Middle East Experience

Millions of documents reveal offshore deals and assets of more than 100 billionaires, 30 world leaders and 300 public officials..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Pandora papers: biggest ever leak of offshore data exposes financial secrets of rich and powerful

Already there is a high likelihood that the head of Gilboa Prison will be fired, and some have called for the firing of the IPS Chief Katy Perry.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Six Gilboa prison escapees indicted

Former US President Donald Trump said in a Yahoo Finance interview that he received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and would get a booster shot if he 'felt it was necessary.'
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Trump got Pfizer vaccine, would get booster if he 'felt it was necessary'

The storm's center was expected to hit land during the late afternoon and evening, bringing very high winds and heavy rainfall, but the outer bands of the system were already being felt.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Cyclone Shaheen approaches Oman, three killed, flights delayed

Longtime foes Saudi Arabia and Iran, who severed ties in 2016, began talks in April, at a time when Washington and Tehran were discussing reviving a nuclear pact that Riyadh had opposed.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Saudi Arabia confirms first round of talks with new Iranian government

The nominations for the awards are open till October 7..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Angel Awards: Nurses share emotional experiences with RJs

Old Green Passes’ validity extended until Thursday, as Health Ministry’s website presents glitches * Number of serious COVID-19 patients in Israel remains stable at just below 590
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Coronavirus: Cabinet considers lifting some Green Pass restrictions

A baby, who became an international symbol of the chaos spurred by the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in August, has been reunited with her parents in the US, according to online news media AZ Family.After the Taliban took over capital on August 19, a reporter recorded a video of a baby being carried across a crowd to a Marine who grabbed her by the arm and pulled her up to safety over a barbed-wire fence.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.For several days, the baby’s and her parents’ identities were unknown.The now- eight-week-old baby was 16 days old when her parents fled Afghanistan.“When she’s older, I’ll tell her she’s a fighter,” her father, Hameed, told AZ Family. “She made it through the worst of times at the beginning of her life.”The full names of the family have not been disclosed for security purposes as they still have family members hiding in Afghanistan.The baby’s father worked as a linguist and cultural advisor for US military officials in Kabul. Throughout his five years of service to the US as an “Afghan ally,” he attended high-level meetings for the US government at the Presidential Palace, US Embassy in Afghanistan, and other secure sites.For the entirety of August this year, Hameed worked at the airport in Kabul, helping US Marines with evacuations. He lived at the airport as he was not able to leave the area and was, therefore, unable to see his newborn baby but somehow managed to contact his wife, Sadia, despite the disruption to phone lines at the time, who had gone through a difficult delivery.According to Hameed, by August 12, it became very clear that Sadia needed to flee the country, leaving their home behind, to save both herself and her newborn baby, Liya. “We got intel that people were getting killed or going missing. By my affirmation [with the military], I knew my home would be next. It wasn’t a matter of ‘if,’ but ‘when,’” he added.His wife gathered their belongings on August 19, along with some cash and forms of identification, and headed to the airport with the baby. She then lost all of her belongings at a checkpoint near Kabul airport.Sadia said that the Taliban took all their IDs, gold, cash and passports. Sadia and Liya joined the crowd of people trying to push through a small opening in the gate at the airport in Kabul where Hameed saw them from the other side of the fence.“They were using water cannons and flashbangs to control the crowd. Every time a bang went off, I could see my daughter start screaming and crying. I couldn’t do anything to help,” he said.While several made it through the airport’s gates, many were beaten by the Taliban.“I knew she’d never make it through. She’d be crushed to death, God forbid, or severely injured,” said Hameed.Hameed reached out to a Marine standing on a vehicle along the barbed-wire fence and told him his baby was on the other side of it.“He told me the only thing he could do was lift her over the barbed wire, but he said she’d be hurt. I told him I’ll take the chance. I’d rather her get hurt than die,” he told the Marine, who agreed to help him.Hameed stabilized the Marine’s legs, allowing him to lean over to grab Liya by her right arm. He lifted her over the barbed wire, leading to the very first moment that Hameed was able to see his newborn daughter.In the meantime, however, his wife collapsed from exhaustion, and he still had to figure out a way to get her through the gate.He handed Liya back to the Marine who saved her, not knowing when he would be able to see her again.“That day I handed over my baby to a total stranger. The only thing I trusted is that he was a Marine, and that my daughter would be safe,” he said.Sadia made it through the gate several hours later and Hameed continued his search of Liya.They eventually reunited and were all put on a plane later that day along with other evacuees.“What was heartbreaking is, I was inside and had somebody to pull my daughter over the wire. There were thousands of others who didn’t have that opportunity.”Read more:EU top diplomat Borrell says discussed nuclear talks, Afghanistan in Saudi visitTaliban say forces destroy ISIS cell hours after Kabul blastTaliban say bomb blast at Kabul mosque killed five civilians
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Afghan baby saved by US soldier at Kabul airport reunited with parents in Arizona

Many are wondering how tropical storm Shaheen, which has ravaged many parts of Oman and affected various regions in neighboring United Arab Emirates and Iran since late Sunday, got its name.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Shaheen – which has claimed the lives of five victims so far, according to the Associated Press – was first noticed by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) on September 24 as it emerged from the east-Central Bay of Bengal and moved towards Bangladesh. The initial storm was named ‘Gulab,’ which translates to ‘Rose’ in English, according to India’s Free Press Journal.The Indian Meterological Department (IMD) reportedly issued a warning on the matter, stating that the storm could make landfall in various coastal regions across India.While the storm eventually lost its speed and strength, the IMD warned that it could re-emerge as cyclone ‘Shaheen’ in two to three days.Tropical storm Shaheen, which began to emerge in the Arabian Sea on Saturday, was named by Qatar and it translates to “royal white falcon” in English or “Hawk,” Free Press Journal reported.The next five cyclones that were set to take place after Cyclone Gulab are Cyclone Shaheen, Cyclone Jawad, Cyclone Asani, Cyclone Sitrang and Cyclone Mandous.Long ago, meteorologists learned that the practice of providing names for storms and cyclones helped people remember the storms and communicate about it more efficiently, leading to better communication and a well-informed public which would, in turn, help them stay safer.Tropical cyclones are not named after specific people. The names are selected based on the region and what is most familiar to them.Proposed names for cyclones and storms should be neutral to politics, religions, political figures, gender and cultures. They are chosen by 13 countries in the region: Myanmar, Oman, Thailand, Iran, Bangladesh, India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, the Maldives, Pakistan, Yemen, and Sri Lanka.Read more:Storm update: Shaheen weakens in Abu Dhabi’s al-Ain regionShaheen storm: Rescue teams continue search for missing victimDeath toll in Cyclone Shaheen rises to five as storm moves into Oman
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: How did Oman’s tropical storm ‘Shaheen’ get its name?

Jordan’s royal court Monday rejected as “distorted” claims made in the “Pandora Papers” that King Abdullah II created a network of offshore companies to build a $100 million overseas property empire.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.It said that the reports “included inaccuracies and distorted and exaggerated the facts”, and that revealing the properties’ addresses was “a flagrant security breach and a threat to His Majesty’s and his family’s safety.”The statement also said that the king had “personally funded” the properties and all related expenses.The investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), involving some 600 journalists from media worldwide, is based on the leak of some 11.9 million documents from 14 financial services companies.While not alleging criminal wrong doing by Abdullah II, the reports allege he created a network of offshore companies to quietly purchase luxury residences from Malibu and California to Washington and London.Jordan’s Royal Hashemite Court said in its statement that “it is no secret that His Majesty owns a number of apartments and residences in the US and the United Kingdom. This is not unusual nor improper.”The statement added, “His Majesty uses these properties during official visits and hosts officials and foreign dignitaries there. The King and his family members also stay in some of these properties during private visits.”The statement said the location of the properties was not publicized “out of security and privacy concerns, and not out of secrecy or an attempt to hide them, as these reports have claimed.”“As such, the act of revealing these addresses by some media outlets is a flagrant security breach and a threat to His Majesty’s and his family’s safety.”The statement continued, “Any allegations that link these private properties to public funds or assistance are baseless and deliberate attempts to distort facts.”The palace also stressed that “all public finances and international assistance are subject to professional audits, and their allocations are fully accounted for by the government and donor entities.”Read more:Jordan’s King Abdullah receives first call from Assad since start of Syria warJordan’s crown prince tests positive for coronavirus, King Abdullah in quarantineGlobal partnership is critical to resolve Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Jordan’s King
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Jordan says ‘distorted’ claims in ‘Pandora Papers’ are security threat