The death toll from regime bombing in Aleppo fell on Tuesday, but there was little relief in the critical situation for civilians in insurgent-held areas. Videos and images showed masses of residents and their belonging trapped at Aleppo’s main crossing point, Karaj al-Hajez, with...

The execution-style killing of four members of  Iraq ’s SWAT forces, apparently by the ISIS armed group, is the latest atrocity in a campaign of widespread and systematic murder that amounts to crimes against humanity, Human Rights Watch said today. Men presenting themselves as...

Trucked exports of oil from  Iraq  to neighbouring Jordan have been halted due to deteriorating security in Anbar province where militants have overrun the city of Falluja, an oil ministry spokesman said. When the exports were halted was not clear, but Asim Jihad said the...

Stroking a Persian leopard sprawled on his lap, tough-guy President Vladimir Putin showed his softer side Tuesday as he prepared to welcome the world to his budget-busting Winter Olympics. Basking in the glow of support from International Olympic Committee Chairman Thomas Bach, Putin...