Middle East & North Africa

Dubai, Apr 12 (AP-PTI) Dubai is parting with a longstanding requirement that restaurants be covered by curtains in the daytime during Ramadan to shield the sight of food from people fasting.

The move, announced Sunday by the city-state's Economic Development Department, is the latest change aimed at boosting tourism in the autocratically ruled Muslim nation.

Restaurants will be allowed to serve customers without putting in place curtains, dividers or facades as has been the mandatory practice previously, the state-run WAM news agency said.

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Jordan’s Prince Hamzah on Sunday made his first public appearance since he was placed under house arrest last week, reciting Quranic verses together with King Abdullah II at the graves of their forefathers. The gesture appeared to be an attempted show of unity on a major Jordanian holiday.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday declared an “enduring and ironclad” American commitment to Israel, reinforcing support at a tense time in Israeli politics and amid questions about the Biden administration’s efforts to revive nuclear negotiations with Israel’s archenemy, Iran.

Austin’s first talks in Israel since he became Pentagon chief in January come as the United States seeks to leverage Middle East diplomatic progress made by the Trump administration, which brokered a deal normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab states.

CAIRO (AP) — For Ramadan this year, Magdy Hafez has been longing to reclaim a cherished ritual: performing the nighttime group prayers called taraweeh at the mosque once again.

Last year, the coronavirus upended the 68-year-old Egyptian’s routine of going to the mosque to perform those prayers, traditional during Islam’s holiest month. The pandemic had disrupted Islamic worship the world over, including in Egypt where mosques were closed to worshippers last Ramadan.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran on Sunday described a blackout at its underground Natanz atomic facility an act of “nuclear terrorism,” raising regional tensions as world powers and Tehran continue to negotiate over its tattered nuclear deal.

While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, suspicion fell immediately on Israel, where its media nearly uniformly reported a devastating cyberattack orchestrated by the country caused the blackout.

11 Apr 2021; MEMO: US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Jerusalem today amid nuclear deal negotiations with Iran, The New Arab reported.

The two-day visit comes as President Joe Biden's administration starts talks to rejoin the nuclear deal with Iran that was scrapped by former US President Donald Trump; a move that was applauded by Israel, who have always opposed the 2015 nuclear deal.

11 Apr 2021; MEMO: Israel's defence minister pledged on Sunday to cooperate with the United States on Iran, voicing hope that Israeli security would be safeguarded under any renewed Iranian nuclear deal that Washington reaches.

"Israel views the United States as a full partner across all operational theatres, not the least Iran," Benny Gantz said after hosting visiting US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

11 Apr 2021; MEMO: Israel will seal off the occupied Palestinian territories for three days as of Tuesday, according to the Israeli military on Sunday, Anadolu Agency reported.

A military statement said the measure includes a complete lockdown of the West Bank and the closure of crossing points with the Gaza Strip.

The statement said the closure will start as of Tuesday 19:00 local time (16:00 GMT) till Thursday April 15.

11 Apr 2021; MEMO: Iran reported 258 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said on Sunday, the highest daily toll since early December, Reuters reported.

11 Apr 2021; MEMO: Yemen's Houthi rebels on Sunday claimed two drone attacks on a Saudi airbase in southern Saudi Arabia.

Rebel spokesman Yahya Sarei said the attacks targeted King Khalid Airbase and Jazan Airport in the city of Khamis Mushait.

The spokesman said the attacks were in retaliation to the Saudi-led coalition's attacks in Yemen.

There has been no comment from the Saudi-led coalition on the Houthi claim.