Middle East Experience

Iraqi boxing federation president acknowledges that Iraqi women engaging in the sport is a “recent phenomenon.”..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iraqi women boxers stand up to knock down taboos

Yarden recently received an artist’s visa to the United States, allowing her to perform there at clubs, festivals and events.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Meet Yarden Kleiman: The Israeli saxophonist bringing electric energy to parties

Riots broke out across the country during Operation Guardian of the Walls in May, killing two people and injuring dozens
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: IDF's Homefront Command preparing to confront internal disruptions in next war

A commission that decides on the promotion of judges on Thursday voted to make 55-year-old Justice Ayesha Malik the first female judge on Pakistan's Supreme Court.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Pakistan confirms appointment of first female Supreme Court judge

This is not the first time a statue of former IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani has been torched in Iran.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Qasem Soleimani statue torched in western Iran

Iranian authorities have unveiled several sculptures dedicated to Soleimani since his assassination two years ago..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Statue of slain commander Soleimani torched by assailants in Iran

Israeli security sources claimed Friday that drones captured after being flown across the frontier from neighboring Lebanon have provided insight into the growing aerial surveillance capabilities of the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist organization.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Lebanon and Israel are technically in a state of war and drones have become a regular feature of their heavily guarded border.Images extracted from one drone downed in August, shown to AFP, showed what the source said was Hezbollah drone operators and pictures of other drones, as well as an aerial shot of a northern Israeli settlement and military post.The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he believed the footage showed Hezbollah special forces training in how to use drones, which he said was the first such glimpse for Israel.A second source said that five drones seized last year, including a small observation drone downed on Tuesday, belonged to Hezbollah.“We are learning about the enemy and the enemy is learning about us,” said the second source, also speaking on condition of anonymity. “It is kind of a learning race between Hezbollah and us.”Israel is a leader in developing and using drones in warfare, but it is seeing its technological superiority challenged by arch-foe Iran, which is also developing unmanned aerial vehicles for military use.The drones used by Hezbollah were not necessarily Iranian made, but rather ordinary commercially available devices, the second source said.“It is so easy to just take a drone from the store and gather intelligence and do whatever you imagine,” he said.In September, Hezbollah said it had shot down an Israeli drone over Lebanon.Hezbollah operates out of Lebanon, which is struggling during a dire economic crisis. The first security source said the economic woes did not appear to have lessened Hezbollah’s drone program.Read more:Israel investigating after Hezbollah says it shot down Israeli drone in South LebanonIsrael shoots down drone in Israeli airspace from Lebanon: Army
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Israeli security says downed drones show Hezbollah surveillance

Saudi Arabia recorded 3,575 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Health announced on Friday, marking the first time the Kingdom saw over 3,500 infections in a single day since July 2020.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section. The gulf country saw nearly 5,000 cases in June 2020, marking its highest ever daily increase, according to worldometer tracker website.While 572,225 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Saudi Arabia, a total of 544,978 have recovered. The death toll has reached 8,890 as of January 7 after two new coronavirus-related deaths were recorded.Saudi Arabia has administered over 52 million vaccine doses as of January 7, according to the health ministry.Saudi Arabia updated COVID-19 rulesHealth authorities recently updated recovery periods for those who test positive for the virus. For vaccinated individuals, the recovery period has been reduced to seven days while the unvaccinated recovery period is 10 days.Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior updated fines for those who do not follow precautionary measures. In a tweet posted on the ministry’s Twitter account, it was announced that those who do refuse a temperature check before entering public or private places, and don’t follow social distancing rules will receive a $266 (1,000 Saudi riyal) fine. In case of repeated offense, the fine can reach up to $266,000 (100,000 riyal).Numbers have continued to increase in recent weeks after the first case of the omicron variant was detected in Saudi Arabia on December 1.That case was traced to an unnamed north African country, according to the official SPA news agency.Saudi Arabia recently reimposed social distancing measures at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca, as well as in public places. Masks are now again required in both indoor and outdoor places.Read more:Daily COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia pass 3,000 for the first time since July 2020Saudi Arabia records 3,168 COVID-19 cases and two deaths in 24 hoursSaudi Arabia’s daily COVID-19 case numbers rise by one-third
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia’s daily COVID-19 cases cross 3,500 for first time in over one year

Iran put three ballistic missiles on display at an outdoor prayer esplanade in central Tehran on Friday, as talks in Vienna aimed at reviving Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers flounder.The missiles, known as Dezful, Qiam and Zolfaghar and with official ranges of up to 1000-km (620 miles), were already-known models, the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Diplomats from countries that remain in the 2015 nuclear deal — Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China — are working with Tehran to revive the accord, which had sought to limit Iran's nuclear ambitions in exchange for trade.American diplomats are present in Vienna but they are not in direct talks with Iranians. The accord collapsed in 2018 when then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US and re-imposed sanctions on Iran.A report by state TV said the missiles on display were the same types as those used to strike US bases in Iraq.The display came on the second anniversary of ballistic missile attacks on American bases in Iraq in retaliation for the US drone strike that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad in 2020.The Iranian military mistakenly shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 with two surface-to-air missiles after the attacks, killing all 176 people on board. After days of denial, the Guard publicly apologized, blaming air defense operator who authorities said mistook the Boeing 737-800 for an American cruise missile.An Iranian military court in December held a hearing for 10 people suspected of having role in downing the Ukrainian airliner.State TV said a commemoration ceremony for the victims was held in Tehran’s main cemetery with the presence of their families as well as officials.Read more:Progress made on Iran nuclear talks but time running out: France’s foreign ministerIranian statue of slain commander Soleimani torchedUS-coalition against ISIS faces dual attacks in Syria and Iraq by Iran-backed groups
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran displays ballistic missiles amid nuclear talks with world powers

Expo 2020 Dubai kicked off celebrations in honor of “Saudi Day” on Friday with an airshow by the Royal Saudi Air Forces, a marching band performance and a fashion show with more festivities planned for the day.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the Kingdom’s Expo pavilion Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan was expected to head the official Saudi delegation that will visit the United Arab Emirates to attend the celebrations, the official SPA reported on Wednesday.Other activities scheduled for the day include cultural performances and “various creative events, reflecting the Kingdom's development and renaissance in all fields under the umbrella of Saudi Vision 2030,” according to SPA.The Saudi Hawks - the Royal Saudi Air Force’s aerobatic display team, took off in the sky for a performance while the aircraft were equipped with white, red, blue and green smoke generators. The team will perform on January 7 and 8.There will also be fireworks display in the evening in celebration of the Kingdom’s day at Expo 2020 Dubai.Last month, SPA reported that two million people visited Saudi Arabia’s pavilion in 86 days. That’s nearly 30 percent of the total visitors to Expo since it opened in October.In November, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited the pavilions of the Kingdom and the UAE.Read more:Saudi Arabia’s pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai receives two mln visitors in 86 days
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Expo 2020 Dubai celebrates ‘Saudi Day’ with Royal Saudi Air Forces display, fireworks