Middle East Experience

Following a speech by Bekir Bozdag, Turkey’s Justice Minister, where he said the government would recommend that trial in abstentia against 26 Saudi nationals charged in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi be suspended and the case be transferred to Saudi Arabia, Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General said: “Today is a dark day for ..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Turkey: Path to impunity and injustice for Khashoggi murder must not be taken

“The main difference is that nowadays we have a strong State of Israel that can provide a safe haven with the backing of a strong Jewish people worldwide.”
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Jewish Agency CEO: Ukraine Jewish refugee crisis largest since Holocaust

"We are rescuing thousands of Jews from the battlefield, and we are bringing anyone who chooses to come to Israel to this country."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: WZO, Jewish Agency acting head: Amazing to see Jewish nation united now

It is claimed the electoral law amendments could pave the way to fraud and aim to curtail the opposition’s chances of wresting control of the house in the next elections..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Turkish parliament passes contentious election law

At Thursday's Fifa Congress meeting in Qatar, Norway's Football Federation president Lise Klaveness said the World Cup had been awarded by Fifa..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Norway FA chief wants Fifa to take human rights stance

Eighty percent of the structures will remain, including the self-powering ‘Sustainability’ pavilion and a giant water feature..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: In blaze of fireworks, curtains fall on Dubai Expo 2020

Dubai has announced a new law which requires e-scooter users to have a driving license in order to operate the electric mobility solution, the Dubai Media Office announced in a statement on March 31.The new rule comes as part of a wider announcement of a series of laws for alternative modes of transport.The new law also states that riders below the age of 16 are not permitted to ride an electric bike or scooter, while cyclists below 12 years must be accompanied by an adult cyclist older than 18 years of age.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The announcement was attributed to a new executive council resolution passed by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed regulating bicycles, electric bikes, and scooters in Dubai.According to a statement shared on the crown prince’s website, Dubai transportation authority RTA will issue licenses for “electric-scooters or any other form of bikes in accordance with the decisions issued by RTA’s Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors.”The resolution came into effect when it was announced, although, RTA has not announced steps to apply for the permit.Another rule that will be enforced is the use of a white head lamp in front and a red lamp and red reflector in the rear. A bell must also be installed on the steering column, the statement said.Speed limits for cyclists on roads have been set to 60 km/h while the limit for e-scooters were not mentioned.Group cycling with over four riders are required to get RTA approval with Dubai Police, Dubai Sports Council, UAE Cycling Federation, and Dubai’s Ambulance Services notified ahead of the session.A safety vehicle with front and rear-facing camera must accompany group riders, clarified the statement. Reflective vests and helmets continue to be a requirement.The new rules are expected to increase the overall safety for the riders and for road users, in addition to bettering public health.Read more:UAE, Israel to recognize local drivers licenses in new MoUDubai’s new virtual asset regulator brings UAE crypto firm BitOasis under its wingEmirates will continue flights to Russia until owners say not to: Company president
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Dubai to require driving license for e-scooters per new mobility law

A rockslide that sent giant slabs of stone cascading into a quarry in the northwest of Oman earlier this week has killed at least 10 people, rescue services said on Thursday.Oman’s Ambulance Authority reported that rescuers were still searching for at least four other people known to be buried under the rubble of the quarry in Irbi, in Oman’s mountainous north.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.As workers retrieved bodies throughout the day, the death toll in the cliff collapse rose to 10, authorities said, without elaborating on the victims’ nationalities.The chunk of mountainside in the remote province of al-Dhahirah first started sliding downhill on Sunday, trapping workers in the quarry at the base of the ridge.Such landslides are typically caused by the infiltration of groundwater, which sends the rain-loosened earth and rock roaring down.Read more:Oman to list 35 state-owned companies in five years: Bourse CEOAll 132 on crashed China Eastern plane confirmed deadJapan earthquake to cost insurers between $2 billion and $4 billion: Report
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Rockslide kills at least 10 in Oman’s mountainous northwest

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he had signed a decree saying foreign buyers must pay in rubles for Russian gas from April 1, and contracts would be halted if these payments were not made.“In order to purchase Russian natural gas, they must open ruble accounts in Russian banks. It is from these accounts that payments will be made for gas delivered starting from tomorrow,” Putin said in televised remarks.“If such payments are not made, we will consider this a default on the part of buyers, with all the ensuing consequences. Nobody sells us anything for free, and we are not going to do charity either - that is, existing contracts will be stopped.”According to the decree, foreign buyers of Russian gas would have to use special accounts at Gazprombank to pay for the import of Russian gas.A foreign buyer is now obliged to transfer foreign currency to one special, so called “K,” account. Gazprombank would then buy rubles on behalf of the gas buyer to transfer rubles to another special “K” account, the order said.Gazprombank would then transfer ruble funds from a “K” type account of the foreign gas buyer to Gazprom’s ruble accounts, the order said. Gazprombank can open such accounts without a presence of a foreign buyer’s representative. For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Putin’s decision to enforce ruble payments for gas has boosted the Russian currency, which fell to historic lows when the West applied sweeping sanctions after he sent his army into Ukraine on February 24.But Western companies and governments have rejected the move as a breach of existing contracts, which are set in euros or dollars.Putin said the switch was meant to strengthen Russia’s sovereignty, and it would stick to its obligations on all contracts. Russia supplies about a third of Europe’s gas.He also said that western nations will try to find new grounds to sanction Russia, adding that his country must aim to retain jobs and to create new ones.Putin added in the televised remarks that the US was profiting from the global turbulence.Read more:Russia’s gas supply to Europe at risk as ruble deadline nearsTurkey faces risks acting as sanctions ‘safe haven’ for RussiansPoland refuses to pay for Russian gas in rubles
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Putin says Russian gas must be paid for in rubles from Friday

Following a request today by the prosecutor in the case against 26 Saudi nationals charged in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi that their trial in absentia be suspended and the case be transferred to Saudi Arabia, Tarik Beyhan, Amnesty International Turkey’s Campaign Director said: “If the prosecutor’s request is granted, then instead of prosecuting ..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Turkey: Jamal Khashoggi murder trial must not be moved to Saudi Arabia