Middle East Experience

President Joe Biden plans to visit Saudi Arabia and meet with the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in July..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Biden To Visit Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has always shown interest in humanitarian and development efforts in Muslim countries, offering its support on a bilateral level and through regional and international organizations, the Kingdom’s Minister of Finance said on Friday.The minister, who is also the Kingdom’s Governor of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Mohammed al-Jadaan’s comments were made during his participation in the IsDB Group’s 47th Annual Meeting which took place from June 1 to 4, a statement released by the ministry on Sunday said.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Held under the theme ‘Beyond Recovery: Resilience and Sustainability,’ the meeting took place in Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh.Al-Jadaan highlighted that the Kingdom’s support for the development process of Muslim countries was done under the provision and leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.The world is currently facing economic and geopolitical challenges, which have compelled countries of the IsDB Group to ramp up efforts in coordinating support to reverse the adverse impacts of inflation and supply chain disruption in the region, he added.The minister stressed that the Muslim world in particular needs the support of the IsDB now more than ever before and that performance indicators need to be established to monitor the group’s performance in these countries.During his participation in the Governors’ Roundtable Meeting, he urged the group to urgently develop a comprehensive plan that would proactively address issues such as food security, a particularly pressing issue being faced all over the world.The Group also launched its second “Resilience Report” on Thursday, which outlined recommendations on issues including preparedness for future shocks and building resilience through addressing issues in rural health infrastructures, ensuring social cohesion, improving existing social protection systems, and strategically investing in digitalization.Read more:Vision 2030 shifts Saudi Arabia’s global perception: ReportSaudi Arabia’s FSDP launches ‘Global Award for Islamic Finance’World Bank, Saudi finance ministry launch fellowship program for Saudi talent
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi finance minister: Kingdom supports humanitarian efforts in Muslim countries

A French-Palestinian lawyer will spend at least three more months detained without charge under a controversial Israeli practice, court documents show.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Israeli authorities overnight Sunday-Monday extended the detention of Salah Hamouri, 37, under what is known as administrative detention, according to the documents.The practice allows suspects to be detained for renewable periods of up to six months.An Israeli military court sentenced Hamouri to administrative detention in March. It accused him of being a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and said he “endangers security in the region.”Hamouri, who holds French citizenship, denies being a member of the PFLP.The PFLP has been implicated in several fatal attacks on Israelis and is considered by Israel, the United States, and the European Union as a “terrorist group.”The military court documents, sent to his lawyers and seen by AFP, say that his administrative detention has been extended to September 5.Hamouri has been arrested and jailed by Israeli authorities on several occasions, including in 2005.Following that arrest, he was tried and convicted by an Israeli court on charges of plotting to assassinate Ovadia Yossef, a prominent Israeli rabbi and spiritual leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas political party.Hamouri was released in December 2011 as part of a swap of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for Gilad Shalit, a soldier held captive in Gaza for more than five years.He has always maintained his innocence.In April Hamouri, along with rights groups, filed a complaint in France against surveillance firm NSO Group for having “illegally infiltrated” his mobile phone with the spyware Pegasus.He is one of several Palestinian activists whose phones were hacked using the Pegasus malware, according to a report in November by human rights groups.Israel says administrative detention is intended to allow authorities to hold suspects while continuing to gather evidence, with the aim of preventing attacks or security offences in the meantime.But Palestinians, human rights groups and members of the international community have criticized the system. They say Israel abuses the measure.Read more: Israel says Iron Beam laser-based missile shield to cost just $2 per interceptionBusiness leaders hail ‘unprecedented’ Israel-UAE free trade dealIsrael’s FM says normalization with Saudi Arabia ‘long, cautious process’
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Israel extends detention of French-Palestinian lawyer

Lebanon’s president has agreed to invite US envoy Amos Hochstein to Beirut to continue negotiations over the demarcation of its southern maritime border with Israel, the office of the Lebanese caretaker prime minister said on Monday.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Lebanon warned Israel on Sunday against any “aggressive action” in disputed waters where both states hope to develop offshore energy, after a ship operated by London-based Energean arrived off the coast to produce gas for Israel.President Michel Aoun said any activity in the disputed area would amount to an act of aggression and a provocation, after the arrival of the natural gas storage and production ship operated by London-based Energean.Israel says the field in question is within its exclusive economic zone, not in disputed waters.But in a statement, the Lebanese presidency said Aoun discussed with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati the vessel’s entry “into the disputed maritime area with Israel, and asked the Army Command to provide him with accurate and official data to build upon the matter.”Aoun said negotiations to delineate the southern maritime border continued and “any action or activity in the disputed area represents a provocation and an aggressive action.”Read more: Lebanon warns Israel against any ‘aggression’ in disputed watersLebanon’s intel chief meets top US officials, CIA head for talks on hostages in SyriaFeeding Lebanon’s energy and securing maritime border needs government commitment
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Lebanon PM and President agree to invite US envoy to discuss Israel maritime dispute

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing a confidence vote on Monday following a series of scandals, including a damning official report about COVID-19 lockdown-breaking parties at his official residence.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Johnson has vowed to fight on as leader, but if he loses the confidence vote he will be out of a job, and a contest to replace him will begin. Below is a summary of some of those who could be in the frame to replace him if he loses:Liz Truss The foreign secretary is the darling of the Conservatives’ grassroots and is regularly top of the polls of party members carried out by the website Conservative Home. Truss has a carefully cultivated public image and was photographed in a tank last year, evoking a famous 1986 image of Britain’s first female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, who was also captured in such a pose. The 46-year-old spent the first two years of Johnson’s premiership as international trade secretary, championing Brexit, and last year was appointed as Britain's lead negotiator with the European Union. Truss said on Monday Johnson has her “100 percent backing” and she urged colleagues to support him.Jeremy Hunt The former foreign secretary, 55, finished second to Johnson in the 2019 leadership contest. He would offer a more serious and less controversial style of leadership after the turmoil of Johnson’s premiership. Over the last two years, Hunt has used his experience as a former health secretary to chair the health select committee and has not been tarnished by having served in the current government. Earlier this year, he said his ambition to become prime minister “hasn’t completely vanished.”Rishi Sunak The finance minister was until last year the favorite to succeed Johnson. Sunak was praised for a rescue package for the economy during the coronavirus pandemic, including a jobs retention program, which prevented mass unemployment, that could cost as much as 410 billion pounds ($514 billion). But he has faced criticism for not giving enough cost-of-living support to households, his wealthy wife's non-domiciled tax status and a fine he received, along with Johnson, for breaking lockdown rules. His tax-and-spend budget last year put Britain on course for its biggest tax burden since the 1950s, undermining his claims to favor lower taxes. Sunak said on Monday he backed Johnson's leadership.Nadhim Zahawi The current education secretary impressed as vaccines minister when Britain had one of the fastest rollouts of COVID-19 jabs in the world. Zahawi’s personal story as a former refugee from Iraq who came to Britain as a child sets him apart from other Conservative contenders. He went on to co-found polling company YouGov before entering parliament in 2010. He said last week at some stage it would be a “privilege” to be prime minister.Penny Mordaunt The former defense minister was sacked by Johnson when he became prime minister after she backed his rival Hunt during the last leadership contest. Mordaunt was a passionate supporter of leaving the European Union and made national headlines by taking part in now-defunct reality TV diving show. Currently a junior trade minister, Mordaunt called the lockdown-breaking parties in government “shameful.” She said last month that voters wanted to see “professionalism and competence” from the government. Read more: UK PM Johnson set to face confidence vote
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Who could replace UK PM Boris Johnson if he gets ousted?

An Iraqi court sentenced a British man to 15 years in prison on Monday for trying to smuggle ancient artifacts out of the country, a Reuters reporter and judicial sources said.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Iraqi authorities had arrested James Fitton, 66, at Baghdad International Airport in March for carrying small fragments of ancient pottery in his baggage.The Baghdad Criminal Court sentenced Fitton for taking the artifacts from a heritage site in southern Iraq and attempting to transport them out of the country “with criminal intent”, according to one judicial source - an offence normally punishable by death under Iraqi law.Fitton’s lawyer said he would appeal the verdict on the grounds that there was no criminal intent.A German man arrested alongside Fitton for also taking pottery fragments, Wolker Waldmann, was acquitted of the same charges.Read more: Four killed in attempt to smuggle drugs from Syria: Jordan’s armed forcesSaudi Arabia arrests 73 for attempting to smuggle illicit drugsAustria police smash international ring smuggling Syrians
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Briton sentenced to 15 years in Iraq for smuggling artifacts

Slowly, Azerbaijani construction workers are bringing life to the streets.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Azerbaijan works to revive recaptured Nagorno-Karabakh resort of Shusha

The BelaPAN case epitomizes how independent media in Belarus has been stifled in the two years..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Belarus: Sham trial against BelaPAN news agency highlights stifling of independent media

In 1969 the architectural elements were discovered during major restoration work of the Anatasis, where the Aediculeis located.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Complex mission moves ancient Holy Sepulcher columns to Old City museum

The reported alert comes after an alleged Iranian spy was caught in Indonesia.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Thailand on alert for Iranian spies - report