Middle East Experience

Etihad Rail has announced its first passenger train station will be located in Fujairah and will connect 11 regions across the United Arab Emirates once completed.The Abu Dhabi Media Office tweeted on Thursday that the station will be in the Sakamkam area of the emirate on the country’s east coast.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The office also tweeted that Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed, Chairman of Etihad Rail, this week visited the 145-kilometre stretch of line that is being built from Sharjah to Fujairah Port and Ras al-Khaimah.During the visit, Sheikh Theyab inspected key features of the project which aims to connect regions from Fujairah to Sila’a; the western region of Abu Dhabi.Once completed Etihad Rail is expected to carry millions of passengers annually between the country’s major cities by 2030.It will allow passengers to travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai in 50 minutes, and from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah in 100 minutes. No start date for the passenger service has been made public to date.The first phase of the Etihad Rail has been fully operational since 2016, with opportunities to expand beyond the borders of the UAE.The UAE Railways program falls under the ‘Projects of the 50’ which is a series of developmental and economic projects that aim to accelerate the UAE’s development, transform it into a comprehensive hub in all sectors and establish its status as an ideal destination for talents and investors.Sheikh Theyab also witnessed the signing of a deal between Etihad Rail and Spain’s CAF company for designing, manufacturing, supplying, and maintaining passenger trains for the rail project valued $326.7 million, the media office said.“The agreement was signed in Sakamkam area, where the first passenger train station will be built in the heart of Fujairah city," Abu Dhabi Media Office reported.Sheikh Theyab “praised the continued efforts to develop a nationwide transport system that will contribute to enhancing the UAE’s economy,” the media office said.Read more:Dubai’s ruler, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince launch UAE Rail Program to connect major citiesEtihad Rail completes 139 km of UAE’s rail network up to Al Ghuwaifat on Saudi borderEtihad Rail completes excavation works of all tunnels of the UAE rail Network
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: First Etihad Rail passenger station will be in Fujairah, connecting 11 UAE regions

Turkey has detained eight people allegedly working for an Iranian intelligence cell that planned to assassinate Israeli tourists in Istanbul, local media reported Thursday.The eight, who were not all Iranian nationals, were detained in a raid last week in three houses in Istanbul’s popular Beyoglu district, the private IHA news agency reported.Israel last week urged its citizens to leave Turkey immediately because of “possible” threats from Iranian operatives.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Iran and Israel have been engaged in a years-long shadow war but tensions have ratcheted up following a string of high-profile incidents Tehran has blamed on Israel.The Islamic Republic claimed Israel was responsible for the killing of Revolutionary Guards Colonel Sayyad Khodai in his Tehran home on May 22.IHA said Iran sent agents disguised as businessmen, tourists and students to Istanbul to assassinate Israelis in retaliation for Khodai’s murder and other attacks.It said the Iranians had split into four groups of two assassins who could better track their Israeli targets.“The hitmen in the assassination team, who settled in two separate rooms on the second and fourth floors of a hotel in Beyoglu, were (detained) with a large number of weapons and ammunition,” IHA said.The reported detentions are likely to come up during a visit to Ankara later on Thursday by Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid who is expected to take charge as prime minister of a caretaker government in coming days.Turkey’s relations with Israel have been improving after years of tensions and tourism is central to the two countries’ economic ties.Read more:Israel PM says thwarted Iranian attacks in Turkey, suspects arrestedWildfire in southwest Turkey rages on, dashing hopes it was containedUN expert condemns Greek ‘criminalization’ of migrants
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Turkey busts Iranian cell reportedly targeting Israeli tourists

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) appointed a new head for its intelligence arm on Thursday, following a series of assassinations and mysterious deaths of Iranian military personnel.Brig. Gen. Mohammad Kazemi is the new head of the IRGC’s Intelligence Organization, state media quoted the IRGC’s spokesman Ramezan Sharif as saying.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Kazemi replaces Hossein Taeb, a powerful cleric who held the post since the organization’s inception in 2009.No reason was given for the change in leadership, which comes amid a series of assassinations and mysterious deaths of members of the IRGC as well as other individuals associated with Iran’s military over the past few weeks.The most recent high profile assassination was that of IRGC Colonel Sayyad Khodaei, who was killed in a gun attack in the capital Tehran on May 22. Iran blamed Israel for his killing and vowed to take revenge.It was the most high profile assassination inside Iran since the 2020 killing of nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, which Tehran also blamed on Israel.Taeb has been appointed as an advisor to the IRGC’s chief commander, state news agnecy Tasnim said.Taeb is a powerful figure in the Iranian regime who worked at Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s office prior to being appointed as the IRGC’s Intelligence Organization in 2009. He is said to be particularly close to Mojtaba Khamenei, the supreme leader’s influential son.Taeb is sanctioned by the EU and the US over human rights violations.“I think this is an earthquake in Iran’s intelligence community given Taeb’s tenure’s longevity and his closeness to the Office of the Supreme Leader,” Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), told Al Arabiya English.“Taeb’s legacy is one of corruption, repression, and controversy. The fact that he has been named as an advisor to the IRGC’s commander-in-chief rather than another more significant position can be seen as a demotion, assuming this holds,” said Brodsky.Founded in 2009, the IRGC’s Intelligence Organization is an intelligence agency that operates parallel to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence. The two intelligence services are said to be in competition with each other and have clashed in the past.Taeb’s replacement, Kazemi, was previously head of the IRGC’s counterintelligence unit, formally known as the Intelligence Protection Organization (IPO).“The replacement of Taeb with Mohammad Kazemi, who previously headed the Intelligence Protection Organization (IPO), is a sign that the IRGC is concerned about penetration of foreign intelligence services in its ranks as the IPO’s mission is inward and focused on counterintelligence inside the IRGC,” said Brodsky.“Kazemi is likely viewed as someone who can tighten the IRGC’s Intelligence Organization’s operational tradecraft amid multiple mysterious assassinations in Iran and sabotage incidents,” he added.“Nevertheless, the question remains about Kazemi’s own skills given that he has been head of the IPO even while Iran experienced these multiple setbacks.”Read more:Turkey busts Iranian cell reportedly targeting Israeli touristsHow Iran set a sanctions evasion network to keep its economy afloat: ReportIran foreign minister says only diplomacy can resolve Ukraine crisis
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: ‘An earthquake in Iran’s intelligence community’: IRGC dismisses intelligence chief

Eighty new public art works are being installed across the country and various exhibitions are set to take place in Doha. Qatar has been the subject of negative press by…..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Sheikha Al Mayassa takes on 'negative' Qatar press with art and culture

Researcher found that the droughts during the 6th century may have led to the fall of the Himyar kingdom and the rise of Islam.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Droughts may have created fertile ground for early Islam - study

At the time of the protests, there was regular conflict between the police and anti-Netanyahu demonstrators over violating social distancing regulations during the corona pandemic.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Police official convicted for beating journalist at anti-Bibi protest

At age 13, the Palestinian stabbed a 12-year-old Israeli.

Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Parole Board rejects Ahmad Manasrah’s early release for a third time

Reports stated that the Qatari leader is heading to Egypt on Friday, the first visit since the 2017 GCC crisis. Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani travelled to…..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Qatar's Amir Tamim heads to Rwanda amid reports of Cairo visit

Early manifestations of collective government and democratic cooperation were documented in the form of round council houses.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Was democracy in America before Europeans? - study

The new policy comes as coronavirus cases continue to rise in Israel.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israelis returning from abroad who feel ill asked to undergo PCR tests