A Syrian child being treated following a suspected chemical attack in Syria

Chemical attack kills dozens in Syria

Syria chemical attack death toll now at 72 World leaders from Washington to London to Istanbul expressed shock and outrage Tuesday at reports of a suspected chemical attack in northwestern Syria that... Read more »
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) poses with Janna Jihad (L) after giving an award titled "brave heart journalist" to Jihad in Istanbul, Turkey on March 12, 2017. (Anadolu Agency )

10-year-old journalist Janna Jihad honoured with Award in Turkey

“I am very proud that I have managed to deliver Palestine’s message to Turkey and the world,” young Janna said Janna Jihad, a 10-year-old Palestinian girl, who highlights her country’s problems via... Read more »

Children’s suffering in Syria at its worst, says UNICEF

“The depth of suffering is unprecedented. Millions of children in Syria come under attack on a daily basis, their lives turned upside down” DAMASCUS – Grave violations against children in Syria were... Read more »

Nearly 100 migrants feared dead as boat sinks off Libyan coast

Italy’s coast guard says only four people survived the sinking of a migrant ship off Libya’s coast Saturday. An estimated 100 people were aboard and only eight bodies have been recovered. Nearly... Read more »
A school classroom was damaged and 22 students and six teachers killed in an air strike in rebel-held Idlib province. Photo: Omar Haj Kadour, AFP/Getty Images

22 children killed in one of the worst school bombings in Syria’s war: UNICEF

Air strikes that hit a school in Syria’s rebel-held Idlib province killed 22 children and six teachers, the UN children’s agency UNICEF said Wednesday. “This is a tragedy. It is an outrage.... Read more »

Airstrikes hit Aleppo aid convoy as Syria ceasefire collapses

At least 12 aid workers killed in Syria airstrike on a convoy carrying aid to war-torn Aleppo after ceasefire ends An aid convoy carrying life-saving aid to 78,000 people was attacked near... Read more »
Australian defence force personnel would be empowered to strike Islamic State ‘at its core’, Malcolm Turnbull said on Thursday. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAP

Australia to expand its role in fight against ISIS in Syria and Iraq

PM Turnbull announces intentions to heavily target ISIS, warns of increased terror attacks in Asia CANBERRA — Australia will step up airstrikes against Islamic State, allowing its military for the first time... Read more »

Dubai Airport will now charge service fee of Dh35 per passenger

Collected fees will be transferred to Dubai Airports and subsequently to the Dubai Government public treasury: Officials DUBAI (United Arab Emirates) – Passengers departing from Dubai will pay a 35-dirham ($9.50) service... Read more »

Australian ambassador James Larsen escapes Ankara bomb blast

James Larsen has narrow escape from explosion in Turkish capital that killed at least 34 people Australia’s ambassador to Turkey, who narrowly escaped a car bomb attack that killed 37 people and... Read more »
India emerged as the world’s largest arms importer while US and Russia remain major global arms suppliers

India is world’s largest arms importer, US dominates arms sales

India emerged as the world’s largest arms importer, accounting for 14% of the global imports in the 2011-2015 timeframe. The latest data on international arms transfers released by a global think-tank, SIPRI, also... Read more »
Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

United Arab Emirates names official Minister of Happiness

The prime minister of the United Arab Emirates says “national happiness isn’t a wish,” and in order to make good on his promise, he’s appointed a minister of state for happiness. His... Read more »

Social media made the Arab Spring, but couldn’t save it

The Arab Spring carried the promise that social media and the Internet were going to unleash a new wave of positive social change. But the past five years have shown that liberty isn’t the... Read more »
The execution of Nimr al-Nimr has brought the Middle East to a boiling point.

The Execution of Sheikh Nimr and Sunni-Shia Feud

The unity of Muslims as one nation would remain a myth and unattainable goal unless the Muslim clergies of both the sects reconcile on living in harmony despite their mutual differences of... Read more »

Oil dives below $33 – the lowest in 11 years

Oil prices hit their lowest in over 11 years on Wednesday, as the row between Saudi Arabia and Iran was seen making any cooperation between major exporters to cut output even more... Read more »
Shiites carrying a placard with an image of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr at a protest in Srinagar, in the disputed region of Kashmir, on Saturday. Credit Dar Yasin/Associated Press

Saudi Arabia breaks off Diplomatic ties with Iran over cleric’s execution

Tensions sparked by cleric’s execution raise alarm about growing hostilities in regional battle for influence between two countries Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic relations with Iran as tensions between the two long-time regional... Read more »
Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman announced a new Islamic coalition to combat terrorism.

Saudi Arabia forms 34-state Islamic coalition to fight Terrorism

List of coalition countries include Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Malaysia, and Pakistan, among others; Iran absent from alliance RIYADH (Saudi Arabia) – Saudi Arabia on Tuesday formed a 34-state military coalition to combat terrorism,... Read more »

The Intractable Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Finds a Practical Approach Towards Resolution

Palestine – President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine met with Mr. Man Hee Lee, Chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) on 4 December to discuss Chairman Lee’s proposal on... Read more »

32 ISIS militants killed in airstrikes in Syria

UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 32 ISIS fighters dead and 40 more injured in Raqqa province on Sunday At least 32 Islamic State fighters have been killed and 40 more... Read more »
Paris attacks highlight selective grief and outrage of Western world

No to ISIS, No to Imperialism – Solidarity with the Paris Victims

The November 13 attacks in Paris: the terror of the Islamic State, the state of emergency in France, our responsibilities By Pierre Rousset and François Sabado November 13 represents a change in... Read more »

What Putin’s visit to Iran means for Middle East?

Russia;s relationship with Iran should be seen in the light of ending of the P5+1 nuclear deal that effectively put an end to Iran’s geo-political isolation By Yasmeen Aftab Ali A very important... Read more »
Over 4,000 civilians killed in anti-ISIS bombing in Iraq and Syria since 2014

Over 4,000 civilians killed in anti-ISIS bombing in Iraq and Syria since 2014

More than 4,000 civilians have been killed  during 2014 – 2015 by “indiscriminate bombardments” targetted at ISIS (or Daesh militant group) by Iraqi, Syrian, U.S.-led and Russian military aircraft in Iraq and Syria,... Read more »

Exposed: Syria, Putin, WW3 and ISIS

Contrary to popular belief, the conduct of nations on the international stage is almost never driven by moral considerations, but rather by a shadowy cocktail of money and geopolitics. As such, when... Read more »
Refugees arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey - a crossing EU leaders want to discourage people from taking AFP/GEtty Imagese

What do the Paris attacks mean for Australia’s Syrian refugee intake?

Australian political figures have called on Australia to “close our borders” in the interests of national security, but is this the way to deal with global refugee crisis? By Mark Briskey The dust... Read more »
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today in Jerusalem and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Wednesday is a bid to ease tensions in the region. (Heinz-Peter Bader/Reuters)

Ban Ki-moon urges Israel, Palestine for political solution to end violence

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will make a surprise visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories on Tuesday, in a high-profile gambit to bring an end to the month-long wave of violence that... Read more »