Gulf tourists say Polish mountain town is a cool place
Zakopane, Poland -- Saudi photographer Fahad Alayyash gazed over the Alpine-like panorama of the Tatras, Poland's highest mountain range --...Arts & Culture Business Geostrategy
Iran security chief meets officials in Iraq before Lebanon visit
Ali Larijani, the head of Iran's top security body, met with senior officials in Iraq on Monday, ahead of a...Geostrategy
Hamas attacked Israel to derail its warming ties with Saudis: Biden
Speaking at a campaign fundraiser, US president said the Saudis wanted to recognize Israel and unite the Middle east, and...After the attack, Saudi officials said the kingdom had suspended talks with Israel on normalization of relations
The kingdom's crown prince saw progress in talks with Israel but insisted on movement on the Palestinian cause
Hamas releases two US hostages with hope for more
Tel Aviv, Israel - Gaza's Hamas rulers released two Americans on Friday among some 200 hostages they abducted in brutal October...No details were given on their condition, but US President Joe Biden said he was "overjoyed" at the news
Hamas said it was working with Qatar and Egypt to free its "civilian" hostages, in a sign that more releases could follow
UN says aid to reach Gaza ‘in the next day or so’ via Rafah border
"We are in deep and advanced negotiations with all relevant sides to ensure that an aid operation in Gaza starts...Desperately needed international aid piled up Friday in Egypt near Gaza, with Palestinians in dire need of food and water after relentless bombing by Israel
The UN says more than one million of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been displaced and that the humanitarian situation is worsening by the day
Lebanon national carrier halves flights amid fears of Israel war
BEIRUT, LEBANON - Lebanon's national carrier on Friday said it was cutting more than half of its flights as tensions along...Only eight of the Middle East Airlines company’s 22 planes would operate as of next week, with the rest of the fleet relocated to other airports.
Other airlines, including Swiss International Air Lines and Germany's Lufthansa have already temporarily suspended Beirut flights,
Ground operation likely in Gaza Strip, says Israeli envoy to Russia
MOSCOW, RUSSIA - The probability that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will launch a ground operation against Palestinian group Hamas...Israel announced a total blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces have been bombarding the area.
Israel army orders evacuation of northern city after Lebanon clashes
KIRYAT SHMONA, ISRAEL - The Israeli military announced plans to evacuate the northern city of Kiryat Shmona on Friday, after days...Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah and allied Palestinian factions have traded cross-border fire with Israel for days.
Israeli authorities have been steadily evacuating communities near the Gaza border and along the country's northern frontier.
Israeli Arabs face arrests and sackings as Gaza war escalates
Abir Bakr, a lawyer for Palestinian singer Dalal Abu Amneh who was arrested briefly four days ago, told AFP her...Israeli Arabs -- many of whom identify as Palestinian citizens of Israel -- have expressed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid Israel's aerial bombing
Students and workers inside Israel have been subject to dismissals and legal prosecution, Israel's left-leaning Haaretz newspaper wrote
Rockets fired at US army in Iraq, no casualty reported
Baghdad, Iraq - US troops stationed at two bases in Iraq have been targeted with rocket attacks that caused no casualties,...An Iraqi security official had earlier told AFP that three Katyusha rockets struck near a base of the international coalition .
On Thursday evening, another rocket attack targeted the Ain al-Assad base in western Iraq, where US forces are also stationed.
GCC and ASEAN denounce Gaza attack, urge permanent ceasefire
The six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) also called for the release..."As we gather, we are saddened by the escalating violence that Gaza is witnessing today, the price of which is being paid by innocent civilians," said Mohammed bin Salman.
"The violence must stop, humanity must be the priority in this moment, and we must prevent things from getting worse," Indonesian President Joko Widodo said.
Biden requests $10bn package, including Ukraine and Israel funds
The package also includes $7 billion for countering China and strengthening allies in the Asia-Pacific region, and over $9 billion...In an impassioned Oval Office speech, Biden argued that the huge sums involved -- $61bn for Ukraine and $14bn for Israel -- would secure American interests for generations.
A growing number of Republicans -- and US voters in general -- oppose to adding to the $43.9 billion in security assistance that the United States has committed to Ukraine.
