Pope Francis laments complicity, silence in conflicts blighting Middle East

Pope Francis I met with the heads of churches and Christian communities of the Middle East in the southern Italian city of Bari on Saturday for a ceremony of prayer in which he lamented the violence and war that blighted much of the region.

Iran slams Pompeo's remarks as 'interventionist'

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Monday rejected the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's threatening remarks as "absurd and interventionist."

US complicates Middle East situation: Merkel tells Putin

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday that the Middle East situation had been complicated by the United States' withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.

Saudi network ban on Turkey TV shows is 'political': minister

The decision to ban popular Arabic-dubbed Turkish TV shows by MBC - the largest private media network in the Middle East - is a "political move" and "clear censorship", a Turkish minister said.

US VP Pence's Planned Visit to Israel up in the Air Again

Israel's Foreign Ministry on Monday said an expected visit by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence appears to have been postponed again.

Lavrov: Las aventuras de las fuerzas extranjeras en el Oriente Medio han provocado el caos

El canciller ruso, Sergei Lavrov, dijo que las aventuras de los actores extranjeros en el  Oriente Medio han causado el caos y creado las condiciones apropiadas para los actos terroristas.

France Adopting Biased Stance on Regional Crises: Iran

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi slammed French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian for his recent anti-Tehran remarks and said the western European country has a “one-sided and biased” stance on crises facing the Middle East region.

West to Blame for Chaos, Terror Attacks in Mideast: Russian FM

The Russian foreign minister said the Western states, which pursued regime change policies and funded terrormilitants, are to blame for the chaos and terror attacks in the Middle East, especially in Libya.

Pentagon Chief Headed to Middle East, Africa

US Defense Secretary James Mattis will travel to the Middle East and Africa next week to meet with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, Qatar and Djibouti.

Hundreds of Middle Eastern refugees refused entry into Australia on security grounds

Hundreds of Syrian and Iraqi refugees bookmarked for resettlement in Australia have been refused entry on grounds of national security, it was revealed on Thursday, after security networks discovered their names were on an international watch list.

UK to follow US flight ban on larger electronic devices: Sky news

Britain is set to ban passengers from carrying most electronic devices on flights from certain countries in the Middle East, Sky News reported on Tuesday, following similar measures introduced in the United States.

China, Saudi Arabia stress ties, sign $65 billion in deals

China and Saudi Arabia signed more than a dozen agreements on economic cooperation worth $65 billion, according to Beijing's foreign ministry.

US will ‘never’ allow Iran to threaten Israel with nuclear weapons: Pence

US Vice President Mike Pence vowed Saturday that Washington would ensure Iran could never threaten Israel with nuclear weapons.

Protests mark Tunisian revolution's sixth anniversary

Several protests over jobs have been staged in several Tunisian towns and the presidential convoy was stoned by demonstrators, on the sixth anniversary of the north African country's revolution.

International Apathy: US, Turkey Leeching off Syria’s Riches and Territorial Integrity

The Pentagon’s new “offer” of additional support to Turkey in the ongoing war against Syria on the pretext of fighting ISIL is the moment of truth for the United States' outgoing President Barack Obama.

Trump top aide says relocating US embassy to Jerusalem a 'very big priority'

President-elect Donald Trump's campaign promise to see the American Embassy in Israel moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is a "very big priority" top Trump aide Kellyanne Conway said Monday.

Trump picks retired general for secretary of defense

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Thursday he has chosen retired Marine General James Mattis for secretary of defense.

Arab Spring has cost region 6 percent of GDP: U.N. agency

The Arab Spring unrest of 2011 has cost the region's economies an estimated $614 billion of growth because of regime change, continuing conflict and falling oil prices, a United Nations agency said on Thursday.

Russia warns against US "direct" attack in Syria, creating terrorists of all stripes

“Direct aggression” by the United States towards the Syrian government and armed forces would lead to “frightening, tectonic shifts” in the Middle East, RIA news agency cited Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying on Saturday.

Lack of seriousness in addressing the roots of terror: 15-year US anti-terror war far from being glorious

Fifteen years ago, the world entered an age of war against terrorism, waged by the United States and its allies after terrorists destroyed the twin towers in New York and part of the Pentagon in Washington D.C.