Middle East Experience

As the March 23 elections approach, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has wagered everything on stopping the pandemic.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Netanyahu bets everything on vaccination drive

One of Ayatollah Khamenei’s Twitter accounts has been suspended after….
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Ayatollah Khamenei’s Twitter account suspended after posting Donald Trump 'death threat'

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi also sacked a number of Iraqi security officials within hours of the attacks.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iraqi PM vows security changes after Baghdad bombing

The young man was shot while parking his car with police forces close by.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Arab-Israeli 21-year-old killed after anti-violence protest

The two states agreed to normalise ties in December last year..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Morocco signs direct flight agreement with Israel in latest normalisation step

An account claiming to be Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened former US President Donald Trump, only to be announced as a fake account and suspended.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Twitter account suspended for pretending to be Iran's Khamenei

Trump last week became the first president in US history to be impeached twice, and when the Senate convenes for his trial will be the first president to be tried after leaving office.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: House to deliver impeachment charge Monday, rejects Republican time push

History was made Friday after the US Senate confirmed Lloyd Austin as the country's first-ever Black defense secretary.The retired Army General passed his Senate confirmation with an overwhelming 93-2 in the 100-member chamber, far more than the simple majority needed.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.For Austin to take up his new role, a waiver was needed since he has not been out of the military for at least seven years - the mandatory law to ensure civilian control of the armed forces.President Joe Biden signed the waiver into law, which provided an exception to the restriction.But there was bipartisan support for Austin's confirmation.Senator Jack Reed, the incoming Democratic chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, noted the wide range of challenges facing the country - including the coronavirus pandemic and competition with China and Russia.“General Austin is an exceptionally qualified leader with a long and distinguished career in the US military,” Reed said before the vote.“We’re in the most threatened time that we’re in,” said Senator James Inhofe, the outgoing Republican chairman of the armed services panel, as he also urged support for the nominee.A statement from the Pentagon said Austin would receive an intelligence briefing shortly after being sworn in. He was also expected to receive a COVID briefing followed by a call with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.And in one of his first operational briefings, Austin was set to receive information about China and the Middle East.Austin was previously the US Central Command chief, which is responsible for the Middle East. He was also the first Black Commander of CENTCOM.Read more: Russia welcomes Biden’s proposal to extend nuclear armsSaudi Arabia optimistic about ties with US under President Joe Biden: Saudi FM- With Reuters
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Lloyd Austin becomes the first Black US defense secretary

The weapons package, which includes dozens of the stealth fighter jets, drones and other munitions, is valued at $23 billion.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: UAE confirms F-35 agreement inked with Trump administration

The Egyptian peninsula's deadly insurgency lingers on.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Islamic State kills 1, wounds 3 in Sinai