Middle East Experience

China holds military drills around Taiwan as US delegation visitsChina said it conducted military drills around Taiwan on Friday, as a US Congressional delegation visited the island, in a move the People’s Liberation Army said was intended to target the “wrong signals” sent by the United States.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.China’s military sent frigates, bombers and fighter planes to the East China Sea and the area around Taiwan on Friday, People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command spokesman Shi Yilu said, according to China’s state broadcaster.“This operation is in response to the recent frequent release of wrong signals by the United States on the Taiwan issue,” Shi said, without mentioning the visiting US lawmakers.“The US bad actions and tricks are completely futile and very dangerous. Those who play with fire will burn themselves,” he said.During a Friday meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, US Senator Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the technology hub is a “country of global significance” and its security has implications for the world.Menendez was among a bipartisan group of six US lawmakers visiting in a show of support to the democratic island in the face of Chinese pressure.Such visits, and a reference to Taiwan as a “country”, rankle in Beijing, which dismisses any suggestion that Taiwan is a country. China regards the island as one of its provinces.The United States has no formal relations with Chinese-claimed Taiwan but is its most important international backer and arms supplier.Menendez acknowledged that the Chinese government was “very unhappy” with the delegation’s visit but that would not dissuade the group from supporting Taiwan.“With Taiwan producing 90 percent of the world’s high-end semiconductor products, it is a country of global significance, consequence and impact, and therefore it should be understood the security of Taiwan has a global impact,” Menendez told Tsai in a meeting in the presidential office broadcast live online.Taiwan has been heartened by the US support offered by the Biden administration, which has repeatedly talked of its “rock-solid” commitment to the democratically governed island.That has added to strains in Sino-US relations.Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also put Taipei on alert for any possible moves by Beijing to use the Ukraine crisis to make a move on the island. The government has reported no unusual Chinese activity.Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham told Tsai during the delegation’s meeting that the war in Ukraine and provocative behavior by China have united US opinion in a way not seen before.“We will stand with you. To abandon Taiwan will be to abandon democracy and freedom,” he said.The delegation, which arrived late on Thursday from Australia for an unannounced two-day trip, will also meet Taiwan’s foreign minister, Joseph Wu, and Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng.Read more:Taiwan’s security as tech hub is of global concern, visiting US senator saysSix US lawmakers arrive in Taiwan on unannounced tripTaiwan issues first war survival handbook amid China threat
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: China conducts military drills around Taiwan in response to US

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping means to enhance the strategic partnership between China and the Kingdom, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Friday.The two leaders reportedly discussed ways to further the work of the Saudi-Chinese Joint Committee.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The two sides also “agreed to make more efforts to enhance the partnership and strategic relationship between the two friendly countries,” SPA reported.The leaders also spoke about the “international situations and issues of common interest,” according to SPA.Additionally, the Chinese president “praised the Kingdom’s pivotal role in the region” for its efforts to bring peace and stability to Yemen.The last reported interaction between the two leaders was when Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince sent his condolences to China’s president in memory of victims of the China Eastern Airlines plane crash.Earlier in March, Saudi Arabia strengthened energy ties with China, as the oil producer Saudi Aramco agreed to build a multi-billion-dollar refining and chemicals project that will tap into the Asian country’s future demand, Bloomberg reported.Read more:Saudi Arabia, US extend research and science collaboration for 10 more yearsFitch revises Saudi Arabia’s outlook to ‘positive’ from ‘stable’Saudi Arabia authorities foil drug smuggling attempt of 500,000 amphetamine pills
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, China’s President Xi Jinping discuss partnership growth

Ten jailed al-Qaeda militants have escaped from prison in Yemen’s eastern province of Hadramawt, security officials said on Friday.The inmates staged a quarrel among themselves late Thursday at the prison in the city of Seiyun, forcing guards to intervene.But when they did, the prisoners overpowered them, seizing their Kalashnikov rifles and binding their hands before running away, prison officials said. They asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to brief the media.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Preliminary investigations indicated that the inmates must have coordinated their move with prison guards who collaborated, as well as other militants from outside, they added.The Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has long been considered the global network’s most dangerous branch, and has attempted to carry out attacks on the US mainland.A list of the fugitives’ names has been put out on social media to help with the hunt, said the officials.Read more:UN envoy sees light at ‘end of the tunnel’ in Yemen’s warUN urges ‘restraint’ after Yemen truce violation chargesUN seeks $80 million to avert ‘imminent’ Yemen oil spill
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Ten al-Qaeda inmates escape from prison in eastern Yemen

The Jewish neighborhood in the UAE will include synagogue, homes, schools, community center, and hotels.

Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: UAE’s first fully equipped Jewish neighborhood to be established, says Rabbi

Opinion: This mythical figure has taken a long journey from European prehistory to today.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: The roots of the Easter bunny explained

Around 800 Samaritans live in Israel, mostly in Holon and on Mount Gerizim in Samaria.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Samaritans carry out Passover sacrifice in West Bank ceremony

In Algeria, the French top diplomat said “cooperation on security and for the stabilisation of the region is indispensable in the Mediterranean and in Africa.”..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Le Drian says cooperation with Algeria ‘indispensable’ after elections

Fuel prices hikes are expected to reflect inflation rates, which already jumped from ten percent in February to 12 percent in March, according to the state-run statistics bureau..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Amid global inflationary pressures, Egypt hikes fuel prices

Algerian man must prove his identity before collecting €250,000 winnings but has no papers..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Undocumented migrant fights to claim huge Belgian scratchcard win

World leaders and politicians share messages and goodwill with Jewish communities around the world ahead of the Passover holiday
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Joe Biden sends Passover message to Jewish community