Middle East

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia elects women councillors for the first time

As many as 20 women have been elected in municipal polls in Saudi Arabia after a ban on women voting and running as candidates was lifted. It’s being

14/12/2015

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Palestinians and Israeli soldiers clash in Ramallah

Palestinian youths armed with stones and Molotov cocktails clash with Israeli soldiers who fired tear gas, stun grenades, rubber and live bullets in

13/12/2015

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabian vote in first female councillors in landmark election

Saudi Arabian women have taken another large leap forward in their path to greater equality with at least eight female candidates winning seats in

13/12/2015

Syria

Syria: explosions in Homs leave at least 16 dead

Syria has suffered another day of death and destruction. This time in the central city of Homs. At least 16 people were killed and scores more

12/12/2015

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabian women vote and stand as candidates in historic day for Islamic kingdom

Saudi Arabian women have made history on Saturday in their country by voting for the first time in local council elections. They have also been

12/12/2015

Lebanon

Son of former Libyan leader Gadhafi freed after being kidnapped

Hannibal Gadhafi, a son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi, has reportedly been freed after being kidnapped by an unknown Lebanese group. He

12/12/2015

Syria

Syria's Assad says he won't negotiate with armed groups

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says he will not negotiate with armed groups. A decision that seems to scupper peace talks that Russia and the

12/12/2015

Israel

More deadly clashes in West Bank as Israel battles to quell unrest

The West Bank has suffered another day of violence with at least three Palestinians killed by Israeli security forces. In Hebron a 22-year-old man

11/12/2015

Syria

Syrian opposition to meet government for peace talks in January

Peace talks will be held next month between the Syrian government and a joint team of political and armed rebel groups. The move was decided after

11/12/2015

Syria

Syria: opposition 'milestone' agreement paves way for government talks

Powerful rebel group Ahrar al-Sham has reportedly signed up to a Syrian opposition statement after two days of negotiations in Riyadh. Political

10/12/2015

Economy

OPEC crude oil output rises to three-year high

Unfazed by tumbling prices, undeterred by low demand, OPEC raised its production of crude oil to a three-year high in November. Failure to agree a

10/12/2015

Syria

Who are the 'moderates' in Syria's Civil War?

Syrian opposition groups and rebel factions gathered in the Saudi capital of Riyadh (9-10 Dec.) to discuss their positions ahead of proposed peace

10/12/2015

Syria

Syrian opposition groups begin talks in Riyadh

As one of the largest meetings of Syrian opposition groups and fighters met in Riyadh for three days of talks as part of efforts to unite anti.Assad

10/12/2015

Syria

What the ceasefire means for Homs

Buses carrying insurgents leave the Syrian city of Homs Part of rare local ceasefire deal Priority given to women, children, seriously wounded

09/12/2015

Turkey

'Possible security threat' closes US consulate in Istanbul, Turkey

The US Consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul has cancelled consular services for Wednesday (December 9) because of “information about a possible

09/12/2015

Syria

Rebels leave Homs as ceasefire deal begins

Overseen by the UN, the halt in fighting was agreed some 10 days ago between the Syrian government and local insurgents

09/12/2015

Yemen

Yemen hopes Geneva peace talks will end months of violence

The people of Yemen are pinning their hopes for an end to months of civil war on forth coming peace talks to be held in Geneva next week. The Yemeni

08/12/2015

Israel

Israeli troops accused of shooting dead Palestinian protester in Bethlehem

Israeli troops have shot dead a Palestinian protester in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, according to Palestinian medical sources. The 19-year-old

08/12/2015

Israel

Israel names new head of Mossad intelligence agency

Yossi Cohen will be the next head of Israel’s secretive Mossad intelligence agency. Fifty-four-year-old Cohen, a former Mossad operative, has been

08/12/2015

Sport

FAI World Air Games

The world’s top Air Sport athletes gathered in Dubai for the spectacular FAI World Air Games. The adrenaline was pumping as 854 competitors took part

08/12/2015

Turkey

Turkish troops still in Iraq despite ultimatum from Baghdad to withdraw

A deadline for Turkey to withdraw its troops from the north of Iraq expires today

08/12/2015

Business Series

OPEC: After the latest acrimonious meeting, where now for oil prices?

On Business Middle East this week we analyse the repercussions of the latest OPEC meeting decision. According to analysts it’s clear from the meeting

08/12/2015

Syria

Syria: Assad's enemies attempt a united front ahead of peace talks

As a first attempt to bring together fractured Syrian opposition parties is being made at a special meeting in Riyadh, on the battle front , around

08/12/2015

Sport

Mara Navarria overcomes grief to win fencing Grand Prix in Doha

Italy’s Mara Navarria overcame her grief at the death of her fencing master Oleg Pouzanov, after he died last Thursday to win her first Grand Prix in

06/12/2015

Yemen

Yemen: ISIL claims car bomb killing of Aden governor

The governor of Yemen’s southern port city of Aden was killed in a car bomb attack on Sunday. ISIL says it was responsible. Targeted as he headed to

06/12/2015

Syria

Syria: ISIL oil fields pounded by British bombers

Britain’s Typhoon warplanes and Tornado jets – taking off from a base in Cyprus – have now conducted two rounds of air strikes in Syria against

06/12/2015