Syrian-American journalist and activist mother killed in Istanbul

Friends of the activist Orouba Barakat and her journalist daughter Halla Barakat say the two women had recently been threatened.

UN Security Council warns against KRG referendum in Iraq

Adding to the large international opposition to the vote, the 15-member council says in a unanimous statement that the referendum in northern Iraq is potentially destabilising,

Iranian translator takes flak for toning down Trump speech

Translator Nima Chitsaz said he decided in the heat of the moment to spare his Persian-speaking viewers from the verbal attacks by the US president. But he was accused by his countrymen of “censoring and distorting” the speech.

Is Barzani 'playing with fire' by going ahead with the referendum?

The referendum is risky, especially in Kirkuk, an oil-rich multi-ethnic city also claimed by Turkmen and Arabs.

Air strikes kill 22 in northwest Syria in 48 hours, war monitor says

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes took place in the provinces of Idlib and Hama, where an internationally agreed truce zone is meant to be in place.

World divided on Iran nuclear deal

Iran’s commitment to uphold the nuclear agreement may reassure some world powers, but others are concerned over Iran using the deal to spread its influence across the Middle East.