Middle East Experience

The White House announced Thursday that US President Joe Biden’s press secretary, Jen Psaki, would be stepping down next week.“Today, President Biden announced Karine Jean-Pierre has been promoted to be Assistant to the President and White House Press Secretary. Karine will step into the Press Secretary role replacing Jen Psaki, who will depart from the White House on May 13,” a statement from the White House read.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Biden praised Karine Jean-Pierre, currently Psaki’s deputy, and said she would be a “strong voice speaking for me and this Administration.”Jean-Pierre was born in Martinique and raised in New York.The US president also voiced his appreciation for Psaki’s work in setting the “standard for returning decency, respect and decorum to the White House Briefing Room.”Biden’s comment was an indirect jab at former President Donald Trump and his administration, which regularly clashed with members of the media.“I want to say thank you to Jen for raising the bar, communicating directly and truthfully to the American people, and keeping her sense of humor while doing so,” Biden said of Psaki.Psaki had been rumored to be stepping down in the foreseeable future, but she remained mum on the topic.Reports suggest she will join a US cable news network.Separately, the White House announced that Anita Dunn would return as a Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President. This move comes as Biden’s approval ratings have taken a significant nosedive in recent months.The White House and Democrats hope to turn the tide ahead of this November’s elections, which are widely expected to see Republicans take back control of Congress and the Senate.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Jen Psaki to be replaced as White House press secretary next week: Statement

An aircraft transporting 40 Houthi prisoners to Yemen has landed in Aden as part of Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian initiative, the Arab Coalition said in a statement on Friday.According to the latest update, a second batch of prisoners have departed to Yemen, with the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) adding that “foreign fighters” will be handed over to their country’s embassy.The airlifts will happen in three phases to the Yemeni cities of Sanaa and Aden, the statement said, adding that a total of 108 prisoners will be released.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.All 108 prisoners will be transferred to Yemen by end of day in a Red Cross plane, an Al Arabiya correspondent reported.The Arab Coalition announced on April 28 that it will release 163 Houthi prisoners who participated in combat operations against the Kingdom, also in a “humanitarian initiative.”The prisoners had then participated in combat operations against the Kingdom, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.The transfer is part of an effort to end the crisis in Yemen and achieve peace, Coalition Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said.It comes as the coalition seeks to fortify shared efforts to maintain the UN-brokered truce, which went into effect on April 2.The fragile truce, which began on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, continues to be largely held, offering a glimmer of hope in war-torn Yemen.US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking said the truce was a “first step” to a permanent ceasefire in an interview with Reuters in April.“If the international community and parties can work together, this could be built into a lasting ceasefire and inclusive political process that ultimately gives shape to a new Yemen,” Lenderking said in the interview.The truce has led to oil tankers arriving at the port of Hodeida, potentially easing fuel shortages in Sanaa and elsewhere.The truce also involved a deal to resume commercial flights out of Sanaa’s airport for the first time in six years.With ReutersRead more:UN demands release of staff held by Yemen’s Iran-backed HouthisUN: Yemen truce could help reverse ‘worsening’ humanitarian crisisAbu Dhabi Crown Prince meets with head of Yemen’s presidential council
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Arab Coalition transports 40 Houthi prisoners to Yemen in humanitarian initiative

Lebanon’s 2022 parliamentary elections will begin with the diaspora voting in their country of residence on May 6 and 8, marking the first electoral test at the national level since mass protests in October 2019 and the infamous 2020 Beirut Port explosion.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Many Lebanese expats in the United Arab Emirates are keen to take to the polls on Friday and Sunday, where they hope to make a difference with their votes due to the Levantine country’s worsening economic crisis, a disappearing middle class, and a history of sectarian government rule characterized by elites that have plunged the majority of the country’s population into extreme poverty.A lot of hope is riding on the Lebanese diaspora to cast their votes and make a difference in this year’s election. Al Arabiya English spoke to some Lebanese expats in the UAE who are gearing up for the voting day. Politics a ‘taboo subject’ in Lebanon Lebanese expat Mark El Khoury, 27, was born and raised in the UAE and spent his university days in Lebanon where he was exposed to the political opinions of the people around him.“To be fair, I think it’s about time to vote. Something I learned throughout my time [as a student] in Lebanon was that politics has become such a taboo topic, because no one wants to talk about it,” El Khoury told Al Arabiya English. “The fact is that you have to talk about it, because there is something fundamentally wrong.”Coming from an expat background, he said had a lot to learn when he moved to Lebanon.“I really want to make a difference, which is why I have to vote and why I believe everyone should because it’s time politics ceases to be a taboo subject and for people to learn that politicians are supposed to work for you; you don’t work for them,” he said.According to El Khoury, people in Lebanon “don’t follow an ideology, they follow a person,” adding that this was one of the root causes of the nation’s political issues.“Religion and politics should never mix, in my opinion. Religion is a way of life, it’s a belief. Nowhere in any religion does it say: you should be in charge of the government,” he continued.Lebanese activists all over the world have ramped up efforts in recent months to encourage more people from the global diaspora to vote. Over 220,000 (six percent) Lebanese people from the diaspora have registered to vote, accounting for a three-fold increase in voters from the previous parliamentary elections in 2018 – when out-of-country voting was allowed for the first time.Lebanese politics – often a sensitive topic for both the diaspora and the country’s residents alike – has long been influenced by religion. Sectarianism has been the basis of Lebanon’s political ecosystem since the French set it up before departing the country in 1936. The system was, in theory, supposed to ensure the influence of all 18 recognized religious groups, some of which now have their own militias, in the government, dividing all public service roles equally amongst them.However, the quasi-federal religious government, coupled with the 1960s Civil War and incessant nepotism within political parties, has kept Lebanese society deeply divided, causing sectarianism to rule over nationalism and for endemic corruption to continue. Echoing El Khoury’s sentiment, Lebanese expat Omar, 34, believes religion and politics should be separated.“I believe in a Laic country… in a country where power is to the people by their competencies, not by their religion or because they belong to a certain religious group or party,” he told Al Arabiya English.“I’d rather have people rule the country because they deserve it... Somebody who has achievements, comes from a diplomacy background, is not really affiliated with a certain party. Somebody who is kind of neutral, who is taking action, and not just talking about plans,” he continued, adding that he was vouching for an independent candidate from the civil society.Omar did not vote in 2018, during the last elections, but chose to take part this time because he is hoping to “at least contribute to a shift in the weight of the voices and votes” in parliament.Shifting away from traditional political parties Released earlier this week, the Arab Reform Initiative report which examined the 2018 voting behavior of the diaspora found that their behavior and political attitudes varied based on where they emigrated to and why. Registered diaspora voters at the time were mainly based in Canada, the US, UAE, France, and Australia who mainly supported the Lebanese Forces and Free Patriotic Movement. Voters in Germany and several African countries mainly opted for Shia-majority parties Amal and Hezbollah.Lebanese expats who voted at the time did not have much of an impact as they only accounted for 3 percent of participants, with less than 6 percent of out-of-country voters choosing candidates on opposition lists. This did not do much to reduce the impact of the long-established sectarian system, according to the joint report by the Arab Reform Initiative and The Policy Initiative.The scale of the change in voter attitudes to shift away from supporting traditional political parties in the 2022 elections remains uncertain overall, but UAE expats who spoke with Al Arabiya English expressed they were keen to do their part in initiating this shift.Raed, 34, an expat who works in the aviation industry, said that he moved to the UAE because he was “suffering for years” in Lebanon, and was determined to make a difference with his vote this year. His views changed due to the obstacles he faced in Lebanon, both socially and economically. He said his father used to support one of the country’s traditional political parties, despite their house being bombed during the Civil War, causing injury to his father’s arm.“I’m voting to make a change. My parents in Lebanon are suffering, they don’t have medical coverage, they don’t know what will happen in their future,” Raed told Al Arabiya English, adding that he no longer supports one of the traditional parties. “My father basically has one hand. In the civil war, he got injured inside our house… we got bombed. And he’s still following them in one way or another. No one helped him, they [the party he supported] didn’t even look at us at all, we never got anything from them when we needed them, so that’s another reason why I’m against these parties,” Raed said.“[The sectarian government] needs to be changed. You cannot mix religion with government, or religion with political parties.”Expat Elie, 30, a first-time voter, said that his family’s struggle in the country has led him to vote.“I just want Lebanon to become a better country, and considering the recent issues that they’ve been facing like the August 4 [Beirut Port] explosion and the crisis, I love Lebanon and want to see it as a successful country.”“I’m totally against sectarianism. To change that now, it might be very minimal, it’ll take time, because people are used to it. I’ve always been against these parties because I didn’t like the fact that they worked for their own benefit instead of helping the people.”El Khoury, 27, also stated that he wants the country’s constitution to be updated.“Last time I checked, the Constitution was not updated since the 1920s. The fact that you can get an extra 50,000 Lebanese Lira in your salary if you grow a moustache in the internal security and policing forces… this is how outdated our Constitution is… the old existing bodies that have been there for 40 years and have changed nothing, they are still living by these rules, taking advantage of us, creating corruption,” El Khoury said.He continued: “Hopefully, by voting for someone new, someone with a conscience, they will at least try to change what is currently going on, to fix the current constitution and at least bring it up to date so the country can stand back on its own feet again.”Lebanese politics needs ‘new blood’ UAE-based expat Rasha, 36, said she’s always voted but wants to convince more people to vote this time “because this is the worst condition Lebanon has ever been in.” She continued, “it poses a big hope because of what the country has come to, this is a chance for people to vote and bring in new blood [into the government].”According to Rasha, “old blood” in the government will not make a difference.“The people our families and ancestors, previous generations used to believe in, they don’t have the same importance or credibility anymore. They don’t have a place [in the government],” she added. “This is our chance to make a change.”“The biggest mistake is when someone says: ‘it’s not like I’m the only one’ or that the situation ‘doesn’t just rely on my vote.’ But yes, it does. The expats are the majority of the Lebanese population, so I do hope that I’ll be one of those people that are going to go and make a change. The sentiment this year is different, it’s a lot better, people want to help.”Rasha and many others from the UAE-based diaspora have been helping the consulate in Dubai with the planning and management of voting day. “We all just want to be there to help,” she said.“Basically, the problem with our government is that it has been the same since 30 years… nothing changed and some of the peoples’ mindsets haven’t changed also so it’s completely corrupt to a point where there is no going back anytime soon,” insurance broker Raphael Daniel, 31, said.“I think our votes are just going to be a wake-up call for the people that are in place at the moment, it’s just sending a message to the politicians that we’re fed up. The message is going to be as big as the difference we manage to make,” he added.“In one way or another, we need to move forward. If nobody votes or does anything, nothing will change.”Citizens in Lebanon will take to the polls on May 15 to elect new members of parliament.An estimated 1,044 candidates are running for parliament this year in the hopes of winning a position in the 128-seat legislature.Read more:Man overseeing Lebanon vote frets about disruptions, vote buyingLebanon running out of passports, suspends renewal requestsLebanon probe gets account data on central bank governor’s brother
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Lebanon needs ‘new blood’: Diaspora gears up for 2022 parliamentary election in UAE

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources said it has secured $6 billion for a steel plate mill complex and electric vehicle battery metals plant as part of plans to lure $32 billion of investment into the mining sector.The ministry’s target would fund nine mining projects for midstream minerals and metals, said Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar al-Khorayef, according to a statement.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Kingdom is seeking to diversify its economy away from oil by investing hundreds of billions of dollars into a plan called Vision 2030 initiated by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Mining is one of the sectors that has been identified for expansion.The nine projects include a $4 billion steel plate mill complex for the shipbuilding, oil and gas, construction and defense sectors and a “green” flat steel complex that will supply the automotive, food packaging, machinery and equipment, and other industrial sectors. Both projects are already underway, as is a $2 billion EV battery metals plant.Last month the Saudi government signed an agreement to purchase between 50,000 and 100,000 EVs over 10 years from Lucid Group Inc, which Saudi sovereign fund PIF owns a majority stake in.The minister said the projects would create over 14,000 jobs and added the ministry is now processing 145 exploration license applications from foreign companies.“These targeted investments represent an important ‘down payment’ in our efforts to move beyond exploration and extraction and into the creation of integrated value chains, a central focus of our overall mining strategy,” al-Khorayef said in the statement.“The investments will continue to position the Kingdom as a mining production and logistics hub for a region that stretches from Africa to Asia, while also supporting the transformation of our mining sector so it can achieve its potential.”Read more:Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Season visitors exceed 200,000 in first three daysSaudi Arabia’s economy to exceed $1 trillion for first time in history: IMF estimateMiddle East helps Europe fill diesel void as Russian flows slump amid war, sanctions
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia announces billion investment in steel complex, EV metals plant

The coalition said two flights had left for Yemen and a third was also due. It said it was handing over "foreign fighters" to their embassies.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Saudi-led coalition starts transferring freed prisoners to Yemen

"Israeli leaders intentionally designed the sequence of these fabricated, secular holidays," to promote "harmful Zionist narratives," argued Jewish Voice for Peace.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: JVP: Memorial days for Holocaust, soldiers, independence are 'harmful Zionist' propaganda

The move helps shore up Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's fragile coalition but will likely anger the Biden Administration.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israel to advance plans for 3,988 settler homes despite US objections

A Virgin Atlantic flight aborted its flight path after one of two pilots flying the plane was found to have inadequately completed the airline’s internal flying test, CNN reported on Friday.Forty minutes into the London Heathrow to New York’s JFK journey, the flight made a U-turn after a “rostering error” was discovered, CNN reported citing a statement from the airline.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The first officer reportedly had failed to complete the airline’s internal “final assessment” flight.The pilot, whose name was not reported, was however allegedly qualified in line with UK flight regulations and has been with the company since 2017.The accompanying captain has been identified by Virgin Atlantic as “highly experienced” with a 17-year-history with the airline.The company said both pilots were “fully licensed and qualified” to operate the aircraft, and that there was no breach in aviation or safety rules, according to the CNN report.This was corroborated by a UK Civil Aviation Authority in a statement to CNN which said that “both pilots were suitably licensed and qualified to undertake the flight.”Passengers on the flight arrived in New York two hours and 40 minutes later than scheduled after the first officer was replaced.“Control of an aircraft is usually shared between a first officer and the captain, but the latter holds ultimate responsibility for what happens on a flight,” the BBC clarified in a report.Read more:Business group warns Hong Kong travel curbs a ‘nightmare’India’s SpiceJet airlines facing government inquiry after turbulence injures 15Pilots pulled controls in opposite directions in Air France landing scare: Report
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Virgin Atlantic flight turns back after pilot found not fully qualified to fly

The terrorists, who murdered three Israelis, are from the village of Rummaneh, northwest of Jenin.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Elad terrorists did not belong to any group, families claim

A 16-year-old fell sick and died after eating a shawarma from an eatery in the Indian state of Kerala on May 1, national media reported, with the latest findings pointing at a shigella infection caused by bacterium of the same name.More than 52 people reportedly fell sick after eating the popular Levantine dish from the south-Indian town’s local eatery on April 29 and 30.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Devananda, the only fatality among the 52, had shawarma from the snack bar on both days, the New Indian Express (TNIE) reported citing police.However, all the sick required treatment with seven people in intensive care units across three hospitals. Their conditions are stable according to the district’s medical officer Dr. A. V. Ramdas, cited by TNIE.The youngest patient is a two-and-a-half-year-old girl, and the oldest is a 39-year-old man.The highly contagious intestinal infection is caused by “unhygienic, undercooked or contaminated food and water,” said the medical officer in the same report.Diarrhea is the main symptom, he continued, adding that stomach pain, fever, vomiting, tiredness, and bloody excrement can also be evident.While death is not common for an individual with the shigella infection, a weak immune system or the pathogen’s resistance to antibiotics can prove fatal, TNIE reported.The current hot and humid weather conditions in Kerala call for safer handling of food and its preservation, especially if it has animal origin, to prevent similar food poisoning incidents.Police have reportedly arrested the owner and staff behind the eatery, according to local media.An angry crowd threw stones at the snacks bar and shattered its window panes and set on fire a van linked to the eatery, TNIE reported.The operation was reportedly unlicensed, prompting authorities to conduct strict inspections at eateries, including hotels and food outlets that may be operating in a similar fashion.News of the teen’s death also compelled Kerala’s neighboring state Tamil Nadu to crackdown on shawarma sellers who fail to maintain hygiene. In the initial inspection run, one shop was found to be without a license, according to local media reports.While licensing is mandatory for restaurants under FSSAI (Foods Safety and Standard Act), including for streetside vendors, oversight is lax in most parts of the country.In this instance that saw large public outcry, the Kerala state’s High Court initiated a public interest litigation (PIL) and asked authorities about the steps they have taken or will take to ensure food safety.Read more:Overweight men more likely to die from prostate cancer: StudyIndia considers restricting wheat exports as severe heat destroys cropsUkraine war set to worsen severe hunger worldwide: UN report
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Indian teen dies from infectious bacteria in Shawarma, over 50 hospitalized