Middle East Experience

In the tourist bazaar in the Old City of Tunis, embroidered scarves, clay pots and ornaments spill out from store fronts into the narrow alleyways. But few people are browsing, reflecting the misfortunes that have afflicted Tunisia’s vital tourist industry for years.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The inactivity highlights the economic stagnation that has soured many Tunisians on democracy, setting the stage for the country’s worst political crisis since a popular uprising toppled veteran autocrat Zine El-Abidine a decade ago.Sitting on a stool surrounded by intricately decorated mirrors, plates and boxes, store-owner Monther charts the start of the economic troubles to the 2011 revolt, which ignited a wave of uprisings known as the Arab Spring.“Since the revolution, everything has gone backwards - from bad to worse when you consider tourism. At this time of year, the market used to be crowded with visitors, but now it is the opposite, there are just a few people,” he said.Sharply exacerbated by the pandemic, the economic troubles explain partly why many Tunisians supported President Kais Saied’s decision to freeze parliament and sack the prime minister on Sunday.His actions, aided by the army, were decried as a coup by opponents, including the Islamist party Ennahda. Western states that have praised Tunisia’s democratic path have expressed concern.Washington urged Saied to stick to democratic principles.But many Tunisians took to the streets to show support for what Saied described as an attempt to save a crumbling country, reflecting anger at economic malaise and political paralysis.Since the 2011 uprising, tourism, which once accounted for nearly a tenth of Tunisia’s GDP, has suffered repeated blows.First came the impact of the uprising itself and the instability that followed, which deterred all the but the most intrepid holiday-makers to a once popular destination offering Mediterranean beaches, Arab and Islamic culture, the remains of ancient Carthage and the set of Star Wars.Then, in 2015, foreign tourists were directly targeted in militant attacks: ISIS killed 22 people at a museum, and a lone gunman killed 38 people on a beach.In 2019 Tunisia seemed to reclaim its status, attracting a record 9.5 million visitors, but the pandemic killed off hopes of a revival and the number plummeted by 78 percent in 2020.To its critics, the government’s handling of the pandemic captured its wider failings. Ahead of his decision to freeze parliament, Saied ordered the army to take over management of the health crisis.Abdesattar Massoudi, owner of an artisanal store in the bazaar, said Tunisians’ patience had run out and he backed Saied’s actions.“After 10 years, people were patient until this explosion came, and this was expected. For me, I saw it coming and I think it’s a little bit late,” he said.Saied, a political independent elected in 2019, had been at loggerheads with Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and the main parties in the fragmented parliament, which have all accused him of breaching the constitution.Mouhammed Rezgui, who sells jewelry in the bazaar, indicated his fatigue with factional bickering. “We must stand for our country, not by dividing people according to political affiliation. We are all Tunisians.”Read more: Explainer: What caused Tunisia’s President to sack PM, suspend Parliament?What is Article 80 and how did Tunisia’s president use it to back his decisions?Kais Saeid is no coup leader
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Tunisia market traders: Economic woes set stage for crisis, support President Saied

Turkey has done a rather good job meeting the immediate and mid-term needs of Syrian refugees, but it is now at a crossroads on whether to have a long-term integration policy, experts say.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Amid Afghan influx, Turkey’s refugee policy gets tested with fire

Tunisian President Kais Saied on Sunday night suspended the country’s Parliament and sacked the Prime Minister, triggering reactions within the country and across the world, with many waiting to see what he will do next. For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Here’s a look at the key players in the country’s current crisis.President Kais Saied The President, Kais Saied, is - of course - at the center of the entire political crisis. Since he suspended parliament and fired the country’s Prime Minister on Sunday, demonstrations erupted across Tunisia, consisting of supporters and opposition. He was one of the first to declare his candidacy for the country’s 2019 elections, running without any political party affiliation, a move which attracted the country’s youth who were already disillusioned with the ruling elite.Hichem Mechichi Hichem Mechichi is the country’s recently ousted prime minister who was sacked by the president earlier this week with a term that lasted less than a year. The 47-year-old served as the president’s first adviser in charge of Legal Affairs in February 2020, before he was elected as Prime Minister in September that year. Rached Ghannouchi Rached Ghannouchi is the Tunisian Parliament Speaker and politician heading the Ennahda Party. The Islamist party became Parliament’s largest party due to votes, which were arguably affected by the fact that it was one of the few established parties at the time of its latest formation, demonstrating just over 40 percent of vote in the 2019 Parliamentary election. The party, which had the most seats in the now-ousted Parliament, is being investigated on suspicion of receiving foreign funds during the 2019 election campaign, a judicial source told Reuters on Wednesday.Nabil Karoui Nabil Karoui, Tunisian politician and former Parliament member, leads the country’s Heart of Tunisia Party, one of the parties that had a large majority of seats in the now-suspended Parliament, after Ennahda. Karoui is one of the country’s key political figures. He ran for president in the 2019 elections and lost to Saied, finishing in second place. Abir Moussi Abir Moussi is another key figure in Tunisian politics, and is known for being vocal in opposing the Islamist Ennahda Party.She has been leading the country’s Free Destourian Party (‘Destour’ translates to ‘Constitution’ in English) since 2016, after officially becoming a memberof the right-wing party in 2013.Read more:Explainer: What caused Tunisia’s President to sack PM, suspend Parliament?What is Article 80 and how did Tunisia’s president use it to back his decisions?Who is Kais Saied? Tunisia’s president that sacked PM, suspended parliament
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Who are the main players in Tunisia’s political crisis?

Firefighters and civil defense authorities are working to put out a massive fire in northern Lebanon's Qoubaiyat, the Lebanese News Agency (NNA) reported on Wednesday, with social media videos showing flames approaching homes in the Akkar area.“Directives were given to all civil defense centers in Akkar to go to Qoubaiyat to help put out the fire. Work is underway to secure water tanks for supply,” the NNA reported.The Lebanese Red Cross said its teams were transporting patients from the site of the fire to nearby hospitals and evacuating families and the elderly.Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun followed up on the development of the fires that broke out in Akkar district, especially Qoubaiyat and Beino villages, and asked the Army Command and Civil Defense to make all efforts to put the fires out and prevent them from spreading to homes and to help the people.The President gave directions to seek the assistance of Cyprus to contribute to extinguishing the fires in the event of any further widespread.No further details are available.Lebanon’s National Agency said the army has managed to evacuate a number of citizens who had been trapped in their cars by the fire on the Qoubaiyat’s main highway.Lebanese parliament member Wehbe Qatisha said that it seems that the fire has expanded to the nearby Andket forests.“I call on the security forces and the Civil Defense to go to the historical forests to save them from the fire as soon as possible,” he added.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Read more: Judge investigating Beirut port blast targets top officials in LebanonFire breaks out on ship docked in Beirut port: ReportsDemonstrators in Isfahan torch Khamenei banner as Iran protests continue
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Watch: Massive fire breaks out in northern Lebanon's Qoubaiyat, flames near homes

The Biden administration on Wednesday issued its first round of Syria-related sanctions since taking office, designating a number of regime detention centers and prison officials, as well as a Turkish-backed Syrian rebel group.  

“The individuals and entities we are designating today are party to gross violations of human rights, including supervising the torture and killing of detainees," Andrea Gacki, the Treasury Department’s Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, told reporters.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: US unveils Syria sanctions targeting regime prisons, rebel group

Lebanon registered 1,224 new coronavirus cases and two deaths the Health Ministry said Wednesday, as the head of the national coronavirus vaccine committee warned that 80 percent of new cases circulating in Lebanon were the Delta variant..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon records 1,224 coronavirus cases, 80 pct of cases Delta variant

Egypt pauses El-Dabaa nuclear power plant project for two years amid tensions hanging over the relationship with Russia due to its recent position on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam crisis and its rapprochement with Ethiopia.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt postpones nuclear power plant amid tensions with Russia over Nile dam

Speculation over an Egyptian government cabinet reshuffle headed by Mustafa Madbouly drew a lot of attention recently but eventually came to naught..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Egyptian elite’s reluctance to accept cabinet posts hinders reshuffle

Tehran’s numbers don’t add up. They seem to be exaggerated to pressure Biden for sanctions relief..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Is Iran Bluffing About Its Enriched Uranium Stockpile?

The craft store had acquired the 3,600-year-old artefact for its Bible museum, but court says it had been smuggled and should be returned to Iraq..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Ancient Gilgamesh tablet seized from Hobby Lobby by US authorities