JERUSALEM: For media-obsessed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the coronavirus vaccine has arrived just in time.With elections approaching in March, Netanyahu has placed his world-leading vaccination drive at the center of his reelection campaign — launching an aggressive media blitz portraying him as almost singlehandedly leading the country out of the pandemic. He appears to be…
Read More
BRUSSELS: EU leaders met the head of Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) on Wednesday as they scramble to contain the escalating crisis there, with Germany warning the country could deteriorate into a “second Syria.”Fayez Al-Sarraj, whose beleaguered government is facing an offensive by rival forces who control the country’s east, met EU diplomatic chief…
Read More
JERUSALEM: Israel’s defense minister on Wednesday said he aimed to boost the number of Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank to one million within a decade, from around 400,000 at present.Naftali Bennett, a hawk who draws much of his support from settlers, is leading his New Right party to elections in March.He was speaking…
Read More
BRUSSELS: NATO said Tuesday it would take “some personnel” out of Iraq because of the increased danger there after the US killing of an Iranian general triggered revenge threats.The withdrawal is temporary but “the safety of our personnel is paramount,” a NATO official said in a statement.US and allied foreign troops in Iraq are concerned…
Read More
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani was not in Baghdad pursuing a peaceful diplomatic mission when the US killed him in a drone attack last week. “Is there any history that would indicate that it was remotely possible that this kind gentleman, this diplomat of great order -…
Read More
DUBAI/WASHIGNTON: Saudi Arabia condemned the rocket attack which killed a US defense contractor and wounded several American and Iraqi troops, state news agency SPA reported on Tuesday. The statement from the Kingdom added that the terror attacks violated the sovereignty of Iraq. The attack happened on Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, in northern Iraq, US officials said.According to…
Read More
A roundup of some of the biggest news stories of the year in the eyes of the Arab world. FEBRUARY Pope Francis makes historic visit to the UAE Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, began a three-day trip to the UAE on Feb. 3, which he described as an opportunity to write “a…
Read More
ANKARA, Turkey: Police in Turkey detained dozens of people suspected of links to the Daesh group, the state-run news agency reported Monday, in an apparent sweep against the militant group ahead of New Year celebrations.At least 33 foreign nationals were detained in the capital Ankara in a joint operation by anti-terrorism police and the national…
Read More
BASRA: Operations have resumed at Iraq’s southern Nassiriya oilfield on Monday, two oil sources said, but it will take up to two days for output to be fully restored.Protesters broke into the oilfield, which produces 80,000-85,000 barrels of oil per day, on Saturday and forced employees to cut off electricity from its control station, taking…
Read More
Iraq protesters lock down Nasiriyah oilfield, production and exports not affected NASIRIYAH, Iraq: Iraqi anti-government protesters blockaded an oil field and rallied in southern cities Sunday while political factions remained paralyzed in their attempts to form a new government.Several hundred people demanding jobs shut off access to the Nasiriyah field, 300 kilometers (190 miles) south…
Read More
ISTANBUL: Turkey will not withdraw from its observation posts in Syrian rebel bastion province of Idlib which has seen an increase in violence carried out by regime forces supported by Russian airstrikes, the defense minister said.The posts were established under a September 2018 deal between Syrian regime ally Moscow and Ankara, which backs the rebels,…
Read More
ANKARA: Experts say that the rift between Moscow and Ankara over policy differences in Libya may intensify following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decision to send troops to Libya at the request of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA). The presence of a senior Turkish delegation in Moscow on Monday to meet their Russian…
Read More
ANKARA: Experts say that the rift between Moscow and Ankara over policy differences in Libya may intensify following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decision to send troops to Libya at the request of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA). The presence of a senior Turkish delegation in Moscow on Monday to meet their Russian…
Read More
DUBAI: Former Prime Minister of Lebanon Fouad Siniora said Thursday the country will see ‘significant change’ if Saad Hariri includes a technocratic cabinet. “(Hariri) was chained by the political parties and was not allowed to do anything. I think he was a victim of the system. He deserves one more chance,” Siniora said in an…
Read More
DUBAI: Former Iraqi member of parliament and prominent politician Izzat Al-Shabander slammed protestors and referred to them as “monkeys” after his name was included in a banner raised by demonstrators in Tahrir Square. The banner included other politicians who were considered potential candidates for the post of prime minister. Iraq’s Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi…
Read More
Israel parliament moves for third election as talks falter On Wednesday morning the Israeli parliament passed 50-0 a preliminary reading of a bill immediately dissolving parliament and setting a new election for March 2 New elections would add to the political challenges facing Benjamin Netanyahu Updated 11 December 2019 AFP December 11, 2019 10:52 JERUSALEM:…
Read More