SRN NEWS

Israeli Chef Hails First-Ever Michelin Guide Listing for Kosher Restaurant    By The Media Line Staff   Israeli-owned Mutra in North Miami has become the first kosher restaurant to receive a Michelin star, earning one of the culinary industry’s highest honors less than two years after opening its doors.   The restaurant, led by Israeli-born chef Raz Shabtai, opened in February 2025. Shabtai, who is originally from Jerusalem, received the distinction as Michelin inspectors recognized the restaurant’s approach to kosher dining.   According to the Michelin Guide, the selection came as a surprise because kosher cuisine by definition excludes some ingredients commonly found in fine dining. The guide nevertheless praised Mutra for its interpretation of kosher food, citing its ability to create a broad range of rich and distinctive flavors while adhering to a strict farm-to-table philosophy.   Inspectors also highlighted the restaurant’s dining experience, noting its communal atmosphere, where guests are seated around a bar and offered a variety of dishes.   Shabtai marked the achievement in a post on Instagram, sharing a video from the announcement.   “First, thank you, God. For every blessing, every challenge, and for giving me the strength to keep going when the road seemed impossible.”   He also paid tribute to the restaurant staff.   “To my team – this honor belongs to you. Every long day, every late night, every sacrifice, every detail, every plate. Your passion and dedication turned a dream into reality. I am forever grateful to walk this journey beside you.”   Addressing customers and supporters, he added: “To our guests, friends, and supporters – thank you for believing in us and allowing us to share our story through food.”   Shabtai also reflected on the inspiration behind the restaurant’s name. In a separate post, he said Mutra was named after his grandmother.   “The woman who raised me. The woman whose love, strength, and values shaped the person I am today. I named this restaurant after you so that your spirit would live on through every guest we welcome and every dish we serve. This moment carries your name, your legacy, and your love.”   The award marks a milestone for kosher dining in the Michelin Guide.   X link: https://twitter.com/HenMazzig/status/2060123521318088907  Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

New Syrian Chemical Weapons Find Could Help Prosecute Perpetrators of War Crimes    Syrian Authorities have detained 18 individuals suspected of involvement in operating and managing the Assad regime’s chemical weapons program  Rizik Alabi / The Media Line   The recent discovery of Assad-era chemical weapons munitions and materials in Syria has implications beyond the identification and destruction of hazardous stockpiles. The evidence could help investigators trace the military and security command structures that oversaw the chemical weapons program under Assad and support efforts to hold those responsible for war crimes committed during the civil war accountable.  Retired Brig. Gen. Mustafa al-Sheikh, a military affairs expert, told The Media Line that the discovery of munitions similar to those used in the Ghouta and Al-Latamenah attacks could mark an important development in international investigations. “Any technical match between the newly discovered materials and previously documented evidence could provide additional grounds for legal accountability and strengthen efforts to prosecute those responsible for the use of chemical weapons,” he said.   A September 2013 United Nations investigation into chemical weapons use in Syria concluded that there was “clear and convincing evidence” that Sarin gas was deployed in the Ghouta area outside Damascus, an attack that reports said killed hundreds of people.   Then-Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described the findings as “deeply disturbing.” The investigative team determined that “chemical weapons have been used in the ongoing conflict between the parties in [Syria], also against civilians, including children, on a relatively large scale.”   According to the UN probe, 85% of blood samples from the sites in Ghouta tested positive for Sarin, and the majority of the rocket fragments were also found to be carrying the deadly nerve agent.   “This is a war crime,” Ki-moon said to the UN Security Council in 2013 after the report was published. “The international community has a responsibility to hold the perpetrators accountable and to ensure that chemical weapons never re-emerge as an instrument of warfare.”  French courts have issued an international arrest warrant for Bashar Assad over the 2013 Ghouta chemical attacks, ruling such crimes are not protected by head-of-state immunity. Separate efforts in Germany and Sweden rely on universal jurisdiction, while the International Criminal Court lacks automatic jurisdiction because Syria is not a Rome Statute members.   Syria’s permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague, Mohamed Katoub, announced that authorities had detained 18 individuals suspected of involvement in operating and managing the former regime’s chemical weapons program. According to Katoub, those detained include senior military, political, and technical officials, although their identities and specific roles have not been disclosed.    The arrests signal the beginning of what could become a lengthy judicial and security process, particularly as international calls continue for accountability over the use of prohibited weapons against civilians during the conflict.      Syrian authorities have announced a significant development in dismantling the legacy of the chemical weapons program established under former President Bashar Assad, after the OPCW and Syrian officials reported the discovery of munitions, chemical materials, and specialized equipment linked to the program. The findings also included documents that could help clarify the scope of activities that remained undisclosed despite years of international monitoring and disarmament efforts.   A source in Syria’s Ministry of Defense told The Media Line that specialized government teams uncovered raw materials, munitions, and missiles connected to the chemical weapons program used throughout the Syrian war, including ordnance similar to that employed in toxic gas attacks carried out during the conflict.  Inspection operations led to the recovery of more than 70 missiles and bombs intended for use within the former regime’s chemical weapons program, though the OPCW said the materials were still undergoing technical analysis, according to the source that requested anonymity.   OPCW confirmed that recent verification missions had uncovered dozens of munitions, chemical materials, and related equipment at multiple locations across Syria, along with thousands of pages of documents linked to the former regime’s chemical weapons program.  The materials are currently undergoing technical analysis by OPCW experts.    The discovery comes as Syria’s new government seeks to close one of the most sensitive and complex chapters of the war, amid ongoing international pressure to fully disclose the fate of undeclared chemical weapons stockpiles and hold those responsible for their use accountable.   In the first detailed official comment on the findings, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said national teams had succeeded in locating “munitions, precursor materials, as well as mixing and storage equipment,” adding that the materials had been secured and transferred to specialized facilities in preparation for their destruction. He said the achievement was the result of “months of national, intelligence, and technical work,” including the collection and analysis of information, access to high-risk sites, and facilitating inspection visits by the OPCW to dozens of locations linked to the former program.    Al-Shaibani added that Syrian authorities had also made progress in pursuing individuals involved in the former regime’s chemical weapons program, describing the efforts as a reflection of cooperation between Damascus and the OPCW within the framework of what he called a “new Syria” based on transparency and international cooperation.    Syria’s mission to the OPCW announced that search operations had identified sites connected to the former chemical weapons program and uncovered munitions and materials linked to previous chemical attacks carried out during the war. According to the mission, investigators found 54 aerial bombs similar to those used in the 2017 Al-Latamenah attacks and 25 ground-to-ground munitions resembling those deployed in the 2013 Eastern Ghouta attack, in addition to sarin precursor materials and equipment used for mixing and storage.    Highlighting growing international interest in the issue, US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack described the discoveries as “an important milestone” in the process of building a new Syria and strengthening international security. Barrack said uncovering remnants of the chemical weapons program represented another step toward ending what he called the “brutal legacy” of chemical weapons in Syria. He credited the progress to cooperation between Syrian authorities and the OPCW, supported by the United States and international partners.    “A safer, more sovereign, and more accountable Syria is in the interest of the Syrian people and the world as a whole,” Barrack said.    The chemical weapons issue remains one of the most controversial and sensitive aspects of the Syrian conflict, having been linked to a series of attacks that drew widespread international condemnation and became a central issue in efforts to hold the former regime accountable. Although Syria agreed in 2013 to dismantle its chemical weapons arsenal under international supervision, the OPCW has continued to identify gaps, inconsistencies, and unresolved questions surrounding Syria’s declarations.    Observers believe the latest discoveries, coupled with unprecedented cooperation between Syrian authorities and international organizations, could represent a turning point in international accountability efforts, particularly if ongoing investigations confirm the existence of previously undeclared stockpiles, equipment, or operational networks outside the framework of earlier disarmament agreements. Such findings could open a new chapter in legal investigations into one of the most contentious legacies of the Syrian war.           Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

US Brokers Pentagon Talks Between Israel and Lebanon as Hezbollah Disarmament Remains Central Issue   By The Media Line Staff   Israeli and Lebanese military officials are set to hold direct US-mediated security talks at the Pentagon on Friday focused on border security, Hezbollah’s disarmament, and a timeline for an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, as Washington seeks to move operational discussions forward through military channels.   Military issues, including border arrangements, security coordination, and the mechanics of implementing any future steps will be the focus of the session. Separate political discussions are expected to continue next week at the State Department.   Talks are taking place against the backdrop of continued fighting and ceasefire violations along the Israel-Lebanon front.   The Lebanese Armed Forces are prioritizing a clear ceasefire framework and a timeline for Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Israel is demanding steps to disarm Hezbollah and secure the shared border, citing continued drone and rocket fire.   Military-to-military discussions are intended to build on the 45-day ceasefire extension agreed to in mid-May.   On Thursday, Israel carried out a targeted strike in Beirut against Ali al-Husni, identified as the missile commander in the Imam Hussein Division, a force linked to Iran’s Quds Force. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has not said whether al-Husni was killed.   The strike followed the IDF’s expansion of military activity in Lebanon beyond the Yellow Line and marked a change in Israeli operations after previous indications that Israel would avoid military action in Beirut.   Israel’s military action followed repeated Hezbollah attacks in recent weeks that caused a number of IDF casualties, as well as drone fire into Israel.    Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

IRGC Fires on Ships in Strait of Hormuz as Peace Proposal Under Consideration   By The Media Line Staff   Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy fired warning shots at four vessels near the Strait of Hormuz after the ships attempted to pass through the waterway without authorization, according to a post published on an IRGC-affiliated Telegram channel, as discussions continued over a proposed ceasefire extension and nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran.   The Telegram post said the vessels sought to transit the strait “without prior coordination or authorization.” The report did not identify the ships or provide additional details about the encounter.   The incident occurred as US and Iranian representatives reached preliminary understandings Thursday night on a proposed 60-day memorandum designed to extend the ceasefire and open negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program, according to CNN. The network reported that President Donald Trump has not yet approved the arrangement.   CNN said the proposal would temporarily extend the ceasefire, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to unrestricted shipping traffic, and establish a negotiating process focused on Iran’s nuclear activities.   According to Axios, the framework would also include an Iranian declaration that it would not pursue nuclear weapons, while future negotiations would address sanctions relief and access to frozen Iranian assets.   At the same time, Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported Friday that Iranian armed forces launched missiles from southern Iran toward “designated targets.” Fars said the targets had not been identified and provided no additional details regarding the operation.   It remained unclear whether the missile launches reported by Fars were related to the maritime incident reported by the IRGC-affiliated account.   The developments came amid growing attention to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that the Treasury Department could take action against Oman if the country helped Iran collect tolls from vessels using the waterway. Oman borders the Strait of Hormuz.   The comments followed remarks made Wednesday by President Trump, who warned Oman against interfering with maritime traffic through the strait.   “Oman will behave just like everybody else or we’ll have to blow them up,” President Trump said.  Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

South Africa Courts Gulf Money While Its Iran Ties Unsettle Investors By Waseem Abu Mahadi/The Media Line Pretoria is courting Saudi, Emirati, and Qatari money to revive a stalling economy, even as its alignment with Iran, Russia, and China rattles the investors and trade partners it cannot afford to lose [CAPE TOWN] South Africa needs billions of dollars from the Gulf’s oil monarchies to rescue a stalling economy. This year, its ministers toured the region asking for it. They also sent the navy to drill alongside Iran. Pretoria is trying to manage both at once. South Africa has deepened ties with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar while drawing closer to its BRICS partners Russia and China, pressing a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and defending engagement with Iran under the banner of non-alignment. BRICS, the bloc of emerging economies South Africa joined alongside Brazil, Russia, India, and China, has become central to its diplomacy and a growing source of friction with the West. “Our foreign policy of non-alignment is not anti-West or anti anyone,” International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola said at a Pretoria foreign policy event on Monday, calling it a “sovereign choice grounded in the constitution and international law.” South Africa is the continent’s most industrialized economy, but its factories are in trouble, and the war over the Strait of Hormuz is making it worse. Manufacturing once drove growth. Its share of output has fallen by half since the early 1980s, from about 23% to just over 11%. Factory production shrank again late last year, with steel, machinery, and car plants all cutting output and jobs. Now oil is becoming the problem. In February, the International Monetary Fund expected inflation to ease and economic growth to gradually recover. Then the Gulf conflict disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing Brent crude above $100 a barrel. The South African Reserve Bank now warns that inflation could move back toward 5% later this year if oil prices remain elevated, while the rand has become increasingly sensitive to developments in the Gulf. Government debt has reached 77% of the economy and continues to climb. Unemployment sits above 32%. Power cuts and broken rail and port lines have left factories running at about two-thirds capacity, slowing the exports South Africa needs most. Reforms meant to address these problems were already overdue before the Hormuz Crisis added pressure. Earlier this year, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson toured the Middle East seeking investment from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE for infrastructure, logistics, and real estate. Officials cast the trip as part of a push to attract outside capital that the government can no longer raise on its own. The Gulf is interested, and it has the money. The UAE has become Africa’s largest foreign investor, putting more than $110 billion into the continent between 2019 and 2023, by its own government’s count. In South Africa, Abu Dhabi’s International Resources Holding signed a strategic agreement with the Public Investment Corporation covering mining, rail, logistics, and green energy. Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power has explored multibillion-dollar hydrogen and renewable projects with South African partners. The UAE says its own investments in the country topped $1.3 billion in 2024 alone. Early this year, South Africa hosted naval exercises with China, Russia, and Iran off its east coast, near the Indian Ocean routes that link the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. The drills, called Will for Peace, drew sharp attention in Washington. Iran took part just as Pretoria was courting the same Gulf states that see Tehran as their main regional threat. The exercise also exposed a split inside South Africa’s own government. The African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority in 2024 and now governs in a coalition with the Democratic Alliance (DA), which favors closer ties with the West. The DA’s defense spokesman, Chris Hattingh, said hosting and training with heavily sanctioned forces involved in active conflicts could not be called neutral. “It is a political choice, whether the government admits it or not,” he said. Critics inside and outside the country asked whether South Africa was still non-aligned or drifting into an anti-Western posture. In January, it abstained at the UN Human Rights Council on a resolution condemning Iran’s deadly crackdown on protesters, refusing to censure a government it has long defended. “I don’t think anyone still regards South Africa as truly non-aligned,” Darren Olivier, director of the African Defence Review, told The Media Line. “It has virtually ceased military exercises with Western countries and now primarily conducts them with fellow BRICS states, while investing far more heavily in military relationships with Russia, Iran, Cuba, and China over the past decade.” “At this point, it’s less of a complete realignment and more a case of testing the waters,” he added. Olivier said the costs are already appearing. “South Africa’s closeness with Iran and Russia has already affected investment, international partnerships, and confidence in the country,” he said. “It frequently comes up in investor discussions, creates friction around trade relationships with Western countries, and has become an issue the current US administration increasingly uses against Pretoria.” That friction is sharpest with Washington, South Africa’s second-largest trading partner after China. South Africa mostly sells the United States platinum-group metals, vehicles, steel, aluminum, and farm goods such as citrus and wine. Cars and farm produce rely heavily on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides duty-free access to the US market for African goods; vehicles alone accounted for about two-thirds of South Africa’s AGOA exports last year. That access has unraveled as the administration of President Donald Trump let AGOA lapse on Sept. 30 and renewed it only in February, and only through the end of 2026. The month before it lapsed, Washington imposed a 30% tariff on South African goods, the steepest rate on the continent. Vehicle shipments to the United States fell by about three-quarters in 2025, though stronger mineral exports kept the overall total from sliding. The US Supreme Court struck down the broad reciprocal tariffs in February, and the administration replaced them with a flat rate of roughly 10% to 15%, putting South Africa back on a par with most other exporters but well short of the duty-free access it once had. Even so, Trade Minister Parks Tau told parliament on Tuesday that exports to the United States rose from 238 billion rand ($13 billion) in 2024 to 260 billion rand ($14 billion) in 2025, despite the political strain. President Trump boycotted the 2025 G20 summit South Africa hosted in Johannesburg, repeating unproven claims, rejected by Pretoria, that “white farmers are being killed”  and their land seized. In January, South Africa said it would temporarily withdraw from the group as Washington took over the presidency for 2026. At the same Johannesburg summit that the United States shunned, the UAE pledged $1 billion to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure across Africa. The most widely cited South African government land audit found that whites—who are less than 8–10% of the population—still own roughly 72% of individually held agricultural and farmland. Black South Africans, who are more than 80% of the population, own about 4% in that category. Siphamandla Zondi, a politics professor at the University of Johannesburg, said the ANC’s approach is principled, not opportunistic. “South Africa’s approach to BRICS and non-alignment is rooted in long-held traditions of South-South cooperation,” he said, tracing it to the Bandung Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement. The party presents its Israel case as both a legal claim over Gaza and a matter of national identity, and President Cyril Ramaphosa said in March that South Africa “would keep defending international law under the Genocide Convention.” The stance has won it standing across the Arab world and much of the Global South, even as it unsettles Western governments and investors focused on geopolitical risk. Nigeria, Africa’s other giant, shows the limits of a friendlier posture. It kept its embassy in Tel Aviv and full ties with Israel through the Gaza war, brought no genocide case to the ICJ, and, like South Africa, courts Emirati money; the UAE lifted a visa ban on Nigerians in 2023 and pledged billions in new investment. Even so, the warmer line bought Abuja little in Washington. The Trump administration designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern over the killing of Christians, threatened military action, and had already hit it with a 10% tariff. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are expanding fast across Africa in ports, logistics, renewable energy, food security, and critical minerals, looking for influence beyond oil and a place in future supply chains. But their biggest recent bets have gone elsewhere, with tens of billions committed to projects in Egypt and Mauritania over two years, far more than the UAE has put into South Africa. South Africa still remains one of the continent’s largest economies. It produces more platinum than any country and supplies much of the world’s manganese and chromium, minerals that both the Gulf and Western supply chains need. The bigger risk for South Africa is less the loss of Gulf money than a reputation for unpredictability among risk-wary investors. It is trying to hold positions that do not fit easily together: leaning on Western markets, aligning with America’s foes, staying close to Russia and China, and courting Gulf states that fear Iran. “Investors want certainty and long-term predictability,” said Darren Bergman, the DA’s former shadow minister for international relations. “There is still uncertainty about where South Africa actually stands internationally, and investors dislike uncertainty.” “The danger is antagonizing major trade partners such as the United States and possibly the European Union,” Bergman said. “South Africa has to balance both sides carefully.” Brought to you by www.srnnews.com