Jordanian ministers sacked for attending dinner breaching COVID-19 rules
Two Jordanian ministers resigned on Sunday for violating coronavirus-containment regulations, days after one of them had vowed “zero tolerance” against COVID-19 rule breakers. ...
Former Mosul priest: Pope’s Iraq visit a ‘precious gift’ for all
The pope’s upcoming visit to Iraq is a “precious gift” not only for the Christians who live there, but for all those who after years of war want a return to peace and coexistence between religions, a priest who worked for eight years in the diocese of Mosul said. ...
UN: Syrians alone can't stop war, global help vital
The UN Special Envoy on Syria said Friday that issues to be discussed in a new round of political talks could not be sorted out by Syrians alone and that they also needed international cooperation. ...
Iraq bombing: IS says it was behind deadly suicide attacks in Baghdad
The Islamic State (IS) group has said it was behind a double suicide bombing in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Thursday that killed at least 32 people and wounded more than 100. ...
UN says 12 people killed in Syria's Al Hol camp
The UN said on Friday that 12 people were killed in the first half of January at the Al Hol camp in northeastern Syria. ...
Iran's Rouhani says "ball in US court" over nuclear dispute
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged the incoming US administration on Wednesday to return to a 2015 nuclear agreement and lift sanctions on Tehran, while welcoming the end of "tyrant" President Donald Trump's era. ...
State Media: Iraq to Postpone General Elections by Four Months
Iraq’s Cabinet members voted unanimously Tuesday to postpone this year’s general elections from June 6 until October 10, according to the state news agency INA. ...
Switzerland to probe Lebanon central bank governor over money laundering
Swiss officials have opened an investigation into Lebanon's central bank governor over allegations of money laundering. ...
PA pledges to legally pursue US ambassador to Israel for recognising settlement project
The Palestinian Authority (PA) pledged on Tuesday to legally pursue US Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, after he recognised a settlement project called City of David in the occupied city of Jerusalem, Wafa News Agency reported. ...
Lebanon begins round-the-clock curfew
For the next 11 days at least most of Lebanon will be in complete lockdown, after the number of new infections in the country surged to among the highest rates in the world. ...
Al-Qaeda: Pompeo says Iran is jihadist network's 'new home base'
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has publicly accused Iran's government of allowing the jihadist network al-Qaeda to establish a "new home base" there. ...
Syria war: Suspected Israeli strikes on Iran-linked targets 'kill dozens'
Israel has reportedly carried out a wave of air strikes on Iran-backed militia positions in Syria overnight, in the fourth such attack in two weeks. ...
Egypt, Germany, France, Jordan meet to revive Mideast talks
Egypt on Monday hosted the foreign ministers of Germany, France and Jordan to discuss ways to revive peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, a week before President-elect Joe Biden takes office. ...
Iraq facing water crisis if deal with Turkey not reached, official warns
Iraq's Water Resources Minister Mehdi Rashid Al-Hamdani yesterday warned that his country would face a water crisis if it does not reach a deal with Turkey, the New Khaleej reported. ...
Rafsanjani's daughter: Iran's intervention in Syria left 500,000 dead
Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani, the daughter of the late Iranian president has criticised her country's intervention in Syria, saying it left 500,000 Syrians dead. ...
Israel leads in vaccination rates - but is 'not out of the woods yet'
The top scientist advising Israel’s government on coronavirus has described the country’s early vaccination rate as “amazing” - but warned it will not be enough to overcome the disease for months yet. ...
Iran resumes enriching uranium to 20% purity at Fordo facility
Iran has resumed enriching uranium to 20% purity, in its most significant breach yet of its 2015 deal with world powers to end nuclear sanctions. ...
Jordan secures 3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine
Jordan has struck a deal with Pfizer and partner BioNTech to buy 1 million doses of their COVID-19 vaccine and another 2 million doses from the World Health Organization’s s COVAX program, with talks underway for more, the prime minister said on Sunday. ...
Iraqis Mark Anniversary of Top Iranian General’s Assassination
Thousands of Iraqis converged on central Baghdad’s Tahrir Square on Sunday to mark the first anniversary of the twin assassinations in a U.S. air strike of a top Iranian general and a leader of an Iraqi powerful Shi’ite militia. ...
Coronavirus: Israel leads vaccine race with 12% given jab
Israel has given vaccinations against coronavirus to more than one million people, the highest rate in the world, as global immunisation efforts step up. ...