Middle East Experience

Swiss federal prosecutors have dropped an 11-year investigation of suspected money-laundering by Egyptians related to the Arab Spring uprisings, they said on Wednesday.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“Despite the numerous enquiries and having transferred 32 million Swiss francs to Egypt in 2018, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) must now accept that the investigation has been unable to substantiate suspicions that would justify the indictment of anyone in Switzerland or any forfeiture of assets,” the OAG said in a statement.It said it would release the remaining 400 million Swiss francs ($429 million) that had been frozen.The Swiss inquiry began in 2011 following events related to the protests which led to the downfall of long-time Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak.The “complex and extensive” criminal case initially involved 14 suspects, including Mubarak’s two sons, as well as 28 persons and 45 legal entities whose assets were seized. Five suspects had remained under investigation, the OAG said.The original suspects, most of whom held official or important economic positions in Egypt, were thought to have used Switzerland to launder the proceeds of corrupt acts.Read more: Egypt’s foreign reserves drop to $37 bln with Ukraine war shockTunisia to compensate revolution’s dead and wounded: PresidentIs the Arab Spring giving way to a Political Islam Spring?
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Swiss prosecutors drop 11-year Arab Spring probe of Egyptians

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has directed the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) to provide “urgent medical and shelter aid” worth $10 million to Ukrainian refugees, the official Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.Refugees arriving in Poland will benefit primarily, SPA added.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The drive is reportedly in coordination with the Polish government and the United Nation bodies who have an active presence in the region.Late March, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said dialogue is essential to end the current conflict in Ukraine.Speaking in Qatar where he was attending the Doha Forum, Prince Faisal added that the best way to deal with this crisis is by strengthening dialogue to reach a political solution and end the suffering of civilians.Early in March, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman affirmed the Kingdom’s support to de-escalation of Ukraine’s crisis in a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and told him the Kingdom is willing to mediate to resolve the conflict with Russia.The Crown Prince also informed Zelenskyy that Saudi Arabia will extend the visas of Ukrainian visitors, tourists and residents in the Kingdom, which will expire during this period for three months, subject to extension, and that the Kingdom's government is keen on their comfort and safety.Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, the biggest attack on a European state since 1945, has seen more than 4.6 million people flee abroad, killed or wounded thousands and left Russia increasingly isolated on the world stage.The Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office said 191 children had been killed and 349 wounded since the start of the invasion.The Kremlin says it launched a “special military operation” to demilitarize and “denazify” Ukraine. Kyiv and its Western allies reject that as a false pretext for an unprovoked attack.With ReutersRead more:Russian gas stop promises ‘sharp recession’ for GermanyOver 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers surrender in Mariupol: Russian defense ministryBiden accuses Russia’s Putin of committing ‘genocide’ in Ukraine for first time
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman directs KSRelief to give mln aid to Ukrainian refugees

Russia’s tactics in Ukraine are similar to its military offensive in Syria, Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in an interview with Al Hadath on Tuesday.“You may recall that in Syria, Russian Air Force was actively used to destroy entire cities and villages before ground forces would move in. The same tactics [are] being used in Ukraine,” Kuleba said.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The former military commander General Alexander Dvornikov who led Russia’s offensive in Syria was recently appointed as the new commander of operations in Ukraine.After being appointed on Sunday, Dvornikov, 60, will lead Russian troops on the ground in Ukraine. The general has what US National security Advisor Jake Sullivan reportedly described as “a resume that includes brutality against civilians in other theaters, in Syria.”“The former commander of the Russian army in Syria was recently appointed as commander of [the operation] of the Russian army in Ukraine. So this means that more damage [will be caused,] more civilians will die, more cities will be destroyed because of the Russian indiscriminate military attacks,” said Kuleba.Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what it called a “special operation.” As a result of the invasion, thousands have been killed and millions have been displaced.Kuleba also expressed his concern about the besieged port city of Mariupol that has fallen victim to Russian attacks and airstrikes since the beginning of the invasion.“Well, Mariupol is a besieged city. Inside of the city, there are civilians who are suffering from Russian offensive [and] strikes. And there are there are also Ukrainian defenders of the city. We, as the government of Ukraine, to our deepest regret, have no access to Mariupol.”The foreign minister said that the Ukrainian government has been working hard to figure out a solution to evacuate and help Mariupol’s civilians, adding that in order to be able to carry out evacuations quickly and efficiently, Ukraine needed more military planes.“We are ready to buy them [military planes], we are ready to take them for free. But we need them to speed [up] to save peoples’ lives, both civilian and military lives,” he said, again adding that the problem lies in the way the Russian army has been carrying out attacks in Ukraine and compared its tactics to the way they fought in Syria.Read more:General who ran Syria operation to lead Russia troops in UkraineUK sanctions Russian separatists in breakaway regionsUkrainians want Russians removed from pope’s Good Friday procession
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Russia using same tactics in Ukraine as in Syria: Ukraine FM Kuleba

Russia’s initial plan to take over Ukraine in three days failed, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a televised interview with Al Hadath on Tuesday, adding that Russia has since reshuffled its approach with new objectives.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“The initial plan of Russia in Ukraine was to take entire country under control within a maximum of three days,” Kuleba said. “This plan definitely failed. The initial plan of Russia in Ukraine implied that by now Kyiv where I am speaking from would have been already under Russian control. This plan failed.”Kuleba believes that this is why Russia had to shift its focus and change its objectives in Ukraine.Russia launched a military invasion of Ukraine in what it called a “special operation” on February 24. Millions have been displaced and thousands have died since, leaving large parts of the country in ruins.“[Russia was] forced to withdraw its army from Kyiv and send it to Donbas to Eastern Ukraine, where the largest battle is unfolding as we speak.”Russia is adjusting its objectives based on what is happening on the ground and then “claims that everything goes according to the plan,” he said.“Once the initial plan fails, Russia says, okay, everything goes according to the plan, but that’s only because they change the plan. But they are not telling anyone about that.”What do Russia sanctions mean for Europe? Western nations have imposed sanctions on Russia in solidarity over the Ukraine war as the conflict enters its seventh week.The sanctions imposed include on military goods, flights, luxury goods, energy and financial institutions in an effort to cripple the country’s economy, trade, and resources. Several individuals – including Russian oligarchs – have been sanctioned worldwide and several multinational companies have halted their operations in Russia.While the sanctions that have been imposed on Russia since the beginning of the Ukraine war were “meaningful,” they will only be felt within Russia in the “mid-to-long-term,” said Kubela.“It’s true that they already put pressure on Russia and the economy, but it still has some money to finance the Russian war machine and therefore to finance the war,” said Kuleba, adding that the whole world, including Russia, Ukraine and the European Union, all understand that depriving the “Russia war machine of its resources means introducing gas and oil embargo.”Kuleba acknowledged that while such a measure was necessary, it would be “painful” for the EU “as some of its members heavily depend on either Russian gas or oil or both.”“Yesterday foreign affairs ministers of the European Union held an initial debate on the introduction of this oil and gas embargo. We will be working with them on this issue. Some other countries, as you know, like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, they already introduced the energy embargoes towards Russia.”Kuleba stated that the EU was not only acting in favor of both Ukraine, but of its own member states as well.“It is also acting to support itself, because the last thing the European Union wants is the spillover of the conflict [or] war. And, to achieve that, Russia must be stopped in Ukraine,” Kuleba said.“The sooner we stop Russia the less damage will be inflicted on Europe and those who believe that this war is just the problem of Ukraine. They are completely wrong, and they don’t understand the history of Europe and the current reality. This war will spill over,” he warned.Read more:Russia using same tactics in Ukraine as in Syria: Ukraine FM KulebaUK sanctions Russian separatists in breakaway regionsBiden accuses Russia’s Putin of committing ‘genocide’ in Ukraine for first time
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Ukraine FM says Russia’s initial plan to take over Ukraine in three days failed

An interview with Sonia Morales of the Christian NGO Find Our Missing
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Christians: What you can do to help solve the Tx. human trafficking crisis

The Football Union of Russia withdrew its appeal against FIFA last week, after months of dispute over the country's invasion of Ukraine..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: FIFA warns court about possible World Cup 'chaos' if Russia plays

The aim of the study was to examine the influence of women’s personal experiences, experiences and community resources in the prenatal period during the pandemic on the development of distress.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Two-fifths of pregnant, postpartum Israeli women suffered depression due to pandemic

Prosecutiors sent Ayman to a mental health hospital after judging him..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Egypt’s rights council urges prosecutiors to investigate Hadhoud’s case

The Vasileostrovsky District Court in Saint Petersburg today placed Aleksandra Skochilenko, an activist who replaced price tags in supermarkets with anti-war slogans, into pre-trial detention amid a wider clampdown on a network of feminist-led anti-war activists, Amnesty International said today. Skochilenko, an artist and musician who performs anti-war songs, was initially detained on 11 April, ..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Russia: Artist detained amid clampdown on anti-war feminists

The meeting was held amid claims by Palestinians that “extremist Jews” were planning to conduct ritual sacrifices at the Temple Mount during the Passover holiday.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Palestinians threaten violence over Jewish ‘provocations’ on Temple Mount