Israel has criticised Iran following a deadly attack on a tanker ship in the north of the Indian Ocean. As dpa reminds, two crew members on the ship with Israeli links died in the attack as the vessel travelled off the coast of Oman. 

Israel’s PM Naftali Bennett on Thursday announced that the country would offer a coronavirus booster to people over 60 who have already been vaccinated, news wires reported. The decision makes Israel, which launched one of the world’s most successful vaccination drives earlier this year, the first country to offer a third dose of a Western vaccine to its citizens on a wide scale. The move comes at a time of rising infections and signs that the vaccine’s efficacy dwindles over time.

The leader of Tunisia’s Islamist party and speaker of parliament that his party is working to form a “national front” to counter President Kais Saied’s decision to suspend the legislature, fire top government officials and take control of the fragile democracy amid the country’s multi-layered crisis.

Leading Lebanese businessman Najib Mikati secured enough votes in parliamentary consultations on Monday to be designated the next prime minister, raising hopes for an urgently needed viable government to tackle a crippling financial crisis, news wires reported. Mikati said he would work to form a government and implement a French plan to save the country from its crippling financial crisis.

Tunisia's President Kais Saied dismissed the government and suspended parliament on Sunday, following violent nationwide protests over the country’s economic troubles and virus crisis, news wires reported. Saied said he would assume executive authority with the assistance of a new prime minister, in the biggest challenge yet to a 2014 democratic constitution that split powers between president, prime minister and parliament.

Thousands of people defied virus restrictions and scorching heat to demonstrate Sunday in the capital, Tunis, and other cities. The largely young crowds shouted “Get out!” and slogans calling for the dissolution of parliament and early elections. Clashes erupted in many places.

Iraq’s prime minister says his country no longer requires American combat troops to fight the Islamic State group, but a formal time frame for their redeployment will depend on the outcome of talks with US officials this week.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday was sworn in for a fourth seven-year term, after a controversial May election dismissed by Europe and the US as "neither free nor fair", news wires reported. In May he won 95.1% of valid votes that were cast in the election held in government-controlled areas, according to official figures. Assad's father Hafez al-Assad led Syria for some 30 years.

Tension intensified in Lebanon on Friday, with riots leaving more than two dozen people injured in the northern city of Tripoli, including five soldiers who were attacked with a hand grenade, news wires reported. Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri stepped down on Thursday over disagreements with the president on the shape of the Cabinet. Hariri did not endorse anyone else to take the post. Hundreds of his supporters rioted in the streets, blocked major roads and hurled stones.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri stepped down on Thursday over what he called “key differences” with the president, deepening a political crisis that has left the Lebanese without a government for nine month amid an unprecedented economic meltdown, news wires reported.

The United Arab Emirates opened an embassy in Israel Wednesday, housed in Tel Aviv's new stock exchange building, in the latest normalisation move under a deal brokered by Washington last year, AFP reported. The venue in the heart of Israel's financial district highlighted the central role economic cooperation has played since the UAE became only the third majority-Arab country to recognise the Jewish state.