Gulf

At least 82 die in Baghdad COVID hospital fire – Interior Ministry

BAGHDAD (Reuters) -A fire sparked by an oxygen tank explosion killed at least 82 people and injured 110 at a hospital in Baghdad that had been equipped to house COVID-19…

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Saudi Arabia bans Lebanese produce over drug smuggling

Saudi Arabia announced a ban on imports of fruits and vegetables from Lebanon, blaming an increase in drug smuggling, in a measure that will add to Lebanon's economic woes. Lebanon…

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Gulf economies seen rebounding this year but some forecasts scaled back

The economies of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council are expected to return to growth this year, a quarterly Reuters survey showed on Thursday, but half are seen expanding less than…

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Dubai’s commodities hub plans Gulf’s first blockchain-backed facility

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) plans to create the first precious metals refinery and storage facility in the Gulf region enabled by blockchain technology. The facility will refine and store…

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UAE may impose virus curbs on unvaccinated people

The United Arab Emirates has warned it could impose restrictions on people who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 as the region’s business and tourism hub pushes its immunisation campaign.…

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Iran welcomes Iraqi mediation with Gulf states – ambassador

Iran said on Tuesday it welcomes Iraqi mediation to help mend its ties with Gulf Arab states, following reports that Saudi and Iranian officials had held discussions in Iraq. The remarks by the Iranian ambassador…

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Strong earthquake rattles Bushehr, where an Iranian nuclear power plant is located

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake on Sunday struck Iran's southern province of Bushehr, where a nuclear power plant is located, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, state…

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Saudi and Iranian officials in talks to patch up relations

Senior Saudi and Iranian officials have held direct talks in a bid to repair relations between the two regional rivals, four years after they cut off diplomatic ties, the Financial…

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Iran state TV identifies man it says was behind blast at Natanz nuclear site

April 17 (Reuters) - Iran's state television on Saturday identified a man it said was behind a recent explosion and power outage at its main Natanz nuclear plant. "Reza Karimi,…

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Biden says Iranian enrichment to 60% unhelpful, but glad about talks

April 16 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday called Iran's enrichment of uranium to 60% purity unhelpful but said he is pleased Tehran is still in indirect talks…

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Iran nuclear chief says 60% enrichment has started at Natanz site

April 16 (Reuters) - Iran has begun 60% uranium enrichment at its Natanz plant, its higher ever level, the country's nuclear chief said on Friday, days after an explosion at…

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Iran, United States to discuss options before more nuclear talks, EU official says

BRUSSELS, April 16 (Reuters) - Negotiating teams for Iran and the United States will return home for internal discussions on how to rescue the 2015 nuclear deal, a European Union…

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UAE is mediating between India and Pakistan

The United Arab Emirates’ envoy to Washington confirmed the Gulf state is mediating between India and Pakistan to help the nuclear-armed rivals reach a “healthy and functional” relationship. Top intelligence…

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UAE partners with Japan’s ispace to send rover to the moon in 2022

Lunar exploration company ispace will transport a United Arab Emirates rover to the moon in 2022, the company said on Wednesday, as the UAE pushes for rapid expansion in the…

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Iran’s Rouhani says 60% enrichment is an answer to attack at Natanz site

Iran's move to enrich uranium up to 60% purity is a response to the sabotage at its key nuclear facility, President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday, adding the Islamic Republic…

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UPDATED: Iran’s Zarif blames Israel for Natanz incident, person who caused disruption identified

Iran blames its regional arch-foe Israel for Sunday's incident at the Natanz nuclear site and will take its revenge, state TV quoted Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as saying on…

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Iran says Natanz nuclear site hit by terrorism – TV

DUBAI, April 11 (Reuters) - An incident at Iran's Natanz nuclear facility on Sunday was caused by an act of "nuclear terrorism", the country's nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi said,…

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Iran reports incident in Natanz nuclear site, no casualties (UPDATE)

DUBAI, April 11 (Reuters) - An electrical power problem caused an incident at Iran's Natanz underground nuclear facility on Sunday, Iranian Press TV reported, a day after Tehran launched new…

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Britain carried out several air strikes against ISIS in northern Iraq

Britain carried out several air strikes against Islamic State (IS) or ISIS militants in northern Iraq last month as part of a coordinated 10-day operation with local ground forces, the…

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Iran says its ship Saviz was attacked in Red Sea

Iran’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday that an Iranian vessel, the Saviz, had been targeted in the Red Sea, a day after media reports that the ship had been attacked…

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Saudi non-oil private sector keeps up steady growth in March – PMI

Saudi Arabia's non-oil private sector grew for the seventh straight month in March, albeit at a slower pace, with output and new orders expanding more moderately than a month earlier,…

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UAE March non-oil private sector growth climbs to 20-month high – PMI

The United Arab Emirates' non-oil private sector grew in March at the fastest pace since July 2019, boosted by new business and a sharp rise in the construction sector, a…

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Expats struggle to get vaccines in Kuwait, as citizens come 1st

In the tiny, oil-rich sheikhdom of Kuwait, the foreigners who power the country’s economy, serve its society and make up 70% of its population are struggling to get coronavirus vaccines.…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Dubai, UAE

A view of the world's tallest building of Burj Khalifa (L) among other skyscrapers during foggy weather in the Gulf emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, . Photo: EPA-EFE/ALI HAIDER

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Iraq, Saudi Arabia sign five agreements during Kadhimi’s visit to Riyadh – Al Arabiya

Iraq and Saudi Arabia signed five agreements on Wednesday during a visit by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi to Riyadh, the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV channel reported. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince…

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Qatar orders private health centres to halt non-urgent services

Qatar's cabinet on Wednesday ordered a halt to non-urgent medical services at private health facilities as of April 2 as coronavirus cases rise in the Gulf Arab state, state news…

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Saudi Crown Prince discusses Green Initiative with Arab leaders

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called the leaders of Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, and Sudan to discuss a massive regional tree-planting project, state news agency (SPA) reported early on…

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Iran, China sign 25-year cooperation agreement

The Chinese and Iranian foreign ministers on Saturday signed a 25-year cooperation agreement between the two allies in a ceremony carried live on state television. "Our relations with Iran will…

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Yemen’s Houthis warn of stronger attacks after drone strikes on Saudi Arabia

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Friday they had attacked Saudi energy and military sites with 18 armed drones, and the kingdom's energy ministry reported that a projectile had struck a…

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Saudi Arabia to use deterrents to protect oil exports, ballistic missile intercepted over Najran

Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said it plans to take deterrent actions to protect oil export facilities following a series of attacks by Yemen's Houthi group, the Saudi Press Agency reported.…

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Photo Story – Houthis funerals amid Saudi Arabia’s Yemen peace initiative

Pro-Houthi soldiers riding a truck patrol during the funeral procession of slain Houthi fighters a day after a Yemen peace initiative was offered by Saudi Arabia, in Sana'a, Yemen, 23…

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UAE finance minister and Dubai deputy ruler, Sheikh Hamdan, dies

The United Arab Emirates finance minister and the deputy ruler of the emirate of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has died, Dubai's ruler said on Twitter on Wednesday.…

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Saudi Arabia announces new ceasefire initiative in Yemen

Saudi Arabia announces a new peace initiative in Yemen, to include a ceasefire supervised by the United Nations and the re-opening of Sana’a airport, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan…

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Saudi-led coalition intensifies Yemen air strikes

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen unleashed dozens of air strikes against what it called Houthi military targets in the country’s north, including the capital Sanaa and the port of…

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UAE approves programme to attract remote workers

The federal cabinet of the United Arab Emirates approved a new system allowing professionals to reside in the Gulf state while working remotely for employers abroad, a scheme that the…

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Saudi Arabia, UAE expand COVID-19 vaccination drive

Saudi Arabia and neighbouring United Arab Emirates said on Sunday health authorities have expanded COVID-19 vaccinations to all citizens and residents aged 16 and above as Gulf states race to…

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Saudi Aramco reports 44.4% drop in profit for 2020

Saudi Arabian state oil giant Aramco is betting on an Asian-led rebound in energy demand this year after it reported a steep slide in net profit for 2020 on Sunday…

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Saudi-led coalition pounds Houthi military sites in Sanaa

The Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen’s Houthi group struck military targets belonging to the Iran-aligned movement in the capital Sanaa in the early hours of Sunday, residents said. The raids come…

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Drone strike on Riyadh oil refinery claimed by Houthis causes fire

DUBAI, March 19 (Reuters) - An air attack on an oil refinery in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Friday caused a fire that was brought under control, the energy ministry…

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Photo Story: The Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship

A horseman (not seen) guides horse Halhola Al Hawajer during the first day of the 16th edition of Dubai International Arabian Horse Championship in Gulf emirate of Dubai, United Arab…

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Iran’s final report blames air defence operator error for Ukraine plane crash

DUBAI, March 17 (Reuters) - Iran's civil aviation body, in a final report, has blamed a misaligned radar and an error by an air defence operator for the shooting-down of a Ukrainian passenger plane in January 2020 that killed all 176 people…

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Qatar tightens global gas market grip with bold expansion moves

Qatar Petroleum, the world's top liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer, is cranking up the pressure on high-cost rivals with bold expansion plans that will boost supplies over the coming decade and potentially push…

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Yemen’s Houthis say attacked southern Saudi airports with drones

Yemen's Houthi movement said on Monday it had fired armed drones at an airport and air base in southern Saudi Arabia, and the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-aligned group said…

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Trial of British-Iranian aid worker Zaghari-Ratcliffe was held in Iran: Lawyer

DUBAI (Reuters) - The trial of British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe at Iran's Revolutionary court was held on Sunday, her lawyer Hojjat Kermani told Reuters, hoping she would be acquitted…

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Iranian investigator says Israel likely behind attack on IRISL container ship

DUBAI (Reuters) - Israel is highly likely to have been behind an attack in the Mediterranean this week that damaged an Iranian container ship, an Iranian investigator was quoted as…

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Iran ship damaged in attack in Mediterranean, state company says

DUBAI (Reuters) - An Iranian container ship was damaged in a "terrorist" attack in the Mediterranean on Wednesday, a spokesman for state-run shipping company IRISL told semi-official Nournews on Friday.…

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UPDATED: Netanyahu cancels planned UAE visit

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed media reports he had been due to visit the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, saying in a statement the trip was postponed due to…

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Emirates tells staff to get vaccinated

Dubai’s Emirates has told employees to take a free coronavirus vaccine or pay for tests to prove they are not infected with the deadly disease, cautioning that an unvaccinated workforce…

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Yemen’s Houthis attack Saudi oil heartland with drones, missiles

Yemen's Houthi forces fired drones and missiles at the heart of Saudi Arabia's oil industry on Sunday, including a Saudi Aramco facility at Ras Tanura vital to petroleum exports, in…

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UPDATED: Pope ends historic visit to Iraq

Pope Francis ended his historic tour of Iraq on Monday, departing by plane from Baghdad after visiting conflict-torn cities, meeting Muslim and Christian leaders and preaching peace and coexistence over…

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UAE’s first independent digital banking platform launched

The first independent digital banking platform in the United Arab Emirates launched on Sunday, a neobank hoping to become a leader in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. Dubai-based…

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Iran frees British-Iranian aid worker Zaghari-Ratcliffe, her lawyer says

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran has released British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, her lawyer Hojjat Kermani told Iranian website Emtedad on Sunday, after her five-year prison sentence for plotting to overthrow…

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Photo Story: Scenes from the Pope’s visit to regions of Iraq once held by ISIS

A collection of photos from the visit on Sunday by Pope Francis, on a historic trip to Iraq, in Mosul to encourage the binding of sectarian wounds and to pray…

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Pope Francis visits regions of Iraq once held by ISIS

Pope Francis is visiting parts of northern Iraq that were held by ISIS militants on the third day of his historic trip to the country. Militants overran the region in…

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Pope decries violence in the name of God as ‘greatest blasphemy’

UR, Iraq, March 6 (Reuters) - Pope Francis walked down a narrow alleyway in the holy city of Najav to hold a historic meeting with Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric and…

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Afghan president says ready to discuss elections to advance talks with Taliban

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Saturday, in a bid to push forward peace talks with the Taliban, that his government was ready to discuss holding fresh…

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Pope Francis meets Iraq’s top Shi’ite cleric, visits birthplace of Prophet Abraham

UR, Iraq (Reuters) - Pope Francis entered a narrow alleyway in Iraq's holy city of Najaf to hold a historic meeting with the county's top Shi'ite cleric and visited the…

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