Eurasia

Turkey’s outgoing premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan was today sworn in as president as opponents who accuse him of authoritarianism after more than a decade in power walked out of the ceremony. Erdogan, 60, took the oath in Ankara to begin a five-year mandate in which he has vowed to build …

Two columns of Russian tanks and military vehicles fired Grad missiles at a border post in southeastern Ukraine, then rolled into the country today as Ukraine’s overmatched border guards fled, a top Ukrainian official said. The comments by Colonel Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for Ukraine’s National Security Council, and other …

A town in east Ukraine came under shellfire by pro-Russian rebels today, amid fears that they are launching a counter-offensive on government-held parts of the region. In response to outgoing fire early today, rebel forces lobbed at least 10 shells at the government-held town of Novoazovsk. 

Iraqi warplanes have begun targeting jihadists besieging the Shiite Turkmen town of Amerli amid growing fears for the safety of thousands of residents short of food and water and facing a “massacre”. With some 12,000 Turkmen trapped in the northern town, US President Barack Obama is “nearing a decision” to authorise strikes …

Mass atrocities by Government forces and non-state armed groups continue to take place in Syria, causing immeasurable suffering to civilians, according to a UN report of the independent international commission of inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic released on Wednesday. The report stated that the continuous influx of foreign fighters …

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad on Wednesday issued Decree No. 273 endorsing the formation of the new government led, by Prime Minister Dr. Wael Nader al-Halaqi. The 34-member lineup includes 21 ministers who got their terms in office renewed including the sovereign portfolios, according to SANA news agency. Following is a …

Libya warned the UN Security Council on Wednesday that the chaotic North African state could descend into full-scale civil war if heavily armed warring factions are not disarmed. The 15-nation council met to discuss Libya days after its parliament, which was replaced in an election in June, reconvened and chose …

The official Libyan news agency says six ministers have resigned after accusing the government of taking sides in escalating battles among rival militias. LANA, quoting TV network al-Nabaa, on Wednesday said the ministers of industry, labour, planning, education and water resources, and the state minister for the affairs of the …

The United States will give Tunisia $60m worth of military aid to help it fight Islamist militants who are threatening the country’s nascent democracy, a senior American official said on Tuesday. Speaking after talks with Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa, General David Rodriguez, the head of US Africa Command, said some …

Confrontation between Pakistan government and the opposition escalated on Wednesday with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif rejecting demands for his resignation and Imran Khan calling off the dialogue with his regime until he quits.