KSA rejects French claim of Khashoggi suspect arrest

French authorities were yesterday seeking to confirm the identity of a man arrested on suspicion of playing a key role in the 2018 murder of
8 December 2021

Syrian port of latakia::Israel strike targets Iran weapons

An Israeli air strike hit a shipment of Iranian weapons in the Syrian port of Latakia yesterday, in the first such attack on the key facility, a war monitor said.
7 December 2021

UAE declares 4.5-day workweek; Saturday-Sunday weekend

The United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday it would transition to a four and half-day working week starting next year, with the full weekend falling on Saturday and Sunday in a move aimed at better aligning its economy with global markets.
7 December 2021

Indonesia volcano erupts again

Indonesia’s Mount Semeru spewed more ash yesterday, hampering the search for survivors as aerial images showed the extent of the devastation unleashed by the volcano’s deadly weekend eruption.
6 December 2021

Palestinian killed after ramming car

Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian teenager who rammed a car into a military checkpoint in the occupied West Bank yesterday, seriously injuring an Israeli guard, Israel’s defence ministry said.
6 December 2021

Iran rejects ‘blame game’

Iran said yesterday it was ready to resume nuclear talks but based on draft proposals it submitted last week, accusing Western powers of stalling negotiations in Vienna.
6 December 2021

Jordan jails hospital chief over Covid deaths

A Jordanian court yesterday sentenced to three years in jail the director of a state hospital over the deaths of 10 patients at the facility which treated coronavirus patients.
5 December 2021

Israeli police kill Palestinian in Jerusalem stabbing

Israeli security forces shot dead a Palestinian in annexed east Jerusalem late on Saturday after he stabbed an Israeli civilian and tried to
5 December 2021

France, Europeans working to open Afghan joint mission

Several European countries are working on opening up a joint diplomatic mission in Afghanistan that would enable their ambassadors to return to the country, French President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday.
4 December 2021

Thousands flee in panic, one killed

Indonesia’s Mount Semeru erupted yesterday, spewing out a tower of smoke and ash that plunged local communities into darkness and forced thousands of nearby residents to flee.
4 December 2021

Iran nuclear talks break

Indirect US-Iranian talks on saving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal broke off until next week as European officials voiced dismay late Friday at sweeping demands by Iran’s new, hardline government.
4 December 2021

9 US State Department phones hacked using Israeli spyware

Apple Inc iPhones of at least nine US State Department employees were hacked by an unknown assailant using sophisticated spyware developed by the Israel-based NSO Group, according to four people familiar with the matter.
3 December 2021

12 including Iraqi civilians, Kurd fighters killed in attacks blamed on IS

At least nine Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga fighters and three brothers were killed in northern Iraq attacks blamed on the Islamic State militants group, officials and a family member said Friday.
3 December 2021

UAE buys record 80 French fighter jets as Macron starts Gulf tour

The United Arab Emirates signed a record 14-billion-euro contract for 80 French-made Rafale warplanes and committed billions of euros in other deals as President Emmanuel Macron kicked off a Gulf tour on Friday.
3 December 2021

Palestinian Authority struggles to pay public employees

After years of economic stagnation, authorities in the occupied West Bank say they are struggling to pay salaries for public employees, as soaring inflation, dwindling donor aid and Israel’s withholding of vital tax revenues strangle the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) already crippled budget.
3 December 2021

Philippines court to allow Nobel laureate Ressa to go to Norway

Philippine journalist Maria Ressa will be allowed to travel so she can accept her Nobel Peace Prize in person after a court gave her permission to leave the Southeast Asian country to visit Norway later this month.
3 December 2021

Iran nuke talks set for pause

Negotiations in Vienna aimed at reviving the Iran nuclear deal were set to be suspended yesterday, Iranian media said, as European diplomats expressed “disappointment and concern” at the latest proposals from Iran.
3 December 2021

UAE places $19 bn order for warplanes, helicopters with France

The United Arab Emirates ordered 80 Rafale fighter jets and 12 military helicopters on Friday, deepening economic and political ties with France through an arms contract worth 17 billion euros ($19.20 billion).
3 December 2021

Iran nuclear talks restart in Vienna

Fresh talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers restarted on Monday, with the EU chair saying he felt “extremely positive” while admitting that “difficult issues” have yet to be tackled.
30 November 2021

World Expo in Dubai: Workers face hardships despite promises

Intent on making a flawless impression as the first host of the world’s fair in the Middle East, Dubai sought to leave nothing to chance.
30 November 2021