Middle East Experience

Ukraine said it had agreed with Russian forces to open a safe route Wednesday for civilians to flee the besieged port city of Mariupol.“Taking into account a catastrophic humanitarian situation in Mariupol, we’ll be concentrating our efforts in this direction today,” Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk wrote on Telegram.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“We have managed to get a preliminary agreement on a humanitarian corridor for women, children and elderly persons,” she said. Vereshchuk told civilians to gather at 2:00 pm (1100 GMT) for the evacuations heading to the Ukrainian-held city of Zaporizhzhia.But she warned that “with regard to the very difficult security situation, changes may occur during the corridor.”Evacuations from Ukraine’s under-fire frontline areas had been suspended for the past three days as Kyiv said no agreement could be reached as Russia stepped up its attacks.Coastal Mariupol is a key target of Russia’s devastating attack on Ukraine and widespread shelling has laid waste to swathes of the city. Mariupol’s mayor appealed for remaining residents to leave the devastated city.“Do not be afraid and evacuate to Zaporizhzhia where you will get all necessary aid -- food, medicines, basic essentials. But the main thing -- you will be safe,” mayor Vadim Boychenko said in statement on Telegram.“Already 200,000 Mariupol residents were able to leave the city. Today, these people are safe. Dear residents of Mariupol, Ukraine is waiting for you.”The Kremlin’s forces are currently fighting fiercely to oust the remaining Ukrainian troops from their last holdout in the vast Azovstal iron and steel plant.Moscow has issued a series of ultimatums to Ukrainian forces in Mariupol to lay down their arms and surrender.Ukraine says that around 300,000 people have managed to escape the fighting across the country through humanitarian corridors opened since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24.Read more:UN chief denounces Russia offensive, calls for four-day truceUkraine: Russia using bunker-buster bombs on Mariupol plant where civilians shelterRussia focused on Mariupol, atrocities could be worse than Bucha: European official
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Ukraine says evacuation corridor agreed for besieged port city of Mariupol

A UAE court has sentenced a man to death for the murder of two expats in the villa community of Dubai’s Arabian Ranches, local media reported on Wednesday.The 26-year-old convict was a construction worker of Pakistani origin enticed by the sighting of a large sum of money during a maintenance visit to the Indian family’s home in 2019.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The family of four consisted of the mother Vidhi Adhiya, father Hiren Adhiya, and two children aged 18 and 15 at the time. The names of the children were withheld.Prior to the murder, the suspect was said to have stalked the family and planned for the heist, until the fateful night of June 17, 2020.Both the mother and father were killed that night as they slept. The 18-year-old daughter was stabbed in the neck when she responded to her parents’ cries for help, but survived.Soon after the then-18-year-old made sense of the situation, the police were informed, who conducted a days-long manhunt before apprehending the perpetrator in the emirate of Sharjah.According to court reports cited by the local media, Hiren Adhiya was stabbed 10 times while Vidhi Adhiya was stabbed 14 times as they became alert to the robbery underway.The assailant reportedly snuck into the house through an unlocked patio door, stole over AED 1,900 in a wallet, and then entered the room in search of larger sums of money when he committed the double murder.The murder weapon was found in a sand pit approximately 500 meters from the house, according to the same media reports.Apart from the confession, other forms of evidence including a bloody handprint on a wall in the villa and the convict’s mask on the victims’ bed confirmed the identity of the killer.The man was charged with double murder, attempted murder of the daughter, and robbery, said the reports.Read more:British teacher jailed in UK for sexually abusing students in UAEDubai Police claim beggar arrested with $10,890 cashBahrain, UAE condemn ‘terrorist’ shooting in Tel Aviv
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE court sentences man to death for double murder in Dubai community

The Muslim Council of Elders, under the Chairmanship of the Grand Imam of al-Azhar Dr. Ahmed al-Tayeb, has launched an initiative to counter anti-Muslim hate crimes in the West, a statement released on Wednesday said.The Council strongly condemned the burning of the Holy Qur’an by far-right extremists in Sweden over the weekend in what it described as a “deliberate attempt to offend Muslims around the world.”For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The violence in Malmo, Sweden began on Thursday after a demonstration organized by Rasmus Paludan, leader of Danish far-right political party Hard Line.“The Council reaffirms that such desecrations of the Holy Qur’an are initiated by certain groups from time to time with the sole purpose of provoking Muslims. Likewise, they are being deliberately carried out during the holy month of Ramadan, in a clear violation of the values of human fraternity and coexistence,” the statement read.“Through the assistance of legal and human rights experts, the Council is in the process of publishing a legal guideline on managing Islamophobia in the West,” said Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Council.The initiative will be inspired by the historic Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together which was signed by Head of The Catholic Church Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar on 4 February 2019. The Document advocates for world peace and peaceful interfaith coexistence.“The guideline will be inspired by the historic Document on Human Fraternity and will strive to be a tool for Muslim communities in the West on how to cope with provocations by far-right groups. It will also serve as a manual for Muslims in the West for any other issues that may arise going forward,” added Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam. Read more:‘Answer to problems of our time’: Experts commemorate signing of historic documentPope Francis, Grand Imam of al-Azhar receive Zayed Award for Human FraternityHumanitarians weigh in on challenges threatening world peace, coexistence
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Muslim Council of Elders to curb anti-Muslim hate crimes in the West amid unrest

Can it help knit together a nation?.
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Building the First Long-Distance Hiking Trail in Kurdistan

New Libya coach Corentin Martins admits qualifying for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will not be easy after once again being drawn in a group with both Tunisia and..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Libya ready for Afcon qualifying ‘repeat’

Turkey is turning towards the Turkic nations of Central Asia, intensifying its economic, diplomatic and military relationships with these countries. So what is driving Turkey’s Central Asia policy? Are we seeing a resurgence in nationalist Pan-Turkic geopolitics? Essay by Yasar Aydin..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Turkey and Central Asia: One nation, six states?

PM Bennett said that he will not endanger IDF and police for the sake of Ben Gvir's and Smotrich's political provocation.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Bennett defends decision to stop Ben-Gvir flag march

Christian MP Joyce Chitsulo was in Israel on an Israel Allies Foundation Chairmen's Conference trip.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Malawi president plans to move embassy to Jerusalem, MP tells ‘Post’

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin held a rare call with his Chinese counterpart on Wednesday, the Pentagon said, with part of the discussion on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.This appears to be the first call between the two since Austin entered office. China has repeatedly rejected Washington’s efforts to arrange a call.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Pentagon said Austin and Wei Fenghe spoke “as a follow-up to the recent call between President Biden and Xi Jinping.”Biden and Xi spoke last month as the US president warned Beijing that there would be severe consequences for helping Russia militarily or economically during its war on Ukraine.“Secretary Austin and General Wei discussed US-PRC defense relations, regional security issues, and Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine,” the Pentagon said in a readout of Wednesday’s call.For its part, China said the phone call touched on the contentious issue of Taiwan, which Beijing said would have negative impacts on ties between the US and China.Washington has stepped up its support for Taiwan, with American lawmakers making several trips to Taiwan in recent months.Read more: Taiwan’s security as tech hub is of global concern, visiting US senator says
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US defense secretary holds first call with Chinese counterpart since entering office

IDF paramedics have been treating everything including car accidents, births and wounded terrorists.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: IDF paramedics treat all injuries and emergencies in the West Bank