Hosting the conversation

Middle East Experience

Latest News

Gulf Arab airlines to ‘join hands’ during World Cup: Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways said on Thursday that fellow Gulf Arab airlines would operate more than 160 daily shuttle flights to Qatar during the soccer World Cup, allowing fans to fly in from nearby cities before a game and return at the end of the day.Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker told a news conference that United Arab Emirates (UAE) airline flyDubai, Oman Air, Kuwait Airways and Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) would operate shuttle flights and that the UAE’s Etihad and Air Arabia may also join the scheme.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The shuttle flights would alleviate logistical, accommodation and policing pressure on tiny Qatar and allow neighboring Gulf states to benefit from the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East in November.Qatar hopes the tournament will attract roughly 1.2 million visitors, or almost half of the country’s population.Flydubai will operate up to 60 daily flights from Dubai carrying up to 2,500 fans, Baker said, while Oman Air will run up to 48 daily flights from Muscat carrying up to 3,400 fans.Saudia will operate up to 60 daily flights carrying up to 5,000 fans from Riyadh and Jeddah. Kuwait Airways will operate up to 20 flights a day carrying up to 1,700 fans.Read more:Football fans snap up Dubai’s luxury short-term lets for Qatar World CupFIFA punishes Senegal with fine for fan disorder, lasers at Egypt star SalahQatar 2022 FIFA World Cup launches match ball ‘al-Rihla’
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Gulf Arab airlines to ‘join hands’ during World Cup: Qatar Airways

US seizes Iranian oil cargo near Greek island: Sources

The United States has confiscated an Iranian oil cargo held onboard a Russian-operated ship near Greece and will send the cargo to the United States aboard another vessel, three sources familiar with the matter said.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Greek authorities last month impounded the Iranian-flagged Pegas, with 19 Russian crew members on board, near the coast of the southern island of Evia due to EU sanctions.The vessel was later released due to confusion about sanctions over its owners.One source at Greece’s shipping ministry said on Thursday that the US Department of Justice had “informed Greece that the cargo on the vessel is Iranian oil.”“The cargo has been transferred to another ship that was hired by the US,” the source added, without providing further detail.Read more: One dead in ‘industrial accident’ near Iran military complex: State mediaSaudi foreign minister says some progress in talks with IranBiden administration will submit any new Iran deal to Congress for review: Malley
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US seizes Iranian oil cargo near Greek island: Sources

Turkey detains ISIS’s new leader, officials say

Senior Turkish officials said ISIS’s new leader has been captured in a recent raid in Istanbul.Anti-terrorism police and intelligence agents detained a man they believe has led the extremist group since its previous chief was killed in a US operation in Syria in February, the officials said, asking not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter. Turkish news website OdaTV identified the arrested man as Abu al-Hassan al-Qurayshi without saying how it obtained the information. Previous reports have given a similar name for the new ISIS leader.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Bloomberg News couldn’t independently verify the identity of the man detained by Turkish authorities.President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been informed of his capture, the officials said Thursday. He’s expected to announce the arrest in the coming days, OdaTV said.The officials said the terrorist leader was captured following lengthy police surveillance of a house where he was staying. OdaTV said police didn’t open fire during the raid. Turkish forces have clashed with ISIS militants at home and in neighboring Syria over recent years, ousting the extremist fighters from several towns near Turkey’s border. News of the detention also came as Ankara is signaling plans for a fresh operation into Syrian territory to confront Kurdish YPG forces backed by the US but viewed as terrorists by Turkey for their links to an autonomy-seeking militant group at home. The YPG received western support as one of the most effective forces fighting to dismantle ISIS.Read more:ISIS ‘Beatle’ sentenced to life for murdering US hostagesIraq official warns of extremist threat from Syria campISIS vows ‘revenge’ for ex-leader's death, calls for taking advantage of Ukraine war
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Turkey detains ISIS’s new leader, officials say