Middle East Experience

Russian forces shelled an evacuation route for civilians trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol in violation of a ceasefire agreement on Tuesday, Ukraine foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said on Twitter.“Ceasefire violated! Russian forces are now shelling the humanitarian corridor from [nearby] Zaporizhzhia to Mariupol,” Nikolenko wrote on Twitter.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“Eight trucks + 30 buses ready to deliver humanitarian aid to Mariupol and to evac (evacuate) civilians to Zaporizhzhia. Pressure on Russia MUST step up to make it uphold its commitments,” he said.There were no immediate reports of any casualties and Nikolenko gave no other details. Russia did not immediately comment on Nikolenko’s remarks.Civilians have been trapped by fighting since Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24, and officials say food, water and other supplies have been running low in some cities.Humanitarian corridors from Mariupol failed on Saturday and Sunday, with each side accusing the other of continuing to fire.But Russia’s defense ministry said on Tuesday corridors had been opened to evacuate people from Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Mariupol, and that Russian forces had introduced a “silent regime” from 0700 GMT, Interfax news agency reported.“We have already started the evacuation of civilians from Sumy to Poltava [in central Ukraine], including foreign students,” Ukraine’s foreign ministry said in a tweet.Dmytro Zhyvytsky, the governor of the Sumy region, said in televised comments around noon (1000 GMT) that the evacuation from Sumy was continuing and that the temporary ceasefire had largely held there.The first wave of vehicles that left the city met around 160 Russian military vehicles coming towards them but the incident ended peacefully when the civilian convoy stopped to let the Russian forces pass, he said.Around 1,000 foreign students had already been evacuated, Zhyvytsky said, and convoys of 20-30 private cars were leaving in waves.Oleksiy Kuleba, governor of the Kyiv region, said more than 150 people had been evacuated from Irpin by 0730 GMT.Flood of refugeesPeople trying to flee Irpin on Sunday were caught in Russian shelling, Reuters witnesses said, and a former mayor warned of a “humanitarian catastrophe” in the area.Authorities in the Sumy region said 21 civilians, including two children, had been killed in a Russian airstrike on a residential street in Sumy late on Monday. Reuters was unable to verify the report.President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a child had died of dehydration in Mariupol.The child’s death could not immediately be confirmed independently. Moscow calls its actions in Ukraine a “special military operation” to disarm its neighbor and arrest leaders it calls “neo-Nazis.” It denies targeting civilians.Some two million refugees have already fled Ukraine to other countries, Filippo Grandi, the head of the United Nations refugee agency, said.Read more: Senior Ukrainian official calls on West to provide weapons, aircraft to face RussiaRussia dangles prospect of safe corridors, Ukraine skepticalUAE calls on parties in Ukraine-Russia conflict to avoid targeting civilians
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Ukraine foreign ministry claims Russian forces are shelling Mariupol evacuation route

Saudi Arabia’s first World Defense Show has been taking place in Riyadh this week, with one day remaining for the defense exhibit.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The exhibition has featured almost 600 global companies representing over 40 countries.Founded by the General Authority for Military Industries, the event featured some of the world’s most cutting-edge, futuristic defense equipment.Attended by many prominent figures in the Middle East and the world, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman inaugurated the event on Sunday, the show’s first day.The Crown Prince toured the exhibition space and was briefed on the virtual command and control center which was equipped with some of today’s most innovative defense systems.Some other visitors of the exhibition included many members of the Kingdom’s Defense Ministry, the General authority for Military Industries (GAMI), Qatar’s Minister of state of Defense Affairs Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, and the National Center for Security Operations (NCSO), among many others.Throughout the event, GAMI announced 22 industrial partnerships to boost the Kingdom’s defense sector, as reported by Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The agreements made had a combined value of an estimated $2.1 billion.The Kingdom’s Ministry of Investment also signed 12 Memoranda of Understanding with various defense industry leaders to promote areas related to the Saudi defense sector, building in-Kingdom capabilities and to put the Kingdom on the map in the defense industry’s global supply chain.The World Defense Show is in line with Saudi Arabia’s efforts to localize defense spending.Read more:World Defense Show: Saudi Arabia, Lockheed to localize missile parts manufacturingSaudi’s Prince Khalid, Iraq defense minister al-Jubouri discuss bilateral relationsSaudi Crown Prince visits first day of World Defense Show in Riyadh
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: In pictures: Saudi’s World Defense Show exhibits innovative defense systems

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday where he was welcomed by the Kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman upon his arrival to the airport, state news agency (SPA) reported.Al-Sisi will meet with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman to discuss bilateral relations and regional and international developments, the Egyptian presidency’s spokesperson said.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“[They] will hold consultations regarding the various regional and international crises and issues… which require joint efforts to protect Arab national security,” he added according to the Egyptian presidency’s website.The delegation accompanying al-Sisi includes Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Head of the General Intelligence Services Abbas Kamel, SPA added.Read more:Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince launches scholarship program strategySaudi’s Prince Khalid, Iraq defense minister al-Jubouri discuss bilateral relationsIn pictures: Saudi’s World Defense Show exhibits innovative defense systems
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince receives Egyptian president in Riyadh

Tech giant Meta has announced the opening of its new regional headquarters in Dubai Internet City in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai Media Office (DMO) announced in a tweet on Tuesday.From its new Dubai office, Meta will serve the Middle East and North Africa region, supporting three billion users worldwide.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The launch of the new headquarters was inaugurated by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and the opening event was attended by Meta’s Chief Operating Officer and celebrity philanthropist Sheryl Sandberg.“Today, I attended the opening of @Meta’s regional headquarters in @DIC_Community. Dubai continues to consolidate its partnerships with global technology players as part of its ambitious vision to shape the future,” Sheikh Hamdan said in a tweet. “From its new base in Dubai, @Meta will serve its markets in the Middle East and North Africa region and support 3 billion users of its platforms worldwide.”“This new office is a testament to the work we’ve done so far. It’s an embodiment of our presence in the region,” Fares Akkad, Regional Director, MENA said in an interview with Dubai Media Office.Established in the year 2000, Dubai Internet City is the MENA region’s leading technology hub which is comprised of 1,600 business partners and over 24,000 professionals.Read more:New app initiative to give ten-year-olds online banking access in the UAEUAE vows to take robust action against financial crime, money launderingUAE regulator SCA works on financial crime regulation for virtual assets
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Facebook’s Meta opens new headquarter in Dubai Internet City

The Servant of the People Party is proposing to sign a new security agreement for Ukraine with the United States, Turkey and Russia instead of NATO membership.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Alternative to NATO proposed by Zelensky's party

UAE ambassador to Ukraine said the aid was “part of the UAE’s steadfast commitment to essential humanitarian needs in conflicts.”..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: UAE sends 30 tonnes of aid for war-torn Ukraine

Top US intelligence officials warned Tuesday of an “ugly next few weeks” in Ukraine as Russia looks to further invade Ukraine.The Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the House Intelligence Committee that Russian President Vladimir Putin could escalate his assault in Ukraine and that he was unlikely to be deterred.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.She also repeated previous comments by US officials that Russia was facing significant military shortcomings and experiencing more resistance from Ukrainians than they had expected.For his part, CIA chief Bill Burns warned that there could be an “ugly next few weeks” due to Putin’s efforts to batter Ukrainian forces “with no regard for civilian casualties.”Burns dubbed the Ukrainian resistance as fierce and effective, which continues to frustrate Putin.“He’s been stewing in a combustible combination of grievance and ambition for many years,” Burns said of the Russian president, adding that Ukraine was “a matter of deep personal conviction for Putin.”The director of the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency said the Defense Department estimated between 2,000 and 4,000 Russian troops had died so far.Tuesday’s hearing was to discuss current worldwide threats that face the US and its allies.Read more: World Bank halts all projects in Russia, Belarus due to Ukraine invasion
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Top US intelligence officials warn of ‘ugly next few weeks’ in Ukraine

Top US intelligence officials have been disparate about whether NATO and the US will convene militarily in the war.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Iran regime poses threat to Middle East beyond nuclear one - CIA chief

Ayelet Shaked said that Israel is preparing to receive both Ukrainian Jews making aliyah, and non-Jewish refugees who will receive temporary visas.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Interior Minister Shaked announces new plan for Ukrainian refugees

Across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), just five percent of formal firms are led by women..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: In MENA, women entrepreneurs defy odds with sportswear business