Middle East Experience

Turkey has made a request to purchase 40 F-16s and almost 80 modernisation kits for its existing warplanes from Lockheed Martin Corp..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: US may reward Turkey with F-16s in exchange for Ukraine support

Of the three activists, Zouaimia, was able to leave Algeria for Canada on Thursday, a joint statement by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Algeria slaps ‘arbitrary travel bans’ on diaspora activists

Global food security remains a concern because of the difficult market conditions, UN food agency said..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Food prices ease slightly in April after record surge

There have been growing talks in Israeli media that Israel may assassinate Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar following the Elad terror attack.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Terror groups threaten missile strikes if Israel resumes assassinations

Dear Even Hansen is a book about a boy who faces social anxiety and feels invisible at school. An expert explains what you can learn about your kids from this book.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: How one book-turned-musical can help you understand your child's anxiety

The victim was hospitalized in stable condition.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: NY rabbi punched and kicked by man making antisemitic remarks

A group of militants attacked a water-lifting station east of the Suez Canal, according to an army spokesman.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: 11 Egyptian security personnel killed after foiling 'terrorist attack'

Sinn Fein secured 29% of first-preference votes compared with 21.3% by the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), official results showed.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Sinn Fein calls for united Ireland debate after historic election win

At least five others wounded in one of deadliest attacks against Egyptian security forces in recent years..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Egypt says 11 troops killed in militant attack in northern Sinai

Thousands of Lebanese living in nearly 50 countries began early voting Sunday in the country’s closely watched parliamentary elections, days after a similar vote was held in 10 predominantly Muslim nations.Read more: Lebanon needs ‘new blood’: Diaspora gears up for 2022 parliamentary election in UAEAbout 195,000 Lebanese had registered to vote Sunday in 48 countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, Russia, European Union member states and several African nations. The vote in Lebanon takes place May 15.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Among those voting Sunday are many Lebanese who fled the country over the past two years during a historic economic meltdown. The downturn has been blamed on decades of corruption and mismanagement by the political class that has been running the small nation since the end of the 1975-90 civil war.Parliamentary elections are held once every four years and the last vote in 2018 gave majority seats to the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah group and its allies.The vote this year for the 128-member legislature is the first since the economic and financial crisis began in October 2019 leading to nationwide protests. It is also the first vote held since the massive August 4, 2020 blast at Beirut’s port that killed more than 200 people, injured thousands and caused widespread damage in the capital.Little change was expected from the vote as mainstream political parties and politicians remained strong going into the vote while opposition figures are fractured. Western-backed mainstream parties are hoping to strip the parliamentary majority from Hezbollah.The vote this year comes as a powerful Sunni leader, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, suspended his work in politics. Some have warned this may help Hezbollah’s Sunni allies to win more seats.Local media outlets have reported that Hariri has come under pressure from Saudi Arabia to convince his supporters to get out and vote to prevent Hezbollah from benefiting from the vacuum. Saudi Arabia and Hezbollah backer Iran are regional rivals.A registered 194,348 voters will cast their ballots at 192 polling stations around the world, many of them at Lebanese diplomatic missions.During Friday’s vote, 59.45 percent of the registered 30,929 voters cast their ballots, according to Foreign Minister Abdallah Bouhabib.Lebanon’s parliament is equally divided between Christians and Muslims. The new legislature will elect a new president after President Michel Aoun’s term ends in October.After official results are out following next week’s vote in Lebanon, the government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati will become a caretaker administration until the president calls for consultations with newly elected legislators to name a new prime minister. Mikati, who is not running for parliament, could be chosen again.According to Lebanon’s power-sharing system, the President is a Maronite Catholic, the prime minister is a Sunni and the parliament speaker is a Shia. Cabinet seats are also equally divided between Muslims and Christians.More than 70 percent of the country’s 6 million inhabitants, including 1 million Syrian refugees, now live in poverty as a result of the economic crisis, which was described by the World Bank as one the world’s worst since the 1850s.The crisis made tens of thousands lose their jobs while the Lebanese pound has lost more than 90 percent of its value since the meltdown began.Read more: Lebanon needs ‘new blood’: Diaspora gears up for 2022 parliamentary election in UAEMan overseeing Lebanon vote frets about disruptions, vote buyingLebanon running out of passports, suspends renewal requests
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Lebanese in 48 countries voting in parliamentary elections