Egypt’s tourism industry collapses; ‘Sharm El-Sheikh has become a ghost town’

Egypt’s tourism industry collapses; ‘Sharm El-Sheikh has become a ghost town’

Special to WorldTribune.com Egypt is looking to revive its crippled tourism industry by tapping into new markets in Europe, Asia and Latin America. During November and December, about 1 million tourists visited Egypt, down 41 percent from 2014 and the lowest number for the peak months since 2005. “The reason for the plummet in tourism […]

Turkey: NATO radars confirmed Russian jet’s airspace violation

Turkey: NATO radars confirmed Russian jet’s airspace violation

Special to WorldTribune.com Turkey reported that NATO radars detected a Russian Su-34 warplane violating its airspace. “Russia can not cover up its violation of our airspace. It’s not possible to hide such an incident if it did happen, or to make up a violation if it didn’t happen,” Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on […]

Saudis report 375 civilians have been killed near Yemen border

Saudis report 375 civilians have been killed near Yemen border

Special to WorldTribune.com Iran-backed Houthi rebels and their allies have fired some 40,000 projectiles from Yemen into Saudi Arabia, killing at least 375 civilians, Saudi officials said on Feb. 1. On Feb. 1 alone, nearly 130 mortars and 15 missiles were fired by the Houthis and forces loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen’s former president, […]

Merkel: Once ISIL is defeated, refugees must leave Germany

Merkel: Once ISIL is defeated, refugees must leave Germany

Special to WorldTribune.com The 1.1 million refugees who have entered Germany since last year must leave when Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) is defeated, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said. “We need to say to people that this is a temporary residential status and we expect that, once there is peace in Syria again, […]

Top Yemeni Salafi cleric killed hours after preaching against ISIL, Al Qaida

Top Yemeni Salafi cleric killed hours after preaching against ISIL, Al Qaida

Special to WorldTribune.com Yemen’s top Salafi cleric was kidnapped and killed hours after delivering a sermon railing against Al Qaida and Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL). The body of Samahan Abdel-Aziz, also known as Sheikh Rawi, was found on Jan. 31 in the southern port city of Aden. The body showed signs of […]

Khamenei awards medals to Iran soldiers who captured U.S. sailors

Khamenei awards medals to Iran soldiers who captured U.S. sailors

Special to WorldTribune.com Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei awarded medals to Iranian forces for their “courageous and timely” capture of American boats and sailors last month. Navy Commander Rear Adm. Ali Fadavi and four other Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commanders were awarded the “Order of Fath” (Conquest) by Khamenei, the Tasnim news agency reported. “Your move […]

Most Jordanian students have never heard of ‘Al-Aqsa’ holy mosque in Jerusalem

Most Jordanian students have never heard of ‘Al-Aqsa’ holy mosque in Jerusalem

Special to WorldTribune.com The push to codify Al-Aqsa Mosque as a major Islamic holy site doesn’t seem to be catching on in Jordan. A recent poll published by the University of Jordan found that 60 percent of students surveyed had never even heard of the holy mosque in Jerusalem. “This survey has proven once again […]

EgyptAir mechanic suspected of planting bomb that took down Russian airliner

EgyptAir mechanic suspected of planting bomb that took down Russian airliner

Special to WorldTribune.com A mechanic who was working for EgyptAir is suspected of planting the bomb that brought down a Russian airliner last October in the Sinai Peninsula. Sources who declined to be identified because of the ongoing investigation, told Reuters the mechanic was detained by Egyptian authorities. It was reported the mechanic’s cousin was […]

Report: Sirte residents ecstatic as secret sniper picks off ISIL commanders in Libya

Report: Sirte residents ecstatic as secret sniper picks off ISIL commanders in Libya

Special to WorldTribune.com A skilled sniper is said to be assassinating Islamic State of Iraq and Levant’s (ISIL’s) top leaders in Libya. Three commanders at ISIL’s Libyan stronghold in Sirte have been shot dead from long range in recent weeks, according to a report by the London Telegraph, citing local Libyan media. Social media reports […]

Bolton: ISIL, Iran to exploit Obama’s final year as closing window of opportunity

Bolton: ISIL, Iran to exploit Obama’s final year as closing window of opportunity

Special to WorldTribune.com Threats from Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) and terror-sponsor Iran will likely get worse in the final year of President Barack Obama’s term, according to former U.S. ambassador to the UN John Bolton. “I think it will get worse in the next year, because our adversaries in Teheran and ISIL […]