Middle East
Dubai suspends AI Express flights for bringing passengers with COVID-positive certificates
UAE requires Indian travellers to bring original COVID-negative certificate from RT-PCR test done 96 hours prior to the journey
Israeli jets bomb Gaza, 'coinciding' with Netanyahu's signing of normalisation deals
At least two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip the previous evening, one of which was intercepted by Israel's anti-missile system
Israel signs pacts with UAE, Bahrain in White House ceremony
The agreements do not address the decades-long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, who view the pacts as a stab in the back
Israel to set new nationwide lockdown as virus cases surge
Lockdown is credited with having brought down what were much lower infection numbers, but it wreaked havoc on Israel's economy
Iran executes young wrestler, evoking shock and condemnation
Donald Trump had pleaded for Afkari's life earlier this month, saying his 'sole act was an anti-government demonstration on the streets'
Afghan's women negotiators face hardline Taliban in peace talks
Their presence at the negotiating table is significant in patriarchal Afghanistan, though they are outnumbered by the rest of the team
Peace talks to begin between Taliban, Afghan government 19 years after 9/11 triggered war
The US-backed negotiations come six months later than planned owing to bitter disagreements over a controversial prisoner swap
Donald Trump announces peace between Israel and Bahrain
In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the agreement.
Large fire erupts in Beirut port area, a month after massive blast
The fire erupted in the duty free zone of the port, sending a huge column of smoke above the city
Palestinian FM urges Arab states to dismiss Israel-UAE deal
Most of the Arab world has long rejected diplomatic ties with Israel in the absence of a peace deal establishing a Palestinian state