Middle East Experience

Prince Harry’s wife Meghan has accused Buckingham Palace of “perpetuating falsehoods” about her and her spouse, saying the royal couple would not be silent in telling their story.Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, made the comments to American talk show host Oprah Winfrey in an interview about why they quit their royal roles that is due to be broadcast on US television on Sunday.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.An advance excerpt of the interview was released on Wednesday, hours after Buckingham Palace said it was “very concerned” about reports in the Times newspaper that assistants working for Meghan two years ago had been bullied by her.Harry and Meghan issued a statement denying that she had bullied anyone.“How do you feel about the Palace hearing you speak your truth today?” Winfrey asks Meghan in the excerpt.Meghan responded: “I don’t know how they could expect that after all of this time we would still just be silent, if there is an active role that The Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us.” The Firm is the name that the British royal family sometimes uses to describe itself.“And if that comes with risk of losing things, I mean, there’s a lot that’s been lost already,” Meghan added.The interview was recorded before The Times newspaper ran a report citing unnamed sources as saying an aide to Harry and Meghan had raised a complaint in October 2018 alleging that Meghan had reduced some of her assistants to tears and treated others so badly that they had quit.The paper said Harry had urged the aide, who has now left their staff, to drop the complaint, and it never progressed.The Times said it had been contacted by former staff members who wanted the public to gain insight before the Winfrey interview aired - and that lawyers for the couple had labeled the allegations a smear orchestrated by the Palace.Reuters could not independently verify the report.“We are clearly very concerned about allegations in The Times following claims made by former staff of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.The Royal Household “does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace”, it added.It said its HR team would look into the allegations, and that members of staff involved at the time would be invited to participate.‘Saddened by attack’A spokeswoman for Meghan said earlier that she was “saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma”.Meghan and Harry, who married in May 2018, stepped back from their official duties in March last year to forge new careers and a financially independent life in California.That decision was confirmed last month, when they also handed over all their royal patronages. They said their move was fueled in part by intense press intrusion.However, Meghan had also previously indicated that she felt she did not have the full support of the royal family.In court documents submitted as part of her successful privacy action against the mass-circulation Mail on Sunday, her lawyers said she had felt “unprotected” while she was pregnant with their son Archie.Read more:Prince Harry, Megan won’t return to royal family roles: Buckingham PalacePrince Harry: Split from royal life 'unbelievably tough'Queen Elizabeth, senior royals in TV head-to-head with Prince Harry and Meghan
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Meghan Markle accuses Buckingham Palace of ‘perpetuating falsehoods’

The Arab Coalition on Thursday destroyed a ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia toward Saudi Arabia’s Jazan, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.“The terrorist Houthi militia continues its attempts to target civilians… we are taking operational measures to protect civilians in accordance with the international humanitarian law,” the Coalition said in a statement carried by SPA.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Arab Coalition announced overnight that its forces had intercepted two explosives-laden drones launched toward Khamis Mushait, a southwestern city home to the King Khalid Air Base.Yemen’s Houthi movement regularly launches drones and missiles into Saudi Arabia, many of which Riyadh says it intercepts. Some have previously hit Abha International Airport which is about 120 kilometer (75 miles) from the border with Yemen.In February, the Houthis claimed an attack on the Abha airport which caused a civilian plane to catch fire. The militia said the airport was a military target, according to AFP.With agenciesRead more:Arab Coalition destroyed drone launched by Houthis towards Saudi ArabiaArab Coalition destroys explosive-laden drone targeting Saudi Arabia’s Khamis MushaitHouthi councilman calls for donations on Twitter to fund ballistic missiles, drones
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Arab Coalition destroys ballistic missile launched by Houthis toward Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s annual “Noor Riyadh” festival of light will take place in the capital Riyadh from March 18 until April 3 and will include a display of interactive lighting artworks in multiple locations around the city, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Wednesday.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.According to its official website, “Noor Riyadh” is “a new citywide annual festival of light and art that nurtures creativity, promotes talent and delivers awe-inspiring experiences.”The event is described as “a festival of light and art consisting of numerous public art installations across Riyadh city, and ‘Light Upon Light,’ a landmark exhibition of light arts since the 1960s to present day.”It is one of Riyadh Art’s projects, which aims to transform Saudi Arabia’s capital “into an environmentally friendly, sustainable city which offers the highest standards of livability and lifestyle, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.”Riyadh Art is one of the four major projects launched by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz on March 19, 2019, under the supervision of the Committee of Grand Projects chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.“Noor Riyadh” will witness the participation of major artists from over 20 countries around the world, SPA said, adding that 40 percent of the participants are Saudi artists.The event will have two central locations in Riyadh: the King Abdullah Financial District and the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Al Murabba.Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture, said that “Noor Riyadh” comes within the framework of the Crown Prince’s “keenness to elevate the city of Riyadh to the position it deserves among the capitals of the world, and aims to improve the quality of life in the city in line with the objectives of Vision 2030,” SPA reported.The theme of “Noor Riyadh” is “Under One Sky,” which, according to the festival’s official website, “alludes to the universal human impulse to gather around light, to look into the flames of a campfire and to gaze at the stars.”Read more:Saudi Arabia taps ex-Parsons dean Burak Cakmak to lead Kingdom’s Fashion CommissionAl-Diriyah Gate to catapult Saudi Arabia as tourist destination of the world: CEOAbu Dhabi Culture Summit to focus on creative solutions for post-COVID-19 environment
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia’s annual festival of light ‘Noor Riyadh’ to take place March 18

Iraq's Nasiriyah has been the scene of violent protests recently, but calm has settled over the city with the prime minister's efforts to calm it.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Nasiriyah tensions ease as pope heads to Iraq

After much controversy and debate, the Cabinet approved for the Health Ministry to start vaccinating 120,000 Palestinian workers on Sunday.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel set to vaccinate 120,000 Palestinian workers

In the March 23 elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the clear favorite — but against whom?
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Inconclusive polls: No clear-cut Netanyahu challenger

Lebanon's health ministry Thursday rejected a court order for it to swiftly vaccinate an elderly man against COVID-19, accusing the judge of trying to score points in the media following a scandal over queue-jumping by lawmakers..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Elderly Lebanese man will get COVID jab 'sooner or later', Health Ministry says

The Israeli government has not explained some key details surrounding the incident and Iran has yet to comment. The spill blackened the shoreline in Israel and Lebanon last month.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel blames Iran for Mediterranean oil spill

The trip is taking place despite concerns about the pandemic and security. Here’s a brief look at why Francis is visiting Iraq, what the trip will entail and what he hopes to achieve..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Pope Francis Travels to Iraq on a Mission of Healing

When start-up investment figures are broken down by city, Israel's tech ecosphere is even more centralized in Tel Aviv than many like to think.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Is Jerusalem really a budding tech hub?