07

Dec

Pope Francis to restart international travel in March with a journey to Iraq

Pope Francis is set to break a 15-month hiatus from international travel with what is sure to be a historic visit to the Middle Eastern nation of Iraq. The Director…

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06

Dec

Kuwaiti opposition make gains in first parliamentary vote under new emir

Opposition candidates made gains in a parliamentary vote in Kuwait in which two thirds of MPs lost their seats and no women were elected, a result which analysts said could…

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05

Dec

Iran’s coronavirus deaths surpass 50,000

Iran’s total death toll from coronavirus surpassed 50,000 on Saturday with 321 new fatalities recorded in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said, as the number of cases in…

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05

Dec

Resolution of bitter dispute between Qatar and Saudi Arabia within reach

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said on Friday a resolution to a bitter dispute with Qatar seemed "within reach" after Kuwait announced progress towards ending a row that Washington says hampers…

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05

Dec

Kuwaitis go to polls as economy poses challenge for new emir

Kuwaitis vote in legislative polls on Saturday as the Gulf state faces its worst economic crisis in decades, posing a challenge for the government's often stormy relationship with parliament, that…

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05

Dec

Bahrain grants emergency-use authorisation for Pfizer coronavirus vaccine

The island kingdom of Bahrain has become the second nation in the world after the UK to grant an emergency-use authorisation for the coronavirus vaccine made by Pfizer and its…

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03

Dec

Saudi non-oil private sector keeps growing as COVID-19 impact eases – PMI

Saudi Arabia's non-oil private sector activity expanded for the third straight month in November as the economy recovers steadily from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a survey showed on…

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01

Dec

Iran points finger at opposition, Israel on scientist murder

A senior Iranian official said on Monday an opposition group was suspected alongside Israel in the killing of a prominent Iranian nuclear scientist, an attack that has raised the prospect of a new standoff…

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30

Nov

Iran to give a ‘calculated’ response to nuclear scientist killing, says official

Iran will give a "calculated and decisive" response to the killing of its top nuclear scientist, said a top adviser to Iran's supreme leader, while a hardline newspaper suggested Tehran's…

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29

Nov

How close is Iran to producing a nuclear bomb?

A 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers is being eroded and efforts to revive the pact face a new challenge with the killing of Tehran's top nuclear scientist.…

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28

Nov

Deployment of aircraft carrier in Gulf not linked to Iran developments – US

U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz was deployed to the Gulf this week, days before the killing of Iran's top nuclear scientist, although the U.S. Navy said on Saturday the deployment…

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28

Nov

Iran Ayatollah promises retaliation for top nuclear scientist killing

Iran's supreme leader promised on Saturday to retaliate for the killing of the Islamic Republic's top nuclear scientist, raising the threat of a new confrontation with the West and Israel…

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28

Nov

Killing of suspected Iranian nuclear mastermind risks confrontation

An Iranian scientist long suspected by the West of masterminding a secret nuclear bomb programme was killed in an ambush near Tehran on Friday that could provoke confrontation between Iran and its foes…

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26

Nov

UAE halts new visas to citizens of 13 mostly Muslim states

The United Arab Emirates has stopped issuing new visas to citizens of 13 mostly Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to a document issued by a state-owned…

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24

Nov

Saudi Aramco says customers unaffected by Houthi attack on Jeddah facility

An official from the Saudi Aramco oil company on Tuesday said customers were unaffected by an attack that came from Yemen's Houthi group at a petroleum products distribution plant in…

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23

Nov

Dubai expects economic boost from UAE golden visa extension

Dubai said the economic growth rate could increase by up to 1% because of plans by the United Arab Emirates to extend to more categories a "golden" visa system which…

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23

Nov

Missile fired at Saudi Aramco site in Jeddah

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group on Monday said it fired a missile at a distribution station operated by the Saudi Aramco oil company in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea city of Jeddah…

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22

Nov

Iran vows to defeat any Israeli attempt to harm its Syrian role

Iran on Sunday vowed to defeat any Israeli attempt to harm its role in Syria, saying the era of "hit and run" attacks by Israel there was over, days after…

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21

Nov

Turkey’s Erdogan, Saudi king agree to solve issues through dialogue – Turkish presidency

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz agreed in a phone call improve bilateral ties and solve outstanding disputes through dialogue, the Turkish presidency said early…

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21

Nov

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visits Qatar

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet negotiators from both the Afghan government and the Taliban during his visit to Qatar’s capital, Doha, on Saturday.  This comes as President…

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19

Nov

Israel, Bahrain cement new ties with pledges of embassies and visas

Bahrain and Israel said they would open embassies, establish online visa systems and launch weekly flights between the countries soon, in a broadened cooperation promoted by Washington as an economic…

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17

Nov

Trump considered attacking Iran last week

President Donald Trump, with two months left in office, last week asked for options on attacking Iran's main nuclear site, but ultimately decided against taking the dramatic step, a U.S.…

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16

Nov

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad to start direct flights to Israel next year

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways said on Monday it would start daily flights to Tel Aviv in March after the United Arab Emirates and Israel's established formal ties this year. Flight…

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15

Nov

UAE widens ‘golden’ visa to allow 10-year residency to some

The United Arab Emirates will extend its "golden" visa system - which grants 10-year residency in the Gulf state - to certain professionals, specialised degree-holders and others, the UAE's vice…

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13

Nov

Saudi Arabia warns it will strike those who threaten its security

Saudi Arabia will strike those who threaten the kingdom’s security and stability with an “iron fist”, the crown prince said, after an attack on a Remembrance Day ceremony injured two…

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12

Nov

Pandemic sends Emirates to half-year loss for first time over 30 years

State-owned Emirates said on Thursday that Dubai would help it through the coronavirus crisis after losses of $3.4 billion tipped the airline's holding company into its first half-year loss in…

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11

Nov

Four injured in explosion during Remembrance Day ceremony in Saudi

Four people were injured by a blast in the Saudi city of Jeddah on Wednesday, a Greek government official said, in what France described as a "cowardly attack" involving an…

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09

Nov

Saudi Arabia hold its breath following Biden’s election

Saudi Arabia, which may have more to lose from Joe Biden's U.S. election victory than other Arab states, has taken its time to comment after the defeat of Donald Trump…

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08

Nov

Dealing with Trump presidency nemesis Iran won’t be ‘quick, easy’ for Biden

When reality TV star Donald Trump took office he quickly cast Iran as a main villain of his presidency - ultimately abandoning a landmark deal aimed at stopping Tehran from…

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08

Nov

Iran temporarily releases jailed rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh

Iran has temporarily released Nasrin Sotoudeh, an internationally renowned human rights lawyer who was jailed two years ago on spying and propaganda charges, the judiciary's news agency reported on Saturday.…

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08

Nov

UAE cancels lenient penalties for ‘honour killings’

The United Arab Emirates said on Saturday it was cancelling lenient penalties for so-called “honour killings” and amending inheritance laws for residents as part of a reform of personal and…

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07

Nov

Iran reports record daily COVID-19 cases, announces new curbs

Iran announced new lockdown curbs on Saturday after registering a record daily number of COVID-19 cases and another 423 deaths from the disease in the Middle East's worst-hit country. The…

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04

Nov

Saudi Arabia to relax foreign workers’ sponsorship terms in March ’21

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday announced new plans to ease foreign workers' contractual restrictions, improving a controversial seven-decade-old sponsorship system known as kafala. The plans, to take effect in March 2021,…

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04

Nov

UAE State-owned flydubai to start Tel Aviv flights this month

United Arab Emirates airline flydubai on Wednesday said it would start direct fights to Israel this month with twice daily services between Dubai and Tel Aviv. The announcement comes after…

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04

Nov

Emirates airline asks some pilots to take 12 months unpaid leave

Dubai's Emirates airline is asking some pilots to take a year of unpaid leave as it seeks to cut costs due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The aviation…

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04

Nov

Iran’s Rouhani says U.S. policies important, not who becomes president

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday the result of the U.S. election was not important for the country's clerical rulers, but that the next president in Washington should respect…

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02

Nov

Foul play not suspected in dos Santos’ husband death in Dubai

Police in Dubai say they don’t suspect foul play in the death of Sindika Dokolo, the husband of the embattled Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos, after his death free diving…

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31

Oct

Gas pipeline blast in southern Iraq kills 2, injures 51, police say

At least two people were killed and 51 injured after a gas pipeline explosion in southern Iraq, police sources said on Saturday. The blast occurred on Friday night near the…

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30

Oct

Iran’s coronavirus cases surpass 600,000

Iran’s confirmed COVID-19 cases crossed the 600,000 threshold on Friday with 8,011 infections identified in the past 24 hours, a Health Ministry spokeswoman told state TV, as the country’s death…

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29

Oct

UPDATED: Man arrested in Jeddah after attacking guard at French consulate “with sharp tool”

A Saudi man was arrested in the Red Sea city of Jeddah after attacking and wounding a security guard with a "sharp tool" at the French consulate on Thursday, local police said.…

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26

Oct

World should look at all options to reduce emissions, Saudi energy min says

Saudi Arabia's energy minister said on Monday the world should be looking at all options to mitigate emissions of greenhouse gases in its fight against climate change, but that getting…

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26

Oct

Iran reports COVID-19 death every five minutes, hospitals struggle

Hospitals in many Iranian provinces are running out of capacity to handle COVID-19 cases, health authorities say, with novel coronavirus now killing around 300 people a day or one person…

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22

Oct

Saudis launch national artificial intelligence strategy, signs MoUs with IBM, Alibaba and Huawei

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday launched a national artificial intelligence strategy aimed at making it a global leader in the field as it seeks to diversify its oil-based economy. The National…

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19

Oct

Etihad lays off more flight staff

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways is removing four staff roles on its flights - including some on the catering side as well as butlers and nannies - with some affected employees…

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19

Oct

ISIS calls on its fighters to target westerners in Saudi Arabia

An ISIS spokesman called on the militant group’s supporters to target westerners, oil pipelines and economic infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. “Targets are plenty ... Start by hitting and destroying oil…

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19

Oct

Israel, Bahrain formalise ties

Bahrain and Israel signed a joint communique to formalise nascent ties during a visit by an Israeli and U.S. delegation to Manama on Sunday to broaden cooperation that Washington has…

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18

Oct

Iran sees no arms buying spree as it expects U.N. embargo to end

Iran said it was self-reliant in its defense and had no need to go on a weapons buying spree as a United Nations conventional arms embargo was due to expire…

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18

Oct

Saudi Arabia allows citizens, residents to perform prayers in Al-Haram Mosque

Saudi Arabia allowed its citizens and residents inside the kingdom to perform prayers in one of the most holy religious sites in Islam, Al-Haram mosque in Mecca, for the first…

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18

Oct

Photo of new born baby ‘trying to remove’ doctor’s mask becomes symbol of hope

A picture of a new born baby tugging at a doctor’s surgical mask is being interpreted as a symbol of hope as the world continues to overcome the coronavirus pandemic…

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18

Oct

Israel sends treaty delegation to Bahrain

An Israeli delegation accompanied by the U.S. treasury secretary flew to Bahrain on Sunday to formalise nascent relations and broaden Gulf cooperation that Washington has promoted as an anti-Iran bulwark…

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16

Oct

Iranian ports targeted in cyberattack

One of the targets of large cyber attacks on two Iranian government institutions this week was the electronic infrastructure of the country’s ports, an Iranian news agency reported on Friday.…

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13

Oct

Turkey’s army presence in Qatar is an element of instability – UAE

Turkey's army in Qatar is an element of instability in the Gulf region, a senior official of the United Arab Emirates has said, adding that it contributed to negative polarisation.…

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12

Oct

Gas explosion kills 5, destroys building in Iran

A suspected gas explosion flattened a building and shops in a marketplace in southwest Iran on Sunday, killing at least five people, a fire official said, in the latest in…

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11

Oct

Expats working in Saudi declined by 19,000 after lockdown measures

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics (GaStat) said the number of expats in the labour market declined by 19,000 on a net basis in Q2 as lockdowns forced many out of work, local…

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08

Oct

Kuwait’s new Crown Prince takes the oath of office

Kuwait Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah waves as he arrives to take the oath of office at the Kuwait Parliament, in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on Thursday 08 October…

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07

Oct

Kuwait names Sheikh Meshal as new crown prince

Kuwait's new ruler Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah on Wednesday named Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad, deputy head of the country's National Guard, as crown prince of the U.S.-allied OPEC member state.…

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07

Oct

Iran warns Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict could turn into regional war

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday warned of the danger of the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict turning into a regional war. “We must be attentive that the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan…

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