Hungary wants to protect Europe's 'Christian values'
Hungary declared on Friday that its southern border with Croatia has been closed to migrants. Hungarian police and soldiers sealed the border with barbed wire in a bid to curb the flow of migrants into northern Europe. Hungary said it was duty-bound to secure the borders of the European Union from mainly Muslim migrants to protect the prosperity, security and "Christian values" of Europe. The decision came a month after the Hungarian government closed its border with Siberia. In a separate development, Turkey warned the European Union on Friday that a new deal to stem the flow of migrants to Europe was not completely finalised.
ISIS gunman kills 5 in Saudi Arabia
The Islamic State on Friday claimed responsibility for an attack on a Shia meeting hall in Saudi Arabia where a gunman shot and killed five people, before being shot dead by police. “A person who opened fire on a [Shia meeting place] was killed, and the attacker was in his 20s,” the government-run Al Ekhbariya TV channel reported. This was the latest in a series of attacks claimed by ISIS on Shia targets in Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia this year.
Joseph’s Tomb set ablaze on Palestinian ‘day of rage’
A group of Palestinian assailants firebombed a compound housing Joseph's Tomb – a religious site revered by Jews – in the West Bank on Friday, on what was marked by protesters as a “day of rage”. The incident was the latest in an outbreak of violence between Palestinians and Israelis since the Jewish New Year last month, when rumours began to spread that Israel was plotting to take over Jerusalem's holy Temple Mount. Expressing concern, United States President Barack Obama called on leaders from the two countries to “tamp down rhetoric that may feed violence or anger or misunderstandings”.
Turkey shoots down drone
Turkey said on Friday that its air force shot down an unidentified drone that had violated its airspace near the border with Syria, reported the Associated Press. The Turkish military said in a statement that it had shot down an unidentified aircraft after issuing three warnings. Turkey added that it was not clear which country the drone belonged to. Earlier this month, Turkey had complained about the violation of its airspace with by Russian jets.
Syrian forces begin offensive near Aleppo
Syrian government troops, supported by Russian air force and Iranian and Hezbollah fighters, began a new offensive against rebel fighters in Aleppo on Friday. Syria warned that any resident cooperating with rebels would be a military target. This is the fourth offensive that President Bashar al-Assad's regime has launched since Moscow extended its support with air strikes. The Syrian conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011, but has mushroomed into a multi-front civil war.
Hungary declared on Friday that its southern border with Croatia has been closed to migrants. Hungarian police and soldiers sealed the border with barbed wire in a bid to curb the flow of migrants into northern Europe. Hungary said it was duty-bound to secure the borders of the European Union from mainly Muslim migrants to protect the prosperity, security and "Christian values" of Europe. The decision came a month after the Hungarian government closed its border with Siberia. In a separate development, Turkey warned the European Union on Friday that a new deal to stem the flow of migrants to Europe was not completely finalised.
ISIS gunman kills 5 in Saudi Arabia
The Islamic State on Friday claimed responsibility for an attack on a Shia meeting hall in Saudi Arabia where a gunman shot and killed five people, before being shot dead by police. “A person who opened fire on a [Shia meeting place] was killed, and the attacker was in his 20s,” the government-run Al Ekhbariya TV channel reported. This was the latest in a series of attacks claimed by ISIS on Shia targets in Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia this year.
Joseph’s Tomb set ablaze on Palestinian ‘day of rage’
A group of Palestinian assailants firebombed a compound housing Joseph's Tomb – a religious site revered by Jews – in the West Bank on Friday, on what was marked by protesters as a “day of rage”. The incident was the latest in an outbreak of violence between Palestinians and Israelis since the Jewish New Year last month, when rumours began to spread that Israel was plotting to take over Jerusalem's holy Temple Mount. Expressing concern, United States President Barack Obama called on leaders from the two countries to “tamp down rhetoric that may feed violence or anger or misunderstandings”.
Turkey shoots down drone
Turkey said on Friday that its air force shot down an unidentified drone that had violated its airspace near the border with Syria, reported the Associated Press. The Turkish military said in a statement that it had shot down an unidentified aircraft after issuing three warnings. Turkey added that it was not clear which country the drone belonged to. Earlier this month, Turkey had complained about the violation of its airspace with by Russian jets.
Syrian forces begin offensive near Aleppo
Syrian government troops, supported by Russian air force and Iranian and Hezbollah fighters, began a new offensive against rebel fighters in Aleppo on Friday. Syria warned that any resident cooperating with rebels would be a military target. This is the fourth offensive that President Bashar al-Assad's regime has launched since Moscow extended its support with air strikes. The Syrian conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011, but has mushroomed into a multi-front civil war.
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