New Era: Iran, Saudi, China Now On The Same Side

Middle East oil-producing rivals, Saudi Arabia and Iran have ended their rift, and have agreed to restore ties and reopen embassies after China brokered a deal between both states. The giants have also agreed to reimplement the 1998 security pact where they agreed to cooperate on terrorism, drug-smuggling and money laundering, as well as reviving trade and technology. The rivalry between predominantly Shia Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia has dominated Middle East politics in recent years, spreading into Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. It further deepened in 2016 when Iranian protesters attacked the Saudi embassy in the Iranian capital following the execution of a Shi’ite cleric in Saudi Arabia.

Earthquake: Turkish Government Issues 113 Building Arrest Warrants

Turkish government has vowed on Sunday to investigate thoroughly all persons suspected of being part of the factors responsible for the collapse of buildings in the country's devastating earthquakes nearly one week ago and has already ordered the detention of 113 suspects. Vice President Fuat Oktay stated overnight that 131 suspects had so far been identified as responsible for the collapse of some of the thousands of buildings flattened in the 10 provinces affected by the powerful tremors early last Monday. He revealed that the justice ministry had established earthquake crimes investigation bureaus in the quake zone provinces to investigate deaths and injuries. Oktay while speaking to reporters in a briefing at the disaster management coordination centre in Ankara said, "Detention orders have been issued for 113 of them."

Hundreds Killed As Deadly Earthquake Hits Turkey, Syria

Hundreds of people died as they slept in Turkey and Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit in the early hours of Monday morning, in one of the most powerful quakes in the region in at least a century. Thousands more were injured even as the quake wiped out entire sections of major cities in a region packed with millions of people who have fled the civil war in Syria and other conflicts. The death toll had been put at 237 in government-controlled parts of Syria, 147 in rebel-held northern Syria and 284 in Turkey. The toll was expected to rise as rescue workers and residents searched frantically for survivors under the rubble of crushed buildings in cities on both sides of the border.

China's Parliament Endorse Xi Jinping Third Term Rule As President

China's parliament has backed the leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and head of the military, Xi Jinping a historic third term as president, making him the longest-serving head of state of Communist China since 1949. More than 2,000 members of China’s parliament, the National People’s Congress (NPC), voted unanimously in the Great Hall of the People to keep President, Xi Jinping for another five years, making a three-term tenure having assumed office a decade ago.

Turkey Earthquake: Former Chelsea Player Christian Atsu Found Alive

Ghana international winger Christian Atsu has been found alive but with injuries after being buried under rubble in the earthquake that hit Turkey, the vice president of his football club has told the media. Atsu, who plays for Hatayspor, was reported missing in Turkey’s Hatay province following the magnitude 7.8 quake and its aftershocks that brought down thousands of buildings, killing some 5,000 people, in several Turkish and Syrian cities on Monday.

Pakistani Taliban Claim Responsibility For Deadly Mosque Explosion That Killed 48 Worshippers

The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for a deadly blast in a mosque in Peshawar on Monday, the latest attack on the city northwest Pakistan. The powerful explosion killed at least 48 people and left about 157 injured. The blast, caused by a suicide bomber who blew himself inside the fully packed mosque devastated that high-security zone. Many of the worshippers included police, army and bomb disposal squad who were offering the Zuhr (afternoon) prayers. The impact of the explosion collapsed the roof and one wall of the mosque and injured many people, said Zafar Khan, a local police officer. Witnesses said the blast took place in the main hall just as afternoon prayers were about to begin and worshippers were packed tightly inside. According to officials, the bomber had been standing in the front row.