Middle East Experience

In Iran, a centuries-old form of strength training that combines athletics and religious ritual is still practiced to this day. Reporting for Qantara.de, Marian Brehmer paid a visit to one of these ancient..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iran's zurkhaneh bodybuilders: Praying in the house of strength

The General Transport Authority in Saudi Arabia has opened investment opportunities in providing passenger transport services through buses to connect more than 200 cities and governorates in the Kingdom.The network is projected to transport six million passengers annually throughout the Kingdom, the Authority (TGA) said in a tweet on Wednesday.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Under the project, it is envisaged to have more than 300 bus stops in 76 routes through 200 cities and governorates served by almost 560 buses across more than 150 million kilometers annually.TGA issued a tender for providing bus services to the project. The tender will enhance competition in the sector and provide attractive opportunities for private sector investors.It will also enhance the quality of services and provide competitive services among operators.In the intercity bus transport franchise project, TGA worked on studying the feasibility of enhancing the domestic bus transportation market.Earlier on Tuesday, in order to develop and improve the visitor experience, Dr. Rumaih bin Muhammad al-Rumaih, the President of the General TransportAuthority, and Fahd bin Hamid al-Din, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority signed a memorandum of understanding between the two authorities regarding the provision of transportation services to visitors to the Kingdom, and the enhancement of areas of cooperation between them.Read more:Saudi Telecom sets up new wholly-owned entity for data centers, cable assetsFitch rates Saudi Arabia’s PIF ‘A’, in line with sovereignLEAP 2022: Huawei announces plans to build new cloud region in Saudi Arabia
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Transport Authority unveils project to link 200 cities, ferry 6 mln passengers

The US is repeating its offer of a $10 million reward for information on two Iranians accused of attempting to influence the 2020 US elections through a state-sponsored online campaign, according to a US Department of State statement released on Tuesday.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The two men were charged in November 2021 over their alleged involvement in hacking an undisclosed media company.Seyyed Mohammad Hosein Musa Kazemi and Sajjad Kashian also allegedly purported to be members of the Proud Boys far-right group and threatened to physically harm people who did not vote for President Donald Trump, in an email and social media campaign.The charges, published by the Department of Justice, allege that the men disseminated material online suggesting that the elections were unreliable, eroding trust in the country’s democratic system.The material in question claimed that the Democratic Party was planning to exploit “serious security vulnerabilities” in state voter registration websites to “edit mail-in ballots or even register non-existent voters.”They are also accused of hacking into the voter information website of an undisclosed US state and downloading the details of around 100,000 people.Both men worked for an Iranian cyber company called Emennet Pasargad, believed to have been responsible for the online interference campaign that ran from at least August through November 2020, the press release said.Kazemi and Kashian are both charged with one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse, intimidate voters, and transmit interstate threats; one count of transmission of interstate threats; and one count of voter intimidation.The first two charges carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and the third carries a maximum one-year prison sentence.Kazemi is additionally charged with one count of unauthorized computer intrusion; and one count of computer fraud, namely, knowingly damaging a protected computer, according to the statement.The first count carries a maximum five-year prison sentence, while the second carries a ten-year maximum sentence.Authorities in the US have been espousing claims of online interference in elections by foreign agents since at least October 2016, when the government accused Russia of hacking the Democratic National Convention committee and leaking information to Wikileaks.US Special Consul Robert Mueller in 2018 indicted a Russian company known as the Internet Research Agency (IRA) for sowing disinformation online by promoting various conspiracy theories on social media platforms.With ReutersRead more: Iran state TV streaming site targeted with dissident messageIran’s state broadcaster says it was hacked for 10 secondsPentagon links Iran intelligence to ‘MuddyWater’ hacking group
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US re-offers mln for information on Iran hackers accused of election interference

UAE oil firm ADNOC announced on Thursday a gas discovery off Abu Dhabi, the first from the emirate’s offshore exploration concessions.Interim results from the first exploration well in Abu Dhabi’s Offshore Block 2 concession operated by Italy’s ENI indicate between 1.5 and 2 trillion standard cubic feet (TSCF) of raw gas in place, ADNOC said in a statement.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.A consortium led by ENI and PTT Exploration and ProductionPublic Company Limited (PTTEP) were awarded the exploration rights for Offshore Block 2 in 2019 as part of ADNOC’s debut competitive block bid round.“The discovery of material natural gas resources in Offshore Block 2 underscores how ADNOC’s expanded approach to strategic partnerships is enabling us to accelerate the exploration and development of Abu Dhabi’s untapped hydrocarbon resources, “Sultan al-Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Group CEO, said in the statement.ADNOC launched Abu Dhabi’s first and second competitive block bid rounds in 2018 and 2019 respectively.Read more:ADNOC named most valuable Emirati brand amidst OPEC’s global energy optimismUAE energy minister looks ahead to supply 400,000 bpd, ‘not worried’ about short termGermany eyes new LNC terminals as alternative to Russian gas
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE’s ADNOC discovers raw gas off Abu Dhabi coast

The Saudi International golfing tournament is returning to the Kingdom’s Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City on Thursday and will run until February 6, featuring many of the biggest names in the game.With the Public Investment Fund (PIF) as the new title sponsor, the field for this fourth edition is expected to contain some of the world’s most renowned golfers in the Asian Tour, including 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, former world number one Dustin Johnson and six-time majors champion Phil Mickelson.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The winning sum has been increased from $3.5 million to $5 million this year, and the event recently entered a 10-year partnership with the Asian Tour, according to Golf Saudi, the investment arm of the sport in the Kingdom.Majed al-Sorour, CEO and Deputy Chairman of Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation, said on the organization’s official website: “The mix of the world’s best players from across the US, Europe and Asia Pacific will make this year our most anticipated yet. Bringing together strong fields for our international men’s and women’s events has shown to play a vital role in driving participation and engagement in the sport in Saudi Arabia.”The publicity states that the impressive venue is an 18-hole championship golf course with panoramic views of the Red Sea, which has also been designed to accommodate a picnic-style arrangement with food trucks.Read more:Saudi Arabia's PIF launches esports group, acquires ESL Gaming, FACEITSaudi-funded Asian Tour golf series expanding in Middle East and to UKAnalysis: Saudi role in UK football transfer market revival in pandemic
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi International golf tournament returns to Kingdom with mln in prizes

Saudi Arabia’s citizens who wish to travel outside the Kingdom are required to take a third shot (booster dose) of the COVID-19 vaccine for all journeys starting February 9, according to the Ministry of Interior.The booster shot is available for those who are past three months from the second dose.Those who are younger than 16 years are exempt from this rule. Similarly, those who appear under the exempt category on the Tawakkalna application do not have to get a booster to travel, according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).Simultaneously, the authorities also passed a law mandating all arrivals into the Kingdom to present a negative PCR or antigen test report within 48 hours before departing to and arriving in Saudi Arabia.Those under the age of eight are exempt from the testing requirement.Meanwhile, citizens who test positive for COVID-19 can enter the Kingdom without the need for a negative PCR test if seven days have passed from the date of the positive test, provided that the traveler is inoculated with the necessary vaccine doses that are approved by the Kingdom.If the Kingdom-inbound passenger is not appropriately vaccinated as approved by Saudi Arabia, then 10 days have to pass before he or she may enter the Kingdom. No further testing is required, according to SPA.Read more:Saudi Arabia records 3,852 new COVID-19 cases, four deaths in 24 hoursUS considers authorization of first COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5Vaccine passport pioneer Israel to curb use of ‘green pass’
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia mandates booster shot for citizens traveling out of the country

World Cancer Day is on February 4 and is commemorated in over 116 countries globally.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: World Cancer Day: Groundbreaking new treatments approved for use in Israel

Police revealed that a number of minors are suspected of having distributed and spread personal videos of the victim, a girl under the age of 14.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Dozens of teens probed in sexual assault case in southern Israel high school

The defense minister is visiting Bahrain where the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: A few hundred kms from Iran, Israel sends message with Gantz's visit to Bahrain

The Palestinian Authority leadership is accused of disregarding the decisions of Palestinian institutions to suspend all ties with Israel.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Palestinians lost confidence in 'corrupt' leadership, PLO official tells Post