Middle East

Ankara, Aug 21: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced the discovery of a large natural gas reserves off the Black Sea coast, days after he promised a good news that would usher in a for the energy dependent country. Erdogan said on Friday that the amount of gas discovered is 320 billion cubic meters, adding that he hopes to start extracting and using the gas by 2023. If confirmed as

Dubai, Aug 21: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will establish an embassy in Tel Aviv, its Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash said Thursday at a video conference with US-based Atlantic Council think-tank, Anadolu Agency reported. Gargash said when a normalization agreement with Israel is signed that was announced last week, “Abu Dhabi will have its embassy in Tel Aviv based on international consensus to

Fujairah, Aug 18: The Ministry of Health and Prevention, MoHAP, and Fujairah Medical Zone have announced the inauguration of a coronavirus (Covid-19) testing centre in Mirbah, which will perform free tests for all UAE citizens and residents. The centre was opened on the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah. The inauguration of

Dubai, Aug 18: Residents and visitors with expired UAE visas have hailed the latest government decision that gave them three more months to legalise their status or leave the country. Authorities have confirmed that the short-term amnesty for visa violators, whose papers have expired before March 1, will be extended. Major General Saeed Rakan Al Rashidi, director-general of the Federal Authority

Gaza, Aug 17: The Israeli military has intensified its attacks on the Gaza Strip, with its tanks pounding several positions in the besieged enclave. "Tanks targeted a number of military observation posts” belonging to the Hamas resistance movement in Gaza early on Monday, the Israeli army claimed in a statement. The attacks, it said, came in response to incendiary balloons sent from Gaza to the

Jerusalem, Aug 17: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel is preparing for direct flights, over Saudi Arabia, to the United Arab Emirates as part of its normalisation deal with the UAE. Israel and the UAE announced on Thursday that they will normalise diplomatic relations under a U.S.-sponsored deal whose implementation could reshape Middle East politics from the Palestinian

Manama, Aug 17: After a video clip of a woman damaging the idols of Ganesha in a shop in Bahrain went viral, the local police have charged her with intentional damage and publicly insulting a religious symbol. The police said on Sunday that the 54-year-old woman was summoned after the video on social media showed her "intentionally damaging a shop... and breaking religious idols" in the Juffair

Dubai, Aug 13: The UAE and Israel have reached a historic deal that will lead to a full normalization of diplomatic relations between the two nations. The agreement, brokered by US President Donald Trump, means Israel has suspended plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank. A joint statement from the UAE, Israel and the US said: "This historic diplomatic breakthrough will advance peace in the

The UAE on Thursday announced a holiday on Sunday, August 23, to mark the beginning of the Islamic New Year. Muharram 1, which will mark the beginning of the Hijri New Year, is expected to begin on August 23, subject to moon sighting. According to a statement issued by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources on social media today, Sunday, August 23 will be a holiday for the public

Dubai, Aug 12: Returning UAE residents are being advised to update their personal details on the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) website in order to facilitate smooth travel back into the country. The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) on Wednesday asked returning residents to visit uaeentry.ica.gov.ae and input their details - such as Emirates