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Parliamentary elections in Tunisia see low turnout

Tunisia recorded an 11.4% voter turnout in its recent parliamentary elections, according to Farouk Bouasker, president of the Independent High Authority for Elections. The preliminary results show that 154 members were elected in both the first and second rounds, with only 25 of them being women. Critics have expressed concerns about the low turnout, claiming […]

Iran’s coach says that his players can protest during the World Cup

Iran’s players may participate in the country’s ongoing protests over women’s rights during the World Cup, but only if they follow the tournament’s guidelines, national team coach Carlos Queiroz said on Tuesday. According to human rights NGO HRANA, 344 individuals have been slain and 15,280 detained over the last two months of nationwide demonstrations inspired […]

German minister urges Iran to abolish death penalty

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock denounced Iran for employing capital punishment to quash dissent at a conference on Tuesday dedicated to eradicating the punishment worldwide. During the World Congress against the Death Penalty, Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s foreign minister, called out Iran for using the punishment to quash dissent.“We are experiencing this again in Iran, where […]

Wanted Italian drug trafficker extradited from Syria

Security officials said Tuesday that one of Europe’s most-wanted drug traffickers had been extradited from Syria to Italy, leading to his arrest in Rome. A Naples mafia drug supplier named Bruno Carbone was sentenced of international drug trafficking, in his absence, and sentenced to 20 years in prison. A police source said the man was […]

Israel: US investigation into Abu Akleh killing ‘a serious mistake’

Defence Minister Benny Gantz has declared that Israel will not cooperate with any outside investigations into the murder of Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen al-Akleh. The FBI is said to have launched an investigation into the murder of a Palestinian-American reporter who was killed while covering an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank city of […]

EU sanctions 29 Iranians over crackdown on protests

The European Union on Monday added 29 individuals and three organisations to its list of people and entities subject to economic sanctions in Iran, in response to Tehran’s widespread use of force against peaceful demonstrators. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said, ‘We stand with the Iranian people and support their right to protest peacefully […]

Independent farsi media outlets bloom under Mullah tyranny

With a population of nearly 80 million people, Iran is home to one of the largest independent Farsi-speaking communities outside of Asia. The Persian language has been spoken in Iran for over 2,000 years; however, it wasn’t until the 20th century that mass media and education spurred widespread fluency and literacy among Iranian citizens. Today, […]

Missiles hit Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran’s office in Erbil

An attack on the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) in Koya on Monday morning involving at least three missiles, according to local media reports. Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) telegram channels reportedly took responsibility for the missile and drone attack on the KDPI headquarters, according to Kurdish news outlet Rudaw. The […]

Iran issues first death sentence over Mahsa Amini protests

Iran’s judicial branch said that over the past week, more than 800 people have been arrested in Tehran alone, and the first death sentence has been handed down over the country’s growing protests. The morality police responsible for Mahsa Amini’s death, which led to months of protests, has been met with a severe response from […]

Istanbul bombing: Turkey minister blames Kurdish separatists

Turkey’s interior minister has said that a suspect was arrested in connection with a bombing in a busy Istanbul shopping street that killed six people and that Kurdish militants in northern Syria were responsible. 21 others were previously detained. A woman sat on a bench on İstiklal Avenue, the most popular pedestrian thoroughfare in Istanbul, […]

Explosion reported in busy Istanbul avenue

An explosion has been reported on a busy pedestrian avenue in the Turkish city of Istanbul. The road is one of the city’s busiest shopping streets and is close to several tourist attractions. Turkish media has said several people have been killed and injured in a suspected suicide bombing on Istiklal Avenue, close to the […]

Bahrain elections record 73% voter turnout.

Bahraini voters turned out in record numbers on Saturday, electing 40 representatives to the National Council and 30-member local councils for a four-year term. State news agency BNA reported that the high voter turnout was a sign of the country’s leadership’s commitment to democracy, Justice Minister Nawaf bin Mohammed Al Mua’awda said. In addition to […]

Iran agrees to visit by UN’s nuclear watchdog

The IAEA is seeking answers on Iran’s continued uranium enrichment after Iran reportedly agreed to a UN visit this month. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported on Wednesday that Iran has further expanded its production of enriched uranium above levels prohibited by the abandoned 2015 nuclear deal, and now has enough highly-enriched uranium to produce […]

At least 21 killed in Egypt minibus crash

Egypt’s health ministry said at least 21 people were killed when a minibus plunged into a canal in Egypt’s northern Nile Delta region. 35 people were on board a bus when it toppled into a canal in Aga, north of Dakahlia province, on Saturday, security sources said. Five people, including three children, were killed in […]

Tiffany Trump set to marry her Lebanese fiance today

Tiffany Trump, the youngest child of former US President Donald Trump, is set to marry today in Florida. The 29-year-old will tie the knot with her Lebanese fiance Michael Boulos at the Trump-owned Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida – was celebrated over the weekend with a bridal shower thrown by her sister, Ivanka Trump.  Ivanka posted […]

Diriyah Tennis Cup to return in December

The world’s top players are set to compete in the Diriyah Tennis Cup in Saudi Arabia next month. From Dec. 8 to 10, the second tournament will once again be held in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located outside Riyadh. There will be 12 players competing in both singles and doubles over […]

EU is preparing to impose new sanctions on Iran next week

Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in Berlin Thursday that European Union (EU) nations would likely agree on new sanctions against Iran next week to protest Tehran’s deadly crackdown on anti-government demonstrations. Germany’s foreign minister said Wednesday that the European Union will seek to adopt new sanctions against Iran next week over Tehran’s deadly suppression of […]

Yemen military leader killed in Marib province

On Tuesday, a Yemeni military leader who had battled the Iran-backed Houthis for seven years was killed in Marib, a provincial capital, while local human rights organisations condemned the Houthis for firing missiles at the city. Unidentified men shot dead Brig. Gen. Mohammed Al-Jaradi, an aide to Yemen’s defence minister, as well as his bodyguard, […]

Emirates airline reports record-breaking profits

Emirates has benefited from a rise in travel demand and a strong cargo performance at Dubai International Airport which has led to record-breaking profits. The record profit in the first half of Emirates’ latest financial year is due to strong demand during the peak summer season with the reopening of international borders and the easing […]

Egypt, US discuss clean energy at COP27

The COP27 Climate Change Summit was held in Sharm El-Sheikh. A meeting was held on the sidelines of the summit between Egypt and the US. El-Molla praised the ministry’s fruitful cooperation with US companies and US institutions operating in Egypt, including the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, in a statement. Mr. Fayyaz said that […]

Turkey arrests bakers’ union head for calling bread-eating societies ‘stupid’

Turkey sentenced a bakery union head to prison on Wednesday for “publicly offending the Turkish nation”, state media said, because of his explanation that the nation’s long-standing passion for bread had led it to repeatedly elect President Tayyip Erdogan’s regimes. Cihan Kolivar, Chairman of the Union for Bread Producers, cited Haberturk on Monday as he […]

‘Our strategic patience with Saudi Arabia may run out,’ Iran says- Fars

Tehran warned Riyadh on Wednesday that Iran’s ‘strategic patience’ may not continue, according to Fars news agency. Fars reported that Esmail Khatib described Iran’s strategic patience as firm rationality until now, but said that Tehran would not be able to continue if hostilities continued. “If Iran decides to retaliate and punish, glass palaces will crumble […]

At least 10 killed in airstrike on Iraq-Syria border

At least 10 people were killed on the Syria-Iraq border Tuesday in an airstrike that apparently targeted Iranian trucks shipping fuel to Lebanon, according to reports. Paramilitary officials told The Associated Press some 15 trucks were hit while crossing the border, where Iraq’s Al-Qa’im neighbors Syria’s Deir Ezzor Governorate.  Iraqi sources said several explosions were heard near […]

Egypt sends cholera medicine, vaccines to Lebanon

Egypt has said it will send 17 tons of medicine and vaccines to help combat Lebanon’s severe cholera epidemic. An Egyptian military plane will arrive in Beirut on Wednesday morning to deliver the aid, the Egyptian Embassy in Lebanon said. According to the mission, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati requested help with the epidemic— […]

‘Qatar is a mistake,’ says former FIFA President Sepp Blatter

Sepp Blatter, the former president of FIFA when Qatar received the 2022 World Cup hosting rights in 2010, told the Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger ‘Qatar is a mistake,’ adding that ‘the decision was bad.’ Qatar was chosen despite allegations of corruption and human rights violations. Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years, has also been […]

Middle Eastern flags fly in unison against Biden’s beggar act

‍The Middle East is a diverse region with numerous cultures and languages. The majority of countries in the Middle East are also predominantly Muslim, which explains why most Middle Eastern flags within the region feature an Islamic design. There are, however, some variations among these flags that set them apart from one another. In recent […]

UK-based news channel says journalists threatened by Iran’s IRGC

A UK-based news channel aimed at Iranian viewers said that it was “shocked and deeply concerned” by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) threats against their journalists in London in a statement on Monday. “Two of our British-Iranian journalists have, in recent days, been notified of an increase in the threats to them” Iran International […]

Iran summons Norway’s envoy over ‘interventionist’ comments in support of protests

Iran summoned Norway’s ambassador to Tehran on Monday after the president of the country’s parliament expressed his support for Iranian protesters, according to state media. President Masud Gharakhani, an Iranian-Norwegian politician, told Iran International, a London-based news channel, that Khamenei has “been in power for 44 years, enough is enough.” On September 19, Tehran summoned […]

Kuwait seeks to be carbon neutral in oil and gas production by 2050

Kuwait aims to become carbon neutral in the oil and gas sector by 2050, and across the entire country a decade later, Foreign Minister Salem al-Sabah told state news agency KUNA on Monday while speaking at COP27, a climate summit in Egypt. Kuwait, a major oil exporter and OPEC member, announced a plan to become […]

US aid worker shot dead in Baghdad, police say

A foreign aid worker was shot to death in Baghdad on Monday, two police officials said. Police said the motive for the killing was unclear, but it occurred in the central Karrada district on the Tigris River’s eastern bank. Police said that no one had yet claimed responsibility for the crime, although the embassy officials […]

Pope calls on Lebanon’s leaders to set aside their differences

Pope Francis has appealed for Lebanese political officials to set aside their personal interests and unite so the country can escape a three-year economic crisis and political void.  “Lebanon now is suffering,” the pope said. In December, he said he would have liked to visit the country but was forced to postpone, but he did […]

UAE lifts practically all COVID-19 restrictions

The UAE government has lifted precautionary measures related to COVID-19 as the country further eases restrictions earlier implemented to protect public health. Following more than 30 months of regulations a government spokesperson has announced in a virtual briefing that the Al Hosn application will be limited as a proof of vaccination. The Al Hosn Green […]

COP27 Day One: ‘Climate chaos’ warning 

The UN’s climate change summit opened in Egypt on Sunday with a warning that our planet is “sending a distress signal” according to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The UN report said that the previous eight years were on track to be the hottest on record.  More than 120 world leaders are expected to attend COP27, the […]

What time is it in the Middle East? Ask tribal leaders

The Middle East is a vast, diverse region. Its countries have numerous cultural differences and varied rules regarding time zones. This can make scheduling meetings and phone calls challenging. Fortunately, we live in the digital age with easy solutions for virtual connections. There are 27 countries in the Middle East, but there’s no official standard […]

Iran has acknowledged sending drones to Russia for the first time

Iran has recently been flexing its military muscle abroad by sending drones to Russia, running exercises in the border regions with Azerbaijan, and bombing Kurdish positions in Iraq in addition to providing them. As protests rage at home, Iran’s theocratic government is increasingly flexing its military muscle abroad. That includes supplying drones to Russia that […]

EU set to sign hydrogen agreement with Egypt at Cop27

The European Union’s intention to negotiate an association pact on hydrogen and renewable energy with Egypt at COP27, which begins this week in Sharm el-Sheikh, was stated by the EU on Friday.  Brussels wishes to import 10 million tonnes of hydrogen by 2030 in addition to producing 10 million tonnes domestically, an EU official said. […]

UAE’s president congratulates new prime minister of Iraq

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has congratulated Mohammed Shia Al Sudani on his election as Iraq’s prime minister. In a telephone call on Saturday, Sheikh Mohamed sent his congratulations and reaffirmed the UAE’s support for any peace and stability in Iraq and its people’s desires for economic and societal development. In turn, the Iraqi prime […]

Iran successfully tests Ghaem 100 space launcher, state TV reports

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have successfully tested the first sub-orbital stage of the three-stage Ghaem 100 launch vehicle, Iranian state media reported on Saturday. “The flight test of this satellite carrier with a solid-fuelled engine …was successfully completed,” the state news agency lRNA reported.

Erdogan, Putin agree to send Russian grains to poor African countries for free

Russian grains exported through the Black Sea should be provided to impoverished African states for free, according to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin suggested during their telephone conversation that Russia would supply grain to countries like Djibouti, Somalia, and Sudan for free. On Wednesday, Moscow resumed participation […]

State Department says US envoy visits Middle East to support Yemen’s cease-fire

A durable ceasefire and political settlement are the only paths forward to ending Yemen’s eight-year-long destructive war, according to the statement. Tim Lenderking, the United States special envoy for Yemen, is visiting the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia this week to support efforts to renew and expand a United Nations-mediated ceasefire in Yemen, the […]

Inflation in Turkey surges to 85.5%

On October 20, the Turkish Central Bank lowered interest rates for the third time in three months, reducing them by 150 basis points from 12% to 10.5% – despite Turkish inflation being over 83% at the time. The price of Turkish food and fuel has been rising for seventeen straight months, and the price of […]

Saudi Arabia will host the next Arab League summit

Saudi Arabia will host the next Arab League summit, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan said. During the 31st Arab League summit in Algeria, Prince Faisal praised the successful meeting between regional leaders in his closing speech.  Saudi Arabia is eager to preserve the cooperation between us at all levels, and as such, […]

Pope Francis to kick off four-day trip to Bahrain today

Pope Francis will begin a four-day trip to Bahrain on Thursday, his second official visit to the Gulf after visiting the UAE in 2019. On Saturday morning, he is expected to lead a public Mass at the Bahrain National Stadium and will meet church workers at the Sacred Heart Church in Manama, the country’s oldest. […]

What is UAE Flag Day 2022

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates, also known as princely states. Each of these seven emirates has its own unique culture and traditions. Similarly, each of them also celebrates its own National Day with great pomp and show. The national day of each emirate is a local public holiday there. […]

U.S. wants to remove Iran from U.N. women’s commission

US Vice President Kamala Harris announced on Wednesday (Nov 2) that the United States will attempt to expel Iran from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) over the government’s denial of women’s rights and violent suppression of protests. Iran recently began a four-year term on the commission, which meets annually every […]

Inflation is caused by ‘the war in Iraq’ according to Biden’

Speaking at a campaign event in Florida about inflation, US President Joe Biden committed another blunder by conflating the nation’s battle against Russian-backed separatists with the US war against al-Qaeda. In a campaign event in Florida, Biden, who turns 80 this month, mixed up Iraq and Ukraine, mentioning inflation. “They talk about inflation … inflation […]

U.S. is concerned about Iranian threats to Saudi Arabia

The United States is concerned about threats from Iran against Saudi Arabia, according to a White House spokesperson. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Saudi government shared intelligence with the United States warning of an imminent attack from Iran on targets in the kingdom.  The Saudi government media office did not immediately respond to Reuters‘ […]

Netanyahu on the verge of comeback, according to preliminary exit polls

 Former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on the brink of winning office, according to Israeli exit polls. According to exit polls, Mr Netanyahu appears to have won 61 or 62 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. Security is a high priority for Israeli voters, according to a campaign that began after Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s baffling […]

By the end of the year Israel, Bahrain hope to finalize free trade agreement.

Israel and the UAE signed a free trade agreement in May, the first between an Arab state and Israel. Officials predict that trade will increase from $1.2 billion to $10 billion over the next five years as a result. Officials from Israel and Bahrain said on Monday that they hoped to finalize a free trade […]

1,000 people are wanted for protesting in Iran

Iranian authorities have issued arrest warrants for 1,000 people in connection with the protests. According to state-run IRNA news, Ali Alqasi Mehr, Tehran’s prosecutor general, said trials will be held publicly this week. An IRNA report said that they will be tried in a Revolutionary Court. Protestors took to the streets after Amini was arrested […]

Ukraine FA urges FIFA to bar Iran from World Cup

The request to remove Iran from the 2018 World Cup in Qatar has been made by the Ukrainian Association of Football. The UAF executive committee says it has requested that FIFA expel Iran from the tournament, which begins on November 20, because of what it terms Iran’s ‘systematic human rights violations and ‘possible involvement in […]

Jordan’s King Abdullah appoints new upper house of Parliament

King Abdullah of Jordan has altered the make-up of the upper chamber after replacing eight senior ministers. King Abdullah of Jordan introduced significant reforms to the country’s upper legislative chamber on Sunday, boosting the chamber’s political and financial capacity. In Jordan, the king holds all the significant power. The lower house, which is overwhelmingly pro-government, […]

New Zealand decides to suspends bilateral human rights dialogue with Iran

The New Zealand government announced on Monday that it has halted its official human rights bilateral dialogue with Iran, saying that bilateral approaches are no longer adequate due to the denial of basic human rights in the country. Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta said in a statement that the decision to suspend dialogue with […]

Egypt’s pound sinks further against dollar

The devaluation of the Egyptian pound on Friday has caused the currency to hit a new low, three days after it was devalued by about 15 per cent, depreciating to 24 against the US dollar by the close of business. The government of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi sought to allay fears after the pound’s […]

Germany says the EU could designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as terrorists

The European Union is contemplating whether to label the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) have warned Iranians that Saturday will be their last day of protesting against the recent death of Mahsa Amini, in a sign that the country may intensify its already severe crackdown on widespread rebellion. […]

At least nine people killed in Baghdad gas tanker explosion

An explosion in a Baghdad residential area killed nine people Saturday night. The government said that 13 people were wounded in the blast in the eastern Binok neighbourhood of the capital. Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, the Prime Minister, ordered an investigation into the incident. An “initial technical failure” was initially blamed for the crash, Iraqi […]

UK gives £2 million to help cholera outbreak in Syria

Britain has committed £2 million ($2.3m) to address the spread of cholera in Syria. Unicef, the UN agency for children, will use the funds to fight the growing epidemic more than 10 years after the start of the war. Italy recently pledged $499,000 to the World Health Organization’s cholera response in Syria. The cholera treatment centres, cholera […]

Tunisia may be barred from the World Cup over political interference concerns

FIFA has cautioned Tunisia that they may be dropped from the upcoming World Cup in Qatar if the government intervenes in football affairs. According to football’s world governing body, the warning comes after several statements from Tunisia’s youth and sports minister, Kamel Deguiche, about the possibility of “dissolving federal bureaux.” The BBC report says that […]

Lebanon’s crisis worsens as President Aoun departs

On Sunday, the 89-year-old Christian president of Lebanon, Michel Aoun, who presided over the country’s devastating economic crash and the deadly Beirut port explosion, will vacate the presidential palace, leaving a huge gap at the top of Lebanon’s weak government. Parliament has so far been unable to agree on a successor in the role, which […]

Egypt, IMF reach preliminary agreement for $3 billion loan

Global markets have been disrupted by the outbreak of the coronavirus and the war in Ukraine, adversely impacting the Egyptian economy. Egypt is the world’s largest wheat importer, and most of it has traditionally come from Russia and Ukraine. Since the country’s supply is reliant on international market prices, those prices can change at any […]

Mahsa Amini’s death provokes additional sanctions from the US

The United States has issued sanctions against senior members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, prison wardens, and intelligence officers among other individuals in response to the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was detained by Iranian morality police 40 days ago. The Treasury Department’s sanctions arm designated 10 senior Iranian officials for financial sanctions […]

Looking for the US rationale in Lebanon’s maritime demarcation deal

The recent announcement of the Biden administration’s successful conclusion of the mediation over the Mediterranean Gas dispute between Israel and Lebanon brought a lot of mixed reviews. While both the Israeli and the Lebanese governments, and Hezbollah by extension, celebrated this supposed-feat, many critics branded this US deal as one which mainly empowers the pro-Iran axis and […]

Egypt announces minimum wage raise for government employees

The Egyptian authorities have announced that they will raise the minimum wage for government workers to 3,000 Egyptian pounds ($153) as part of a new 67-billion-pound ($3.39-billion) support package to help those in need. The package will assist those who are struggling to pay soaring prices. The latest package, announced by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly […]

Qatar abandons COVID test requirement for World Cup fans

As of March 30, Qatar, which has a population of nearly 3 million, has experienced more than 440,000 cases of COVID-19 and 692 deaths, according to the Ministry of Public Health. Qatar’s health ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that the World Cup host country had eliminated a requirement for visitors to get a […]

Islamic State claims Iran shrine attack

Militant Islamic State (IS) group said on Wednesday it had attacked a Shiite Muslim shrine, killing 15 people, as Tehran struggled with a wave of protests and warned of a forceful response. A militant ISIS-style group was behind an assault on a revered Shiite Muslim shrine in southern Iran that left at least four people […]

Bahrain and Oman sign security and finance agreements.

Security, energy, and finance agreements were signed between Oman and Bahrain during the Gulf leaders’ meeting in Manama. Oman’s Sultan Haitham and Bahrain’s King Hamad signed the deals at the Sakhir Palace in Bahrain’s capital, the Bahrain news agency reported on Tuesday. Sultan Haitham concluded a two-day official visit to Bahrain as the deals were […]

Ten dead after minibus collides with truck in Egypt

Ten people were killed and nine others injured in an accident near Mansoura, northern Egypt, when a bus crashed into a truck, a hospital official said. A list of casualties was posted on social media saying that an entire family and three sisters had been killed. Police said the crash happened in the Dakahlia province’s […]

Israeli missile attack targets areas near Damascus

Regional diplomatic and intelligence sources told Reuters that Israel has intensified attacks on Syrian airports – including Damascus International Airport – to disrupt Iran’s increasing use of aerial supply lines to deliver weapons to allies in Syria and Lebanon, particularly Hezbollah. An Israeli missile strike near Damascus on Monday afternoon is rare, a Syrian military source said. […]

Iran vows to respond if the UN finds evidence of Russia drone alliance

Iran “will not remain indifferent” if a UN investigation establishes that it sent drones to Russia for use in the Ukraine war, its foreign ministry has said. Iran is ‘against both arming Russia and Ukraine,’ said Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, who added that his country favored a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Iran’s foreign ministry has said that […]

Lebanon fails to elect a president for fourth time, as Aoun’s departure draws near

Lebanon’s parliament on Monday failed to elect a president for the fourth time, as the country headed towards a constitutional crisis, with just a week remaining before outgoing President Michel Aoun’s term expires on October 31. No political block has been able to agree on a candidate to succeed Aoun, given parliament’s unprecedented fragmentation after […]

New protests and clashes erupted in Tehran

Iranians took to the streets to vent their anger after a young woman was arrested for appearing in a video wearing a mini-skirt. Fighting broke out at Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology on Sunday evening after a group of female students confronted another group, leading to protests against the Iranian regime. The recent unrest has […]

Iran’s nuclear organisation says its e-mail servers were hacked, state media reports.

Iran’s atomic energy organisation said in state media on Sunday that an e-mail server used by one of its subsidiaries had been hacked, resulting in some information being leaked online. Iran’s nuclear activities were hacked and published by the hacking group Black Reward, according to a statement published on Twitter. A statement released on Saturday expressed […]

Doctors advise Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman not to attend upcoming summit in Algeria

Doctors have advised Prince Mohammed not to travel, so he cannot attend the Arab Summit set for November 1 in Algiers, according to a statement released by the Saudi Embassy in Washington. Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, who is aged 37 and reportedly battling illness, will not be attending the upcoming summit in Algeria, according to […]

Raisi says Iran’s enemies can die of anger after calls for Ukraine drone investigation

The Security Council Resolution endorsing the 2015 Iran nuclear deal was said to have been violated by drone use. Iran has “strongly condemned” a call by France, Germany and the UK for the UN to investigate allegations that Russia has employed Iranian-made drones to assault Ukraine, its foreign ministry said Saturday. Iran has denied that […]

Israeli Arabs has called for Zara boycott after Ben Gvir election event

An Israeli news channel reported on Friday that Israeli Arabs are calling for a boycott of Zara after its franchise owner hosted a far-right political figure Itamar Ben Gvir for an election campaign event in Raanana this week, according to a report. People set fire to Zara clothing after a get-together organised by Joey Schwebel, […]

Turkish government says it is inappropriate for the US to push Saudi Arabia to reduce oil production

Turkey, which this year sought to normalise ties with Saudi Arabia after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, is now seeking foreign financial support to bolster its struggling economy ahead of elections in 2019. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday that it was not appropriate for the United States to pressure Saudi […]

Qatar tells UN that Palestinian sovereignty must be safeguarded

Qatar recently informed the United Nations General Assembly that Palestinians must be granted complete freedom to manage their occupied territories, according to the Qatar News Agency. Qatar’s Permanent Mission to the UN remarked during a meeting of the Economic and Financial Committee (Second Committee). Qatar alleged that Israel was exploiting Palestinian natural resources in East […]

Despite a financial meltdown, Lebanon fails to elect president for 3rd time

A financial crisis is bringing Lebanon closer to institutional deadlock after Parliament failed for the third time to elect a president, Reuters reported. The end of Michel Aoun’s term as president is on October 31st and there is a lack of consensus among political factions regarding a new government. The presidency has been vacant several times since […]

Iran says climber Elnaz Rekabi will not be punished

The head of Iran’s Olympic Committee, Mahmoud Khosravi Vafa, said on Thursday that climber Elnaz Rekabi would not be punished or suspended for competing without a headscarf in South Korea. On Sunday, Rekabi competed in the International Federation of Sport Climbing’s Asia Championship without a hijab. She said that her hijab had accidentally fallen off. […]

UAE demands Taliban to lift restrictions on women and girls

“It is intolerable that more than a year after the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, girls are still not allowed to attend secondary schools,” said UAE Ambassador to the United Nations Lana Nusseibeh. Nusseibeh said in front of the UN Security Council that allowing gender segregation was contributing to gender apartheid. “It is disheartening to […]

Fars News Agency reports 14 foreigners, including U.S. citizens, arrested for their alleged involvement in Iran’s unrest

The Iranian government has accused the United States and some European countries of attempting to undermine the Islamic Republic by exploiting the protests. According to the semi-official Fars news agency, Iranian security forces arrested 14 foreign nationals, including Americans, Britons, and French, for participating in anti-government demonstrations, on Wednesday. No comment has been made by […]

Jordan calls for dialogue between Saudi Arabia, US over OPEC+

Jordan expressed support for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to safeguard its security, stability, and interests, as well as for a direct, balanced dialogue between Saudi Arabia and the United States in response to the recent OPEC+ decision to lower oil production. Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said that it is monitoring with interest reactions […]

Cholera cases in Syria are rising

On Tuesday, the UN reported that 68 people have died from cholera in Syria, and more than 800 cases have been confirmed. Overwhelmed by more than 10 years of war, Syria has been suffering from the cholera outbreak since the end of August. The contamination of Euphrates River water and northern springs, which are used to […]

Argentina asks Qatar to detain top Iranian official accused of 1994 Jewish centre bombing

The justice department in Argentina has requested that Qatar apprehend a senior Iranian official for his involvement in a 1994 bombing of a Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires, in which 85 people were killed, Reuters reported. A federal judge late Monday requested the detention of Iran Vice President for Economic Affairs Dr Mohsen Rezaei […]

Iranian rock climber given hero’s welcome at airport after competing without hijab

An Iranian woman who climbed without a hijab at an international competition in South Korea has returned to Iran, as Iranian groups based abroad raised alarms about her fate. Elnaz Rekabi, 33, competed without a hijab during the International Federation of Sport Climbing’s Asian Championships in Seoul on Sunday. Footage of her sporting a headband […]

Saudi king urges Iran to comply with nuclear agreement

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman said in an interview that Iran must cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the global community if the 2015 nuclear deal is to be revived. Iran’s ongoing nuclear advancements and the recent crackdown on protests have prevented efforts to preserve the agreement from progressing. According to the Saudi state […]

Iran reacts to fresh wave of EU sanctions

Iran’s foreign minister reacted on Monday to European Union sanctions levied on Tehran, calling them “superfluous” and “an unconstructive act out of miscalculation.” “The EU today adopted further superfluous sanctions on Iranian persons. It is an unconstructive act out of miscalculation, based on widespread disinformation. Riots and vandalism are not tolerated anywhere; Iran is no […]

The UAE summons EU mission head to protest “racist” comments

The UAE on Monday summoned the acting head of the EU delegation to the UAE, requesting an explanation of what it considered to be racist remarks made last week by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. The UAE foreign ministry described the comments as ‘inappropriate and discriminatory’ and said they ‘contributed to a worsening climate […]

Australia reverses recognition of west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

Australia on Tuesday reversed the previous government’s recognition of west Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and said the issue should be resolved as part of peace talks between Israel and Palestine. “Australia is committed to a two-state solution in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist, in peace and security, within internationally recognised […]

Tehran accuses Biden of inciting “chaos and terror” in Iran

Iran must cease the violence against its own citizens utilising their fundamental rights,” President Joe Biden said Saturday. President Ebrahim Raisi accused his U.S. counterpart of inciting “chaos, terror, and destruction” in Iran, according to IRNA, a state-run news agency. The words of the founder of the Islamic Republic, who called America the great satan, […]

Iraq’s newly elected PM Al Sudani vows to fight corruption after $2.5 billion embezzlement case is exposed 

Iraqi prime minister-designate Mohammed Shia Al Sudani said Sunday that he would take action against corruption when he gets down to work after authorities said $2.5 billion had been stolen from a government agency’s account. The Iraqi Integrity Commission said it is investigating the theft of $40 billion while noting that the case is currently […]

Egyptian man sets himself on fire in protest against school textbooks

A man in Egypt’s north city self-ignited on Sunday in protest over school books. The man’s son was not allowed to use the school’s textbooks until he had paid for them, police and education officials said. The man suffered minor burns and was being treated at a hospital in Kafr El Dawar, a Nile Delta […]

Senator stops $75 million in U.S. military aid to Egypt over human rights concerns

Egypt has missed out on an additional $75 million in American military funding after a senior Democratic U.S. senator blocked the funding over concerns about Cairo’s human rights record, including holding political prisoners. The State Department’s justification for the aid, which was conditioned on a law passed by Congress last year, was rejected by Senator […]

Turkish mine blast death toll rises to 41

The death toll after an explosion in a coal mine in Turkey’s northern Bartin province on Friday has reached 41, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday. Earlier, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said 58 of the 110 people working in the mine when the blast occurred were rescued by the teams or got out by […]

Mayyas to perform in Dubai next week

The Lebanese dance group Mayyas, who won season 17 of “America’s Got Talent” in September, are set perform in Dubai on October 21. Their performance, at The Pointe in Palm Jumeriah, will be their first regional show outside of Lebanon. The group will be performing two five-minute routines on the east and west promenades, which […]

‘Real Housewives of Dubai’ tease season 2 return

At BravoCon 2022, the infamous Real Housewives of Dubai announced that they are ready for a new season. “If and when there’s a season 2, we’re all ready,” said Nina Ali, one of the stars on the show, during the New York event. “I’m manifesting it! For all of us!”  Stars of Bravo’s hit show […]

Fire, gunshots heard at Iran’s notorious detention centre, Evin prison

Inmates at Iran’s Evin prison, where political prisoners, journalists, and foreign nationals are incarcerated, suffered severe losses when a major fire broke out on Saturday. There were images circulating on social media of flames and smoke from the Tehran site, and gunshots and explosions could be heard. State media reported that the blaze had been […]

Expired drug kill1 10 child leukemia patients in Yemen

Medical officials and workers said on Friday that at least 10 child leukemia patients in Yemen died after receiving expired doses of a cancer treatment in rebel-held Sanaa. Dozens more were left seriously ill, they said. The world’s worst humanitarian crisis and over 150,000 deaths have been caused by Yemen’s destructive war, which has dragged […]

Lebanon should elect a new president as quickly as possible, French Minister says

Lebanese officials must quickly choose a new president, or else the poverty-stricken country will fall into a deeper political strife, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said Friday. After Parliament twice failed to elect a successor to Michel Aoun in Beirut, Colonna spoke about the situation. Aoun was elected to the presidency in Lebanon in 2016 […]

Saudi Arabia announces $400 mln aid package to Ukraine

Saudi Arabia is set to provide $400 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, Saudi state news agency SPA said, adding that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made a phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday. The crown prince expressed the kingdom’s readiness to continue efforts of mediation and support everything that contributes to […]

At least 28 people killed in coal mine explosion in Turkey

At least 28 people were killed when an explosion ripped through a coal mine in northern Turkey on Friday, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said, but it was not known how many more people might be trapped because 110 were working when the blast occurred. According to Koca, 17 people were being treated at the time […]

Abdul Latif Rashid becomes Iraq’s fourth president

Abdul Latif Rashid has become the fourth president of Iraq, replacing Barham Saleh after a parliamentary vote on Thursday. The electoral victory of Rashid clears the path for a new administration, since a year has passed without one. From 2003 to 2010, Rashid, 78, an Iraqi water-resources engineer educated in Britain, served as minister. An […]

Qatar Airways plans to employ 10,000 people as it ramps up World Cup preparations

A spokesperson told Reuters that recruitment rallies were held in the Philippines, India, and other nations at the end of September. Qatar Airways is recruiting 10,000 extra workers to cope with the World Cup crowds in Doha and a post-pandemic boom in business, the firm said. The Qatar-based airline is currently seeking to employ around […]

U.S. is negotiating with technology firms to support internet freedom in Iran

The US State Department is exploring ways to work with American technology firms to circumvent Iran’s internet censorship to enable fact-based information to reach the Iranian people, according to a senior official. “Iran’s continued violent crackdown on peaceful protesters is an affront to human rights,” US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman tweeted on Wednesday. […]

Lebanon records first cholera death

The Lebanese health ministry reported that the number of cholera cases in northern Lebanon has risen to 26, with the first death as a result. Akkar, a region that borders Syria, has reported its first cholera cases in nearly 30 years. The UN has expressed concern about an increase in cholera cases in Syria, the […]

Emirati man banned from cricket for 14 years for match fixing

A domestic player from the United Arab Emirates has been banned from all cricket for 14 years after being found guilty of seven charges relating to match-fixing in an international series in April 2019 and a Twenty20 franchise tournament in Canada later that year. The International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Tribunal held a hearing on Wednesday […]

Siamak Namazi returned to prison in Iran after temporary release

An Iranian-American named Siamak Namazi has been returned to jail after the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declined to extend his temporary release. Siamak Namazi was told yesterday by members of the IRGC that his furlough would not be extended any further, without being provided with a reason,” said a statement issued by the Namazi […]

After a year of deadlock, Iraqi MPs are meeting to select a new president

An end to Iraq’s political standstill, which has gone on for over a year, appears hopeful after Parliament convenes on Thursday to elect a new president. The political elite has been unable to reach a consensus, delaying the formation of a new government, which has dragged on for the country’s worst crisis in years. Political […]

Rockets target Khor Mor gas field in Iraq’s Kurdistan region

There were no casualties when eight Katyusha rockets hit the Khor Mor gas field in Iraq’s Kurdistan region on Wednesday, reports indicate. An unknown number of rockets struck near the field in the northern city of Khor Mor, security and local Kurdish sources said. That area has been targeted previously. Khor Mor and Chemchemal, Iraq’s […]

Former Iraqi PM Nouri Al Maliki appears in court over contested audio leaks

A Baghdad judge has summoned former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki to court on Tuesday over leaked audio recordings in which he is overheard sarcastically mocking his rival Moqtada Al Sadr and plotting to arm a militia group. Ali Al Fadhil, an American blogger and activist, leaked the audio tapes in early July as […]

Oman pledges to achieve zero net carbon emissions by 2050

Oman is working towards zero net carbon emissions by 2050 through a ground-breaking national strategy. Sultan Haitham on Tuesday signed off on the plan, which adheres to Oman’s 2040 Vision, Oman News Agency reported. He also approved the establishment of the Oman Centre for Sustainability “to supervise and follow up on plans and programmes for […]

Biden warns of consequences for Saudi Arabia after OPEC decision

President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that there would be consequences for U.S.-Saudi relations after OPEC+ last week announced a production cut over U.S. objections. The powerful Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called for the United States to immediately halt all cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including arms sales, on […]

Saudi Aramco to maintain full oil supplies to Asia in November despite OPEC+ cuts

Saudi Aramco has told at least seven customers in Asia they will receive full contract volumes of crude oil in November ahead of the peak winter season, several sources with knowledge of the matter said on Monday. The producer is keeping supplies to Asia steady despite likely production cuts by tapping on inventories, the sources […]

Qatar hires third cruise ship to act as a floating hotel for the World Cup

World Cup organizers in Qatar have hired a third cruise ship to function as a soccer fan hotel docked at Doha Port, providing much-needed rooms for the tournament. MSC Cruises based in Geneva announced the deal six weeks before the World Cup begins on November 20. The 1,075-passenger MSC Opera will be available from November […]

UK sanctions Iran’s “morality police”

In response to Iran’s violent crackdown on anti-government protesters, Britain on Monday sanctioned the “morality police” and several security officials. These measures were taken in response to the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained by police in Tehran for allegedly violating Iran’s rigorous Islamic dress code, thousands of Iranians have taken to the […]

Lebanon receives finalised version of maritime deal with Israel

Lebanon on Monday received the finalised draft of a US-backed maritime agreement with Israel, according to the The National. The source said on Monday that Lebanon has not yet received the final U.S. draft on a potential maritime agreement with Israel, and that the agreement hangs on ‘one word.’ The source also said that Beirut is […]

Elections delayed in Iraq’s northern autonomous Kurdish region

The Parliament in Iraq’s autonomous northern Kurdish region voted on Sunday to delay elections and extend its term by a year amid wider national political paralysis. The region last held elections four years ago and people had been due to vote this month. Disagreements between its two major parties have led to politicians staying until a new parliament is […]

10 things you didn’t know about Queen Rania of Jordan

Queen Rania of Jordan is a well-known humanitarian, wife, mother and businesswoman who has built her reputation on her dedication to social causes. Since marrying the King of Jordan in 2003 and becoming queen, Queen Rania has become even more involved on the global stage with various charities, including the Red Cross and the El-Hibri […]

German minister calls for EU sanctions over Iran crackdown

Germany’s foreign minister is calling for European Union entry bans and asset freezes against those responsible for what she described as brutal repression against anti-government protesters in Iran. The most sustained protests in years against Iran’s theocracy are now in their fourth week. They erupted Sept. 17 after the burial of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish […]

Saudi Arabia win bid to host 2029 Asian Winter Games

Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it has won a bid to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games at a planned mountain resort in the Gulf Arab state’s $500bn (£440bn) flagship Neom project. The kingdom will be the first nation from the Middle East to host the event, which features skiing, skating, ice hockey and other […]

Kuwait postpones first parliament session

Kuwait has postponed convening the first parliament session after elections to Oct. 18, the state news agency reported on Saturday. “The National Assembly’s first regular session of the 17th legislative term is adjourned until Oct. 18, head of Kuwait’s Center for Government Communication and spokesman Tareq Al-Mizrem said Saturday,” KUNA said in a statement. “This […]

The $5,000 spice you should be cooking with

‍ Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus. It is the world’s most expensive spice by weight per volume, with a single ounce costing as much as $5,500 in 2016. A little saffron goes a long way. This small quantity of spice can give any dish an earthy, pungent aroma and […]

Dutch rally to support Iranian protests over woman’s death

Thousands of chanting, singing people held a solidarity demonstration Saturday in The Hague in support of protesters in Iran who have taken to the streets since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini following her arrest for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code. Protesters gathered on a central park in the city waved flags […]

Spain says would support Ukraine joining its 2030 soccer World Cup bid with Portugal

Spain would support Ukraine joining its 2030 soccer World Cup hosting bid with Portugal, government spokeswoman Isabel Rodriguez said on Tuesday, asked about a report in The Times. The Times reported on Monday that Ukraine is set to join Spain and Portugal in their bid to host the soccer World Cup in 2030. The football […]

The breath of life: a brief history of belly dancing in the Middle East

‍ Before you read this article, let’s first agree on something. Let’s agree that the art of belly dancing is an incredible and mesmerizing performance art form. Let’s also agree that anyone who denies its beauty or poignancy must not have seen it performed well and correctly. Now, with this out of the way, let […]

Saudi Arabia agrees ‘memorandum of cooperation’ with Britain in energy sector

Saudi Arabia’s cabinet agreed on Tuesday on “a memorandum of cooperation” with Britain in the energy sector, Saudi state news agency SPA reported citing a cabinet statement. There were no further details mentioned in the statement. Image Credit: Akhilesh Sharma on Unsplash

EU foreign ministers to consider additional sanctions on Iran

The European Union is considering additional sanctions on Iran, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Thursday, as rights groups say thousands have been arrested and hundreds injured in a crackdown by Iranian security forces. EU foreign ministers will discuss further sanctions on Iran at their next meeting, Borrell told reporters in Prague. Image […]

A century after the Rosetta Stone was deciphered, Egypt is calling for its return

Tourism Minister Ahmed Issa emphasised last week at a celebration of the discipline’s 200th anniversary that Egyptian antiquities are one of the nation’s most significant tourism resources. Egypt’s leading archaeologists have recently petitioned for the return of the Rosetta Stone from the British Museum to Egypt, commemorating the deciphering of hieroglyphic writing and the birth […]

The wearing of the Islamic headscarf has returned to the heart of Turkey’s political debate

Turkey’s government and opposition both promised legal steps on Wednesday to enshrine women’s right to wear Islamic headscarves, returning to the heart of political debate ahead of next year’s elections an issue that once caused deep divisions. Presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled for next year, and opinion polls suggest that the outcome is still […]

Understanding the UAE-Syria ties: The economic and geopolitical dimensions

‍ Syria remains a significant country for the UAE in its continued efforts to diversify its economy. It is one of the largest Middle Eastern markets for Emirati companies, particularly in the oil sector, and has provided an important source of labour for the country. In contrast to other GCC states that have withdrawn their […]

Kuwait forms cabinet 

Kuwait appointed a new cabinet on Wednesday, naming Hussein Ismail as oil minister to replace Mohammed Al-Fares and reappointing finance minister Abdul Wahab al-Rasheed. Sheikh Abdullah Ali al-Salem al-Sabah, has been appointed as the new defence minister. The outgoing government had resigned following parliamentary elections last month in the Gulf OPEC oil producer. Kuwait’s Parliament […]

Paris joins other French cities in World Cup TV boycott

Paris will not broadcast World Cup matches on big screens in public fan zones due to concerns over rights violations of migrant workers and the environmental impact of the tournament in Qatar. The moves to boycott the competition next month come after what has been described as a “last minute crisis of conscience” by the […]

Baquer Namazi freed after six years in Iranian jail

Baquer Namazi, an 85-year-old Iranian American who was jailed in Iran on spying charges the United States called baseless, is now in Abu Dhabi and will soon receive urgent medical care, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday. Namazi, who had been detained since 2016, travelled to Abu Dhabi after departing Iran for […]

French actresses cut hair in solidarity with Iran protests

Leading French actresses including Juliette Binoche and Isabelle Huppert have cut locks of hair in protest over the death of Mahsa Amini, the young Iranian woman who died while in the custody of Iran’s morality police. The past two weeks have seen significant unrest in the Middle Eastern country in which over 130 people have […]

The Meaning of Armed Forces Day in Egypt

‍ Armed Forces Day is a national holiday in Egypt and is observed on October 6 every year. It’s a day of pride for all citizens who are aware of their country’s gallant military history and the sacrifices made by its men and women in uniform over the past couple of decades. Who Celebrates Armed […]

Turkey summons Swedish envoy over ‘insulting content’ about Erdogan on TV -Anadolu

NATO member Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador over “insulting content” about President Tayyip Erdogan aired on Swedish public service television, Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu Agency said on Wednesday. Sweden and Finland applied for membership in NATO earlier this year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. So far 28 of the current 30 member states’ parliaments have approved […]

4 Ways in Which Dabke is Keeping Palestinian Culture Alive

‍ Dabke is a traditional Palestinian dance that is often performed at weddings, parties and other gatherings. It’s been around for centuries, and it has played an important role in keeping Palestinian culture alive by helping to preserve it. Dabke involves energetic movements, hand clapping and foot stomping. It can be performed solo or in […]

The Future of Desalination in the Middle East

‍ The Middle East has the third largest quantity of desalinated water globally, but it’s also the region where desalination is used most intensively. With freshwater reserves rapidly depleting, and climate change creating drier conditions in some areas, desalination is set to play an even greater role in the future. This article explores the current […]

UAE prince accused of helping Roman Abramovich evade sanctions

The billionaire deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, faces the prospect of an investigation over allegations that he helped wealthy Russian oligarchs evade sanctions.  Mansour, who also owns Manchester City Football Club faces the prospect of being investigated by the British foreign office on charges that he […]

Fake bomb threat made on Iran-China plane

Iranian airliner, Mahan Air’s Tehran to Guangzhou flight arrived safely and on time at its Chinese destination, Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency said on Monday, after a report of a bomb scare on board, Reuters reports. India’s Air Force (IAF) said it had scrambled fighter jets after receiving information of a bomb scare on an airline bearing Iranian registration […]

King Charles and Prince William will not attend COP 27

A royal source has confirmed that the UK’s King Charles will not attend COP27 which is set to be held in Egypt in November as he distances himself from campaigning roles.  Although the King is a passionate environmental campaigner, he has abandoned plans to attend the climate change summit after prime minister Liz TRuss told […]

Ahead of COP27 the 1st Arab Climate Forum begins

The first edition of the Arab Climate Forum has begun in Egypt with the focus on sustainability issues. Taking place in Cairo under the patronage and in the presence of Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal Al-Saud, president of both the Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND) and the Arab Council for Childhood and Development, and Egyptian […]

King Abdullah II & Queen Rania to visit Oman today

Jordan’s King Abdullah II, accompanied by Queen Rania and Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, will arrive in Oman on Tuesday for an official visit,  according to a statement issued by the Diwan of Royal Court today. The statement reads as follows: “Stemming from the well-established relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Hashemite Kingdom […]

Australia to launch rescue mission to rescue families of Islamic State fighters

The Australian government is preparing to launch a mission to rescue dozens of Australian women and children trapped in Syrian detention camps following a secret mission by the country’s security intelligence agency, media reported on Monday.. More than 20 Australian women and more than 40 children – the widows, sons and daughters of slain or […]

90 years of independence in Iraq

‍ Iraq has a complex history with many layers. Similarly, its Independence Day represents a mixture of meanings and celebrations. While the modern country of Iraq is relatively new, it’s also one filled with strife and instability. The country has been through multiple conflicts and occupations that have shaped its history in significant ways. Within […]

Yemen’s warring sides fail to extend UN-backed truce

Yemen’s warring sides have failed to reach an agreement to extend a nationwide cease-fire, the U.N. said Sunday, endangering the longest lull in fighting since the country’s bloody civil war began. In a statement, the U.N.’s envoy to Yemen called on all sides to refrain from acts of provocation as the talks continue, after the […]

Opposition groups win almost 60% of Kuwait’s National Assembly

Kuwaiti opposition groups secured almost 60 per cent of the seats in the 50-seat National Assembly, according to the final results of early parliamentary elections announced on Friday, Anadolu News Agency reports. According to the results, only 23 members of the previous parliament managed to keep their seats in the new parliament, while 27 are new members. […]

Turkey joins condemnation of Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territory

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday it rejects Russia’s annexation of four regions in Ukraine, adding the decision is a “grave violation” of international law. Turkey, a NATO member, has conducted a diplomatic balancing act since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. Ankara opposes Western sanctions on Russia and has close ties with both Moscow […]

Four years on from Jamal Khashoggi’s murder

The current political climate, which is characterized by mistrust, fear-mongering and propaganda, makes it seem like we’ve never been so disconnected from one another. This is why the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi will have a lasting effect on global relations for decades to come. From Russia to the United States and everywhere in between, […]

Iranian American held in Tehran granted temporary release

An Iranian American businessman, Siamak Namazi who has been imprisoned in Iran for almost seven years has been released from Tehran’s Evin prison on a one-week, renewable furlough, the United Nations announced on Saturday. Siamak was convicted of espionage-related charges rejected by Washington as baseless. Separately, Namazi’s father and former United Nations official Baquer Namazi, who was […]

Lebanese parliament fails to elect new president

 The Lebanese parliament failed to elect a new head of state on Thursday to replace President Michel Aoun when his term ends on Oct. 31. The bulk of votes cast by lawmakers at Thursday’s session — 63 — were blank. Christian politician Michel Moawad won the backing of 36 of 122 lawmakers who attended. 11 […]

UN envoy warns that return to war in Yemen ‘real’

The UN envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg warned that the risk of a return to fighting “is real,” urging warring parties to accept a longer extension of the current ceasefire due to expire next month. Grunberg comments follow a meeting with Yemeni, Saudi and Omani officials in Riyadh and Muscat this week as the deadline for renewing Yemen’s truce approaches. Yemen has […]

Egypt retrieves smuggled Isis statue from Switzerland

Egypt has recovered an ancient bronze statue taken out of the country illegally. It dates to the Late Period of around 664 to 332 B.C. and depicts the goddess Isis carrying her son Horus. Wael Gad, Egypt’s ambassador to Switzerland, received the statue, which was kept at the embassy in preparation for its return to […]

Christie’s Dubai to exhibit rare artwork

Christie’s Middle East and North Africa has announced its latest exhibition which will be open to the public and feature a selection of works of art from across a number of forthcoming auctions taking place at Christie’s Dubai. The exhibition will be open from September 28 until October 3. The exhibition, taking place in DIFC, […]

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe cuts hair in support of Iran protests

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has filmed herself cutting her hair in solidarity with protesters in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini. The past 12 days have seen significant unrest in the Middle Eastern country after the death in custody of Amini, who died in custody following her arrest on September 13 in Tehran for “unsuitable attire” by the […]

Italy’s Meloni praises ‘heroic uprising’ of Iranian women

Giorgia Meloni, set to become Italy’s first female prime minister, hailed on Wednesday “the heroic uprising of Iranian women” following the death of a young woman in police custody. The tweet was one of Meloni’s first statements since her nationalist Brothers of Italy party won a parliamentary election on Sunday, propelling her conservative alliance to […]

Lebanon announces hike in fixed exchange rate against dollar

The Lebanese Finance Ministry said Wednesday the crisis-hit country will hike its fixed exchange rate against the dollar to 15,000 Lebanese pounds starting in November, calling it a “necessary corrective action.” The Lebanese pound was pegged at just over 1,500 pounds to the dollar in 1997 to encourage investor confidence and to stall hyperinflation after […]

Denmark unveil World Cup ‘protest’ kits

Denmark will wear shirts at the World Cup that criticise the human rights record of the host nation Qatar, with a black option unveiled to honour migrant workers who died during construction work for the finals tournament. “The color of mourning,” kit manufacturer Hummel said in a post on Instagram releasing the black third-choice design. “While we support the […]

Pope Francis to travel to Bahrain 

Pope Francis will travel to Bahrain in November to share his message of dialogue with the Muslim world, in his first visit to the country the Vatican said Wednesday. Bahrain is home to the Gulf’s first Catholic Church, located in the capital Manama, as well as its biggest one, Our Lady of Arabia Cathedral, which […]

Seven wounded in rocket attack on Iraq’s Green Zone

Three Katyusha rockets landed in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone on Wednesday,  injuring seven security force members while Iraq’s parliament voted to reject the resignation of speaker Mohammed Halbousi, Iraq’s military said. Security forces blocked bridges to the central Green Zone and imposed a curfew on buses, motorcycles and trucks. Another rocket later fell near the […]

UN nuclear watchdog, Iranian officials meet in Vienna

The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog said he met with his Iranian counterpart in Vienna for talks about an ongoing investigation into manmade uranium particles found at undeclared sites in Iran. “Dialogue has restarted with Iran on clarification of outstanding safeguards issues,” Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), […]

Lebanon’s Parliament speaker to call session to elect new president

Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri is expected to call for a session to elect a new president on September 29, an official source told Reuters, despite no political consensus on a candidate. The session will be held just over a month before current President Michel Aoun’s term is set to end on October 31. By convention, the president […]

Turkey summons German envoy after politician likens Erdogan to ‘sewer rat’

Turkey’s foreign ministry summoned the German ambassador to Ankara on Tuesday after the Bundestag’s vice president compared Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to a “sewer rat.” “We condemn in the strongest terms the insulting statements made by Mr. Wolfgang Kubicki, the Vice President of the Federal Parliament of Germany, about our President,” the Turkish ministry said in […]

Mohammed bin Salman named prime minister

Mohammed bin Salman has been named prime minister of Saudi Arabia in a move that experts said would probably shield the crown prince from a potentially damaging lawsuit in the US in connection to his alleged role in the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday that King Salman […]

Lebanon passes 2022 budget

Lebanon’s politicians approved the 2022 budget following a day of protests outside the Parliament building. The agreement on the budget is one of the key conditions set by the International Monetary Fund for a bailout which legislators are relying on to help the economy. Legislators on Monday approved the budget with 63 votes in favour and […]

Influential Muslim religious leader Yusuf al-Qaradawi dies aged 96

Senior Muslim cleric Sheikh Youssef al-Qaradawi, a spiritual leader for the Muslim Brotherhood and defender of Arab Spring revolts, died on Monday at age 96, according to a post on his official Twitter account. Al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian who was based in Qatar, was the chairman of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, and also a […]

Explosion near police building in Turkey kills one police officer

One police officer was killed on Monday when a bomb exploded near a residence that houses police in the southern Turkish province of Mersin, while a second officer was wounded, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said. He said the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) was responsible for the attack, which occurred around 10:40 p.m. (local time), and […]

Kuwait’s elections: a brief round up of you need to know

As the registration period for the upcoming 2020 National Assembly elections ended on Wednesday, all eyes are on the 376 candidates that are running for a seat in the upcoming legislative term. The election in Kuwait set to be held on September 29. There are 376 candidates in the running for the elections — 349 […]

Iraqi PM Al Kadhimi calls for third national dialogue

Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi on Friday called for a third round of national dialogue to resolve the country’s ongoing political crisis. Al Kadhimi has served in a caretaker PM role since a general election last October, as Iraqi political factions continue to squabble over forming a government. “My government has called for a serious and […]

Saudi foreign minister says signs of Iran deal progress are ‘not positive’

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Friday there is little optimism for the status of nuclear negotiations with Iran. “We are hopeful that there is still potential for progress of the negotiations. But unfortunately, the signs, as of now, are not positive,” Prince Faisal said. The Saudi diplomat spoke to media following […]

Iran will act decisively following largest protests in years, president says

 Iran must deal decisively with protests which have swept the country after the death in custody of a woman detained by the Islamic Republic’s morality police, President Ebrahim Raisi said on Saturday. At least 41 people have been killed in the week-long unrest, state television said on Saturday. It said that toll was based on […]

7 Reasons Why Yemen’s Revolution Day is Worth Celebrating

‍ There are many days that we can celebrate as the fruit of successful revolutions and resistance movements. Many of these days have been officially declared as commemorative dates, to acknowledge the sacrifices made by those who stood up for their most basic rights. These are the dates when protests, demonstrations, and other activities took […]

‘The Crown’ to return in November with new queen

The Crown will return to its Netflix throne in early November. The drama series about Queen Elizabeth II and her extended family will begin its fifth season on November 9, the streaming service said on Saturday. The premiere will come two months after the Queen’s September 8 death at the age of 96. The Queen’s death meant that […]

Uganda’s Ebola Crisis: What You Need to Know

‍ Ebola virus disease, or EVD, is a dreadful disease that causes high fever, rash, red eyes, and bleeding from the nose and gums. It’s a hemorrhagic fever that can lead to death in 40-90% of cases. EVD outbreaks typically occur in remote areas with poor hygiene and limited access to medical care. The primary […]

Roger Federer’s farewell

The Big Four – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray played their first and last game together last week. They only played four games and Federer and Nadal won 3-1, yet Djokovic described the game as “the most incredible practise session I’ve ever experienced in my life.”  The game or a Federer […]

Musk says he will activate Starlink for Iranians

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has been given the green light by the United States government to activate the satellite internet service Starlink to help Iranians protesting against the death of a woman in police custody. This follows US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s tweet that the United States took action “to advance internet freedom and […]

Saudi Arabia announces plans to send female astronaut to space in 2023

Saudi Arabia said Thursday it will launch a training program with the goal of sending its own astronauts, including a woman, into space next year. The kingdom is actively promoting science and technology as part of its wide-ranging Vision 2030 plan to overhaul its economy and reduce its dependency on oil. The plan, championed by Saudi Arabia’s […]

Qatar Museums collaborates with New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art

Qatar Museums will collaborate with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in a partnership involving the exchange of exhibitions, programs and scholarly cooperation, Qatar News Agency reported on Wednesday.  Qatar Museums has made a significant donation to the New York museum to commemorate the reopening of Qatar’s reimagined Museum of Islamic Art and […]

Dior to present men’s pre-fall collection in Egypt

French fashion house Dior will showcase their men’s pre-fall ‘Celestial’ collection against the majestic backdrop of the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 3. On December 3, the show will take place in the foreground of the Giza Pyramids near the nation’s capital, Cairo, marking Dior’s latest destination runway. According to a statement […]

Saudi Arabia’s Hajj Stampede – A Humanitarian Disaster

‍ The Hajj, or pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, is one of the five pillars of Islam. Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it must perform the Hajj once in their lifetime. In recent years, the number of people traveling from around the world to complete their Hajj has soared […]

Growing cholera outbreak in Syria infects hundreds, leaving 39 dead

A deadly cholera outbreak in Syria has killed at least 39 people and infected hundreds more this past month, health officials said Wednesday, raising concerns about whether the war-torn country can put a stop to its spread. The U.N. and Syria’s Health Ministry have said the source of the outbreak is believed to be linked […]

David Beckham lands a seven-figure sum as he signs a deal with Qatar’s World Cup sponsor

David Beckham has reportedly landed another big-money deal as part of his involvement in Qatar’s upcoming World Cup. The former footballer has landed a seven-figure deal from sponsor Doritos, to appear in TV and print adverts during the tournament which is set to begin in November, after previously signing a controversial £10 million contract to […]

Qatar and Iran sign world’s largest saffron deal

On Monday, Iran secured a $300 million deal with Qatar to supply saffron to the Gulf country in what has been described as the world’s largest ever saffron export deal. The recently inked agreement, with an initial estimated worth of $300 million, will see approximately 200 tons of Iranian saffron shipped to Qatar. According to […]

Saudi National Day: what it means to be Saudi

‍ The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia turns 61 this year. To mark the occasion on Sept. 23, the country will hold a public holiday (National Day), as it does every year.  What Being Saudi Means To understand the importance of National Day in the kingdom, we must first understand what it means to be Saudi. […]

Saudi Central Bank raises key interest rates by 75 bps

The Saudi Central Bank said on Wednesday it increased its key interest rates by 75 basis points, moving in tandem with the U.S. Federal Reserve’s hike as the Saudi riyal is pegged to the dollar. The Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, lifted its repo and reverse repo rates by 75 bps to 3.75% […]

Two dead after helicopter crashes en route to Turkish wildfire

 A firefighting helicopter crashed Wednesday as it headed to the Turkish port of Marmaris to combat a wildfire, killing two Russian crew members, Turkey’s minister of agriculture and forestry said. The minister, Vahit Kirsci, said two Turkish citizens and three others Russians on the helicopter were injured but were not in critical condition. The deceased […]

Lebanon’s banks to remain shut

Lebanon’s banks are set to remain shut indefinitely, the country’s banking association said in a statement on Wednesday, citing ongoing “the continued risks to bank employees and customers inside branches, and in light of the ongoing atmosphere of incitement” to employees following a spree of bank stick-ups last week. Banks were meant to reopen on […]

Amid growing unrest, Iran restricts access to Instagram, WhatsApp

Iran curbed access on Wednesday to Meta Platforms’ (META.O) Instagram and WhatsApp, two of the last remaining social networks in the country, amid protests over the death of a woman in police custody, residents and internet watchdog NetBlocks said. NetBlocks also reported a “nation-scale loss of connectivity” on Iran’s mail mobile telephone provider and another company’s network. […]

Iran says it’s ready for new nuclear deal but asks if US is

 Iran’s president insisted Wednesday that his country is serious about reviving a deal meant to prevent it from acquiring a nuclear bomb but questioned whether Tehran could trust America’s commitment to any eventual accord. The U.S. had already “trampled” on a previous deal, President Ebrahim Raisi told the U.N. General Assembly, referring to America’s decision […]

DP World wins another ruling in battle over Djibouti port

Dubai-based shipping giant DP World said Tuesday it has won another ruling in a longstanding legal battle over the operation of a strategic port in the African nation of Djibouti. Dubai-based DP World said an appeals court in Hong Kong agreed with its request to keep its lawsuit against China Merchants Port Holdings in Hong […]

Israel, Bahrain begin free trade agreement talks

Israel and Bahrain have begun negotiating a free trade agreement, Israel’s Economy Ministry said on Tuesday. Israel normalised diplomatic relations with Bahrain and its Gulf neighbour the United Arab Emirates (UAE) two years ago under U.S. sponsorship in the Abraham Accords. Israel and Bahrain have already inked a number of deals – including one related defence – […]

German foreign minister urges Iran listen to women protesters

Germany’s foreign minister on Tuesday called on Iran’s leadership to listen to the women protesting in the streets over the death of a woman in police custody, saying they were standing up for basic human rights. Mahsa Amini, 22, from Iran’s Kurdistan province, fell into a coma and died while waiting with other women held […]

Qatar Celebrates 51 Years of Relations with the United Nations

‍ Today marks Qatar’s celebration of 51 years of diplomatic relations with the United Nations. Today, the partnership between Qatar and the United Nations is stronger than ever.  Qatar and the United Nations: A Strong Partnership for a Good Cause Qatar’s partnership with the United Nations is a longstanding one that has proven its strength […]

Israeli, Turkish leaders meet at UN

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday for the first face-to-face talks between leaders of the U.S.-allied nations since 2008, Lapid’s office said. Relations between the two countries have warmed in recent months, with the announcement of the restoration of full […]

Turkey’s Vice President reacts to Pelosi’s remarks on Armenia

Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said on Monday that U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s “biased” statements regarding the clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan “sabotage diplomacy efforts” and were simply unacceptable. These statements follow Pelosi’s visit to Armenia this past weekend, in an unprecedented show of U.S. support for the country, which has been locked into […]

India, Saudi Arabia discuss rupee-riyal trade

The Indian government said on Monday that it had discussed the possibility of institutionalising rupee-riyal trade with its South Arabian counterpart. Both governments reaffirmed cooperation in joint projects including a refinery in western India, LNG infrastructure investment and the development of strategic petroleum storage facilities in India, the statement added. Image Credit: Piyush Goyal Twitter […]

France tells Iran nuclear deal is as good as it will get

France’s foreign minister called Monday on Iran to accept a proposal to revive a nuclear deal, warning that it will not get anything better. Western diplomats have said there are no active negotiations at the moment and that it is unlikely that a breakthrough could happen before the U.S. mid-term elections in November.  At the start of […]

United Arab Emirates to launch first lunar rover

The United Arab Emirates will launch its first lunar rover in November, the mission manager said Monday. Hamad Al Marzooqi told The National, a state-linked newspaper, that the “Rashid” rover, named for Dubai’s ruling family, would be launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida sometime between Nov. 9 and Nov. 15. The exact date […]

Five killed in Iran during protests over death in custody – rights group

Five people were killed in Iran’s Kurdish region on Monday when security forces opened fire during protests over the death of a woman in police custody, a Kurdish rights group said, on a third day of turmoil over an incident that has ignited nationwide anger. Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old from Iran’s Kurdistan province, fell into […]

President Aoun: Maritime border talks in ‘final stages’

Lebanese President Michel Aoun announced on Monday that negotiations to demarcate the southern maritime borders have reached the “final stages” in a way that guarantees the nation’s rights to explore for oil and gas. This follows the arrival of  Amos Hochstein, the U.S diplomat mediating talks between Lebanon and Israel over their shared maritime border […]

Iran police fire tear gas to disperse protesters over death in custody

Iranian police fired tear gas to disperse a protest in the western, mainly Kurdish city of Sanandaj, where hundreds rallied to decry the death of a young woman while in police custody in Tehran last week, reports said. The semiofficial Fars news agency reported late Sunday that police also arrested several people from about 500 […]

Gaza farmer finds Byzantine mosaic

An ornate Byzantine floor mosaic depicting a variety of colourful birds and other animals has been discovered in Gaza after a Palestinian farmer tried to plant new trees on his land. Salman al-Nabahin unearthed the relic six months ago while working in his olive orchard in Bureij refugee camp, about a kilometre (0.5 mile) from […]

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to miss queen’s funeral

Saudi Arabia’s de-facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is no longer expected to attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral on Monday, contrary to Britain’s earlier expectations that he would, amid backlash at his visit to the UK. A source said the change had been made by Saudi Arabia, Reuters reported. This comes after human rights groups […]

Queen’s funeral: what you can expect today

After days of lying-in-state, the body of the late Queen Elizabeth II will begin its final journey on Monday morning as part of a grand state funeral – first to Westminster Abbey, for a religious service in front of a congregation of thousands, and then on to Windsor Castle for a more intimate committal service […]

Queen Rania on women’s royal empowerment

The Queen of Jordan has described the late Queen Elizabeth II as “public service personified” and a role model “she always looked up to”. In a special interview with ITV News presenter Mary Nightingale, Queen Rania said the late monarch “really demonstrated what it means to be queen”.“For all of us – I think she […]

Saudi Arabia’s secret weapon: desalination

In the not-too-distant future, desalination could be the secret weapon of another major world power: Saudi Arabia. The country is already one of the largest producers of desalinated water in the world, and that’s just a minor use case for this process. With almost no natural freshwater sources left, Saudi Arabia has begun to ramp […]

Protests break out at funeral of Iranian woman who died after morals arrest

Protests broke out in western Iran on Saturday at the funeral of a young woman who died after being detained by morality police enforcing strict hijab rules, and security forces used tear gas to disperse demonstrators. Videos posted on social media showed protesters shouting anti-government slogans after gathering in Saqez, hometown of Mahsa Amini. They […]

Mayyas win ‘America’s Got Talent’ season 17

Lebanese dance troupe Mayyas have won America’s Got Talent season 17. During the emotional two-hour finale show, in which the results from public voting were revealed, the 11 finalists performed for a final time on the America’s Got Talent stage. Mayyas took the stage alongside Sellars for a mesmerising performance to a backdrop of gold lighting and received a standing […]

Dubai’s first Sail Grand Prix to take place in November

The world’s most exciting race on water is heading to Dubai for the first time, the first Dubai Sail Grand Prix is set to launch from Mina Rashid in the heart of Old Dubai on Nov. 12-13. The global league’s calendar includes iconic venues including Bermuda, Saint-Topez, Chicago, Singapore, San Fransisco, Sydney and Dubai is […]

Turkish court’s decision to uphold withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decision to withdraw Turkey’s membership from the Istanbul Convention regarding violence against women in 2021 was upheld by Turkey’s top administrative court in July. The Istanbul Convention, also known as the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence was designed in 2011 to […]

Yemenia Airways fined €225,000 for 2009 crash

Yemenia Airways have been handed the maximum fine by a French court over a fatal plane crash in Comoros in 2009. The airline was ordered to pay a 225,000 euro ($225,045) fin, as well as more than one million euros in damages and legal costs. “French justice has acknowledged that Yemenia committed serious mistakes,” said […]

UAE’s foreign minister arrives in Israel, marking 2 years of Abraham Accords

The foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed arrived in Tel Aviv on Wednesday for an official visit to Israel, marking two years since the countries signed the so-called Abraham Accords. The U.S.-brokered agreements have ushered in public rapprochements between Israel and several Arab states, with the UAE and Bahrain […]

U.S. set to withhold military aid to Egypt over human rights – official

The Biden administration has chosen to withhold $130 million of foreign military aid to Egypt over its failure to fulfil its human rights conditions, U.S. officials said on Wednesday, but permitted some funds to go through due to its determination that Cairo has made progress on political detentions. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has […]

US to give over $750 million in aid to Syrian people

The United States announced Wednesday that it intends to provide more than $750 million in additional humanitarian funding for the Syrian people. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the U.N. Security Council that the new donation is in addition to the over $800 million in added U.S. humanitarian aid for Syria that she announced at a donor’s conference […]

Israeli officer, 2 Palestinian militants killed in shootout

Palestinian gunmen opened fire on Israeli troops near a military checkpoint in the occupied West Bank Wednesday, killing an Israeli army officer, Israel’s military said. Palestinian officials said that troops killed the two gunmen. The overnight incident was the latest in a string of deadly clashes in recent months in the northern West Bank, where […]

Woman with toy gun holds up Beirut bank to demand her savings

A Lebanese woman held up a bank branch with what she described as a toy pistol yesterday to recover $13,000 of her savings to pay for her sister’s cancer treatment. Sali Hafez stormed into a branch of Blom Bank in Beirut with a realistic looking firearm and a group of activists. They were protesting against […]

Egyptian president in Qatar on official visit

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi arrived in Qatar on Tuesday on a two-day visit that caps a reconciliation between the two Arab nations after a four-year rift ended last year. The visit, announced on Twitter by the royal palace in Doha and Mr El Sisi’s office, was described by the Qatari news agency as the start of a […]

Saudi Arabia arrests man over pilgrimage for Queen Elizabeth

Saudi authorities have arrested a man who claimed to have travelled to the Muslim holy city of Mecca to perform an umrah pilgrimage on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II. The pilgrim, who was not identified by name, had posted footage earlier this week that showed him holding a banner honouring the late queen from inside […]

UN warns cholera outbreak in Syria is a ‘serious threat’ to the region

The outbreak of cholera in Syria presents a serious threat to people in Syria and the wider region, a U.N. official said Tuesday, insisting that urgent action is needed to prevent further cases and deaths. The statement by the U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Imran Riza, came after health officials in the country […]

Residential building collapses in Jordan leaving 2 dead

A four-story residential building collapsed in the Jordanian capital on Tuesday, killing at least two people and wounding 11 others, officials said. Although it was not immediately clear what brought down the building, which state media said was an older structure located in Jabal al-Weibdeh. The Public Security Directorate confirmed the toll, and authorities said […]

Germany in talks to buy Arrow 3 missile defence from Israel

Germany is in talks to buy the Arrow 3 missile defence system from Israel intended to strengthen the German armed forces following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said on a visit to the German capital on Monday. Germany has increased up its military spending after Russia sent troops into Ukraine in […]

Torch relay for Saudi Games 2022 begins in Riyadh

The Saudi capital of Riyadh witnessed on Sunday the launch of a torch relay for the Saudi Games 2022, the largest sporting event in the Kingdom’s history. The relay commences just weeks before the debut of the Kingdom’s most significant national sporting event. Traveling 3,500 kilometers across the country for a total of 22 days, […]

IS militants kill 6 US-backed fighters in eastern Syria

The Islamic State group killed six U.S.-backed Syrian fighters in eastern Syria saying on Monday that the killing was in retaliation for an ongoing operation inside a sprawling camp housing tens of thousands of family members of the extremist group. The IS-linked Aamaq news agency released a video showing the shooting of the six members […]

Lebanon’s Central Bank lifts all fuel subsidies

Lebanon’s central bank has lifted its remaining subsidies on fuel on Monday, gas station owners said, ending a year-long process of scaling back on the costly program. Over a year ago the Central Bank announced it would gradually lift fuel subsidies, to slow down the draining of its foreign exchange reserves. Fuel subsidies once cost the […]

Syria: 5 dead, many infected with cholera due to contaminated water

Five people died of cholera due to the contamination of drinking water in Syria. The Kurdish administration has appealed to international organizations to provide support to limit its spread. The main cause of the spread appears to be people drinking polluted water as well as watering plants in some areas with unclean water. The symptoms […]

The Arab states Queen Elizabeth II visited during her reign

The death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022, has consumed social media and the media worldwide. Following months of speculation and concern about her health, as the longest-reigning British monarch missed numerous official functions and began to appear increasingly fragile, Queen Elizabeth II died surrounded by close family members at Balmoral Castle in […]

Yemen minister calls for curbing Iran’s ‘subversive’ activities

Yemen’s information minister has called for stronger international action to rein in Iran’s destructive activities, warning that Iran is arming the Houthis to weaken the country and gain control over international trade and energy through the Red Sea. Muammar Al-Eryani wrote for the Atlantic Council that Iran is establishing a Yemeni Hezbollah model by arming […]

Saudi Arabia seizes 249,779 amphetamine pills

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA), reported on Sunday that the s General Directorate for Narcotics Control seized 249,779 amphetamine pills that were smuggled into Jeddah via the Jeddah Islamic Port. According to the SPA, the pills were hidden inside drilling equipment when the authorities discovered them. A citizen from Riyadh was also arrested and referred […]

Israel doesn’t see Iran nuclear deal happening before U.S. November mid-terms

Israel does not anticipate a renewal of Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers before the U.S. mid-term elections in November, an Israeli official said on Sunday. This follows European parties to the negotiations voicing frustration with Tehran’s latest demands. Israel previously supported then-U.S. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from a 2015 Iranian nuclear deal and has […]

Four Turkish soldiers killed in Iraq

Four Turkish soldiers were killed in a clash with militants in northern Iraq, Turkey’s defence ministry said late on Sunday. The ministry said the incident took place in a region where Turkey was carrying out a cross border operation. Image Credit: Tarik Haiga on Unsplash

Greek PM says armed conflict with Turkey won’t happen

Greece’s prime minister says that he cannot imagine that tensions with neighbouring NATO ally Turkey could ever escalate into armed conflict. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke at a press conference Sunday at the Thessaloniki International Fair, where he gave the keynote speech Saturday outlining his government’s economic policy goals. When asked by The Associated Press […]

Dubai grants provisional approval to crypto firm Blockchain.com

The Gulf region could become a hub for blockchain technology after a London-based crypto firm Blockchain.com has reportedly been awarded provisional approval to operate in Dubai. The company, which offers users a crypto wallet and is also a crypto exchange, said on Friday it had signed an agreement with Dubai’s crypto regulator Virtual Assets Regulatory […]

Egypt: 4 independent journalists questioned over reports

Egypt’s prosecutors have charged four journalists from one of the country’s few remaining independent news outlets of spreading false news and disturbing public peace, the news website said in a statement. Mada Masr said late Wednesday that the journalists were released on bail following their interrogation. At issue is an article saying that senior members […]

Albania reports 2nd cyberattack by Iran

Albania’s Interior Ministry said Saturday that one of its border systems was hit by a cyberattack that came from the same Iranian source as an earlier attack that led the country to break diplomatic relations with Iran. It said in a statement that the previous evening an Albanian police transmitting system was found to be […]

US envoy needs more time in Lebanon-Israel maritime dispute

The U.S. envoy mediating between Lebanon and Israel over the two countries’ disputed maritime border said Friday some progress has been made but that more work needs to be done to resolve the issue. Amos Hochstein, a senior adviser for energy security at the U.S. State Department, has been mediating between the two countries and […]

France, Germany, Britain press Iran on renewed nuclear deal

France, Germany and Britain have urged Iran to agree to a proposed relaunch of the agreement limiting its nuclear program, saying final texts of a deal have been readied but Iran “has chosen not to seize this critical diplomatic opportunity.” The three European governments said in a joint statement Saturday that Iran has instead raised […]

Lebanese dance group Mayyas receive high praise at ‘America’s Got Talent’ semi-final

The Lebanese all-female dance crew Mayyas made a spectacular return to the “America’s Got Talent” stage, earning a golden buzzer and hugs from “Modern Family” star and judge Sofia Vergara on the semi-final on Tuesday night. The all-female group received high praise as well as a standing ovation from all four judges — Vergara, Simon […]

Jason Derulo to perform in Dubai next month

Jason Derulo is set to perform at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai on October 28. Known for his iconic hits such as Watcha Say, Wiggle and Swalla Jason Derulo will be performing live at the Coca-Cola Arena, his first performance since hosting the  Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards in Abu Dhabi in 2019 as well as White Dubai and Drai’s Dubai. In […]

A recent history of Middle Eastern space exploration

In the past few years, the Middle East has made significant strides in the field of space exploration. In February 2021the UAE became the first Middle East country to successfully send a spacecraft into orbit around Mars and only the fifth country to do so. Achievements like this are the result of a long history […]

Its time for the leaders of the Middle East to take notes on Pakistan’s climate catastrophe

The Middle East is no stranger to floods. In recent years, the region has been hit by devastating floods that have killed hundreds of people and caused billions of dollars in damage. Just last month heavy rains caused flash floods that killed migrant workers in the UAE and forced more than 3,800 people to evacuate, damaging homes […]

Iran hires ex-Man Utd coach Carlos Queiroz for World Cup

The former Manchester United assistant Carlos Queiroz will reportedly lead Iran into the 2022 World Cup, where Iran will face USA, England and Wales in the group-stage at Qatar. Queiroz was hired to replace Dragan Skocic, and he will be reunited with Iranian soccer federation president Mehdi Taj, who was re-elected last month. Queiroz will now […]

Turkey’s Erdogan pledges to bolster stability in Balkans

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday pledged his country’s support in resolving long-standing disputes in the Balkans that continue to threaten stability in the troubled region. Speaking in the Serbian capital Belgrade, Erdogan expressed hope that a recent agreement settling a travel document dispute between Serbia and Kosovo can help further bolster regional stability. […]

Albania cuts diplomatic ties with Iran over July cyberattack

Albania cut diplomatic ties with Iran and expelled the country’s embassy staff over a major cyberattack nearly two months ago that was allegedly carried out by Tehran on Albanian government websites, the prime minister said Wednesday. The move by NATO member Albania was the first known case of a country cutting diplomatic relations over a […]

Families slam plans for 2nd judge to probe Beirut port blast

Dozens of relatives of the victims of Beirut’s massive port blast protested Wednesday against the judiciary’s plan to name a second investigative judge, calling the move an attempt by the country’s political class to prevent justice into one of the world’s largest non-nuclear explosions. The investigation into the blast, which killed 218 people, injured thousands […]

Iraq top court says it can’t dissolve parliament

Iraq’s top court ruled Wednesday that it does not have the legal right to dissolve parliament, a much anticipated decision that raises the stakes in the country’s unprecedented 11-month political crisis. The ruling by the Supreme Federal Court states the court does not have the legal authority under Iraq’s constitution to dissolve the legislature, which […]

Israeli troops kill Palestinian during West Bank clashes

Israeli forces killed a young Palestinian man during a raid on the northern occupied West Bank governorate of Tubas. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the man as Younis Ghassan Tayeh, 21, and said he had been killed after being shot in the chest on Wednesday in the al-Faraa refugee camp, a few kilometers south of […]

Qatar to reopen Museum of Islamic Art in October

Qatar Museums have announced that the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) is due to reopen on October 5 following several facility enhancements and a restructuring of its permanent collection. The museum, which originally opened in 2008, has been closed since April 2021 following the COVID-19 pandemic. Its reopening will feature a reinstallation of its permanent collection galleries, reconfigured […]

The World Cup: Turning Challenges to Opportunities in the Middle East

In November, Qatar will be hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup as the tiny Gulf state prepares to welcome more than a million-soccer fans. According to Qatar’s Central Bank, the government expects its gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 3.5 percent in 2022 from the world cup. But there is one problem, many of them can’t […]

Human rights groups condemn torture in Lebanese prisons

International human rights groups Tuesday condemned acts of torture in Lebanese prisons following the death of a Syrian refugee in detention and urged authorities to transfer the investigation into his death from a military to a civil court. Photos surfaced last week of the battered body of a Syrian who had been held for questioning. […]

Egypt withdraws from Arab League meeting due to Libya presidency row

Egypt’s foreign minister withdrew Tuesday from an Arab League session chaired by the chief diplomat of one of Libya’s two rival governments. The move was an apparent protest against her representing Libya at the pan-Arab summit. Egypt supports her administration’s rival. The seats of the Egyptian delegation were seen empty as Najla Mangoush, the foreign […]

Six Gulf Arab nations ask Netflix to remove ‘offensive’ videos

A group of Gulf Arab countries on Tuesday asked Netflix to remove “offensive content” on the streaming service, apparently targeting programs that show people who are gay and lesbian. A joint statement issued on behalf of a committee of the Gulf Cooperation Council made the request, saying the unspecified programs “contradict Islamic and societal values […]

Suspected AQ militants attack security post, 27 killed

Suspected al-Qaida militants on Tuesday attacked a security post in southern Yemen, sparking clashes that killed at least 21 troops and six militants, military officials said. The early morning attack in Ahwar, in the province of Abyan, targeted a post manned by troops from the Security Belt, a security force loyal to the secessionist Southern […]

Egypt detects its first monkeypox case

Egypt has detected the first monkeypox case in the country, an Egyptian man who has a residency in a European country, the health ministry said in statement on Wednesday. The 42-man was isolated in a hospital and his condition was stable, the statement added. Image Credit: NIAID

Turkey’s annual inflation passes 80% for first time in 24 years

Turkey’s annual inflation passed 80% in August, according to official data on Monday, further hitting consumers facing high energy, food and housing costs. The Turkish Statistical Institute said consumer prices rose by 80.21% from a year earlier, up 0.6 percentage points from the previous month. Independent experts say inflation is much higher than official statistics. […]

Electrical grid problems cut power to parts of Oman

Electrical grid problems cut power to parts of Oman for several hours on Monday, authorities said. The outage is said to have begun in the early afternoon and lasted for many of those affected until around 6 p.m.. The state-run Oman News Agency described the outage as a “partial blackout.” It said the outages affected […]

Iraq’s PM ends second round of talks

Iraq’s caretaker prime minister held a second round of talks Monday with Iraqi leaders aimed at resolving the ongoing political crisis between rival Shiite blocs, but the representatives of an influential cleric failed once again to attend the gathering. The seat reserved for Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s party was empty as Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi […]

Iran sentences 2 women to death for ‘human trafficking’

Iran has sentenced two women to death on charges of human trafficking, the country’s official IRNA news agency reported Monday, a penalty that has gained widespread condemnation online. Authorities accused the women — identified as Zahra Sedighi and Elham Chobdar — of “corruption on earth,” a term often used to describe attempts to undermine the […]

Egyptian student, 19, shot dead by suitor amid surge in Middle Eastern femicide rates

The fatal shooting of a 19-year-old student after she rejected a marriage proposal has provoked significant outrage at the prevalence of femicide in Egypt. Amani Abdul-Karim al-Gazzar, a physical education student, was shot in the back outside her family home on Saturday after she and her family turned down a marriage proposal by Ahmed Fathy, […]

US B-52 bombers fly over Middle East amid tensions with Iran

The United States military said Monday it flew a pair of nuclear-capable B-52 long-distance bombers over the Middle East in a show of force, the fourth of its kind this year in the region as tensions remain high between Washington and Tehran. The bombers took off from the Royal Air Force base at Fairford, England, […]

Israeli army says ‘high probability’ soldier killed reporter

The Israeli military on Monday announced the long-awaited results of its investigation into the deadly shooting of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, saying there was a “high probability” an Israeli soldier had mistakenly killed her during a raid in the occupied West Bank last May. The Palestinian-American, 51, who worked for Al Jazeera, was […]

Israel to ban Boeing 747s, other 4-engine planes due to environmental concerns

 Israel will ban Boeing 747 and similar aircraft with four engines as of March 31, 2023 to reduce noise and air pollution, its airports authority said on Sunday. This is part of a bid to bring down noise and air pollution, the airports authority is quoted saying by Reuters. The Israel Airports Authority says it […]

Turkish court orders pro-Kurdish politician jailed on terrorism charge

A Turkish court has ordered the pre-trial jailing of a pro-Kurdish member of parliament on a terrorism charge, Istanbul police and her lawyer said, while her party called the detention illegitimate and unethical. Semra Guzel, a member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), had her parliamentary immunity lifted in March after photos of her from […]

US mediator in Lebanon-Israel maritime talks to arrive in Beirut this week

The U.S diplomat mediating talks between Lebanon and Israel over their shared maritime border, Amos Hochstein, is set to arrive in Beirut at the end of the week, a statement from Lebanon’s presidential palace said on Sunday. The statement said Hochstein would be in Lebanon to follow up on discussions with the Lebanese side on […]

50 years on from the Munich Olympics massacre

On the night of 4 September 1972, the Israeli Olympic delegation returned to their apartment at Connollystrasse 31 in the north of Munich. Just hours later, a group of eight Palestinian militants, dressed in tracksuits and carrying weapons in bags, approached the fences of the Olympic village. Alongside unsuspecting athletes, they climbed the fence and […]

South African pilot dies in Dubai glider crash

A glider crashed near a skydiving company in Dubai on Sunday and its South African pilot was killed, the country’s state-run news agency reported, just days after a similar incident of a amateur glider crash . The authorities did not specify the cause of the “amateur glider” crash, or elaborate on where exactly in the city […]

Tunisia’s breakthrough negotiations with the UGTT

The Tunisian government and the powerful General Labour Union (UGTT), which represents more than a million workers, have completed a third round of talks regarding the socio-economic circumstances of public sector workers as well as Tunisians as a whole. The UGTT said the proposals made by the government so far have not lived up to […]

UN chief appoints former Senegalese minister to head UN Libya mission

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the appointment Friday of former Senegalese minister and U.N. diplomat Abdoulaye Bathily to become the new U.N. envoy to Libya after the Security Council gave its approval, marking the end of a nine-month search amid increasing chaos in the oil-rich north African nation. Libya’s transitional government, which opposed Bathily’s nomination, reportedly […]

Iran briefly seizes US surface drones from Red Sea

Iran says its navy seized two unmanned US drones from the Red Sea. Iranian state television aired footage it said came from the deck of the Iranian navy’s Jamaran destroyer, where lifejacket-wearing sailors examined two Saildrone Explorers. They tossed one overboard as another warship could be seen in the distance. Iran has no coastline along […]

Iran sends nuclear talks response; US casts doubt on offer

Iran sent a written response early Friday in negotiations over a final draft of a roadmap for parties to return to its tattered nuclear deal with world powers, though the U.S. cast doubt on Tehran’s offer. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said in a statement that “the sent text has a constructive approach with the […]

Hamas executes 5 Palestinians in Gaza, including 2 for ‘collaboration’

The Hamas movement ruling the Gaza Strip announced on Sunday that it executed five Palestinians. “On Sunday morning, the death sentence was carried out against two condemned over collaboration with the occupation (Israel), and three others in criminal cases,” Hamas said in a statement. It added that the defendants had previously been given “their full […]

World Cup beer policy finally agreed on

Organizers of the World Cup in Qatar have finalized a policy to serve beer with alcohol to soccer fans at stadiums and fan zones in the Muslim-majority country. FIFA said Saturday fans will be allowed to buy Budweiser beer with alcohol within the eight stadium compounds — though not at concourse concession stands — before and after […]

Turkey’s Erdogan ups rhetoric on Greece

Turkish President Recap Tayypip Erdogan hardened his tone against Greece on Saturday, threatening to “come down suddenly one night.” Whilst speaking at an aerial technology festival in Samsun, where Turkey displayed the prototype of an unmanned fighter jet, Erdogan lashed out at neighbouring Greece amid political and military tensions. Turkey has accused Greece of using […]

Lebanon parliament speaker asks Iraq’s Sadr to retract resignation

 Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who also heads a major Shi’ite Muslim political party, on Wednesday urged Iraqi Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to retract his resignation from politics. Berri was speaking to supporters gathered in south Lebanon to mark the disappearance of cleric Musa al-Sadr 44 years ago. This comes as 12 protesters were killed […]

Giant elephant tusk discovered in southern Israel

An ancient elephant tusk dating to around half a million years ago was uncovered, completely unscathed, by archaeologists in kibbutz Revadim in Israel’s South, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced on Wednesday. The Israel Antiquities Authority announced Wednesday that the 2.5-meter (yard) long fossil belonging to the long-extinct straight-tusked elephant was found during a joint excavation with […]

“Compulsory profession.” How can climate change place additional obligations on Egyptian women?

Women working in agriculture in Egypt, Credit: Chrouq Ghonim. Accompanied by the women of the village, Nahamdo El-Shahat (55 years) walks for two hours a day from the village of Al-Dahsa, located in the Farshout Center in Qena Governorate, to neighboring villages to fill water buckets for her family to obtain safe drinking water. According […]

Corrupted like Beckham 

David Beckham, superstar footballer and global celebrity boasting millions of followers on social media has launched a holiday campaign with Qatar Tourism. Although Beckham and his wife Victoria have an estimated fortune of £380 million, this has not prevented him from becoming the face of Qatar’s tourism industry, ahead of the November World Cup, for […]

Israel attacks Aleppo’s international airport with rockets -Syria’s state news agency

Israel targeted Aleppo’s international airport with rockets, Syria’s state news agency (SANA) said on Wednesday, citing a military source. It added the strike only resulted in material damage after earlier reporting blasts were heard over the city. No comment was immediately reported from the Israeli side.

Iran seeks stronger U.S. guarantees for revival of 2015 nuclear deal

Iran wants stronger guarantees from Washington for the revival of a 2015 nuclear deal, its foreign minister said in Moscow on Wednesday, adding that the U.N. atomic watchdog should drop its “politically motivated probes” of Tehran’s nuclear work. After 16 months of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said […]

Jordan’s Queen Rania celebrates 52nd birthday with family

Queen Rania of Jordan turned 52 yesterday, surrounded by her family. The royal shared a photo of herself celebrating with her family, including new additions Crown Prince Hussein’s fiancée Rajwa Al-Saif and Princess Iman’s fiancé Jameel Alexander Thermiotis.  “My heart is full! Couldn’t ask for a better way to celebrate than with all my loved ones […]

Staff strike paralyzes internet services in southern Lebanon

Telecommunication networks in southern Lebanon were completely out of service on Wednesday. It is possible that other regions may follow suit, portending a nationwide telecom and internet outage. A total of 5,674 employees at the Ministry of Communications and state-run internet provider Ogero went on strike, demanding a salary increase. Maintenance on the telephone networks […]

Israel sanctions 20 companies/individuals allegedly linked to Hamas financial network

Israel on Wednesday imposed sanctions on 20 companies and individuals operating across the Middle East that it claims are involved in financing the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The sanctions are directed against what the Defense Ministry described as an international network operating “under the guise of legitimate companies” in Sudan, Turkey, Algeria and the United […]

Saudi Arabia opens probe over forces filmed beating women

Saudi Arabia said Wednesday it opened an investigation after videos purportedly showed security forces beating women at an orphanage in the kingdom’s southwest. The governor of Saudi Arabia’s Asir region formed a committee to probe the beatings captured in the online video and “refer the case to the competent authorities,” the state-run Saudi Press Agency […]

Palestinian detainee ends hunger strike, expects release

A Palestinian detainee held by Israel without charge or trial said Wednesday that he is ending his nearly six-month hunger strike after reaching an agreement that will see him released in October. Lawyers and physicians had warned that the Khalil Awawdeh, a 40-year-old father of four from the occupied West Bank, was at risk of […]

Saudi woman gets 45-year prison term for social media posts

 A Saudi Arabian court has sentenced a woman to 45 years in prison for social media posts, a rights group said, in the latest example of a crackdown on women activists following a controversial visit by U.S. President Joe Biden to the kingdom. Nourah bint Saeed al-Qahtani was convicted “likely within last week” by the […]

Why Greece is turning to the Arabs for investments

‍ Greece is a small country. With a population of just 11 million, and an economy the size of New Zealand’s, small nations don’t have many options when it comes to international partnerships that can make a big difference. Perhaps that’s why Greece’s close relationship with Saud Arabia has provoked their interest in the UAE. […]

Qatar opens sports museum ahead of World Cup

Qatar is preparing to launch the Olympic and Sports Museum to coincide with the World Cup, which will begin in November. It is set to be one of the world’s largest sports museums, covering over 204,000 square feet. It includes five floors, a gift shop, a library, research facilities, and an auditorium. It will highlight […]

Iran sentences 2 Swedes to prison terms over drugs

Iran sentenced two Swedish citizens to multiyear prison terms on charges of drug smuggling, the judiciary announced on Tuesday, the latest in a string of cases heightening tensions between the Islamic Republic and the Nordic nation. Iran’s hard-line judiciary handed down a five-year sentence and fine of roughly $34,000 to Swedish national Simon Kasper Brown […]

First grain shipment departs Ukraine for Yemen

The first vessel carrying grain from Ukraine to conflict-torn Yemen since the war started in Europe departed a Black Sea port on Tuesday, the U.N. food agency said. The move is set to help ease one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The World Food Program said the MV Karteria, with 37,000 metric tons of […]

UAE to grant visas to World Cup ticket holders

The United Arab Emirates will grant visas to those holding tickets to the World Cup in neighboring Qatar, the country announced Tuesday. The UAE said in a statement those registered for Qatar’s Hayya fan card will be able to apply for multiple-entry visas 19 days before the tournament starts. Those granted visas will be able […]

Are Israel’s enemies becoming more “Jihadist”?

This year again as every year, Israel was under attack. Only this time, a new type of assailant committed the atrocities. Some of the attacks earlier this year were inspired by ISIS, which is picking ground within the West Bank and the Israeli Arab community. Most of the lone attackers were known to the Israeli […]

Saudi Arabia may cut October crude prices for Asia

Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia could slash October prices for most crude grades it sells to Asia after a plunge in spot premiums as tepid fuel demand and increasing arbitrage cargoes put pressure on oil prices in the region. State oil giant Saudi Aramco could cut the official selling price (OSP) for its flagship Arab […]

Turkish pop star jailed over joke placed on house arrest

A Turkish court on Monday released pop star Gulsen from jail but placed her on house arrest as she awaits trial on charges of “inciting hatred and enmity” for a joke she made about Turkey’s religious schools. Last week, the 46-year-old singer and songwriter, whose full name is Gulsen Colakoglu, was taken away from her […]

Turkish opposition seeks probe into bribery allegations

Turkish opposition parties on Monday filed legal complaints to press Turkish prosecutors into investigating corruption allegations made by a fugitive mafia boss against people close to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party. In a series of tweets over the weekend, Sedat Peker — a crime boss-turned-whistleblower — accused the former head of the Turkish Capital […]

Lebanon presidential candidate backs anti-Hezbollah platform

The granddaughter of a former Lebanese president Monday announced her bid for the cash-strapped country’s upcoming presidential elections on a platform critical of the Iran-backed Shiite group Hezbollah. The country’s political woes are compounded by its crippling economic crisis, which the World Bank says is one of the worst worldwide in over a century. The […]

Baghdad palace invasion triggers clashes

Followers of militia leader Moqtada al-Sadr stormed the Green Zone in Baghdad last night after he announced his withdrawal from politics, a move largely viewed as a power play in a fight for control against Iranian-backed groups. Fifteen of al-Sadr’s supporters were shot dead and 270 others injured in clashes with security forces and rival […]

Followers of Iraqi Shiite cleric storm palace; curfew called

Hundreds of followers of an influential Shiite cleric stormed Iraq’s government palace on Monday shortly after he announced he was withdrawing from politics, further deepening an unprecedented political crisis. Muqtada al-Sadr’s followers stormed the Republican Palace, a key meeting place for Iraqi heads of state and foreign dignitaries, for the first time. On July 30, […]

Rights groups urge Yemen’s Houthis to end Taiz blockade

Sixteen rights groups on Monday urged Yemen’s Houthi rebels to end their siege of the country’s third-largest city. The groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, said in a joint statement the Houthi blockade of Taiz has severely restricted freedom of movement and impeded the flow of essential goods, medicine, and humanitarian aid to […]

Raisi: No way back to nuclear deal if probe goes on

Iran’s president warned Monday that any roadmap to restore Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal with world powers must see international inspectors end their probe on man-made uranium particles found at undeclared sites in the country. In a rare news conference marking his first year in office, President Ebrahim Raisi also issued threats against Israel and tried […]

UAE orders urgent relief aid for flood-hit Pakistan victims

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has ordered the dispatch of 3,000 tons of critical aid to support the victims of the floods in Pakistan, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported. Relief teams have also been dispatched to support institutions in providing food aid, shelter, and medical supplies to those impacted by the floods […]

Pakistan floods death toll passes 1,000, say officials

Flash floods triggered by destructive monsoon rains across much of Pakistan have killed more than 1,000 people and injured and displaced thousands more since June, officials have said. The updated death toll came a day after the prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, asked for international help in battling deadly flood damage. More than 33 million people have been […]

Tripoli remains tense a day after clashes kill over 30

Militias patrolled nearly deserted streets in Libya’s capital Sunday, a day after clashes killed over 30 people, and ended Tripoli’s monthslong stretch of relative calm. The dead included at least 17 civilians, local authorities said. The fighting broke out early Saturday and pitted militias loyal to the Tripoli-based government against other armed groups allied with […]

Turkey says Greek missiles locked on its fighters over Med

Greek surface-to-air missiles locked on to Turkish F-16 fighter jets carrying out a reconnaissance mission in international airspace, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency said Sunday. The allegation is the latest claim from Turkey that its neighbor and fellow NATO member Greece has been targeting its aircraft above the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. The radar […]

Kuwait set to hold parliamentary election on September 29

Kuwait will hold a parliamentary election on September 29, state news agency Kuna reported, after the Gulf state’s crown prince moved to dissolve parliament in a bid to resolve a political standoff between the government and the elected legislature. Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Sabah, who has taken on most of the ruling […]

Iran allows women to attend Tehran soccer game

In a rare move, authorities in Iran permitted women to attend a soccer game at the Tehran Azadi stadium in the Iranian capital on Thursday evening, local media reported. Videos posted on social media show women inside the stadium as the national league game between Esteghlal FC, the second most popular team in Iran, and […]

Israeli military discharges 4 soldiers who beat Palestinians

The Israeli military said Wednesday it has discharged four soldiers for attacking Palestinians without cause, after video circulated on social media showing them beating and kicking two detainees. The soldiers had stopped a Palestinian vehicle north of the West Bank city of Ramallah two weeks ago and forced the driver and the passenger out, the […]

Greece’s Aegean Airlines strikes deal with Emirates

Greece’s largest carrier Aegean Airlines (AGNr.AT) said on Wednesday it had struck a so-called code sharing agreement with Emirates, allowing both companies to offer more destinations to their passengers. Emirates passengers will be able to travel to eight destinations in Greece via Athens, while the agreement will allow Aegean to expand its international network via Dubai. Aegean, […]

Saudi Arabia to grant visas to World Cup ticket holders

Saudi Arabia has announced that it will grant visas to those holding tickets to the World Cup in neighboring Qatar, the kingdom has announced. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement late Wednesday those registered for Qatar’s Hayya fan card will be able to apply for multiple-entry visas 10 days before the tournament starts. […]

Mali’s unxpected ban on Hookah

An unexpected ban on hookah smoking in Mali has left people surprised and fostered division, leaving devotees dismayed but health advocates delighted. Bars, where small groups of smokers — primarily young men — hang out to chat and puff on water pipes, have flourished in Bamako in recent years.Mali is an overwhelmingly Muslim country, and […]

Lebanon investigates recorded death threats against Saudi embassy

Lebanon’s interior minister on Wednesday asked security forces to investigate death threats against the Saudi embassy in Lebanon after Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Lebanon shared a recording containing such threats on his Twitter account. Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said his order was based on his “concern for Lebanon’s interest and security and good relations with […]

Palestinian hunger striker could die at any moment, lawyer says

A Palestinian prisoner who has been on hunger strike for over 160 days in protest over his detention by Israel could die at any moment, his lawyer said on Wednesday. Israeli forces arrested Khalil Awawdeh, 40, in December 2021 and have since held him without charge or trial, a practice known as administrative detention. Israel […]

Yemen’s HSA pledges $1.2 mln to U.N. drive to avert tanker oil spill

Yemen’s HSA Group on Thursday became the first private entity to pledge funds for a United Nations operation to avoid an oil spill from a tanker stranded off the coast of Yemen, as the U.N. urgently tries to secure an initial requirement of $80 million. The international organisation, which has so far raised over $60 […]

Biden administration responds to Iran’s nuclear deal offer

The Biden administration on Wednesday responded to Iran’s latest offer to resume its compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, but neither side is offering a straightforward path to revive the agreement, which has been on life-support since former President Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018. State Department spokesman Ned Price confirmed that the administration had completed […]

Islamic Jihad holds parade after latest battle with Israel

Dozens of Islamic Jihad militants displayed life-sized replicas of their rockets during a parade in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, in a show of defiance after three days of heavy fighting with Israel earlier this month. The flare-up left 49 Palestinians dead, including the militant group’s top two commanders and 10 other fighters, before an […]

US says airstrikes in Syria intended to send message to Iran

U.S. military airstrikes in eastern Syria were a message to Iran and Tehran-backed militias that targeted American troops this month and several other times over the past year, the Pentagon said Wednesday. Colin Kahl, the undersecretary of defense for policy, told reporters that the U.S. airstrikes overnight on facilities used by militias backed by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard demonstrated that […]

Egypt directly buys 240,000 tonnes of Russian wheat

Egypt’s state grains buyer directly purchased 240,000 tonnes of Russian wheat on Monday, the supply ministry said in a statement to Reuters, continuing its recent trend of buying without issuing international tenders. The General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) bought six 40,000 tonne-cargoes on a cost and freight basis, with payment via 180-day letters of […]

Most countries part of nuclear talks with Iran reportedly agree with EU proposal

 Most countries involved in nuclear talks with Iran agree with a European Union proposal that aims to save a 2015 nuclear deal, the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday. “Most of them agree, but I still don’t have the answer from the United States, who I understand have to discuss it, and […]

Greece to expand fence, surveillance at border with Turkey

Greece will gradually extend a fence along its land border with Turkey and increase surveillance measures following an increase in illegal immigration from its eastern neighbor, the Greek government said Tuesday. The decision was taken during a meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, of top immigration, security and military officials. A government statement said […]

US, Iran inch closer to nuke deal but high hurdles remain

The Biden administration is expected to weigh in this week on Iran’s latest offer to resume its compliance with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, but neither side is offering a definitive path to revive the agreement, which has been on life-support since former President Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018. U.S. officials say they […]

Erdogan vows continued support for Palestinians

Turkey’s reconciliation efforts with Israel will in no way diminish Ankara’s support for the cause of the Palestinians, the Turkish leader said Tuesday. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the comments during a visit by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The Palestinian leader arrived in Ankara just one week after Turkey and Israel announced their decision to […]

Large part of smoldering Beirut port silos collapses

Another significant part of the devastated Beirut Port silos collapsed on Tuesday morning in a cloud of dust. No injuries were reported — the area had been long evacuated — but the collapse marked another painful reminder of the horrific August 2020 explosion. The collapse left the silos’ southern part standing next to a pile […]

Al-Sadr supporters demand dissolution of parliament

Hundreds of supporters of an influential Shiite cleric in Iraq rallied on Tuesday in Baghdad’s heavily-fortified Green Zone, demanding the dissolution of parliament and early elections. The demonstration outside the Supreme Judicial Council and parliament buildings in the Iraqi capital underscored how intractable Iraq’s latest political crisis has become. The followers of the cleric, Muqtada […]

Lebanon turns to solar power amid energy crisis

With its high peak demand, erratic supply and constant power cuts, Lebanon’s electricity sector is chaotic. The country is currently battling one of its worst economic crises in decades. The country defaulted on its national debt in 2020, and its currency has collapsed in value. An acute energy crunch is worsening problems, with households nationwide grappling with […]

Ukraine’s capital bans Independence Day festivities, fearing Russian attack

Ukraine’s capital Kyiv banned public celebrations this week commemorating independence from Soviet rule, citing a heightened threat of attack as a U.S. official warned of Russian plans to strike Ukrainian infrastructure in the coming days. Near frontlines in the south of the country, Ukraine said Russia fired rockets into several towns north and west of […]

EU’s Borrell hopes for U.S. response on Iran nuclear deal proposal this week

The European Union’s foreign policy chief said on Monday he hoped the United States would respond positively as early as this week to an EU proposal that aims to save a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. Josep Borrell also said that Iran had given a “reasonable” response to the proposal, which follows 16 months of […]

Turkey tourist arrivals rise in boost for Erdogan economic plan

 Turkey’s foreign visitors jumped 53% in July from a year earlier, exceeding pre-pandemic levels and paving the way for $37 billion in tourism revenues sought by the government in support of President Tayyip Erdogan’s unorthodox economy policy. Foreign visitors to Turkey leapt to 6.67 million in July, mostly on the back of wealthy Russian visitors […]

Oil climbs as Saudi Arabia warns of OPEC output cuts

Oil rose on Tuesday as renewed concerns over tight supply dominated market sentiment after Saudi Arabia warned that the major oil producer could cut output to correct a recent oil price decline. Brent crude futures advanced 93 cents, or 1%, to $97.41 a barrel by 0328 GMT, after a choppy session on Monday when they […]

UAE-backed forces take southern oil fields in Yemen

Yemeni forces backed by the United Arab Emirates seized control of vital southern oil and gas fields after nearly a week of fierce clashes with their rivals, loyal to the internationally recognized government, officials and tribal leaders said Monday. The clashes pitted the UAE-backed Giants Brigades and Shabwa Defense Forces on one side and the […]

Swedish police find bomb at concert featuring Iranian dissident

Swedish police defused an explosive device found at an outdoor culture festival in central Stockholm, after evacuating hundreds of people from the area, police said Monday. The bomb squad was called in on Sunday evening after an abandoned bag was found in the Kungstradgarden park in the city center, where various musical and theater events […]

Landslide at Shiite shrine in Iraq kills 7

A landslide collapsed the ceiling of a Shiite shrine in central Iraq over the weekend and killed at least seven people, including a child, officials said Monday as rescuers continued to search for survivors. The landslide struck Qattarat al-Imam Ali shrine near the holy city of Karbala, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Baghdad, […]

Wizz Air suspends relaunch of Russia-UAE flights as criticism mounts

European budget carrier Wizz Air (WIZZ.L) has suspended plans to resume flights from the Russian capital of Moscow to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, amid mounting criticism over the relaunch decision this month. In Friday’s statement deferring the flights until further notice, Wizz Air made no mention of the social media backlash, which included some […]

Iran says cooperation with Saudi can help restoring regional peace

Iran said on Monday that talks with Saudi Arabia was a separate matter from talks to revive Tehran’s 2015 nuclear pact, adding that cooperation between Tehran and Riyadh could help the restoration of calm and security in the Middle East. Iran and Saudi Arabia, the leading Shi’ite and Sunni Muslim powers in the Middle East, […]

Rushdie attack suspect says he admires Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini

The man accused of stabbing Salman Rushdie said he respected Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini but would not say if he was inspired by a fatwa issued by the former Iranian leader, according to a New York Post interview published on Wednesday. Hadi Matar also told the Post he had only “read a couple pages” of Rushdie’s […]

Jordan is facing one of the most severe droughts in its history

The third-largest country in the Arab world, Jordan is home to more than 9 million people. As climate change continues, drought and water scarcity are becoming increasingly common in Jordan. The government is turning to its neighbours for help to alleviate the effects, but Syria has refused to accept Jordan’s offer to buy and sell, […]

Stolen Picasso painting found in Iraq  

Iraqi authorities announced last Saturday that they found an original painting by the renowned Spanish painter Pablo Picasso in the Iraqi province of Diyala on Saturday, Iraqi News Agency reported. The painting, said to be worth millions of dollars, was seized from a drug group after a raid late July.  Details of the artwork have not been revealed yet. The Pablo […]

At least 21 killed in Afghan capital mosque bombing

A bombing at a mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul during evening prayers killed at least 21 people, including a prominent cleric, and wounded at least 33 others, eyewitnesses and police said Thursday. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack Wednesday night, the latest to strike the country in the year […]

Turkey, Armenia could be next to normalize ties

In the early 20th century, the Caucasus region was an arena for a fierce competition between Russia and Great Britain that threatened to spill over into world war. Today, Armenia and Turkey are working together to normalize relations and rebuild trust. There has already been slow but steady progress in the normalization process between Turkey […]

Palestinian general discusses military co-operation at talks in Moscow

A senior Russian official met the commander of Palestinian security forces to discuss military and intelligence co-operation, Moscow’s defence ministry said on Wednesday. Without providing details, it said that Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin held talks with Major General Nidal Abu Dukhan from the Palestinian National Authority on the margins of a security conference held […]

U.S. studying 34-year sentence of activist Salma al-Shehab in Saudi Arabia

The United States is studying the case of women’s rights activist Salma al-Shehab, who was sentenced to 34 years in prison in Saudi Arabia, the State Department said on Wednesday. “Exercising freedom of expression to advocate for the rights of women should not be criminalized, it should never be criminalized,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price […]

German leader condemns Abbas’ ’50 Holocausts’ remark

Germany’s chancellor said Wednesday that he was “disgusted by the outrageous remarks” made by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Berlin, accusing Israel of committing “50 Holocausts” against Palestinians over the years. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s statement on Twitter came a day after Abbas refused to condemn a deadly attack by Palestinian militants on Israeli athletes […]

Iraqi PM calls meeting of senior politicians to end crisis

Iraq’s caretaker prime minister called a meeting of senior political leaders and party representatives Wednesday, seeking a way out of a monthslong crisis amid a power struggle between rival Shiite blocs. But the party of influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr did not attend the gathering. The absence of al-Sadr’s bloc effectively undermined Caretaker Prime Minister […]

Syria denies it is holding American journalist Austin Tice

Syria denied on Wednesday it is holding U.S. journalist Austin Tice or other Americans after President Joe Biden accused the Syrian government of detaining him. The Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Damascus “denies it had kidnapped or is holding any American citizen on its territories.” “The U.S. issued last week misleading and […]

Egypt’s central bank governor resigns as economic woes mount

Egypt’s central bank governor resigned Wednesday as the Middle East’s most populous nation struggles to curb inflation triggered by Russia’s war in Ukraine, high oil prices and a drop in tourism. President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi accepted the resignation of Tarek Amer and named him a presidential adviser, the Egyptian leader’s office said in a statement. The […]

Israel, Turkey announce full normalization agreement

Israel and Turkey will return to full normalization of relations, including reinstating ambassadors and consuls-general, Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Wednesday. Lapid said that “renewing relations with Turkey is an important asset for regional stability and important economic news for the citizens of Israel.” Erdogan told a gathering of ambassadors […]

Israel-Turkey: the spark of the diplomatic fallout

Israel and Turkey announced a return to full normalization of relations on Wednesday, including plans to reinstate ambassadors and consuls-general. In the past year, Israel and Turkey have taken a series of steps that point to a gradual normalisation of their relations. But by bringing its relationship with Ankara back from the brink, Tel Aviv […]

Iran says Swedish citizen detained for espionage might face other charges

A Swedish citizen detained in Iran on suspicion of espionage might face other charges, Iranian judiciary spokesperson Masoud Setayeshi said on Tuesday in a televised news conference. The suspect, who remains unnamed, had been under surveillance by the intelligence ministry during several previous trips to Iran because of “suspicious behaviour”, the official IRNA news agency […]

The Middle East’s food crisis is about to get worse

The world has seen several food crises over the past century. The most recent one took place in 2010-2012 and was caused by a spike in food prices, which led to unrest and social unrest in more than 30 countries. This prompted the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and other global leaders to convene the […]

FIFA set to cancel Brazil-Argentina World Cup qualifier

The suspended World Cup qualifying game between Brazil and Argentina will not be played, the two countries’ governing soccer bodies said Tuesday after reaching a deal with FIFA to cancel the match. Both teams agreed to pay a fine for not playing the qualifier, which was stopped shortly after kickoff last September when Brazilian health officials […]

Dubai airport sees passenger travel surge, hikes annual forecast

The operator of Dubai International said on Wednesday over 14 million passengers had travelled through the airport in the second quarter, and raised its forecast for the year to 62.4 million passengers. That was the ninth consecutive quarter that saw greater passenger figures than the prior quarter as international travel demand ramps up amid an […]

What can the Middle East do to fight embodied carbon?

In 2020, the total value of projects planned or underway in the Middle East and North Africa region was USD 4324.43b, according to numbers put out by Statista. Indeed, the construction sector has been one of the most prominent industries in the region, in many cases as important as the oil and natural gas industry. This […]

Officials release Beirut gunman after bank drops charges

Lebanon’s state prosecutor on Tuesday released a man who took up to 10 people hostage in a bank at gunpoint while demanding funds from his locked savings account. In a case that has drawn nationwide attention, food delivery driver Bassam al-Sheikh Hussein, 42, fired three warning shots from a shotgun last Thursday at a Federal […]

Iran records first monkeypox case

Iranian authorities announced Tuesday the first case of monkeypox in the country, the official IRNA news agency reported. The report said health authorities quarantined a 34-year-old woman living in the southwestern city of Ahvaz. Pedram Pakaeen, health ministry spokesperson, said the patient and her family members informed doctors after she developed symptoms on the skin […]

Iraq’s finance minister resigns over political crisis

Iraq’s finance minister resigned Tuesday, two government officials said, over the country’s worst political crisis in years involving an influential Shiite cleric and his Iran-aligned rivals. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said Finance Minister Ali Allawi resigned during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday to protest the political conditions. They […]

Leaders of Ukraine, Turkey and UN set to meet Thursday in Lviv

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have accepted an invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet Thursday to review the deal allowing Ukrainian grain to be shipped to world markets to help alleviate the global grain crisis and discuss ways to end the six-month-old war. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told […]

William Ruto: from chicken seller to Kenya’s president-elect

The Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, William Ruto was announced on Monday as the winner of  the 2022 presidential election in Kenya, after narrowly defeating his closest rival, Raila Odinga to become the fifth president of the republic of Kenya since Independence. After six days of delay in the announcement of results due […]

Israel arrests three in international money laundering probe

Israeli authorities said on Monday they had arrested three suspects as part of an investigation into “large-scale fraud” against the French treasury and the theft and laundering of millions of euros with cryptocurrencies. The Israel Tax Authority and police said in a statement they had been investigating a number of people in recent months suspected […]

U.S. says a drone attack targeted its Syria base, no casualties

A drone attack hit a compound run by U.S. troops and U.S.-backed Syrian opposition fighters in eastern Syria on Monday, with no casualties, the United States military said. “Operation Inherent Resolve forces, in coordination with our Maghaweir al-Thowra partners, responded to an attack by multiple unmanned aerial systems in the vicinity of Al-Tanf Garrison,” the […]

Israel rejects appeal to release Palestinian hunger striker

An Israeli military court on Monday rejected an appeal for release by a Palestinian prisoner whose health is deteriorating as he continues a 165-day hunger strike to protest being held without charge or trial, his lawyer said. Khalil Awawdeh is one of several Palestinian detainees who have gone on prolonged hunger strikes over the years in protest […]

UN envoy seeks expanded Yemen truce to spur ceasefire talks

The top U.N. envoy for Yemen said Monday he is intensifying efforts to achieve an expanded truce between the warring parties that would hopefully lead to the start of talks on a ceasefire and preparations for resuming a Yemeni-led political process. Hans Grundberg told the U.N. Security Council that the agreement by the internationally recognized […]

Safety concerns raised after deadly fire rips through Egypt church

Egypt was in mourning Monday over a blaze at a Coptic Orthodox church that killed 41 people, but many also raised questions about the emergency response, fire safety codes, and restrictions on building houses of worship for the country’s Christian minority. Neighborhood residents expressed shock over the fire Sunday, one of Egypt’s deadliest in recent […]

Iran submits a ‘written response’ in nuclear deal talks

Iran said Tuesday it submitted a “written response” to what has been described as a final roadmap to restore its tattered nuclear deal with world powers. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency offered no details on the substance of its response, but suggested that Tehran still wouldn’t take the European Union-mediated proposal, despite warnings there would […]

Iran denies involvement but justifies Salman Rushdie attack

An Iranian government official denied on Monday that Tehran was involved in the assault on author Salman Rushdie, though he justified the stabbing in remarks that represented the Islamic Republic’s first public comments on the attack. The comments by Nasser Kanaani, the spokesman of Iran’s Foreign Ministry, came more than two days after the attack on […]

Rushdie’s attack should be a wakeup call not to enter another nuclear deal

Just last week, the European Union put forward what it described as the ‘final’ proposed text of a revived nuclear deal with Iran, a deal which has been under negotiation in Vienna since Joe Biden took office. On Friday morning, the Iranian state news agency reported that the EU’s proposed text ‘can be acceptable if […]

Saudi Aramco profit soars on higher prices and refining margins

 State oil giant Saudi Aramco (2222.SE) on Sunday reported its highest quarterly profit since the company went public in 2019, boosted by higher oil prices and refining margins. Aramco joins oil majors such as Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) and BP (BP.L) that have reported strong or record breaking results in recent weeks after Western sanctions against major exporter Russia squeezed an […]

Taliban fire shots to stop Afghan women’s protest for ‘work and freedom’ in Kabul

In the early hours of Saturday, around 40 women marched on the education ministry in Kabul , chanting “bread, work and freedom” to protest for their right to work and freedom. They chanted slogans, raised banners, and danced in unison. The scene was peaceful until the moment a group of Taliban fighters began shooting at […]

Kuwait names first ambassador to Iran in over six years

Kuwait has appointed an ambassador to Iran, both countries said on Sunday, more than six years after recalling its top envoy to Tehran in solidarity with Saudi Arabia after it severed ties with the Islamic Republic in 2016. Ambassador Bader Abdullah Al-Munaikh handed his credentials to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in Tehran on Saturday, […]

Syria says Israeli strikes kill 3 soldiers, wounds others

Israel launched a missile attack on western and central Syria Sunday night, killing three soldiers and wounding three others, the Syrian military said in a statement. The Syrian army said Israel’s military targeted several positions in the coastal province of Tartus and suburbs of the capital Damascus. The military said the missiles were fired by […]

Iraqi judiciary says it has no authority to dissolve parliament

Iraq’s top judicial body said Sunday it doesn’t have the authority to dissolve the country’s parliament, days after an influential Shiite cleric gave it one week to dismiss the legislature so that new elections can be held. The decision by the Supreme Judicial Council is likely to increase tensions between followers of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr […]

Why did the UAE support China’s claim over Taiwan?

The recent decision of the UAE to stand with China in the dispute over Taiwan amid growing tension on China’s decision to claim Taiwan caused a stir. China’s decision could lead to a full-scale war not just between China and Taiwan but with the United States of America. On Thursday the UAE’s ministry of foreign […]

Fire at Coptic church in Cairo kills at least 41, hurts 14

Egypt’s Coptic Church says a fire at a Cairo church Sunday has killed at least 41 people and injured at least 14 others. The Church, citing health officials for the casualty toll, said the blaze ripped through the Abu Sefein church in densely populated neighborhood of Imbaba. The cause of the blaze was not immediately […]

Qatar World Cup to affect Chelsea and Tottenham hardest

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The decision to hold the World Cup in the midst of the 2022-23 European club season is expected to have a detrimental effect on many English Premier League clubs. The Premier League is expected to enter World Cup hibernation mode from November 13 and is expected to resume on December 26. During this periiod […]

Libya officials: 15 migrants found dead on border with Sudan

Libyan authorities said Saturday they found at least 15 migrants dead in the desert on the borders with Sudan, the latest tragedy involving migrants seeking a better life in Europe via perilous journeys through the conflict-wrecked nation. The Department for Combating Irregular Migration in the southeastern city of Kufra said the migrants were on their […]

Seven hurt in gun attack on Jewish worshippers’ bus in Jerusalem

A gunman wounded seven people aboard a bus carrying Jewish worshippers in Jerusalem on Sunday, Israeli authorities and witnesses said, describing the incident as a suspected Palestinian attack. The assailant fled the scene in Jerusalem’s Old City, which houses sites holy to Jews, Muslims and Christians and is among areas where Palestinians seek statehood. Israel […]

Egypt appoints 13 new ministers in Cabinet reshuffle

President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt announced a Cabinet reshuffle Saturday to improve his administration’s performance as it faces towering economic challenges stemming largely from Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Cabinet shake-up, which was approved by parliament in an emergency session, affected 13 portfolios, including health, education, culture, local development and irrigation ministries. Also included […]

Salman Rushdie still hospitalized and off ventilator as attack suspect pleads not guilty

Acclaimed author Salman Rushdie remained hospitalized on Saturday with serious injuries a day after he was repeatedly stabbed at a public appearance in New York state, while police sought to determine the motive behind an attack that drew international condemnation. The accused attacker, 24-year-old Hadi Matar of Fairview, New Jersey, pleaded not guilty to charges […]

Two years after Lebanon’s Diab government quit: what’s next?

The collapse of Lebanon’s government has thrown the country into a political and economic crisis. The implications are severe for Lebanon. It is now facing new elections, which could take place anytime over the next few months. The country is left with no prime minister, no president, and an extended care-taker cabinet with limited powers. […]

Biden defends decision to visit Saudi Arabia, says rights are on his agenda

Image Credit: Lisa Ferdinando/U.S. Secretary of Defense U.S. President Joe Biden has defended his visit Saudi Arabia insisting that human rights will be on the agenda during his upcoming trip to the Kingdom. By Reuters, Team MEB President Joe Biden on Saturday defended his decision to travel to Saudi Arabia saying human rights would be […]

Why Egypt Is The Perfect Mediator For Israel-Gaza Escalations

The West Bank is reeling in tension as Israel launched a series of air attacks on Gaza. The strikes, which Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid calls a “necessary preemptive operation” against Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) for allegedly planning an attack on Israel. With the risks of tensions escalating in the region if the Hamas group […]

Iran Guards say Israel facing ‘heavy price’ for attacks in Gaza

Image Credit: Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Flickr from 2014 The commander of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday that Israel would pay a high price for its latest attacks on the Palestinians in Gaza, Iranian state TV reported. “The Israelis will pay yet another heavy price for their recent crime,” it quoted Major General […]

Chad junta leader in Qatar following months of peace deal talks

Image Credit: Paul Kagame/Flickr The head of Chad’s military government met Saturday with Qatar’s ruling emir after months of talks between Chadian forces and rebel factions, hosted by the Arab country. Chad’s Gen. Mahamat Idriss Deby spoke with Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Footage from the Qatari royal court, or diwan, showed […]

Turkey frees man wanted by Haiti after Moise’s assassination

Image Credit: MINUSTAH PHOTO/Flickr A man wanted by Haiti over his alleged involvement in the assassination of President Jovenel Moise has been freed from a Turkish repatriation centre and returned to the United States, one of his lawyers said on Saturday. Moise, a 53-year-old former businessman who took office in 2017, was shot dead in […]

Hundreds of thousands gather for mass prayer in Baghdad

Image Credit: groupe_ehc/Flickr Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis heeded the call of an influential Shiite cleric to gather in a show of strength for a mass prayer in the heart of Baghdad’s government zone on Friday. The gathering took place amid an escalating political crisis that has put the country’s capital on edge. The powerful cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, had called […]

Putin hosts Erdogan for talks on trade, Ukraine, Syria

Image Credit: Sergey Guneev / Associated Press Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Russia Friday for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin focusing on a grain deal brokered by Turkey and the U.N., prospects for talks on ending hostilities in Ukraine, the situation in Syria and growing economic ties between Moscow and Ankara. Speaking at the start […]

Iran demands release of its citizen held in Saudi Arabia

Image Credit: oboudi/Flickr Iran on Friday issued a public statement saying it is seeking the release of an Iranian national who has been held by Saudi Arabia since this year’s hajj pilgrimage, which concluded a month ago. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the country’s top diplomat Hossein Amirabdollahian issued the call during a phone conversation with […]

Russia’s space agency to launch Iranian satellite into orbit

Image Credit: Roscosmos/Flickr Russia will launch a satellite on behalf of Iran into space on Aug. 9, the Roscosmos space agency said on Wednesday. The spacecraft, a remote sensing satellite called “Khayyam”, will be sent into orbit by a Soyuz rocket, Roscosmos said.

Saudis open airspace to more flights serving Israel

Image Credit: Bob Adams/Flickr Cathay Pacific and Air Seychelles have overflown Saudi Arabia for Israel flights for the first time, aviation data showed on Thursday, after Riyadh announced last month it would open its airspace to all airlines, paving the way for more overflights to and from Israel. Opening Saudi airspace to flights to and […]

US firm: Likely Iranian threat actor in Albania cyberattack

Image Credit: howtostartablogonline.net/Flickr A cyberattack that temporarily shut down numerous Albanian government digital services and websites in mid-July was likely the work of pro-Iranian hackers seeking to disrupt an Iranian opposition group’s conference in Albania, a leading U.S. cybersecurity firm said Thursday. In a report, Mandiant expressed “moderate confidence” the attackers were acting in support of […]

How are Muslim women reclaiming Islamic interpretations of gender?

Image Credit: Fer Ghanaa Ansari / Musawah The clash between what we know as feminism and Islam has for decades centred around whether women have rights in Islam and how the interpretations of the Qur’an,  view women second to men. Conversations around this topic usually flare up when issues surrounding the hijab or talaq (divorce) […]

Iran, US, EU to send envoys to Vienna for nuclear talks

Image Credit: wirestock – www.freepik.com Iran, the United States and the European Union said Wednesday they would send senior representatives to Vienna amid what appears to be a last-ditch effort at reviving talks over Tehran’s tattered 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. It wasn’t immediately clear if all other parties to the landmark accord would […]

Turkey seeks to resolve dispute over Russian-built nuclear plant

 The Turkish Energy Ministry said it is seeking to resolve a dispute between the parties involved in the construction of a $20 billion nuclear power plant by Russia’s Rosatom at Akkuyu in southern Turkey. Akkuyu Nukleer, a Rosatom unit, said on Saturday it signed an agreement with TSM Enerji to undertake the remaining construction work […]

Iraqi cleric calls for dissolution of parliament, early vote

Image Credit: stephenmelkisethian/Flickr Influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr told followers Wednesday to continue their sit-in inside Iraq’s government zone, and called for the dissolution of parliament and early elections, signaling a deepening power struggle with his rivals. Speaking for the first time since thousands of his followers stormed the parliament building in Baghdad on Saturday, […]

US approves massive arms sale to Saudi, UAE to counter Iran

Image Credit: Palácio do Planalto/Flickr The Biden administration on Tuesday approved two massive arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to help them defend against Iran. The more than $5 billion in missile defense and related sales follow President Joe Biden’s visit to the Middle East last month, during which he met […]

UN says Yemen’s warring sides agree to renew existing truce

Image Credit: Davi Mendes on Unsplash The United Nations said Yemen’s warring parties agreed Tuesday to renew an existing truce for two more months after concerted international efforts. The already 4-month-old cease-fire has been the longest nationwide ease in fighting since the war began in the Arab world’s poorest country nearly eight years ago. The U.N. envoy […]

Kuwait formally dissolves parliament, delays budget approval until after elections

Kuwait formally dissolved parliament in a decree issued on Tuesday, state news agency KUNA said, as the Gulf Arab state’s crown prince moved to resolve a standoff between the government and elected parliament that has hindered fiscal reform. Last month Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who took over most of the ruling emir’s duties, […]

U.S. targets Chinese, UAE firms in new Iran oil sanctions

Image Credit: Rock Staar on Unsplash The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on Chinese and other firms it said helped to sell tens of millions of dollars’ in Iranian oil and petrochemical products to East Asia as it seeks to raise pressure on Tehran to curb its nuclear programme. The U.S. Treasury and the […]

Iran arrests Baha’i members; advocates demand their release

Image Credit: wirestock – www.freepik.com Iran arrested several members of the Baha’i faith on spying charges, authorities said Monday, the latest sign of a tightening crackdown across the Islamic Republic as it faces international pressure over its tattered nuclear deal. The Baha’i demanded their release and called their arrests part of a long pattern of […]

Turkey expects daily departures from Ukraine after first grain ship sails

Image Credit: Melissa Askew on Unsplash Turkey expects roughly one grain ship to leave Ukrainian ports each day as long as an agreement that ensures safe passage holds, a senior Turkish official said on Tuesday after the first wartime vessel safely departed Odesa on Monday. The first ship, Razoni, carrying 26,527 tonnes of corn to […]

Threat of protests, violent escalation stirs fears in Iraq

Thousands gathered in Baghdad on Monday for a counter-rally called by Iran-backed groups against their rival, an influential cleric whose followers are staging a sit-in inside the Iraqi parliament — only to withdraw hours later. It wasn’t immediately clear if the pullback by supporters of the Coordination Framework, an alliance lead by Shiite parties close […]

Kuwait announces formation of new Cabinet to defuse crisis

Image Credit: Kuwait-Ra’ed Qutena Kuwait on Monday announced the formation of a new government to defuse a protracted political feud blocking economic reforms in the oil-rich state. Kuwait’s newly-appointed prime minister, Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Sabah, will lead the 12-member Cabinet until the dissolution of parliament ahead of early elections, the country’s state-run news agency, […]

Saudi Arabia among four countries looking to host 2026 women’s Asian Cup – AFC

Image Credit: Ambitious Creative Co. – Rick Barrett on Unsplash Saudi Arabia, Australia, Jordan and Uzbekistan have submitted Expressions of Interest to host the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Monday. If selected, Saudi Arabia, whose women’s football team only played its first match in February this year, will host […]

Part of Beirut port silos, damaged in 2020 blast, collapses

Image Credit: wirestock – www.freepik.com A section of Beirut’s massive port grain silos, shredded in the 2020 explosion, collapsed in a huge cloud of dust on Sunday after a weekslong fire, triggered by grains that had fermented and ignited in the summer heat. The northern block of the silos toppled after what sounded like an explosion, […]

Egypt frees 7, including journalist, researcher after pardon

Egypt released seven people on Saturday, including a journalist and a researcher serving prison sentences on terror-related charges, the latest steps by the government to reach out to the opposition amid a grinding economic crisis. President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi’s administration is grappling with the crisis and spiraling economy, spawned by Russia’s war on Ukraine. Egypt, […]

Iran arrests another Swedish citizen on espionage charge

Image Credit: wirestock – www.freepik.com Iranian agents have arrested a Swedish citizen suspected of spying, the intelligence ministry said Saturday. The statement said the suspect was in touch with several other figures in Iran, and has visited Israel, Iran’s foe. The statement accused Sweden of proxy spying for Israel. There was no immediate response from […]

At least seven dead due to recent UAE floods

Heavy rain in the UAE resulted in flooding of some cities and neighbourhoods, after a year’s rain fell in a day Image Credit: Brianna Tucker on Unsplash Seven Asian expatriates have been found dead in the United Arab Emirates following recent floods across the country, the UAE’s interior ministry said on Friday. The ministry said […]

Iraqi protesters storm parliament in Baghdad, set up sit-in

Image Credit: stephenmelkisethian/Flickr Thousands of followers of an influential Shiite cleric stormed into Iraq’s parliament on Saturday, for the second time this week, protesting government formation efforts led by his rivals, an alliance of Iran-backed groups. The alliance showed signs of internal division, with some calling for counter-protests — a development that would raise the […]

Egypt increases social support as economic crisis hurts

Egypt will add one million families to a social safety net programme that provides cash transfers, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to more than 20 million, the presidency said in a statement on Tuesday. The “Solidarity and Dignity” programme began in 2015 with World Bank funding. Payments to families start at 350 Egyptian pounds […]

Oman central bank increases repo rate by 75 bps –statement

Image Credit: Silas Baisch on Unsplash The Central Bank of Oman increased its repo rate 75 basis points (bps) to 3%, a statement from the bank said on Thursday, moving in tandem with the U.S. Federal Reserve’s hike as the Omani riyal is pegged to the dollar.

Slain journalist’s family: No help from US for a full probe

Killed Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu-Akleh’s family is continuing the fight for justice after a top Biden diplomat refused her appeal to push for a full U.S. investigation. Image Credit: MOHAMMED ABED / AFP A relative of slain Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh said Wednesday that the Biden administration’s top diplomat refused her face-to-face appeal to […]

Minister: Lebanon to build new silos to ease wheat crisis

Image Credit: Melissa Askew on Unsplash Lebanon plans to build two new grain silos to fight its its worsening food security crisis, the country’s caretaker economy minister told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Amin Salam said that several countries and international organizations have expressed an interest in funding and bidding for the new silos, which […]

Turkish lira edges closer to 18 against dollar

Turkey’s authorities are striving to curb a creeping dollarisation and to stop the lira from falling further as it edges lower. Image Credit: ccarlstead/Flickr Turkey’s lira weakened further on Wednesday to near 18.0 against the dollar and the record lows it hit late last year as worries about the government’s foreign exchange policy grew in […]

Iranian tanker to retrieve oil cargo confiscated by U.S. this week

Iran is set to retrieve an oil cargo confiscated by U.S. this week, following a Greek top court ruling Image Credit: Rudolf Gonda An Iranian-flagged tanker anchored off the Greek port of Piraeus is expected this week to retrieve part of its cargo of oil confiscated by the United States and sail back to Iran […]

Egypt cancels contracts for 240,000 T of stranded Ukrainian wheat -sources

Days after a visit by Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Egypt cancels 240,000 tons of stranded Ukrainian wheat Image Credit: Melissa Askew on Unsplash Egypt has cancelled contracts for a total of 240,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat that were booked by its state grains buyer for February and March delivery but never loaded due to […]

Iran’s Khamenei says Western enemies stoking anti-hijab protests

As women are challenging compulsory hijab in Iran by removing their scarves in public, Khamenei has accused Western enemies of being behind anti-hijab movement amid a harsh clampdown by the authorities. Image Credit Majid Korang beheshti on Unsplash Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Western adversaries on Wednesday of being behind a movement among […]

At UN, Iraq and Turkey escalate dispute over deadly attack

Tensions were rife between Iraq and Turkey at yesterday’s emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council over the deadly attack in Iraq’s northern Kurdish region. Image Credit: Mathias Reding on Unsplash A dispute between Iraq and Turkey over a recent deadly attack in Iraq’s northern Kurdish region escalated at an emergency meeting of the U.N. […]

Followers of cleric enter Iraqi parliament in show of force

Hundreds of protesters stormed Iraq parliament last night to protest against a prime ministerial candidate backed by Iran. Image Credit: Stephen Melkisethian/Flickr Hundreds of Iraqi protesters breached Baghdad’s parliament Wednesday chanting anti-Iran curses in a demonstration against a nominee for prime minister by Iran-backed parties. The majority of the protesters were followers of influential Shiite […]

Jailed UK-born environmentalist released on furlough in Iran

A British American environmentalist accused of espionage has been released on bail by Iranian authorities. Image Credit: wirestock – www.freepik.com Morad Tahbaz, a U.K.-born environmentalist who has been jailed in Iran for more than four years, has been released on furlough, the British government said Wednesday. The Foreign Office said Tahbaz has been allowed to […]

How Climate Change Is Making the Middle East Uninhabitable

Image Credit: Peter Schulz on Unsplash The topic of climate change isn’t new. People have been talking about changes in the Earth’s climate caused by mankind for well over a century, but now the effects are being felt in numerous regions around the world, but perhaps nowhere quite as potently as the Middle East. High […]

Lebanon’s Parliament votes to spend World Bank loan on wheat

With Lebanon already facing its biggest economic crisis ever, Parliament has voted to spend a $150 million World Bank loan on wheat in a bid to ease food insecurity. Image Credit: Melissa Askew on Unsplash  Lebanese lawmakers on Tuesday voted to use a $150 million World Bank loan to pay for wheat imports into the […]

EU puts forward new draft text to revive Iran nuclear deal

The EU has put forward new draft text to revive Iran nuclear deal, calling on parties to implement it as soon as possible. Image Credit: wirestock – www.freepik.com The European Union’s foreign policy chief said on Tuesday he has proposed a new draft text to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, saying there is no […]

S.Africa asks UAE to extradite Guptas over corruption charges

South Africa has formally asked UAE to extradite Rajesh and Atul Gupta, also known as the ‘Gupta brothers’. Guptas are accused of colluding with former President Jacob Zuma to win contracts and influence cabinet appointments. Image Credit: GovernmentZA South Africa has formally asked the United Arab Emirates to extradite Rajesh and Atul Gupta, brothers who […]

Algeria’s top diplomat backs Syria’s return to Arab League

Algeria’s Foreign Minister visited Bashar al-Assad in Damascus yesterday and called for Syria to be welcomed back to the Arab League Image Credit: Alyssa Bernstein Algeria’s foreign minister on Monday decried Syria’s decadelong suspension from the Arab League during a visit to Damascus, indicating support for the war-torn country’s return to the organization under President […]

Turkey tells Ukraine it is important for first grain shipment to take place soon

Kyiv expects the first grain deliveries under a Turkish and U.N.-mediated deal to leave Ukrainian ports this week amid pressure by Turkey. Image Credit: Melissa Askew on Unsplash Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar on Monday told Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov that it was important for the first shipment of grain under a U.N.-brokered deal […]

High-level talks with Egypt could take place, Erdogan says

Turkey is pushing for high value talks with Egypt in hopes to repair the country’s relationship. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday there is no reason for high-level talks with Ankara’s estranged rival Egypt not to take place, as its efforts to mend ties with Cairo remain stagnant. “Talks on the lower levels are […]

Iran says it detains Israel-linked network planning sabotage

Iran has claimed to arrest a network of agents working for Israel who were believed to enter Iran via the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. Image Credit: wirestock – www.freepik.com Iran said on Saturday its security forces had arrested a network of agents working for Israel before they were able to carry out sabotage and […]

Turkey’s Erdogan rails at Greece over Muslim minority rights

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Greece of undermining the rights of its Muslim minority in the Thrace region. Image Credit: haberlernet NET Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday criticized Greece for allegedly violating a settlement that has governed relations between the rivals for nearly a century. In a statement released on the […]

UN envoy condemns Yemen attack that killed child, wounded 10

UN Envoy Grundberg condemned the attack in Taiz that injured 11 children and killed one boy despite U.N. efforts to have the truce extended again in August. Image Credit: UN Photo/Kim Haughton The U.N. envoy for Yemen on Sunday condemned suspected rebel shelling of a residential neighborhood in the southwestern city of Taiz the previous […]

Kuwaiti emir’s son named prime minister

Kuwait named the emir’s son as prime minister on Sunday, replacing caretaker premier Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid who faced a combative parliament due to a feud between the government and elected assembly that has hindered fiscal reform. This is expected to be a temporary gov until the dissolution of parliament. Image Credit: Kuwait-Ra’ed Qutena Kuwait named […]

Houthi report says flash floods in Yemen leave 9 dead

Heavy seasonal rains drove flash floods through Yemen and left at least nine people dead. Image Credit: natanael ginting – www.freepik.com Heavy seasonal rains drove flash floods through Yemen and left at least nine people dead, official media reported Sunday. The casualties were reported in the capital of Sanaa and the southwestern province of Dhamar, […]

Russia’s Lavrov to visit Africa as Moscow seeks non-Western ties

Russia’s Foreign Minister will visit Egypt on Sunday after construction of a nuclear plant in Egypt by Russian state owned company Rosatom worth $25 billion has begun. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov will begin an African tour in Egypt on Sunday, seeking to draw on demand for non-Western alliances as Moscow pushes back against international […]

Russia hits Ukraine’s Black Sea port despite grain deal

Hours after Russia and Ukraine signed a grain export deal with Turkey, Ukraine’s Odessa port was hit, with Russia denying involvement in the attack, raising fears of the viability of the deal. Image Credit: Melissa Askew on Unsplash Russian missiles hit Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa just hours after Moscow and Kyiv signed deals to allow […]

Flash flood kills at least 22 people in southern Iran

At least 22 people were killed in flashfloods caused by heavy rains in Iran’s southern province of Fars. Flash floods in Iran’s drought-stricken southern Fars province have killed at least 21 people, state television said Saturday. Heavy rains swelled the Roudbal river by the city of Estahban, according to the city’s governor Yousef Karegar. Karegar […]

Iraq submits complaint to UN against Turkey after attack

Iraq’s Foreign Ministry has reportedly filed a complaint to the UN Security Council, requesting an urgent session to discuss a deadly attack this week that Baghdad blames on Turkey. Image Credit: Image Credit: Mathias Reding on Unsplash Iraq has filed a complaint to the U.N. Security Council, requesting an urgent session to discuss a deadly […]

Turkey plans Syria incursion as long as threat lingers

Image Credit: haberlernet NET Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his government’s plan for a new military offensive in northern Syria will be on the table as long as Kurdish militants continue to pose a security threat to his country. Erdogan also called on the United States to pull troops from east of the Euphrates […]

Turkey’s white goods sales down 8% year/year in Jan-June

Image Credit: Maxim Hopman on Unsplash Domestic sales in Turkey’s white goods sector fell 8% while exports were up slightly year-on-year in the first six months of the year, sector association TURKBESD said on Thursday. Domestic sales in the sector were down 2% in June, the association said, while exports were down 6% in the […]

Cameras to replace peacekeepers at strategic Red Sea strait

Cameras will replace US-led peacekeepers to ensure international shipping freedom access to the Gulf of Aqaba Image Credit: Rudolf Gonda Remote-controlled cameras will take over responsibility from U.S.-led peacekeepers for ensuring international shipping retains freedom of access to the Gulf of Aqaba, whose coastline is shared by Israel and three Arab nations, officials said. Tiran […]

UN experts: Terrorist threat remains high in conflict areas

U.N. experts said Tuesday the threat from Islamic State extremists and al-Qaida remains high in Syria and Iraq. Image Credit: 3aref 6ari2o U.N. experts said Tuesday the threat from Islamic State extremists and al-Qaida remains high in conflict areas and neighboring countries and warned that those conflicts will “incubate” the capability for a terrorist operation […]

Libya says oil exports resumed after monthslong hiatus

After months, Libya says oil exports have resumed amid the ongoing power struggle. Image Credit: World Atlas Libya resumed oil exports Wednesday, ending a hiatus that lasted months. The resumption came after the country restarted production at oil fields following the firing of the chairman of the state-run oil corporation by one of the country’s rival governments. […]

Turkey’s Erdogan says almost all Nordic countries are “nests of terror” -presidency

Turkey will freeze Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership bids if the Nordic countries do not keep promises on counter-terrorism made last month. Image Credit: haberlernet NET Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that almost all Nordic countries had become “nests of terror”, and repeated a threat to block Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership bids […]

Iran recalls ambassador to Sweden over court decision

Iran recalls its Ambassador from Sweden to protest life sentence for ex-prison guard Hamid Noury who was found guilty of involvement in the 1988 massacre of political prisoners Image Credit: wirestock – www.freepik.com Iran’s state TV said Thursday the country’s foreign ministry recalled its ambassador from Sweden after an Iranian citizen was sentenced to life […]

Egypt’s Growing Dependence on the IMF and Other Outside Sources

Image Credit: Bruno Sanchez-Andrade Nuño Globally, inflation rates have skyrocketed in recent months amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In Egypt, inflation rates were as high as 13.5% on an annual basis. Although June’s inflation rates dropped to 13.2% from May’s high. While the average Egyptian citizen may not be celebrating such a minor improvement, tensions are certainly […]

Israel acknowledges use of attack drones for 1st time

After years of prohibiting journalists from reporting that Israel uses armed drones to strike targets, the IDF has finally permitted journalists to publish what many already knew. Image Credit: Robert Sullivan By AP News, Team MEB The Israeli military on Wednesday confirmed one of its worst-kept secrets, publicly acknowledging for the first time that it […]

Serbia, Egypt agree to boost cooperation amid war in Ukraine

Serbia and Egypt have expressed a desire to boost bilateral military cooperation. By AP News, Team MEB Egypt and Serbia on Wednesday agreed to boost political, economic and other cooperation as the two countries look for ways to deal with the global impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi was in […]

Egypt resumes hot air ballooning over Luxor after incident

Image Credit: Lesly Juarez on Unsplash By AP News, Team MEB Egyptian authorities on Wednesday resumed hot air ballooning over the ancient city of Luxor following a two-day hiatus after two tourists were lightly injured during a ride. A hot air balloon with 28 tourists drifted off course Monday because of a change in the […]

Eight killed and 23 injured in Turkish attack on Iraq’s Dohuk province

By Reuters, Team MEB Eight civilians died and another 23 people were injured in a Turkish attack on Iraq’s northern province of Dohuk, Iraq’s state media said on Wednesday. The “fierce artillery bombing” hit a resort in Zakho, a city on the border between Iraq’s Kurdistan region and Turkey, state TV said. All killed were […]

Syria formally breaks diplomatic ties with Ukraine

Syria announces cutting all ties with Ukraine in support of close ally Russia. By AP News, Team MEB Syria said Wednesday it is formally breaking diplomatic ties with Ukraine in response to a similar move by Kyiv. Syria is a strong ally of Russia, which joined Syria’s conflict in September 2015 helping tip the balance […]

Putin, in Tehran, gets strong support from Iran over Ukraine

As Russian missiles struck cities and villages in eastern and southern Ukraine, hitting homes, a schools Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei voiced his support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Image Credit: wirestock – www.freepik.com By AP News, Team MEB Russian President Vladimir Putin won staunch support from Iran on Tuesday for his country’s military campaign in […]

Lebanese forces, investigative judge raid central bank

Police raided the Lebanese Central Bank in a search to arrest Governor Riad Salameh who is accused of money laundering, smuggling, fraud and illicit enrichment and is currently being investigated by Switzerland and France. Image Credit: wirestock – www.freepik.com By AP News, Team MEB Lebanese security forces, accompanied by an investigative judge, raided the country’s […]

22 killed, 33 injured in car crash in southern Egypt

According to officials, at least 22 people were killed and 33 were injured when their bus collided with a parked truck in southern Egypt on Tuesday. Image Credit: Mat Napo on Unsplash By AP News, Team MEB At least 22 people were killed and 33 injured in a car crash on Tuesday near Egypt’s southern […]

UN envoy: Syria talks in Switzerland ‘no longer possible’

The UN has announced that talks between the government and opposition scheduled to start on July 25 in Geneva “are no longer possible” as President Bashir Assad’s government contends that Switzerland is not neutral because of its support for European Union sanctions against its ally Russia, Image Credit: World Atlas By AP News, Team MEB […]

Putin heads to Tehran for talks with leaders of Iran, Turkey

Putin is set to meet with Iran’s Ebrahim Raisi to unite against U.S.-led alliances in the Middle East and to facilitate a potential settlement in Syria. Image Credit: Sergey Klimkin By AP News, Team MEB Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Iran starting Tuesday is intended to deepen ties with regional heavyweights as part of […]

France, UAE sign energy cooperation deal

The governments of France and the UAE signed a strategic agreement to cooperate in the energy sector. Image Credit: Rafael Garcin on Unsplash By Reuters, Team MEB The governments of France and the United Arab Emirates signed on Monday a strategic agreement to cooperate in the energy sector, the French government said. The partnership aimed […]

Egypt suspends hot air ballooning over Luxor after 2 injured

Egyptian authorities suspended hot air ballooning in the tourist city of Luxor after two tourists were injured after a crash landing. Image Credit: Allison Louise on Unsplash By AP News, Team MEB Egyptian authorities suspended hot air ballooning over the ancient city of Luxor after two tourists were lightly injured during a ride early on […]

Six years on from Turkey’s failed coup

It’s been six years since Turkey’s “failed coup” of 15 July 2016. We still don’t know what happened, because the regime has blocked investigations, but here’s a roundup of what we know. Image Credit: Tarik Haiga on Unsplash By Al-Jazeera, Team MEB Turkey witnessed the bloodiest coup attempt in its modern history on July 15, […]

Iran reinstates national soccer team coach fired 6 days ago

Dragan Skocic has been reinstated as the head coach to lead the Iran’s national football team in the 2022 FIFA World Cup games just six days after being dismissed. By AP News, Team MEB Just six days after dismissing Dragan Skocic as head coach, an Iranian Football Federation (IFF) spokesman announced Sunday that the Croatian […]

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders slams Biden over Saudi visit

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has criticized President Biden for traveling to Saudi Arabia last week to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arguing that the trip should not have taken place. Image Credit: Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash By Reuters, Team MEB U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders on Sunday criticized President Joe Biden’s visit to Saudi […]

UAE detains U.S. lawyer for Khashoggi on money laundering charges

The UAE appears to have arrested Khashoggi’s American lawyer while transiting through the country on trumped up charges. Image Credit: Justice for Jamal Khashoggi, av Silbiger, S., NTB . (https://ndla.no/article/6126). CC BY-NC 4.0. By Reuters, Team MEB United Arab Emirates authorities have detained Asim Ghafoor, a U.S. citizen and civil rights attorney who previously served […]

UAE establishes $817 mln fund to support space sector

Additionally funding has been announced to develop the UAE’s space program as it hopes to be the first inhabitable human settlement on Mars by 2117. Image Credit: NASA By Reuters, Team MEB The United Arab Emirates on Sunday launched a 3 billion UAE dirham ($816.84 million) fund to support its space programme and a new […]

Saudi crown prince says unrealistic energy policies will lead to higher inflation

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Biden that unrealistic policies regarding energy sources would only lead to inflation. Image Credit: Akhilesh Sharma on Unsplash By Reuters, Team MEB Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Saturday more investment was needed in fossil fuel and clean energy technologies to meet global demand, and that unrealistic […]

The Iran Nuclear Deal, Seven Years On

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) more commonly known as the Iran Nuclear Deal was signed in 2015 between Iran and several world states with the P5+1 (i.e. USA, UK, China, Russia, France, and Germany) being at the heart of the agreement. Under its terms, Iran agreed to dismantle much of its nuclear program […]

8 killed, 44 injured in car crash in southern Egypt

Eight people were killed and 44 injured in a car crash on Thursday near Egypt’s southern province of Aswan. Image Credit: Mat Napo on Unsplash By AP News, Team MEB Eight people were killed and 44 injured in a car crash on Thursday near Egypt’s southern province of Aswan, the state-run news agency reported. The crash took place […]

Israel, Turkey to expand mutual flights in their first aviation deal since 1951

Turkey has signed a bilateral aviation agreement with Israel, the first deal of its kind since 1951 as they try to restore relations. Image Credit: Ahmet Demiroğlu on Unsplash By Reuters, Team MEB Israel and Turkey will expand bilateral airline traffic under a new aviation deal to be signed on Thursday, their first since 1951, […]

Iran TV says several foreigners, a UK diplomat, detained for alleged spying

Whilst Iranian media have showed images of the UK’s Deputy Ambassador’s arrest in Iran, the UK Foreign Office have denied such claims. Image Credit: sina drakhshani on Unsplash By Reuters, Team MEB Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have detained several foreigners, including Britain’s second most senior envoy in Tehran, for alleged acts of spying such as taking […]

What Does The Truce in Yemen Really Mean?

Image Credit: Natanael Ginting – www.freepik.com By Team MEB Yemen spiraled into a state of civil war in 2014 when the Houthi insurgents- a Shiite movement with links to Iran and a history of rising up against the Sunni government- took control of Yemen’s capital and largest city, Sana’a, demanding lower fuel prices and a […]

Yemen officials: Explosion at arms depot kills 3 people

An explosion in Yemen’s southern province of Abyan has killed at least three people and injured 18 others. By AP News, Team MEB An explosion at an arms depot in Yemen’s southern province of Abyan on Tuesday killed three people and wounded 18, medical officials said. The cause of the early morning blast at the […]

Chlorine gas leak in Iraq’s south injures at least 300

A chlorine gas leak at a water purification plant in southern Iraq has reportedly injured at least 300 people. Image Credit: Mat Napo on Unsplash By AP News, Team MEB A chlorine gas leak at a water purification plant in southern Iraq injured at least 300 people, officials said Monday. The incident happened Sunday night […]

Data puts Turkey’s annual inflation at 78.6%, a 24-year high

Turkey reports annual inflation of 78.6% in June as the import-reliant country continues to suffer amid President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s controversial economic policies. Image Credit: Sergei Chirikov/Pool via REUTERS By Reuters, Team MEB Annual inflation in Turkey hit 78.62% in June, the highest rate since 1998, according to official data released Monday. The Turkish Statistical […]

US Navy offers cash for tips to seize Mideast drugs, weapons

The U.S. Navy has reportedly began offering rewards for information relating to illicit shipments including weapons and drugs as tensions with Iran simmer. Image Credit: David Valuja on Unsplash By AP News, Team MEB The U.S. Navy’s Mideast-based 5th Fleet is starting to offer rewards for information that could help sailors intercept weapons, drugs and […]

Romanian woman killed in 2nd Egypt shark attack in days

A second woman has been killed in shark attack just 600 metres from the first attack at a tourist beach in Egypt. Image Credit: Alex Steyn on Unsplash By AP News, Team MEB Romania’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday that a tourist from the country was killed in a shark attack while vacationing in Egypt, making it the second shark […]

Egypt closes coastal area after shark kills Austrian swimmer

Egypt has closed off a stretch of Red Sea beaches after a 68-year-old Austrian woman was killed in a shark attack. Image Credit: Alex Steyn on Unsplash By AP News, Team MEB Egyptian authorities on Saturday closed off a stretch of the country’s Red Sea coastline, a day after a shark attack killed an Austrian […]

UN condemns protesters’ storming of Libya’s parliament

A senior U.N. official for Libya on Saturday condemned protesters who stormed Libya’s parliament amid the collapse of U.N. brokered talks the day before regarding the election stalemate. Image Credit: Mathias Reding on Unsplash By AP News, Team MEB A senior U.N. official for Libya on Saturday condemned the storming of the parliament’s headquarters in the […]

At least five killed in magnitude 6.1 quake on Iran Gulf coast

At least five people have died and over 80 injured after a series of earthquakes rocked southern Iran, tremors felt in the UAE on Saturday. Image Credit: ISNA/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS By Reuters, Team MEB At least five people were killed and 49 injured by a magnitude 6.1 earthquake in southern Iran […]

UAE national security adviser meets Qatar’s emir in second visit

UAE’s national security adviser has met Qatar’s emir to discuss strengthening relations in the second landmark visit. Photo by Khadeeja Yasser on Unsplash By Reuters, Team MEB The United Arab Emirates National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nayhan, a brother of the UAE president, met Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Tuesday, […]

Toxic gas released in Jordan port kills 13, injures 250

A poisonous chlorine gas explosion at the port of Aqaba in Jordan is said to have killed at least 13 people and injured 250. Image Credit: Reuters By AP News, Team MEB A crane loading chlorine tanks onto a ship in Jordan’s port of Aqaba on Monday dropped one of them, causing an explosion of […]

Iran says Saudi Arabia wants to resume diplomatic talks with Tehran

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told a news conference a day after Iraq’s prime minister pushed for a revival of talks between the two rivals in the Iranian capital. Image Credit: Akhilesh Sharma on Unsplash By Reuters, Team MEB Saudi Arabia wants to resume diplomatic talks with Tehran, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh […]

Editorial: Why Biden is giving the Saudi’s a pass on human rights abuses

By Team MEB The White House announced that US President Joe Biden will visit Saudi Arabia, the West Bank and Israel from July 13. A day after the announcement, the District of Columbia announced it was renaming the street in front of the Saudi embassy as “Jamal Khashoggi Way”. This announcement has been deemed a betrayal by human rights […]

US Military Vessel Embarks on Humanitarian Mission to Gaza Following President Biden’s Vow

The United States, in cohesion with the Biden administration’s promises, has launched a maritime mission to provide much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, confirmed the US Central Command (CENTCOM) recently. This announcement comes in the wake of President Joe Biden’s commitment days earlier to establish a temporary port to facilitate the delivery of essential supplies into […]

Suicide Bombing in Peshawar Claims Two Lives and Raises New Security Concerns in Pakistan

A tragic suicide bombing occurred near the Board Bazaar in Peshawar, a major city in the north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, on Sunday morning. According to local reports, the devastating attack claimed the lives of two individuals and left another severely wounded. The wounded victim has since been moved to the Khyber Teaching Hospital […]

Tensions Stoked in the Red Sea as Houthis Steps Up Actions Amidst Gaza Conflict

As tensions in the Red Sea continue to escalate, the Houthi militant group, Ansar Allah, has significantly enhanced its operations. This surge in activity comes amid alleged Israeli intentions to launch attacks on Rafah, a city located in southern Gaza, and the continuation of the Israeli-imposed blockade. A senior officer from Hamas’ military arm, the […]

Call for Ramadan Ceasefire in Sudan: UN Security Council Backs UK Resolution

As per a resolution proposed by the United Kingdom, the United Nations Security Council has appealed for a ceasefire in Sudan. The appeal comes in view of Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims, which is anticipated to commence on Sunday. The resolution has urged all conflicting parties in Sudan to strive for a sustainable resolution […]

Charting Egypt’s Economic Future: IMF Boost and Foreign Investments

Egypt has recently clinched a substantial financial lifeline, securing a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to bolster its economic resilience. This agreement, doubling Egypt’s IMF bailout to a significant $8 billion, follows a series of pivotal economic reforms initiated by Cairo. One of the critical measures taken by Egypt was allowing its currency, […]