MIDDLE EAST

Israel president tasks Netanyahu with forming new government

11:32 pm September 25, 2019

Jerusalem: Israel’s president on Wednesday tasked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with forming a new government after last week’s deadlocked elections, his office announced. The announcement followed a joint meeting between President Reuven Rivlin, Netanyahu and the premier’s challenger Benny Gantz. Netanyahu will have 28 days to form a government, with a possible two-week extension. If […]

Rocket carrying Emirati, Russian, American blasts off for ISS

8:46 pm September 25, 2019

Baikonur: A rocket blasted off from the Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan on Wednesday with an Emirati on board who will be the first Arab on the International Space Station. The Soyuz rocket carrying the three-member crew — including Hazzaa al-Mansoori of the United Arab Emirates — blasted off as scheduled at 1357 GMT. Mansoori, […]

Iran gives final green light for British-flagged tanker to leave

6:52 pm September 25, 2019

Tehran: British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero, seized by Iran more than two months ago, was Wednesday given the final clearance to leave, foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said. He tweeted that “the lifting of the seizure of the vessel Stena Impero was finalised today” after a procedure coordinated by the foreign ministry, Iran’s judiciary and […]

Israel's Netanyahu, Gantz see 'significant progress' toward unity govt

Israeli negotiators seek to break Netanyahu-Gantz deadlock

8:00 pm September 24, 2019

Jerusalem: Negotiators for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main opponent Benny Gantz met Tuesday to discuss possibilities for a unity government that both men say they should lead after last week’s deadlocked election. The chief negotiators for Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud and Gantz’s centrist Blue and White gathered to follow up on a meeting […]

CMS holds Global Interfaith Convention to promote communal harmony

S Arabia blocking approval of UN oceans report: participants

2:43 pm September 24, 2019

Monaco: Oil giant Saudi Arabia is blocking the adoption of a major UN report on oceans and climate change by challenging an earlier UN assessment highlighting the need to slash carbon emissions caused by burning fossil fuels, multiple sources told AFP. Already deep into overtime, a meeting of the 195-nation Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change […]