Islamabad says it will also suspend trade with India and take up New Delhi’s Kashmir move at the UN Security Council. Pakistan has announced it will “downgrade” diplomatic relations with India, expel the Indian ambassaor and suspend bilateral trade after New Delhi stripped its portion of the contested Kashmir region of special status. The decision […]

The Taliban said yesterday it was close to an agreement on a deal that would see US forces withdraw from Afghanistan in exchange for a promise that the country would not become a haven for international militants. Negotiations over how to end the 18-year war in Afghanistan have been held in Doha, capital of Qatar, […]

JERUSALEM — Israel has carried out a series of attacks across the Middle East in recent weeks to prevent Iran from equipping its Arab allies with precision-guided missiles, drones and other sophisticated weapons that could challenge Israel’s defenses. The attacks represent a new escalation in the shadow war between Iran and Israel, which has broken […]

Forces loyal to Yemen’s government have re-entered the southern city of Aden, which they lost to previously allied separatists earlier this month. Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani said troops and militiamen had taken full control of the city after securing the airport and presidential palace. But a separatist militia commander said it was still in control […]

Iran’s president says ‘unjust’ sanctions must be lifted to end deadlock, after Trump indicates willingness to meet. Iran will not talk to the United States until all sanctions imposed on Tehran are lifted, President Hassan Rouhani has said, a day after US President Donald Trump said he would meet his Iranian counterpart to try to […]

Iran has sold the oil from a tanker released by Gibraltar after weeks in the custody of British royal marines and the vessel’s owner will decide on its next destination, the Iranian government has said. Separately, Tehran – embroiled in a spiralling confrontation with Washington over US sanctions meant to strangle Iranian oil exports – […]

As Saudi Arabia allows women to travel without a man’s consent, Lulwa Shalhoub, a resident of Jeddah, explains how the move will affect her life. No need for a man’s approval to travel, another step forward for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. Next time I travel abroad, I will not have to worry about the […]

Protest leaders reach ‘full agreement’ with military on a hard-won constitutional declaration, says AU envoy. Sudan’s military rulers and the main opposition coalition have reached an agreement paving the way for a new transitional government, the African Union said, after a long period of negotiations following the toppling of long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir in April. Mohamed […]

TEHERAN (NYTIMES) – When the phone rang at a private ambulance centre in Teheran, a famous Iranian soccer player was on the line. The operator recognised him instantly and expressed sympathy for the presumed medical emergency in his family. The soccer star laughed and said nobody was sick. He was requesting a reservation for an […]

Election commission says Nabil Karoui, who was arrested on money laundering charges, is still a presidential candidate. Nabil Karoui, the Tunisian media mogul arrested on charges of money laundering and tax evasion, remains in the race for next month’s presidential election despite his detention, an electoral official has said. “As long as there are no changes in […]