Syria regime forces advance on IS town near Palmyra: monitor
Beirut (AFP) March 29, 2016 -
Syrian regime forces were locked in fierce clashes with Islamic State group jihadists on Tuesday on the outskirts of a key town near the ancient city of Palmyra, a monitor said.
Just two days after seizing Palmyra from IS, pro-government fighters advanced southwest towards the jihadist-held town of Al-Qaryatain.
They seized a series of hilltops overlooking the town during the night and b ...
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Six children killed, maimed daily in Yemen since Saudi air strikes began: UN
Geneva (AFP) March 29, 2016 -
Six children have been killed or maimed daily in Yemen since Saudi-led air strikes began a year ago, the UN said Tuesday, warning the conflict was taking a horrifying toll on the country's youth.
In a report marking the anniversary of the start of the Saudi-led campaign, the UN children's agency said nearly a third of the more than 3,000 civilians killed in Yemen were children.
"Children ...
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Indian Navy orders submarine rescue systems
Barrow-In-Furness, England (UPI) Mar 29, 2016 -
The Indian Navy has given Britain-headquartered James Fisher Defense a $252.3 million contract to provide and support a submarine rescue capability.
The contract includes the design, build and supply of two complete submarine rescue systems, as well as a 25-year annual maintenance contract.
The rescue systems will be fly-away units and include deep search-and-rescue vehicles, lau ...
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Russia's Syrian strikes have killed more than 1,000: report
Washington (AFP) March 29, 2016 -
Russian air strikes in Syria likely killed more than 1,000 civilians in the war-torn country during the last quarter of 2015, the Airwars monitoring group said Tuesday.
The London-based group gathered media and social media reports - as well as accounts from rebel groups and non-governmental organizations - to compile a grim database detailing every known civilian casualty incident that al ...
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US orders families of personnel out of southern Turkey
Washington (AFP) March 29, 2016 -
The Pentagon and US State Department on Tuesday ordered families of US troops and civilian personnel stationed in southern Turkey to leave the region due to security fears.
The order encompasses the city of Adana, where a US consulate and Incirlik air base are located, as well as Ismir and Mugla provinces.
"This decision allows for the deliberate, safe return of family members from thes ...
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N. Korea test-fires short-range 'projectile': S. Korea
Seoul (AFP) March 29, 2016 -
North Korea test-fired a short-range missile or rocket near its east coast Tuesday, South Korea's military said, the latest in a series of launches amid rising tension on the divided peninsula.
The North fired the "short-range projectile" near the eastern city of Wonsan around 5:40 pm (0840 GMT) which flew about 200 kilometres (124 miles) to the country's northeast, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of S ...
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Iran sanctions removal duration unclear: Austrian president
Tehran (AFP) March 29, 2016 -
Austrian President Heinz Fischer has said it is unclear how long it will take for the West to lift sanctions on Iran, in an interview with Iran's state television news agency IRIB.
Iran's historic agreement with world powers went into force on January 16, ending a 13-year standoff over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme and lifting punishing sanctions on its economy.
But more than two ...
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