A string of escalatory moves in the Gulf in recent days suggest the long-brewing cold war between Saudi Arabia and its regional arch-rival Iran could soon grow hot. It began with the surprise resignation of the Lebanese prime minister, Saad al-Hariri, announced on Saturday from Saudi Arabia. Riyadh is believed to have pressed him to step down in frustration that ...

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi stressed his country’s support to the Gulf states and rejects any threat to them. During a press meet with a number of Egyptian and foreign media on the sidelines of the World Youth Forum on Wednesday Sisi said that he rejects Iranian interference in the affairs of the region. The Egyptian President said that the ...

Trump leaves on Friday for Hawaii, the first stop en route to Asia where he will visit Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. It will be the longest Asia tour by an American president in more than 25 years. His goal will be to increase international support for an effort to deprive North Korea of resources as leverage ...

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Iraq is, once again, deeply embroiled in crisis. For three years, the central government in Baghdad and the Kurdish region fought together to oust the Islamic State. Now, following the Sept. 25 referendum on independence for the region, they are pointing their guns at each other. The dynamics in Iraq are far from simple, with intra-Kurdish rivalries; ...

Swimming star Ian Thorpe was never an advocate for Australia’s postal survey on same-sex marriage, which is due to wrap up on Tuesday. “It is really just a stalling tactic,” says the 35-year-old marriage equality campaigner and five-time Olympic gold medallist. “But I tell people the only thing worse than a postal plebiscite is not winning it.” Mr Thorpe, who ...

IT WAS as if the militants knew they were coming. When the Egyptian police drove into the desert 135km (84 miles) south-west of Cairo on October 20th, toward a suspected terrorist hideout, their convoy was met with a barrage of gunfire and rockets. In the ensuing firefight some officers ran out of ammunition, and were captured and killed. Others fled ...

Following the Lebanon Cedars historic win over France in Canberra, the Cedars return to Sydney to play England in their second match of the Rugby League World Cup 2017. The Cedars beat France 29-18 to record their first ever World Cup victory and now prepare for to play England on Saturday 4th November at Sydney Stadium (Allianz Stadium) in Moore ...

Senior Indigenous and legal voices have criticised Malcolm Turnbull for reportedly rejecting the Uluru statement in favour of a symbolic model of constitutional recognition, calling it “a despicable act of mean-spirited bastardry”. News Corp has reported that Turnbull voted against a submission in favour of the Uluru statement recommendations, which include embedding an Indigenous voice to parliament in the constitution, at a cabinet meeting ...

Australia should consider deploying police to help protect refugees and asylum seekers it has detained in Papua New Guinea, Human Rights Watch says. Australia holds refugees and asylum seekers arriving by boat on PNG’s Manus Island and the Pacific nation of Nauru. The Manus centre is due to close next week. Australia has set up alternative accommodation in a nearby ...

A series of deadly terrorist attacks in Egypt’s North Sinai province have citizens fearing even worse violence is to come. The most recent attack came Oct. 16 in the province’s capital, el-Arish, when the Islamic State-affiliated Wilayat Sinai robbed a bank, leaving eight dead and taking $1 million (17 million Egyptian pounds). Among the dead were three policemen and five ...