Middle East Experience

A billion-dollar binge which brought some of football's biggest names to Saudi Arabia's modest league has given way to a more cautious phase, with spending down dramatically this year.After a jaw-dropping 2023, when Cristiano Ronaldo led a parade of largely ageing superstars to the oil-rich, conservative monarchy, Saudi transfer spending slumped from $957 million to $431 million in the latest window.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: From boom to budgeting as reality bites for Saudi football

Piles of fishing nets lay on land unused in the southern Lebanese port of Sidon on Tuesday as fishermen stayed ashore after the Israeli military warned of strikes against militants along the coast.Commercial vessels and leisure boats were anchored in the harbour, while the city's ancient fish market fell unusually quiet, with traders trying to peddle the catch from earlier in the week."The Lebanese army told us we weren't allowed to go out, and we're respecting that," said Mohammed Bidawi, a member of the local fishermen's union.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Lebanese fishermen stay ashore after Israeli warning

Trophy system has protected ground vehicles for years, but now has new capabilities
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Rafael to unveil short range laser defense for ground force

The timing of the attack on October 7 was no accident: when we were the least democratic and the least liberal we suffered the hardest blow in our history.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Yair Lapid: Israel must embrace democratic, liberal ideals to defeat its enemies

Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler reassured the cabinet on Tuesday about the health of his ageing father King Salman, who was set to undergo another round of tests for a lung infection. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 39, "reassured everyone about the health" of King Salman, 88, and voiced "appreciation to everyone who inquired about his health", the official Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday after Prince Mohammed chaired the weekly cabinet meeting.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Saudi prince offers reassurances on king's health: state media

Beirut has received "assurances" that Israel will not target the country's only international airport, Lebanon's transport minister told AFP, but said those fell short of guarantees.Since September 23, Israel has launched an intense air campaign mainly targeting Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon including Beirut's southern suburbs, adjacent to the airport.On Monday, the United States warned Israel not to attack the Beirut airport or the roads leading to it, after repeated Israeli strikes near the facility.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Lebanon says has 'assurances' but no guarantees Israel won't target airport

The tunnel, discovered a few months ago, with no aperture at its end, crossed ten meters into Israeli territory from Marwahin in southern Lebanon.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: IDF 'neutralizes' Hezbollah tunnel crossing into Israel from Lebanon

For much of the war, 60,000 displaced residents of the North slammed the government for forgetting them while the country's attention focused on Gaza, the South, and the hostages.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: IDF reviews returning residents to their homes as northern security improves

Netanyahu also said Israel had eliminated Safieddine's replacement. 
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Netanyahu confirms Israel killed Hezbollah's Hashem Safieddine

After narrowly escaping Israeli air strikes, Lebanese mother Tanaz Agha shared a picture taken from her plane window as she flew out of Beirut."Proud to be a Lebanese who can travel on my national airline in a time of war," the 46-year-old says she told her friends on social media.As Israel ramped up air strikes against Lebanese armed group Hezbollah two weeks ago, most airlines stopped flying to the country.National carrier Middle East Airlines (MEA) remains the only carrier still serving Beirut despite the mounting risks and past hits on the runways.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Braving war: Lebanon's 'badass' airline defies odds