Gulf

UPDATE – Pope Francis leaves Rome to start historic pilgrimage in Iraq

ROME, March 5 (Reuters) - Pope Francis left Rome on Friday to start a four-day trip to Iraq, his most risky foreign trip since his election in 2012 and the first visit by…

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Etihad Airways posts $1.7 bln loss in 2020

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways posted on Thursday a core operating loss of $1.7 billion for 2020, more than double the year before due to lower demand and reduced service in…

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Pope says he must go to Iraq because people cannot be let down

Pope Francis said on Wednesday he is going to Iraq, where his predecessor John Paul was not allowed to go in 2000, because “the people cannot be let down for…

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Rockets land at Iraqi air base hosting U.S., coalition forces

Several rockets landed on Wednesday at Iraq's Ain al-Asad air base that hosts United States, coalition and Iraqi forces, two security sources said. No casualties have been reported so far,…

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Iran rejects the European proposal to hold an informal meeting with the US

Iran has rejected a European proposal to hold an informal meeting with the United States. In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that it considers that "this is not…

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U.S. failure to sanction prince for Khashoggi killing ‘dangerous’: U.N. expert

A U.N. human rights investigator said on Monday that it was "extremely dangerous" for the United States to have named Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler as having approved an operation…

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Five injured in Baghdad protest ahead of Pope visit to Iraq

BAGHDAD, March 1 (Reuters) - At least five people were injured on Monday when Iraqi security forces wielding clubs broke up a street protest in Baghdad's central Tahrir Square, security…

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Pope’s risky trip to Iraq defies sceptics

Rockets have hit Iraqi cities and COVID-19 has flared,yet, barring last-minute changes, Pope Francis will embark on a whirlwind four-day trip starting on Friday to show solidarity with the country’s…

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Iran insists U.S. lift sanctions first to revive nuclear deal talks

Iran said on Monday the United States should lift sanctions first if it wants to hold talks with Tehran to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers that former…

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Khashoggi’s fiancée says Saudi crown prince should be punished “without delay”

The fiancée of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi called on Monday for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to be punished after a U.S. intelligence report found he had approved the…

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In Iraq, pope to visit Mosul churches desecrated by Islamic State

MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - In Mosul, adjacent to the Biblical city of Nineveh, four churches representing different denominations occupy a small square surrounded by low-rise houses, testament to the role…

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Biden says Saudi announcement to come Monday; White House plays down new steps

WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden on Saturday said his administration would make an announcement on Saudi Arabia on Monday, following a U.S. intelligence report that found Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had approved the…

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Saudi-led coalition says it thwarted Houthi missile attack on Riyadh

DUBAI (Reuters) - The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthi group said on Saturday it had thwarted a ballistic missile attack by the Houthis on the Saudi capital Riyadh, and destroyed…

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Israel says initial assessment is Iran behind explosion on Israeli-owned ship

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli defence minister Benny Gantz said on Saturday his “initial assessment” was that Iran was responsible for an explosion on an Israeli-owned ship in the Gulf of…

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Yemen’s children starve as U.N. seeks billions to avoid vast ‘man-made’ famine

Ahmadiya Juaidi's eyes are wide as she drinks a nutrition shake from a large orange mug, her thin fingers grasping the handle. Her hair is pulled back and around her…

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Pope’s visit to Iraqi Ziggurat to bring together several faiths

Pope Francis is due to hold an inter-religious prayer service at the ancient Mesopotamian site of Ur when he visits Iraq next week - an event local archeologists hope will…

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Saudi crown prince approved operation to capture or kill Khashoggi – US Intelligence

WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved of an operation to capture or kill dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was murdered in 2018, according to…

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Iraqi Christians prepare for Pope’s visit

Iraqi Christians are busy scrubbing churches, practising hymns and preparing for mass ahead of the first ever papal visit to the country, a four-day trip next month that is going…

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Joe Biden talks to Saudi king ahead of Khashoggi report release

U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday told Saudi King Salman he would work for bilateral ties “as strong and transparent as possible,” the White House said, ahead of the expected…

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Saudi oil export value falls nearly 30% in December – official data

The value of Saudi Arabia's oil exports in December dropped nearly 30%, or 19.5 billion riyals ($5.2 billion), compared with the year before, official data showed on Wednesday. The value…

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6,500 migrants have died in Qatar working on World Cup Projects

The fast-paced infrastructural process towards the World Cup in Qatar has already claimed the lives of more than 6,500 migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka during…

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Kuwait bans entry for non-Kuwaiti citizens

Kuwait's Civil Aviation Authority announced it was extending an entry ban for non-Kuwaiti citizens until further notice as part of coronavirus restriction measures, it said on Twitter. Citizens are still…

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U.S. says it won’t bow to pressure from Iran on more sanctions relief before potential talks

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, Feb 19 (Reuters) - The United States plans to take no additional actions in response to pressure from Iran before talks with Tehran and major powers…

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UN rights office raises concerns about Dubai princess

The U.N. human rights watchdog said on Friday it has asked the United Arab Emirates for more information about the status of Dubai's Sheikha Latifa and proof that she is…

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Photo Story: Iran and Russia hold military exercise

A series of photos made available by the Iranian Army office showing Iranian and Russian warships during a joint military exercise in the Indian Ocean, Iran. The joint maritime drill,…

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Iraq rocket attack hits U.S. forces, killing contractor

A rocket attack on U.S.-led forces in northern Iraq on Monday killed a civilian contractor and injured a U.S. service member, the U.S. coalition in Iraq said, in the deadliest such attack in almost…

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Malta to send humanitarian aid to the children of Yemen

DOI - Malta's Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs will be sponsoring the shipment of a container laden with humanitarian aid to Yemen, following an initiative by the Malta-India Business…

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Saudi Arabia will not work with foreign firms without local presence from 2024

CAIRO, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will no longer sign contracts with foreign companies which do not have a regional headquarters in the kingdom after 2023, state news agency…

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First view of Mars released after UAE’s Hope probe entered orbit in the first Arab Mars mission

A view shows Mars in this handout picture taken after UAE's Hope Probe entered orbit in the first Arab Mars mission February 10, 2021. The United Arab Emirates' first mission to Mars reached…

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UN warns at least 400,000 Yemeni children under 5 could die of starvation this year

At least 400,000 Yemeni children under 5 could die of starvation this year without urgent intervention amid soaring rates of severe malnutrition driven by war and the coronavirus pandemic, four…

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France, Germany, UK condemn Iran’s production of uranium metal

PARIS (Reuters) – France, Germany and Britain on Friday condemned Iran’s decision to produce uranium metal, which they said was in breach of commitments made by Tehran to the international…

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Iran faces COVID surge in southwest, receives second vaccine batch

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran declared 10 southwestern communities as high-risk COVID-19 "red" zones as a consignment of 100,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine arrived on Friday, Iranian media…

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UAE’s Hope Probe enters orbit in first Arab Mars mission

DUBAI, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates' first mission to Mars reached the red planet and entered orbit on Tuesday after a seven-month, 494 million-km (307 million-mile) journey,…

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Non-Kuwaitis barred from entering country – civil aviation

CAIRO, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Kuwait civil aviation said on Sunday that non-Kuwaitis would not be permitted to enter the country as of Feb. 7, with a few exceptions, the…

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Saudi-led coalition says intercepted four Houthi armed drones

DUBAI (Reuters) - The Saudi-led military coalition engaged in Yemen said on Sunday it had intercepted and destroyed four armed drones launched by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement towards southern Saudi…

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US must lift curbs before Iran rejoins deal – Khamenei cites “final” stance

DUBAI, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that Tehran's "final and irreversible" decision was to return to compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal…

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Iran’s top diplomat urges Biden to return to nuclear deal

DUBAI, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Iran's foreign minister urged Washington to act fast to return to the 2015 nuclear accord, pointing out that legislation passed by parliament forces the government…

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Biden says war in Yemen ‘has to end,’ U.S. will continue to support Saudi Arabia

President Joe Biden said on Thursday that the United States was ending its support for offensive operations in the Saudi-led war in Yemen, saying the war "has to end," but pledged to continue…

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Iran tests new satellite launcher – state media

DUBAI, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Iran said on Monday it had successfully tested a satellite launcher to help achieve its "most powerful rocket engine", in a move likely to trigger…

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Iran imposes mandatory quarantine for travellers from Europe

Travellers to Iran from Europe will be required to self-quarantine for two weeks after testing negative upon arrival, a health official said on Saturday. Travellers from other regions, including neighbouring…

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UAE adopts amendments to grant citizenship to investors and other professionals

DUBAI, Jan 30 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates has adopted amendments that would allow the Gulf state to grant citizenship to investors and other professionals including scientists, doctors and…

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UK bans direct flights from UAE, shutting world’s busiest international route

LONDON/SYDNEY, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Britain is banning direct passenger flights to and from the United Arab Emirates from Friday, shutting down the world's busiest international airline route from Dubai…

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Senior Islamic State figure killed in Iraq, PM says

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iraqi security forces have killed Abu Yaser al-Issawi, an Islamic State commander who had claimed to be the leader of the group in Iraq and its "deputy…

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Blast heard in Saudi capital Riyadh – UPDATED

RIYADH, Jan 26 (Reuters) - An explosion was heard in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh on Tuesday and the cause was not immediately known. Several witnesses also reported hearing two loud bangs and…

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UAE to open embassy in Israel as Israel opens embassy in Abu Dhabi

DUBAI/JERUSALEM Jan 24 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates cabinet on Sunday approved the establishment of an embassy in Tel Aviv in Israel, state media said, and Israel announced its…

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Saudi-led forces thwart air attack on Riyadh – Saudi TV

DUBAI (Reuters) - The Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen's Houthi movement said it had thwarted an attack towards the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh on Saturday, Saudi state television reported, but the…

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Iran to begin COVID-19 vaccinations in coming weeks

President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that COVID-19 vaccinations will begin in the coming weeks in Iran, the Middle East’s worst hit country. “Foreign vaccines are a necessity until local…

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Saudi minister optimistic U.S. ties will be ‘excellent’ under Biden

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister has voiced optimism that relations between Riyadh and Washington will be “excellent” under new U.S. President Joe Biden, Al-Arabiya TV channel cited him as saying. Appointments…

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Dubai cancels non-essential surgery, live entertainment as COVID-19 cases surge

Dubai has suspended non-essential surgery for a month and live entertainment in hotels and restaurants until further notice as coronavirus infections surge in the Middle East trade hub. The decision…

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UPDATED: Rare twin suicide attack kills at least 23 in Baghdad

Two men blew themselves up in a crowded Baghdad market on Thursday, killing at least 32 people in Iraq’s first big suicide bombing for three years. Islamic State claimed responsibility…

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Saudi Arabia pips Russia to be China’s biggest oil supplier in 2020

Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, beat Russia to keep its ranking as China's top crude supplier in 2020, Chinese government data showed on Wednesday. Oil demand in China,…

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Iran’s Rouhani urges Biden to return to 2015 nuclear deal

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday to return to a 2015 nuclear deal and lift crippling sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Biden, who takes office…

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Photo Story: Iranian Army military drill as US prepares for Biden presidency

Handout photos made available by the Iranian Army office shows, Iranian Army ground forces soldier during a military ground drill in the coast of Makran, Gulf of Oman. The drill…

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Maltese delegation seeks better relations with Qatar in official visit

Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Evarist Bartolo is leading a Maltese delegation on a visit to Qatar with the aim of further strengthening relations between the two countries. Ties…

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Iran’s Zarif tells France: Avoid ‘absurd nonsense’ about Tehran’s nuclear work

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday dismissed a claim by France that Tehran was in the process of building up its nuclear weapons, calling it…

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Iranian Navy drill in the Gulf of Oman as U.S. imposes fresh sanctions

A series of photos made available by the Iranian Army Office shows an Iranian missile fired from beach to sea during a navy military drill this week in the Gulf…

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Photo Story: Malnutrition amid dire humanitarian crisis in Yemen

A Yemeni woman takes care of her patient child as he gets medical attention at a hospital in Sana’a, Yemen, on 13 January 2021. According to reports, the UN and…

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