Iran artist’s vision for culture hub enlivens rustic district

The funeral for Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, killed in an Israeli air strike in September, will be held on February 23, along with the burial of successor Hashem Safieddine. Nasrallah will be buried in Beirut, while Safieddine will be laid to rest in his hometown in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah urges Lebanon to pressure Israel to cease ceasefire violations, following an agreement for Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon by February 18. Full Article

Ahmed al-Shara, Syria’s interim president, visited Saudi Arabia for his first foreign trip, meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss strengthening relations and lifting international sanctions. The trip signals Syria's shift away from Iran towards the Gulf, with Gulf states increasingly supporting al-Shara's government and aiming to shape a post-Assad Syria under his leadership. Saudi Arabia, seeking to reassert influence in the region, has backed al-Shara's government and called for the removal of...

Global Edge introduced three innovative international healthcare brands – SRW®, eimele™, and Theronomic™ – at Arab Health 2025 to cater to the rising consumer interest in health, fitness, and nutrition in the Middle East. These brands, offering anti-aging products, plant-based solutions, and gut health supplements, aim to empower individuals to make informed choices for a healthier future. By aligning with the UAE's vision for advanced healthcare and leveraging the strategic market entry approach, Global Edge...

Hamas gunmen released three hostages, Yarden Bibas, Ofer Kalderon, and Keith Siegel, in separate ceremonies in Gaza, as part of a tense cease-fire deal with Israel. Israel freed 183 Palestinian prisoners in exchange, with buses arriving in Ramallah and some prisoners taken to a hospital in Khan Younis. The exchange was conducted smoothly, contrasting with a chaotic transfer earlier in the week, and marked a significant step in the ongoing efforts to end the war...

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed retired Major General Eyal Zamir as Israel's new armed forces chief following the resignation of Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, who took responsibility for failing to prevent Hamas's October 2023 attack. Zamir, 59, previously served as the defence ministry director general and deputy chief of staff, as well as head of the army's Southern Command. Halevi resigned due to his acknowledgment of responsibility for the military's failure in 2023, with Zamir...

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told US President Donald Trump that the world is counting on him to achieve a lasting peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians during a phone call on Saturday, which also included discussions on state visits and coordination. This conversation followed Trump's proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza into Jordan and Egypt, which was strongly rejected by Sisi and other Arab leaders. Despite Trump's insistence, Egypt and Jordan have both rejected...