Tel Aviv

Israel and UAE to establish full diplomatic ties, as Tel Aviv says deal will 'delay' annexation of Palestinian lands.

Israel and the United Arab Emirates have reached an agreement - brokered by the United States - to work towards a "full normalisation of relations", a deal the Palestinians called a "treacherous stab in the back".

The Chinese ambassador to Israel was found dead in his home north of Tel Aviv on May 17, Israel's Foreign Ministry said.

No cause of death was given and Israeli police said it was investigating.

Du Wei, 58, was appointed envoy in February in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. He previously served as China's envoy to Ukraine.

Greek carrier Bluebird Airways has declared it is ready to resume Greece's air link with Israel from early July, if authorities allow it. It intends to link its Iraklio hub, as well as Rhodes, Kos, Mykonos and Thessaloniki, with Tel Aviv, in the context of a bilateral state agreement currently being prepared between the two countries.

Turkish Cargo, a division of Turkey's national flag carrier Turkish Airlines, has boosted its capacity to prevent any supply chain disruption so it can carry critically important medical freight amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest said they were focused for now on holding the event planned for Rotterdam in May while weighing possible disruptions from the coronavirus crisis.

Dutch public broadcaster NPO said it was in consultations with the European Broadcasting Union, the co-producer of the hugely popular televised event, to review how the virus may impact the contest.

The Israeli embassy in Belgrade said it was "happy" to hear that Serbia plans to open a diplomatic representative office in Jerusalem, which Israel claims as its capital.

Olympiakos has got to be the least predictable team in this Euroleague, as on Thursday it very nearly upset Maccabi in Tel Aviv, before falling to a last-ditch effort by Scottie Wilbekin.

The Reds suffered their 15th loss in 26 games, going down 71-70 in Israel even though they went into the last three minutes with a seven-point lead.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "reactionary racist" at the Democratic presidential debate on Feb. 25.       

US director Quentin Tarantino became a father for the first time. He and his wife, Israeli singer and model Daniella Pick welcomed a son, BTA reported.

Ukraine returns to Eurovision after missing the song contest last year, DPA reported.

The country plans to send the band Go_A to Rotterdam in May. Over the weekend, the group won the competition to represent Ukraine with the song "Solovey." five performers.