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 »

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 »
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 »
Syrian refugee Yusra Mardini swims for joy after swimming for her life

Inspirational story of Syrian refugee from war-torn Syria to Rio 2016 Olympics

After swimming for her life through the Aegean Sea to survive war and perilous sea, Yusra Mardini will be swimming at Rio Olympics 2016 now. Now living in Germany, the 18-year-old Syrian, has qualified... Read more »
A boy looks on behind a net at the refugee camp of Schisto in Athens, Greece, on June 8. Photo: Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images

At 65 million, the world has more refugees now than ever before

Conflict in places like Syria and Afghanistan raised the total number of refugees and internally displaced people worldwide to a record 65.3 million The number of people displaced worldwide has hit a... Read more »
Global Peace Index 2016

Middle East and Africa conflicts making world less peaceful: Global Peace Index 2016

Global peace deteriorating as terrorism hits new all-time high World became less peaceful in the last year, reveals 2016 Global Peace Index (GPI). The Report shows growing global inequality in peace, with... Read more »

Global Donors Forum in Istanbul seeks new humanitarian approach

Participants in the Global Donors Forum in Istanbul, focusing on Islamic philanthropy, highlighted the need for larger burden-sharing to address humanitarian needs By Yusuf Ziya Durmuş (Daily Sabah) At Global Donors Forum,... Read more »

Angelina Jolie warns of breakdown for global refugee system

UN special envoy criticises Donald Trump on immigration, saying ‘America is built on people coming together for freedom’ Angelina Jolie Pitt, who is the United Nations special envoy for the UNHCR refugee... Read more »
Neil Prakash was believed to have left Melbourne for Syria in 2013.

Australia’s most wanted ISIS recruiter, Neil Prakash, killed in US airstrike

Australia is the biggest per capita supplier of foreign fighters to ISIS An Australian ISIS recruiter who called on his countrymen to “start attacking before they attack you” has died in a... 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)

UN condemns attacks on hospitals in war zones, demands protection of hospitals

Deliberate attacks on hospitals amount to “war crimes,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said just hours after a hospital was targeted in the Syrian city of Aleppo. “Let us be clear: Intentional and direct... Read more »
The Thani family arrived in Wellington on Friday to start their new life here. Rawad, 5, walks with his mum, Amena, and 3-year-old sister, Naba, while dad Wael carries son Salim, 2.

New Zealand welcomes Syrian refugees to new home

The first Syrian refugees to enter New Zealand since the government announced it would take additional people have arrived in Wellington. A group of 74 Syrian refugees have headed to their new Wellington... Read more »

West curtails human rights over fear of terrorism

The politics of fear led governments around the globe to roll back human rights during 2015 European governments have allowed widespread fears about migration and terrorism to erode their commitment to civil... Read more »
A refugee couple with their babies after safely reaching Greece

Every two seconds, a baby is born in a conflict zone: UNICEF

More than 16 million babies born into conflict in 2015: UNICEF ISLAMABAD – Millions of babies around the world are born into life-threatening situations every year. UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake said too... Read more »
Justin Trudeau greets a family of refugees from Syria as they arrive at Pearson International airport, in Toronto, on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015. (Nathan Denette/CP)

Syrian refugees greeted by PM as they arrive in Canada

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Premier Kathleen Wynne, Toronto Mayor John Tory and other dignitaries welcome first government plane of Syrian refugees. TORONTO (Canada) — The first large group of Syrian refugees coming... Read more »
Malaysia welcomes first group of Syrian refugees

Malaysia welcomes first group of Syrian refugees

Malaysia has received the first batch of Syrian migrants out of a total of 3,000 it plans to allow into the country. Malaysia will open its doors to 3,000 Syrian migrants over... Read more »
Cameron enters war without military strategy or exit plan

UK enters Syria war without military strategy or exit plan

Cameron’s speech may have won over 397 MPs but he failed to properly address concerns on key issues such as military strategy, the absence of credible ground forces, the lack of a... 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 »

Canadian couple cancels big wedding to sponsor Syrian refugee family

TORONTO (Canada) – A Toronto couple recently canceled their big wedding to use the money instead to help sponsor a Syrian refugee family’s settlement into Canada. The money that would have gone... 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 »