Arab World

Israel Military Says Controls 40 Percent of Gaza City
Israel Military Says Controls 40 Percent of Gaza City

The Israeli military on Thursday said it controls 40 percent of Gaza City, the largest urban center in the Palestinian territory which it is preparing to conquer after nearly two years of devastating war. Israel has intensified in recent days its bombardments of the area of Gaza City, in the territory's north, ahead of the planned offensive, ...

Rubio Says US Warned France on Israel Annexation Moves
Rubio Says US Warned France on Israel Annexation Moves

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday criticized France and other countries moving to recognize a Palestinian state, saying he warned them Israel may respond by annexing the West Bank. Rubio declined to join global condemnation of efforts by members of the Israeli government to annex the occupied West Bank in hopes of destroying prospects of ...

Trump Tells Europe to Put Economic Pressure on China Over Ukraine
Trump Tells Europe to Put Economic Pressure on China Over Ukraine

US President Donald Trump urged European countries Thursday to put economic pressure on China because of its support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the White House said. Speaking by video conference with European leaders gathered in Paris, Trump also said "Europe must stop purchasing Russian oil that is funding the war," a senior White House ...

Israel FM Says No Macron Visit Unless France Drops Palestinian State Recognition
Israel FM Says No Macron Visit Unless France Drops Palestinian State Recognition

Israel's foreign minister said Thursday that his government would not agree to a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron so long as Paris plans to recognize a Palestinian state. A statement from Israel's foreign ministry said Gideon Saar told France's top diplomat Jean-Noel Barrot in a phone call that "there is no room" ...

Zelensky: Trump ‘Very Dissatisfied’ with EU’s Russian Oil Purchases
Zelensky: Trump ‘Very Dissatisfied’ with EU’s Russian Oil Purchases

Donald Trump on Thursday voiced frustration with EU countries that still buy Russian oil, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, after the US president spoke to him and European leaders during a summit on Ukraine. Ukraine's allies met in Paris to discuss security guarantees for Kyiv in the event of a peace deal to end Russia's war against ...

Macron Says 26 Countries Pledge Ukraine Post-War Security
Macron Says 26 Countries Pledge Ukraine Post-War Security

Twenty-six countries have offered to contribute to Ukraine's security after any ceasefire deal with Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron said after a summit on Thursday, adding that US support would be finalized in coming days. A summit of Kyiv "coalition of the willing" allies to firm up security guarantees if or when there is a peace deal ...

Drone Strike Near Syria's Aleppo Airport Kills Two: Security Official
Drone Strike Near Syria's Aleppo Airport Kills Two: Security Official

A Syrian security official said a drone strike near Aleppo airport on Thursday killed two people, with state media reporting the attack but without saying who may be behind it. An AFP correspondent saw a vaporized car near the airport in Syria's north, with shrapnel scattered around it. Official news agency SANA reported that "a drone targeted a ...

Portugal Holds Day of Mourning as Crash toll Rises to 17 Dead
Portugal Holds Day of Mourning as Crash toll Rises to 17 Dead

Portugal held a day of national mourning on Thursday as the death toll from the derailment of one of Lisbon's iconic funiculars rose to 17 people, with 21 injured. The accident Wednesday evening in one of the capital's most popular tourist spots saw the yellow Gloria funicular veer off a steep stretch of tracks near Liberty Avenue and crash into ...

Russian Attack Kills Two Deminers From Danish Refugee Council in Ukraine
Russian Attack Kills Two Deminers From Danish Refugee Council in Ukraine

A Russian rocket attack Thursday on northern Ukraine killed two people from the Danish Refugee Council who were clearing mines in an area previously occupied by Moscow's forces, the local Ukrainian governor said. Experts say Ukraine is the most heavily mined country in the world, with teams of deminers across the north, south and east where ...

Haydarpaşa: Istanbul’s Forgotten Heritage
VideosHaydarpaşa: Istanbul’s Forgotten Heritage

A historic treasure of Istanbul, Haydarpaşa Station, which has been out of service since 2013, was recently taken over by the Ministry of Culture, which plans to turn it into an arts center. Every week, former employees rally to preserve it as a functioning train station.

Days After Quake, Afghan Survivors Still Await Aid
Days After Quake, Afghan Survivors Still Await Aid

Rescue teams struggled Wednesday to reach survivors days after a powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan left more than 1,400 people dead, as access to remote areas remained obstructed. A magnitude-6.0 shallow earthquake hit the mountainous region bordering Pakistan late Sunday, collapsing mud-brick homes on families as they slept. Fearful of ...