Middle East

Nearly 20 states have sought to join the BRICS group of countries as more nations realize the benefits of joining the economic bloc, according to a senior Russian diplomat. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Thursday the number of countries favoring BRICS membership continues to grow. BRICS is an …

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing where they agreed to establish a strategic partnership between the two countries. During the Wednesday meeting, Xi said this partnership will mark a new stage in their relations that will build on their past achievements and open …

Palestine has called upon the international community to impose sanctions and other punitive measures against Israel over its settlement construction policies in the occupied territories, saying world countries should not simply suffice to written statements in this regard. The Palestinian foreign ministry stated on Tuesday that the Palestinian nation pays …

Israeli military forces have arrested a high-ranking leader of the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement during a raid in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, in the latest upsurge of violence in the region. Local sources said large numbers of Israeli forces conducted a raid early on Monday on …

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says there is nothing wrong with reaching a deal if Iran’s nuclear infrastructure remains untouched, urging vigilance when dealing with the West, as “it has reneged on its promises many times and its untrustworthiness is now proven.” The Leader made the …

Israeli forces on Friday killed a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry and the army said, with the latter adding that a soldier was lightly wounded. Mehdi Bayadsa, 29, was killed by “bullets from the occupation (Israel) near the Rantis military checkpoint, west of Ramallah,” the …

A classified document has revealed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) threatened to impose significant economic costs on Washington after US President Joe Biden warned Riyadh over its decision to slash oil production last fall. Even though the Saudi government publicly defended its actions politely via diplomatic statements, …

A coalition of Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza has condemned the Israeli regime’s attempts to “divide” time and space at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied Old City of al-Quds between Muslims and Jews, decrying the potential step as a declaration of war. The Palestinian Resistance factions said in …

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabia’s heir apparent Mohammed bin Salman have discussed cooperation within the OPEC+ and bilateral ties between the two countries. In a telephone conversation, the two praised Moscow-Riyadh cooperation within the context of the OPEC+, the Kremlin said in a statement. “Both sides praised the level …

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has lashed out at the Israeli regime’s brutal demolition policy, insisting that it will not hinder the Palestinian nation’s resolve to gain self-determination. Hamas Spokesman Mohammed Hamada declared in remarks on Wednesday that the Palestinian residents of occupied al-Quds would never leave their homeland despite the …

US Vice President Kamala Harris has officially joined critics of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial judicial overhaul and urged the regime to ensure the independence of its judiciary while an Israeli minister censured her comments. Speaking at a ceremony organized by Israel’s embassy in Washington on the 75th anniversary …

A new report has revealed that 44% of Israeli youth deal with constant anxiety and depression, while 20% showed tendencies to take their own lives. The report, published by Hebrew-language media on Tuesday, covers the year 2022 and was conducted by ELEM, a nonprofit watchdog monitoring at-risk youth. “They shared …

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has hailed the recent normalization of diplomatic relations between Damascus and the Arab world, saying the rapprochement will have a “positive impact” on neighboring Lebanon. He made the remarks on Tuesday during a meeting with former Lebanese president Michel Aoun in the Syrian capital after 14 …

Ten European countries have called on Israel to halt the demolition of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank. In a joint statement issued on Sunday, the consulates general of Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Britain, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, and the Office of the European Union Representative to the …

The incumbent went into the tense second round of voting with strong momentum to win a third presidential term. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has won re-election, according to unofficial data from state-run Anadolu Agency, in a tense run-off after he failed to secure more than 50 percent of votes …

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan sought to build on his momentum going into Sunday’s runoff presidential election, urging Turks to vote as the man aiming to defeat him called on electors to pull their country from “the dark pit” of his two-decade rule. The opposition has seen this month’s presidential and …

Two Iranian border guards have been killed and two civilians wounded during clashes with armed members of the Taliban in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan. An Iranian police official said on Saturday the Taliban started shooting at a border post in violation of international law and the principles …

A major European trade union organization has boycotted products made in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, calling on the European Union’s member states to ban the import and export of such commodities. The decision was made on Thursday during the 15th session of the European Trade Union Confederation …

Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who left his main rival Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu behind in the May 14 presidential election but was unable to win a majority of 50 percent to be elected, is also leading in the runoff, according to the results of a survey by the Konda polling company. …

Israeli military forces have wounded 13 Palestinian youths and arrested 14 others during a raid on a refugee camp in the eastern West Bank city of Ariha, amid rising violence in the occupied territories. Palestine’s official Wafa news agency, citing local sources, reported on Thursday that Israeli troops stormed the …