Saudi Arabia suspends any dialogue with Qatar: SPA
DUBAI Saudi Arabia on Saturday suspended any dialogue with Qatar, accusing it of "distorting facts", just after a report of a phone call between the leaders of both countries suggested a breakthrough in the Gulf dispute.
U.S.-backed SDF to announce operation in Syria's Deir al-Zor - SDF official
BEIRUT U.S.-backed Syrian militias are set to announce an operation against Islamic State in the north of Deir al-Zor province, a senior SDF official told Reuters on Friday.
State Department approves $3.8 billion in arms sales to Bahrain: Pentagon
WASHINGTON The U.S. State Department has approved arms sales packages worth more than $3.8 billion to Bahrain including F-16 jets, upgrades, missiles and patrol boats, the Pentagon said on Friday.
Additional inspectors sent to Florida's nuclear plants ahead of Irma: NRC
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said on Friday it has dispatched additional inspectors to the Turkey Point and St. Lucie nuclear plants in Florida in preparation for the effects of hurricane Irma on those sites.
U.N. beefs up guards as it scales up presence in Libya
ROME The United Nations is preparing to deploy 150-250 mostly Nepalese guards to Libya to protect its base in the capital as part of a plan to return its operations to the country, U.N. officials said on Friday.
U.N. rights chief says EU deal on Libya migrants falls short
GENEVA A European and African deal to stem the flow of migrants coming through Libya to Europe fails to tackle the abuses they face, the top U.N. human rights official wrote on Friday.
German lawmakers visit Turkish air base but dispute unresolved
BERLIN German politicians visited their country's troops at an air base in Turkey on Friday but some lawmakers said they would not extend the airmen's mission to take part in NATO air patrols unless an underlying dispute over visiting rights was resolved.
Syrian government denies U.N. chemical attack report
BEIRUT The Syrian government has denied a U.N. report accusing it of a sarin attack in April that killed scores of people, state media said on Friday.
Will Saudi Aramco deliver world record profit for next year's IPO?
LONDON When oil giant Saudi Aramco discloses its financials for the first time next year, it must either surprise investors with world record profits or reduce its aspirations for a $2 trillion valuation in its initial public offering (IPO). [IPO-ARMO.SE]
Turkish minister says EU turning negotiations into 'children's game'
TALLINN Turkey said on Friday the European Union was making a "child's game" out of its membership talks, wrangling over threats to end them, and reminded the bloc of its strategic importance abutting Middle Eastern conflict zones.