Latest Middle East News

Incoming Palestinian prime minister lays out plans for reform but faces major obstacles

Mar. 19, 2024 05:35 AM EDT

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — The incoming Palestinian prime minister said on Tuesday that he will appoint a technocratic government and establish an independent trust fund to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction. In a mission statement acquired by The Associated Press, Mohammad Mustafa...

The European Union announces an $8 billion aid package for Egypt as concerns mount over migration

Mar. 17, 2024 20:26 PM EDT

CAIRO (AP) — The European Union on Sunday announced a 7.4 billion-euro ($8 billion) aid package for cash-strapped Egypt as concerns mount that economic pressure and conflicts in neighboring countries could drive more migrants to European shores. The deal, which drew criticism from...

Schumer's rebuke of Netanyahu shows the long, fragile line the US and allies walk on interference

Mar. 16, 2024 11:09 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans and Israeli officials were quick to express outrage after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the war in Gaza and called for Israel to hold new elections. They accused the Democratic leader of...

European charity ship rescues 135 migrants but is assigned to distant port in Italy with 359 aboard

Mar. 15, 2024 11:21 AM EDT

ROME (AP) — The European charity ship Ocean Viking said Friday it rescued another 135 migrants, including a pregnant woman and eight children, from a double-decker boat in Maltese search-and-rescue waters. In total, the vessel operated by the humanitarian group SOS Mediterranee...

Middle East conflicts revive clash between the president and Congress over war powers

Mar. 14, 2024 16:34 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A major deadline under the half-century-old War Powers Resolution came this week for President Joe Biden to obtain Congress' approval to keep waging his military campaign against Yemen's Houthis, in line with its sole authority under the U.S. Constitution to declare war and...

Hur transcript reveals Biden presidency's profound and mundane moments

Mar. 13, 2024 00:08 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Robert Hur was thanking the president for his time. He understood, Hur said, that there were a lot of things going on that demanded Joe Biden’s attention. “We may be interrupted by one,” Biden said, explaining that he’d just gotten off the...

Ramadan kicks off in much of Asia, a day after most of the Middle East

Mar. 12, 2024 04:21 AM EDT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when the faithful fast from dawn to dusk, began at sunrise Tuesday in much of Asia, a day after many Muslims in the Middle East began their fasts. In the Muslim lunar calendar, months begin only when the new moon is...

Biden cajoles Netanyahu with tough talk, humanitarian concerns but Israeli PM remains dug in

Mar. 10, 2024 18:35 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has stepped up public pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, warning he's “hurting Israel” and speaking candidly about “come to Jesus” conversations with the leader over the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. ...

Biden in a hot mic moment shows his growing frustration with Netanyahu over Gaza humanitarian crisis

Mar. 08, 2024 18:47 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden 's growing frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to mount, with the Democrat captured on a hot mic saying that he and the Israeli leader will need to have a “come to Jesus meeting.” The comments by Biden came...

UNICEF: 230 million females are circumcised globally, 30 million more than in 2016

Mar. 08, 2024 06:52 AM EST

CAIRO (AP) — Over 230 million women and girls have undergone female genital mutilation, most of whom live in Africa, according to a report issued on Friday by the United Nations children's agency. In the last eight years, some 30 million people have undergone the procedure, in...