Global reports

​Air France pilots extend strike till September 26

Air France pilots said they have prolonged their strike until September 26, according to French daily Le Figaro. The talks aiming to end the strike began on Monday. "I regret that our concrete proposals, designed to reassure our pilots, have to date not received a reasonable response," Air France Chief Executive Frederic Gagey said in a statement. The strike started when the airlines announced plans to develop the low-cost subsidiary Transavia France, whose pilots cost considerably less to employ. The pilots, who earn about €250,000 ($321,000) a year, say they are concerned their company may replace them with cheaper labor from Transavia France.

NZ election: Ruling party looks set for 3rd term

New Zealand's ruling National party, which has been in power since 2008, was on its way to a victory as the center-right party captured 49 percent of the vote with nearly three-quarters of the votes tallied. A win would give Prime Minister John Key's party its third consecutive term in parliament. The Labour Party is trailing behind with 24 percent of the party vote, while the Green party is pulling up the rear with just 10 percent.

​Yemen TV building ablaze amid mortar fire in capital

Yemen’s state-run television building caught fire on Saturday, with hundreds of employees trapped inside during three-day clashes between Shiite Houthi rebels and the Yemeni army on the outskirts of Sanaa, Reuters reported. The building is close to a number of other governmental facilities. Mortar fire was reported during the confrontation that has escalated after the weeks-long Houthi protest.

​ Turkey opens border to tens of thousands of Kurds amid fears of imminent ISIS attack

Tens of thousands of Syrian Kurds have cross over into Turkey over the past day, as the Islamic State terrorists inch closer to the border, seizing dozens of villages along the way, according to Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus on Saturday. Turkey opened up a portion of its Syria border on Friday, after fears of an impending attack on the town of Ayn al-Aarab led to the mass flight. "Around 45,000 Syrian Kurds have crossed the border as of now from eight entrance points along a 30-km distance from Akcakale to Mursitpinar since we opened the border yesterday," Kurtulmus told CNN Turk. The Kurds are one of the most at-risk populations on the border. media agencies