The United States insisted on Monday it would never negotiate directly with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, edging away from comments made by Secretary of State John Kerry, and it cast doubt on any immediate prospects for third-party talks to resolve Syria’s civil war. Kerry’s apparent suggestion in a CBS television interview on Sunday that there could be a place for Assad in efforts to reach a diplomatic solution to the Syrian conflict drew swift criticism […]

Russian President Vladimir Putin reappeared on Monday (March 16) after 10 unexplained days out of public view, laughing off the “gossip” over his health that had erupted during his absence. The 62-year-old leader met the president of Kyrgyzstan at a lavish Tsarist-era palace outside St Petersburg in his first appearance since Feb. 5. His unexplained absence had fuelled rumours he was ill, had been overthrown by the army or had even flown abroad to attend the birth of a love child. “It […]

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad dismissed on Monday (March 16) remarks made by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that Assad should be included in negotiations to reach a political transition, saying, “Whether they say I remain or not, the Syrian people have the final say on this”. “We are still hearing the declarations and we should wait for actions and then decide,”Assad said in comments broadcast on Syrian state television. In a Sunday CBS interview, Kerry did not repeat […]

Israel‘s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a final bid to shore up right-wing support ahead of a knife-edge vote, said on Monday (March 16) he would not permit a Palestinian state to be created under his watch if he is re-elected. Trailing his centre-left opponent Isaac Herzog in opinion polls, the three-term leader has sought to shift the focus away from socioeconomic issues and on to security challenges, saying he alone can defend Israel. Having previously hinted that he […]

Families fled Libya‘s coastal city of Sirte in their dozens on Monday (March 16) after two days of clashes between Islamic State militants and fighters loyal to a government based in Tripoli, with the violence set to escalate, according to witnesses. Families were seen packing into cars and heading westwards along the coast for Misrata, the stronghold of Libya Dawn, the armed group that backs the government in the capital, Tripoli. Some 20 cars evacuated staff from a hospital. One resident […]

Britain’s Prince Harry willl leave the Armed Forces in June,Kensington Palace has announced, bringing to an end a career in which he undertook two operational tours of duty in Afghanistan, qualified as anApache Aircraft Commander and spearheaded the Invictus Games. Harry will spend four weeks seconded to the Australian Defence Force in April and May before stepping down after 10 years of military service. Harry will spend the summer carrying out a programme of voluntary work alongside field-based conservation experts […]

ANKARA, March 15 (Reuters) – Three British teenagers have been detained in the Turkish city of Istanbul while planning to cross the border into neighbouring Syria to join the militant Islamic State group, Turkish officials said on Sunday. The three, who have not been named but are aged 18 and 19, were seized on Friday two separate sources told Reuters. Turkish authorities are in touch with their British counterparts to arrange their deportation to Britain […]