Lebanon’s parliament speaker and caretaker prime minister warned against strife on Tuesday after clashes between supporters of Shi’ite groups and security forces overnight stirred fears of further political and economic turmoil. Lebanon has been gripped by protests since Oct. 17, leading to...

A Libyan press freedom group said Tuesday the arrest of a journalist at a Tripoli airport over the weekend amounted to "forced disappearance", while the UN called for him to be released or put on trial. Libyan national Rida Fhel el-Boum was arrested Saturday at Mitiga airport after arriving...

An Iraqi lawmaker was Tuesday sentenced to six years jail time for graft after being caught in a sting operation, in a rare trial in a country wracked by government corruption. Mahmud Mullah Talal was arrested in late November, just as he himself was trying to bring down the industry...

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said a majority in parliament wanted to resist calls to break up the United Kingdom, a reference to Scottish nationalist lawmakers who are demanding a new independence referendum. "Most honourable members in this House believe we should resist the calls...

In an open letter days ahead of a historic impeachment vote, nearly 800 historians have urged the House of Representatives to impeach U.S. President Donald Trump. Citing a "clear and present danger to the Constitution", the historians -- including Ron Chernow, John Meacham, and Douglas...

Syria’s parliament has approved contracts for oil exploration with two Russian companies in an effort to boost production hit by more than eight years of war and Western sanctions. State news agency SANA said the deals cover exploration and production in three blocs, including an oilfield...

Israel has approved the export of gas from its offshore reserves to Egypt, a spokeswoman said Tuesday, with a major reservoir expected to begin operations imminently. The Monday approval by Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz was part of a long process under which Israel will transform from an...

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tuesday American sanctions against the Islamic Republic will not last for long. Speaking at a press conference before flying to Malaysia, Rouhani said world countries are seeking to establish friendly relations with Iran. "The American pressure...

The new government under Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not extend the transition period designed to keep Britain aligned with the EU until a trade agreement between the sides is reached, according to government plans made public. Michael Gove, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster,...

Fresh protests against India's new citizenship law erupted Tuesday as alleged police brutality fuelled fury against the legislation which critics say is anti-Muslim. The law grants citizenship to non-Muslims from three neighbouring countries in what opponents say is part of Prime Minister...

A Pakistan court Tuesday sentenced former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in absentia to death for treason, state media reported, an unprecedented move in a country where the armed forces are often considered immune from prosecution. "Special Court Islamabad has awarded death sentence to...

Dozens of people were wounded in overnight clashes between security forces and supporters of Lebanon's two Shiite political parties, the civil defence said on Tuesday. Young supporters of Hezbollah and Amal tried to attack the main anti-government protest camp in central Beirut, an AFP...

Forces in five cities in western Libya fighting under the Government of National Accord (GNA) announced a mobilization Monday to defend the capital Tripoli against an offensive threatened by commander Khalifa Haftar. In a statement, authorities in the cities of Kabaw, Zliten, Khoms,...

 A mayor from Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party was arrested over suspected links to the network that Ankara says orchestrated a failed coup in 2016, a party official said early Tuesday. Ankara has cracked down on suspected followers of Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based...

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Monday he wants an explanation from Ankara over threats to close two strategic military bases used by the United States in Turkey. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday threatened to close the Incirlik and Kurecik bases while speaking to a...

French workers take to the streets anew Tuesday on the 13th day of a transport strike that has exasperated commuters, hit business turnover, and threatened the holiday plans of thousands a week before Christmas. With just days left to avert transport chaos for many who have already bought...

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Monday he wants to reduce the number of US troops in Afghanistan "with or without" a peace agreement in order to give higher priority to strategic competition with China. The Trump administration is expected to announce plans to withdraw around 4,000 troops...

Russia and China on Monday proposed easing sanctions against nuclear-armed North Korea, in response to steps the North takes towards denuclearization. The proposal, in a draft resolution which surprised several diplomatic missions, came the same day Washington's top representative in talks...

The United States has called on Baghdad to "take actions" to protect US interests in the country after a flurry of attacks that have been blamed on Iranian-backed groups. Tehran wields growing influence in Iraq, particularly through armed factions. Since October 28, ten rocket attacks...

 (Zaman Al Wasl)- More than ten Kuwaiti Shiite investors have established construction and real-estate companies in regime-held areas since January, seeking to bolster the ailing Syrian economy, sources told Zaman al-Wasl.  The Kuwaiti investors are in direct contact with...