Levant MENA Edition

united states

Exclusive: U.S. to drop Iraq, Myanmar from child soldiers' list

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson planning to remove Iraq and Myanmar from a list denouncing the world's worst offenders in the use of child soldiers, sources told Reuters exclusively. Alva French reports.

iraq

Hundreds of civilians free to leave Mosul

Iraqi forces free hundreds of civilians in Mosul Old City as troops battle to retake the ancient quarter from Islamic State militants, mounting a last stand in what was the de facto capital of their "caliphate". Pascale Davies reports.

security

Iran arrests IS-linked group planning attacks -

Intelligence Ministry agents "were able to arrest a group linked to Islamic state that intended to carry out terror operations in religious cities

iran

Iran's fresh deals with Airbus put Trump under pressure: US paper

Aircraft deals presented a challenge to Trump

europe

France dismisses call for new Calais migrant centre

France's interior minister rejected calls from charities for a new migrant reception centre in the northern port of Calais.

iraq

Baghdadi death near 100 pct certain: Interfax

Russia's defence ministry said a week ago it believed it may have killed Baghdadi.

jordan

Jordan's GDP grows by 2.2% in Q1

Most production sectors showed positive growth during the 2017 first quarter

europe

Macron orders French officials to show more humanity to migrants

- France has instructed local officials to show more humanity towards migrants, the government spokesman said.

syria

Aid trucks bring "humanitarian breakthrough" to Syria's Qamishli- U.N.

Food aid has reached Syria's Kurdish-dominated city of Qamishli by road for the first time in two years.

iraq

Russian FM: High degree of certainty IS leader is dead

Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday there was high degree of certainty that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was dead.