Archives for June, 2022

A woman carries a quilt as she crosses a field in the eastern Syrian village of Baghouz on March 13, 2020, a year after the fall of the Islamic State's (IS) caliphate.

Culture

Women in north Syria collect wild plants, medicinal herbs to sell

Women in northern Syria, especially those who became the sole breadwinners for their children after losing their husbands during the war, are collecting wild plants and medicinal herbs to make ends meet.

Palestine university

Hamas arrests university president in Gaza, provoking outrage from Palestinians

The arrest of Salem al-Sabah, head of the University of Palestine in the Gaza Strip, sparked widespread condemnation among academics.

King Farouk's Royal Train pre-renovation.

Culture

Egypt restores 70-year-old train of King Farouk

Egypt restored an old train dating back to the era of King Farouk after it was worn out due to being stored in a maintenance workshop.

Sharm el Sheikh

Egypt announces Kharga as first green city ahead of COP27 summit

Egypt, which is hosting the COP27 climate summit in Sharm El-Sheikh in November, is seeking to attract more tourists by marketing eco-tourism.

Saudi Crown Prince HRH Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Egypt and was received by HE President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, June 20, 2022.

Egypt's Sisi, Arab leaders coordinate positions ahead of Biden visit

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has been meeting with several Arab leaders in the lead-up to US President Joe Biden’s visit to the Middle East slated for mid-July.

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly attends the inauguration of the 10th president of Somalia in Mogadishu, Somalia, June 9, 2022.

Egypt looks to Somalia for more influence in Red Sea, Nile dam dispute

Egypt Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly attended the inauguration of new Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, who faces a wide array of challenges.

The knock-on effects of the food shortages mean many will die not only of starvation but an increased vulnerability to infectious diseases, Peter Sands told AFP

Global food crisis 'will kill millions' by disease, health executive warns

Agence France-Presse

As more Saudi women join the workforce, a central plank of government efforts to remake the economy, many describe the 'boy' cut as a practical, professional alternative to longer hair styles

Short hair, don't care: Saudi working women embrace cropped locks

Agence France-Presse

Abdollahian

Why IRGC issue won’t go away

Even if the US terrorist designation is not lifted, and there is agreement on the JCPOA, the IRGC will still be the power broker of Iranian domestic politics.

Lapid

The Takeaway: US, Israel to show united front on Iran during Biden visit

Netanyahu sees path back to power; Israel's Arab parties split on government collapse; Turkey still not giving in on Sweden, Finland NATO bids; US, Iran mixed messages on nuclear talks; Egypt skeptical of Ethiopia call for renewed GERD talks; and more.

Umit Ozdag, leader of the nationalist Victory Party, gestures as he speaks to the media after police blocked his attempt to challenge the Turkish interior minister to a public face-off, in front of the Ministry of the Interior, Ankara, Turkey, May 6, 2022.

Is this Turkish anti-immigrant party helping Erdogan?

Critics argue that anti-immigrant Victory Party’s leader Umit Ozdag’s opposition has benefited President Recep Tayyip Erdogan so far.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets counterparts from Israel, the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Egypt at Sde Boker in Israel's Negev desert in March 2022

US hints at Arab progress with Israel during Biden trip

Agence France-Presse

This handout picture shows Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meeting Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during a visit to Tehran in which the two countries will discuss boosting trade and energy cooperation as they grapple with Western sanctions

Russia FM in Iran for talks on boosting cooperation

Agence France-Presse

Turkey Saudi Arabia

Erdogan, MBS embrace "new era” for Turkish-Saudi ties in Ankara

Saudi prince's state visit represents economic and regional necessities for Turkey, even as the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia's Istanbul consulate remains unresolved.

Syria refugees

Analysis

UN: Majority of Syrian refugees don't plan to go home within year

Most Syrian refugees in the Middle East do not plan to return to Syria in the near future.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Members of the Iraqi Counterterrorism Service are deployed in the streets of Baghdad on March 27, 2021.

Iraq targets desert 'wali' and braces for impact of possible conflict

Counterterrorism operations in Iraq’s western desert have resulted in the killing of an Islamic State leader as regional tensions rise across the border ahead of a likely Turkish military operation in northern Syria.