Middle East Experience

"Today this body is poised to adopt a budget that reflects such an accommodation that extends a shameful legacy of hate, antisemitism, and anti-Israel bias."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israel, US vote against UN funds for 'antisemitic' Durban Conference

Opinions differ on whether assassination served American interests
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Iran marks year since US killed Soleimani, amid fear of rising violence

Saudi Arabia’s Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority confirmed it has arrested several high-ranking officers and officials tied up in cases of corruption.The Nazaha authority confirmed on Thursday that they have opened 12 separate cases on several high-ranking officials.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.One case involved a retired major general from the Presidency of State Security, a former advisor at the Ministry of Interior, a retired brigadier general from the Ministry of Interior, and two businessmen and two residents of Arab nationality.“The first and the second established an enterprise and obtained through it a contract for the supply of electronic devices with the Ministry of Interior at an amount of (11.000.000) riyals, and the first paid an amount of (1.600.000) riyals for the third in exchange for awarding the contract,” Nazaha’s statement on the first case read.“The first also received an amount of (7.000.000) riyals in exchange for awarding a supply contract to a company at an amount of (23.485.000) riyals, and agreed with another businessman to obtain a percentage of the profits of the supply contracts with the Presidency of state security in exchange for them to be awarded to his own company,” the statement added.The National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nazaha) is a Saudi Arabian governmental anti-corruption agency established in 2011. Last November, the entity arrested 226 people involved in 158 criminal corruption cases. It also initiated 120 criminal cases against 184 citizens and expatriates in recent weeks“The Authority affirms on the continuation to pursue anyone who exploits the public office to achieve personal gain or harm the public interest in any way possible,” Nazaha said in a statement.Read more:Saudi Arabia’s anti-corruption body initiates 120 criminal casesSaudi Arabia arrests 226 people involved in 158 criminal corruption casesSaudi Arabia sentences corrupt judge, others to prison, issues fines
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi anti-corruption body arrests several officers, officials over graft cases

Ambassador Hadas-Handelsman called the relationship between the Orban government and Hungary's Jewish community strong.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israeli Ambassador to Hungary praises Viktor Orban's government

The incident took place when IDF combat engineering soldiers arrived to the area in order to seize equipment used in an illegal Palestinian construction site.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Palestinian critically injured in confrontations with IDF in West Bank

Ankara wants to mend its strained relations with the European Union this year, Deputy Foreign Minister Kaymakci said..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Ankara seeks normalisation with EU in 2021: Turkish official

Lebanon, Syria and Iraq are among the countries chosen to represent Iran through international legal channels..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iran chooses Lebanon, Syria as legal representatives in Soleimani case

The government expects revenues of 8.64 billion riyals based on an oil price of $45 dollars a barrel, 19 percent less than in 2020..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Oman foresees .7 bn deficit in pared down 2021 budget

A Middle East Airlines airplane at Beirut airport was hit overnight by stray bullets fired in celebration of the New Year..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Plane, woman casualties of Lebanon's 'celebratory' gunfire

Iran has told the UN nuclear watchdog it intends to enrich uranium to up to 20 percent purity, a level it achieved before its 2015 deal with major powers and higher than the 4.5 percent it has recently been enriching up to, Russia’s ambassador to the agency said.“#IAEA DG reported to the (IAEA) Board of Governors ... about intention of #Tehran to start enrichment op to 20 percent,” Russian Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency Mikhail Ulyanov said on Twitter on Friday, referring to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.A Vienna-based diplomat confirmed there had been an IAEA report to member states saying that, but declined to elaborate. The IAEA was not immediately available for comment.Iran’s 2015 deal with major powers on curbing its nuclear activities says it can only enrich up to 3.67 percent, far short of the 90 percent that is weapons-grade.Read more:All you need to know about Iran's nuclear programFrance, Britain, Germany say Iran’s recent uranium enrichment ‘deeply worrying’Iran council approves law to halt UN nuclear inspections, step up uranium enrichment
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran intends to enrich uranium to up to 20 percent purity: IAEA