Middle East
Kurds and government end rival sieges in northern Syria
February 3, 2021
Kurds and government end rival sieges in northern Syria
BEIRUT (AP) — Kurdish forces in northern Syria ended a weekslong siege of government-held neighborhoods in two northeastern cities Tuesday,…
Tehran buddies up to the Taliban
February 3, 2021
Tehran buddies up to the Taliban
During talks in Tehran, Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, told a Taliban delegation: “The…
Palestinians give first vaccines after Israel shares supply
February 3, 2021
Palestinians give first vaccines after Israel shares supply
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Palestinian Authority administered its first known coronavirus vaccinations on Tuesday after receiving thousands of doses from…
Tarnished by its Gaza rule, Hamas may struggle in elections
February 3, 2021
Tarnished by its Gaza rule, Hamas may struggle in elections
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh famously pledged to live on “zeit wa zaatar”— olive oil…
US cool to, but does not reject, Iran’s idea on reviving nuclear deal
February 3, 2021
US cool to, but does not reject, Iran’s idea on reviving nuclear deal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The US State Department reacted coolly on Tuesday to an Iranian suggestion that Washington and Tehran take…
In a Baghdad bar, a Syrian serves cocktails to fix war woes
February 3, 2021
In a Baghdad bar, a Syrian serves cocktails to fix war woes
BAGHDAD (AP) — From the outside, the building seems just one of the many in central Baghdad that are decaying…
From rickety souk to global powerhouse: How Dubai became the City of Gold
February 2, 2021
From rickety souk to global powerhouse: How Dubai became the City of Gold
As a child, Mihir Vaya helped his father run his fledgling jewelry business in Dubai. He remembers riding with him across…
Twitter says Turkish minister’s LGBT comments about protesters “hateful conduct”
February 2, 2021
Twitter says Turkish minister’s LGBT comments about protesters “hateful conduct”
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey’s interior minister on Tuesday condemned protesters at a top Istanbul university as “LGBT deviants” in a…
Closed highway and dangerous desert detour underline challenges to Libyan peace
February 2, 2021
Closed highway and dangerous desert detour underline challenges to Libyan peace
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libyans watching a peace process nearing a critical phase this week in Switzerland need only try driving…
Iran asks EU to help negotiate US return to nuclear deal
February 2, 2021
Iran asks EU to help negotiate US return to nuclear deal
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the European Union could play a mediating role in the dispute with the United States…