Middle East Experience

Following the announcement of indirect Iran-US talks, Iran says it….
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iran rejects ‘step-by-step’ lifting of sanctions following announcement of indirect talks with US

Lebanon registers 33 coronavirus deaths, 2,188 cases in 24 hours..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon registers 33 coronavirus deaths, 2,188 cases in 24 hours

Later on Friday, President Joe Biden announced that the US would be lifting its sanctions on the International Criminal Court, which were announced during the Trump administration.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Blinken puts more focus on Palestinians, security in call to Ashkenazi

Video posted by Yesh Din shows a group of men with their faces covered attacking an older man, throwing large rocks at him and swinging at him with a stick.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Settlers attack Palestinian man with rocks, sticks - human rights org.

Prince Bandar bin Sultan bought the estate in the 1990s for 11 million pounds..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Saudi prince sells English country estate to King of Bahrain

How will improved relations between Cairo and Ankara boost bilateral trade and joint investment? A number of Egyptian businesspeople are keeping fingers crossed that easing tensions between the two Mediterranean countries will open up new opportunities.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Why Turkey is wooing Egypt

Egypt's parliament has given preliminary approval to a bill stipulating tougher penalties for female genital mutilation, which remains widespread despite an official ban on the practice. The move coincided with the death of feminist author Nawal El Saadawi, who fought long and hard for an end to the procedure from which she herself suffered as a child.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egyptian parliament approves tougher penalties for female genital mutilation

Two rockets hit near an Iraqi airbase hosting US soldiers north of Baghdad on Sunday, three days ahead of a new “strategic dialogue” with Washington, a security source told AFP.There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the strike, which caused no casualties or property damage, but the US routinely blames Iran-linked Iraqi factions for such attacks on its troops and diplomats.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Sunday’s was the 40th attack against American interests – including troops, the Baghdad embassy or Iraqi supply convoys to foreign forces – since US President Joe Biden took office in January.Two Americans and an Iraqi civilian have been killed in the attacks. An Iraqi civilian working for a firm maintaining US fighter jets for the Iraqi air force was also wounded in one attack.The operations are sometimes claimed by obscure groups experts say are smokescreens for Iranian-backed organisations long present in Iraq.Qais al-Khazali, a senior pro-Iran figure in the state-sponsored Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force, recently declared that the “resistance” was carrying out attacks and would step them up “unless the US withdraws all its combat forces from across Iraq”.The latest attack came as Washington prepares to launch a strategic dialogue with the government of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who has regularly received threats from pro-Iran factions.Kadhimi faces the delicate task of balancing the interests of neighboring Iran and the US, arch-rivals who are both deeply involved in Iraqi politics.Read more:Iraq’s PM meets with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince in UAE to discuss bilateral tiesIraqi Airways to begin direct flights to UAE’s Abu Dhabi in MayAide to Iraqi military intelligence director survives assassination attempt
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Two rockets fall near airbase hosting US troops in Iraq: Security source

Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed on Sunday during his official visit to the United Arab Emirates, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported. “It was a pleasure to welcome our brother Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Prime Minister of Iraq to the UAE where he is amongst family. I look forward to our fruitful discussions regarding the prosperity and development of our brotherly nations,” WAM cited the crown prince as saying. For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Al-Kadhimi’s visit comes as part of efforts by Iraq to improve bilateral ties with countries in the region. Last week, the prime minister traveled to Saudi Arabia, where he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss relations between the two countries. The Kingdom and Iraq announced the establishment of a joint fund, with capital estimated at $3 billion, as a contribution from Saudi Arabia to promote investment in Iraq’s economic fields.The joint fund will be for the “benefit of the Saudi Arabian and Iraqi economies, with the participation of the private sector from both sides,” the statement added.Read more:Iraqi Airways to begin direct flights to UAE’s Abu Dhabi in MaySaudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Iraq’s PM discuss bilateral relations in Riyadh Saudi Arabia, Iraq establish joint $3 billion fund during Kadhimi visit to Riyadh
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iraq’s PM meets with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince in UAE to discuss bilateral ties  

Former Jordanian Crown Prince Hamza bin Hussein attempted to mobilize local officials for actions that were intended to harm the security of Jordan, deputy prime minister Ayman Safadi said on Sunday.Investigations revealed that the former crown prince had planned to target the nation’s security, Safadi added.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The government had launched a security investigation after it was revealed that a former minister, a member of the royal family, and some other individuals had tried to target the country’s “security and stability,” the Jordan News Agency (Petra) reported on Saturday.In a video on Saturday evening, Jordanian King Abdullah II’s half-brother Hamza said he was under house arrest and had been told to stay at home and not to contact anyone.Jordan’s army chief denied Prince Hamza’s statement and said that he was asked to stop “movements and activities that are used to target” the security and stability of Jordan, according to Petra.Prince Hamza appeared in two videos to distort facts and attempt to invite local and foreign empathy, Safadi said in his statement.After receiving the security report, King Abdullah had decided to first approach his half-brother before taking any further steps, he added.“Initial investigations showed these activities and movements had reached a stage that directly affected the security and stability of the country, but his majesty decided it was best to talk directly to Prince Hamza, to deal with it within the family to prevent it from being exploited,” Safadi said.Authorities intercepted communications between Prince Hamza and foreign parties who had devised a plot to destabilize the country and had been monitoring them for some time, according to the deputy prime minister.The security services have asked for those involved in the plot to be referred to the state security court, he said.Sixteen people are currently being held in prison for their part in the plot, not including Bassem Awadallah and Shareef Hassan bin Zaid.Read more:Jordanian Senate affirms support for King Abdullah II for preserving Jordan’s peaceJordan arrests former adviser to King and others on 'security grounds'Jordan's former Crown Prince Hamza says he is ‘under house arrest’ in video
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Prince Hamza, other figures attempted to harm Jordan’s security: Deputy PM