Middle East Experience

The round of negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia end in Kinshasa, Congo, with no resolution in sight.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Has diplomacy run out of cards to play to end the Nile dam dispute?

Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent believed to have died in Iranian custody, is now wrapped up in Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz's legal drama.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Man admits asking Gaetz's father for M to find FBI agent in Iran, denies extortion

Israel informed the United States it attacked the Iranian ship Saviz in the Red Sea on Tuesday in retaliation for earlier Iranian strikes on Israeli vessels, the New York Times reported citing an American official.Iranian cargo ship ‘Iran Saviz’ was attacked in the Red Sea by limpet mines attached to the hull, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“The vessel Iran Saviz has been stationed in the Red Sea for the past few years to support Iranian commandos sent on commercial vessel (anti-piracy) escort missions,” Tasnim said.The attack is the latest in a series of attacks on Israeli- and Iranian-owned cargo ships since late February in which the two arch-foes held the other responsible. It also happened on the day the US and Iran launched indirect talks in Vienna through European powers to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, a deal Israel is strongly opposed to.The New York Times report said Israel informed the US that it struck Saviz at about 7:30 a.m. local time.“The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to share private intelligence communications, said that the Israelis had called the attack a retaliation for earlier Iranian strikes on Israeli vessels, and that the Saviz had been damaged below the water line,” the report added.‘Saviz’ is officially listed as a general cargo vessel. However, the Combating Terrorism Center at the United States Military Academy (USMA) described the ‘Saviz’ in a report as the “Iranian mother ship on station located in Eritrea’s contiguous waters.”It said: “The ship has signals intelligence domes and antennae. It is visited by all Iranian ships moving through the Red Sea, nominally to coordinate anti-piracy measures. At least three speedboats are based on deck, which are used to ferry personnel to Yemen.”- With ReutersRead more:‘Mother ship’, ‘command center’: The Iranian ship ‘Saviz’ attacked in Red SeaIran denies it attacked Israeli-owned ship in Gulf: Israel is playing the victimIran ‘Resistance Axis’ likely behind Israeli-owned ship blast: Khamenei-linked daily
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Israel informed US it attacked Iran’s Saviz ship in Red Sea as retaliation: NYT

Authorities have identified six people found dead in a suburban Dallas home in what police said was an apparent murder-suicide plot.The Allen Police Department said investigators believe brothers Tanvir Towhid, 21, and Farhan Towhid, 19, made a pact to kill their parents, sister and grandmother before killing themselves. The bodies were found early Monday by officers performing a welfare check, Sgt. Jon Felty said.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“It appears that the two brothers had entered into an agreement,” Felty said.The victims were identified as Altafun Nessa, 77; Iren Islam, 56; Towhidul Islam, 54; and Farbin Towhid, 19.Felty said the younger brother wrote a lengthy post on social media in which he said he and his brother had a plan to kill their family members and then themselves. He also wrote that all of his decisions were based on weighing pros and cons, including the decision to kill his family.Several members of the Bangladesh Association of North Texas gathered near the home Monday after news of the family’s death was released, the newspaper reported. Ahmad Hossain, who lives about a block away, told the newspaper that the family moved to the area about seven or eight years ago from New York.Hossain said Nessa, the grandmother, was visiting the family from Bangladesh. He said she was scheduled to return home last week but couldn’t because of the COVID-19 pandemic.Fazia Rahman, who graduated Allen High School last year with Farhan and Farbin Towhid, said the family was welcoming and the parents “treated everyone like they were their own kids.”“We don’t want this to be their family legacy,” she said. “They were such great people, they genuinely touched the lives of everyone who they came in contact with. ... They were good people who had bright futures ahead of them.”Read more:Man in Iran kills 9-year-old son, seven other relatives, before shooting himselfUS authorities: Navy medic shoots two, is shot and killed on baseTen Iran officials indicted for 2020 shootdown of Ukrainian plane: Tehran prosecutor
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Police identify six dead Bangladesh family members in Texas murder-suicide plot

Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers, headed by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, adopted a national policy to prevent child labor in the Kingdom, which aims to provide a safe environment for all children, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Wednesday.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and Chairman of the Family Affairs Council, Ahmed bin Sulaiman al-Rajhi, expressed his appreciation to the Kingdom’s leadership for its “continuous efforts in the field of protecting children’s rights by approving legislative and executive means that support them,” SPA said.SPA reported that the minimum age for employment in Saudi Arabia is 15 years, which is consistent with the international obligations of the Kingdom in line with the 2001 International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 182, also known as the “Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention.”Saudi Arabia’s national policy for the prevention of child labor includes creating a database to track its prevalence, with the support of the ILO, while also adopting a list of the types of work prohibited for those under the age of 18.The policy also aims to improve social work and social protection mechanisms, build the capacities of specialists in this field, promote quality education opportunities for all children, and raise awareness about the subject of child labor.Read more:Arab Coalition destroys Houthi explosive drone fired at Saudi Arabia’s Khamis MushaitPhotograph books chronicling the ‘flowered men’ of Saudi’s Asir to be republishedSaudi Arabia reports 792 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers adopts policy to prevent child labor

Saudi Arabia’s General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has decided to increase the capacity of the Grand Mosque in Mecca to 50,000 Umrah performers and 100,000 worshippers per day during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan for those who are vaccinated, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Tuesday.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.This decision will go into effect on the first day of Ramadan, which is expected to begin on April 13, while adhering to the Kingdom’s COVID-19 precautionary and preventive measures, SPA said.Saudi Arabia will grant permits for those wishing to perform Umrah or visit the Holy sites during Ramadan on the condition they are vaccinated, according to a statement from the Kingdom’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.The ministry specified that those wishing to receive the permits must have taken two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and based on their immunized status on the Tawakkalna app. It specified that this also applies to a person who has been vaccinated 14 days after receiving the first dose or a vaccinated person who has recovered from being infected.Saudi Arabia on Tuesday reported 792 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of cases to 394,169, according to the Ministry of Health.The death toll rose to 6,711 after seven new deaths were reported.Read more:Saudi Arabia to grant Umrah permits during Ramadan for vaccinated peopleSaudi Arabia reports 792 COVID-19 cases in 24 hoursIraq’s PM Kadhimi performs Umrah in Saudi Arabia’s Mecca
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia to increase Mecca Grand Mosque capacity for Umrah in Ramadan

The Palestinian village of Beit Iksa lies on the Palestinian side of the Israeli separation wall, and its residents feel trapped in a large prison surrounded by Israeli settlements.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Palestinian village becomes prison for residents

President Reuven Rivlin made sure everyone knew he would have preferred to takes someone other than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with forming Israel’s next government.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel's president openly reluctant on Netanyahu forming government

Defense Minister Benny Gantz declined to react to the report by The New York Times that Israel was behind the attack yesterday on the Iranian Saviz boat, stating simply that Israel is preparing for threats on all possible fronts.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: After Iran ship blast, Gantz says Israel preparing for military threats

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday reported 783 new coronavirus cases and eight deaths, bringing the total number of cases to 394,952 and the death toll to 6,719, according to the Ministry of Health.The number of recoveries rose by 417 to 381,189.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.There are 7,044 active COVID-19 cases in the Kingdom, 852 of which are critical cases.Saudi Arabia’s General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has decided to increase the capacity of the Grand Mosque in Mecca to 50,000 Umrah performers and 100,000 worshippers per day during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan for those who are vaccinated, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Tuesday.The Kingdom has banned iftars and suhoors from being held in mosques during the month of Ramadan amid the COVID-19 pandemic, official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Tuesday.Read more:Saudi Arabia to increase Mecca Grand Mosque capacity for Umrah in RamadanSaudi Arabia reports 792 COVID-19 cases in 24 hoursSaudi Arabia bans Ramadan iftars, suhoors in mosques amid COVID-19
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia reports 783 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours