Middle East Experience

The US-led coalition fighting the terrorist group ISIS said one of its bases in northeast Syria came under fire by Iran-backed groups, the coalition said on Wednesday.“Coalition forces were targeted this morning by eight rounds of indirect fire at Green Village, a Syrian Democratic Forces base with a small Coalition advisory presence, in northeast Syria,” the coalition said in a statement, it added that there were no casualties but there was minor damage inside the base.The Coalition responded by firing six rounds of artillery towards the point of origin of the attack just outside al-Mayadeen town in Syria’s Deir Ezzor province.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. John W. Brennan, Jr. said: “Our coalition continues to see threats against our forces in Iraq and Syria by militia groups that are backed by Iran. These attacks are a dangerous distraction from our coalition's shared mission to advise, assist, and enable partner forces to maintain the enduring defeat of [ISIS].”This is the latest in a series of recent attacks on US bases or locations where there is American presence in both Syria and Iraq.On Tuesday, two drones approached Ain al-Asad airbase, which hosts US and other international forces in western Iraq. Coalition forces shot down the two armed drones. And a day earlier, the coalition also shot down two armed drones targeting its compound at Baghdad airport.The developments coincide with the two-year anniversary of the death of Iran’s General Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force, the overseas arm of the IRGC, who was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq on January 3, 2020, along with Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.Read more:Rocket attack hits near base hosting US forces in Baghdad: SourcesDrone attack on US forces foiled west of Iraq’s BaghdadRockets fired at US base in east Syria: MonitorIran threatens revenge for Soleimani killing if former US President Trump not tried
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US coalition against ISIS says Iran-backed groups hit Syrian base in latest attack

Middle East carriers flydubai and Air Arabia canceled services to Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, on Thursday as the Central Asian country faces its worst unrest in over a decade.Websites for the airlines showed return Dubai-Almaty services operated by flydubai and return Sharjah-Almaty flights operated by Air Arabia as canceled.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.A flydubai return flight from Dubai to the capital Nursultan was due to operate on Thursday, according to its website.There was no immediate comment from the Emirati airlines.Almaty airport was reportedly overrun by anti-government protesters on Wednesday, forcing flights to be canceled, before it was later retaken by government security forces.Kuwaiti budget carrier Jazeera Airways on Wednesday suspended services to Almaty.Kazakhstan’s government has declared a nationwide state of emergency in response to the violent anti-government protests.Read more:Kuwait's Jazeera Airways suspends Kazakhstan flights amid unrestProtests erupt in Kazakhstan after fuel price riseRussia urges ‘dialogue’ not ‘riots’ in Kazakhstan after protests over fuel price
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Flydubai, Air Arabia cancel flights to Kazakhstan’s Almaty

Pop-rap band Black Eyed Peas will headline the fourth show in Expo 2020 Dubai’s six-month Infinite Nights series, performing live at Al Wasl Plaza on January 25.The trio are known for some of the biggest hits of the 21st century, including ‘Where Is the Love?’ from Elephunk, and their singles ‘Boom Boom Pow’ and ‘I Gotta Feeling’, which topped the chart for an unprecedented 26 consecutive weeks.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Each artist playing throughout the Infinite Nights series is portraying their own vision and experience of Expo 2020, said Expo organizers.It follows on from the success of the performance of multi-award-winning artist Alicia Keys at the al-Wasl stage in December. The show – streamed online – received 15 million video views across different platforms.Black Eyed Peas – will.i.am, Apl.de.Ap and Taboo – issued a statement saying: “As a group, we continue to evolve our music to connect with the hearts and minds of our community around the world.”“We are excited about our upcoming Expo 2020 Dubai Infinite Nights special concert that will showcase chart-topping music from our recent album “TRANSLATION” as well as our greatest hits.”“On January 25th, we will bring the world together for a global celebration via our live stage performance.”Lubna Haroun, vice president of Moment-Makers, Expo 2020 Dubai, added: “After the huge global success we enjoyed with Alicia Keys performing in Infinite Nights in December, we cannot wait to host our second global stars here at Expo 2020 Dubai.”“The Black Eyed Peas have always inspired us with their progressive global outlook and innovative approach to exploring new musical possibilities, making them the perfect fit for Expo 2020.”The Infinite Nights series aims to unite the world through the power of music with a host of celebrated artists performing live from al-Wasl Plaza, with the concerts streamed to a global audience. Black Eyed Peas will perform at al-Wasl Plaza at 10pm on Tuesday, January 25.Organizers said visitors wishing to attend the concert are advised to arrive early. The concert will be livestreamed globally on www.virtualexpodubai.com, and available to watch across multiple channels, including Expo on YouTube, Facebook,TikTok and Oculus (VR). Several TV channels will also live broadcast the show.Read more:Expo 2020 Dubai: Winter wonderland, Alicia Keys part of $20 ‘December Festive Pass’Expo 2020 records 5.66 mln visits, boosted by UAE’s 50th National Day celebrationsExpo 2020 Dubai: Rare yellow 203-carat sapphire worth $4m sparkles at world fair‎
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Expo 2020 Dubai: Black Eyed Peas to headline mega concert at world fair

A Moscow-led military alliance said Thursday it had sent its first troops to Kazakhstan after its government requested help to quell mounting unrest.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“Peacekeeping forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization were sent to the Republic of Kazakhstan for a limited time to stabilize and normalize the situation,” the CSTO secretariat said in a statement posted by Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.It said the deployment included units of the armed forces of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, the five other members with Kazakhstan of the Moscow-dominated CSTO.The statement did not specify how many troops were being sent but said the Russian contingent included members of the country’s Airborne Forces.The troops’ main tasks “will be the protection of important state and military facilities and assistance to the forces of law and order... in stabilizing the situation,” the statement said.It said Russian forces were being transferred by military aircraft to Kazakhstan and that advance units had “already begun to fulfil the assigned tasks.”Read more: Flydubai, Air Arabia cancel flights to Kazakhstan’s Almaty‘Dozens’ of protesters killed in Kazakh unrestProtests erupt in Kazakhstan after fuel price rise
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Moscow-led alliance sends first troops to Kazakhstan: Statement

The United Arab Emirates has registered 2,687 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) reported on Thursday.The ministry revealed the total number of recorded cases in the UAE had risen to 777,584. No new virus-related deaths have been reported.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The Ministry added that it had conducted 405,418 additional COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours.Some three million PCR tests have been conducted across the country over the past week.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.MoHAP also noted that an additional 902 people had fully recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries to 750,156. The total number of deaths in the country remains at 2,170.Thursday’s numbers represented a slight decrease in new daily cases, down from 2,708 reported on Wednesday.The UAE – one of the world leaders in vaccination rates - has been stepping up its vaccination campaign amid a recent rise in COVID-19 cases.Meanwhile, all government employees in the United Arab Emirates’ capital must have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and had their booster dose to be able to enter the workplace, the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee announced on Wednesday.The rules will come into effect January 10 and comes alongside previous mandates that workers in the public sector must take a free PCR test every seven days.The rules do not apply to those have medical reasons.Read more:Abu Dhabi gov workers must be vaccinated, have booster to enter workplace: Officials
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE COVID-19 numbers slightly dip, 2,687 new cases recorded in 24 hours

The Gulf state is moving towards becoming the largest liquified natural gas producer by 2030. The US emerged as the world’s top LNG exporter for the first time ever during December last year, surpassing leading gas producer Qatar, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. Based on ship-tracking data compiled by the news agency, Washington’s ranking came ..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: US outranks Qatar as world's top LNG exporter for first time ever

Internet and mobile services appeared to be disrupted in Sudan on Thursday ahead of the latest round of planned protests against a military takeover that upended a transition towards elections.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Some bridges between the capital Khartoum and its sister cities of Bahri and Omdurman were also closed ahead of the demonstrations.Protesters said they would try to reach Khartoum’s presidential palace as they try to keep up pressure on the military, which halted a power-sharing arrangement negotiated after the 2019 overthrow of Omar al-Bashir when it staged a coup last October.“We will occupy the streets once more, heading for the tyrant’s palace, rejecting military rule, and adhering to peacefulness, our strongest weapon,” said a statement from resistance committees organising protests from Bahri.Crackdowns on protests since the coup have left at least 57 people dead and many more injured, according to medics aligned with the protest movement.Calls and mobile internet services were disrupted from late morning, Reuters journalists and internet blockage observatory NetBlocks said.The protests come four days after Abdalla Hamdok resigned as prime minister, throwing Sudan’s future deeper into uncertainty.Hamdok became prime minister in 2019 and oversaw major economic reforms before being deposed in the coup and returning in a failed bid to salvage the power-sharing arrangement.Read more:Sudan PM’s decision to resign throws country further into the abyssSudan’s deal a clean slate for Hamdok but lost opportunity for real change: AnalystsSudan’s PM Hamdok denies any personal gain in signing political deal with Burhan
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Communications disrupted in Sudan ahead of anti-military protests

The Gulf state has orchestrated several anti-Qatar campaigns in recent years, pumping millions into the process. Now, it seems that it's on the line..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: UAE risks inclusion on global financial watchlist over money laundering

Qatar’s prime minister and health minister were seen inspecting a number of medical centres, following public discontent over apparat failure by health officials to deal with current crisis. Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is reducing the quarantine period for health workers with COVID-19 from seven to 10 days, as the country grapples with a ..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Quarantine for infected health workers reduced to 7 days amid surge in cases

New research published in the Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology offers insights on where the Kingdom of Judah kept its wealth some 2,600 years ago.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Biblical name, seals shed light on First Temple treasuries