Middle East

Jordan urged Israel on Monday to stop blocking restoration work at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque compound, Islam’s third holiest site. Jordanian foreign ministry spokesman Daifallah Alfayez said he had sent a “protest note” demanding Israel “refrain from such violations and provocations, and respect the mandate of Jordan in administering Muslim holy …

North Korea’s acting ambassador to Kuwait has defected to South Korea, the latest in a recent string of high-profile escapes from the isolated country, a South Korean lawmaker said on Monday. Ryu Hyun Woo had led North Korea’s embassy in Kuwait since former Ambassador So Chang Sik was expelled after …

Britain will team up with Egypt, Bangladesh, Malawi, Saint Lucia and the Netherlands to help communities around the world that are threatened by climate change to adapt and build resilience, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will say on Monday. Early warning systems for storms and investments in flood drainage and in …

Kuwait’s emir reappointed Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah as prime minister on Sunday after the cabinet resigned last week in a standoff with parliament over its vote to question the premier on issues including his choice of ministers. Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmed al-Sabah, facing his first big political challenge since taking …

Rhe human rights committee of Egypt’s House of Representatives, headed by Tarek Radwan, condemned, on Sunday, recent accusations made by the United Nations (UN) special rapporteur for human rights. The UN rapporteur, Mary Lawlor, had made the accusations on Egypt’s human rights record, describing it as “narrow” and “segmented”. The …

Joe Biden has become the 46th president of the US, having defeated Donald Trump in an election last November whose outcome evidently failed to heal the political rifts plaguing the country. Trump did not attend Wednesday’s inauguration ceremony. Complicating matters, a worsening coronavirus crisis and heightened security risks cast a …

Jewelry designer Amany Shaker left Egypt over 30-years-ago after finishing up a psychology degree to work in an international NGO in Los Angeles, which became her second home. In 2015, she did a complete career 360, when she decided to launch her own jewelry line Ammanii, a play on her …

The Egyptian archaeological mission working at the Shiha Fort site in the Aswan Governorate has discovered the remnants of a Roman fort, including part of a church from the early Coptic period, and a temple from the Ptolemaic dynasty. Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the …

Egypt and Qatar have agreed to resume diplomatic relations, the Egyptian foreign ministry said on Wednesday. The move follows an agreement between Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt earlier this month to end their boycott of Qatar – which began in 2017 over allegations it supported terrorism, …

Bahrain’s King Hamad was awarded a rare medal by US President Donald Trump in recognition of his “remarkable efforts” to consolidate relations and the close partnership between the two countries, Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported on Tuesday. Trump decorated the monarch with the Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander, “a …

The problems that continue to plague the Arab world were top of the agenda for the UN Security Council on Monday, as it considered ways in which cooperation with the League of Arab states might be enhanced. Members discussed the protracted conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Libya and Sudan, and the …

The Egyptian government is seeking to expand its network of trains within the framework of a giant project aimed at reaching new geographical areas, and linking the country with neighboring Libya and Sudan. Egyptian Transport Minister Kamel el-Wazir announced that Egypt will launch an electric rail line, worth EGP360 million, …

Apex International Energy (Apex) today announced an oil discovery in Southeast Meleiha Concession (SEM), located in the Western Desert of Egypt. The discovery was achieved at the SEMZ-11X well located 10 kilometers west of Zarif field,the nearest producing field. The well was drilled to a total depth of 5,700 feet …

Clashes between Arabs and non-Arabs in Sudan’s West Darfur have killed at least 32 people, according to a local medical official, as Sudanese authorities imposed a round-the-clock curfew on the province. Darfur remains scarred by war after a rebellion in the early 2000s was brutally suppressed. The most recent violence …

Qatar has released a bodybuilding champion and two other Bahrainis who had been detained during fishing trips, Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said on Thursday. Manama on Sunday demanded Qatari authorities release bodybuilder Sami Al Haddad, who was arrested along with a compatriot on Friday in the third such incident in recent …

Bahrain-born actress May Calamawy has reportedly joined the cast of Disney+’s series “Moon Knight,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. It is not known what role the “Ramy” star will have in the upcoming Marvel series. She will join American-Guatemalan actor Oscar Isaac who is expected to play one of the …

Insurers are set to raise the cost of providing cover for merchant ships through the Red Sea after a series of incidents that have hit vessels around Saudi Arabian waters, industry sources said. The possibility of more attacks on commercial shipping carrying oil and commodities through these waterways is growing …

Oman’s Sultan Haitham will be succeeded by his eldest son Dhi Yazan, according to a new basic law published on Tuesday that creates a new position of crown prince and establishes succession from ruler to the eldest son. Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said had announced plans for the constitutional change …

Kuwaiti ministers handed in their resignations to the prime minister on Tuesday, the government communications office (CGC) said, days after lawmakers submitted a motion asking to question the premier over issues including the makeup of the cabinet. Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah must submit the resignations to the OPEC …

Egypt reopened its airspace to Qatari flights on Tuesday and will allow the resumption of air traffic between the two countries as part of a thaw in relations with the Gulf state, officials said. The decision follows moves by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt to end …

You have to give it to Jacquie Aiche – the Egyptian-American jewelry designer has managed to swiftly emerge as a celebrity-loved label, with stars like Kylie Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski and Shanina Shaik adorning themselves with the Los Angeles-based brand’s signature diamond-encrusted body chains, anklets and stacked gemstone rings on the …

Bahrain will open its airspace to Qatar as of Jan. 11, the civil aviation affairs authority said on Sunday, following a U.S.-backed deal by Arab states last week to end a dispute with Doha. The move comes after Riyadh announced a breakthrough at a summit on Tuesday to end the …

Breaking new ground isn’t easy. Just ask Rami Yasin, the writer and director of “Bloodline,” billed as “the first Arab vampire film.” It’s been two months since “Bloodline” premiered on MBC’s Shahid VIP platform, where it initially appeared to be a success, with hugely impressive viewing figures. However, that was …

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday met with Minister of Telecommunication Amro Talaat and the Executive Chief of Egyptian Space Agency Mohammed Afifi to discuss future usage of the “TIBA-1” satellite, the Presidency’s Spokesperson Bassam Radi announced. Sisi called to ensure that the satellite be utilized with the utmost …

Egypt has urged the need for an agreement “at the earliest possible time” with Sudan and Ethiopia on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) ahead of the second phase of its operation. The three countries have agreed to bilateral meetings with experts to negotiate the filling of the dam’s reservoir. …

Saudi Arabia reopened its airspace and land and sea borders with Qatar on Monday, in a breakthrough agreement aimed at ending the three-year diplomatic dispute with Doha. The full deal is expected to be signed on Tuesday at the annual summit of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders in the northwestern …

Russia and Turkey – both partners and opponents – are reportedly negotiating the fate of the strategically important town of Ain Issa in northern Syria. An area currently controlled by the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). By Nikola Mikovic Moscow demands from the Kurds to hand over the town to …

Video games are one of the most popular forms of media in the world, reportedly worth around $90 billion globally. A 2019 report by business consulting firm Frost and Sullivan ranked Saudi Arabia as the 19th-largest gaming market in the world in terms of revenue, at around $837 million. That …

Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that it summoned the Ethiopian chargé d’affaires to Cairo on Wednesday to provide clarifications about claims made by the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson on Egypt’s internal affairs. According to news reports, Dina Mufti, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, criticised on …

Egypt’s Minister of Emigration and Expatriates Affairs Nabila Makram said the Egyptian authorities will follow up on investigations into the murder of an Egyptian teacher in Saudi Arabia in coordination with the Egyptian embassy in Riyadh, according to a statement from the ministry. Hany Abdel-Tawwab, 35, died of injuries in …

Lebanese pop singer Yara has been appointed by UNICEF as the regional ambassador for the Middle East and North Africa, the humanitarian aid organization shared this week on their Instagram account. “I am just delighted to receive this appointment with UNICEF,” Yara said in a released statement. “I look forward …

The discovery of the ruins of old Roman baths during the construction of a major drainage system in the heart of Jordan’s capital has posed a dilemma: how to preserve the country’s ancient past while providing for its modern future? A government committee set up two weeks ago is expected …

Sudan is to send troop reinforcements to the south of its Darfur region after 15 people were killed in tribal clashes, the official news agency SUNA said. The governor of South Darfur state, Musa Mahdi, announced “the deployment of a large number of military forces in order to arrest those …

Nearly two years after the overthrow of autocrat Omar Bashir, Sudan is taking steps to rejoin the international community from which it was long shunned. That includes its film industry. For the first time in its history, Sudan has a submission for the Academy Awards. Produced by a consortium of …

Sudan has taken control of most of the land it accuses Ethiopians of encroaching upon near the border between the two countries, the Sudanese information minister said on Saturday. Tensions in the border region have flared since the outbreak of conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region in early November and …

Pope Francis promised in his Christmas messages on Thursday to visit Lebanon and South Sudan as soon as he could. The pope traditionally mentions countries in his Christmas Day message, but he singled out those two nations with Christmas Eve messages because of difficulties each has faced this year. “I …

The editor-in-chief of al-Dustour newspaper, Mohamed el-Baz, has called for Egyptians to take action online to defend the state against attacks on social media. On the Dec. 13 “Akher Al-Nahar” show on Al-Nahar, Baz said that as the 10th anniversary of the January 25 Revolution approaches, supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood are criticizing the revolution and …

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry announced that Egypt intends to organize a meeting to include Germany, France, Egypt and Jordan with the aim of further advancing peace talk efforts. Shoukry statements came during a joint press conference held on Saturday with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Palestinian Foreign Minister …

The newfound peace between Israel and the United Arab Emirates was celebrated on Wednesday with a ceremony in which white doves were released heavenward by three rabbis and two imams. By the Levant News Newsdesk The ceremony took place at the Israel Dubai Business Forum, a conference at the Marriott …

Joe Biden will not shy away from using President Donald Trump’s weapon of choice – sanctions – as he seeks to reshape America’s foreign policy, according to people familiar with his thinking. But when Biden takes office on Jan. 20, he is expected to quickly begin recalibrating Trump’s blunt-force approach …

The United States on Tuesday designated the Bahrain-based Saraya al-Mukhtar group as a terrorist organization, accusing it of being backed by Iran and of having plotted attacks against U.S. personnel in the Gulf Arab state. The move, which comes amid a slew of sanctions announced by Washington as President Donald …

The United States on Monday formally removed Sudan’s state sponsor of terrorism designation, 27 years after putting the country on its blacklist, the US embassy in Khartoum announced. “The congressional notification period of 45 days has lapsed and the Secretary of State has signed a notification stating rescission of Sudan’s …

Qatar’s interior ministry said on Saturday its coastguard arrested three people on a Bahraini cruiser catching fish in Qatari territorial waters. Bahrain’s interior ministry said it had not received any official notice but that such provocative practices were inconsistent with the principles of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations and …

The first ever Kuwaiti scientific experiment was launched into the International Space Station, a major achievement for the Gulf state. The experiment was designed by four Kuwaiti students, who were chosen after a competition held by the Scientific Centre, in support of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science …