Paul Manafort, a former campaign manager for US President Donald Trump, and an associate were indicted by a federal grand jury on 12 counts including conspiracy against the United States and money laundering, the federal special counsel’s office said on Monday.The charges were the first arising from the investigation by Justice Department special counsel Robert […]

Russia is reportedly considering a partial reduction of its military presence in Syria amid successes of the Syrian government forces in the fight against terrorists. The plan prescribes that only military police units and military advisers as well as a contingent necessary for the protection of facilities in Hmeymim and Tartus will remain in Syria, […]

The emir of Kuwait has accepted the resignation of the government amid a crisis with parliament, Kuwaiti media has reported.Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah had offered the resignation of his government earlier on Monday, Al Jazeera reported.The Persian Gulf nation’s national assembly was scheduled to hold two votes of no-confidence against minister of state […]

TEHRAN  – Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani on Sunday confirmed his intention to step down on Nov. 1 and asked the Kurdish parliament to take measures to fill the presidential power vacuum. The region’s parliament, which is meeting in the Kurdish capital Erbil, was told that Barzani had sent a letter saying he would not […]

TEHRAN  – The Trump administration is working on a nuclear weapons policy that is intended to mark a decisive end to the era of post-cold war disarmament, by bolstering the US arsenal and loosening the conditions under which it would be used. A draft of the new Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) was presented in September […]

TEHRAN – The European Parliament’s president says no one will ever recognize Catalonia as an independent country. Antonio Tajani says Catalonia’s independence referendum was illegal and state of law should be restored. He also spoke against EU mediation, saying the crisis is an internal Spanish issue, AP reported. Catalonia’s separatist leader on Saturday called on […]

Despite obstruction by the U.S. and its allies, the United Nations on Saturday approved a non-binding resolution proposed by Iran for nuclear disarmament. It was ratified with 112 countries in favor, 44 against, and 15 abstentions. The resolution calls on all countries armed with nuclear weapons to destroy their arsenal in accordance with the Non-Proliferation […]

Kenya was stuck in a dangerous limbo Saturday as President Uhuru Kenyatta took an unassailable lead in a disputed poll that has sparked violent protests that have claimed nine lives.Kenyatta was leading with over 90% of vote compared to less than one percent for his rival Raila Odinga, who boycotted the repeat election, according to […]

Catalonia’s police force told its officers to remain neutral in the struggle over the region’s fight for independence on Saturday, a step toward averting possible conflict as the Madrid government starts to impose direct control.Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy dismissed the Catalan government, took over the administration and called a new election after the regional […]

Turkish troops have installed the second observation post in the northern Syrian province of Idlib, in line with the Astana agreements, local media reported Saturday.The post was set up to the east of Salwah village, where the first post was installed and the overall number of such posts will reach 14, Sputnik reported.Earlier, the official […]