Arab Students Leave Ukraine For Polish Border. When 18 Miles Away, They're Told: 'There's Poland. Now Walk.'
Good day from REEDNEWSARABWORLD for Tuesday, March 8, 2022!
A group of Arab students paid a driver $150 each to take them out of Ukraine and to the Polish border. The nine-hour trip was uneventful except for stops at Ukrainian army checkpoints. Then, 18 miles from the border, everything changed.
The United States is repatriating a Saudi prisoner from Guantanamo, returning him to Saudi Arabia for psychiatric treatment after 20 years of imprisonment. Iran's chief nuclear negotiator in Vienna left abruptly and went home. No one knows why, and the nuclear talks, considered almost at an end, were at a standstill. In big moves for Saudi Arabia's plans to localize its defense spending, Lockheed Martin will build THAAD missile defense equipment in the kingdom, Raytheon will move its production of parts for Patriot missiles, and Boeing will increase its workforce in Saudi Arabia..
And news from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Tunisia, and More.
Thousands of Arab nationals, mostly students based in Ukraine, are seeking refuge in Poland after the Russian invasion. But one group of students on a bus said they were stopped by Ukrainian army soldiers and forced to get out. One student said that "They just pointed in a direction and said: 'That's where Poland is. Now walk'." Fleeing Ukrainians were said to get priority from Ukraine soldiers because neighboring countries have unofficial daily quotas on the number of refugees allowed to cross. The students eventually were able to enter Poland.
Al Jazeera, 'There's Poland, now walk'; Arab students' ordeal out of Ukraine.
A man who would have been the 20th hijacker on 9/11 has been repatriated to Saudi Arabia from Guantanamo. Mohammad Mani Ahmad al-Qahtani was transferred to his native Saudi Arabia after 20 years of imprisonment at Guantanamo Bay, the U.S. prison in Cuba. The U.S. Defense Department said in a written statement that he no longer represented a significant threat and expressed appreciation to Saudi Arabia. According to a profile kept by the Defense Department, al-Qahtani was trained by Al Qaeda and sought unsuccessfully to enter the United States to take part in the 2001 attacks.
Al-Qahtani is the second Guantanamo prisoner released during the Biden administration. He had attempted suicide while held in Guantanamo and will receive treatment at a psychiatric facility in Saudi Arabia.
Reuters, Guantanamo detainee called '20th hijacker ' of 9/11 repatriated to Saudi Arabia.
NBC News, U.S. sends Saudi detainee accused of link to 9/1l home from Guantanamo.
Iran's chief negotiator left the nuclear talks abruptly and caused a standstill. Ali Bargheri-Kani returned to Tehran, and Western diplomats said they didn't know why he left the talks in Vienna. Iran officials said he will return soon.
Wall Street Journal, Iran chief negotiator unexpectedly leaves Vienna as nuclear talks hit standstill.
Fears are mounting that the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna may be stopped or collapsed by Russia's demand for exemptions. Russia, under sanctions by the U.S. and allies for its invasion of Ukraine, is pressing a demand that it be exempted from U.S. sanctions in any future business dealings it has with Iran. Negotiators had hoped to finalize an agreement this week that would revive the 2015 nuclear deal, but the war in Ukraine has caused additional complications.
In a phone call with Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated that Russia wants a guarantee from the United States for continued trade and investment with Iran.
Washington Post, Russia's invasion of Ukraine threatens to derail Iran nuclear talks.
AFP, Russia wants 'equal rights' in Iran nuclear deal.
France warned Russia not to blackmail the Iran nuclear talks. An official of the French presidency, responding to Russia's demands for exemption from sanctions to keep doing business with Iran, said "it's just blackmail and not diplomacy" when an issue isn't treated on its merits. Earlier, an Iranian official called Russia's demand unconstructive, and Iran's foreign ministry said it was awaiting an explanation from Russia.
Reuters, France warns Russia against blackmail over Iran nuclear talks.
Saudi Arabia announced a deal with Lockheed Martin for missile defenses to be built in Saudi Arabia. Lockheed will work on two projects to produce launchers and other equipment used in the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) anti-missile system. The deal was made on the sidelines of an international arms show in Riyadh. No amount for the contract was disclosed. The contract was announced by Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI). Saudi Arabia is aiming at localizing half of its defense sector projects by 2030.
Asharq Al-Awsat, GAMI, Lockheed Martin join forces to localize work on THAAD missile defense system in Saudi Arabia.
Al Arabiya, World Defense Show: Saudi Arabia, Lockheed to localize missile parts manufacturing.
AFP, Saudi, Lockheed Martin in missile defense deal.
Twelve companies have signed agreements for investing in Saudi Arabia's localized defense spending. The deals were made at the World Defense Show in Riyadh as Saudi Arabia continues efforts to diversify its economy away from oil and as defense budgets return to pre-pandemic levels.
The National, Saudi Arabia signs 12 agreements to increase investments in its defense sector,
Raytheon will move its production of Patriot missile parts to Saudi Arabia. An Arab business publication cited Thomas Laliberty, Raytheon vice president of land warfare and air defense, as confirming the plan. Raytheon Technologies Corp. is a major supplier of armaments to Saudi Arabia, and the move is part of a Saudi effort to localize production in its defense sector.
Reuters, Raytheon to move Patriot missile parts production to Saudi Arabia - Asharq.
Boeing plans to expand its workforce in Saudi Arabia. The expansion is in line with the Saudi government's program to manufacture 50% of its military equipment needs locally by 2030. "Our goal is to get our people as close to our products and our customers as possible" and to grow indigenous populations, Ted Colbert, executive vice president of Boeing Co., said. Colbert said Boeing has 2,000 employees in Saudi Arabia today.
Arab News, Boeing plans to expand workforce in Saudi Arabia as Vision 2030 pushes for more localization.
President Joe Biden's potential trip to Saudi Arabia is being criticized before it's confirmed. Members of Congress issued taunting statements about U.S. oil deals with Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Both countries have been mentioned as energy suppliers if Russian supplies are cut off, and news reports said the White House is considering a Biden trip to Saudi Arabia in the spring to ask for higher oil production. White House press secretary Jen Psaki did not confirm any travel but did note that senior U.S. officials were in Saudi Arabia last month to "discuss a range of issues....including energy security."
The Guardian, Biden criticized over report of planned Saudi trip to discuss global oil supply.
Middle East Eye, Biden criticized over potential trip to Saudi Arabia to discuss oil product.
The Biden administration considers a ban on Russian oil as it shows more willingness to cut deals with Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. U.S. officials recently went to Saudi Arabia and discussed "energy security," and other officials met face-to-face with Venezuelan officials over the weekend. The Biden administration is hurriedly looking for ways to combat rising gasoline prices in the U.S., and the discussions on Venezuela concerned potentially easing oil sanctions on the country.
Politico, White House is pressed on potential oil deals with Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Iran.
Israel's President Isaac Herzog will go to Turkey Wednesday for meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The trip will be the first by an Israeli leader since 2008. Herzog will visit the capital, Ankara, where he will meet with Erdogan, and also travel to Istanbul.
Times of Israel, Herzog to meet with Turkey's Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday.
Iraq's parliament has reopened registration for presidential candidates. The decision was made at a special session, following earlier delays on the election. Parliament elects Iraq's president, which is largely a ceremonial role, and the position is reserved for a member of Iraq's Kurdish minority. Candidates were given three days to register, starting over this past weekend. The incumbent president, Barham Saleh, is expected to run for reelection.
AFP, Iraq's delayed presidential vote back on.
Libya's two governments are increasingly polarized as a new prime minister appointed by parliament ordered state offices not to cooperate with his opponent. Fathi Bashagha, appointed by the Tobruk-based House of Representatives, instructed agencies, including the Central Bank of Libya and the General Intelligence Service, not to deal with any decisions issued by Abdulhamid Dbeibah and his government in Tripoli. Bashagha's circular said "the mandate of the Government of National Unity has expired and any decisions of instructions by it will be null and void." Dbeibah has refused to leave office until elections are held.
Middle East Monitor, Libya: Bashagha orders institutions not to deal with Dbeibah.
The United Nations and the United States want Libya to remove a blockade on oil production from major oil fields as world oil prices soared to more than $130 a barrel.
Stephanie Williams, the UN special adviser on Libya, said blocking oil production from the Sharara and el-Feel fields "deprives all Libyans from their major source of revenue." The closures have caused Libya's oil production to fall by 330,000 barrels a day.
Associated Press, UN, US call for ending blockade of oil fields in Libya.
A senior official of Tunisia's opposition Islamist Ennahda party has been released from house arrest. Tunisia's interior ministry lifted an order against Noureddine Bhairi, who was the party's first senior official to be detained after President Kais Saied dismissed parliament last year. Bhairi was detained in December.
Reuters, Tunisia's Ennahda party says its senior official Bhairi released from house arrest.
Yemen's Houthis fired a missile into the busy waters of the Red Sea, risking striking commercial vessels. The U.S. Navy said at least one missile was fired, and a U.S. official said the Houthis had conducted the launch. A spokesman for the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet said maritime traffic wasn't impacted but "these actions are destabilizing and present a danger to all vessels transiting a critical international waterway."
Associated Press, US official says Yemen rebels fire missile into busy Red Sea.
The Biden administration is expected to exempt Kurdish and opposition-controlled areas of Syria from sanctions against the Assad regime. Mazlum Koban, commander of the U.S.-allied Syrian Democratic Forces, has urged the exemption, saying widespread poverty and a lack of jobs in the area create a breeding ground for the Islamic State.
Al Monitor, Biden administration to announce sanctions waivers for Syrian Kurds, Sunni opposition-held areas.
The United States designated an Al Qaeda-affiliated group in Syria as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist." The group, Katibat al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, operates mainly in the Idlib area of Syria, and it also was added to a sanctions list. The list requires all United Nations member states to freeze assets, ban travel, and embargo arms, the U.S. State Department said in a statement.
Reuters, US designates Syrian al Qaeda-linked group as 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist.'
MORE: Tunisia swears in judicial watchdog under presidency, AFP... Iraq's national museum reopens after three-year closure, AFP... UAE aims for gender balanced economy and society, Khaleej Times... Spain's former King Juan Carlos to stay in UAE: royal family, AFP... Egypt displeased with Sudan over Russia military base: report, Middle East Monitor... Roiled by economic crisis, Sudan to float its currency, Associated Press. Kuwait's economy set for 5.3 pc growth on high oil prices, Trade Arabia.
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