*News and analysis

For over a decade, Mecca – the holiest city in Islam – has been undergoing an unprecedented level of reconstruction to accommodate millions of pilgrims arriving year round. However, critics argue the massive expansion efforts have mercilessly destroyed invaluable historical and cultural sites, substituting them for crass commercialization and symbols …

Saudi Arabia has called on its citizens waging insurgency wars abroad to return back to the kingdom within 15 days or face imprisonment. The Friday ultimatum was an extension of a month-long deadline given to Saudis fighting outside the country to return home, the interior ministry said. Those failing to …

Cairo Misdemeanors Court has sentenced a Shia activist to five years in jail with hard labour for attempting to storm Al-Hussein Mosque and insulting the companions of Prophet Muhammad (saw). Shia activist Amr Abdullah was arrested in November 2013 during a fight with Salafists at Al-Hussein Mosque during the commemoration …

The United States has denied visa requests from hundreds of Israeli military and intelligence officials over the past year, a report in an Israeli newspaper says. According to the report published in the Hebrew-language daily Maariv, Washington is also giving short-term visas to Israeli army officials who are already in …

A passenger plane flying from Lebanon to Iraq on Thursday turned back after the Iraqi transport minister’s son missed the flight and phoned Baghdad to stop the aircraft from landing, Middle East Airlines (MEA) said. Marwan Salha, acting chairman of MEA, said the flight, scheduled to leave at 1240 (1040 GMT), had …

Washington have been in talks with the Israeli regime to stop killing Iranian nuclear scientists because it would have a bad influence on current nuclear talks between Tehran and world major powers. In a rare confession that Mossad agents were behind the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists, the report written …

In an interview with Mehr News Agency, Dr. Wilayati, advisor to Ayatollah Khamenei on International Affairs said “NATO as a military alliance is eager to expand its influence to the East through Ukraine.” Dr. Ali Akbar Wilayati, who is the head of the Centre for Strategic Research in Iran, emphasised …

Saudi Arabia is also the only country in the world that bans women from driving [Reuters] Saudi women activists have presented a memorandum to the Shoura Council seeking its support to curb the “absolute authority” of male guardians over women in the Kingdom, a signatory said. Activist Aziza Yousef told …

An unveiling of an honorary monument for the great Iraqi scholar and philosopher, Ayatollah Shaheed Muhammad Baqir Al-Sadr, took place at the Moscow State University of International Relations, on Friday 28th February 2014. The Iraqi Cultural Attache to Russia, Mr. Fouad Serei said in attendance were a number of distinguished …

FIFA, football’s world governing body, authorized Saturday the wearing of head covers for religious purposes during matches after a two-year testing period proved they do not pose a significant risk of injury. The decision by FIFA will allow female players to wear the veil during games and will be extended …