Saudi Arabia has been hit by unprecedented ice flash floods, as seasonal low pressure brings huge downpours to Iraq and Iran as well. The shocking video shows chunks of hail ice the size of large ball bearings for the first time ever in its history. Extreme weather conditions have been lashing the country since October 28, as the low pressure area concentrated over the northern part of the Persian... 

The Kogalymavia airliner did not send an SOS call before it suddenly “disappeared off the radar.” A Russian passenger airliner crashed early Saturday in the Sinai Peninsula en route from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg. A top Russian investigative committee has begun a criminal investigation into the crash. The Islamic State took responsibility for the downing. Russia,... 

The Russian embassy in Egypt said all passengers and crew members on board the Russian airliner which crashed Saturday in Sinai were dead. Egyptian military and security officials said none of the passengers and crew of the Russian Airbus A321 which crashed earlier on Saturday in the Sinai Peninsula were alive. This information was confirmed by the Russian embassy in Egypt. “Unfortunately, all... 

A new material absorbs up to 99 percent of light that hits its surface, making it the ‘blackest’ man-made material ever produced. Scientists from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia have developed a material comprising nanoparticles composed of a nano rod – which helps absorb light. Light is absorbed regardless of the angle or polarization at which it hits... 

Islamic State terrorists have gained access to the production of chemical weapons, the head of the department for non-proliferation and arms control of the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Ulyanov said, Pravda.Ru reports with reference to TASS. “By all accounts, the Islamic State group has gained access to technologies for the production of chemical weapons,” the official said. Ulyanov... 

Russian-led counterterrorism efforts are so successful that they are “unnerving” Washington, CCTV reported. As a result, last week US leadership decided to act so as to prevent Iraq from fostering ties with Moscow. The Chinese media outlet believes that the operation to free hostages in Northern Iraq followed this new logic. Last Thursday, US and Kurdish forces managed to free 70 people... 

Around 1,500 birds have died around Lake Urmia in northwestern Iran for unknown reasons, an official with Iran’s Department of Environment says. “The reason behind this accident is not clear yet and is under investigation,” said the director of wildlife protection organization of the province of West Azarbaijan on Tuesday. Omid Yousefi ruled out the possibility of a bird flu outbreak, and added... 

The consequences of potential US ground operations in Syria would be unpredictable, the head of Russia’s parliamentary committee on foreign affairs told RT. He added that claims Russian airstrikes have targeted civilians are part of ongoing information war. “If there …[is] any evidence …[it] should be presented and Russia is definitely open to making further investigations,” Chairman... 

A man is seen commuting across the flooded streets of Alexandria on October 25, 2015. Hani al-Messirial-Messiri, the governor of Alexandria, has resigned after floods killed at least 7 people in the Egyptian northern city. State television revealed Sunday that Prime Minister Sherif Ismail accepted the resignation of the governor of Alexandria. Hours before his resignation, Messiri called the situation... 

Several cartons of narcotics seized from a Saudi prince by Lebanese authorities in Beirut. Security forces in Lebanon interrogate a Saudi prince on charges of carrying drugs on his private plane, Lebanese media say. Abd al-Muhsen bin Walid bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud was detained on Monday at the Rafik Hariri International Airport in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, while in possession of 24 bags and eight... 

If Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia step into the Syrian conflict on the side of the Islamic State, this may trigger Third World War. Earlier, Qatari Foreign Affairs Minister, Khalid al-Attiyah, stated that his country could decide to start intervention in Syria. Qatar actively supports the militants opposing Syrian President Assad. It goes about such groups such Jabhat an Nusra, the Islamic State,... 

Saudi warplanes have continued their airstrikes against areas across Yemen, killing at least 115 people in the northwestern province of al-Hudaydah. According to reports, the people were killed on Friday after the Saudi fighter jets pounded a number of islands, including Uqban and Kamaran, in the Red Sea. The Saudi warplanes reportedly launched over 20 sorties on the islands. It was also said that... 

Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid al-Attiyah said on Wednesday his nation is considering direct military intervention in Syria to help jihadi mercenaries overthrow the government of Bashar al-Assad. “If a military intervention will protect the Syrian people from the brutality of the regime, we will do it,” Attiyah said. “If Qatar carries out its threat to militarily intervene in Syria, then we... 

UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson addresses the Security Council during a debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the violence in the occupied Palestinian territories, on October 22, 2015. The United Nations deputy chief has blamed the Israeli regime for the escalation of violence across the occupied Palestinian territories. UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson said on Thursday... 

Saudi Arabia may go bankrupt within the next five years if the government maintains its current spending habits, the International Monetary Fund said in a report Wednesday. Saudi authorities are already planning spending cuts as the world’s biggest oil exporter seeks to cut its budget deficit created by the drop in crude prices. Saudi officials have repeatedly said that the kingdom’s economy...