Middle East Experience

Some Iraqis cited the cruelty of Belarusian authorities and attempts to push them to cross into neighbouring EU countries Poland and Lithuania..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Second group of Iraqis returns home after failed Europe gamble

“If I find a better and safe route, I will definitely try again,” said one of the more than 600 Iraqi migrants who came home on the government’s latest evacuation flights..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iraqis Return From Belarus, but Some Say They Will Try Again to Reach the E.U.

There is a crisis of trust in the Lebanese government’s ability to respond to the needs of the population and that the country risks becoming a “republic of NGOs,” the UN Special Rapporteur on Poverty warned.“There is what I call a crisis of trust in the government’s ability to respond to the needs of the population. Many people I spoke to feel abandoned, they feel disenchanted, they have lost faith in the willingness and ability of the government to provide solutions, and I am concerned that many answers that today are being provided by Lebanon are not structural in nature, they are not long-term answers to the country’s problems, they are short term humanitarian answers and Lebanon unfortunately risks becoming a republic of NGOs (non-governmental organizations) with humanitarian actors,” UN Special Rapporteur on Poverty Olivier De Schutter told Al Arabiya’s Talal Alhaj.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The fallout from Lebanon’s financial collapse in 2019 has left swathes of the nation in poverty and foreign donors are demanding an audit of the central bank and financial reforms before they release funds.UN agencies have warned of social catastrophes, with one report saying that more than half of families in Lebanon had at least one child who skipped a meal amid a dramatic deterioration of living conditions.“The situation is worse even for some groups of the population of Lebanon, not least the refugees, but all the population has been affected in Lebanon by the financial and economic crisis. Therefore yes in the short term we need humanitarian support, there is no choice but for the world food program, for UNRWA and UNHCR, for UNICEF and others to intervene in the country to support the population,” De Schutter said.The seemingly never-ending crisis has sunk Lebanon’s currency by more than 90 percent, caused poverty to skyrocket, and led many Lebanese to emigrate.Mikati’s government was finally formed after a year of political conflict over cabinet seats that only worsened the crisis.In August, on the first anniversary of the huge chemical blast at Beirut port that killed 200 people and caused billions of dollars of damage, Francis promised to visit Lebanon as soon as the situation permitted.- With inputs from Reuters.Read more:Lebanon launches second offshore licensing roundLebanese currency drops to new lowLebanon central bank governor told to hand over data for forensic audit: PresidencyOffshore firms linked to Lebanon c. bank governor worth nearly $100 mln: Report
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Lebanon risks becoming a republic of NGOs: UN Special Rapporteur on Poverty

The United Arab Emirates has officially approved a wide-ranging reform of the country’s legal system, with over 40 laws included among the draft of new laws and legislative amendments, according to an official announcement.The draft of legislative reforms came during the "Year of the 50th" and are intended to keep pace with the developmental achievements of the UAE and reflect the country’s future aspirations, read a report of the approved changes by state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM).For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“The amendments aim to develop the legislative structure in various sectors, including investment, trade and industry, as well as commercial company, regulation and protection of industrial property, copyright, trademarks, commercial register, electronic transactions, trust services, factoring, and residency, in addition to laws related to society and personal security including as the Crime and Punishment Law, the Online Security Law, and a laws regulating the production, sale and use of narcotics and psychotropic substances,” WAM reported.The new legislative changes came after intensive coordination at both the local and federal levels, where teams comprising 540 specialists and experts from 50 federal and local authorities have worked together over the past five months in consultation with over 100 private sector organizations in order to reflect global best practice in the new legal provisions.Read more:New UAE labor laws announced, changes made to safeguard employees’ rightsUAE president issues decree to adopt country’s ten principles for next 50 yearsAbu Dhabi sets up dual English-Arabic language family court for non-Muslims
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE adopts its largest legislative reform in its history via 40 new laws and changes

Nasrallah said $2.6 million worth of fuel had been provided for free to Lebanese NGOs, municipalities, government hospitals and other organisations..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Hezbollah brags about money spent on Iran fuel for Lebanon

Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri arrived Saturday in Vienna ahead of talks aimed at reviving the 2015 deal with world powers on the country’s atomic program, state media said.“Heading a delegation, Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri has arrived in Vienna, Austria, to attend the next round of the joint commission meeting of the Iran nuclear deal,” said the official IRNA news agency.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The talks, suspended since June, are due to resume on Monday between Iran and Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia to salvage the Iran nuclear deal.The United States will take part indirectly.The deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, was designed to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear arsenal by imposing strict limits on its nuclear program and forcing it to remain exclusively civilian and peaceful.But it unraveled in 2018 when then president Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the accord, before Iran began rolling back its nuclear commitments in retaliation a year later.The administration of Trump’s successor, Joe Biden, says it is working to return the United States to the accord.Read more:Vienna talks will be about US return to 2015 deal: Iran’s nuclear chiefIran’s FM calls for lifting of sanctions, days before Vienna nuclear talksIAEA chief says he ‘could not agree’ in talks with Iran
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran negotiator arrives in Vienna for key nuclear talks

Commenting on his tour, Bagheri said there was agreement to “open a new chapter” with the UAE and to “open new horizons” with Kuwait..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iran chief negotiator visits Kuwait, UAE ahead of nuclear talks

Iran arrested more than 60 people in connection with protests over water shortages in the central city of Isfahan on Friday, state media reported citing a security official.Security forces have so far arrested 67 of the “main agents and motivators” of Friday’s unrest, the semi-official Fars news agency cited Hassan Karami, head of the police’s special units, as saying.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Security forces clashed on Friday with demonstrators who were protesting the government’s water management policies in Isfahan, videos shared on social media showed.Security forces attacked protesters with batons in the dry bed of the Zayandehrud River and fired tear gas to disperse them, some videos shared on social media showed.Karami blamed “anti-revolutionary elements” for Friday’s violence in Isfahan. Iranian officials use the term “anti-revolutionary” to refer to groups opposed to the Islamic Republic.Iran Human Rights, an Oslo-based rights group, said security forces arrested more than 120 people over Friday’s protests in Isfahan.The protests continued late on Friday in some parts of Isfahan with protesters chanting “death to the dictator,” a chant aimed at Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, footage circulating on social media showed.Isfahan’s once-famed Zayandehrud River, which has dried up due to drought and mismanagement, has been the scene of protests led by farmers in the past two weeks against the government’s water management policies.Government officials have blamed low rainfall for water shortages in Isfahan and elsewhere in the country.In July, deadly protests broke out in the southwestern province of Khuzestan over water shortages.Read more:Demonstrations in Iran’s Isfahan turn violent as police forcibly disperse protestersThousands of Iranians protest dried-up river in IsfahanFarmers in Iran’s Isfahan protest drought in dried-up river
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran says 67 arrested in Isfahan water protests as demonstrations continue

Despite official campaigns urging Algerians to “make their mark”, the elections for municipal and provincial councils has sparked little public interest..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Scepticism surrounds Tebboune’s bet on voter turnout in local elections

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said on Saturday he dismissed the chief of police, Lieutenant-General Khaled Mahdi Ibrahim Al-Emam, and his deputy.Lieutenant-General Anan Hamed Mohammed Omar was appointed as the new police chief and Major General Muddathir Abd al-Rahman Nasr al-Din as his deputy, Hamdok added in a post on Twitter.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Last month’s coup raised questions over the future of the deal and efforts to end decades of internal conflict in Sudan.The civilian Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition that had been sharing power with the military before the takeover blamed the military in a statement on Thursday for allowing a worsening of the security situation in Darfur.While Hamdok’s reinstatement was a concession by military leader Burhan, key political parties and civilian groups say the army should play no role in politics.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Sudan’s Prime Minister Hamdok dismisses police chief and his deputy