Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Backed by the King, Moves for Absolute Power
“No doubt now about Mohammad bin Salman’s absolute grip on power — grip that the King is reinforcing.Whether they will hold that grip is another matter.”
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MENA
The Detention and Abuse of Patrick George Zaky in Egypt
Egypt unlawfully arrests activists and members of civil society organisations, using trumped-up evidence for detentions. Patrick George Zaky is latest case.
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Iran Daily: Tehran’s Operatives Regroup in Iraq After Soleimani Killing
Iran’s political and military operatives regroup in Iraq after US assassination of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, commander of Quds Force of Revolutionary Guards.
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EA on Radio FM4 and Monocle 24: Bolton and Trump Trial; Trump’s Non-Plan for Israel-Palestine
Effect of ex-National Security Advisor John Bolton’s manuscript on Trump impeachment trial of Donald Trump, and Trump’s non-plan for Israel and Palestine
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Iran Daily: Another US Airstrike on Tehran-Backed Iraqi Militia?
Another airstrike on Iran-backed militia in Iraq late Friday, less than 24 hours after US drone killed top Iranian commander, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani
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Iran Daily: Regime’s Cautious Response to Attack on US Embassy in Iraq
Iran’s regime puts out a cautious response to Tuesday’s attack on the US Embassy in Iraq, by supporters of an Iraqi force including a Tehran-backed militia.
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Iran Daily: A Saudi Easing of Tensions with Tehran?
Iranian outlets seize on report, from Wall Street Journal, that Saudi Arabia seeking easing of tensions with Tehran, after September attack blamed on Iran.
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Iraq’s Women Risking Their Lives for Revolution
“Iraq’s women are not giving up and refuse to be silenced. A new generation is rising from the ashes and there is no turning back now.”
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Iran Daily: Claims — Tehran Prevented Removal of Iraq’s Prime Minister Amid Mass Protests
Iran’s military commander Gen. Qassim Soleimani allegedly intervened to prevent the removal of Iraq’s Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi, amid mass protests.
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Iran Daily: Supreme Leader — US “Spies” Behind Protests in Iraq and Lebanon
Unsettled by mass protests in Iraq and Lebanon, Iran’s Supreme Leader escalated Tehran’s insistence that US “spy services” are behind the demonstrations.
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EA on BBC: The Damage of Trump’s Remarks About Killing of ISIS’s Baghdadi
Why Donald Trump’s gleeful remarks about killing of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi are damaging, for people in Middle East and for US politics
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EA on Monocle 24 and Radio FM4: What Baghdadi’s Killing Means for the Middle East — and for US Politics
Scott Lucas and Paul Roger on what the killing of the Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, if confirmed, will mean for the Middle East and its people
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EA on CNN: Trump Plays Politics with Killing of ISIS’s Baghdadi
Donald Trump attempts, to salvage his political position and relations with Putin, to hijack reported the killing of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
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“Enough Silence”: Iraq Protests Expose A Damaged State and Facade of “Democracy”
“We will take to streets. protesting. Enough silence about what’s going on. We cannot watch Iraq being destroyed when we have armies of jobless and poor.”
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Iran Daily: Tehran’s Power Play Over Iraq Protests
Iran has turned Iraq’s growing protests into a power play against US and other rivals, accusing the “enemies” of fomenting unrest through demonstrations.
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EA on Radio FM4: What’s Behind Protests in Iraq?
“After the ‘Arab Spring’, local populations still push for rights, reforms, and a decent system of governance. We are seeing latest wave of this in Iraq.”
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Iran Daily: Foreign Minister Zarif — “All-Out War” If US or Saudi Attacks
Iran Foreign Minister has said there will be “all-out war” if the US or Saudi Arabia attacks Tehran: “We won’t blink to defend our territory.”
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EA on Monocle 24 and Radio Islam: Not Quite “War” — Saudi and US Consider Response to Iran After Weekend Attacks
Saudi statement points to Iran’s responsibility for attacks, and US declares “act of war” — but Riyadh and Washington are both wary of a military response
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Iran Daily: Saudis Blame Tehran for Attack on Oil Complexes as Pompeo Says “Act of War”
Saudi Arabia blames Iran for drone and missile attacks on two major Saudi oil complexes, while US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calls strikes “act of war”.
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Iran Daily: US — Attack on Saudi Oil Facilities Came from Iranian Territory
US Government steps up its claim of Iran’s responsibility for attack on two Saudi oil facilities, saying drones and missiles launched from Iranian territory
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EA on talkRADIO: Explaining the US-Iran-Saudi Conflict
Gurpreet Narwan of The Times and Scott Lucas on economic, political, and military consequences of attacks on Saudi oil facilities and US-Iran confrontation
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TrumpWatch, Day 970: Trump Steps Back on Showdown With Iran Over Saudi Attacks
Donald Trump steps back from confrontation with Iran over drone and missile attacks on two Saudi oil facilities, setting aside his “Locked and Loaded” tweet
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Iran Daily: Tehran and US Trade Threats After Attack on Saudi Oil Facilities
US and Iran officials trade threats after attacks on two Saudi oil facilities. Revolutionary Guards says US bases in range; Trump says, “Locked and loaded”
Read More Iran Daily: US Blames Tehran for Drone Attack Halving Saudi Oil Production
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blames Iran for a drone attack on two major Saudi oil installations, more than halving the country’s oil production.
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Iran Daily: Israel’s Warning to Lebanon — No Tehran Missile-Production Facilities
Israel warns Lebanon that it may carry out further airstrikes, declaring Iran is escalating efforts to provide Hezbollah with precision-guided missiles.
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A Grip Abroad: How Authoritarian Regimes Target Those Who Leave
How authoritarian regimes ensure that migrants and diasporas are faced with web of transnational practices that may make a complete “exit” almost impossible
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Saudi Arabia’s Monarchy Resists a Rapprochement with Turkey
Turkey reaches out to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman for a rapprochement, but the Saudis leverage their financial muscle to pressure Ankara and its leadership.
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EA on talkRADIO: Israel’s Ban on Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar
Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar’s intention to meet Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists — and why Donald Trump and Israel blocked the trip
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Executions and Repression in Bahrain: An Interview with Activist Maryam al-Khawaja
Maryam al-Khawaja: “Bahrain’s people have struggled for fundamental human rights and political freedom for decades and faced one crackdown after another.”
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“Waiting for Permission” — How Western States Turned Away From Refugees
With more than 71 million refugees, “Western countries are directly responsible for disastrous failure, political and humanitarian, of this system”.
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