The leaders of both sides of ethnically divided Cyprus began new unification talks on Monday but sought to temper hopes of a swift breakthrough, though its U.N. envoy said a deal to resolve one of Europe's most enduring conflicts was within reach. Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and...

ISIS has blown up a natural gas plant that supplied one-third of Syria's electricity, one month after getting its hands on the facility, pro-opposition activists said Monday. "In the past 48 hours, IS (ISIS) blew up the Hayyan gas plant in eastern Homs province, putting it totally out of...

(BBC)- During every visit to the self-declared republic of Somaliland, I notice something new. This time, there are even more multi-storey shopping malls, hotels and luxury villas in the capital, Hargeisa. Just two decades ago it was known as The Dresden of Africa, the city pulverised by...

Bashar al-Assad said his government is ready to negotiate on "everything" in proposed peace talks in Kazakhstan but it was not yet clear who would represent the opposition and no date had been set. Assad also said a ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia, his most powerful ally, was being...