Explainer: Why cant Lebanon elect a president?

Iran executes 1st known prisoner held in protests

China's Xi Jinping on 'epoch-making' visit to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is China's top oil supplier and Xi's visit takes place while uncertainty hangs over energy markets after Western powers imposed a price cap on sales of oil from Russia, which has been increasing volumes to China with discounted oil.

Activists take Qatar workers protest to FIFA boss's home town

An activist group erected protest billboards in FIFA boss Gianni Infantino's Swiss home town of Brig on Wednesday to demand the world soccer body compensate migrant workers for alleged human rights abuses in Qatar, host of the football World Cup.

Sister of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blasts his 'despotic' rule

I oppose my brother's actions, Khamenei's sister Badri Hosseini Khamenei, who is believed to be in Iran, said in a letter published online by her France-based son Mahmoud Moradkhani.

Israel's Netanyahu needs one more party for coalition, may seek more time

Israeli prime inister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu was still one partner short of a coalition to secure a parliamentary majority on Wednesday after an ultra-Orthodox Jewish party signed up, with the deadline for forming a government looming. Netanyahu has said he will serve all Israelis but has not indicated any plan for reviving talks with Palestinians.

Seven killed in north Afghanistan as blast hits vehicle with oil workers

Iran sentences five to death over killing of Basij paramilitary