MIDDLE EAST

US special envoy for Afghanistan Khalilzad holds talks with Jaishankar, Doval

11:48 pm September 15, 2020

New Delhi: The Afghan sides should ensure that Afghanistan‘s territory must not be used by any terror group against any country, the US said on Tuesday soon after its special envoy for the Afghan peace process Zalmay Khalilzad held extensive talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval here. Indian government sources said Khalilzad appreciated India’s participation in the opening […]

CMS holds Global Interfaith Convention to promote communal harmony

Iraq’s top Shiite cleric backs early parliamentary elections

8:43 pm September 13, 2020

Baghdad: Iraq’s top Shiite cleric on Sunday threw his support behind the prime minister’s announcement to hold parliamentary elections ahead of schedule next year, saying the timing should not serve the interests of political groups. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani’s comments came in a statement released by his office after a meeting with UN envoy to Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert. […]

Internet disruption reported in southeast Iran amid unrest

Iran condemns Bahrain’s plan to normalise ties with Israel

10:44 pm September 12, 2020

Tehran: Iran on Saturday strongly condemned Bahrain’s plan to normalise relations with Israel, calling it a shameful and ignominious move by the Gulf Arab country. Bahrain’s announcement Friday followed a similar normalisation agreement last month by the United Arab Emirates, a fellow U.S. ally. The two Arab nations’ establishment of full relations with Israel is part of a broader […]

India hopes for early resumption of Palestine, Israel direct negotiations

11:05 pm September 10, 2020

New Delhi: India on Thursday hoped for an early resumption of direct negotiations between Palestine and Israel to achieve a sovereign, independent and united Palestinian state living within secure and recognised borders. This hope was expressed by India at the third round of bilateral Foreign Office Consultations held through video conference with the Indian side led by Sanjay Bhattacharyya, Secretary (Consular, Passport and […]

Huge fire breaks out at Beirut port a month after explosion

7:31 pm September 10, 2020

Beirut: A huge fire broke out Thursday at the Port of Beirut, the site of last month’s catastrophic explosion that killed nearly 200 people and devastated parts of the capital. The new fire nearly 40 days after the blast triggered widespread panic among traumatized residents of the area. It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the […]