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Iranian police chief General Ahmad-Reza Radan attends a military parade marking the country's annual army day in the capital Tehran on April 18, 2023. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)

Regional View

Iran police chief makes rare visit to Russia for surveillance deals

The police commander's trip came against the backdrop of Iran's months-long unrest and reports that Tehran has been seeking Moscow's advice and surveillance equipment to crack down on dissent.

Iran

Many pilgrims used umbrellas to shield themselves from the heat

2,000 hajj pilgrims hit by heat stress: Saudi officials

AFP

People walk past the main gate to the campus of the American University of Beirut (AUB) in the heart of the Lebanese capital, on January 13, 2022. - Power shortages and soaring petrol prices mean many Lebanese students can neither afford to reach their classes nor study from home, a conundrum that is ravaging a generation's future. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP) (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

9 Middle East universities, 3 in Saudi Arabia make world’s top 300 schools

Nearly 150 universities from the MENA region are featured in a list of the world’s top universities.

Saudi Arabia

An undated image of the exhibition at Feshane.

Regional View

Turkey Islamist group calls for art expo's closure for 'blasphemy,' LGBTQ 'propaganda'

Islamist media and AKP members attacked Istanbul Municipality’s inaugural exhibition of top Turkish artists at Feshane, a recently renovated 19th-century factory.

Turkey

Former US envoy to Israel Dan Shapiro named Abraham Accords adviser

Shapiro's appointment to the newly created position comes as the Biden administration seeks to boost Israel's ties in the Arab world, particularly with Saudi Arabia.

Israel

A photo illustration taken on March 30, 2018 in Beijing shows the screen of a laptop with the word "VPN" written in the search field of the Chinese Baidu website. Chinese authorities had announced that all unrecognised VPN services would be blocked by March 31, meaning that Chinese and foreign companies must choose from a limited number of state-approved VPNs. / AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR (Photo credit should read FRED DUFOUR/AFP via Getty Images)

Regional View

Iran, Yemen, Saudi Arabia follow close behind China in VPN blocking

China led the ranking, blocking about 73% of all attempts to access VPN providers, with Iran and several Gulf Arab countries following close behind.

Gulf

Women activists of Pakistan Markazi Muslim League take part in a protest rally in Lahore on Jan. 29, 2023.

Quick Take

Middle East condemns, protests Quran burning in Sweden by Iraqi refugee

Quran burnings in Sweden have damaged the potential NATO member’s relationship with Turkey.

Turkey

The exterior of the headquarters of the Bank of Israel is seen in Kiryat Ben-Gurion, Jerusalem, Aug. 23, 2022.

Analysis

Israeli government postpones interest rates bill for checking accounts

The postponement of the bill was decided after an unusually harsh letter by Bank of Israel Gov. Amir Yaron, warning such a move would harm the bank's independence.

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Analysis

US sanctions on UAE Wagner Group affiliate could impact Libya operation

A brief mutiny in Russia last weekend by the Wagner Group has shifted the spotlight back on the mercenary organization.

By Jack Dutton

In Dorchester, reporting on Middle East business, climate change, AI, tech

Supporters of Iraqi firebrand Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr protest outside the Swedish embassy in Baghdad

Iraqis breach Sweden mission as Muslim nations denounce Koran burning

AFP

A Moroccan farmer walks past solar panels that are connected to a generator which feeds a pump extracting water from underground in Tafoughalt, a little village deep in the mountains of Morocco's eastern Berkane province, on October 31, 2016. As the Cop22 gets underway in Marrakesh, negotiators are thrashing out the details of a landmark global agreement designed to stave off disastrous climate change, but in Tafoughalt that impact is being felt already. Rising temperatures are among the factors making the

How North Africa’s renewable energy regulations can boost FDI

Foreign investors and institutions are showing serious interest in North Africa’s renewable energy industry, but regulations remain key.

Saudi security forces patrol the area of the US consulate in Jeddah early on June 29, 2023 after a security guard and a gunman were both killed in an exchange of gunfire outside

Guard, gunman dead in shooting at US consulate in Saudi

AFP

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) led the ouster of his Islamist predecessor and now rules a nation where expressions of dissent has been quashed

'Hostage situation': Egypt's decade-long rights crackdown

AFP

The work of Iraqi artist Shakir Hassan al-Said are extremely valuable like the painting 'Death to Colonialism' one of the rare pieces from the 1970s on public display

Iraq's prized modern art plagued by forgery, trafficking

AFP

The UAE funded a solar farm next to Vanuatu's parliament

Gulf oil states on a Pacific charm offensive

AFP

No Americans were harmed in the shooting outside the consulate in Jeddah, which was put under lockdown, the State Department said

Guard, gunman die in attack at US consulate in Jeddah: police

AFP

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Archives for June, 2023

Iran police chief makes rare visit to Russia for surveillance deals

The police commander's trip came against the backdrop of Iran's months-long unrest and reports that Tehran has been seeking Moscow's advice and surveillance equipment to crack down on dissent.

2,000 hajj pilgrims hit by heat stress: Saudi officials

9 Middle East universities, 3 in Saudi Arabia make world’s top 300 schools

Nearly 150 universities from the MENA region are featured in a list of the world’s top universities.

Turkey Islamist group calls for art expo's closure for 'blasphemy,' LGBTQ 'propaganda'

Islamist media and AKP members attacked Istanbul Municipality’s inaugural exhibition of top Turkish artists at Feshane, a recently renovated 19th-century factory.

Former US envoy to Israel Dan Shapiro named Abraham Accords adviser

Shapiro's appointment to the newly created position comes as the Biden administration seeks to boost Israel's ties in the Arab world, particularly with Saudi Arabia.

Iran, Yemen, Saudi Arabia follow close behind China in VPN blocking

China led the ranking, blocking about 73% of all attempts to access VPN providers, with Iran and several Gulf Arab countries following close behind.

Middle East condemns, protests Quran burning in Sweden by Iraqi refugee

Quran burnings in Sweden have damaged the potential NATO member’s relationship with Turkey.

Israeli government postpones interest rates bill for checking accounts

The postponement of the bill was decided after an unusually harsh letter by Bank of Israel Gov. Amir Yaron, warning such a move would harm the bank's independence.

US sanctions on UAE Wagner Group affiliate could impact Libya operation

A brief mutiny in Russia last weekend by the Wagner Group has shifted the spotlight back on the mercenary organization.

Iraqis breach Sweden mission as Muslim nations denounce Koran burning

How North Africa’s renewable energy regulations can boost FDI

Foreign investors and institutions are showing serious interest in North Africa’s renewable energy industry, but regulations remain key.

Guard, gunman dead in shooting at US consulate in Saudi

'Hostage situation': Egypt's decade-long rights crackdown

Iraq's prized modern art plagued by forgery, trafficking

Gulf oil states on a Pacific charm offensive

Guard, gunman die in attack at US consulate in Jeddah: police