MIDDLE EAST

CMS holds Global Interfaith Convention to promote communal harmony

The Latest: Israel restricts travel due to new virus strain

10:44 pm December 21, 2020

Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the country has further tightened restrictions on incoming air travel in response to the new strain of the coronavirus. Netanyahu said Monday that Israel will not allow foreign nationals to enter the country, and any Israelis who return from abroad, starting Wednesday, will go into quarantine at state-designated […]

Egyptian court acquits men accused of abusing Coptic woman

10:49 pm December 18, 2020

Cairo: An Egyptian criminal court acquitted three Muslim men accused of stripping naked an elderly Coptic Christian woman and parading her through the streets of a village in southern Egypt in 2016, the state’s official news agency reported. The three had been sentenced to 10 years in absentia in January, before they were detained and stood a retrial for the attack […]

Saudi Arabia plans spending cuts to trim deficit amid virus

6:55 pm December 16, 2020

Dubai: Saudi Arabia plans to cut more than 7 per cent in spending next year, the finance ministry said, as the region’s biggest oil producer seeks to trim a gaping budget deficit amid the coronavirus pandemic and falling oil prices. The kingdom expects its deficit to hit USD 79.4 billion this year, according to a […]

Afghan officials: Bomb, shooting attack in Kabul kill 3

2:29 pm December 15, 2020

Kabul: A bombing and a shooting attack on Tuesday in the Afghan capital of Kabul killed at least three people, including a deputy provincial governor, officials said. According to Tariq Arian, Afghan interior ministry spokesman, a sticky bomb attached to an armoured vehicle belonging to Kabul’s deputy provincial governor killed two people, and wounded two […]

Israel set to start second phase of human trials of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate

11:17 pm December 14, 2020

Jerusalem: Israel is set to start the second phase of human clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, named Brilife, in the coming days following the successful completion of the first phase, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. The second phase of the human trial will involve the participation of approximately 1,000 volunteers. ”The Ministry of […]