WORLD >> Mid-East

Iran hails UN arms vote, saying US has 'never been so isolated'

Iran on Saturday hailed a UN Security Council vote rejecting a US bid to extend an arms embargo on the Islamic republic, saying its foe has “never been so isolated.”
Source: AFP | 2020/8/16 16:48:40

Israel, UAE agree to normalization of relations

Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed to the full normalization of relations, according to a joint statement of the United States, Israel, and the UAE on Thursday.
Source: Xinhua | 2020/8/15 0:22:27

Iraq reports record 3,841 daily COVID-19 cases

The Iraqi Health Ministry on Thursday recorded 3,841 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily increase since the outbreak of the disease, as the health officials warned of a higher number of infections in the coming days.
Source: Xinhua | 2020/8/14 11:55:30

Saudi king lands in Red Sea megacity to 'recuperate'

Saudi Arabia's King Salman arrived at a planned Red Sea megacity to “rest and recuperate,” state media said Thursday, after the 84-year-old ruler underwent surgery to remove his gall bladder.
Source: AFP | 2020/8/13 17:03:41

Syrian President Assad slams US sanctions in speech to parliament

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday slammed the latest US sanctions as a further “escalation” aimed at “strangling” his country, ravaged by war and economic crisis.
Source: AFP | 2020/8/13 17:03:41

UN calls for early formation of Lebanese gov't as more donations arrive after Beirut's blasts

United Nations (UN) Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis on Tuesday called for early formation of a Lebanese government following the resignation of Prime Minister Hassan Diab and his cabinet.
Source: Xinhua | 2020/8/12 11:06:17

Lebanese government quits amid fury

Lebanon's prime minister announced his government's resignation on Monday, saying a huge explosion that devastated Beirut and triggered public outrage was the result of endemic corruption.
Source: Reuters | 2020/8/11 15:23:41

Afghanistan to release 400 'hard-core' Taliban prisoners in bid for peace

The Afghan government agreed on Sunday to release 400 “hard-core” Taliban prisoners, paving the way for peace talks aimed at ending almost two decades of war.
Source: Reuters | 2020/8/10 17:28:42

World to provide Lebanon aid

World leaders on Sunday pledged more than 250 million euros ($294 million) for disaster-struck Lebanon, conference host France said, with the emergency aid to be delivered “directly” to a population reeling from the deadly port blast in Beirut.
Source: AFP | 2020/8/10 17:13:40

Erdogan says Turkey becomes 3rd to develop COVID-19 vaccines

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Turkey has become the third country to develop vaccines locally against COVID-19 after the United States and China according to the World Health Organization.
Source: Xinhua | 2020/8/10 13:40:45

EU urges independent inquiry into cause of Beirut explosion

European Council President Charles Michel on Sunday urged an independent investigation into the cause of the deadly explosion that rocked the city of Beirut and inflicted heavy casualties last Tuesday.
Source: Xinhua | 2020/8/10 11:42:36

Iranian president predicts 6 more months of COVID-19 outbreak in Iran as Iraq yet to hit pandemic peak

Iranian president warned on Sunday that the COVID-19 pandemic will last at least six more months in the country. Meanwhile, Iraqi deputy minister of health said that Iraq has yet to reach the coronavirus peak.
Source: Xinhua | 2020/8/10 11:35:54

Lebanon rocked by protests

Lebanese protesters stormed government ministries in Beirut and trashed the offices of the Association of Lebanese Banks on Saturday as shots rang out in increasingly angry demonstrations over this week's devastating explosion.
Source: Reuters | 2020/8/9 16:48:41

Ambassador's wife dies from blast

The wife of Dutch Ambassador to Lebanon Jan Waltmans has died of wounds sustained in the Beirut bomb explosion, the Netherlands' foreign ministry said Saturday.
Source: Reuters | 2020/8/9 15:23:41

Chinese-built lab helps Iraq in anti-COVID-19 battle

It is a race against time. Medics are shuffling piles of swab samples waiting for COVID-19 testing in a Chinese-built lab in Iraq.
Source: Xinhua | 2020/8/9 9:32:24

Lebanese police officer killed, 142 injured in anti-gov't protests after Beirut's deadly blasts

A Lebanese police officer was killed and 142 people were injured on Saturday in clashes during protests against the ruling class in downtown Beirut, days after massive explosions rocked the Lebanese capital that killed at least 158 and injured 6,000 others, LBCI TV channel reported.
Source: Xinhua | 2020/8/9 9:14:18

UN adds 6 mln USD emergency aid funds for Beirut blast victims

The United Nations is releasing 6 million US dollars in immediate emergency funds for Beirut blast victims' hospital urgent care and fixing up homes for the vulnerable, a UN spokesman said on Friday.
Source: Xinhua | 2020/8/8 10:30:59

Beirut reels from huge blast

Lebanese rescue teams pulled out bodies and hunted for missing people on Wednesday from the wreckage caused by a massive warehouse explosion that sent a devastating blast wave across Beirut, killing at least 135.
Source: Reuters | 2020/8/6 16:53:41