Middle East Experience

The French-Moroccan author on why she writes, the complexity of identity, and the first book of a trilogy based on her family history..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Leïla Slimani: ‘I think I’m always writing about women, domination, violence’

COVID-19 National Expert Advisory Panel lays out recommendations for the 2021-2022 school year.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: What COVID rules could Israelis see next? Expert panel recommendations

Iran’s support for militias in the region should be included in ongoing talks in Vienna and the meetings should not be limited to only reviving the nuclear deal, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Nayef bin Falah al-Hajraf said at a virtual Gulf Research Meeting on Saturday. Iran’s interference in the internal affairs of other countries poses a threat to the region and is a matter of concern, he said. For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The current situation in Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon represents a clear and direct threat to the security and stability of the Middle East, al-Hajraf added. “The security of the region is of great importance to the security of the world,” he said. Iran has been engaged in negotiations with major powers on reviving its 2015 nuclear deal in Vienna since April. Talks have been temporarily paused until Iranian President-elect Ebrahim Raisi takes office in August. The deal was halted in 2018 after former US president Donald Trump withdrew from the deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran.Read more:Saudi Arabia’s air defenses intercept four Houthi militia dronesIran says four IRGC members killed in clash with ‘bandits’Iraq military base hosting US troops attacked by drone: Coalition
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran’s support for militias must be included in nuclear deal talks: GCC chief 

Critics say Turkey is taking superficial steps to serve religious minorities in the areas under its control in Syria for the sake of its image before the West.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Turkey accused of cynical motives for restoring churches in north Syria

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery of the wreck of a warship from the Ptolemaic period as well as the remains of a Greek funerary area dating back to the beginning of the fourth century BC.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt discovers warship wreck from Greek Ptolemaic era

Protests broke out in the city of Tabriz in northwest Iran on Saturday in support of ongoing demonstrations southwest of the country, videos posted on social media showed.Protests sparked by a water crisis have been taking place in Iran since July 15.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The demonstrations were initially concentrated in Arab majority areas in the oil-rich southwestern Khuzestan province, where ethnic Arabs have long complained of discrimination in Iran. But they have since spread to more cities in Khuzestan, as well as to other parts of the country.Protesters took the streets in Tabriz, the provincial capital of the northwestern East Azerbaijan province, to express support for protesters in Khuzestan on Saturday, according to activists and footage circulating on social media.There was heavy security presence during the protests in Tabriz and at least three citizens were arrested, reported the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), a news site run by a group of Iranian human rights advocates, on Sunday.Chants in Tabriz included “Azerbaijan supports Khuzestan” and “Azerbaijan, Ahwaz, unity, unity,” according to the videos shared on social media. Ahwaz is the provincial capital of Khuzestan.Some of the chants heard in the videos were in the Azeri Turkish language. Iran’s three northwestern provinces – Ardabil, East Azerbaijan, and West Azerbaijan – have a predominantly ethnic Azeri population.In one video, protesters can be seen chanting for security forces to support their demonstrations. The same security forces responded by attacking protesters, causing the crowd to chant against them.Al Arabiya English could not independently verify the videos’ authenticity.Protests in solidarity with Khuzestan had also broken out late on Thursday in the neighbouring western province of Lorestan. Demonstrators in Lorestan’s city of Aligudarz chanted slogans against Iran’s highest authority, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, a video shared on social media showed.Iran has so far confirmed the death of five people, including a police officer, in violence connected to the rallies. Iranian officials have blamed unknown “rioters” for the deaths.Activists reject the official narrative and maintain the deaths were caused by security forces opening fire on protesters. Iranian officials, who typically use the term “rioters” to refer to protesters, have blamed them for the deaths in the past.HRANA said on Saturday that it had been able to identify 10 killed and 102 detained in connection with the protests in Khuzestan.Amnesty International said on Friday security forces had killed at least eight protesters and bystanders in Khuzestan since protests erupted in the province on July 15.In his first comments on the protests, Khamenei said on Friday protesters cannot be blamed and called on officials to deal with the water shortages.Authorities have blamed the water shortages on a severe drought, but protesters in Khuzestan say government corruption and mismanagement, as well as “discriminatory” policies aimed at changing the region’s demography, are to blame.The rallies come as thousands of workers in Iran’s key energy sector have launched strikes for better wages and working conditions.Iran’s economy has been hit hard since 2018 when former US President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers and reimposed sweeping sanctions on the country. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the country’s economic problems.Read more:Iran rejects UN rights chief’s ‘false accusations’ over water protestsIran using unlawful force in water protest crackdown: Rights groupsProtests in Iran’s Khuzestan continue, spread to neighboring Lorestan
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Protests break out in Iran’s Tabriz in support of Khuzestan demonstrations 

Sajjad Tangal was thought to have been killed in an air crash in 1976..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Former Dubai resident, presumed dead for 45 years, to reunite with family in India

A club of former Lebanese Sunni premiers endorsed on Sunday the choice of former Prime Minister Najib Mikati to form a new government ahead of parliamentary consultations on Monday, a statement said.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.In Lebanon’s confessional political system, the post has to be held by a Sunni Muslim.Read more: UN hits out at Lebanon’s ‘leaders’ during hearing on Hezbollah-Israel ceasefireLebanon to consult MPs to designate new prime minister: PresidencyPeriod poverty on the rise as Lebanon’s economic crisis worsens
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Former Lebanese prime ministers choose ex-PM Mikati as candidate to form new gov’t

The stories you don’t want to miss on #TheRoundUp this Sunday: 🔴 Rights groups slam NSO Group accusations against Qatar 👉 Al Udeid military base to host Afghan interpreters 🏁 First grand prix could soon come to Qatar ⚽ Qatar heads to Gold Cup semi-finals..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: The Round Up | 25 July 2021 – Doha News | Qatar

Qatar declared two victories at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 after winning two competitions during Sunday's games..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Qatar's athletes secure wins at rowing, beach volleyball games at Tokyo Olympics – Doha News | Qatar