Kuwait's opposition took nearly half of parliament's seats in weekend polls amid calls for reforms over corruption and high debt, but the sole female lawmaker lost her seat. Twenty-four of the National Assembly's 50 seats were won by candidates belonging to or leaning towards the...

A new report on the Gaza Strip by a United Nations (UN) agency makes for sobering reading. The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reports that the economic cost to Gaza of the Israeli siege since 2007, along with a series of major military assaults, amounts to no less than...

Iran has instructed its oil ministry to prepare installations for production and sale of crude oil at full capacity within three months, state media said on Sunday, ahead of a possible easing of U.S. sanctions after President-elect Joe Biden takes office. They quoted President Hassan...

The US has welcomed the formation and the first Leadership Committee meeting of the Afghanistan High Council for National Reconciliation.  The peace body set up in late May has 45 members from across the Afghan political spectrum and is chaired by Abdullah Abdullah. It held its maiden...