Iran has rejected as "unrealistic" a call by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for the United Nations to extend an international arms embargo on Tehran that ends in October, state TV reported Monday. The GCC, made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi...

A US cabinet member heaped praise on Taiwan's democracy and its success in battling the coronavirus as he met the island's leader on Monday during a historic visit that China has slammed as a threat to peace. Health Secretary Alex Azar is in Taipei for a three-day visit billed as the...

The Taliban said Monday they were ready for peace talks with the Afghan government, as authorities announced that the release of hundreds of militants accused of serious offences would begin in the next few days. The fate of some 400 Taliban prisoners has been a crucial hurdle in launching...

Lebanon's government was teetering Monday as two ministers' resignations over the deadly Beirut port explosion threatened to snowball and protesters' fury on the scarred streets showed no sign of abating. The under-fire cabinet, struggling to weather the political storm, was due to meet in...

Egyptian lawmakers are pushing for a new law to protect the identity of women coming forward to report sexual abuse and assault as the nation's MeToo movement picks up speed. An Egyptian parliamentarian committee has approved a draft law that would give survivors of sexual assault and...

The Israeli military said late Sunday that it struck a Hamas target in the northern Gaza Strip in response to the continued launches of explosives-laden balloons from the Palestinian territory into Israel. In a brief statement, the army said an aircraft struck a Hamas observation post in...

Iran said Monday that countries should refrain from politicizing the massive blast in Beirut last week, adding that the United States should lift sanctions against Lebanon. "The blast should not be used as an excuse for political aims ... the cause of the blast should be investigated...

France’s President Emmanuel Macron led a virtual international donors conference Sunday to rush aid to Lebanon's capital city of Beirut, which suffered extensive damage last week from two devastating blasts. A total of 250 million euros ($294.5 million) was pledged by all countries...

India’s recoveries from the novel coronavirus rose to 1,530,070 on Monday, accounting for 69% of its cases.  “The recovery of more than 1.5 million has been made possible because of the policy of testing aggressively, tracking comprehensively and treating efficiently. Better ambulance...

 The Turkish army on Sunday has set up an observation point in the coastal Jabal al-Akrad area, following clashes between rebels and regime forces that left casualties from both sides last week. According to Zaman al-Wasl reporter, the new Turkish outpost was constructed in the Tel...

 At least seven people were killed when torrential rain and thunderstorms caused flash flooding on the Greek island of Evia over the weekend, officials said on Sunday. Three of the victims, including a baby, were found in the village of Politika and another four in the village of...

After the US and China, Turkey has become the 3rd country to develop vaccines locally, according to the World Health Organization data, said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday. Speaking at the opening of TUBITAK (Turkey’s Scientific and Technological Research Council) Excellence...

The six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has asked the United Nations to extend an international arms embargo on Iran, a move pushed strongly by the United States. The secretariat of the GCC, made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, said in a...

Lebanese police fired tear gas to try to disperse rock-throwing protesters blocking a road near parliament in Beirut on Sunday in a second day of anti-government demonstrations triggered by last week's devastating explosion. Fire broke out at an entrance to Parliament Square as...

Chinese government-linked hackers have been targeting U.S. election infrastructure ahead of the 2020 presidential election, White House National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien said on Sunday, indicating a more active level of alleged Chinese interference. O’Brien’s comments appeared to go...

Lebanese Information Minister Manal Abdelsamad resigned on Sunday, in the first government resignation in the wake of a massive explosion at the Beirut port.  “After the horror of the disaster in Beirut, I submit my resignation," Abdelsamad said in a televised statement. "I...

The Iranian president said on Sunday that the application of tough measures in the country to stem the spread of coronavirus was “not possible."  Speaking during a meeting of Iran’s anti-coronavirus task force in Tehran, Hassan Rouhani opted for a “moderate path” between a total...

Flights resumed at the Mitiga airport in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Sunday after a 4-month hiatus as part of the country’s efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.  “Air navigation resumed at the airport after months of suspension due to the closure of air, naval...

The Lebanese army said Sunday that hopes have dwindled of finding survivors at the blast site in Beirut following days of search and rescue operations supported by international experts. "After three days of search and rescue operations we can say we have finished the first phase, which...

Red Bull's Max Verstappen won Formula One's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday to end Mercedes' run of domination and become champion Lewis Hamilton's closest challenger. In a race that was dominated by tyre strategy, Hamilton swept past Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas...