Category: 2. Middle East

Six people died on Thursday when a tourist submarine sank off Egypt’s Red Sea coast, state media reported, with Russia’s consulate saying 45 Russian citizens were aboard.

Russia’s consulate in Hurghada, a town popular with tourists from the country, said the vessel was carrying “45 tourists, including minors”, and that four people had died.

“According to initial data, most of those on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada,” the consulate said.

The website of…

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun visits France on Friday, his first trip to a European country since his January election and as Paris pushes Beirut for long-demanded political and economic reforms.

He is due to meet President Emmanuel Macron, who on a visit to Beirut days after Aoun’s appointment said France would hold an international aid conference to support Lebanon’s reconstruction after a devastating war between Israel and Hezbollah.

No date for the conference has been announced.

Aoun was…

Six people died on Thursday, two of them minors, when a tourist submarine carrying dozens of Russian visitors sank off Egypt’s Red Sea coast near a major resort town.

Egyptian state media put the toll at six, while Russian state news agencies quoted General Consul Viktor Voropaev as saying that five people were confirmed dead, two of them minors.

Russia’s consulate in the tourist hub of Hurghada earlier said the vessel was carrying “45 tourists, including minors” on an underwater excursion to…

Israel’s parliament on Thursday passed a law expanding the power of politicians over judge appointments in defiance of a years-long protest movement against the judicial reforms pushed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The approval came with Netanyahu’s government, the most right-wing in Israeli history, locked in a standoff with the supreme court after the premier began proceedings to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and announced the sacking of Ronen Bar, head of the internal…

An Algerian court on Thursday sentenced French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, whose case has been at the heart of a diplomatic storm, to five years behind bars, an AFP journalist inside the courtroom said.

The author is known for his criticism of Algerian authorities as well as of Islamists.

He was arrested in November and stood trial for undermining Algeria’s territorial integrity, after saying in an interview with a far-right French media outlet that France unfairly ceded Moroccan territory…

Israel’s parliament Thursday passed a law expanding elected officials’ power to appoint judges, defying a years-long movement against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s contentious judicial reforms that saw massive street protests.

The approval comes as Netanyahu’s government, one of the most right-wing in Israel’s history, is locked in a standoff with the supreme court after beginning proceedings to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and Ronen Bar, head of the internal security…

Israel’s parliament on Thursday passed a law expanding elected officials’ power to appoint judges, defying a years-long movement against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s contentious judicial reforms that saw massive street protests.

The approval comes as Netanyahu’s government, one of the most right-wing in Israel’s history, is locked in a standoff with the supreme court after beginning proceedings to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and announcing the sacking of Ronen Bar, head…

The United States has removed multimillion-dollar bounties on leaders of Afghanistan’s feared Haqqani militant network, including the current Taliban interior minister, the State Department and the Taliban government said.

The Haqqani network was responsible for some of the deadliest attacks during the decades-long war in Afghanistan.

The men remain on Washington’s list of “specially designated global terrorists” but the bounty price has been scrapped.

Taliban interior ministry spokesman Abdul…

• Eid sweets exhibition

Indulge in the finest Eastern and international sweets while enjoying magical family nights at Souq Waqif. A perfect way to celebrate the joy of Eid with delightful treats.

Dates: Until March 29

Location: Eastern Square – Souq Waqif

More information here.

• Eid prayers at Education City Stadium

Mark the beginning of Eid with a prayer gathering at Education City Stadium. Join thousands in a peaceful setting and embrace the joy of Eid with your loved ones.

Location:…