Saudi Arabia has required would-be hajj pilgrims from many Western countries to apply for visas via a government portal online, a move intended to crack down on “fake” travel agencies, officials told AFP on Monday. The new system was put in place as th…
UN crowd-funds to prevent oil spill disaster off Yemen
The United Nations is launching a crowd-funding campaign for an operation intended to prevent an ageing Yemeni oil tanker from unleashing a potentially catastrophic spill in the Red Sea, a senior official said Monday. “We hope to raise $5 million by th…
Syrians in Turkey banned from going home for Eid al-Adha
Turkey has said it would ban Syrian refugees from returning home for the Eid al-Adha holiday next month, and would only grant a one way permit for those wishing to return to Syria for the Muslim holiday. The announcement was made by Turkish Interior Mi…
Iran oil, natural-gas condensate exports plummeted in May
Iran reportedly exported less than half as much oil and natural-gas condensate in May as it did in April, indicating Russia is cutting out Tehran’s trading opportunities by boosting its own oil sales to China. Tehran shipped about 400,000 barrels per d…
The creeping increase in child abuse cases in north Syria
Alone, scared, and vulnerable. Just three of a countless number of the words that could be used to describe the forgotten children of Syria. Most have managed to escape death from the brutal bombings, killings, and extreme poverty their country has end…
Jordan airline debunks ‘plane hijacking’ video
A Jordanian airline company this weekend debunked a video showing a group of people trying to storm the cockpit of one of its planes. Jordan Aviation said the video, which went viral on social media, was actually filmed months ago on a flight between N…
Indian Muslim leaders urge followers to cancel protests
Leaders of prominent Islamic groups and mosques in India appealed to fellow Muslims on Monday to suspend plans for protests against derogatory remarks about the Prophet Mohammad made by two members of the ruling Hindu-nationalist party. The message to …
US envoy lands in Lebanon for talks on maritime gas dispute with Israel
US energy envoy Amos Hochstein arrived in Beirut on Monday for talks with Lebanese officials on a maritime border dispute with Israel over the development of a gas field. Lebanon invited Hochstein to Beirut after objecting to the arrival of a vessel op…
Hajj registration closes with over 390,000 domestic pilgrims
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah closed registration for residents wishing to participate in the annual pilgrimage this year, with more than 390,000 people applying, Saudi media reported on Sunday. Candidates will be selected via e-lottery wit…
UNRWA must remain in control of mandate, say Arab nations
The five Arab nations where the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency operates together with Egypt insisted that the UNRWA remain in full control of its mandate in a meeting hosted by Lebanon on Sunday. The countries gathered in Beirut, with Lebanese-Palesti…