12/2015