Entertainment

BEIRUT, At least eight heads of state were originally expected in Beirut, said a source in the organizing committee, but only the Somali and Mauritanian presidents will now join Lebanese President Michel Aoun in attending.A big point of contention, in a region plagued by bellicose politics, is whether to welcome Syria back into the Arab fold now that President Bashar al-Assad has restored control over most of his country.Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, at a pre-summit meeting on Friday, called for Syria to return to our embrace in the Arab League after being suspended for seven years.The group's secretary general, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, was cited by Lebanese state media on Thursday as saying there was no Arab agreement over the return of Syria.The issue has played into divisions insid...

Regarding the alleged targeting of a fishing boat in the south (Mocha), (Taiz) governorate. Regarding the report of the International Committee Of The Red Cross (ICRC) Regional Mission concerning the targeting of a fishing boat by the Coalition Forces on January 9th, 2017 which was sailing towards (Djibouti) and arrived south of (Mocha) at approximately (12:00 pm) when it was targeted, which caused killing 11 civilians. The wreckage of the boat was found nearby the new coast and inside it the bodies, while other bodies were found scattered along the coast in (Mochaabah). JIAT has vetted the possibility of the incident and following verification of all related documents; including the Procedures and Rules of Engagement of the Coalition Forces, the Daily Naval Mission Schedule including its ...

Amman, Jordan's King Abdullah II today received a telephone call from King Mohammed VI.During the call, they discussed means of enhancing cooperation between the two countries and developments in the region.Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Israeli enemy forces resumed today the installation of a steel fence over the concrete wall opposite the Adaisseh highway on the border between Lebanon and the occupied Palestine, the NNA correspondent said.The enemy also installed concrete blocks within the area contested by Lebanon in the outskirts of the said village. A state of alert has been registered among the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL forces deployed on the Lebanese side.Opposite Wadi Hunin, which overlooks the town of Markaba in Marjayoun, three Israeli army vehicles conducted digging works, expanding the military road and opening a road into a pine grove, under the protection of military jeeps and tanks.Source: National News Agency

Jeddah, Italy's Turin-based giant football team Juventus arrived here tonight, on the way to meet their archrival AC Milan, at King Abdullah Shinning Jewel Stadium, on Wednesday.Under direct directives of Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, the President of the General Sport Authority, all preparations related to the match, the first of its kind for Jeddah to play host to, have been done, in order to manifest the event, in the best possible way.Source: Saudi Press Agency

BAGHDAD, Deputy Secretary-General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Kosrat Rasul Ali, and the British Ambassador to Iraq John Wilkes stressed the need to establish healthy relations between the Kurdistan region and the federal government on the basis of the Constitution.A statement issued by the PUK said that Rasool received on Sunday, in the city of Sulaymaniyah, John Wilkes, the British Ambassador to Iraq in the presence of British Consul in the Region. The two sides discussed the situation in Kurdistan, Iraq and the region.Rasool discussed with the British Ambassador the situation in the Kurdistan region and the stages of forming a new government, and stressed the need to form a functioning government on the basis of true partnership.On the other hand, the meeting discussed in Iraq, a...

The Lebanese army denied in an issued statement Saturday recent circulated reports through social networking sites of rising tension on the southern border, confirming the stability of the southern region."The Army Command denies this information and confirms that the situation on the southern border is stable," the statement said, adding that "the army is in cooperation and coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to prevent any escalation along the Blue Line."The Lebanese Army concluded its statement by urging local media and citizens to be accurate when publishing any news and review the Lebanese Army official website to clarify any information they relay prior to publication.Source: National News Agency

STATE DEPARTMENT, With an eye on Iran, the United States and Poland will jointly host a ministerial meeting to promote peace and security in the Middle East. The international gathering will be held in Warsaw on Feb. 13-14.The ministerial will address a range of critical issues including terrorism and extremism, missile development and proliferation, maritime trade and security, and threats posed by proxy groups across the region, a State Department statement said.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News the gathering would focus on Middle East stability and peace and freedom and security, including an important element of making sure that Iran is not a destabilizing influence.The top U.S. diplomat arrived late Friday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, after a short visit to Mana...

STATE DEPARTMENT, With an eye on Iran, the United States and Poland will jointly host a ministerial meeting to promote peace and security in the Middle East. The international gathering will be held in Warsaw on Feb. 13-14.The ministerial will address a range of critical issues including terrorism and extremism, missile development and proliferation, maritime trade and security, and threats posed by proxy groups across the region, a State Department statement said.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News the gathering would focus on Middle East stability and peace and freedom and security, including an important element of making sure that Iran is not a destabilizing influence.The top U.S. diplomat arrived late Friday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, after a short visit to Mana...

UNIFIL's Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col today chaired the first regular Tripartite meeting of 2019 at the UN position in Ras Al Naqoura, with a focus on discussions regarding tunnels and ongoing engineering works near the Blue Line, as per UNIFIL statement. Release said: "Today's meeting offered a forum to hear perspectives from both sides, especially regarding activities near the Blue Line, with the UNIFIL Head of Mission reiterating his call to the parties to continue to work through UNIFIL's coordination mechanisms to maintain the overall stability." "I again call on the parties to make full use of UNIFIL's liaison and coordination arrangements," said Major General Del Col. "Any activity close to the Blue Line should be predictable, with sufficient pri...