Middle East Experience

The failure of Egypt’s largest Salafi party to win any seats in recent Senate elections is an additional indication of the collapse of the Salafists' popularity.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Uncertain future for Egypt's Salafists following Senate election defeat

Armenia has declared martial law and total military mobilization following clashes with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Sunday.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Tensions rose between Armenia and Azerbaijan on Sunday morning over clashes in which Yerevan said Azeri forces shelled the region of Nagorno-Karabakh and Baku accused Armenian forces of shelling Azeri military and civilian positions.Armenian forces have destroyed four Azerbaijani helicopters, 15 drones, and 10 tanks in clashes in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, the defense ministry of the region's administration said on Sunday.Turkey supports AzerbaijanTurkey has voiced its support for Azerbaijan in response to the clashes.“While I call on the Armenian people to take hold of their future against their leadership that is dragging them to catastrophe and those using it like puppets, we also call on the the entire world to stand with Azerbaijan in their battle against invasion and cruelty,” said Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Twitter.“We will support our Azerbaijani brothers with all our means in their fight to protect their territorial integrity,” added Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar in a statement.Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan later called on the international community to ensure that Turkey does not involve itself in Armenia's conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, trading barbs with Ankara.Pashinyan also said Turkey's behavior could have destructive consequences for the South Caucasus and neighbouring regions.Turkey is a key ally of Baku with close cultural and linguistic ties with Azerbaijan.Read more:Azerbaijan accuses Russia of arming Armenia since July clashesArmenia says Azerbaijan had attacked civilian settlements in disputed region
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Armenia declares martial law and mobilization amid Azerbaijan clashes

Gebran Bassil, head of Lebanon’s Free Patriotic Movement and son-in-law of President Michel Aoun, has tested positive for coronavirus, according to statement released on Sunday.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.The former foreign minister received his positive test results Saturday evening, but further testing showed that his infection is considered mild, according to a statement released by the Free Patriotic Movement media office.“Bassil will of course quarantine until he overcomes the virus, God willing, and will continue his work as usual,” the statement carried by local Annahar newspaper read.Bassil also urged the Lebanese people through the statement to adhere to coronavirus precautionary measures and to take the matter seriously, adding that the virus has a “lethal ability to strike and paralyze society.”Lebanon has seen a drastic surge in cases over the past few weeks as the government struggles to contain the outbreak.“New daily cases have doubled in ten days, the test positivity rate is above 9 percent, and hospital occupancy is around 70 percent despite recent expansion in ICU bed capacity,” Firsass Abiad, the head of the Rafik Hariri University Hospital, said on Twitter Sunday.In addition to the coronavirus outbreak, Lebanon has struggled with economic turmoil as well as an ongoing political crisis. The country is currently without a government, with the Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib stepping down from his position last week.Read more:Gebran Bassil: Lebanon’s controversial power brokerLebanon’s PM-designate Adib announces resignationLebanon's Gebran Bassil warns Macron of refugees 'your way' if Lebanon collapses
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Lebanon's Gebran Bassil tests positive for COVID-19

Turkey on Sunday vowed complete support for Baku and called on Armenia to give up its “aggression” after heavy fighting erupted in Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorny Karabakh.“We will support our Azerbaijani brothers with all our means in their fight to protect their territorial integrity,” Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said in a statement.Read more: Turkey's Erdogan criticizes Armenian leadership, expresses solidarity with AzerbaijanThe worst clashes since 2016 broke out on Sunday between arch-foes Azerbaijan and Armenia who have been locked for decades in a territorial dispute over Nagorny Karabakh.Turkey is a key ally of Baku with close cultural and linguistic ties with Azerbaijan.Read more: Armenia declares martial law and mobilization amid Azerbaijan clashesTurkey-Armenia conflictAnkara has no diplomatic relations with Yerevan due to a dispute over the mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire which Armenia says is a genocide.“The greatest obstacle to peace and stability in the Caucasus is Armenia's aggression, and it should give up this aggression which will throw the region into fire,” Akar said.Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin “strongly” condemned the clashes and said Armenia “once again violated international law and (has) shown that it has no interest in peace and stability.”For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.He called on the international community to “say stop to this dangerous provocation” in a tweet.“Azerbaijan is not alone. It has Turkey's full support,” Kalin added.The Turkish foreign ministry in a statement went further, promising: “However Azerbaijan wants, we will stand by Azerbaijan in that manner.”Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov discussed the crisis on Sunday during a telephone conversation, a Turkish diplomatic source said, without giving details.Read more: Armenia says Azerbaijan had attacked civilian settlements in disputed region
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Turkey says it will support Azerbaijan in clashes with Armenia

Specially trained dogs are able to detect coronavirus with great accuracy, almost a week before an infected person develops symptoms.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Helsinki airport uses dogs to test travelers for coronavirus

"You can’t expect a mother to do nothing when their child’s whole future is at risk."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israeli parents join youth in int'l strike for climate change action

Armenia declared martial law and mobilized its male population after the clashes, which Yerevan and Baku blamed on each other and in which both sides reported fatalities.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Turkey criticizes Armenia after clashes with Azerbaijan, supports Baku

All of the hotels have also been equipped with medics, Shofars and proper meals for before and after the fast including 20% more food for beak fast meals.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: IDF Home Front Command equips coronavirus hotels for Yom Kippur

Nethaniel Felber remains in critical condition following the terror attack that took place in 2018.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: IDF soldier injured in terror attack has corona, rabbi asks for prayers

Lebanese security forces have killed nine presumed members of IS following a hunt for suspects in the August 21 killing of two policemen and the son of a local mayor..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanese security forces kill nine suspected IS militants following hunt for killers of policemen