Meeting comes after head of Palestinian transitional committee announced Rafah crossing will open next week; family of last hostage calls against move before his body is returned

Spokesperson denies US president's son met privately with Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, whose breakaway African nation was recognized by Israel last month in a first by a UN member

Nouri al-Maliki’s nomination sets stage for delicate talks on forming government amid US-Iran tensions and pressure over armed militias

Incident follows another ICE-related shooting in Minneapolis weeks ago; Homeland Security Dept. says man 'violently resisted,' while local cops describe him as a lawful gun owner

State-linked news agency reports security council approved reconnection of internet, which Iran cut off earlier this month as it launched deadly crackdown on demonstrations

Three women hospitalized with moderate and light wounds after blast outside Ar'ara; separately, two men stabbed during brawl in southern Bedouin town of Rahat

Amid US military buildup, senior Iranian official says Islamic Republic 'is ready for the worst-case scenario' * Top US general in Mideast to reportedly visit Israel on Saturday

Friedrich Merz and Giorgia Meloni both cite constitutional objections to joining initiative, which the EU's foreign policy arm warns the US president will have too much power over