The French Health Ministry has reported that a 65-year-old man has died from the novel coronavirus now called Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.
The death is the 23rd out of 44 confirmed cases in the world. The latest victim had traveled to Dubai where doctors believe he contracted the virus. Continue reading
Iranian media was bragging about their nation’s fielding of a “massive” number of new long-range missile launchers. The weapons systems would be able to reach inside Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East. Continue reading
The Novel Coronavirus has killed a Tunisian man in the first reported case of the virus in Africa.
The 66-year-old victim had visited Saudi Arabia where the virus is known to be active. He had been complaining of breathing problems since his return from his travels and died in a hospital. Continue reading
According to the U.S. State Department, anti-Semitism is on the rise around the world.
The annual report showed a rise in anti-Semitism in the Middle East and parts of South America. Continue reading
In light of reports that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons on civilians and that military troops are carrying out summary executions of suspected rebels without trial, the U.S. is considering supplying arms to the Syrian rebels.
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters that for the first time the U.S. is no longer ruling out the possibility of arming the rebels. Last year, President Obama had rejected a similar proposal from then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
“Arming the rebels, that’s an option,” Hagel said during a press conference. “You look at and rethink all options. It doesn’t mean you do or you will. These are options that must be considered with the international community.”
A European Union ban on arming the rebels expires in a few weeks and Hagel’s British counterpart, Philip Hammond, said Britain would be looking at their options after the ban’s expiration.
Sources within the defense department told a BBC reporter that because the U.S. does not want to directly get involved militarily in Syria, arming the rebels is now considered the “least worst option.”
Both Hagel and Hammond stated that despite multiple reports and photographic proof of the Syrian government using chemical weapons, there is still not enough hard evidence to act. Hammond said that because much of the public clearly remembers the weapons of mass destruction claims in 2003 which led to the Iraq invasion, any evidence of chemical weapons would have to come from “very clear, very high quality evidence.”
More than 70,000 have died in the Syrian civil war.
Authorities in England, France and Belgium have broken up a major human trafficking ring that preyed on immigrants from the Middle East and Afghanistan.
The UK Border Agency raided 35 locations yesterday while France and Belgium carried out 40 raids. The raids were spread out over the entire countries instead of focusing on only one major city. Continue reading
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki is warning that unless actions are taken to handle shortages, a war over water is likely in the Middle East.
Speaking at a conference in Baghdad, Maliki said that countries will need to work together to avoid conflicts in the regions due to decreasing water supplies and increased demand. Continue reading