LONDON: Young Palestinian men armed with slingshots and stones helped save Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine from Israeli settlers who beat her while she was covering the olive harvest in the occupied West Bank, The Guardian newspaper reported. Levine, 64, suffered four fractured vertebrae, two broken ribs and four puncture wounds during the assault on Friday in Abu Falah, a Palestinian village north of Ramallah. She said masked settlers knocked her down and hit her repeatedly with wo

CHICAGO: A federal investigation into how Ilhan Omar, a member of Congress from Minnesota, obtained US citizenship has raised questions about whether she, or her late father, misrepresented her age on immigration documents. If proven, the allegations could expose her to criminal charges, denaturalization and possible deportation. Federal agents searched her Washington home on Oct. 12, just weeks before the midterm elections on Nov. 3, and seized her phone, computers, passport and other documents

Russia on Wednesday freed an American who had been jailed for more than four years on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, a deal completed during a visit by a top US envoy and at a time when President Donald Trump has taken a series of actions meant to benefit Moscow. Trump told reporters at the White House that he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin during a recent call to free Stephen Hubbard and that, unlike previous releases, the US did not have to give up anyone in return.

GENEVA, Switzerland: More than 800,000 people in Somalia could be forced to leave their homes over the next three months due to flooding, the UN migration agency warned Wednesday. Somalia is entering a rainy season expected to bring above-average rainfall, worsened by the strengthening El Nino weather phenomenon, the International Organization for Migration said. New projections by IOM and the Danish Refugee Council estimate that 874,319 people could be displaced between October and December, wi

WASHINGTON, United States: Democratic Party leaders have sued US President Donald Trump and members of his administration, accusing them of aiming “threats and intimidation” at state and local officials in the run-up to the November 3 midterm election. Democratic governors, Congressional leaders and other party entities filed suit in federal court on Tuesday against Trump, Attorney General Todd Blanche, the Justice Department and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, among others. Justic

The Palestinian Authority is set to repatriate the bodies of five Palestinians who drowned when two boats capsized near the Greek islands of Lesvos and Samos. The recovery was confirmed by the Hellenic Coast Guard, and the identities of the victims remain unspecified. Authorities are warning Palestinians against irregular migration due to its dangerous risks.

MANILA: The Philippines is probing the possible illegal recruitment of its nationals in Russia, the Department of Migrant Workers said on Wednesday, after the Ukrainian military’s report on the killing of a Filipino mercenary. The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, the military intelligence agency of the Ukrainian government, said in a statement on Oct. 15 that a Philippine national was killed during fighting in the Donetsk region. A 39-year-old from Labason, Zamboanga del Norte, was, according to

Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Trump's special envoy, faced backlash for calling Vladimir Putin a "humanitarian" during a meeting to secure the release of American Stephen Hubbard, who was detained in Ukraine. Critics, including Senator Thom Tillis, expressed disbelief at Witkoff's comment, while Trump downplayed it, suggesting it was relevant to the hostage situation. Vice President JD Vance defended Witkoff, highlighting the diplomatic context of his statements.

JERUSALEM: Israel’s opposition chief on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dangerously politicizing the country’s security ahead of elections, after he made a series of threats against Iran. “I’m just stunned at hearing Netanyahu recklessly hurling around security threats,” said former prime minister Yair Lapid, the centrist chief of Israel’s parliamentary opposition and a contender in next Tuesday’s election. “Netanyahu is turning Israel’s security into an electoral circu

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele announced a military operation to rescue four Salvadoran members of a UN-backed security force held hostage by Haitian gangs. Intense fighting in the area has hampered earlier recovery efforts.

Peruse local handicrafts and elegant antiques, shop for souvenirs, or just enjoy a freshly squeezed juice and a pleasant stroll at the Old Town Market Street in AlUla. The experience is available all year round. Check experiencealula.com for more details.

Freestyle is all about unleashing your creativity through movement. Whether you are mastering your first flip, conquering The Wall, or taking on the X-Park parkour challenge, Bounce is the ultimate space to push your limits and experience the thrill of freestyle. More details on riyadh.platinumlist.net.

Letter By Letter is a challenging experience to test your ability to remember the spelling of Arabic words on three different difficulty levels. The challenge is taking place at Ithra Center’s Library and runs until Nov. 20. Check the Ithra app for more information.

Enjoy an Arabian equestrian experience with Abdulaziz AlHamimi in the Al-Muzahmiyya province near Riyadh on Saturday, Oct. 24. For booking and more details, check out experience.suplift.com.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud, minister of interior, on Tuesday inaugurated the medical center and Military Medical Committee clinics at the security complex in eastern Riyadh. Both facilities are affiliated with the Ministry of Interior’s medical services. After the inauguration, Prince Abdulaziz toured the medical center’s facilities and was briefed on its equipment and therapeutic and diagnostic services, including emergency care, general medicine, physical therapy and rehabilitation, and pharmac

Senior UAE diplomat Lana Nusseibeh has announced her candidacy for the position of United Nations secretary-general. Her entry adds a significant Middle Eastern presence to the race.

NEW YORK: The new-look Philadelphia 76ers are off to a flying start — and now they’ll take the court in front of the home fans for the first time Thursday when the Cleveland Cavaliers come to town. The Sixers’ starting lineup returns Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe, although a couple of star-studded additions — LeBron James and Jaylen Brown — have raised expectations in the City of Brotherly Love. The team looked a bit rusty early in Tuesday’s season opener against the defending champ

LONDON: Britain and Oman are set to expand investment ties during Sultan Haitham bin Tariq’s state visit, with a planned artificial intelligence data center in Oman expected to attract more than $1.3 billion in initial investment and create more than 100 highly skilled jobs in Britain, the UK’s government said on Wednesday. The announcement came ahead of the sultan’s meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham at No. 10 Downing St., as the countries prepared to sign an agreement to accelerate inves

TEHRAN: Iran’s state media reported the sound of explosions in the southern Hormozgan province overlooking the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. “A few minutes ago, the sound of several explosions was heard in the Karpan area of Sirik, in Hormozgan Province,” the official IRNA news agency said, without specifying whether the area was targeted by attacks or possible missile launches were carried out from the area. “Local sources have not yet disclosed the nature of these explosions,” IRNA noted. The

French authorities have banned protests in certain areas of Paris amid fears of more unrest following recent demonstrations. President Emmanuel Macron criticized US President Donald Trump for using France’s riots for political gain.