MENA News

Turkey's top diplomat meets Syria's new leader in Damascus

No details of where the meeting took place in the Syrian capital were released

Syria's new leader vows not to negatively interfere in Lebanon

Syria 'will stay at equal distance from all' in Lebanon, Sharaa added, acknowledging that Syria has been a "source of fear and anxiety" for the country

Pope calls Gaza airstrikes 'cruelty' after Israeli minister's criticism

The pontiff opened his annual Christmas address to the Catholic cardinals with what appeared to be a reference to Israeli airstrikes on Friday

Qatar embassy reopens in Syria with brief flag-raising ceremony: AFP

The mission expressed 'Doha's full commitment to support the Syrian people', a Qatari diplomat said

Syria's new rulers name foreign minister amid push for international relations

Syria's de facto ruler, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has actively engaged with foreign delegations since assuming power, including hosting the UN's Syria envoy and senior US diplomat

MSF accuses Israel of 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza

The report documents 41 attacks on MSF staff including air strikes on health facilities and direct fire on humanitarian convoys

Israel keeps up Gaza bombardment as ceasefire talks intensify

Mediators manage to narrow some gaps on previous sticking points but differences remain, sources say

UN's Syria envoy calls for 'free and fair elections' after transition

'There is a lot of hope that we can now see the beginning of a new Syria,' says Pedersen

Palestinian families sue US government over military aid to Israel

The complaint calls for the implementation of the so-called Leahy Law, which the plaintiffs and rights group say Israel has been illegally exempted from

Iran lawmakers request changes to strict hijab bill: Media

The bill, already approved in parliament but not yet submitted to the government for final confirmation, has stirred a heated debate in Iran