Middle East Experience

PRESS RELEASE As the people in Sri Lanka are facing a catastrophic economic crisis, the government must protect the human rights of everyone and ensure an enabling environment for peacefully expressing dissent, Amnesty International said in a report released today. In the report, ‘From Bad to Worse: Rights Under Attack During Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis’, ..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Sri Lanka: Rights under attack during economic crisis

Taez remains under siege, to the dismay of civil society organisations as evidence that the terms of a truce have yet to be met..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Civilians suffer as Houthi siege chokes Taez in south-western Yemen

While opposition figures have pinned their hopes on the diaspora, experts said the elections were expected to uphold the status quo..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon expats begin casting votes in parliamentary elections

The Arab Coalition said it had released 163 Houthi prisoners as part of the Kingdom’s humanitarian initiative, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Friday.108 prisoners were transported to Aden, Yemen’s interim capital, and nine were transported to the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, via two separate flights, the Coalition said.It also said that 37 prisoners were transported to Yemen via land routes “for humanitarian reasons” and given the fact that they reside in areas that neighbor Saudi Arabia’s borders.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.It added that nine foreign fighters were handed over to their countries’ embassies.The Coalition thanked the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for its efforts in coordinating the prisoners’ release, and reiterated that the Kingdom’s humanitarian initiative aims to support peace efforts in Yemen.The Arab Coalition announced last week that it will release 163 Houthi prisoners who participated in combat operations against the Kingdom in a “humanitarian initiative”.According to Coalition Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, the move falls within the context of previous humanitarian initiatives and aims to support efforts that seek to end the crisis in Yemen.Read more:Following Yemen truce, first fuel ships enter Houthi-held Hodeidah portUN: Yemen truce could help reverse ‘worsening’ humanitarian crisisLenderking cautiously optimistic over Yemen, calls out Iran’s support for Houthis
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Arab Coalition completes release of 163 Houthi prisoners

Twenty five civilians, including children, were brought out by bus on Friday from the Azovstal complex in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, which is besieged by Russian forces, to a camp in the Russian-controlled town of Bezimenne.Reuters journalists saw the coaches arrive and evacuees being accompanied to the reception center by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations, which have been helping to organize the evacuations.Officials at the center said they expected several buses to arrive from the bombed-out steelworks, the last bastion of Ukrainian forces in the city, on Friday.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Ukrainian officials had accused Russia of violating a ceasefire on Friday aimed at evacuating scores of civilians still trapped underground in the vast industrial plant, after fighting thwarted efforts to rescue them the previous day.The reception camp in Bezimenne was flying the black-blue-red flag of the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic, whose independence is recognized only by Russia.After a previous set of evacuations from Azovstal at the beginning of the week, around 100 evacuees were kept in Bezimenne for a day before being allowed to travel on.Most were taken to Zaporizhzhia, a city under Ukrainian control, while a few opted to travel on to Russian-held territory.Mariupol, which has strategic importance for Russia not only as a large port but also because it sits on a key east-west highway leading from Russia to the annexed Crimea, has been under attack since shortly after Russian forces invaded Ukraine on February 24.The port city on the Azov Sea now lies in ruins, under Russian occupation but for the vast Azovstal industrial complex, with its underground bomb shelters.The mayor, who has left, has said only around 100,000 of the pre-war population of more than 400,000 now remain. Read more:Russia to stay in southern Ukraine ‘forever’: Senior lawmakerZelenskyy calls on German chancellor to visit Ukraine on May 9Russian court orders arrest in absentia of top journalist over ‘fakes’
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Civilians evacuated from besieged Azovstal plant in Mariupol

Erdogan told Macron that “it is important to support the negotiation process” to end the war in Ukraine through diplomacy..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: In phone call, Erdogan discusses war in Ukraine with Macron

Was there a massacre or a battle, with many fewer killed civilians than portrayed?
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Did the Deir Yasin massacre actually happen? New book investigates - review

Fighting between the Iraqi army and Yazidi fighters affiliated with PKK forces more than 10,000 people to flee..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Fighting in northern Iraq sparks mass exodus

The Biden administration on Friday strongly condemned Israel’s plans to build new settlements in occupied Palestinian territories after Israeli officials said they would approve 4,000 new housing units in the West Bank.The State Department’s deputy spokesperson, Jalina Porter, said that the US was aware of Israel’s decision to announce the move on May 12. “We strongly oppose the expansion of settlements which exacerbates tensions and undermines trust between the parties,” Porter told reporters during a phone briefing.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“Israel’s program of expanding settlements deeply damages the prospect for a two-state solution,” Porter said. “The Biden administration has been clear from the outset.”US Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides told Axios that “he and other Biden administration officials have made it clear to the Israeli government that the administration is opposed to new building in the settlements and asked it not to move ahead with it.”The Axios report also cited Israeli officials telling US counterparts that Israel’s fragile government could collapse if the settlements were not approved.But the Israeli decision is expected to exacerbate tensions and violence which have escalated in recent weeks between Palestinians and Israelis. Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound has been the scene of renewed clashes while multiple attacks have been carried out against Israeli civilians.On Thursday, two Palestinians killed three Israelis and wounded four more in an attack inside Israel.Porter condemned the “terrorist attack” and said it was “particularly heinous coming as Israel celebrated its Independence Day.“We remain in close contact with our Israeli friends and partners and stand firmly with them in the face of this attack.”Read more: Two Palestinians killed in Israeli West Bank raid: Palestinian health ministry
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US condemns Israel’s plans to expand settlements in occupied Palestinian lands

Most of those who waited up to two hours for the chance of a selfie next to the trophy will not see the games that start November 21..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: In Qatar, migrant army queues for glimpse of World Cup trophy