TEHRAN  – The spokesman for US-backed forces fighting Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL) militants in Syria says the fighters are removing land mines and clearing main roads in the city of Raqqa, a day after they announced it was captured. According to the Associated Press, Mustafa Bali, the Syrian Democratic Forces spokesman, says […]

TEHRAN – President Donald Trump struck out again with his third try at a travel ban, as a federal judge temporarily blocked it from taking effect nationwide on Wednesday. This time, Trump’s order was found to discriminate by using the nationality of travelers “as a proxy” for their security risk. In earlier rulings over two […]

TEHRAN- Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Barcelona on Tuesday after a court ordered the detention of two Catalan separatist leaders, further inflaming tensions over Catalonia’s chaotic referendum on splitting from Spain. Shouting “freedom” or “independence” and carrying candles, the demonstrators stood massed on a large boulevard in the city center […]

A bipartisan Senate deal that could bolster Obamacare for two years by reviving federal subsidies for health insurers has been dismissed by Republicans. The deal, which had been worked out by Republican Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington, would restore $106 million in funding for a federal program that helps […]

TEHRAN – Taliban militants have overrun Shibkoh district in the western Farah province in Afghanistan, Head of the Farah Provincial Council Jamileh Amini said Tuesday. “Afghan security forces withdraw from their positions in Shibkoh district after Taliban militants attack,” he told Afghan Voice Agency (AVA). According to the reports, Taliban militants have seized the police […]

TEHRAN – The EU’s foreign policy chief said on Oct. 16 the bloc would strengthen cooperation with Turkey on issues “related to regional dynamics.” Speaking to journalists before a foreign affairs meeting in Luxembourg, Federica Mogherini said they will discuss how the EU and Turkey can “coordinate better” on Syria and Iraq. Mogherini said she […]

TEHRAN – Hillary Clinton embarked on a speaking tour of Britain with a message that the Brexit referendum was won on the basis of a big lie and warning that Vladimir Putin has been conducting a “cyber cold war” against the west. She urged more women to enter politics and praised those who spoke up […]

TEHRAN – President Nicolas Maduro’s government won a landslide victory in closely watched regional elections in Venezuela on Sunday, according to official results that the opposition said were “suspicious.” Maduro’s socialist party won governorships of 17 of the 23 states with the opposition Democratic Union Roundtable (MUD) coalition taking only five, according to the results […]

TEHRAN – US Democratic Senator Al Franken said if the US walks out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, it will “leave us isolated”. “Our European allies, Russia, China, are not going to pull out so it will just leave us isolated. It undercuts our leadership in the world and, boy, […]

Iraqi forces say they have taken control of “vast areas” of Kirkuk following clashes with Kurdish Peshmerga forces who had occupied the oil-rich region. The move was announced via Iraqi state TV early on Monday, shortly after reports of government forces advancing towards strategic locations such as airfields and airbases located to the west of […]