Travel inspires people, and helps build vital social, cultural and economic ties..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: World Tourism Day: Tourists are back in Dubai for its hospitality, safety
Burying victims of coronavirus in south Lebanon
Grave digger Ahmad Shehadeh, 50, has throughout his career buried thousands of corpses, many of whom died from diseases, wars and Israeli attacks..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Burying victims of coronavirus in south Lebanon
Lebanon left reeling after collapse of efforts to from new government
Lebanon is facing a grim and uncertain future after efforts to form a….
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon left reeling after collapse of efforts to from new government
Sisi warns against ‘instability’ in Egypt following protests
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has warned of ‘instability’ in Egypt after protests against his authoritarian rule broke out in several towns and villages..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Sisi warns against ‘instability’ in Egypt following protests
Olympics should say Iran is ‘no longer welcome’ after Afkari execution: US official
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) should tell Iran it is “no longer welcome” after the execution of Iranian star wrestler Navid Afkari, US former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell said in a podcast.Afkari was executed in Iran September 12 and his death sparked outrage and underscored widespread human rights abuses in Iran.“I would like to see – because of the systemic human rights abuses by the Iranian regime – the international community and specifically the Olympics say ‘you’re no longer welcome in international competition,’” Grenell, who has also served as US Ambassador to Germany, told LGBTQ+ news outlet Outsports in a podcast posted on September 21.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Olympics, scheduled for 2020, has been postponed a year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.Following Afkari’s execution, the IOC issued a statement saying “The execution of wrestler Navid Afkari in Iran is very sad news. The IOC is shocked by this announcement today.”Grenell, who currently serves in the Trump administration as Special Presidential Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations, noted that human rights abuses in Iran are systemic. Arbitrary arrests of protesters, abuse, and forced confessions all occur in Iran. Human Rights Watch, citing rights groups, said that Iran had executed at least 227 people as of November 1 in 2019, compared to 253 in 2017.“The reality is that we’re dealing with a regime in Iran that is systematically denying their people basic human rights, whether it’s the access to the internet or social media or the right to assemble,” Grenell said.Afkari was arrested in 2018 during anti-government protests and was given two death sentences, six and a half years in prison and 74 lashes for the alleged murder of a water company security guard.Read more:After escaping prison in Iran, persecuted Christian leader speaks outHow ISIS leader al-Mawla rose rapidly through the ranks in Iraqi terrorist groupHis brothers, Vahid and Habib, have each been sentenced to 54 and 27 years in prison, respectively, Al Arabiya English previously reported.Before his execution, Afkari aired a statement in which the wrestler appeared to confess to killing the security guard, but the wrestler and his two brothers had released several audio recordings prior to that, saying they were tortured into making false confessions.Over the last decade, Iran’s state broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, has aired at least 355 false confessions.Beyond forced confessions and abuse of those detained, Iranian authorities have brutally repressed protesters. Following widespread protests last December that broke out after a hike in gas prices, nearly 7,000 people were arrested, and 208 people had reportedly been killed in the protests, according to figures from Amnesty International.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Olympics should say Iran is ‘no longer welcome’ after Afkari execution: US official
Azerbaijan denies Armenian ambassador claims that Turkey sent 4,000 Syrian fighters
Armenia's ambassador to Russia said on Monday that Turkey had sent around 4,000 fighters from northern Syria to Azerbaijan amid fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Interfax news agency reported.However, an aide to Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev denied the claims that were made.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“Rumors of militants from Syria allegedly being redeployed to Azerbaijan is another provocation by the Armenian side and complete nonsense,” said the aide, Khikmet Gadzhiev.The ambassador said the fighters were taking part in fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, a region inside Azerbaijan that is run by ethnic Armenians, the RIA news agency reported.Armenian and Azeri forces exchanged fierce fire for a second day on Monday over the region, with both sides accusing each other of using heavy artillery.Turkey is a close ally of Azerbaijan.Read more:Azerbaijan declares partial military mobilization, six Azeri civilians killedArmenia declares martial law and mobilization amid Azerbaijan clashesArmenia, Azerbaijan fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh continues
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Azerbaijan denies Armenian ambassador claims that Turkey sent 4,000 Syrian fighters
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Greece to meet with Foreign Minister Dendias
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki Monday, the first leg of a five-day regional tour that will include Italy, the Vatican and Croatia.Tension in the eastern Mediterranean is to feature prominently during Pompeo’s two-day stay in Greece, which will include a visit to the Souda Bay naval base on the southern island of Crete Tuesday.Frequently testy relations between Greece and neighboring Turkey have deteriorated sharply this year, particularly over maritime boundaries and exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean. The dramatic escalation in tension led to fears of war between the two NATO members.Turkey sent a research vessel, accompanied by warships, to prospect for energy resources in an area Greece claims is on its own continental shelf and where it claims exclusive economic rights. Athens sent warships of its own to the area.European Union members are to discuss imposing sanctions on Turkey for its actions.Pompeo and Dendias made no statements after their meeting, which lasted just under an hour.The US Secretary of State had discussed the situation in the eastern Mediterreanean late Sunday with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg as he headed to Greece.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“Pleased to speak today with @NATO Secretary General @jensstoltenberg to discuss de-escalation of the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and reiterate the importance of NATO Alliance unity,” Pompeo tweeted.Amid the tension, Greece has announced major arms purchases, including fighter jets from France, as well as warships, helicopters and weapons systems.Last October, Pompeo visited Athens and signed a revised defense cooperation agreement with Greece that provided for increasing joint US-Greece and NATO activity at three locations in Greece as well as infrastructure and other improvements at Souda Bay.Read more:Greek PM to Erdogan: ‘Let’s give diplomacy a chance’Olympics should say Iran is ‘no longer welcome’ after Afkari execution: US officialHow ISIS leader al-Mawla rose rapidly through the ranks in Iraqi terrorist groupPompeo is the first US Secretary of State to visit Greece’s second largest city of Thessaloniki. Security was tight in the port city, with the venue of Pompeo’s meeting with Dendias changing from the originally planned location, a local ministry, to a hotel for security reasons, authorities said. A protest against his visit was planned for Monday evening.During his visit to Thessaloniki, Pompeo is to sign a bilateral science and technology agreement, as well as host energy sector business leaders for a discussion to highlight energy diversification and infrastructure projects in Greece. He will also join members of the city’s Jewish community to commemorate Yom Kippur.Pompeo will depart later Monday to Crete, where he is also scheduled to meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Greece to meet with Foreign Minister Dendias
Saudi Arabia to host women’s golf events for the first time in November
Saudi Arabia will host professional golf tournaments for women for the first time ever in November at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in Jeddah.The Saudi Ladies International will be the first Ladies European Tour (LET) event to take place in the country and will run from November 12-15, with a purse of $1 million, the third-highest paying event after the British and Scottish Open.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.It was originally scheduled for March but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is set to attract more than 100 participants, including Wales’ Amy Boulden, who won her maiden LET event at this month’s Swiss Open.It will be followed by the November 17-19 Saudi Ladies Team International, in which professionals will team up with amateurs and compete for a purse of $500,000.The events will be Saudi Arabia’s third and fourth professional tournaments in the past two years, having staged the Saudi International men’s event in 2019 and 2020.“We are extremely excited to be part of history in bringing the first-ever professional women’s golf event to Saudi Arabia and we are thankful to their commitment to deliver not one but two tournaments, in what has been a difficult year for golf,” LET CEO Alexandra Armas chief said.“We are always looking to grow the game in new markets and add to our schedule and we are confident that the Saudi Ladies International and the Saudi Ladies Team International will be a fantastic experience for our players,” Armas added.Saudi Arabia has hosted several sporting events recently, including the heavyweight boxing title rematch between Britain’s Anthony Joshua and Mexican-American Andy Ruiz Jr in 2018, as well as the Italian Super Cup in 2018 and 2019.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia to host women’s golf events for the first time in November
Coronavirus: UAE reports drop in cases with 626 new infections
The United Arab Emirates reported a drop in coronavirus cases with 626 new COVID-19 infections detected on Monday, according to the country's health ministry.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The ministry of health also reported 918 recoveries, making the total number of recoveries 81,462.The total number of coronavirus cases in the UAE is 92,095, while the total number of deaths is 413.Cases in the UAE have been on the rise in recent weeks, which authorities have attributed to hundreds of people failing to follow precautionary measures.Read more:Coronavirus: UAE reports 851 COVID-19 cases, a drop on recent days, one new deathCoronavirus: Abu Dhabi high school students get free PCR test before UAE school year
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE reports drop in cases with 626 new infections
Will Suez Canal feel impact of UAE-Israel normalization?
The potential economic agreements between the United Arab Emirates and Israel may reduce traffic through Egypt’s Suez Canal.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Will Suez Canal feel impact of UAE-Israel normalization?