Israel election: Netanyahu and rival headed for deadlock

September 18, 2019 0

Unofficial results in Israel’s second election in five months suggest it is too close to call, Israeli media say. Incumbent PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s party and that of his main challenger, Benny Gantz, are neck and neck with 32 seats each, the Kan public broadcaster says. A prime

Iran ‘seizes Iraqi tanker in Gulf for smuggling fuel’

August 5, 2019 0

Iran has seized another foreign tanker in the Gulf, state media reports claim. Iranian forces seized the Iraqi ship for “smuggling fuel for some Arab countries” and detained seven sailors, according to the reports. Iraq’s oil ministry has said it has no connection to the seized vessel and that it is working to gather information […]

PAKISTAN: Gunmen attack luxury hotel in Balochistan

May 11, 2019 0

Three gunmen have stormed a five-star hotel in the restive Pakistani province of Balochistan, killing at least one person, officials say. The attack targeted the Pearl Continental Hotel in the port city of Gwadar, the centrepiece of a multi-billion-dollar Chinese project. Most guests have been evacuated. The separatist Balochistan Liberation Army said it had carried […]

Iran pulls out of ‘parts of nuclear deal’

May 8, 2019 0

Iran has pulled out of “some commitments” under the 2015 international nuclear deal, a year after it was abandoned by the US. President Hassan Rouhani informed other major powers still committed to the deal of the decision on Wednesday. He did not specify which commitments Iran would stop implementing. The deal is aimed at curbing […]

SUDAN: ICC reprimands Jordan over Bashir

May 7, 2019 0

The International Criminal Court has said that Jordan will not be referred to the UN Security Council for failing to arrest the former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on war crimes charges. The split decision by the five judge panel reverses a previous decision by the ICC. But the court did uphold a reprimand of Jordan […]

Israel to name Golan town after Trump

April 24, 2019 0

I will name a Golan town after Trump, says Israel’s Netanyahu Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says he intends to name a new settlement in the occupied Golan Heights after US President Donald Trump. Mr Netanyahu said the move would honour Mr Trump’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan in March. Israel seized the Golan […]

Egyptian voters back constitutional changes

April 24, 2019 0

Egypt president could rule until 2030 as constitutional changes backed Egyptians have overwhelmingly approved in a referendum constitutional changes that could allow President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to stay in power until 2030. The National Election Authority said 88.8% of those who took part endorsed the proposals. The turnout was 44.3%. Mr Sisi’s second term has […]

Five African countries applied death penalty in 2018 – Amnesty report

April 11, 2019 0

Five African countries applied the death penalty in 2018, a report by international rights group Amnesty International revealed on Wednesday. Of the quintet, four were in sub-Saharan Africa and one in north Africa region. Egypt was the only country up the Sahara to apply the measure. They are classed in the Middle East and North […]

No documents, no home: ‘desperate’ Syrian mothers turn to child marriage

March 29, 2019 0

 Millions of Syrian women who have fled the eight-year war are stuck in a “legal limbo”, unable to own or reclaim land when they go home, driving some to marry off their underage daughters to acquire property, researchers said on Thursday. Swathes of Syrian towns and cities have been destroyed – displacing about half of […]

South Sudan is world’s least happy country, Mauritius – happiest country in Africa

March 21, 2019 0

South Sudan was ranked the least happiest nation in Africa and the world, while Mauritius ranked the happiest on the continent, and 57th overall in the world. The United Nations report released on Wednesday March 20 which is International Day of Happiness, is compiled by asking citizens in 156 countries how happy they perceive themselves […]