World / Middle East

Pope Francis holds historic meeting with Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric 06 Mar 2021 - 10:46 am

Najaf: Pope Francis held a historic meeting with Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on Saturday, in a powerful appeal for...

Turkey logs over 11,500 new COVID-19 cases as restrictions are eased 03 Mar 2021 - 10:54 pm

ANKARA - Turkey recorded 11,520 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, Health Ministry data showed, amid an easing of coronavirus restrictions across the country....

Turkey's reopening relieves restaurants but worries doctors 02 Mar 2021 - 09:07 pm

ISTANBUL - Turkish restaurants reopened and many children returned to school on Tuesday after the government announced steps to ease COVID-19 restrictions even...

Turkey lifts weekend lockdowns in some cities - Erdogan 01 Mar 2021 - 11:38 pm

ANKARA - Turkey will lift weekend lockdowns in low and medium-risk cities and limit the restrictions to just Sundays in high and very...

UN: Arbitrary detentions in Syria conflict may be war crimes 01 Mar 2021 - 03:22 pm

GENEVA: Tens of thousands of civilians in Syria were "arbitrarily detained" in enforced disappearances during the country's 10-year conflict, a U.N. commission said...

Jordan's King accepts resignation of ministers for violating Covid-19 precautionary measures 28 Feb 2021 - 02:40 pm

Amman: Jordan's King Abdullah II accepted on Sunday the resignation of Justice Minister Bassam Talhouni and Interior Minister Ibrahim Mubaideen from their positions...

Russian helicopter makes emergency landing in Syria - Defence Ministry 28 Feb 2021 - 01:58 pm

AMMAN/MOSCOW: A Russian Mi-35 helicopter made an emergency landing due to technical problems during a flight over Syria's northern Hasaka province, state agencies...

Tunisia's main party holds street protest, escalating government row 27 Feb 2021 - 02:04 pm

TUNIS: Tunisia's biggest political party rallied tens of thousands of supporters in the capital on Saturday in a show of strength that could...

Iran says U.S. air strikes in Syria encourage terrorism in the region 27 Feb 2021 - 01:42 pm

Friday's U.S. air strikes against Iran-backed militias in eastern Syria encourage terrorism in the region, Iran’s top security official, Ali Shamkhani, said on...

Jordan extends night curfew after widespread of British virus strain 25 Feb 2021 - 12:06 am

AMMAN - Jordan announced stricter measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 on Wednesday and reimposed a full lockdown on Fridays after a...

Five-year-old Egyptian rally driver's son takes the wheel 23 Feb 2021 - 04:28 pm

CAIRO: Egyptian Mansour Tarek hopes to follow in his father's footsteps and become a professional rally driver when he's older. Aged just five,...

As Iran backs away, US still ready to revive nuclear accord 22 Feb 2021 - 05:47 pm

GENEVA: The United States is prepared to return to the Iran nuclear deal if Tehran shows "strict compliance” with it, U.S. Secretary of...

Gaza launches COVID-19 vaccinations, with just 22,000 doses 22 Feb 2021 - 03:35 pm

GAZA: Palestinians in Gaza began a limited COVID-19 vaccination programme on Monday after receiving doses donated by Russia and the United Arab Emirates,...

UN nuclear chief in Iran as it threatens watchdog's cameras 21 Feb 2021 - 02:20 pm

TEHRAN, Iran: The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog met Sunday with Iranian officials in a bid to preserve his inspectors' ability...

Iran's Zarif says ending IAEA snap inspections doesn't breach 2015 nuclear deal 21 Feb 2021 - 12:25 pm

Dubai: Iran's decision to end snap inspections by U.N. inspectors on Feb. 23 would not mean abandoning its 2015 nuclear deal, but the...

Iran spokesman says Tehran confident about lifting of US sanctions despite wrangling 20 Feb 2021 - 12:20 pm

Iran believes U.S. sanctions will soon be lifted despite continuing "diplomatic wrangling” over reviving the nuclear deal, a government spokesman said on Saturday,...

Heavy snowfall hits Lebanon, Syria in winter storm 17 Feb 2021 - 03:01 pm

BEIRUT: Snow blanketed parts of Lebanon, Syria on Wednesday, blocking roads, disrupting traffic and postponing exams at some universities. Large parts of Syria...

Gaza gets its first COVID-19 vaccine shipment, officials say 17 Feb 2021 - 02:25 pm

GAZA: Gaza received its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines on Wednesday after Israel approved the transfer through its border with the Hamas Islamist-run...