MIDDLE EAST

Saudi Arabia takes over G20 presidency from Japan

7:32 pm December 1, 2019

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia became the first Arab nation Sunday to take over the G20 presidency as it seeks to bounce back onto the world stage following global uproar over its human rights record. The oil-rich kingdom has promoted a liberalisation drive, including granting greater rights to women, but faced strong criticism over a crackdown on […]

France to summon Turkish envoy over Erdogan’s ‘insults’: French presidency

9:02 pm November 29, 2019

Paris: The French government will summon the Turkish envoy in Paris for talks after what it termed “insults” by Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who accused Emmanuel Macron of suffering “brain death”, the president’s office said Friday. Erdogan used an expression Macron had used to describe NATO to hit back at the French leader over […]

Israel braces for bitter fight after Netanyahu indictment

5:55 pm November 22, 2019

Jerusalem: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s indictment is expected to sharpen the battle lines in Israel’s already deadlocked political system and could test the loyalty of his right-wing allies, Israeli commentators said Friday. The serious corruption charges announced Thursday appear to have dashed already slim hopes for a unity government following September’s elections, paving the way […]

Iraq protesters lock down oil field, call strike

Iran developed ‘vast influence’ in Iraq, spy agency leaks say

7:17 pm November 18, 2019

Baghdad: Hundreds of leaked Iranian intelligence reports reveal the depth of Tehran’s influence in neighbouring, now protest-torn Iraq, The New York Times and The Intercept reported Monday. The US newspaper and the online news publication said they had verified around 700 pages of reports written mainly in 2014 and 2015 by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security, […]

Iran supreme leader warns ‘thugs’ amid gas price protests

10:17 pm November 17, 2019

Dubai: Iran’s supreme leader on Sunday backed the government’s decision to raise gasoline prices and called angry protesters who have been setting fire to public property over the hike “thugs,” signalling a potential crackdown on the demonstrations. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s comments came as authorities shut down the internet across Iran to smother the protests in […]