Middle East Experience

Earlier this week, Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Israel’s Ambassador in Moscow Alexander Ben Zvi.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Russia expresses upset over Israeli stance on Ukraine through Palestinians

"Sarmat" has the longest operational range in the world, according to Russia, which will significantly increase the combat power of the country's strategic nuclear forces.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Russia completes first launch of new nuclear-capable ICBM

Dbeibah talked about the need to coordinate with the Tunisian authorities the control of joint border crossings..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Omens of war in Libya

Bodaghi was convicted last week in an..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iran sentences teacher for

The UAE’s International Astronomical Center confirmed that Eid al-Fitr will fall on May 2 in most countries where the holy month of Ramadan started on April 1, state news agency WAM reported on Thursday.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Engineer Mohammed Shawkat Odeh, the center’s director, explained that sighting the crescent moon on April 30 “will be impossible because the moon will set before the sun.”Therefore, countries which marked the beginning of Ramadan on April 2 will conclude Ramadan on May 1 and mark Eid al-Fitr on May 2, Odeh explained.Countries that marked the beginning of the holy month on April 3, such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, India, Oman, Jordan and Morocco, will sight the crescent moon on May 1 – which would mark the 29th of Ramadan for them – to determine when the first day of Eid al-Fitr is.Odeh noted, however, that sighting the crescent moon on May 1 “is not possible at all in Australia and surrounding areas,” adding that it’s possible to sight it via a telescope only in central and western Asia, most of Europe and south of Africa.“Most countries that will try to sight the crescent moon on May 1 will most likely announce that May 2 is the first day of Eid al-Fitr,” Odeh said, adding that it’s expected for India, Bangladesh and Pakistan to announce May 3 as the first day of Eid.Eid al-Fitr celebrations follow the end of the holy month of Ramadan which lasts 29 or 30 days based on when the crescent moon is sighted.Read more:UAE Eid al-Fitr holiday dates announced for federal government employeesEid holiday dates announced for schools and private sector in Saudi ArabiaWhat does science say about the health effects of fasting?
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE astronomy center says Eid al-Fitr to fall on May 2 in most countries

Emirati designer Fatima al-Mulla, founder of local fashion label FMM, told Al Arabiya English that SHEIN stole some of her designs, adding that it was not the first time this has happened.China-based fast-fashion retailer SHEIN has been accused of copying other designers’ work and selling the products at a lower price, using much cheaper fabrics.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Al-Mulla and her followers took to Instagram to shed light on the issue. When SHEIN stole her designs the first time, it responded to the designer via direct message on the social media platform.“Hello, SHEIN respects the intellectual property rights of designers and artists and others. We take issues related to originality seriously and continuously improve our protection mechanism for originality. We also require our suppliers to comply with this code of conduct, and they need to demonstrate that their products do not infringe the intellectual property rights of third parties. If individual suppliers are found to be non-compliant, we will take immediate measures, and we will ban individual suppliers who have repeatedly infringed. At present, we have removed the product you mentioned and investigated the relevant suppliers. Thanks for your feedback,” SHEIN said in a direct message.“When I posted it on my story, three or four people messaged me back to say that they bought the item [from SHEIN], it’s not good quality but it serves the purpose, it looks like your work. I was very shocked by that,” the designer explained in a phone interview with Al Arabiya English on Thursday.Al-Mulla said that this was the second time SHEIN had copied her designs.“This is not the first time actually, this is the second time,” she said. “The first time it happened, I thought to myself: don’t give them any attention or let them be in the spotlight. I have over 100,000 followers [on Instagram] so not a lot of people can afford the brand. If they see something similar, they might go get it.”She continued, “When this happened with SHEIN, I realized that I’m not getting copied by small businesses, my designs were being copied by a large corporation that’s bringing in millions. How am I supposed to sustain myself then?”Al-Mulla was selling one dress for $340 but when SHEIN copied it, the online seller was selling the same dress for $20.“How can you compete even if you wanted to? You cannot,” the designer said.SHEIN did not reply to Al Arabiya English’s request for comment.An issue for 10 years “This has been happening to me, on and off, for 10 years,” al-Mulla said.The fashion designer is also a graphic designer and has struggled with copyright issues for a long time.She was at an exhibition on Wednesday where she found another stall using one of her illustrations on a printed dress.“The stall next to us didn't have the exact print, but it's my illustration on a printed dress and they're selling it for way cheaper… and it’s just happening again and again and again.”She added that she was pleased by the fact that social media has given her and fellow designers a voice to speak up against these issues.Al-Mulla said that several other designers have had their designs stolen by SHEIN in the past and that one of her friends who works in IT told her algorithms being used by the retailer might be the reason why they are picking up on these products and reproducing them for a lower price.“In this world of Instagram where people wear something maybe two or three times and that’s it. It’s fast, disposable fashion. Some people don’t care about the quality anymore as long as it looks amazing in pictures online,” she said.“I was sick and tired of all the copies,” al-Mulla added.“I reached a point where I was super depressed, I didn’t know what to do anymore. It was like I was doing free research and design for these businesses and it’s heartbreaking.”Al-Mulla said that she was impressed by how social media is being used as a driving force for good and bringing people together.The Emirati designer launched FMM in 2012 and has since expanded her business which now sells carpets, dresses, Kimonos, and accessories such as masks and passport covers.Read more:Chinese retailer Shein lacks disclosures on factory working conditions, made false stLouvre Abu Dhabi’s ‘Stories of Paper’ exhibit officially opens to the public‘Queen of Color’: Meet Nat Bowen, model-turned-artist collaborating with McLaren
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: ‘It’s heartbreaking’: Emirati designer FMM speaks out on SHEIN stealing her designs

"The enemy keeps sending messages that if we give up on avenging Soleimani, they will give us some concessions or lift some sanctions," Revolutionary Guards' Navy Commander Alireza Tangsiri said.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Iran rejects US offers to lift sanctions in exchange for Tehran abandoning Soleimani revenge

Berlin has increased its defense budget and has set up special fund to upgrade its armed forces
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israel, Germany to expand bilateral defense and industrial cooperation

Iraqis have been facing power outages for more than 30 years, despite Baghdad being amongst the top 10 oil-rich countries in the world..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iraq to sign LNG deal with Qatar in May

US President Joe Biden on Thursday announced a new pledge of $800 million in military aid for Ukraine as Russia shows no signs of ending its invasion of the country.Asked about how long the US would be able to continue supplying Ukraine with weapons, Biden said Washington had “the capacity to do this for a long time.”For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.But he warned that the aid for Ukraine, which was approved in a bipartisan manner in Congress, was “almost exhausted.” Biden thanked Congress and voiced his hope that more assistance would be approved.The Pentagon released a statement saying the latest drawdown of military aid for Ukraine would include: 72 155mm Howitzers and 144,000 artillery rounds 72 Tactical Vehicles to tow 155mm Howitzers Over 121 Phoenix Ghost Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems Field equipment and spare partsPentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said this brought the total value of US military aid for Ukraine to more than $4 billion since the beginning of the Biden Administration. Kirby noted that around $3.4 billion of support had been pledged since the beginning of Russia’s unprovoked invasion on February 24.Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US would continue to provide Ukraine the arms its forces were effectively using on the ground to defend themselves.“For almost eight weeks, Russia has waged its savage assault against Ukraine, its sovereignty, its independence, its freedom, and its people,” Blinken said. “From Bucha to Kramatorsk, from Kharkiv to Mariupol, we have seen Russia’s brutalities and its atrocities laid bare for the world to see. And yet Ukrainian Winter has turned to Ukrainian Spring. The people of Ukraine will prevail.”Read more: Russia increased footprint in east Ukraine over last week: Senior US official
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Biden announces new pledge of 0 mln in military aid for Ukraine