DUBAI/JERUSALEM: Explosions echoed over an Iranian city on Friday in what sources described as an Israeli attack, but Tehran played down the incident and indicated it had no plans for retaliation — a response that appeared gauged toward averting region-wide war. The limited scale of the attack and Iran’s muted response both appeared to signal … Read more
LONDON: Israel has proposed to the UN the dismantlement of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and suggested transitioning its responsibilities and staff to a new entity in exchange for allowing more food aid deliveries into Gaza, The Guardian reported on Sunday. The proposal was presented by Israeli Chief of … Read more
CAIRO: A Marshall Islands-flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker reported two explosions near the ship as it traveled off the coast of Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah, the third merchant vessel attack of the past 48 hours, British security firm Ambrey said on Friday. The crew from the ship involved in the latest Red Sea … Read more
GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories: Efforts mounted on Thursday to get more aid into the war-devastated Gaza Strip, where the UN warns of famine and desperate residents have stormed relief convoys.After mediators failed to reach a truce between Israel and Hamas for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which started Monday, fighting continued with at least … Read more
GENEVA: Expanding Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories constitutes “a war crime” and risks eliminating “any practical possibility” of a viable Palestinian state, the United Nations rights chief warned on Friday. Volker Turk said there had been a drastic acceleration in Israel’s illegal settlement building in the occupied West Bank, at the same time … Read more
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: A rocket exploded late Tuesday night off the side of a ship traveling through the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen, authorities said, the latest suspected attack to be carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The attack comes as the Houthis continue a series of assaults at sea over Israel’s … Read more
Rifts emerge among top Israeli officials over how to handle the war against Hamas in Gaza JERUSALEM: A member of Israel’s War Cabinet cast doubt on the country’s strategy for releasing hostages held by Hamas, saying only a ceasefire can free them, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the United States’ calls to scale back … Read more
Riyadh: Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal have signed Brazilian international defender Renan Lodi from French club Olympique de Marseille for a reported 20 million euros ($21.7 million), the Riyadh giants announced on Wednesday. The 25-year-old left-back’s contract will see him committed to the club until the end of 2027. Al-Hilal chairman, Fahad bin Saad bin … Read more
Jordan’s Queen Rania meets youth and women’s groups driving local initiatives in Wadi Musa AMMAN: Jordan’s Queen Rania visited Ma’an, a town in Wadi Musa, on Tuesday where she met the founders and beneficiaries of programs that aim to encourage local economic empowerment, and some of the young people spearheading local initiatives. They included Yousef … Read more
DUBAI: British maritime security agency UKMTO reported explosions late Tuesday near a cargo ship in the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which separates the Arabian Peninsula from the Horn of Africa. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said it had received reports of up to three explosions 1-5 nautical miles from the merchant vessel, which was traveling … Read more