Middle East

US arms deal with UAE, Israel, Saudi Arabia, sends signal to Iran

Alexander Besant — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:08:55 +0000

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel met with leaders in the United Arab Emirates Thursday to seal an arms deal that aims at curbing Iranian influence in the region.

Egypt plays down Morsi comments on Jews

Alexander Besant and Erin Cunningham — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 18:19:00 +0000

Egypt has played down anti-semitic remarks made three years ago by President Mohamed Morsi that caused controversy in Washington.

UAE arrests members of alleged terrorist organization

Alexander Besant — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 15:40:00 +0000

The United Arab Emirates authorities claim to have broken up a terrorist cell that was planning domestic and foreign attacks.

Kuwait elections: Thousands protests in support of boycotting vote

Alexander Besant — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 21:39:57 +0000

Kuwait was rocked with protests Friday on the eve of parliamentary elections, which many say are not free.

Assad could be offered safe passage if he leaves Syria, British PM

Alexander Besant — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 01:14:57 +0000

The British Prime Minister said in a recent interview that safe passage for Syria's president may be provided if he agrees to leave the country.

Pakistan offers reward for information on who shot young activist

Kaitlin Funaro — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:34:00 +0000

Malala is recovering from surgery after being shot in the head Tuesday while leaving school in northwest Pakistan's Swat Valley.

Jordan TV show turns violent as MP pulls gun on political opponent - live

Faine Greenwood — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 14:52:41 +0000

Politics got intense on Friday in Jordan, where a member of Parliament pulled a gun on an opposition activist on live television.

A heated debate between MP Mohammed Shawabka and political activist and former MP Mansour Sayf al-Din Murad over the Syrian regime, broadcast on the Jo Sat televison network, turned into a noisy, incensed shouting match before live audiences.

Ex-Egypt Oil Minister Samih Fahmi jailed for 15 years

Luke Browne — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 20:58:09 +0000

Ten other former oil and gas officials also received prison sentences ranging from three to 10 years and fines totalling $412.47 million.

At least 13 killed in Baghdad bombings

Luke Browne — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 09:49:32 +0000

At least eight people died when a car bomb exploded outside a market in the mainly Shia Washash district of Baghdad, while four people were killed in another car bomb attack in the mainly Sunni town of Taji.

Jewish settlers evacuated from West Bank Ulpana outpost

Luke Browne — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:50:16 +0000

More than 100 officials from Israel’s Defense Ministry arrived at the unauthorized Ulpana outpost on Tuesday morning to help the first of 30 families move to temporary accommodation in the adjoining settlement of Beit El.

Israel arrests ultra-Orthodox men over Holocaust museum graffiti

Luke Browne — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:25:00 +0000

The men have reportedly admitted vandalising the memorial, the walls of which were covered in slogans like “If Hitler had not existed, the Zionists would have invented him.”

Kenyans barred from seeking jobs in Middle East

Luke Browne — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 20:33:29 +0000

The country’s foreign ministry says Kenyans have been lured to countries in the region by the prospect of non-existent jobs, and to combat this new measures are to be introduced requiring all agencies recruiting housekeepers and maids to be vetted.

Israeli air strike on Gaza kills militant after rockets fired

Luke Browne — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:07:19 +0000

The Palestinian killed Friday is the ninth Gazan to die in an Israeli airstrike since Monday, when two militants crossed into Israel from the lawless Sinai peninsula and opened fire on civilians working on the construction of a border security fence, killing one.

Double bomb attack kills 13 at busy Baghdad market

Luke Browne — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 13:58:49 +0000

More than 130 people have been killed this month since Sunni militant groups – including Al Qaeda’s local affiliate, the Islamic State of Iraq – launched a series of bombing attacks on Shia Muslims.

Syrian air force pilot defects to Jordan

Luke Browne — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 13:05:51 +0000

The pilot landed his Russian-made, Soviet-era MiG-21 at the King Hussein Air Base in the town of Mafraq, not far from the Syrian border, on Thursday morning.