Middle East Experience

Saudi Arabia’s first World Defense Show, part of a drive to localize the Kingdom’s military expenditure, opened to the public on Sunday morning.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The show features nearly 600 exhibitors from more than 40 countries, and organizers predict that 30,000 people will attend.It runs from Sunday to Wednesday at a purpose-built 800,000 square meter venue north of Riyadh.The exhibition is due to be held every two years, and was organized by the Kingdom’s General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI).Delegations from dozens of countries will visit pavilions featuring products and demonstrations from the hundreds of local and international exhibitors.Exhibitors will display technology from air, land, sea, and space defense systems.“The 6th of March will mark an important milestone in the Kingdom’s journey towards localizing 50 percent of its military expenditure by 2030,” said Ahmad al-Ohali, Governor of GAMI in a statement.“We have seen overwhelming global interest for participating at World Defense Show’s first edition and we look forward to providing a conducive environment for networking and cross-border partnerships to drive innovation in the industry,” he added.Daily themed panel discussions will delve into the details of the technology exhibited at the show.There will also be a 20-minute cyber-defense show held six times a day at the Command and Control Center.A Start-Up Zone will display some of the newest technologies offered by small and medium companies from around the world.The final day of the show will open its doors to 5,000 talented Saudi students from the Kingdom’s STEM institutions for the Future Talent Program.Read more:Ties between UAE, United States undergoing ‘stress test:’ UAE envoy saysSaudi Arabia is essential pillar of regional security: Bahrain's King HamadSaudi Arabia’s Prince Khalid, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince discuss regional developments
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia’s first World Defense Show opens to the public

The masterplan for a new planned city in Saudi Arabia designed to foster non-profit organizations has been revealed.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Misk Foundation published an aerial plan of the development, which is due to be built to the west of Riyadh. The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City will cover an area of 3.4 square kilometers.More than 300,000 square meters will be dedicated to commercial areas, providing employment for an estimated 20,000 people.Almost 100,000 square meters will feature retail, entertainment, and food and beverage outlets.Residential areas comprising 500 villas and townhouses, and 6,000 apartments, housing around 18,000 people, are also planned.Almost half of the area (44 percent) will be dedicated to open green spaces.The new city was designed with a particular focus on sustainability and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, according to the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation.Further details about development phases will be released in the coming months.Saudi Arabia currently has several planned city megaprojects underway, including the Red Sea project, NEOM, and Diriyah Gate.The Kingdom has a history of developing planned cities including the industrial cities of Jubail and Yanbu, which were selected to become centers of industry in the 1970s.Read more: Saudi Crown Prince announces establishment of first ‘non-profit city in the world’NEOM first choice among giga-projects for Saudi Arabian homebuyers: SurveySaudi Transport Authority unveils project to link 200 cities, ferry 6 mln passengers
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Masterplan revealed for new planned city in Saudi Arabia

The Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, which is surrounded by Russian troops, said it will restart efforts to evacuate civilians on Sunday, after earlier efforts were scuppered by ceasefire violations.“From 1200 (1000 GMT) the evacuation of the civilian population begins,” city officials announced in a statement, which said a ceasefire was agreed with Russian-led forces surrounding the city.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.An earlier attempt on Saturday to allow civilians to leave by buses and private cars along the road northwest towards Zaporizhzhia failed when both sides accused the other of shelling.According to aid agency Doctors Without Borders (MSF) the humanitarian situation in Mariupol, a key target for the Russian invasion forces, is “catastrophic” with no power or water in civilian homes.“It is imperative that this humanitarian corridor ... is put in place very quickly,” MSF’s emergency coordinator in Ukraine, Laurent Ligozat, told AFP.Ukrainian authorities accuse the Russians of shelling even when civilians were gathering to form an escape convoy, but Moscow’s defence ministry accuses the city’s defenders of exploiting a “human shield.”Separately, on Sunday, the head of Kyiv-controlled Lugansk regional administration, said a train would be organized to evacuate women, children, and the elderly from Lysychansk.Lysychansk is near the frontline between Ukrainian forces and Moscow-backed separatists, who are fighting to link up with the Russian forces and control the entire southeast.“You need to reach Lysychansk station on your own. Women with children are boarding first, then women under 40, women, the elderly,” Sergiy Gaiday wrote on Telegram.If Russian forces succeed in capturing Mariupol which held out against rebel forces in the previous 2014 conflict, they will control Ukraine’s entire Azov Sea coast.This would give them a landbridge from Russia to Russian-annexed Crimea and an important supply route and port if they decide to push north in a bid to take all of eastern Ukraine.Read more:Ukrainian refugees near 1.5 million as Russian assault enters 11th dayUkraine conflict set to last months, if not years: UK deputy PM RaabRussia targeting populated areas in Ukraine’s cities, says UK intelligence
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Ukraine’s port city of Mariupol tries again to evacuate civilians

The attack was one of the deadliest in years to hit Peshawar. There have been numerous sectarian attacks on Pakistani soil in recent months..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Qatar condemns sectarian attack on mosque in Pakistan

More than 10,000 people from Saudi Arabia and around the world took part in the Riyadh Marathon on Saturday, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.It was the first official full marathon to be held in the Kingdom, according to the official website, and was organized by the Saudi Sports for All Federation. A half marathon was held in 2018.The 42-kilometer race began at King Saud University at 6.15 a.m. and passed through the historic district of Diriyah, before runners made their way down Prince Mohammed bin Salman Road, and through the King Abdullah Financial center before returning to the university.Saudi runners made up 57 percent of those participating, although athletes from Ethiopia took first place in both the men’s and women’s professional categories.Tadese Tsegaye Getachew won first place in the men’s professional category, while Nare Tadu Teshome took gold in the women’s professional category.In the general category, Saudi Ali Al-Shahrani won third place, while the Kenyan Michael Kimtai took second and Kenyan Bernard Chiruiyot won first.Prize money worth $500,000 (two million riyals) was given to race winners.“We are happy today to launch the Riyadh Marathon 2022,” said Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Saud, Minister of Sport, in a statement published on the Riyadh Marathon website.“Through the continuous and unlimited support from our leadership His Majesty Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Saudi Arabia has been able to become one of the world's leading sport destinations,” Prince Abdulaziz added.Read more: UAE private jet companies see bookings surge for day trips to Qatar’s FIFA World CupIn pictures: Polo tournament held in Saudi Arabia’s AlUlaSaudi Arabia’s Crown Prince receives minister of sports, al-Hilal football players
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: More than 10,000 people take part in first full-length Riyadh Marathon

TURSAB expected seven million Russians and 2.5 million Ukrainians this year, but Kuk said it would..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Fallout from Ukraine war threatens Turkish tourism sector

Qatari authorities have yet to respond to Doha News’ request for a comment. Some workers at the Bin Omran Trading and Contracting (BOTC), a prominent firm covering World Cup related projects, have not been paid over the past five months, according to a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report. By delaying the workers’ payments, BOTC is ..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Human Rights Watch: Workers at prominent firm in Qatar remain unpaid

With just months to the much-awaited FIFA World Cup opening, are construction companies running out of time?.
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Workers say they're being

Italy looks to boost energy ties with Qatar as the Russian-Ukraine war threatens its supply..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Italy to boost energy ties with Qatar after Ukraine invasion

The US has seen “very credible reports” of deliberate attacks on civilians, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday, adding that Washington was documenting these reports to support appropriate organizations in their potential war crimes investigation.“We've seen very credible reports of deliberate attacks on civilians which would constitute a war crime,” Blinken told CNN's “State of the Union” show. “We've seen very credible reports about the use of certain weapons,” he said.“What we're doing right now is documenting all of this, putting this all together, looking at it and making sure that as people and the appropriate organizations and institutions investigate whether war crimes have been or are being committed that we can support whatever they are doing,” Blinken added.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Russia, which denies attacking civilian areas, calls the campaign it launched on Feb. 24 a “special military operation”, saying it has no plans to occupy Ukraine.The US embassy in Ukraine on Friday sent a tweet that attacking a nuclear plant is a war crime after Russian invasion forces seized Europe's biggest nuclear power plant in heavy fighting in southeastern Ukraine, triggering global alarm.The State Department sent a message to all US embassies in Europe telling them not to retweet the Kyiv embassy's tweet calling the attack a war crime, according to CNN, which said it reviewed the message. Read more:Russian strike destroys Ukrainian airport: ZelenskyyUkraine President Zelenskyy warns Russia preparing to shell historic port city OdessaRussia says Ukrainian military air base struck with long-range weapons
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US sees ‘very credible reports’ of deliberate attacks on civilians in Ukraine