A typhoon that struck the central Philippines over Christmas has killed at least 13 people, disaster agency officials said on Thursday. Typhoon Phanfone hit the Philippines late on Tuesday with winds of up to 120 kph (75 mph) and gusts of 150 kph, heavy rain and flooding. More than...

Seven people died and 64 were rescued when a boat carrying migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan sank on Thursday in eastern Turkey’s Lake Van, the governor’s office in Bitlis province said. The boat sank after capsizing as it approached Adilcevaz district in Bitlis, which is...

Lebanon's central bank governor said on Thursday “nobody knows” how much more the cost of dollars could rise on the black market in a country suffering its worst economic crisis in decades. The Lebanese pound, pegged to the dollar for 22 years, has slumped by more than 30% on the parallel...

Yemen's Houthis accused France on Wednesday of providing arms and logistics to the Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia fighting the rebel group in the war-ravaged country. "France has killed and injured more than 38 Yemenis by artillery shelling in Al-Raqou market in Manbeh border district...

China, Russia and Iran will hold joint naval drills starting Friday in the Gulf of Oman, Beijing said, at a time of heightened tensions since the US withdrew from a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran. Set to take place from December 27 to 30, the military exercises aim to "deepen exchange...

Iraqi anti-government protesters blocked roads and bridges in Baghdad and the country's south Thursday after torching several buildings overnight. The demonstrators oppose the entire political class and have vented their anger against leaders who are negotiating to nominate an establishment...

Beijing on Thursday said it "firmly opposes" trade restrictions included in a new US defence act, having already admonished the bill for interfering in China's internal affairs. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) -- signed into law last week -- bars the use of federal funds to...

Flooding at Beirut's only Jewish cemetery has swept away entire graves after heavy rainfall hit the Lebanese capital. The floodwater destroyed a retaining wall at the graveyard in the Ras al-Nabaa district overnight into Thursday, dragging sarcophagi and large chunks of rubble onto the...

Talks in Moscow between a Turkish government delegation and Russian diplomats lasted for three days, much longer than expected, as the two sides tried to find compromises on Syria and Libya, the Vedomosti daily reported Thursday. A Turkish delegation traveled to Russia Monday for talks on...

(Zaman Al Wasl)- Two Republican Guard officers were killed in an ambush laid by Daesh (ISIS) in the eastern town of Albukamal, a former stronghold for the radical group, activists said Thursday.  One of the slain officers was Lieutenant Colonel Rawad al-Hassan,...

(Zaman Al Wasl)- Daesh (ISIS) killed five pro-regime Palestinian militants Wednesday in a landmine attack in eastern Deir Ezzor province, activists said.  Liwa al Quds, a Russian-trained militia primarily comprised of Palestinians, operates in eastern Syrian and in the Syrian...

Israel’s governing Likud party was holding primaries Thursday, in the first serious internal challenge to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his more than a decade in power. Veteran politician Gideon Saar hopes to unseat Netanyahu, arguing that he will be better placed to form a...

A powerful suicide car bombing targeted an Afghan army compound in the country's north Thursday morning, killing six Afghan soldiers, the defense ministry said, blaming the Taliban for the attack. Shortly after the bomber detonated the car laden with explosives, a group of insurgents...

President Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that Turkey will send troops to Libya now that the north African country requested it, and he will present deployment legislation to the Turkish parliament in January. Erdogan visited Tunisia Wednesday to discuss cooperation for a possible ceasefire in...

Abu Walid emptied a container of pistachio shells into the top of a heater in his living room in violence-plagued northwest Syria, where millions are bracing for a harsh winter. His three children huddled around the hand-made stove, the 35-year-old adjusted the heat with a dial regulating...

Transport will remain disrupted all over the country on Thursday as pension reform strikes entered their fourth week in France, a day after the disruptions made travel difficult for those looking to spend Christmas Day with loved ones.  Christmas Day brought no respite for travellers...

Hong Kong endured a third straight day of political unrest over the Christmas period Thursday as police and pro-democracy protesters clashed inside shopping malls. Protesters spent the afternoon on Thursday marching through multiple malls chanting anti-government and anti-police slogans....

Israel carried out air strikes against the Gaza Strip overnight in response to a rocket fired from the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave, the army said Thursday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was at campaign event in Ashkelon north of Gaza on Wednesday evening when what the army...

More than 200,000 men, women and children fled their homes in northwest Syria in buses, trucks and cars in recent weeks, amid intense air and ground bombardment by government forces, a Syrian relief group estimated on Wednesday. Government forces have been bombarding southern and...

Huge protests in India against a citizenship law seen by many as anti-Muslim have wrong-footed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sent his Hindu nationalist party scrambling to douse the anger. In Modi’s biggest challenge since taking office in 2014, hundreds of thousands have rallied against...