Middle East Experience

Adults of any age with certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: UAE: Covid vaccination drive linked to dip in ICU admissions of elderly

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday inaugurated the first mosque in Istanbul’s Taksim Square, transforming the landscape of the area, eight years to the day after protests began there that shook his government..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Erdogan inaugurates first mosque in Istanbul’s Taksim Square

A philosophical and moral conversion led this soldier to leave the military. Why don't more take this path?.
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Opinion | The Way of the Conscientious Objector

Algerian medics fear next week’s reopening of national borders will trigger a new surge in COVID-19 cases despite health measures, as people living abroad rush home to see family..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Borders’ reopening stokes fears of new infections in Algeria

Lebanon registers 244 COVID-19 cases, 7 deaths in last 24 hours..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon registers 244 COVID-19 cases, 7 deaths in last 24 hours

The United Arab Emirates condemned “the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist militias’ attempt to attack civilians and civilian objects in the southern region of Saudi Arabia with an explosive-laden drone,” Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported on Saturday.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.In a statement, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reiterated that these “continued terror attacks by the Houthis reflect their blatant disregard for the international community and all international laws and norms.”The UAE urged the international community to take a stance to stop these repeated acts targeting Saudi Arabia’s security, adding that these attacks are evidence of the Houthi militia’s aim to undermine security and stability in the region.The Arab Coalition intercepted and destroyed an explosive-laden drone launched by Yemen’s Houthis towards Saudi Arabia’s Khamis Mushait on Saturday night.The Houthis’ explosive-laden unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) were the latest in a series of escalated attacks on the Kingdom by the Iran-backed militia in Yemen.Read more:Explosive-laden drone launched by Houthis toward Saudi Arabia intercepted: CoalitionHouthi militia is spreading fabrications of fake victories: al-MalikiArab Coalition foils imminent Houthi attack in Red Sea
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE condemns Houthi drone attack targeting Saudi Arabia

Iranian prosecutors have confirmed a French man detained in Iran will be tried for espionage and “propaganda against the system,” his lawyer told AFP on Sunday.Benjamin Briere, born in 1985, was arrested in Iran in May 2020, allegedly while flying a drone and taking photographs in a prohibited area.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Espionage is punishable by death in Iran, while the charge of “propaganda against the system” can incur a prison sentence of three months to one year.Lawyer Said Dehghan, who also represents another French national held in the country, told AFP the investigation had been completed and the prosecution had confirmed the charges.“The prosecutor is preparing the indictment and sending it to the revolutionary court for the continuation of the judicial process,” Dehghan said.Briere, who is being held in the city of Mashhad in northeastern Iran, was also facing charges of “corruption on earth,” one of the most serious offences under Iranian law, and drinking alcohol, punishable by flogging, but those charges were dismissed after the investigation.The announcement comes days after an open letter from Briere’s sister, Blandine Briere, was published by French weekly Le Point, in which she appealed to French President Emmanuel Macron to push for her brother’s release.She said the charges were “baseless” and that Briere had become a “negotiating tool.”In March, a spokesman for the French foreign ministry said Briere was benefitting from consular support and that its embassy in Tehran was in “regular contact” with him.Arrests of foreigners in Iran – especially dual nationals, who are often accused of espionage – have multiplied since former US president Donald Trump in 2018 unilaterally withdrew the United States from a nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed harsh sanctions against Tehran.Iran has conducted several exchanges of foreign prisoners, including researchers, with countries holding Iranian nationals.Read more:Frenchman held in Iran on spy charges ‘was a tourist,’ says his sisterJailed French tourist in Iran Benjamin Briere faces spying charges: LawyerIran arrested French tourist nine months ago
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran to try jailed French tourist for spying, propaganda: Lawyer

Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel was expected in the occupied Palestinian territories Sunday, a Palestinian minister said, after an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire ended a flare-up of fighting between Israel and militant group Hamas.Kamel was set to meet with Palestinian leadership, Palestinian civil affairs minister Hussein al-Sheikh said on Twitter, following the truce on May 21 that ended 11 days of deadly exchange of fire between Israel and Hamas that ravaged the besieged coastal enclave.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“Abbas Kamel arrives today in Palestine to consult with the Palestinian leadership on the latest developments after the recent aggression and its repercussions,” Sheikh said on Twitter.He would also “discuss what Jerusalem and its sanctities are exposed to, and the Gaza reconstruction, and the Palestinian national dialogue,” Sheikh added.Israeli public radio reported that Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi was headed to Cairo. Egypt’s foreign ministry confirmed Israel’s top diplomat was visiting Cairo.The latest flare-up was the result of increased tensions in Jerusalem, including over Israeli security forces cracking down on Palestinians inside the al-Aqsa mosque compound, Islam’s third holiest site.Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has pledged $500 million to help reconstruction efforts in the densely populated Gaza Strip, which was pummeled by Israeli airstrikes.Israeli strikes on the enclave killed 248 Palestinians, including 66 children, the Gaza health ministry says.Rockets and other fire from Gaza claimed 12 lives in Israel, including one child and an Arab-Israeli teenager, medics say.Read more:Egypt’s FM to meet Israeli counterpart on SundayOver 1,000 pro-Palestinians rally in Washington to end US aid to IsraelUS, again, reaffirms ‘ironclad’ support for Israel: Pentagon
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Egypt’s intelligence chief to visit Palestine as FM meets Israeli counterpart

Egypt announced that it will use its share at the International Monetary Fund to help settle part of Sudan’s outstanding debts, as Cairo sees its own stability and security as being correlated with Khartoum's.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt to use IMF account to help reduce Sudan’s debt

Syrian tribal leaders based in Turkey are calling out Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces over the killing of young tribesmen at the hands of the SDF in demonstrations against the increase of fuel prices.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Syrian Arab tribes put Kurdish administration on notice