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News Brief

ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

Raisi: Iran 'never has hope' in Vienna talks

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has struck a pessimistic tone commenting on the nuclear talks between Iran and world powers.

Passengers from Iran arrive to Najaf airport after it reopened on July 16, 2018.

Iraq receives 145% more foreign visitors in 2021

Iraq waived the visa requirements for citizens of many economically powerful countries last year in a bid to attract tourists and businesspeople.

Dubai expo

Saudi Arabia building support for Expo 2030 bid

The kingdom wants to host the international cultural forum, which is currently being held in Dubai.

Saudi tech

Saudi IT industry to work with German software firm SAP on cloud technology

The memorandum of understanding is the latest to come out of the LEAP technology forum in Riyadh, and reflects the kingdom’s diversification efforts.

Latest News

Turkish technology fair comes to Azerbaijan

A Turkish boy uses a Turkish unmanned aircraft (ANKA) simulation unit on Sept. 20, 2018 at the Istanbul's new international airport, during the Teknofest aviation, space and technology fair.

US voices concern after Tunisia's Saied disbands judicial watchdog

Tunisia court

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World Bank gives Palestinian Authority new grant to fight COVID-19

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Iran talks to resume Tuesday as negotiations enter final phase

ALEX HALADA/AFP via Getty Images

Iraqi defendant Abu Walaa, described as the Islamic State group's de facto leader in Germany, hides his face as he arrives at court for the verdict of his trial on February 24, 2021 in Celle, central Germany. - A German court hands down on february 24 its ruling in a case against Abu Walaa, a notorious Iraqi preacher believed to be the Islamic State jihadist group's de facto leader in Germany. Ahmad Abdulaziz Abdullah Abdullah, better known as Abu Walaa, is accused of being "IS' representative in Germany" a

German imam sentenced to prison for helping Islamic State

Abu Walaa, born in Iraq, convinced Germans to fight for the Islamic State, according to the court.

Sedra Alshehabi stands with a placard with the picture of her father Ali and a text reading 'First step but my father and 130000 are still in jail' after the verdict in the trail of Syrian defendant Eyad al-Gharib, accused of crimes against humanity in the first trial of its kind to emerge from the Syrian conflict on February 24, 2021 in Koblenz, western Germany. - Eyad al-Gharib, 44, former Syrian intelligence service agent was sentenced to four and a half years in jail for complicity in crimes against hum

German court convicts ex-Syrian regime officer in historic case

Eyad al-Gharib, a former low-ranking officer in Syria's intelligence services, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for aiding and abetting crimes against humanity.

RAND report advocates development over defense in the Middle East

The report said US policy is outdated and has not led to security in the region.

A man inspects the damage on February 16, 2021 following a rocket attack the previous night in Arbil, the capital of the northern Iraqi Kurdish autonomous region. - The United Nations warned Iraq could spin out of control after a rocket attack on the Kurdish regional capital Arbil killed a foreign contractor and wounded several Iraqis and foreigners. (Photo by SAFIN HAMED / AFP) (Photo by SAFIN HAMED/AFP via Getty Images)

Kataib Hezbollah denies role in recent Iraq rocket attacks

The high-profile, Iran-backed militia denied responsibility for attacks on US targets in Iraq.

Biden's UN ambassador nominee confirmed by Senate

Linda Thomas-Greenfield was easily confirmed, despite Republican opposition to her views on Iran and China.

Rescue divers conduct search operations for victims of a capsized boat in Lake Mariout, 20 kilometres (12 miles) west of Egypt's second city of Alexandria on February 23, 2021. - Nine people drowned and at least four were missing after the boat chartered for a family fishing trip capsized. State newspaper Al-Ahram said a six-month-old infant was among the family members drowned. Six survivors are receiving treatment in local hospitals while emergency teams have been sent to the lake to search for the missin

At least 9 dead after boat sinks in Egypt

A boating accident in Lake Mariout near Alexandria killed several family members Monday.

This picture taken on February 13, 2019 shows Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif checks his watch during a press conference in Tehran. - Zarif, who was the lead negotiator in the 2015 nuclear deal, announced his resignation on Instagram on February 25, 2019. "I apologise for my inability to continue serving and for all the shortcomings during my term in office," Zarif said in message posted on his verified Instagram account. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo credit should read ATTA KENARE

Iran begins restricting short-notice nuclear inspections

Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif tweeted that Iran has halted its implementation of the Additional Protocol.

UAE, Qatar officials meet in Kuwait amid Gulf thaw

Kuwait hosted delegations from the two countries more than a month after Saudi Arabia and its allies agreed to end their blockade on Qatar.

United Arab Emirates

Qatar Airways to introduce touchless entertainment technology

Qatar's flagship airline will allow passengers to access in-flight entertainment without touching the screen in March as a way to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Kuwait begins mandatory quarantine for all people entering the country

The Gulf state is experiencing relatively high daily cases of COVID-19 as it continues its vaccination campaign.

Fathi Bashagha, Interior Minister of Libya's UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), speaks during a press conference at the Tajura Training Institute, southeast of the GNA-held capital Tripoli on July 28, 2020. (Photo by Mahmud TURKIA / AFP) (Photo by MAHMUD TURKIA/AFP via Getty Images)

Libyan interior minister says he survived assassination attempt

The security force involved in Fathi Bashagha's motorcade collision dispute the claim, saying the interior minister's men fired on them.

Lebanese workers use water pressure to clean-up the oil spill which polluted the Rabbit Island, offshore the Nothern Lebanese city of Tripoli, on March 31, 2009. The oil spill was caused by the explosion of fuel reservoirs stationed in the southern coastal town of Jiyyeh during the Israeli offensive on Lebanon in July 2006. At least 10,000 tons of heavy fuel oil have been spilled into the Lebanese sea, causing an environmental catastrophe with severe effects on health, biodiversity and tourism. The oil spil

Oil spill reaches shores of Israel, Lebanon

An oil spill earlier this month is threatening the eastern Mediterranean, but many details on the incident are unknown.