Middle East Experience

Iraq is cooperating on border security with Syria, Russia and Iran.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iraq fortifies Syria border against Islamic State

Egypt is close to opening a new naval base on Egypt's Mediterranean coast, near its border with Libya.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt to open new naval base, shield itself against Libya

Kuwait’s parliament approved laws guaranteeing bank loans for businesses hit by the COVID-19 pandemic after the government took its oath of office on Tuesday, but rejected an amnesty pardoning people charged with storming parliament in 2011.Visit our dedicated coronavirus site here for all the latest updates.Dozens of protesters and lawmakers gathered outside parliament in a sign of lingering tensions after a months-long standoff between the elected assembly and the appointed prime minister.Only 33 of 50 members of parliament attended the session, the number required for a quorum.In its first session since Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al Sabah suspended it for a month, parliament approved a draft law to end pre-trial detention in freedom of speech cases and sent it for government approval, the assembly said.In addition to passing draft bills guaranteeing local bank loans for small and medium businesses affected by the pandemic, it approved a law deferring loan payments for citizens for six months.But parliament rejected “in principle” proposals for an amnesty law that included pardoning people charged with storming parliament, including former parliamentarians in self-exile abroad.After December elections, a majority of lawmakers backed a motion to question Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid Al Sabah on various issues, including his choice of ministers.The cabinet responded by resigning, and Sheikh Sabah named a new cabinet this month.Tensions remain high after Kuwait’s constitutional court this month nullified the membership of opposition lawmaker Bader al-Dahoum. Dahoum, who was among protesters outside parliament, was one of two lawmakers who filed a new request to question the premier.A government priority now is to push through a debt law allowing Kuwait to tap international markets to strengthen finances hit by low oil prices and the pandemic.Kuwait’s parliament has the power to block legislation and question members of government, in which senior posts are held by ruling family members.Read more:Kuwait cabinet approves law to assign $2 bln for COVID-19 frontline workers bonusesKuwait: Over 200,000 expats lose residency permits in one yearKuwait receives eight tons of national archives from Iraq
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Kuwait parliament passes COVID-19 relief bill after govt takes oath

The Arab Coalition on Tuesday said it intercepted and destroyed two explosive-laden drones launched by the Iran-backed Houthi militia.One drone was intercepted over Yemeni airspace, while the other was destroyed while it was heading towards the Kingdom’s Jizan, the coalition said.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Iran-backed militia continues its hostile attempts to attack civilians in both Yemen and Saudi Arabia, the coalition added.One civilian was killed and six others were wounded after a ballistic missile launched by the Iran-backed group fell in the middle of a residential neighborhood in Yemen’s Marib, Al Arabiya sources reported earlier on Tuesday citing local sources.The Houthis fired a ballistic missile at the city at about 11 a.m. local time, the sources added.The Houthis’ continued attacks on neighborhoods in Marib as well as its military escalation in the area puts millions of children and displaced families at risk, Yemeni Minister of Information Muammar al-Iryani said.The coalition said it would take the necessary operational measures to protect civilians in accordance with international humanitarian lawRead more:One dead, six wounded in Houthi ballistic missile attack on Yemen’s MaribUS lawmakers urge Blinken to re-designate Yemen’s Houthis as terrorist organization
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Arab Coalition destroys two Houthi drones; One targeting Saudi Arabia’s Jizan

Sudan approved an initiative by the United Arab Emirates to break the deadlock in the negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, but Egypt has not yet followed suit.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt weighs UAE mediation initiative in Nile dam crisis

A Kuwaiti court has upheld the curfew imposed from March 7 to April 8.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Kuwait maintains curfew amid frustration with lockdown

Israel has greenlighted an international operation to vaccinate against the coronavirus 7,000 Palestinian traders from the Gaza Strip who regularly travel through Israel and the West Bank.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel endorses international plan to vaccinate 7,000 Gaza traders

The United Arab Emirates has condemned two drone attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen including one that targeted the Saudi Arabian city of Jizan on Tuesday, according to the country’s official news agency (WAM).For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“Continuous terrorist attacks by the Houthi militia reflect its blatant disregard for the international community and all international laws and customs,” said a statement from the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.The ministry called on the international community to take a stance against the attacks, which it said represent the militia’s attempts to undermine stability in the region.The Arab Coalition fighting in Yemen said on Tuesday that it had intercepted and destroyed the two explosive-laden drones – one over Yemeni airspace and another en-route to Jizan.Houthi attacks on coalition forces, particularly on the internationally-recognized government’s last northern stronghold of Marib, have ramped up in recent weeks.A ballistic missile launched on Tuesday morning killed one civilian and wounded six others, according to Al Arabiya sources.“The security of the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is indivisible, and any threat facing the Kingdom is considered a threat to the UAE’s security and stability,” said the UAE ministry’s statement.Read more:Arab Coalition destroys two Houthi drones; One targeting Saudi Arabia’s JizanOne dead, six wounded in Houthi ballistic missile attack on Yemen’s MaribUS lawmakers urge Blinken to re-designate Yemen’s Houthis as terrorist organization
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE condemns drone attack targeting Saudi Arabia’s Jizan

In a rare negative coverage against women’s rights in Qatar, Human Rights Watch (HRW) published a report on Monday slamming the country’s male guardianship laws that restrict women’s independence.“Qatar’s discriminatory male guardianship system denies women the right to make many key decisions about their lives,” according to the report by HRW, titled “Everything I Have to Do is Tied to a Man.”For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.HRW’s negative reports on Qatar are infrequent, and the NGO rarely criticizes women’s rights in the country. There are over 44 pieces on Saudi Arabia published by HRW, including reports, news releases, statements, letters, and commentary, while there are only three full reports on Qatar and several news releases.Reports on labor HRW has published news releases and only two reports on Qatar’s migrant worker abuses, while it has dedicated many reports on Saudi Arabia, paying special attention to women’s rights in the Kingdom.Qatar’s profile page on the HRW website reads that it “has introduced significant labor reforms allowing migrant workers to change jobs without employer permission and setting a higher and non-discriminatory minimum wage,” while Saudi Arabia’s page on HRW does not mention the Kingdom’s latest labor reforms.In fact, the NGO published a news report calling Saudi Arabia’s latest labor reforms “insufficient.”Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development last November announced it would implement starting March 2021 new conditions under which expatriate workers in the Kingdom can benefit from, with the aim of improving the ‘kafala’ sponsorship system in the country.The new conditions include stipulations that will allow migrant workers to transfer to other jobs upon the expiry of their work contract without the need for their former employer’s approval.Lopsided coverage In August 2019, Al Arabiya English published an analysis of HRW’s 2019 output which revealed disproportionate and lopsided coverage of Saudi Arabia compared to other countries.Between January 1 and August 24, HRW has only released 22 public comments about Iran.This comes despite Iran’s dismal human rights record including carrying out the highest amount of executions per capita in the world.Read more:Human Rights Watch analysis shows lopsided coverage of Iran versus Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia announces conditions for new labor reforms set to improve kafala system Saudi Arabia to ease foreign workers’ restrictions under kafala system in March 2021
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Human Rights Watch slams Qatar’s male guardianship laws in rare negative coverage

Iran is not pleased with the US' leaked nuclear proposal and hit back….
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iran rejects leaked US proposal for return to nuclear deal