WORLD >> Mid-East

Gulf Arab ministers to meet virtually to resolve diplomatic dispute

Gulf Arab foreign ministers were expected to hold a virtual meeting hosted by Bahrain on Sunday ahead of an annual summit to discuss steps toward ending a diplomatic row that has undermined regional stability and thwarted Washington's efforts to form a united front against Iran.
Source: Reuters | 2020/12/27 18:13:40

Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon set ablaze following migrant fight

A Syrian refugee camp in northern Lebanon was set on fire Saturday night following a fight between members of the camp and a local Lebanese family, state media reported.
Source: AFP | 2020/12/27 17:53:40

Zarif dismisses Tehran behind recent US Embassy attack

Iran's foreign minister on Thursday dismissed US President Donald Trump's allegations that Iran was behind the recent rocket attack on the US Embassy in Baghdad.
Source: Agencies | 2020/12/24 18:13:40

Israel to hold snap election in March 2021

Israel will hold a snap election in March after parliament failed on Tuesday to meet a deadline to pass a budget, triggering a ballot presenting new challenges for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Source: Reuters | 2020/12/23 17:33:40

Senior UN official calls for efforts to preserve Iran nuclear deal

UN Undersecretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo on Tuesday called for efforts to preserve the Iran nuclear deal.
Source: Xinhua | 2020/12/23 10:53:49

Israel's parliament on brink of disbanding after budget delay nixed

Israeli lawmakers on Tuesday rejected a bill to give the government more time to pass a budget, raising the likelihood that parliament will dissolve and force a fourth election in less than two years.
Source: AFP | 2020/12/22 17:28:41

Archaeologists recreate tiles of temple where Jesus walked

When Jesus strode through the ancient Jewish temple in Jerusalem, his feet met hewn-stone, earth-tone tiles that were geometric in design and cool, dappled and scuffed to the touch.
Source: Reuters | 2020/12/21 20:58:40

China-built World Cup stadium printed on Qatar currency

Lusail Stadium, the main stadium for the 2022 World Cup, is featured on the new 10-riyal banknote of Qatar, which was released on Friday. This is the first time that a China-built infrastructure project is chosen to appear as a main symbol on the official currency of Qatar.
Source: Global Times | 2020/12/21 1:05:13

Netanyahu gets coronavirus jab, starting Israel's major vaccine rollouts

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a COVID-19 vaccine jab on Saturday, kicking off a national rollout over the coming days.
Source: AFP | 2020/12/20 18:08:39

Ten years since Arab Spring, the US leaves a mess, ruin in Middle East with interference, imposing 'Western democracy'

Ten years on from the Arab Spring - a string of uprisings across the Middle East that first started in Tunisia - how has the Middle East fared? While some governments have been overthrown, the reforms many once demanded still seem to be a far-fetched dream. Some countries have even entered an era of more turbulence and insecurity.
Source: Global Times | 2020/12/16 21:13:42

Shipping firm Hafnia says oil tanker hit by 'external source' in Saudi Arabia

Shipping company Hafnia said on Monday that one of its oil tankers, the BW Rhine, had been hit by an unidentified "external source" that caused fire and explosion while the ship was discharging at Jeddah port in Saudi Arabia.
Source: Reuters | 2020/12/14 19:28:40

Israel establishes diplomatic ties with Bhutan: FM

Israel established diplomatic relations with the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan on Saturday, the Israeli foreign ministry said, the latest in a string of normalization deals agreed by the Jewish state.
Source: AFP | 2020/12/13 18:13:40

ICC drops probe into British war crimes in Iraq

The International Criminal Court's (ICC) chief prosecutor announced Wednesday she was shutting down a preliminary probe into alleged war crimes committed by British soldiers after the US-led invasion in Iraq.
Source: AFP | 2020/12/10 17:48:41

Afghan TV journalist assassinated by gunmen

Gunmen shot dead a female news anchor and her driver on Thursday, her employer said, the second murder of a journalist in Afghanistan in a month.
Source: AFP | 2020/12/10 16:18:41

Israel receives 1st batch of Pfizer vaccine

On Thursday, another batch of tens of thousands of vaccines is expected to land in Israel, according to health officials.
Source: Xinhua | 2020/12/10 10:41:10

U.S. "inhumane" sanctions block Iran's purchase of COVID-19 vaccines: central bank head

The governor of Iran's central bank said on Monday the U.S. "inhumane sanctions" have blocked Iran's purchase of vaccines needed to tackle the COVID-19 epidemic, official news agency IRNA reported.
Source: Xinhua | 2020/12/8 11:57:10

Iran's IRGC says "satellite-guided instruments" used in assassination of nuke scientist

Satellite-guided equipment has been used in the assassination of Iran's top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced on Sunday.
Source: Xinhua | 2020/12/7 10:00:08

Iran's COVID-19 cases surpass 1 mln; Turkey reports 32,381 new cases

The tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Iran, the worst-hit country in the Middle East, crossed the threshold of 1 million on Thursday. Meanwhile, Turkey reported 32,381 cases, including 6,511 symptomatic patients, for the past 24 hours.
Source: Xinhua | 2020/12/4 15:17:32