World
Middle East
Iran temporarily releases French-Iranian academic from jail, lawyer says
The French anthropologist, who was convicted by Iranian authorities of security breaches, has been held since 2019.
Latest
Border disputes
Lebanon and Israel break 30-year impasse to enter sea border talks
The talks, to be held under the auspices of the United Nations and mediated by the United States, were announced just weeks after the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain normalised relations with Israel.
- by Ben Hubbard and Adam Rasgon
World politics
Missiles targeting airport in northern Iraq intercepted
US threatened last week to close its Baghdad embassy unless decisive action was taken to reign in Shiite militias suspected of launching attacks in the city.
- by Samya Kullab
World politics
Kuwait ruler, long-time diplomat Sheikh Sabah, dies aged 91
Kuwait was plunged into mourning for a leader regarded by many Gulf Arabs as a savvy diplomatic operator and a humanitarian champion.
Border disputes
Fighting continues between Armenia and Azerbaijan
Civilians were also killed and more than 100 servicemen were wounded in what were the heaviest clashes between the two nations since 2016.
- by Nvard Hovhannisyan and Nailia Bagirova
World politics
Lebanon's prime minister-designate resigns after failure to form government
Mustapha Adib's announcement nearly a month after he was appointed to the job has dealt a blow to French President Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to break a dangerous stalemate in the crisis-hit country.
- by Zeina Karam
Iran sanctions
Tehran 'ready' to swap all prisoners with US, despite new sanctions
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif brushed sanctions aside as "nothing new" while also striking a conciliatory note.
- by Parisa Hafezi
Courts
Accused child sex abuser Malka Leifer to be extradited to Australia
An Israeli court has ruled that the former Melbourne school principal will be sent to Australia to face trial after years of legal wrangling.
- by Gabrielle Weiniger and Paul Sakkal
Coronavirus pandemic
Ignoring virus rules, Israelis call on Netanyahu to resign
Many participants in the gathering appeared to ignore social-distancing rules that order them to remain in small separated “capsules” of people.
Opinion
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
All is not what it seems in the Middle East 'peace deal'
The Latin expression cui bono - who benefits - may be useful to determine the value and significance of Donald Trump's new Middle Eastern 'peace deal'.
- by Ghassan Hage
Heritage
Conservationists flabbergasted by new road over Egypt pyramids plateau
Some Egyptologists say the highways will disrupt the integrity of the pyramids plateau and pave over unexplored archaeological sites.
- by Patrick Werr