US Geological Survey: Magnitude 5.5 quake hits southern Iran near nuclear plant; felt in Bahrain, Persian Gulf

Iran's official news agency says a rescue helicopter has crashed in the Persian Gulf, killing two people on board

The chief negotiator for ethnically split Cyprus' Greek Cypriots says next week's meeting between the rival Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders aims to pave the way for a full resumption of moribund reunification talks

Cyprus will lodge protests over the risks posed by the construction of Turkey's first nuclear power plant a few dozen kilometers from the east Mediterranean island nation's northern coastline

The small island-nation of Bahrain has announced the discovery of 80 billion barrels of shale oil, its largest oil and gas find ever

Bahrain says its largest-ever discovery of oil amounts to 80 billion barrels

The leaders of Russia and Turkey are scheduled to launch the start of the construction of Turkey's first nuclear power plant as ties between the countries deepen

Ties between Russia and Turkey are growing closer than ever, as Russia runs into widespread diplomatic fallout from the poisoned spy scandal and Turkey's relations with its Western allies worsens over human rights issues and its military invasion of Syria

The Persian Gulf island nation of Bahrain says it has discovered its largest oil field since the country's first oil well began operation nearly 90 years ago

Iraq brings forward date for oil companies to bid on exploration, development of hydrocarbon-rich areas to April