#syrian-refugees

#syrian-refugees

President Bashar al-Assad of Syria plans to attend a gathering of Arab leaders on Friday for the first time since he violently suppressed an anti-government uprising that morphed into a civil war, torturing and using chemical weapons on his own people.Syria's membership in the Arab League, suspended since 2011, was restored this month ahead of the leaders' summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The agreements were signed in Damascus to bolster economic ties between war-torn Syria and longtime ally Iran.The presidents of Iran and Syria have signed a series of long-term cooperation agreements on oil and other sectors to bolster economic ties between the two longtime allies.Iran's Ebrahim Raisi, leading a large economic and political delegation, met his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, after landing in the war-torn country for a two-day visit an Iranian president's first visit to Damascus since 2010.

BEIRUT - A leading international rights group on Thursday said Turkish border guards have been indiscriminately shooting at Syrian civilians along the border with the war-wrecked country, as well as using excessive force against asylum seekers and migrants trying to cross into Turkey.Are you on Telegram?

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails The German government wants to temporarily ease visa restrictions for survivors of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria who have close family ties to Germany if they are facing homelessness or were injured.

First, Syria's civil war drove Hind Qayduha from her home in the city of Aleppo.Then, conflict and joblessness forced her family to flee two more times.Two years ago, she came to southern Turkey, thinking she had finally found safety and stability.But when a powerful earthquake struck a week ago, it destroyed their apartment in the hard-hit Turkish city of Antakya and the family was displaced again.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails A British non-governmental organisation (NGO) volunteer has said that despite areas in Turkey affected by the earthquake looking like a zombie apocalypse and the potent stench of death, there was no sense of panic or chaos from authorities there.

The only crossing between Syria and Turkey that is approved by the United Nations for transporting international aid into Syria is not functioning because of earthquake damage to roads around it, according to U.N. officials, complicating an already fraught response to the unfolding humanitarian crisis.

The three nations agree to continue meeting in future to ensure stability in Syria and the region, Turkish defence ministry says.Defence ministers of Russia, Turkey and Syria have held talks in Moscow in a clear sign of normalisation between Ankara and Damascus in the decade-long Syrian war.Turkish defence minister Hulusi Akar and the head of its National Intelligence Organisation (MIT), Hakan Fidan, met Syrian defence minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas and Syrian intelligence chief Ali Mamlouk in Moscow along with Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu, the Turkish defence ministry said on Wednesday.