Middle East Experience

British judge orders the plane manufacturer to postpone its decision to revoke a $6bn jet order from Qatar Airways..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Airbus ordered by UK Court to delay Qatar jet cancellation

The woman pretended that her children were disabled in order to fraudulently receive about NIS 50,000 from National Insurance.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Woman arrested for drugging her children to defraud National Insurance

Lawrence Garbuz nearly lost his life to the coronavirus in 2020. Two years later, he talks about his life and keeping positive.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: COVID-19: New York’s ‘Patient Zero’ talks sickness and recovery

75 Ukrainian immigrants landed in Israel Sunday afternoon on the verge of a looming shadow of war that befell the country. Here are their stories.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Ukraine Crises: 75 Ukrainian Jews make Aliyah today on the verge of war

This is the latest in a number of leaked media reports about heated conversations in the security cabinet on settler violence.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Settler violence is a strategic threat to Israel, Horowitz warns

Massive leak reveals Swiss bank’s accounts have been used by an array of high-risk clients over several decades..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Revealed: Credit Suisse leak unmasks criminals, fraudsters and corrupt politicians

US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed in principle to a summit over Ukraine, the US and French leaders said, offering a possible path out of the crisis.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The office of French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement on Monday he had pitched both leaders on a summit over “security and strategic stability in Europe.” The White House said in a statement that Biden had accepted the meeting “in principle” but only “if an invasion hasn’t happened.”“We are always ready for diplomacy,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said. “We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences should Russia instead choose war.”Messages seeking comment from the Kremlin and from the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy were not immediately returned early Monday.Many details about the proposed summit - which was announced after a volley of phone calls between Macron, Biden, Putin, Zelenskiy, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson - are unclear.Macron’s office and the White House said the substance of the summit would be worked out by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during their upcoming meeting planned for February 24. What role Ukraine would play in the summit, if any, was also uncertain.A Biden administration official said in an email the summit was “completely notional” as the timing and format were yet to be determined.Michael McFaul, a former US ambassador to Russia, said he was skeptical the summit would happen.“But if Biden and Putin did meet, they should invite (Zelenskiy) to join,” he said in a message posted to Twitter.News of Macron’s proposal comes after a week of heightened tensions spurred by Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine’s borders. Russian forces have been amassing around its neighbor since late last year, something Western countries say is a prelude to an invasion that could come at any moment.Travel schedules have been scrambled amid the anxiety.On Sunday, the White House said President Joe Biden was canceling a trip to Delaware and remaining in Washington following a two-hour meeting of his National Security Council. Canada’s foreign minister, Melanie Joly, said Sunday she was postponing a trip to France because of the situation and would immediately return to Canada.Moscow denies any intention to invade, but nerves have been further frayed by the Belarusian defense ministry announcement that Russia would extend military drills in Belarus that were due to end on Sunday. Belarus lies to Ukraine’s north, and the estimated 30,000 troops there could play a key role in any prospective attack.US-based satellite imagery company Maxar reported multiple new deployments of Russian military units in forests, farms, and industrial areas as little as 15 km (9 miles) from the border with Ukraine.Blinken said Sunday the extension of the exercises in Belarus made him more worried that Russia was on the brink of an attack.“Everything we are seeing suggests that this is dead serious,” he told CNN.“Until the tanks are actually rolling, and the planes are flying, we will use every opportunity and every minute we have to see if diplomacy can still dissuade President Putin from carrying this forward.” Sporadic shellingThe war drums have been beating ever louder over the past few days in eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists carved out chunks of territory in 2014.Sporadic shelling across the line dividing Ukrainian government forces and separatists there have intensified since Thursday. Sounds of fighting continued into Monday, when a blast was heard in the center of the city of Donetsk, which is held by the separatists. Its cause was unknown.The rebels said on Monday that two civilians were killed in shelling by the Kyiv government forces, Russia’s RIA news agency reported.Kyiv has accused pro-Russian forces of shelling their own compatriots in eastern Ukraine to blame the attacks on Ukrainian government forces.The fighting - and Russia’s continued war drills - have put the Europe on edge.“It is not an exaggeration to say that Europe is a step away from war, which was something unimaginable not long ago,” Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said in a TV interview.Western countries are preparing sanctions they say would be wide-reaching against Russian companies and individuals in case of an invasion.British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the BBC such measures could include restrictions on Russian businesses’ access to the dollar and the pound. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told German broadcaster ARD that Russia “would in principle be cut off from the international financial markets” and be cut off from major European exports.Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said it was time for the West to implement at least part of the sanctions it has prepared.The Biden administration has so far refused to do so, saying their deterrent effect would be lost if they were used too soon.Read more:In last-ditch bid, Macron talks Ukraine with Putin, then calls Zelensky‘It’s time to act,’ Ukraine calls for sanctions against RussiaUK’s Johnson says Russia’s Putin may not be thinking logically on Ukraine
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Biden agrees in principle to Ukraine summit with Putin

Two French citizens are hitchhiking through Saudi Arabia as part of their goal to travel the world by getting lifts from passersby.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Travelers Louis and Margot, who go by the online pseudonym Onemap2bags, praised the hospitality of the Saudi people in an interview with Al Arabiya on Saturday.“The country is changing a lot and we are very happy to be able to travel here,” said Louis.“We know that tourism for international travelers is a bit new here, so we are very happy to have the chance to visit this beautiful country.”Louis continued, “The people are very kind and hospitable with us so it makes it very easy to travel here, so that’s very nice.”The pair were waiting to find a lift to Jeddah from Riyadh when they were interviewed by Al Arabiya.“We love the new generation of Saudi Arabia, and also people are so welcoming,” added Margot.“Every day we meet people in the street and they always say ‘welcome [to] Saudi Arabia, welcome [to] my country, we are very happy to see tourists,’ so it’s so nice to travel there.”So far, the couple has been on the road for 17 months and they have caught lifts from 843 drivers, according to their Instagram page.They spent a year in Africa and recently traveled across Iran before catching a ship to the United Arab Emirates.After traveling through Saudi Arabia, they plan to hitchhike through Oman, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.They then aim to travel across the whole of Asia and Oceania before ending up in the Americas.Read more:Kuwait lifts many COVID-19 restrictions, allows travel abroadBooster shot mandate for Saudis traveling abroad comes into effectNew year brings more canceled flights for air travelers
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: French couple travel through Saudi Arabia as part of world hitchhiking tour

Jordan’s Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh has contracted COVID-19 during an official visit to Egypt, the state news agency Petra quoted the information minister as saying on Monday.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.COVID-19 tests after a meeting between Khasawneh and his Egyptian counterpart proved positive and all other official meetings were cancelled, including a planned meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the minister added.The prime minister will isolate at home after returning to Jordan, the report said.Read more: US approves potential weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE, JordanJordan to lift COVID-19 restrictions on international visitorsJordan to begin exporting electricity to Lebanon in March: Minister
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Jordan’s prime minister contracts COVID-19: Report

Oil giant Saudi Aramco’s Chief Executive, Amin Nasser, said on Monday that any further sale of the company’s shares is for the government to decide.The company is working on increasing maximum capacity in a sustainable way, Nasser said, adding that global regulators and policymakers need to have much better dialogue with the oil industry.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Read more:Saudi crude output exceeds 10 mln bpd in Dec; exports fall slightlySaudi Arabia transfers 4 percent of Aramco shares to sovereign wealth fundOil complex eyes potential conclusion of US-Iran nuclear talks
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Aramco CEO says further share sale is a government decision