Gulf

Iraqi prime minister’s main backers agree to oust him

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi’s two main backers have agreed to work to remove him from office as protests against his government gained momentum in Baghdad and much of…

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Government and separatists in Yemen reach initial deal

Yemen's internationally recognized government and southern separatists have reached an initial agreement to end their infighting in the country's south, Yemeni officials said Friday. The two — forces loyal to…

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Photo Story: The World’s Ultimate Strongman competition in Dubai

Luke Stoltman (front) of Great Britain during the World’s Ultimate Strongman competition that was held at the Meydan Grandstand in Gulf Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Friday 25…

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Anti-government protests in Iraq leave 42 dead

Renewed anti-government protests across Iraq left more than 40 people dead on Friday. The protests represent a second phase of a week-long movement in early October that ended with more…

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Iraqi police fire live shots, tear gas at Baghdad protesters

Iraqi police fired live shots into the air and dozens of tear gas canisters on Friday to disperse thousands of protesters on the streets of Baghdad, sending young demonstrators running…

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Dubai loosens alcohol laws

Dubai has loosened its liquor laws to allow tourists to purchase alcohol in state-controlled stores, previously only accessible to license-holding residents, as the United Arab Emirates saw the first drop…

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5.4-magnitude earthquake in southern Iran

A handout photo made available by the US Geological Survey (USGS) shows an intensity shake map of a 5.4-magnitude earthquake with a reported epicentre near Bandar-e-Lengeh, southern Iran, 21 October…

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U.S. troops cross into Iraq from Syria

United States troops have crossed into Iraq from Syria through the Sahela border crossing in the northern province of Dohuk. Witnesses saw more than 100 vehicles crossing. U.S. Defence Secretary…

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1 Year to Go to The World’s Greatest Show

The Burj Khalifa is illuminated during the '1 Year to Go to The World's Greatest Show' of Expo2020 Dubai as part of Expo 2020 Dubai Global Media Briefing at Burj…

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UN team oversees the deployment of observers in Yemen

Members of Houthi militia pass a destroyed building during the deployment of observers on front lines in Hodeidah, Yemen. According to reports, Lieutenant General of India Abhijit Guha, chair…

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U.S. Carried Out Secret Cyber Strike on Iran After Saudi Oil Attack

The United States carried out a secret cyber operation against Iran in the wake of the September 14 attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities, which Washington and Riyadh blame on…

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Photos released of Iranian Oil Tanker attack

Some of the handout photo made available by the National Iranian Oil Tanker Company on 14 October 2019, reportedly shows damage of Iranian oil tanker Sabiti on its way back…

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Saudi Arabia opens tourist visas to U.S., European visa holders

Tourist visas for Saudi Arabia are now available online and on arrival to holidaymakers who already hold a visa from the United States, Britain or the EU’s Schengen zone, expanding…

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Photo Story: Highlights from the Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition in Riyadh

A series of photos during the Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The exhibition highlights the conservation of falconry and related hobbies by providing an integrated platform…

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‘Business as usual’ for oil after Saudi attacks, oversupply looms: IEA

Global oil markets have quickly recovered from attacks on Saudi oil facilities last month and even face oversupply next year as global demand slows, the International Energy Agency said. Saudi…

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US to deploy thousands of extra troops in Saudi Arabia

The Pentagon has announced the deployment of thousands of additional troops to "enhance the defence of Saudi Arabia". US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper says he has authorised the deployment…

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UPDATED: Explosion sets Iranian oil tanker ablaze in Red Sea, crew safe

An explosion set an Iranian oil tanker on fire near the Saudi port city of Jeddah, Iran's Students News Agency (ISNA) reported on Friday, adding experts believed it was a…

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Saudi Arabia rules women are permitted to join the army

Saudi Arabia announced it will allow women in the ultra-conservative kingdom to serve in the armed forces as it embarks on a broad programme of economic and social reforms. The…

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Death toll surpasses 100 in Iraqi protests

Iraq's government has denied that any of its security forces have fired directly at protesters during six days of violent demonstrations. At least 109 people have now been killed since…

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Iran will use any possible way to export its oil

Iran will use any possible way to export its oil, Iranian Oil Ministry’s website SHANA quoted Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh as saying on Sunday, adding that exporting crude was the…

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Escalation of violence in the streets of Iraq

The violent protests in the street of Iraq show no sign of abating as the number of dead or injured continues to rise - with one estimate suggesting 4,000 people…

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France sees one-month window for US and Iran to engage talks

France's top diplomat judged that Iran and the United States had just over a month to try to start a dialogue on easing tensions in the Middle East, before another…

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Protests in Iraq turn deadly and spread nationwide

The demonstrations have posed the first major challenge to Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi, who formed his government a year ago this month and who controversially blamed the violence on…

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Legal petition urges ICC to investigate Khashoggi murder

The Saudi human rights activist Yahya Assiri unveils a new street sign for the Saudi Arabian embassy, in The Hague, the Netherlands. Amnesty International is renaming the street ‘Jamal Khashoggi…

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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman denies ordering Jamal Khashoggi murder

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said he takes "full responsibility" for the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi - but denies allegations that he ordered the killing.…

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Fire engulfs main train station in Jeddah

Smoke billows out from the Haramain high-speed rail station in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. According to reports, five people were taken to hospital after a fire broke out at the Haramain…

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British-flagged ‘Stena Impero’ en route to Dubai

A handout photo made available by the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) shows the MV Stena Impero vessel (background), sailing from Bandar Abbas, Iran, en route to Dubai after being…

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US deploys air defence systems to Saudi Arabia

The United States is sending one Patriot missile defence battery and four ground-based Sentinel radars to Saudi Arabia to bolster the kingdom's defences following the attack on Saudi oil facilities…

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Saudi Arabia to open up to foreign tourists

Saudi Arabia will open its doors to international tourists for the first time as part of a broader push to cut its economic dependence on oil. On Friday, the kingdom…

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UPDATED: UK tanker held in Iran leaves Bandar Abbas port

The British-flagged Stena Impero tanker, which was detained by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in July, has started moving and exited the Bandar Abbas port on Friday, according to Refinitiv ship-tracking data.…

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Saudi crown prince takes ‘all the responsibility’ for Khashoggi murder

Saudi Arabia's crown prince said he bears responsibility for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year by Saudi operatives "because it happened under my watch," according to a PBS…

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Saudi Arabia does not exclude military response to Iranian actions

Saudi Arabia's minister of state for foreign affairs has said all options, including a military response, are open after attacks on two oil facilities, which it has blamed on Iran.…

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At UN, Iran proposes ‘coalition for hope’ to pull Gulf region from ‘edge of collapse’

The Gulf region is “on the edge of collapse”, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told world leaders on Wednesday at the annual high-level segment of the United Nations General Assembly, saying…

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Tropical Cyclone Hikaa hits Oman

A handout photo made available by NASA Earth Observatory shows a satellite image of Tropical Cyclone Hikaa moving over Oman, 24 September 2019 (issued 25 September 2019). After encountering the…

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Saudi Arabia to restore full oil output by next week

Saudi Arabia has restored around 75 per cent of crude output lost after attacks on its facilities and return to full volumes by early next week, a source briefed on…

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UK tanker Stena Impero release imminent

Stena Impero, the British-flagged tanker detained by Iran on July 19, will be released soon, an Iranian maritime official. The Stena Impero was detained by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the…

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Rouhani heads to UN

President Hassan Rouhani on Monday departed Tehran for New York to attend the UN General Assembly on a mission to win Iran support against "cruel" pressure from arch-foe the United…

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Saudi blogger Raif Badawi ends hunger strike

Saudi blogger Raif Badawi has ended an almost week-long hunger strike in prison after receiving a visit from a representative of the kingdom's human rights commission, his wife said on…

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Rouhani warns foreign forces to stay out of Gulf

Iran's president has warned that foreign forces are threatening the security of the Gulf, after the US said it was deploying troops to the region. Hassan Rouhani said foreign…

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Tunisia ex-president Ben Ali buried in Saudi Arabia

Tunisia's former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was buried in the Muslim holy city of Medina on Saturday, after he died in exile in Saudi Arabia earlier this week.…

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Houthi rebels offer to end all attacks on Saudi Arabia

The UN has welcomed a proposal from Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels to end all attacks on Saudi Arabia as part of a peace initiative. A statement said the proposal could…

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Iran says it is ready to destroy any aggressor

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US military to present several options to Trump on Iran response

The Pentagon is presenting a broad range of military options to Donald Trump as he considers how to respond to what administration officials say was an unprecedented Iranian attack on…

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Saudi blogger Raif Badawi goes on hunger strike

Saudi dissident Raif Badawi has started a hunger strike as the conditions of his imprisonment have reportedly worsened. Saudi authorities arrested Badawi on the charge of "insulting Islam" in 2012. Badawi…

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U.S. issues visa for Iran’s Rouhani

The United States has issued visas allowing Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to travel to New York for the annual gathering of world leaders at…

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Saudi-led coalition launches operation near Yemeni port city Hodeida

Saudi state media said that the Saudi-led military coalition launched the operation against "remote controlled" boats early Friday near Hodeida. The coalition said the operation destroyed four sites used to assemble the…

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Kuwait oil sector heightens security

Kuwait’s oil sector is on high alert and has raised its security to the highest level as a precautionary measure in the wake of the weekend attack on Saudi Arabia’s…

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Iran to hold annual Gulf drills

Iran will hold its annual military parade on Sept. 22 in the Gulf with 200 frigates and speedboats, the semi-official Iran Front Page website reported, at a time of soaring…

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Iran’s Rouhani may cancel U.N. visit if U.S. visa not issued soon

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani may cancel his appearance at the U.N. General Assembly meeting this month if the United States fails to issue visas for him and the foreign minister…

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Saudi Arabia joins US maritime operation in Persian Gulf

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday announced its decision to join a US-led maritime security operation in the Persian Gulf days after two of its oil production facilities were targeted in an…

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Oil price recedes on Saudi supply reassurance

Oil prices cooled on Wednesday as Saudi Arabia said the kingdom had fully restored its oil supply following attacks on its crude facilities although caution ahead of an expected U.S.…

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Trump says US ‘locked and loaded’ after attack on Saudi oil

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said the United States was “locked and loaded” following a drone attack on a major Saudi Arabian oil facility, which the Trump administration is…

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Oil prices soar after attacks on Saudi facilities

Oil prices hit their highest in four months after two attacks on Saudi Arabian facilities in the weekend knocked out more than 5% of global supply. At the start of…

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Mystery about the death of six UAE soldiers

Six Emirati troops have been killed in a “collision,” the United Arab Emirates announced, without elaborating or offering a location or time for the incident. The Associated Press is indicating…

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UPDATED: Major Saudi Aramco facility attacked

Drone attacks targeted a major Saudi Aramco processing facility in Buqyaq and oilfield in Khurais in eastern Saudi Arabia Saturday, the Interior Ministry said, sparking a huge fire at one of…

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US-Saudi nuclear power talks likely Monday

U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said he will meet the new Saudi energy minister on Monday and likely discuss plans the kingdom has to build nuclear reactors. Perry did not…

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Kuwait’s emir leaves U.S. hospital

Kuwait’s 90-year-old ruler has left a hospital in the United States after successfully completing medical tests, state news agency KUNA reported on Friday. Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who has…

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