Middle East

Saudi Arabia outlaws membership in organizations suspecting of helping Hamas launder money, issues orders to confiscate money and assets of Hamas supporters and operatives.

At Abu Dhabi energy conference, Prince Abdulaziz says Saudi Arabia wants to pursue a "full cycle" nuclear program that would entail the kingdom processing and enriching its own uranium. US deputy energy secretary says he hopes Riyadh will agree to strict inspections and pledge never to pursue uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing.

The 30-year old woman identified only as Sahar, who was known as "Blue Girl" on social media for the colors of her favorite team, Esteghlal, dies at a Tehran hospital. She set herself on fire a week ago, reportedly after learning she may have to go to prison for trying to enter a stadium in February to watch her team play.

Even as Raqqa's people gradually rebuild, the graves found in houses, parks, and destroyed buildings are a grim reminder of the horrors perpetrated by the terrorists and the massive violence inflicted on the city to remove them.

Some of the attacks were deliberate, such as the Islamic State group using bulldozers to destroy the ancient Saint Elian Monastery in Homs province in 2015. The majority, however, were caused by front-line combat, shelling or rockets, says NGO the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

Fed up with the heavy-handed rule of Hamas, Tamer al-Sultan braved a treacherous journey in hopes of starting a new life in the West – only to die along the way. His death has drawn attention to the growing exodus of middle-class Gazans who can no longer bear to live in the isolated coastal territory.

Hezbollah confirms death of Ali Hatoum and says investigation into his death is underway, but it does not appear to be security-related.

UN nuclear watchdog says it will look into reports Tehran has begun injecting uranium gas into advanced centrifuges as Iran's atomic energy spokesman warns: "Europeans should know that there is not much time left" to save nuclear deal.

Iranian coast guard detains tugboat in Persian Gulf it says was carrying nearly 75,000 gallons of diesel. Iran, which has some of the world's cheapest fuel due to heavy state subsidies, has been fighting rampant fuel smuggling overland to neighboring countries and by sea to Gulf Arab states.