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☆ Why Middle East travel is growing faster ‘than any other region’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Rym Bendimerad | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Last week, travel and tourism industry representatives from more than 150 countries gathered at the annual Arabian Travel Market trade show, held this year in Dubai. There, CNN’s Eleni Giokos spoke with Julia Simpson, president of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), about trends in tourism in the Middle East, and the challenge of making travel more sustainable. We are here in the Middle East — this is the first time I’ve been to the Arabian Travel Market — but what’s interesting is everyone’s telling me they have never, ever seen it this busy. Simpson: Well, the GCC and Middle East is growing faster than any other region. Visitors and delegates at the Arabian Travel Market.

Persons: CNN’s Eleni Giokos, Julia Simpson, I’ve, Simpson, Saud, you’ve, We’ve, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Travel, Tourism Council, Arabian, GCC, Gulf Cooperation, United, Visitors, Oxford Economics Locations: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al, Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, Saudi, Arabia, —, Saudi Arabia, Oman, East, UAE, Gaza, Egypt

But the cameras stopped rolling when Walid al-Omari, the network’s bureau chief in Ramallah, in the West Bank, ordered all of them to go home. Israeli authorities descended on a room used by Al Jazeera in the Ambassador Hotel in East Jerusalem, confiscating broadcast equipment. Al Jazeera, the influential Arab news network, says it will continue reporting and broadcasting from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The shutdown order, which lasts 45 days and can be renewed, was a break long in the making. Mr. al-Omari said that soon after the Israel-Hamas war began in October, the network stopped using an office in West Jerusalem, saying that far-right Israelis had used intimidation tactics against the staff there.

Persons: Al, Walid al, Al Jazeera, Omari Organizations: West Bank, Al, Gaza, Hamas Locations: Israel, Al Jazeera, West Jerusalem, East Jerusalem, Lebanon, Tel Aviv, Ramallah

☆ Opinion: Unable to ‘win’ in Gaza, Israel sets its sights elsewhere
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Opinion Hussein Ibish | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —An eerie relative calm has descended on the Middle East — Gaza obviously excluded — since a highly alarming exchange of missile, rocket and drone attacks by Israel and Iran in recent weeks. Now, the recent exchange of direct military attacks with Iran might have sealed Lebanon’s fate, unless team Biden can restrain Israel. On April 1, Israel struck an Iranian diplomatic facility in Damascus, killing a number of senior Iranian officials including Brig. As Israel’s forces moved south through Gaza, obliterating Hamas brigades with relative ease, its thinking relatively quickly turned north again. If this happens, a primary US goal regarding the Gaza war — conflict containment — would be shattered not by Washington’s adversaries, but ironically by its closest regional partner.

Persons: Hussein Ibish, Read, Biden, Israel, Mohammad Reza Zahedi, Haji Rahimi, Hossein Amirollah, Louai Beshara, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Charbel Mallo, Israel —, Joe Biden Organizations: Gulf States Institute, Israel, CNN, Biden, Hezbollah, Brig, Iran’s, Quds Force, Getty, Iranian, Israeli Locations: Washington, East, Gaza, Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Iranian, Damascus, Brig, Syria, AFP, Tehran, United States, Kafr Kila, Lebanese

☆ Meet the Dubai artist whose work has sold for millions — and turns down 99% of prospective buyers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Lucy Handley | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

watch nowContemporary artist Sacha Jafri prides himself on his unique way of working. The artist Sacha Jafri at his studio in Dubai, U.A.E. He said he goes into a meditative state when creating his work. So, I'm in a meditative state, I'm in a complete trance, I have no clue what I'm doing. Artist Sacha Jafri painting on the helipad at the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel in Dubai.

Persons: Sacha Jafri, Jafri, I've, Andre Abdoune, Emad Salehi Organizations: Oxford, Ruskin School of Art, CNBC, Burj, Burj Al Arab Jumeirah Locations: Dubai, London, U.S, British, U.A.E, Burj Al Arab

☆ Mohammad Faris: ‘Armstrong of the Arab World’ and Syria’s first astronaut dies in exile
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Eyad Kourdi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

In 1987, Faris, a pilot in the Syrian Air Force, spent eight days in space with the Soviet Union’s Interkosmos spaceflight program. Faris flew with a Soviet crew to Mir space station becoming the first and only Syrian astronaut and second Arab to make it to space. Upon his return to Syria, Faris was celebrated as a national hero by tens of thousands of Syrians. Faris decided in 2012 to defect and publicly oppose the Syrian regime, putting his family and himself in life-threatening danger. In 2020, Faris was granted Turkish citizenship, as reported by the Turkish state broadcaster TRT.

Persons: CNN — Mohammad Faris, Armstrong, Faris, Hafez al, Assad, Bashar, “, Jazeera, Assad, Faris –, Hafez al - Assad, Prince Sultan bin Salman, Allah, “ let’s, ” Faris, Bashar al, Al Jazeera, Moscow propping Organizations: CNN, Syrian Air Force, Saudi, Free Syrian Army, Turkish, TRT, Star City, AP Locations: Turkish, Gaziantep, Soviet, Syria, ”, Aleppo, Turkey, Istanbul, Russia, Moscow, Soviet Union

☆ Why Qatar is unlikely to withdraw from the Gaza hostage-ceasefire talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Qatar hosts Hamas’ political office, but it is also home to a 10,000-troop US military base. Experts say it is unlikely Qatar will end its mediation role. Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani gives a press conference with his Turkish counterpart in Doha on Wednesday. And on Monday, Democratic US Congressman Steny Hoyer accused Qatar of “blocking” progress in the talks. The Gulf state was also a Major Non-NATO Ally, as well as key energy supplier to Western states.

Persons: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, ” Al Thani, “, ”, Anna Jacobs, “ They’ve, ” Jacobs, Daniel Shek, ” Shek, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Karim Jaafar, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Majid Al Ansari, Netanyahu, James Comer, General Merrick Garland, Steny Hoyer, Jacobs, Joe Biden, NATO Ally Organizations: UAE CNN, Foreign, United States Congress, US, Qatar, Group, CNN, ”, Qatar's, Turkish, Wednesday, Qatari, Hamas, Washington DC, Democratic, Al Udeid, Al Udeid Air Base, NATO Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, Israel, Qatar, Doha, United States, Washington, Egypt, Gaza, Gulf, Brussels, Israeli, ” Qatar, Thani, AFP, Qatari, Al Udeid Air

☆ Heavy rains cause rare flooding in Dubai
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Denise Chow | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Vehicles hardly move on flooded streets due to heavy rain in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on April 16, 2024. Flooding ensued as a result of the downpour, leading to several vehicles being submerged on the streets and avenues. Heavy rains battered parts of the Middle East on Tuesday, closing schools in the United Arab Emirates and flooding the tarmac at Dubai International Airport. Flights into the Dubai airport were temporarily diverted as a result of the "continued exceptional weather event currently being experienced in the UAE," airport officials said Tuesday in a statement. More than 4.7 inches of rain fell in a day in the UAE, flooding streets across Dubai and sending water spilling into homes and businesses, The Associated Press reported.

Organizations: United Arab Emirates, United Arab, Dubai International, Saudi, Associated Press Locations: Dubai, United Arab, United Arab Emirates, Oman, UAE, Saudi Arabia's, Arabiya

Minnesota, which had the most organized effort outside of Michigan, saw 1 in 5 Democratic voters mark the “uncommitted” option, a higher percentage than the 13% who voted uncommitted in Michigan. Supporters of the protest argue anger over the war could endanger Biden’s chances in swing states like Michigan against former President Donald Trump in their likely rematch. As Biden’s supporters are quick to point out, the “uncommitted” vote isn't a historical anomaly. Biden has won every state's primary contest so far and is on track to clinch the nomination this month. Minnesota voter Sarah Alfaham voted in the state's Democratic primary — as she has for many years — but opted to mark “uncommitted” on her ballot.

Persons: Joe Biden's, “, Donald Trump, Biden’s, Trump, Biden, Waleed Shahid, Lauren Hitt, ”, He’s, Hitt, Barack Obama’s, Ro Khanna, Shahid, Khanna, uncommitted, Sarah Alfaham, “ Joe Biden, Alfaham, Marcus Casillas, “ uncommitted, they've, they’ve, Asma Nizami, Minnesota's, Jesse Bedayn, Mark Vancleave Organizations: Biden, Democratic, Tuesday, Michigan, United Food, Commercial Workers, Washington, State, Associated Press Locations: LANSING, Mich, Israel, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin's, Gaza, California, U.S, Colorado's, Washington, Littleton , Colorado, Bloomington , Minnesota

☆ A 'male' humanoid robot was unveiled in Saudi Arabia. It then inappropriately touched a female reporter.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A 'male' humanoid robot appeared to inappropriately touch a female reporter during a presentation. Named 'Muhammad,' it is Saudi Arabia's first humanoid male robot. AdvertisementA Saudi robotics company's unveiling of a "male" humanoid robot didn't go as planned after it appeared to inappropriately touch a female reporter. Saudi robotics company QSS debuted "Muhammad the Humanoid Robot" at DeepFest in Riyadh last week. Saudi Arabia unveils its man shaped AI robot Mohammad, reacts to reporter in its first appearance pic.twitter.com/1ktlUlGBs1 — Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) March 6, 2024On X, social media users accused the robot of inappropriately touching the female reporter.

Persons: Muhammad, —, QSS, Al Arabiya, Rawya Kassem, Mohammad, ake, orth Organizations: Service, Saudi Locations: Saudi, DeepFest, Riyadh, Muhammad, Saudi Arabia, uman

☆ Dubai’s bar scene is being redefined by artisanal champagnes
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Rebecca Cairns | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

While the city has over 13,000 restaurants, its bar scene has largely been confined to Michelin fine dining, nightclubs, and boozy brunches. Look through the gallery and see the region's other top restaurants, as selected by 50 Best list group. The 50 Best has unveiled its 2024 list of the best restaurants in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Al Muntaha, which was recognized by Star Wine List as having the best sparkling wine list in the UAE earlier this year, has 166 labels on its champagne list, including around 60 recently added grower champagnes, says Lacroix. Tina HillierAnd the culture around drinking is largely focused on dining or special occasions, with little in between, says Krister Bengtsson, founder of Star Wine List.

Persons: Lana —, Nicolas Caupain, ”, boozy, Caupain, Raz Rahav, Tala Bashmi, Em Sherif, Yasmina Hayek, Fawzi Al Mulki, 3Fils, Khufu's, Solemann Haddad, Moonrise, Gregoire Berger, Berger, Himanshu Saini, Pol Roger, Queen Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill, champagnes, Larmandier Bernier, Ulysse Collin, Samuel Lacroix, Al Muntaha, Lacroix, “, Josette, Veuve Clicquot, Dom Pérignon, Millau, Lana, Tina Hillier, Krister Bengtsson, it’s, Bengtsson, ” Bengtsson, Jean Imbert, — Organizations: CNN, High Society, United Arab, Michelin, Middle, Gulf, Jordanian, Trèsind, Burj, Star Wine, Arabian, BOCA, Michelin Star, Wine, UAE Locations: Dorchester, Dubai, Emirate, Islam, United Arab Emirates, UAE, East, North Africa, Tel Aviv, Tala, Manama's, Bahrain, Beirut, Giza, Cairo, Ossiano, Atlantis, BOBY, Africa, Emirates, Swedish, Dubai’s, Paris, London , New York, French

WASHINGTON (AP) — Israeli forces detained two young adult American brothers and their Canadian father in in Gaza in an overnight raid on their home in the besieged Palestinian territory, relatives of the men said. The two American brothers, their Canadian citizen father, a mentally disabled uncle and two other adult male relatives were taken away by the Israelis, and remain missing, Elagha said. State Department spokespeople in Washington had no immediate comment on the reported detention of the American brothers. The Alagha brothers' family says they are among those who have been unable to get their names on the exit lists. In the occupied West Bank, meanwhile, a 46-year-old Palestinian American woman, Samaher Esmail, was taken from her home on Monday and detained.

Persons: Borak Alagha, Hashem Alagha, Cousin Yasmeen Elagha, Khan Younis, Elagha, Antony Blinken, Israel, Samaher Esmail Organizations: WASHINGTON, Embassy, Northwestern University, Department, Hamas, State Department, West Bank Locations: Gaza, Palestinian, U.S, Jerusalem, Washington, Chicago, Israel, Khan, a.m, Egypt

Story highlights Biden goes to Michigan to meet with UAW members a week after receiving the union's endorsement Trump and Biden are battling for the votes of union members. While in Michigan on Thursday, the president will be meeting with UAW members, a Biden campaign official told CNN. The event, at a union hall near Detroit, will feature an “informal” conversation with union members, according to the campaign. In a fiery speech while delivering the group’s endorsement, UAW President Shawn Fain said Biden was the clear choice in a matchup with Trump. Since the group publicly backed Biden, Trump has hit back, slamming Fain as a “dope” and vowing that he could revive the automobile industry in the United States.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, –, Trump, Shawn Fain, “ Joe Biden, ” Fain, ” Biden, “, Fain, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, ” Chavez Rodriguez, Rashida Tlaib, Chavez Rodriguez, Biden’s, Karine Jean, Pierre, ”, Jean Pierre Organizations: Washington CNN, United Auto Workers, Michigan, Teamsters, Trump, UAW, Wednesday, Biden, CNN, Democratic Party, Democratic, Dearborn Mayor, ”, White Locations: Michigan, Washington, Detroit, United States, Israel, Gaza, Eastern, California, Virginia

☆ Sharon Aloni Cunio: Freed Israeli hostage says she was held in Gaza hospital with dozens of others
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Emma Cunio, 3, was separated from her family during the October 7 attack. Aloni Cunio was taken into Gaza on a tractor with David and Yuli and held in a home guarded by two Hamas militants. At first, she thought she was hallucinating but someone walked in with Emma and handed her to Aloni Cunio “like a package,” she said. Aloni Cunio spoke of the harsh living conditions they endured in captivity. Days later, the Red Cross ushered Aloni Cunio and her daughters back to Israel.

Persons: Sharon Aloni Cunio, I’m, ”, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, David Cunio, Cooper, Aloni Cunio, Nasser, “, Emma, David, Emma Cunio, Nir Oz, Aloni Cunio’s, – Danielle Aloni, Amelia, Yuli, Aloni, ‘, Israel Organizations: CNN, Nasser Locations: Gaza, Israel

☆ A concierge at the world's most luxurious hotel details guests' wildest wishes, from a hot air balloon proposal to a 2 a.m. shopping spree
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Joey Hadden | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is one of the world's most iconic luxury hotels on a manmade island in Dubai. Roger Geadah is the hotel's chief concierge, who organizes custom experiences for guests. AdvertisementThe Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel in Dubai is "the most luxurious hotel in the world," Business Insider previously reported. Meet the chief concierge at the world's most luxurious hotel who caters to guests' every whimA view of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah in Dubai. In addition, he also plans exclusive experiences only available at Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, such as a high-end, exclusive star-gazing experience on the hotel's helipad.

Persons: Roger Geadah, Geadah, —, It's, Sylvain Sonnet, Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Julia Schmitz, Laszlo Szirtesi Organizations: Service, Al Arab Jumeirah, BI, Michelin, Travel, Burj Al, Dubai Mall, Oneworld, Getty Locations: Al Arab, Dubai, Arabian, Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Paris, Burj Al Arab, Dubai's, Deira, India

☆ Saudi Arabia isn’t ruling out befriending Israel. But it may come at a higher price
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +70 min

Fatima Shbair/AP Mourners collect the bodies of Palestinians killed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza, on December 24. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa/picture-alliance/AP Relatives and friends bid farewell to the body of Al Jazeera camera operator Samer Abu Daqqa in Khan Younis, Gaza, on December 16. Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images Israeli soldiers form an honor guard at the funeral of Israeli reserve soldier Master Sgt. Mohammed Saber/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Children use candles for lighting in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Friday, October 20. Maya Alleruzzo/AP A boy carries salvaged belongings from the wreckage of his family's home in Khan Younis, Gaza, on October 11.

Persons: UAE CNN —, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, ”, “, “ There’s, ” Prince Khalid bin Bandar, ” Ali Shihabi, Shihabi, Israel, Blinken, Evelyn Hockstein, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Abraham, Biden, Yousef Al Otaiba, Israel “, ” Otaiba, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Firas Maksad, Abir, Prince Khalid, Maksad, Jamal Khashoggi, ” Maksad, ” Prince Khalid, Isaac Herzog, Oded, Abed Rahim Khatib, Noam Galai, Majdi, Sufian Dagash, Ohad, Abed Zagout, Harel Ittah, Ariel Schalit, Khan Yunis, Stringer, Elisha Yehonatan Lober, Mount Herzl, Maja Hitij, Fatima Shbair, Ahmad Hasaballah, Mohammed Salem, Yaacov Elian, Boris Dunavetski, Amir Levy, Mohammed Abed, Mahmud Hams, Alon Lulu Shamriz, Ilia Yefimovich, Abu Daqqa, Khan, Khan Younis, Ben Shelly, Clodagh Kilcoyne, Eviatar Cohen, Mostafa Alkharouf, Mohammed Dahman, Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Atef Safadi, Gal Meir Eisenkot, Eisenkot, Gadi Eisenkot, Leo Correa, Alexi Rosenfeld, Alleruzzo, Amir Cohen, Gil Cohen, Menahem Kahana, Sergeant Aschalwu Sama, Tsafrir, John MacDougall, Ahed Tamimi, Nasser Nasser, Viktor, Helena Brodski, Kiril Brodski, Ammar Awad, Jack Guez, Jabel Mukaber, Mahmoud Illean, Alexander Ermochenko, Younis, Mustafa Hassona, Asher, Raz, Doron, Schneider, Jaafar Ashtiyeh, Majed Al, Ansari, Mohammed Hajjar, Said Khatib, Jalaa Marey, Victor R, Liron Snir, James Oatway, Ashraf Amra, Ahmad Gharabli, Rizek Abdeljawad, Major Jamal Abbas, Shir Torem, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Christopher Furlong, Hatem Ali, Avraham Fetena, Sgt, Raz Abulafia, Fadel Senna, Nasser, Matan Meir, Haitham Imad, Roni Eshel, Eshel, Kenzo Tribouillard, Sadi Berek, Salah al, Varda Goldstein, Nir Oz, Bernat, Tomer Appelbaum, Mohammad Abu Elsebah, Khaled Ibn Al, Walid, Ya'akov Ozeri, Ronen Zvulun, Mohammed Alaloul, Neil Hall, Saeed Jaras, Mohammad Abu Hattab, Mohammed Talatene, Ditza Heiman, Salman Habaka, Yuval Zilber, Jalaa Merey, Ahmad Salem, Ali Jadallah, Anas al, Yosef Vahav, Kiryat Shmona, Albert Miles, Ilan Rosenberg, Manna, Tamar Chaya Torpiashvili, Abed Khaled, Tamir Kalifa, Yoav Gallant, Jehad Al, Kafarnah, Teddy, Dan Kitwood, Dima Vazinovich, Sagiv Ben Zvi, Omar El, Yasser Qudih, Francisco Seco, Mohammed Saber, Ali Mohmoud, Mai Yaghi, Yam Goldstein, Nadav, Khaled Joudeh, Samar Abu, Leon Neal, Hatem Moussa, Wolfgang Schwan, Yousef Masoud, Shadi Tabatibi, Belal al Sabbagh, Janis Laizans, Gallant, Ofir Libstein, Aza, Belal Khaled, Hod, Ayal Margolin, Brendan Smialowski, Netanyahu, Kenny Holston, Kfar Aza, Mahmoud Khaled, Dor Reder, Violeta Santos Moura, Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa, Antonio Macías, Macías, Eli Albag, Liri, Sergey Ponomarev, Dor Kedmi, Saher, Abraham Cohen, Valentin Ghnassia, Ghnassia, Yuri Cortez, Ibrahim Hams, Bashar Taleb, Baz Ratner, Yahya Hassouna, Mapal Adam, Agha, Reuters Itzik, Miriam Shafir, Dor Shafir, Savion Kiper, Maya Alleruzzo, CNN Sergey Ponomarev, Eden Guez, Mohammed Soboh, Said, Noam Elimeleh Rothenberg, Ilai Bar Sade, Erik Marmor, Oren Ziv, Ramez Mahmoud, Roi Levy, Tali Touito, Ahmad Hasballah, Eyad Baba, Itai Ron, Hadas Parush, Lana Nusseibeh, “ That’s, Abu Dhabi, Anwar Gargash, ” Gargash Organizations: UAE CNN, Hamas, BBC, CNN, Palestinian, West Bank, Reuters, United Arab, Abraham Accords, Israel, UAE, Arab League, Saudi, Fox News, Washington Institute for Near East, Middle East Institute, Israeli, Getty, of Health, Congressional, Republicans, United Nations Security, AP, European Hospital, Mount, Rockets, UN, Anadolu, Museum of Art, Security, Nova, Magen, Getty Images, Kiryat, Islamic Jihad, Red, Tel, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical, Young, AP People, Schneider Children's Medical, Sisters, Schneider Children's, Ofer, Cross, Foreign, Artillery, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Al, Unicef, AP Journalists, Israel Defense Forces, Modern, Nasser Hospital, Nasser Medical, Najjar, Israel Defence Forces handout, Shutterstock, Reuters United Nations, Shifa, Palestine, Pictures, Bloomberg, Israeli Apache, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, IDF, EyePress, New York Times, Nasser Medical Hospital, Deir Al, Tel Aviv University, Reuters Civil, AP Rockets, AP Israel's, Regional, Israel's, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Ben Gurion International, Aris Messinis, Haim, Puma, Mount Herzl Military, Anadolu Agency, Nova Festival, Ben Gurion, United Nations, Reuters Police, Reuters Rockets, Wall, Shihabi Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi, United Kingdom, Gaza, United States, ”, Palestinian, East Jerusalem, Al Ula, Reuters Israeli, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, Washington , DC, Jerusalem, Abir Sultan, AFP, Turkey, Gulf, Tel Aviv, Israeli, Rafah, Maghar, Anadolu, Netanya, Khan, Khan Younis, Shaul, Shefayim, Jazeera, Kidron, Kfar Saba, Nahal Oz, Herzliya, Ashkelon, Petah Tikva, Ramallah, Egypt, Ofakim, Jabel, Khezaa, Gazan, Sisters Aviv, Beitunia, Gaza City, Galilee, Lebanon, Al, Aqsa, Al Bureij, Deir Al Balah, Xinhua, Pekiin, Mavki'im, Haifa, Sderot, Beit Hashmonai, Europe, Rishpon, Odem, Gaza's Al, Deir Al, Balah, Bureij, Kfar Aza, Meron, Jerusalem's, City, Jerusalem's Old City, Deir Balah, Mahmud, Southern Israel, Yanuh Jat, Netaim, Golan Heights, Shareef, Beit Guvrin, Kiryat, Al Aqsa, Kibbutz Be'eri, Ashdod, Holon, Najjar, Ichilov, Kibbutz Shefayim, Deir, Samar, Samar Abu Elouf, Deir al, Kibbutz Kissufim, Zahra City, Ras, Israel's, Yehuda, Hod HaSharon, Kiryat Shmona, Ahli, Gan, Kfar, North Sinai, Beit Kama, Cyprus, Be'eri, Rehovot, Mount Herzl, Modiin Maccabim, Mount Herzel, Yassin, Beitar Ilit, Ramat Gan, Itai, Beit Hanun, Rishon Lezion, Dhabi, Dubai, Al Arabiya

☆ Dubai penthouse sells for record $136 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A five-bedroom penthouse covering almost 22,000 square feet has sold in Dubai for 500 million UAE dirhams — just over $136 million — setting a new record for one of the world’s busiest luxury real estate markets. Record salesThe previous record for a penthouse sale in Dubai dates back just a few months, when an apartment occupying the top floor of the Marsa Al Arab Hotel sold for 420 million UAE dirhams (about $114 million). According to Provident Estate, the penthouse at Como Residences is the third most expensive in the world, after Penthouse D at One Hyde Park in London, priced at $237 million, and the Odeon Tower Penthouse in Monaco, priced at $440 million. Shutterstock Palm Jumeirah also boasts the first monorail in the Middle East, which opened in April 2009, and connects the Palm to Dubai's mainland. But when it comes to the asking price for a penthouse, the view is one of the key drivers.

Persons: CNN —, Nahkeel, Karim Sahib, Giuseppe Cacace, Shutterstock, Kamran Jebreili, ”, Chris Boswell, he’s, ” Boswell, “, it’s Organizations: CNN, UAE dirhams —, Jumeirah, Provident Estate, Marsa Al Arab, UAE, Como Residences, Penthouse, Dubai Marina, Getty, Burj Locations: Dubai, Como, Marsa, Hyde, London, Monaco, Burj Al Arab, Burj, Eastern Europe, Dubai's, Nakheel, AFP, Karim, Burj Al, United States, Italy, France

JAKE SULLIVAN - THE LAST GUY IN THE ROOMBiden often turns to Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, when he is considering final options and looking for advice and counsel. "He develops and puts forward the policy options before the president for him to decide," said one U.S. official. Sullivan, 47, was national security adviser for Biden when he was vice president and deputy chief of staff to then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He gathers policy options from across government agencies and prepares them for Biden to consider, the traditional role of the national security adviser. JON FINER - ASKING QUESTIONSSullivan relies heavily on his deputy national security adviser, Jon Finer.

Persons: Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, Evelyn Hockstein, ANTONY BLINKEN, Biden, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, JAKE SULLIVAN, Sullivan, Jake, Hillary Clinton, BRETT MCGURK, Brett McGurk, McGurk, George W, Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, BILL BURNS, spymaster, Bill Burns, It's, Burns, LLOYD AUSTIN, STARK, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Israel, KAMALA HARRIS, Kamala Harris, Harris, ”, JON, Jon, John Kerry's, Kerry, Arshad Mohammed, Nandita Bose, Don Durfee, Heather Timmons, Deepa Babington Organizations: U.S, Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, Israeli, Biden, White House, National Security, U.S ., CIA, . Defense, Pentagon, Islamic State, U.S . Army, ISIS, Palestinian, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, Washington Post, Thomson Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Gaza, East, North Africa, Saudi Arabia, United States, Qatar, Doha, Iran, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Ankara, U.S, Austin, Dubai, West

☆ Israel wants 'security envelope', no Hamas on border after war, official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] An Israeli soldier holds up an Israeli flag, near the border with Gaza, during a temporary truce between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in southern Israel, November 29, 2023. Asked whether Israel was indeed seeking such a buffer zone, senior adviser Mark Regev told reporters: "Israel will have to have a security envelope. We can never again allow terrorists to cross the border and butcher our people the way they did on October 7." "That is not Israel taking territory from Gaza," said Regev. They also said Saudi Arabia, which does not have ties with Israel and which halted a U.S.-mediated normalisation process after the Gaza war erupted on Oct. 7, had been informed.

Persons: Alexander Ermochenko, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Mark Regev, Regev, Maayan Lubell, James Mackenzie, Gareth Jones Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Thomson Locations: Israeli, Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, U.S

☆ Israel Wants 'Security Envelope', No Hamas on Border After War, Official Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Dec. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel will seek a "security envelope" with special zones and arrangements that will prevent Hamas from being positioned on its border after the war in Gaza is over, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday. Asked whether Israel was indeed seeking such a buffer zone, senior adviser Mark Regev told reporters: "Israel will have to have a security envelope. We can never again allow terrorists to cross the border and butcher our people the way they did on October 7." "That is not Israel taking territory from Gaza," said Regev. They also said Saudi Arabia, which does not have ties with Israel and which halted a U.S.-mediated normalisation process after the Gaza war erupted on Oct. 7, had been informed.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Mark Regev, Regev, Maayan Lubell, James Mackenzie, Gareth Jones Organizations: Reuters, United Arab Emirates, Israel Locations: JERUSALEM, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, U.S

According to three regional sources, Israel related its plans to its neighbours Egypt and Jordan, along with the United Arab Emirates, which normalised ties with Israel in 2020. He declined to offer details when asked whether those plans had been raised with international partners, including Arab states. A U.S. official, who declined to be identified, said Israel had "floated" the buffer zone idea without saying to whom. The regional sources compared the Gaza buffer zone plan to the "security zone" Israel once had in south Lebanon. "The buffer zone could make (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu's forces a target also in the zone," he said.

Persons: Ronen, Israel, Abu Dhabi, Ophir Falk, Benjamin Netanyahu, Lebanon's, it's, Mohammad Dahlan, Benjamin, Netanyahu's, Samia Nakhoul, Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Jonathan Saul, Dan Williams, Aidan Lewis, Humeyra Pamuk, Steve Holland, Edmund Blair, Daniel Flynn Organizations: REUTERS, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Saudi, Reuters, U.S, Lebanon's Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestine Liberation Organization, PLO, Palestinian Fatah, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Gaza Israel, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, U.S, DUBAI, CAIRO, LONDON, Israel, Riyadh, Arab Turkey, Qatar, Qatari, Turkish, Palestinian, Cairo, Lebanon, PLO, Dubai, London, Jerusalem, Washington

☆ UN Chief Says Gaza in Midst of 'Epic Humanitarian Catastrophe'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Michelle NicholsUNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday said the Gaza Strip was in the midst of an "epic humanitarian catastrophe", urging the world not to look away. Last-minute negotiations were continuing between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas on Wednesday to extend a truce in Gaza. "The people of Gaza are in the midst of an epic humanitarian catastrophe before the eyes of the world," he said. Hamas is a genocidal terror organization - they don't hide it - not a reliable partner for peace," Erdan told the Security Council. The massacres cannot be allowed to resume," Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki told the Security Council.

Persons: Michelle Nichols UNITED, Antonio Guterres, Wang Yi, Guterres, Israel's U.N, Gilad Erdan, Erdan, Israel, Riyad al, Maliki, Michelle Nichols, Kanishka Singh, Deepa Babington Organizations: Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, Reuters, United Nations, . Security, China's, Hamas, Security Council, Palestinian, Security Locations: Gaza, China, Israel, New York, Hamas, Palestine

Thirty-three Palestinian prisoners released by Israel arrived early Tuesday in east Jerusalem and the West Bank town of Ramallah. Political Cartoons View All 1267 ImagesCurrently:— Israel and Hamas extend their truce, but it seems only a matter of time before the war resumes. So far, Hamas has released 69 hostages, including 51 Israelis, and Israel has released 150 Palestinian prisoners. Fifty Israeli hostages have been freed under the terms of an initial four-day truce, which has been extended to Wednesday. Israel has said it would extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released.

Persons: Israel, — Israel, — Freed, — Blinken, Israel —, “, Israel — Kfir Bibas, Ariel, Eylon, Kfir’s, ”, William Burns, David Barnea, Burns, Barnea, Isabel Debre, Jon Gambrell, Eli Cohen, Parnpree, Thais, ” Parnpree, Cohen, GAZA WASHINGTON —, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Constantinos Letymbiotis, Nikos Christodoulides, Christodoulides, Qatar’s, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Catherine Colonna, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, ” Israel, ” Elad Levy, Levy’s, Roni Eshel, ” Levy, Antony Blinken, John Kirby, Jason J, Eaton, General Merrick Garland Organizations: Hamas, West Bank, Health Ministry, —, TEL, CIA, DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Officials, U.S, The Washington Post, Shamir, Thais, GERMANY BERLIN, White, Israeli Defense Forces, Cyprus ’, Cypriot, AP, UNIT, Gaza Health Ministry, Shifa, World Health Organization, PARIS, Foreign, RTL, UN, UNITED NATIONS, United Nations, Palestinian, of Solidarity, AS US, FIRE BRUSSELS, State Department, NATO, Organization for Peace, Security, National Security, MEN, UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT, BURLINGTON , Vermont —, University of Vermont, U.S . Department of Justice Locations: Israel, Gaza, Jerusalem, Ramallah, East, israel, ISRAEL, TEL AVIV, Israeli, Tel Aviv, QATAR, United Arab, Qatar, Egypt, ___, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, JERUSALEM, GERMANY, Germany, Berlin, GAZA WASHINGTON, CYPRUS, GAZA NICOSIA, Cyprus, CAIRO, Shifa, Europe, France, CANBERRA, Australia, Australia’s, Canberra, Ukraine, Brussels, Skopje, North Macedonia, UNIVERSITY, BURLINGTON , Vermont, Vermont, Burlington

☆ Opinion: An anti-Muslim tirade inspires a beautiful response
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Opinion Dean Obeidallah | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The former government official made vile anti-Muslim comments while jeering at the Egyptian food cart worker about the Israel-Hamas war with remarks such as, “If we killed 4,000 Palestinian children, you know what? Alarmingly, it appears one such horrific incident may have occurred on Saturday in Burlington, Vermont, when three Palestinian students were shot. Even before Seldowitiz was charged, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said on social media: “This Islamophobic bigotry is absolutely reprehensible. As CBS New York reported, “what happened at the food cart has seemingly only brought people together.” One of the food cart workers, Bahaa Hassan, told CBS: “We have mostly Jewish customer in this building. Unbeknownst to us at the time, we filmed this video last weekend in the very neighborhood where Seldowitz had been taunting the Arab food cart worker.

Persons: Dean Obeidallah, Obama, Stuart Seldowitz, jeering, Seldowitz, “, Fayoume didn’t, Mohamed Hussein, Seldowitiz, Mark Levine, Bahaa Hassan, Stephanie Merabet, Max Brooks —, Facebook Max, Mel Brooks —, Abdul Organizations: CNN, CNN —, National Security, New York Police Department, Hamas, Defamation League, Cornell University, Islamic Relations, CAIR, ADC, CBS, East, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Manhattan, Israel, New York, Alarmingly, Burlington , Vermont, New York City, York, United States

☆ Israel weapons makers leave stands empty at Dubai Airshow
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Alexander Cornwell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

DUBAI, Nov 13 (Reuters) - The exhibition stands of Israeli weapons makers Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems were empty at the start of the opening day of the weeklong Dubai Airshow on Monday, amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. It was not immediately clear why there were no staff at either exhibition stand, which were located close to the pavilion of United Arab Emirates state arms maker EDGE. IAI and EDGE signed joint development programmes at the last Dubai Airshow in 2021. The IAI exhibition stand was blocked off with red rope. The UAE became the most prominent Arab nation to establish diplomatic ties with Israel in 30 years under the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020.

Persons: Rafael, Gaza –, Abraham, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohamed, Alexander Cornwell, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Israel Aerospace Industries, IAI, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, United Arab, EDGE, Palestinian Hamas, UAE, Israel, Elbit Systems, Reuters, The, U.S, Abraham Accords, Arab League, of Islamic Cooperation, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Dubai, Israel, Gaza, United Arab Emirates, Palestinian, Israeli, UAE, Arab, U.S, The UAE

☆ Israel's Arab minority feels closer to country in war, poll finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

However, just 27% of Arab respondents said they felt optimistic about Israel's future, compared to 72% of Jews. Israel went to war in Gaza following an Oct 7 cross-border onslaught by Hamas gunmen in which some 1,400 of its civilians and soldiers were killed, among them Arab citizens. Asked if, given an alternative Western citizenship, they would leave Israel, 80.5% of Jewish respondents said they would stay, as did 59% of Arab respondents, the IDI poll found. Israel's far-right minister for police has warned that internal Arab unrest could be sparked as it was during a previous Gaza war in 2021. Police have carried out arrests among Arab citizens accused of social media posts inciting pro-Palestinian violence, and on Thursday arrested five leaders of the Arab community who had planned to organise an anti-war protest.

Persons: IDI, Israel, Dan Williams, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Israel, Israel Democracy Institute, Palestinian, West Bank, Police, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, British, Palestine

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