Middle East Experience

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said parliamentary elections will be held June 6, 2021.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iraq’s prime minister says early elections to be held in June 2021

Azerbaijan and Armenia, long at odds, have been fighting in the strategic Tavush-Tovuz border area; Turkey has threatened to intervene on the side of Azerbaijan.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Turkey holds joint military drills with Azerbaijan amid Armenia conflict

Trump and Putin can prevent the "Syrianization" of Libya.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Does Erdogan think Sisi is bluffing in Libya?

Ukraine's foreign minister said the talks were productive, but the two sides have not yet agreed on compensation for the plane's downing.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iran, Ukraine hold 'constructive' talks over downed passenger plane

The theory that aliens built the marvels is not new.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Elon Musk tweets that aliens built the pyramids in Egypt

Kuwait has banned flights to multiple countries – including Egypt, Iran, and Lebanon – to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, the country’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced on Saturday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The other countries that flights have been barred to are as follows:-Syria-Iraq-India-Bangladesh-Philippines-China-Brazil-Colombia-Armenia-Spain-Singapore-Bosnia and Herzegovina-Sri Lanka-Nepal-Mexico-Indonesia-Chile-Pakistan-Hong Kong-Italy-Northern Macedonia-Moldova-Panama-Peru-Serbia-Montenegro-Dominican Republic-KosovoKuwait will resume commercial flights to its international airport starting from August 1 after they were halted in March as a coronavirus countermeasure.Flights will resume in three stages, with only a 30 percent capacity of flights being allowed to operate for the first stage, the center said.The country last week set travel protocols for passengers flying to and from Kuwait International Airport. To find out more about the new regulations, click here.Read more:Coronavirus: Kuwait lifts lockdown on last isolated area, sets travel protocolsCoronavirus: All the COVID-19 guidelines for the Eid al-Adha holiday across the Gulf
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Kuwait bans flights to multiple countries due to COVID-19

Saudi Arabia reported 1,537 new cases of the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours, which brings the total number of infections in the Kingdom to 277,478, the Ministry of Health announced on Saturday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The capital Riyadh recorded 102 cases, while Mecca recorded 89. No cases were detected among the Hajj pilgrims, the health ministry had said on Friday.The rest of the new infections were confirmed in cities and provinces across the Kingdom.Twenty-one people died due to complications caused by COVID-19, which raises the virus-related death toll to 2,887.Meanwhile, the total number of recoveries rose to 237,548 after 1,890 people recovered.Earlier Wednesday, Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia embarked on the first day of rituals after self-isolating in a designated hotel amid strict coronavirus preventative measures, the official Saudi Press Agency reported. A health leader was assigned to each group of 50 pilgrims to ensure safety measures, including wearing a mask and social distancing, are implemented at all times, according to SPA.Al Arabiya English's Joanne Serrieh contributed to this report.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia reports 1,537 new COVID-19 cases, 1,890 recoveries

A picture of a woman praying alone in front of the holy Kaaba in Mecca during Hajj – an unusual occurrence at the site that sees over two million Muslims this time of year– has left hundreds on social media awestruck.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Only 10,000 people who already live in Saudi Arabia were selected to participate in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage due to the coronavirus pandemic.“A lucky woman who is making Dua (prayer) alone at Masjid Al Haram today,” a Twitter user said.“I also want to be here! In front of Kaaba! I wanna cry my heart out here… luckiest woman Ma’Shaa’Allah,” another said.Pilgrims embarked on the Hajj – a once-in-a-lifetime duty for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it – on Wednesday while wearing face masks and adhering to social distancing measures. A health leader has also been assigned to each group of 50 pilgrims to ensure safety measures are followed at all times.Read more:Coronavirus: WHO chief hails Saudi Arabia’s COVID-19 measures during HajjCoronavirus: Hajj pilgrims social distance during stoning devil ritualSaudi Arabia: Hajj pilgrims in good health, no coronavirus cases among them so far
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Hajj amid coronavirus: Woman prays in front of usually-crowded Kaaba 

The prices of basic goods in Lebanon have soared as the value of the local currency plummets, and yet the Lebanese government and central bank have defended the peg.While still technically pegged to the dollar at 1,507 Lebanese lira to $1, the street value has climbed up and traded around 9,000 lira on the dollar, losing over 80 percent of its value. However, at the tail end of July, the rate stabilized around 7,600 to the dollar, local newspaper the Daily Star reported.While the price of food climbs, the government has stood by the peg, making payments to state institutions and hospitals at the official exchange rate. But the government has fallen behind on payments to institutions, owing the American University of Beirut Medical Center $150 million in medical bills, and unpaid dues to private medical facilities stand at an estimated $1.3 billion since 2011.The peg has stabilized Lebanon’s currency since its introduction in 1997, but following years of government corruption and mismanagement, that peg began to slip last October as mass protests broke out across the country.It has continued its rapid decline in the following months, spurring widespread hunger as the fast-sinking economy has put more Lebanese out of work.The problem of hyperinflation in Lebanon is compounded as some percentage of Lebanese citizens get paid in Lebanese Lira while the majority of goods and products are imported from outside the country.While the prices in dollars of many goods has remained stable, the cost in the local currency has skyrocketed. Though the two currencies have been historically used interchangeably, dollars began to dry up in mid-2019. Heavily dependent on imports, Lebanon needs dollars to secure goods from abroad, including some 80 percent of its food.The government announced that it would still supply importers of wheat, medicine, and fuel dollars at the official rate, but medical suppliers, millers, and gas station owners have still threatened to go on strike in previous months.Many goods have become unaffordable for average Lebanese families. On Facebook, mothers sought to swap goods for milk formula to feed infants and other staples. The price of bread, still subsidized, has also been raised. The Lebanese Army scrapped meat rations, as they became unaffordable. In Lebanon’s second largest city Tripoli, butcher shops were closed this week as many around the region were celebrating Eid al-Adha. But in the northern city, there were no signs of festivities this year.Read more:Desperate Lebanese turn to bartering amid economic and jobs crisis and COVID-19Expecting the collapse: Meet Lebanon’s young political party ready to take powerLast week, Lebanon followed Venezuela into hyperinflation, becoming the first Arab country to watch its currency hit such lows.Here’s a look at the prices of some goods at the official exchange rate in Lebanon in one Beirut supermarket as inflation takes hold and Lebanese rely more heavily on local currency to purchase goods.Nescafe now sells for 29,000 lira, or $18 at the official rate.Kellog’s cereal sells for 58,500 lira, or $38.62 at the official exchange rate.Oreo’s cereal sells for 62,750 lira, or $40.94.Tuna cans now sell for 10,000 lira, or $6.60 at the official exchange rate.A can of Plein Soleil corn now sell for 7,000 lira, or $4.62.While Lurpak sells for close to 7,000 lira, Bridel butter sells for 22,000 lira or $14.53 at the official exchange rate.Labneh, a beloved Lebanese staple, now sells for 9,500 lira, or $6.27.While the price of bread was subsidized by the government, even bread has gone up. This loaf now sells for $4.29, or 6,500 lira.Strained Pomi tomatoes, now are priced at 10,000 lira, or $6.60.Lesieur canola oil now sells for 41,000 lira, the equivalent of $27 at the official exchange rate.Liesur corn oil is now priced at 46,500 lira, or $30.Head and shoulders shampoo now sells for 25,000 lira or 29,7500 lira, or $16.51 or $19.64, respectively.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Lebanon’s hyperinflation: Cereal can cost at the official exchange rate

Fouz Al Fahad, Farah Al Hady and other high-profile personalities have had their assets frozen and are banned from travelling outside Kuwait pending an investigation into..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Kuwaiti authorities investigate 10 social media influencers for 'money laundering'