Jailed Taliban release called major step toward peace
The US special envoy who negotiated a deal with the Taliban said Monday that an initial prisoner exchange between the insurgents and the Afghan government was an “important step” toward peace.
Virus 'disaster in the making'
As Europe and the US struggle to contain the coronavirus pandemic, experts warn that disaster looms in war-torn Syria, where hospitals are unable to meet existing needs and hygiene conditions are dire.
COVID-19 cases in Palestine reach 290: official
Palestine said on Sunday that the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country has reached 290.
Taliban set to release 20 prisoners: insurgents
The Taliban on Sunday said it was set to release 20 prisoners in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, in a potential breakthrough after the insurgents walked out of talks with the government last week.
Palestinian official commends China's efforts, experience in fighting COVID-19
Ibrahim Melhem, spokesman of the Palestinian government, has praised China's efforts and experience in fighting the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Israel stops all flights due to COVID-19 quarantine issues
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered on Saturday to stop all flights to the country after passengers entered Israel without health supervision amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
OPEC, allies meet for oil price talks
Top oil producers met on Thursday to discuss a possible cut in output after a collapse in demand due to the coronavirus pandemic and a Saudi-Russian price war causing the market to crash.
UN chief welcomes Saudi-led coalition's announcement of cease-fire in Yemen
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of a unilateral cease-fire in Yemen by the Saudi-led coalition, which has been fighting the Houthis to restore the internationally-recognized government.
Iran opposes to OPEC+ meet without clear objectives
Iran does not agree with holding any OPEC+ meeting in the absence of a clear proposal and expected outcome from such talks for the oil market, the country's oil minister said in a letter to OPEC and seen by Reuters.
Passover holiday celebration to be held under lockdown: Netanyahu
Israelis celebrating the Jewish Passover holiday this week will hold the "seder," the traditional meal celebrating freedom from biblical slavery, confined to their homes under a national coronavirus lockdown.
Taliban to end 'fruitless' talks on prisoner swap
The Taliban will no longer participate in “fruitless” discussions with the Afghan government over a prisoner swap that had formed a key part of a deal with the US, the insurgents said.
Russia ready to coordinate cooperation, stabilize oil markets: Kremlin
Saudi Arabia and Russia are close to a deal on oil output cuts to reduce a global glut, a top Russian oil negotiator said on Monday, but details such as how to sort out production curbs remained unclear ahead of talks planned for later this week.
Israeli firm develops remote app to detect respiratory worsening of COVID-19 patients
An Israeli start-up company has developed a system for accurate remote monitoring of the respiratory status of COVID-19 patients in the hospital and at home, the Israeli Innovation Authority (IIA) said Sunday.
Chinese experts help Iraq diagnose COVID-19 through medical imageology
Chinese expert volunteers dispatched by the Red Cross Society of China taught Chinese experience to Iraqi radiologists on how to diagnose COVID-19 by using the Computed Tomography machine (CT machine), contributing to the local fight against the epidemic.
Rouhani: US has lost opportunity to lift Iran sanctions amid coronavirus
Iran's president said on Wednesday the US had missed a historic opportunity to lift sanctions on his country during the coronavirus outbreak, though he said the penalties had not hampered Tehran's fight against the infection.
US deploys air defense system to Iraq
The US has deployed Patriot air defense batteries to Iraqi bases to protect American troops recently targeted by Iranian missiles, US and Iraqi military sources told AFP Monday.
War-torn Syria reports its first death from COVID-19
Syria's health ministry said on Sunday that a woman who died after being rushed to hospital for emergency treatment was found to have been infected by coronavirus in the country's first officially reported death from the disease.
Saudi forces intercept missiles
Saudi air defenses intercepted ballistic missiles over Riyadh and a city on the Yemeni border Saturday, leaving at least two civilians wounded in the capital still under curfew to curb the spread of the coronavirus.