There is a nervousness in Lebanon’s corridors of power. But the whispers are not about the US or Israel. They are about Unit 121 – a threat from within. Known as “Hezbollah’s death machine” and the most secretive and brutal arm of the terror group, the unit has been linked to some of the country’s most notorious political assassinations, including that of Rafik al-Hariri, the former prime minister, in 2005.

Four Iranian banks have been targeted in a cyber attack suspected to have been launched by Israel, after the US granted Tehran access to billions in frozen funds. The Export Development Bank of Iran, Bank Melli, Bank Saderat and Bank Tejarat, which are all linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), were forced to suspend card-related services after the hack on Tuesday. While no one has yet claimed credit, intelligence sources and experts suggest Israel could be behind the attack, which came days after Donald Trump announced frozen funds would be returned to Iran as part of the negotiated peace deal.

For Mohammed Kabrah, the owner of a small café in Jaffa, every air raid siren brings the same sinking feeling. The customers disappear. The streets empty. The cash register stops ringing. “Business has gone down 70 to 80 per cent since October 7,” said the 47-year-old father of two. “Once the sirens start, the place is empty. Many people don’t even leave home.” Like many Israelis, Mr Kabrah has lived through years of conflict. But he believes the war with Iran has changed something fundamental. “Iran is the worst,” he said. “It’s scary, stressful. It’s not like the other wars we’ve had where we could simply trust the Iron Dome.”

Traffic is building in Dubai again, restaurant tables are filling up and flights have largely resumed. On the surface, life in the Gulf’s tourism powerhouse looks close to normal. Beneath it, the city is facing a harder reality — although infrastructure is up and running, confidence hasn’t followed. And now, hotels, airlines and hospitality businesses are working harder than ever to persuade visitors to return.

Across the Persian Gulf, the Eid al-Fitr holiday, normally one of the most festive times of the year, is approaching under the shadow of war. Marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, beginning on Thursday Eid is traditionally celebrated with family gatherings, travel and large public prayers. But this year it is expected to be far more subdued, as the war between the United States, Israel and Iran continues to reverberate across the region with at least 2,000 people killed so far. Festive...

One of the world’s leading tourist destinations, the United Arab Emirates is home to some nine million expatriates. Hailing from almost 200 countries, many have come with their families to build a new and better life, working and living among more than a million native Emiratis. When the first waves of Iranian missiles and drones struck the Persian Gulf last week, the United Arab Emirates, long regarded as one of the Middle East’s safest and most stable countries, found itself confronting an un...

Aesthetic‭ ‬enhancements have long been growing among men‭, ‬and the reduced stigma around them is making way for a new wave of treatments from‭ ‬‘brotox’‭ ‬to hair transplants‭, ‬and liposuction for‭ ‬‘CEO belly’‭. ‬Last year‭, ‬the‮ ‬British College of Aesthetic Medicine‮ ‬reported that survey results showed a‭ ‬70‭ ‬per cent rise in‮ ‬men‮ ‬getting aesthetic treatments since 2021‭. ‬And a 2023‭ ‬report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons‭ (‬ASPS‭) ‬said‭: ‬“Men are also discovering...

As Iranian missiles continued to send millions of Israelis into shelters on Monday, Lior Lasry adjusted her wedding dress and descended four storeys below one of Tel Aviv’s biggest shopping malls. Above ground, the city was braced for attack. Below it, in the car park that doubles as a bomb shelter four levels beneath the Dizengoff Center, a bride and groom were standing beneath a hastily assembled chuppah (the Jewish wedding canopy), vowing to build a life together.

The Gulf Cooperation Council states have warned that they will take “all necessary measures” to counter Iranian aggression, as drone and missile attacks continued to hit the tiny countries, increasing the risk of an all-out regional war in the Persian Gulf. On Monday, a joint statement from the body, which represents Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, said they will do whatever they must to defend their security and territories, reserving the right to respo...

The US ambassador to Israel has rejected British plans to allow Hamas to keep its small arms as part of the Gaza peace process. Mike Huckabee told The Telegraph the terror group could not be trusted to retain AK-47s and other personal weapons. Mr Huckabee also dismissed proposals to store Hamas’s other weapons in secured facilities in the Strip, saying it would not work and would instead create a dangerous vacuum. The ambassador said anyone with control over this weapons cache would have too much power, and it could easily fall into the wrong hands.

Luxury travel is being redefined as the world’s most discerning travellers seek extraordinary experiences that are as responsible as they are refined. Eco-luxe travel is taking hold across some of the world’s most unique destinations as the industry blends a growing demand for ethical and sustainable travel while not letting go of the demand for opulent escapes.Last year, The Forbes Research 2025 High Net Worth Survey, which polled 250 global high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) with more than $2 million in investable assets between April and May, found that the wealthy are changing the way they live, and travel.

Gen-Z is redefining luxury, with priorities shifting into a new era in which the values of sustainability, ethics, quality of life, and personal growth are reinventing traditional concepts of luxury.This is seen no less in the area of fashion, as Dubai continues to be a regional capital for all things luxury and style. Ahmad Ammar, co-founder and designer at AAVVA, said: “In the UAE, luxury is still very much something that’s worn and celebrated, especially within local culture.

Growing numbers of married women and mothers are travelling solo to gain balance between the demands of work and family life‭, ‬and‭ ‬experts say it is the key to healthier‭, ‬happier women‭, ‬with positive impacts on the whole family‭.‬‭Sheba Elamkootil‭, ‬an Indian expatriate in Abu Dhabi‭, ‬is a mum to boys aged 17‭ ‬and 21‭. ‬She has been taking trips alone since 2013‭ ‬to countries including Egypt‭, ‬Peru‭, ‬Zambia and Azerbaijan‭. ‬Now‭, ‬at 47‭, ‬the teacher says‭, ‬“I’ve always loved tra...

Why the little known 'Monte Carlo' is the new hideaway for the world's elite

For decades, Orlando has reigned as the global capital of theme parks — a place where Disney, Universal, SeaWorld and countless other attractions have drawn millions of visitors. But a challenger for the crown has emerged from an unlikely place: the deserts of the Arabian Gulf.

Iran detained 21,000 people during its 12-day war with Israel in June, the regime has revealed.Iran has not previously acknowledged the scale of the mass arrests, which came amid fears that Iranian society had been infiltrated by Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency.Gen Saeed Montazer al-Mahdi, a spokesman for the Iranian police, said the suspects were reported via tip-offs to authorities after a near nationwide internet blackout was imposed during the war.He told state television: “The arrest o...

Iran has sent its surviving nuclear scientists into deep hiding after Israel killed more than 30 researchers, The Telegraph can reveal. Most are no longer living in their homes or teaching at universities, and have been moved to secure locations in Tehran or northern coastal cities, where they live in villas with their families, a senior Iranian official said. The Telegraph has been shown the names of more than 15 of these surviving scientists, on a list of about 100 held by Israel, whom the Israelis say must now decide whether to continue their work and risk further strikes or find a new career.

Increasingly people are turning to AI instead of health professionals, but is that really a good thing?

Isaac Belaish was asleep on his sofa when the sound of an explosion violently woke him. Looking around, he found his whole apartment littered with shattered glass. “Everything exploded – the windows... the TV exploded on me,” he said. The 76-year-old had cuts all over his body and many of his most important personal possessions shattered. But he acknowledged it could have been worse. The 500kg missile launched by Iran that fell less than 100m away from his house has caused the worst civilian loss of life in Israel since war broke out between Israel and Iran. At least six people were killed in the strike on a cluster of residential buildings in the coastal town of Bat Yam, and 180 wounded.

Strike on residential buildings kills at least six people in Israeli coastal town