Middle-East
Over 2 million Muslims in Mecca for start of hajj pilgrimage
Mecca, Aug 10 (AP/UNB) — More than 2 million pilgrims were gathered in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia on Friday to perform initial rites of the hajj, an Islamic pilgrimage that takes the faithful along a path traversed by the Prophet Muhammad some 1,400 years ago.
Clashes in southern Yemen; rebels leader's brother killed
Sanaa, Aug 10 (AP/UNB) — Fighting between Yemeni government forces and southern separatists entered a third day Friday, leaving more than 20 killed, including five civilians, officials said.
UN official says over 100,000 detained and missing in Syria
United Nations, Aug 8 (AP/UNB) — Reports suggest more than 100,000 people in Syria have been detained, abducted or gone missing during the eight-year conflict, with the government mainly responsible, the U.N. political chief said Wednesday.
Iran president: If US wants talks, it must lift sanctions
Tehran, Aug 7 (AP/UNB) — Iran's president reiterated Tuesday that if Washington wants to open negotiations with Tehran, it must lift all sanctions against his country "before everything else."
Iran president: If US wants talks, it must lift sanctions
Tehran, Aug 6 (AP/UNB) — Iran's president has reiterated that if Washington wants to open negotiations with Tehran, it must lift all sanctions against his country "before everything else."
Car bomb collides with vehicles in Egypt capital, killing 20
Cairo, Aug 5 (AP/UNB) — A car packed with explosives being driven to carry out an attack collided with other vehicles and exploded in central Cairo outside Egypt's main cancer hospital, killing at least 20 people, the Interior Ministry said Monday.
Iran FM: US sanctions against him 'failure' for diplomacy
Tehran, Aug 5 (AP/UNB)— Iran's foreign minister on Monday lambasted recent U.S. financial sanctions against him, calling the move a "failure" for diplomacy amid escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf.
Iranian fighter jet crashes near Persian Gulf
Tehran, Aug 4 (AP/UNB) — Iran says a fighter jet has gone down in the south of the country near the Persian Gulf, with two pilots surviving the crash.
Saudi changes allow women to travel without male consent
Dubai, Aug 2 (AP/UNB) — Saudi Arabia published new laws early Friday that loosen restrictions on women by allowing any citizen to apply for a passport and travel freely, ending a long-standing guardianship policy that gave men control over women.
Iran president: US sanctions on foreign minister 'childish'
Tehran, Aug 1 (AP/UNB) — Iran's president lambasted new U.S. sanctions by the Trump administration targeting the country's foreign minister, describing the move on Thursday as "childish" and a barrier to diplomacy.