International
UN, Germany Confirm Holding 2nd Int’l Summit on Libya
Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told Asharq Al-Awsat on Thursday that UN and German officials are actively preparing for holding a second international summit on Libya in October. Despite preparations being still underway, a German source told Asharq Al
UK government could use emergency powers to push through unlicensed vaccine
The British government is preparing to invoke emergency powers to allow the use of a coronavirus vaccine for the public, even if it has not met EU licensing requirements, the i newspaper reported. The UK would use its own emergency regulations to bypass EU law and roll out a vaccine for
China holds military exercises near Taiwan as US diplomat visits
China said on Friday it was conducting military exercises near the Taiwan Strait, as a top US diplomat visits the self-ruled island in a move that has angered Beijing. Relations between the United States and China are at their lowest point in decades, with the two sides clashing over a range of t
Russia: Normalisation with Israel won’t bring stability without resolving Palestine issue
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that the normalisation agreements signed between Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain will not bring stability to the Middle East in the absence of a just settlement to the Palestinian issue. “Russia, as a permanent member of
Israel, Saudi discuss building pipeline to connect nations
Israel plans to persuade the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to promote the construction of a pipeline between Saudi Arabia and Israel for oil and distillates for shipping, from the Mediterranean coast onto Europe and the US. The intended construction plans to use the existing infrastructure of the Ei
China will support participation of private firms in railway, oil and gas projects
China will promote the opening up of oil and gas infrastructure to private firms and support their participation in railway projects, the country’s cabinet said on Thursday. China will work to create a fair environment for private companies as a means of boosting employment, the state
India's coronavirus cases jump by daily record of 97,894
India reported another record jump in daily coronavirus infections with 97,894 cases in the last 24 hours, data from the health ministry showed on Thursday. With 5.12 million cases in all, India is the world’s second-worst affected country, and trails only the United States, which has a cas
German minister defends decision to take refugees from Greek islands
Interior Minister Horst Seehofer on Wednesday defended Germany’s decision to take a further 1,553 refugees from camps in Greece, saying the country could be proud of its role in Europe’s migration crisis, Reuters reports. On Tuesday, Germany announced it would take in 408 fa
Lavrov discusses Russia’s vision for Gulf security with Saudi counterpart
Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov received a telephone call on Wednesday from his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al-Saud, during which the two officials discussed the latest developments in Yemen. The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed in a statement that Lavro
Russia, Turkey discuss Syria’s Idlib
Turkish and Russian military delegations yesterday held a meeting to discuss developments in Syria’s eastern city of dlib. In an official statement, Turkey’s defence ministry said that the delegations were discussing the “current situation in the Idlib region”. On 5 March
Cyprus says ready for a dialogue with Turkey but not under threats
Cyprus is ready to engage in dialogue with Turkey to resolve differences but not under threats, the Mediterranean island's President Nicos Anastasiades said on Wednesday. "Yesterday unfortunately a Turkish NAVTEX to expand illegal drilling by the Yavuz vessel was extended when at the same t
Myanmar races to build field hospital as coronavirus surge stretches health system
Myanmar authorities are racing to build a field hospital in the commercial capital of Yangon to cope with a surge of coronavirus infections that doctors fear threatens to overwhelm the country's fragile health system. The Southeast Asian nation reported 307 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, its h
Some Indian hospitals scramble for oxygen as coronavirus cases top 5 million
India's coronavirus infections surged past 5 million on Wednesday, piling pressure on hospitals grappling with unreliable supplies of oxygen that they need to treat tens of thousands of critical patients. In the big states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, that are also some of the worst
Egypt, Greece Reject ‘Provocations’ in Eastern Mediterranean
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held talks in Athens on Tuesday with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias on regional developments, including tensions in the eastern Mediterranean. The two ministers stressed the need to main cooperation through bilateral relations and hold contacts with re
Netanyahu after Gaza Rocket Fire: ‘They Want to Take Peace Backwards’
The Israeli military struck Hamas militant sites in the Gaza Strip early Wednesday in response to rocket fire toward Israel the previous night that coincided with the signing of normalization agreements between Israel and two Arab countries at the White House. Upon his departure back from Washing
EU: Greece-Turkey crisis talks might include other nations
Third countries might be invited to talks aimed at easing a dispute between Greece and Turkey over energy rights that has brought warships to the eastern Mediterranean, a top European Union official said Tuesday. Greece and Turkey have been involved in a standoff at sea for weeks over maritime bo
Poisoned Russian opposition leader Navalny able to leave hospital bed
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny can now breathe on his own and briefly leave his hospital bed, his doctors said on Monday. Meanwhile, Germany announced that French and Swedish labs have confirmed its findings that he was poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent, Novichok. Mr Navalny, 44
Netanyahu: Peace with Arabs to pump millions into Israel’s treasury
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that peace deals with the UAE and Bahrain would pump millions of dollars into Israel’s treasury, local media reported. Prior to leaving for Washington to sign and celebrate the two peace deals with the two Gulf states, Netanyahu addre
