Artillery shelling by Libya's eastern-based forces killed five civilians and wounded dozens in the capital, Tripoli, an official with the country's U.N.-supported government said Thursday. It was the latest attack on Tripoli by the eastern forces’ commander Khalifa Hifter, who launched a...

The United Nations on Thursday issued a new appeal for $4.7 billion in funding to "protect millions of lives and stem the spread of coronavirus in fragile countries." The money is on top of the $2 billion the UN already called for when it launched its global humanitarian response plan on...

The Bank of England warned Thursday that the British economy could suffer its deepest annual contraction in more than three centuries as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, before bouncing back next year. In what it describes as a "plausible" scenario, the bank said the British economy...

With its financial outlook darkening by the day, Iraq is considering slashing its massive public payroll -- an unpopular move likely to renew protests as a new government takes the helm. The new premier Mustafa Kadhemi, Iraq's 53-year-old former spy chief, took office early Thursday in...

Turkey's lira hit a record low against the US dollar Thursday as traders worried over the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the Turkish economy and Ankara's policies. The lira was trading at 7.23 to the dollar, down 0.6 percent just before 1000 GMT, after reaching a record low of 7.24...

China accused the United States Thursday of trying to shift blame over the coronavirus, after President Donald Trump said the pandemic was a worse "attack" than Pearl Harbor or 9/11. Tension between the world's two biggest economies has reached fever pitch in recent days as they have...

A chemical gas leak at an LG Polymers plant in southern India on Thursday killed at least 9 people, and emergency services rushed more than 300 to hospital and evacuated hundreds more from nearby areas, a police official in Andhra Pradesh state said. South Korean battery maker LG Chemical...

Oil prices extended losses on Thursday as the industry grappled with the growing global surplus of crude and the sharp coronavirus-led downturn in demand, with the outlook still grim despite April data showing a rise in imports into China. Brent crude LCOc1 was down by 24 cents, or 0.8%, to...

 Israel's Supreme Court approved Wednesday a coalition deal between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival-turned-ally Benny Gantz, paving the way for a unity government to be sworn in next week. The alliance formed last month between the right-wing incumbent and his centrist...

U.S. President Donald Trump vetoed Wednesday what he called a "very insulting" congressional resolution seeking to limit his war powers in Iran. In a statement, Trump said he had used his veto because the resolution -- a rare bipartisan rebuke to the president approved in March -- was based...

Mercenaries from the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization seen as being close to Vladimir Putin, are fighting in Libya, UN diplomats said Wednesday, citing an experts' report on the country's arms embargo. It was the first time the UN has confirmed claims first made in US media...

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday welcomed Iraq's formation of a government after months of instability, and extended a waiver on Iran sanctions to ease pressure on the new leader. In a phone call with Prime Minister Mustafa Kadhemi, Pompeo congratulated him on taking office...

Iraq’s former spy chief was sworn in as prime minister by lawmakers early Thursday after weeks of tense political negotiations as the country faces a severe economic crisis spurred by plummeting oil prices and the coronavirus pandemic.  The majority of 255 legislators attending the...

At least three civilians were killed when militias loyal to warlord Khalifa Haftar shelled Libya’s capital Tripoli on Wednesday, said an official. Amin al-Hashimi, media advisor to the Health Ministry, also said that another 19 civilians, including children, were wounded in the attack....

Oil prices slid and world equity markets see sawed Wednesday as investor hopes for a pickup in business activity were weighed against downbeat economic data and low fuel demand highlighted by a rise in U.S. crude stockpiles to three-year highs. The safe-haven Japanese yen and dollar rose on...

The United States will provide $225 million in emergency aid to Yemen to support food programs, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday, as aid groups there are forced to scale down operations due to Houthi interference and amid a spreading coronavirus outbreak. "This assistance...

The coronavirus pandemic is "under control" in Turkey, the country's health minister said Wednesday, but warned citizens they still need to take the necessary precautions. The number of deaths per day in Turkey has fallen in the past week, remaining under 100 within a 24-hour period since...

A senior United Arab Emirates official Wednesday stressed the need for de-escalation in the region to allow countries to focus on "the hurricane" caused by the coronavirus pandemic and review development models. Earlier Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani threatened a "crushing...

Spain's parliament on Wednesday voted to extend the country's state of emergency, allowing stringent coronavirus lockdown measures to remain in place for at least two more weeks. The government imposed a nation-wide lockdown nearly eight weeks ago to curb the outbreak, which has killed more...

At least 90,000 health-care workers worldwide are believed to have been infected with COVID-19, and possibly twice that, amid reports of continuing shortages of protective equipment, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) said Wednesday. The disease has killed more than 260 nurses, it...