MIDDLE EAST

Oman sultan creates crown prince post, changes constitution

11:54 pm January 11, 2021

Dubai: Oman’s sultan announced a shake-up of the Gulf countries constitution on Monday with changes that include the appointment of a crown prince for the first time and steps to boost government transparency, the state-run news agency reported. The move, one year after the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who pulled Oman into modernity and deftly navigated […]

CMS holds Global Interfaith Convention to promote communal harmony

Lebanon high court says prosecutor can resume port probe

11:48 pm January 11, 2021

Beirut: Lebanon’s highest court said on Monday the prosecutor investigating last year’s massive explosion at the Beirut port that killed dozens and injured thousands can resume his work after a three-week pause following legal challenges to his authority. The Court of Cassation’s decision gives the green light to Judge Fadi Sawwan to question officials and civil servants over the […]

EU says it will redouble efforts to save Iran nuclear deal

8:07 pm January 5, 2021

Brussels: The European Union says it will redouble its efforts to save the Iran nuclear agreement despite what it calls Tehran’s “important breach” of commitments made in the 2015 deal by starting to enrich uranium to new levels. EU spokesman Peter Stano said that Iran’s actions “will have serious implications when it comes to nuclear nonproliferation.” Stano said it was in […]

Iran says it begins 20% uranium enrichment amid US tensions

6:28 pm January 4, 2021

Tehran : Iran said on Monday it has begun enriching uranium up to 20 per cent at an underground nuclear facility, a short, technical step to weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent amid escalating tensions with the US. Iranian state television quoted spokesman Ali Rabiei as saying that President Hassan Rouhani has given the order […]

Israel’s virus surveillance tool tests its democratic norms

3:57 pm January 1, 2021

Tel Aviv: In the early days of the pandemic, a panicked Israel began using a mass surveillance tool on its civilians, tracking people’s cellphone’s in hopes of stopping the spread of the coronavirus. The government touted the technology, normally used to catch wanted Palestinian militants, as a breakthrough against the virus. But months later, the […]