Nablus, Palestinian Territories -- Israeli settlers on Sunday attacked a group of foreign volunteers helping Palestinian farmers in the occupied West Bank, injuring some who needed hospital treatment, the activists and Israeli army said. Eight mainly American volunteers were working with the farmers in an olive grove near the Palestinian village...

Baghdad, Iraq -- Iraq said Sunday a new power line will bring electricity from Turkey to its northern provinces as authorities aim to diversify the country's energy sources to ease chronic power outages. The 115-kilometre (71-mile) line connects to the Kisik power station west of Mosul and will provide 300 megawatts...

Manavgat, Turkey - The baby loggerhead sea turtles emerged from their eggshells and began their first challenge in life: a wobbly dash across the sand to the moonlit waters of Turkey's Mediterranean coast -- sometimes with a helping hand from volunteers. It is a perilous journey into the unknown for the...

Jerusalem: The Palestinian leadership hailed as "historic" Friday a ruling by the top UN court that Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories is illegal, but the opinion drew condemnation from Israel. The office of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said it welcomed the "historic decision and demands that Israel be compelled...

Taif, Saudi Arabia - Taif and its serene towering mountains, nestled deep within the majestic Sarawat Mountains, serve as a bridge connecting tourism and recreation. During summer, they form a distinct boundary between the Tihamah and Sarawat regions, a simple equation evident in meteorological data and rainfall patterns. This region...

Brussels, Belgium -- The European Union on Monday announced sanctions on five Israelis -- including those termed "extremist settlers" -- and three organizations for abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank and blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza. The asset freezes and visa bans are the second round of sanctions from the...

Dubai, UAE -- A new #DubaiDestinations guide titled ‘Dubai’s Summer Activities’ invites residents and visitors to delve into an array of exciting indoor and outdoor activities available throughout Dubai during the summer.Developed by Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office, the interactive guide forms part...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Haichang Ocean Park Holdings, China's largest ocean theme park operator, announced plans on Thursday to build Saudi Arabia's first large ocean park, China News Service reported. The development is poised to invigorate the country's tourism sector as it strives to rank among the world's top 10...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The number of air passengers in Saudi Arabia increased by 17 percent during the past six months to 62 million, compared to 53 million during the same period last year, the Kingdom's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said. The number of flights also reached approximately...

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Representing the aerospace, aviation, space, and defense sectors, the premier thought leadership forum will aim to accelerate investments to drive greater sustainability, youth engagement and innovation for the industry.The Summit is a CEO-led, critical meeting of the world's aerospace supply chain that brings together sector and...

Sharjah, UAE -- Sharjah's renowned landmark and award-winning family-friendly destination, Al Noor Island, has secured its place among the top 10 attractions in the Middle East by winning the prestigious 'Best of the Best' title for 2024 on the leading travel-review platform TripAdvisor. Developed and managed by the Sharjah Investment...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Aramco netted $12.35 billion, $1 billion more than expected, from a secondary share sale after exercising an over-allotment option, the deal's stabilizing manager said on Wednesday. An additional 154.5 million shares were issued in response to demand from investors, Merrill Lynch Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said, taking...

Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- Energy majors TotalEnergies, Shell and BP will each take a 10 percent stake in a liquefied natural gas project in the United Arab Emirates, state energy giant ADNOC said Wednesday. Japanese trading company Mitsui & Co. will also acquire 10 percent of the Ruwais LNG plant,...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia has maintained its first rank across MENA in terms of the amount of Venture Capital (VC) funding in the first half of 2024, which witnessed a total VC deployment of $412 million (SAR 1.5 billion), the Saudi Venture Capital Company (SVC) said Tuesday. The...

Rotterdam, Netherlands -- The first methanol-powered ship to ply routes between Europe's busy ports was unveiled Tuesday in Rotterdam, with shipping owners hoping to spur efforts to bring down the industry's huge carbon footprint. The Eco-Maestro, a 13,675-tonne container carrier will head off to Antwerp in the next few days, before...

Jerusalem, Undefined - Qatari and Egyptian mediators are cajoling Israel and Hamas towards negotiations on a plan to end their war, which has left tens of thousands dead. US President Joe Biden first outlined in late May what he called an Israeli initiative for a truce and hostage release deal. Mediators are...

Istanbul, Turkey -- China's electric vehicle giant BYD on Monday signed a one-billion-dollar agreement with Turkey to open a plant in the country in a move that would help it dodge new EU tariffs. The signing ceremony in Istanbul between BYD's CEO Wang Chuanfu and Turkey's industry and technology minister Fatih...

New York, United States -- Chip-making juggernaut Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. briefly surpassed $1 trillion in market capitalization on Monday as the AI frenzy continues to power tech stocks. TSMC controls more than half the world's output of chips and supplies them for everything from Apple's iPhones to Nvidia's cutting-edge artificial...

Jerusalem, Undefined - Israel said Friday that "gaps" remained with Hamas on how to secure a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release but that it will send a delegation for fresh talks with Qatari mediators next week. The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman came after a delegation led by the...

Paris, France -- When Google announced this week that its climate emissions had risen by 48 percent since 2019, it pointed the finger at artificial intelligence. US tech firms are building vast networks of data centres across the globe and say AI is fuelling the growth, throwing the spotlight on the...

Brussels, Belgium -- The European Union on Thursday slapped extra provisional duties of up to 38 percent on Chinese electric car imports because of "unfair" state subsidies, despite Beijing's warnings the move would unleash a trade war. A European Commission probe launched last year concluded that state subsidies for Chinese EV...

United Nations, United States --The UN humanitarian coordinator for Gaza said Tuesday that 1.9 million people -- 80 percent of the territory's population -- were now displaced, adding she was "deeply concerned" by reports of new evacuation orders for Khan Yunis. The United Nations has estimated that up to 250,000 people...

Beitunia, Palestinian Territories - Every morning Palestinian boxer Waseem Abu Sal checks texts from his Cairo-based coach -- a Gazan who cannot travel to him in the occupied West Bank -- to see his daily Olympics training schedule as he prepares to make history. The 20-year-old will be the first Palestinian...

Dubai, UAE -- The Mastercard Economics Institute has revealed in its latest Travel Trends 2024 report a major shift in the travel industry this year, characterized by a significant increase in travel spending and strong growth in traveler traffic. This latest global report provides comprehensive insights into the evolving landscape of the...

Washington, United States - The US Justice Department is offering Boeing a plea deal that will allow it to avoid a trial related to two deadly 737 MAX crashes, a lawyer for the victims' families said Sunday, expressing outrage. Details of the deal, which requires Boeing to pay a fine and...

Cairo, Egypt -- At least once a day, the hum of every fan, air conditioner and fridge across Egypt goes quiet. The lights go out and an expletive is muttered or hurled into the quickly-heating air. Lifts stop, errands are cancelled and meetings delayed for as long as the power stays...

Jerusalem, Undefined -- Israel's national carrier El Al said Sunday its Warsaw to Tel Aviv flight was not allowed to refuel at Antalya airport after making an emergency landing to evacuate a passenger for medical reasons. Turkish workers at Antalya airport refused to refuel flight LY5102 before it could take off...

Beijing, China - Factory activity in China shrank for a second straight month in June, data showed Sunday, underscoring the country's shaky economic recovery ahead of a key political gathering expected to focus on deepening reform. The manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) -- a key measure of factory output -- registered...

Palestinian Territories -- Explosions, air strikes and gunfire rattled northern Gaza on Saturday, the third day of an Israeli military operation that has uprooted tens of thousands of Palestinians and compounded what the UN called "unbearable" living conditions in the territory. An AFP correspondent reported ongoing explosions from the Shujaiya...

Tehran, Iran - Iranians voted in a presidential election on Friday marked by a lone reformist's bid to break through against a divided conservative field. Voting was extended three times and eventually ended at midnight (2030 GMT), with around 61 million Iranians eligible to cast ballots after the death of ultraconservative...

SOFIA, Bulgaria -- The United States announced Wednesday a reward of up to $5 million for information that could lead to the arrest of fugitive Bulgarian-born "cryptoqueen" Ruja Ignatova. The US ambassador to Bulgaria, Kenneth Merten, said Ignatova is wanted in the United States and Germany "for her participation in one...

Jerusalem, Undefined - Israel's top court ruled unanimously on Tuesday that the state must draft ultra-Orthodox Jewish men into military service, potentially destabilizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition. The High Court of Justice's decision on the politically charged issue comes as calls grow for ultra-Orthodox men, historically exempt from mandatory...

Dubai, UAE - An article in The Telegraph alleging that Hizbollah is stockpiling Iranian weapons at Beirut International Airport (BIA) has ignited controversy and backlash in Lebanon, with officials and the public denouncing the claims as unfounded and dangerous. The unsigned report, which relied on anonymous sources, has been criticized...

Dubai, UAE -- Dubai on Monday announced an $8 billion plan for a stormwater runoff system, two months after an unprecedented deluge and widespread flooding brought the desert state to a standstill. The rainwater drainage network announced by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum on social media platform X is set...

Toronto, Canada -- For a few days, AI chip juggernaut Nvidia sat on the throne as the world's biggest company, but behind the its staggering success are questions on whether new entrants can stake a claim to the artificial intelligence bonanza. Nvidia, which makes the processors that are the only option...

Jenin, Palestinian Territories -- Israeli troops tied a wounded Palestinian to a military vehicle during a raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, the army said Sunday, admitting that soldiers had violated operational procedures. Footage of the incident, which occurred on Saturday, has gone viral and shows a man...

Cairo, Egypt - Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly ordered 16 tourism companies stripped of their licences and referred their managers to the public prosecutor Saturday over illegal pilgrimages to Mecca, the cabinet said. The order came after countries whose citizens performed this year's hajj reported more than 1,100 deaths, many attributed...

Geneva, Switzerland -A Swiss court handed jail sentences to four members of Britain's richest family on Friday, branding them "selfish" for exploiting Indian staff at their Geneva mansion. The Hindujas were acquitted of human trafficking, but convicted on other charges in a stunning verdict for the family, whose fortune is estimated...

Palestinian Territories -- Israel bombed Gaza on Friday as exchanges of fire and threats over the Lebanon border raised fears of a wider war. Five municipal workers died "during an Israeli bombing" of a garage in Gaza City, said Mahmud Basal, spokesman for the civil defense agency in the territory. In...

Geneva, Switzerland -- Global foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 2 percent to $1.3 trillion in 2023 amid an economic slowdown and rising geopolitical tensions, according to the latest World Investment Report released by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). But the report highlights that the decline exceeds 10 percent when...

Abha, Saudi Arabia - Saudi taekwondo standout Donia Abu Taleb had an unusual introduction to the sport: for years she trained at a boys' club because there were no girls to compete with. Now the 27-year-old has become the first Saudi woman to qualify for the Olympics and is dreaming of...

Palestinian Territories - The Israeli army on Tuesday said plans for an offensive in Lebanon were "approved and validated" amid escalating cross-border clashes with Hizbollah and a relative lull in Gaza fighting. The war in Gaza has heightened tensions across the region, with Israeli forces and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hizbollah, a...

Tunis, Tunisia - In the old medina of Tunis, a wall installation titled "1001 Bricks" showcases the talents of "invisible" creators, including art students, people with disabilities and school dropouts. Led by Swiss artist Anne Francey, the project took shape over a year through workshops that culminated in a large bas-relief...

New York, United States - Boeing said Thursday it is examining fasteners on some undelivered 787 jets after discovering problems with their installation in the latest manufacturing shortcoming to face the company. The aviation giant, which faces intensified scrutiny from regulators following recent incidents and manufacturing difficulties, said planes already in...

Beirut, Lebanon -- Hezbollah said it fired a new wave of rockets and drones at the Israeli army on Thursday, after an Israeli strike killed one of its senior commanders. It was Hezbollah's largest simultaneous attack in near-daily cross-border fire between it and the Israeli army since its ally Hamas's October...

Doha, Qatar - Top US diplomat Antony Blinken said Wednesday that a truce and hostage release deal to end the Gaza war was still possible, wrapping up a Middle East tour as deadly fighting rocked the Palestinian territory. Lebanon's Iran-backed group Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, rained rockets on northern Israel, a...

Paris, France -- The world is likely to have a "major surplus" of oil by 2030 as production is ramped up while the clean energy transition tempers demand, the International Energy Agency said in an annual report published Wednesday. Global demand is expected to "level off" at 106 million barrels per...

Istanbul, Turkey - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the opposition CHP party headquarters on Tuesday, the first time in 18 years, after his party's dramatic defeat in the March local elections. Erdogan last visited the party in 2006 when he was prime minister. The one-and-a-half-hour meeting between Erdogan and CHP...

New York, United States - Intel is halting the expansion of a major factory project in Israel, which was going to pump an extra $15 billion towards a chip plant. The chip giant in December said it was going to expand an ongoing $10 billion plan at the Kiryat Gat site,...

Washington, United States -- Virgin Galactic on Saturday successfully completed its last spaceflight before heading into a two-year pause on commercial operations to upgrade its fleet, as the space tourism company seeks to finally turn a profit. "Galactic07 is back on terra firma, now as astronauts!" the company said on X...