Western Asia

Syria bomb kills 9, Damascus blames foreign plot

A car bomb killed nine people at a Syrian military post in the eastern city of Deir al-Zor on Saturday, an attack the government said was the latest proof that an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad was a foreign plot.

Jordan's prime minister Khasawneh resigns

Jordan's Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh resigned on Thursday after barely six months in office, state media said, following growing criticism of a draft election law his government was preparing.

Captured ship with Indian sailors not registered in UAE

According to reports some Pakistanis are also believed to be among the hostage.The ship sailed from Sharjah enroute to Nigeria with a 22-member crew and was hijacked on 2nd March.

'Qatar needs to ensure better protection of Indian workers'

Indians are the largest expatriate community in Qatar. Of the total around 1.7 million population, over 500,000 are Indians, mostly employed in middle-level and low-paid jobs.

IMF will give $93.7 mn to Yemen's crisis-hit economy

The IMF resumed lending to Yemen on Wednesday, approving the payment of a $93.7 million loan to the country to address its urgent balance of payments deficit, which has been worsened by a year of political turmoil.

Iran sanctions fallout: RBS halts India tanker payment

India's Great Eastern Shipping Co Ltd has not been able to pay Greek firm Eurotankers, which holds an account with RBS, for using one of its supertankers to ship Iranian crude because the UK-based bank would not clear the payment, the sources said.

Iran says Arabs putting mercenaries into Syria

Arab countries are sending mercenaries to Syria to thwart any chance of a negotiated settlement to end President Bashar al-Assad's crackdown on a year-long uprising against his rule, Iran's ambassador to France said on Thursday.

Spain closes embassy in Syria over repression

Spain's foreign ministry says it has closed its embassy in Syria to protest brutalities carried out by President Bashar Assad's government.

UN concerned Syria may have chemical weapons

The top US military officer, General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said last week that Syria is "very capable," with a sophisticated, integrated air defense system and chemical and biological weapons.

EU imposes new sanctions on Syrian regime

European foreign ministers today increased pressure on Syria's regime to stop its crackdown on opponents.