MIDDLE EAST

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Thousands of Palestinians erupted with joy in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Monday, as Red Cross buses brought back nearly 1,700 former prisoners.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

At the Dubai Airshow on Monday, Emirates, the Middle East's premier airline, boosted its order for Boeing 777X planes. The airline added 65 777-9s, a $38 billion commitment (including engines), signaling confidence in the US manufacturer despite the model's significant delays, with delivery now projected for 2027—seven years behind its original schedule.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Israeli naval forces intercepted part of a civilian aid flotilla bound for Gaza on Thursday, sparking immediate diplomatic fallout and global protests. Organisers said 14 of the roughly 40 boats were stopped in international waters, while 23 vessels carrying supplies and activists pressed on toward the enclave.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

At least 20 people have been killed and hundreds injured after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Monday, shaking homes across the region and damaging one of the country's most sacred landmarks,  the historic Blue Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Afghanistan has entered a nationwide communications blackout after the Taliban ordered the suspension of internet and telecom services, leaving millions disconnected from the outside world.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

After a dangerous escalation that included border clashes and alleged Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Taliban government announced a 48-hour ceasefire, effective at 13:00 GMT Wednesday.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

When bulldozers rolled into the Aydid district of Tarim and began tearing down the spectacular mud-brick palace of Abdul Rahman Bin Sheikh al-Kaf, clouds of dust rose into the air, carrying with them fragments of Yemen’s cultural legacy. The demolition of the landmark sparked outrage in the ancient city, where residents gathered in disbelief to witness the disintegration of a palace that had stood for generations.