Middle East

Israel leaves outdoor COVID mask order

Editorial Bureau April 19, 2021

JERUSALEM (ISRAEL) – Israelis went about barefaced on Sunday after the order to wear masks outdoors was cancelled in another step towards walking back to normality thanks to the country’s mass-vaccination against COVID-19. With about 81% of citizens or residents over 16 – the

Middle East

EU’s Borrell highlights improvements in Iran nuclear talks

Editorial Bureau April 19, 2021

BRUSSELS (BELGIUM) – The European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said on Monday he noticed a willingness to guard the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and global powers, referring progress in talks in Vienna to bring the United States back to the accord. The optimism follows comments by China’s envoy to the negotiations, Wang Qun, […]

Middle East

Syrian elections, Bashar al Assad expected to win for the third time

Editorial Bureau April 18, 2021

AMMAN (SYRIA) – An election that is expected to bring President Bashar al Assad for a third term in office, Syria will hold its presidential election on May 26, the country’s parliament informed. Election rules also require candidates to have lived in Syria for the last 10 years, which effectively prevents key opposition figures in […]

Middle East

Israelis do not have to wear outdoor coronavirus masks anymore

Editorial Bureau April 18, 2021

JERUSALEM – In the latest addition to the measures that ensure Israel’s return to relatively normal condition, the mandatory rule of wearing face masks outdoors has been withdrawn. Boosted by a mass-vaccination campaign against the COVID-19 pandemic, the schools have also reopened. With almost 54% of its 9.3 million population having received both shots of […]

Middle East

Efforts to repair relations between rivals, Saudi and Iran hold talks

Editorial Bureau April 18, 2021

In a bid to repair relations between the two regional rivals, four years after they cut off diplomatic ties, senior Saudi and Iranian officials have held direct talks. Iraq’s prime minister visited Saudi Arabia late last month. The report comes as Washington and Tehran try to revive a 2015 nuclear accord to which Riyadh had […]

Middle East

Natanz nuclear site blast: Iran state TV identifies man behind blast

Editorial Bureau April 17, 2021

Iran’s state television identified a man it said was behind a recent explosion and power outage at its main Natanz nuclear plant. “Reza Karimi, the perpetrator of this sabotage… has been identified” by Iran’s intelligence ministry, state TV said. It said the suspect had fled Iran before last Sunday’s blast that the Islamic Republic has […]

Middle East

US announcement of withdrawal from Afghanistan lessens chances of peace

Editorial Bureau April 16, 2021

KABUL (AFGHANISTAN) – US President Joe Biden’s announced pullout of troops from Afghanistan by September 11 has brought Washington’s push for peace with Taliban Islamists under jeopardy increased the chances of an upsurge in violence, sources say. Biden announced the withdrawal, pushed back from a May 1 deadline agreed with the Taliban, without buy-in

Middle East

Iran’s nuclear chief says that Natanz plant will undergoes 60% Uranium enrichment

Editorial Bureau April 16, 2021

Days after an explosion at the site that Tehran blamed on Israel, Iran’s country’s nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi has informed that the country has begun 60% uranium enrichment at its Natanz plant “We are producing about nine grams of 60% enriched uranium an hour,” head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, told state […]

Middle East

US, allied troops to leave Afghanistan by September 11

Editorial Bureau April 15, 2021

WASHINGTON (US) -President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that US troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan from May 1 to end America’s longest war. Foreign troops under NATO command will also withdraw from Afghanistan in coordination with the US pull-out, as agreed by NATO allies. The withdrawal of foreign troops will be completed by September […]

Middle East

Biden ready to declare US withdrawal from Afghanistan

Editorial Bureau April 14, 2021

WASHINGTON (US) – President Joe Biden’s planned announcement on Wednesday of a complete US withdrawal from Afghanistan by September 11 intends to bring an end to America’s longest war. That said, critics warn that peace is something assured after two decades of fighting. As officials disclosed Biden’s pullout plans, the US intelligence community