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...

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,...

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...

The United Nations has no choice but to keep shipping humanitarian aid across Syria's borders and civil war front lines, according to a report by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, which ran into contrary views from Russia. Security Council members are debating the renewal of the...