Middle East

Volkswagen, Hyundai to set up hubs in Israel to tap into smart car tech

By Shoshanna Solomon Automotive giants Volkswagen (VW) and Hyundai Motor Company are planning to set up hubs in Israel to tap into the wealth of mobility and smart-car technologies the so-called Startup Nation is churning out. “We are very serious about creating a campus in Tel Aviv,” said Peter Harris, chief customer officer of Volkswagen

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International, Middle East

Women in Saudi Arabia cheer news they will be allowed into sport stadiums

Saudi Arabia women attend a rally to celebrate the 87th annual National Day of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia September 23, 2017. [Photo/VCG] BEIRUT – Women in Saudi Arabia on Monday welcomed the announcement that from next year they will be allowed to watch sporting events in previously all-male stadiums for the first time.

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Middle East

Driver kills at least 8 in Manhattan in what officials say was terror attack

NEW YORK — A terrorist drove down a crowded bicycle and pedestrian pathway in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon, killing at least eight people and injuring nearly a dozen, officials said. The rampage came to an end when the suspect, described as a 29-year-old man, crashed his rented Home Depot truck and ran into the

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Middle East, USA

Exploded tunnel was dug for soldier abductions, Gaza terror leader says

By Dov Lieber Senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Khaled al-Batsh said Tuesday that the attack tunnel stretching from Gaza into Israeli territory that was blown up by the IDF the previous day had been built by his group for the purpose of kidnapping Israeli soldiers. “The purpose of the tunnel was kidnapping soldiers in order

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Middle East

Ex-worker says she was warned to drop suit against Sara Netanyahu

By TOI staff A former worker at the Prime Minister’s Residence reportedly alleged she was threatened to drop an abuse lawsuit against Sara Netanyahu by an adviser to the prime minister. The NIS 225,000 ($64,000) lawsuit, which was filed by a 24-year-old ultra-Orthodox mother of three, who recently worked as a cleaner at the residence

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Middle East

US Commends Kurdish Leader Barzani for Stepping Down

The United States is commending Masoud Barzani’s decision to step down from his position as president of Iraq’s Kurdistan region. “President Barzani is a historic figure and courageous leader of his people, most recently in our common fight to destroy ISIS.” State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement Monday. “This decision represents an

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Middle East

In fresh snub, UAE gives medals to all UNESCO members but Israel

By Raphael Ahren The United Arab Emirates snubbed Israel again on Monday, when its diplomats handed out gifts to all delegations at the UN cultural agency except Israel. The incident, which came on the heels of UAE’s refusal last week to allow Israeli athletes to display the Israeli flag and play the national anthem at

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International, Middle East

In first, top New Zealander makes official visit to Israel

By David Sedley New Zealand’s Governor-General arrived in Israel on Monday, a first for the country’s constitutional head, as part of the commemorations marking 100 years since the Battle of Beersheba. President Reuven Rivlin welcomed Governor-General of New Zealand Patricia Reddy, and her husband David Gascoigne, to Jerusalem. Reddy also met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,

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International, Middle East

Abbas says he won’t appoint Hamas ministers who won’t recognize Israel — report

By TOI staff Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has reportedly said that he will not appoint any Hamas officials to the Palestinian unity government that do publicly recognize the existence of Israel. According to the Haaretz daily, Abbas told a delegation of former Israeli lawmakers visiting his party’s Ramallah headquarters on Sunday that “the Americans

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Middle East

US skips Knesset meeting on rising anti-Semitism

By Marissa Newman The United States Embassy in Tel Aviv declined to send a representative to a Knesset committee meeting Monday on rising anti-Semitism in the United States and Europe, in a hearing attended by high-level diplomats from Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom, and France. “They were invited, [but] decided not to send [a representative],”

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International, Middle East, USA

Historic Jewish quarter of Marrakesh sees revival

The once teeming Jewish area of Moroccan tourist gem Marrakesh is seeing its fortunes revived as visitors including many from Israel flock to experience its unique culture and history. “You’re now entering the last synagogue in the mellah,” the walled Jewish quarter in the heart of the ochre city, Isaac Ohayon says as he enthusiastically

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International, Middle East