The Iraqi government has called on the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) to cancel the results of an illegitimate independence referendum before engaging in dialogue. “The KRG has to cancel the illegitimate referendum results to empower Iraq’s unity for a serious dialogue with Baghdad,” Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi’s office said in …

Egypt has condemned the terrorist attack that took place in the city of Marseille in southern France, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The foreign ministry offered Egypt’s condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery for those injured in the attack. The ministry also …

Benghazi port in east Libya reopened Sunday for the first time in three years after being forced to cease operations because of clashes in the cradle of the 2011 revolution. Commercial operations at the port had ended in 2014 when armed movements, including the Islamic State group, occupied the North …

UN says Libya rivals made progress in Tunis talksRepresentatives of Libya’s rival authorities have made progress on amending a deal on a political transition for the North African country, the special UN envoy said on Sunday. The UN envoy Ghassan Salame opened new talks in Tunisia between the rival Libyan …

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United States have said they will not abandon Afghanistan. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg joined Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and US Defense Secretary James Mattis at the news conference after holding closed door meeting, and reaffirmed the alliance’s commitment to Afghanistan, saying …

India and Afghanistan reviewed their bilateral relationship during a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Afghan Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah on Thursday. “Strengthening strategic partnership with a close neighbour,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

India and the European Union will hold their 14th summit talks on October 6 during which both sides are expected to discuss a host of key issues including ways to remove hurdles for the long pending free trade agreement. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MAE) said the president of …

Iraqi forces on Friday recaptured four villages and cut a supply route used by Daesh terrorists in Iraq’s northern city of Kirkuk, according to an Iraqi military source. “Federal Police units and the Hashd al-Shaabi [a unit of the Iraqi army] have liberated the villages of Al-Awasi, Hamad al-Suwaid, Al-Amoudiya …

The U.S. has built a new military base in the Makhmour district of Iraq’s northern Nineveh province, according to a high-ranking Peshmerga officer. “U.S. forces are transferring supplies from the Qayara Base [near Mosul] to the new base to support forces now fighting to retake Kirkuk’s Hawija district from Daesh,” …

The United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic (CAR) is requesting about 750 more troops to help fill a “security vacuum” worsened by the withdrawal of US special forces as violence surges again, according to a confidential cable obtained by The Associated Press. The additional troops are needed …