U.S. doesn’t care for China’s Muslims: Boycotting the Olympics is about global competition
January 28th, 20220 The diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games may go down in history as the official start of the cold war between the U.S., a handful of its allies and China. The American strategy, however, of using boycotts to pressure Beijing in the name of “human rights”, may prove costly in the future. On December...
Lebanon’s Hariri suspends role in politics, will not run in parliamentary election
January 24th, 20220 BEIRUT - In a bombshell announcement, Lebanon's leading Sunni Muslim politician Saad al-Hariri said on Monday he was suspending his role in political life and would not run in a forthcoming parliamentary election. The news comes as the country is tackling a dire financial crisis that has seen the country depend into social and...
Saudi-led coalition’s hysterical attacks on Yemen exacerbates its humanitarian crisis
January 21st, 20220 Saudi-led coalition hysterical attacks have killed at least 20 people in Yemen’s capital Sanaa, as violence has escalated and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the country. Air strikes in the city, the deadliest since 2019, targeted Yemen's Houthi group, killed civilians and struck the home of a high-ranking Houthi military...
Israel draws condemnation for forced removal of Palestinian family, demolition of their home
January 19th, 20220 After a multi-day standoff, Israeli authorities illegally removed a Palestinian family from their home in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem and demolished it. Resident Mahmoud Salhiyeh and members of his family took to the roof of the home to defend it on Monday and threatened to blow it up with gas canisters...
Palestinian American man, 80, found dead after being held in Israeli raid
January 13th, 20220 OCCUPIED West Bank — An 80-year-old Palestinian American man was found dead after being detained and handcuffed during an Israeli raid on an occupied West Bank village, Palestinian officials and relatives said on Wednesday. The U.S. State Department said that Omar Abdalmajeed As'ad was a U.S. citizen and that it had sought...
No Visa waiver for Israel until Arab American rights are protected
January 12th, 20220 Last week the Jerusalem Post ran a story under the headline “Palestinian Americans to be allowed to land at Ben Gurion Airport.” Israeli officials are now saying that instead of only permitting Palestinian Americans to cross over the Allenby Bridge from Jordan, they will allow them to fly into Israel’s airport and proceed from...
Lebanese judge imposes travel ban on central bank governor amid probe
January 11th, 20220 BEIRUT — A Lebanese judge said on Tuesday she had imposed a travel ban on central bank governor Riad Salameh, who is at the center of investigations into alleged fraud and other misconduct launched after Lebanon was plunged into a deep financial crisis. Salameh, who said he had no knowledge of the ban and denied any wrongdoing, is...
U.S., Iran tensions at a high point over sanctions, 2020 Soleimani killing
January 11th, 20220 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The White House and Tehran have exchanged harsh words this month, as Iran symbolically sanctioned a list of Americans in connection with the 2020 killing of General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike. "We will work with our allies and partners to deter and respond to any attacks carried out by Iran," said White...
International year in review: Israel leads genocidal campaigns against Palestine, continued crises in Yemen and Lebanon
January 9th, 20220 2021 saw continued turmoil in the Middle East, with the U.S. reaping the fruits of long established and disastrous foreign policy escapades. Israel ramped up its ethnic cleansing in Palestine, with the Biden administration continuing to stand by Israel as it conducted blatant humanitarian crimes, despite international condemnation....
“Previously unknown massacres”: Why is Israel allowed to own Palestinian history?
December 26th, 20210 Haaretz’s investigative report – "Classified Docs Reveal Massacres of Palestinians in ’48 – and What Israeli Leaders Knew" – is a must-read. It should be particularly read by any person who considers himself a "Zionist" and also by people who, for whatever reason, support Israel, anywhere in the world. “In the village of...
U.N. shrinks Yemen food rations in “desperate measures”
December 24th, 20210 YEMEN — The World Food Program (WFP) said on Wednesday it will reduce food rations for 8 million people in Yemen from January due to a lack of funding from donors, warning the cuts will push more people into starvation. Families on reduced handouts will receive barely half of the WFP's daily minimum ration. Other food assistance...
Passport fees set to increase by $20 starting Dec. 27
December 23rd, 20211 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. State Department said this week that on Dec 27, the cost for a passport book will increase by $20. The department said the the increased fee is necessary to ensure it continues to produce one of the most secure travel and identity documents in the world. Travelers can learn more about their...
Facebook says Israeli and other spy firms targeted 50,000 people
December 17th, 20210 Facebook owner Meta Platforms Inc. is calling out half a dozen private surveillance companies for hacking or other abuses, accusing them in a report published Thursday of collectively targeting about 50,000 people across its platforms. The company's fight with the spy firms comes amid a wider move by American tech companies, U.S....
Beirut blast probe judge cleared to continue investigation
December 7th, 20210 BEIRUT — The probe into last year's deadly Beirut port blast has been cleared to resume after being suspended for more than a month on legal claims against its lead investigator, Judge Tarek Bitar, a judicial source said. A Beirut court rejected the last of the suits preventing Bitar from questioning top officials on...
U.N. urged to restore scrutiny of war crimes in Yemen
December 3rd, 20210 GENEVA – Activist groups called on the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday to create a new panel of independent experts to collect and preserve evidence of possible war crimes by all sides in Yemen's bitter conflict for future prosecution. Bahrain, Russia and other members of the U.N. Human Rights Council pushed through a vote in......
Final results confirm Sadr’s victory in last month’s Iraqi vote
November 30th, 20210 BAGHDAD — Iraq released final results on Tuesday from last month's general election, confirming populist Shi'a cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's movement's victory as the biggest bloc, with 73 seats in the fractious 329-seat house. The Taqaddum Party, which draws support from minority Sunni Muslims, won 37 seats. Former Prime Minister...
Apple files lawsuit against NSO Group, saying U.S. citizens were targets
November 25th, 20210 CALIFORNIA — Apple Inc. said on Tuesday it has filed a lawsuit against Israeli cyber firm NSO Group and its parent company OSY Technologies for alleged surveillance and targeting of U.S. Apple users with its Pegasus spyware. The iPhone maker said it is also seeking to ban NSO Group from using any Apple software, services or devices...
Children skipping meals in majority of families in Lebanon, UNICEF says
November 25th, 20210 BEIRUT — More than half of families in Lebanon had at least one child who skipped a meal by October amid a "dramatic deterioration of living conditions," the U.N.'s children's fund said in a report released on Tuesday. Children have been hit hard by the country's deep economic crisis exacerbated by the global coronavirus pandemic,...
We do exist: Why the Palestinian voice should take center stage
November 24th, 20210 At a recent New York event, the president of the Foreign Press Association, Ian Williams, declared, before an approving audience, that it is time “to reclaim the narrative on Palestine.” This phrase — “reclaiming the narrative” — is relatively new to the Palestinian discourse. Years ago, the concept, let alone its......
U.S. senators move to block $650 million arms sale to Saudi Arabia
November 18th, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — A group of U.S. senators are opposing the Biden administration's first major arms sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over Riyadh's involvement in the conflict in Yemen, three senators announced on Thursday. A joint resolution of disapproval to block a proposed $650 million in U.S. arms sales to the Kingdom of...
Gaddafi, Haftar announce election bids amid political uncertainty in Libya
November 16th, 20210 TRIPOLI — The entry of two men accused of war crimes into Libya's presidential race has ramped up the perils of an election meant to help end years of chaos but which could instead set the fuse for a new conflict. Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, wanted by the International Criminal Court for his role in crushing the 2011 revolution that......
Bill Gates should know better: How the Israeli occupation ravages the environment in Palestine
November 15th, 20210 Those who are not familiar with how Israel, particularly the Israeli military occupation of Palestine, is actively and irreversibly damaging the environment might reach the erroneous conclusion that Tel Aviv is at the forefront of the global fight against climate change. The reality is the exact opposite. In his speech at the U.N....
Palestinian ends 113-day hunger strike
November 12th, 20210 A Palestinian prisoner ended a 113-day hunger strike on Thursday after Israel agreed not to extend his detention without trial beyond February, Palestinian officials said. Miqdad al-Qawasmi's mother voiced concern for his life earlier this week after his condition deteriorated. The officials said he refused food during the protest, but......
