Scotland makes formal request to UK for new independence vote

Scotland’s first minister formally requested a second referendum on independence on Friday, declaring that Scots have the right to exercise their right of self-determination.

South Korea's ousted president arrested

South Korea's ousted president Park Geun-hye has been arrested over the corruption and abuse of power scandal that brought her down, a court spokesman said.

Moscow urges Syrian opposition to avoid raising tensions

At a meeting with members of the Syrian opposition’s High Negotiations Committee (HNC), Russia pointed out that attempts to raise tensions in Syria were counterproductive, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said following his meeting with the HNC delegation.

Scottish parliament backs bid for new independence referendum

The Scottish parliament has backed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's bid for a new independence referendum, further complicating Britain's political situation just as years of talks on the terms of Brexit were about to begin.

Germany Renews Call for Access to Journalist Held in Turkey

Germany said it would keep calling for access to a German-Turkish journalist detained in Istanbul since January on charges of terrorist propaganda and incitement to hatred.

Russia's Defense Ministry says US-led coalition unlikely to launch battle for Raqqa soon

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian’s words that a battle to recapture the Syrian city of Raqqa from Islamic State will start in the coming hours are not based on true understanding of the situation "on the ground," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday.

Chief Syria negotiator accuses "rebel" supporters of state-sponsored terror

The Damascus government delegation at the United Nations-backed Syria peace talks on Friday said any country that backed rebel forces fighting in the war were sponsoring terrorism by inadvertently supporting a hard-line al-Qaida offshoot.

Several ISIS "Militants" Join Turkey-Backed Euphrates Shield Operation Forces

Media sources reported that ISIL members have joined the Turkey-backed militants of the Euphrates Shield Operation.

Three dead, twenty injured in London attack : police

Wednesday's terrorist act near Westminster Palace took away the lives of three people and left no less than twenty other wounded, Mark Rowley, the Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations in the Metropolitan Police Service told a news briefing near Scotland Yard headquarters.

North Korea says it is ready for 'any war' with U.S.

In response to comments by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warning of military action, North Korea cited its nuclear capabilities and said it is prepared to engage the United States in "any war."

Trump says Germany owes vast sums to NATO, US for defense right after Merkel meeting

Donald Trump says Germany owes "vast sums of money" to NATO and the U.S. "must be paid more" for providing defense.

‘You are the future of Europe’: Erdogan urges Turks in EU to have at least 5 kids

Turkish President Recep Erdogan has urged all Turks living in Europe to have at least five children, saying they are the future of the continent and that it would be the best response to the “injustices” imposed on expatriates there.

China Promises ‘Firm Response’ if Japan Interferes in South China Sea

China pledged to have a “firm response” if Japan further fans regional tensions and “threatens China’s sovereignty and security.” The statement comes after a Reuters report that Japan will send its largest warship to the disputed South China Sea.

EU unveils Syria reconstruction plan

The EU unveiled an ambitious plan Tuesday to support the reconstruction of war-torn Syria, calling it a "dividend" to encourage warring parties to reach a peace deal.

Turkey Says EU Criticism over Dutch Row ‘Has No Value’

Turkey on Tuesday hit back at the EU after the bloc criticized Ankara over a spiraling diplomatic spat with the Netherlands, saying its criticism had no value for the country.

Erdogan: Dutch acting like Nazi remnants and fascists after FM flight block

The Turkish president on Saturday said the Dutch were acting like Nazi remnants and fascists after the government of the Netherlands denied landing permission for a plane carrying the Turkish foreign minister.

Putin, Erdogan Vow Cooperation to Help End Syria Crisis

Russian President Vladimir Putin said a truce in Syria is on the whole being observed, as he welcomed his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Moscow, adding that he is cautiously optimistic about the prospects of a deal to end the six-year Syrian conflict.

Turkish FM says ‘racists’ like Wilders won’t prevent him from going to Netherlands

Turkey’s foreign minister has said he doesn’t care about “fascists and racists” like Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders, and says they won’t prevent him from meeting with Turkish citizens. Wilders earlier called for a ban on Turkish officials campaigning in the Netherlands.

US Navy Spy Ship Forced to Change Course After Iranian Attack Vessels Approach

The USNS Invincible, escorted by the British Royal Navy, experienced a close encounter with high-speed attack ships deployed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, ultimately compelling the US spy ship and her formation to alter her course.

US Military Confirms Deaths of 21 Syrian, Iraqi Civilians in Strikes in 3 Months

Strikes by the US-led anti-terror coalition apparently led to deaths of 21 civilians in Syria and Iraq from last November through January, the US Central Command said Saturday after assessing reports of possible casualties.

Pentagon not aware of any Manbij deal between SDF and Assad regime, US official says

The U.S. Defense Department is not aware of any agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Assad regime to hand over the territories in the west of Manbij to Assad-allied forces, a Pentagon spokesman said.

The Syrian army establishes control over Tadmur (Palmyra) city

The General Command of the Army and Armed Forces announced on Thursday that units of army re-established control over the city of Tadmur (Palmyra) after inflicting heavy losses upon ISIS terrorist organization in personnel and equipment.

US Urges Turkey to Avoid Stoking Tensions With Greece in Aegean Sea

Washington has called upon Ankara to ease its position and activities in the Aegean Sea amid prevailing tensions in Greek-Turkish relations.