China To Build 1,000 Schools in Iraq, Pushes For Greater Role In Middle East As US Leaves
Good day from REEDNEWSARABWORLD for Monday, December 20, 2021! All the latest news from and about the Arab states and the world that impacts. Today we report on Iraq and China's influence there... Saudi Arabia's 'MBS the uncrowned king'... Yemen and Iran... UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan. The weather: deadly flash floods in Iraq, major Med storm Carmel... And the political weather: Drums of war in Libya, Turkey crackdown on the Brotherhood.... Much MORE.
Beijing watches US withdrawal from Iraq, then soon will build 1,000 schools as it expands influence in the Middle East. China is the biggest buyer of Iraqi oil, and the Middle East state is now a major destination for Chinese investment. Iraq's education system collapsed after years of war; now Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi signs 15 contracts with China.
South China Morning Post, China signs deal to build 1,000 schools in Iraq as Beijing pushes for greater role in Middle East after US withdrawals.
Saudi Arabia's crown prince will continue his boost of the kingdom's economy by building a new central Jeddah. The Red Sea port city will get a new central project to include an opera house, museum, sports stadium, and oceanarium, all at total investments of $19.99 billion. The ambitious project will develop 5.7 million square meters of land overlooking the Red Sea.
Bol Network, Saudi Crown Prince launches $19.99 billion Jeddah central project.
Saudi Arabia's foreign minister warns if the world doesn't help Afghanistan, the entire region will suffer. Prince Faisal bin Farhan addressed a special foreign ministers session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Islamabad, Pakistan, where the ministers called for "immediate global action to put an end to the situation in the war-torn country." Faisal said "the people of Afghanistan have suffered for too long."
Saudi Gazette, Prince Faisal warns protracted Afghan crisis may snowball and affect region.
Iran's time for enough enriched uranium to produce one nuclear weapon is now "really short," a senior Biden administration official says. In the past, the timing was said to be months, at least, with some predictions of years. But the official, speaking anonymously, said "It's really short. It's unacceptably short."
Reuters, US sees Iran nuclear breakout time as really short - senior official.
Iran claims footage from a nuclear surveillance camera is missing, but the UN's atomic watchdog is doubtful. An attack on Iran's Karaj nuclear facility last June destroyed one of four UN cameras. Iran removed all four but didn't reveal the destroyed camera's storage device, which held the footage Iran refuses to explain, and the UN nuclear chief, Rafael Grossi, asks: "Where is it? I am hopeful they are going to come up with an answer, because it's very strange that it disappears."
Reuters/AlarabiyaNews, IAEA Chief Grossi has doubts that Iran surveillance camera's footage vanished.
The Iran nuclear talks in Vienna are over for now. No new date has been set to resume the talks, but officials expressed hope the meetings could be restarted before the year ends. New demands from Iran caused tensions in the latest round. The next session, if it comes, will be the eighth round. European diplomats said the adjourned talks have been "losing precious time."
Associated Press Iran nuke talks adjourn, Europeans say pause disappointing.
Israel's politicians have threatened to attack Iran and stop an atomic bomb, but Israeli military officers say they don't have the ability, not anytime soon. One ranking security official said it would take at least two years to prepare an attack. There are dozen of nuclear sites in Iran, and "It's very difficult, even impossible, to launch a campaign that would take care of all these sites."
New York Times, Israeli Defense Officials Cast Doubt on Threat to Attack Iran.
Iran said its ambassador to Yemen is infected by the coronavirus and is being recalled. Ambassador Hassan Irloo was described as in need of urgent medical care and en route to Iran. Earlier, however, the Wall Street Journal reported that Irloo was removed because of strains with Yemen's Houthi rebels, supported by Iran.
Associated Press/Khaleej Times, Iran says ambassador in Yemen has Covid-19, recalls him.
Saudi Arabia allowed a rare exemption from an air blockade to allow Iran's ambassador to Yemen to fly to Baghdad. Saudi authorities said the flight on an Iraqi plane was organized at the request of Yemen's Houthi rebels, after Iraq and Oman mediated with Saudi Arabia. "The ambassador left on an Iraqi aircraft and is probably now in Baghdad," a senior Saudi official said.
AFP (Agence France Presse), Saudi allows medical evacuation of Iran Yemen envoy.
Saudi Arabia's UN ambassador said "sexual orientation" is a term not in Saudi history and that what is not male and female is "against nature." Abdullah Al-Mouallimi said God created man and woman, male and female, and anything else is contrary to nature. He spoke against a United Nations resolution on sexual orientation.
Saudi Gazette, Saudi Arabia rebuffs UN resolution on 'sexual orientation'.
Spain's exiled former king, Juan Carlos I, made a rare public appearance at a United Arab Emirates tennis match featuring Spain's Rafael Nadal. Juan Carlos has been in exile in the UAE since 2020, following graft allegations in Spain. Swiss prosecutors recently announced they closed a case against him that involved suspicions he received $100 million in kickbacks for a high-speed rail contract in Saudi Arabia that was awarded to a Spanish consortium.
AFP/International Business Times, Spanish Ex-king Juan Carlos Makes Rare Public Appearance In UAE.
Intense Houthi attacks in Yemen captured new areas from government forces in the northeastern province of Al Jawf. Yemen government forces withdrew, after scores of fighters from both sides were killed or injured. The Houthis now control much of Al Jawf's strategic areas.
Xinhua, Houthi rebels capture new areas from gov't forces in NE Yemen.
Sudan is part of Saudi Arabia's military coalition in Yemen, has sent tens of thousands of fighters, and now another 14 are killed. An attack by Yemen's Houthis killed the Sudanese soldiers near Yemen's northwest border with Saudi Arabia. Sudanese have protested in Khartoum that relatives were recruited by a United Arab Emirates firm to be security guards but they were sent to war zones in Yemen and Libya.
Defense Post, Yemen Rebel Attack Kills 14 Sudanese Soldiers: Military Sources.
The United Arab Emirates met with the U.S. for an annual joint military dialogue, but not on F-35s. According to a readout from the Pentagon, there was no mention of the dispute over UAE purchase of U.S. F-35 jet fighters, a deal that remains in limbo. The Pentagon said the delegations discussed a "broad range of regional and defense issues,' including threats from Iran.
U.S. Department of Defense, US and UAE Conduct Joint Military Dialogue.
The UAE and Bahrain will launch a joint nanosatellite to the International Space Station on Tuesday. The research spacecraft will then be deployed from the space station by Japan's space agency and will monitor the earth for terrestrial gamma ray flashes (TGRs) from thunderstorms.
Khaleej Times, UAE-Bahraini nanosatellite to take off for International Space Station on Tuesday.
Iraq prevents infiltration of terrorists and smugglers from Syria as it completes 80% of is plan to fortify the 600-kilometer border. Earth mounds, fortifications, fences, towers, and thermal surveillance cameras have been installed, and Iraq's cabinet has allocated funds to complete the project.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Iraq Fortifies 80% of Its Border with Syria.
Northern and northeastern Iraq received heavy overnight rains with flash floods that killed at least 12 people. Erbil's civil defense department said rescue operations are under way for missing people. In the northern Kirkuk province, Iraqi security forces rescued families trapped in their houses from torrential rains. Iran has record low rainfall this year but climate change is causing sporadic heavy downpours.
CNN, Flash floods in northern Iraq kill 12 people.
The U.S. embassy in Baghdad has a C-RAM defense system that destroyed one rocket fired at the Green Zone. Two rockets were fired and caused property damage, but no casualties. The second rocket fell near a national monument and two civilian vehicles were damaged. The Green Zone is a regular target of rocket and drone attacks that American officials blame on Iran-backed Iraqi militias.
Associated Press/Politico, Iraq Military: 2 Rockets strike inside Green Zone.
Iran and Oman naval forces launched joint exercises in the Sea of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. Military leaders from both countries attended the exercise, the latest of a number over past years that are designed to secure maritime navigation.
Famagusta Gazette, Iran, Oman stage joint naval exercise in Strait of Hormuz, Sea of Oman.
Syria's Damascus International Airport has been struck by missiles that left craters on the runway. Satellite imagery showed prominent damage, and unconfirmed reports suggested that cruise missiles had been launched by Israeli Air Force jets.
The Drive, Alleged Israeli Airstrike Cratered the Runway at Syria's Damascus International Airport.
The website of the Muslim Brotherhood's el-Sharq channel was suddenly closed, with suggestions Turkey closed the site. Turkey has been critical of the Brotherhood's attacks against Egypt, where Turkey is trying to improve relations. Turkey previously took similar actions against channels supporting the Brotherhood, and Egypt's foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry, called the suspension of those channels a "positive development."
Asharq Al-Awsat, Turkey Shuts Down Muslim Brotherhood TV Channel.
Libya's election commission says there aren't any technical problems with the elections scheduled for December 24, but postponement is seen as 'inevitable.' "Technically, we don't have any problem to conduct the polls on time," said Emad Al-Sayeh, head of the High National Elections Commission. But earlier Al-Hadi Al-Saghir, head of the Libyan parliament's elections committee, said postponing the elections was "inevitable."
Yeni Safak, No technical problems impeding Libya polls: Elections commission.
Tunisia's protesting "Citizens Against the Coup" flocked into the streets of Tunis for two days in a row over the weekend, with demands against President Kais Saied. Police banned the protesters from setting up tents, but some stayed overnight in the open air. They oppose Saied's suspension of parliament and Tunisia's constitution.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Protests Continue against Tunisian President's Decisions.
Sudan's government is reported selling 54,000 tons of wheat donated by USAID that was supposed to provide Sudanese with bread. Sources claim Sudan's government sold the wheat to flour mills for debt arrears. The northern Port Sudan had received three of six shipments of the American wheat, under an agreement between Khartoum and Washington.
Al Taghyeer, Government in Sudan sells USAID wheat to pay debts.
Thousands of Sudanese protesters massed and shouted for the downfall of military leader Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Tens of thousands rallied to mark three years since the removal of dictator Oman Al-Bashir, but they were struck by teargas fired by security forces, with some protesters wounded.
The Guardian, Sudan police fire teargas as anti-coup protesters stage mass rally.
Both Syria and Egypt are ready to pump natural gas into Lebanon. A minister said "Syria is 100 percent ready," with the deal hinging on a trade agreement between Lebanon and Egypt. Egypt would pump gas through an existing pipeline from Arish to Taba in Egypt, then to Aqaba and Rehab in Jordan, on to Homs in Syria, and then to Deir Ammar in Lebanon. Egypt is expected to start exporting by the first quarter of 2022 but is concerned about United States sanctions against Syria.
Al Monitor, 'Egypt ready to pump gas to Lebanon
The United States has helped Morocco foil a suspected bomb plot by the Islamic State. Morocco security forces arrested one suspect, described as "an extremist" from the Sala Al-Jadida region north of Rabat, Morocco's capital. U.S. agencies were believed to supply intelligence, but Morocco gave no details.
Voice of America, Officials: Islamic State Group Plot in Morocco Foiled With US Help.
MORE: United Arab Emirates to end censorship of cinematic releases, Associated Press... Abu Dhabi Ports signs 5 strategic deals with Jordan's Aqaba Development Corp, Reuters... Plastic waste becomes a burden in Tunisia, AfricaNews... Egypt plans to manufacture $20,000 electric vehicles in bid to go green, Bloomberg/The National... UN leader on solidarity visit to crisis-hit Lebanon, Associated Press... Saudi Arabia-led campaign puts Arabic calligraphy on Unesco heritage list, The Art Newspaper... With major storm expected Monday, rain lashes Israel as snow falls on Mount Hermon, The Times of Israel... Egypt, Turkey compete for military foothold in Kenya, Al Monitor.
NEWS YOU MISSED
As concerns increase over the health of Saudi Arabia's King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is taking charge. MBS is heading presidential meetings and receiving dignitaries, and the king is rarely seen in public. The crown prince has been considered the de facto leader since his appointment as heir in 2017, but his prominence has never been more apparent than now.
AFP, An Uncrowned king: Saudi's Prince Mohammed takes the reins.
Despite a long-standing territorial dispute, Baghdad and Iraq's Kurds are taking steps to work together to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State. Whether this fragile security partnership can hold is the next big test of Iraq's war with the IS, and both sides say they need the United States to keep it together.
Voice of America, A Fragile Partnership in Iraq Tries to Prevent IS Revival.
Libya still doesn't have a candidate list, presidential elections are a few days away, and the elections may be postponed for reasons including the candidacy of Saif Al Islam Gaddafi, son of the former dictator. Meanwhile, the sounds of renewed war are being heard.
TRT World, Are the drums of war beating the week before elections in Libya?
Migrant workers in Qatar are building stadiums, hotels, railroads, the airport, and other major infrastructure, but Human Rights Watch says they are vulnerable to a range of abuses. Michael Page, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Middle East and North Africa Division, writes that reforms have been "woefully inadequate" and poorly enforced. The final match of Qatar's FIFA 2022 World Cup will be held on December 18, 2022, which is International Immigrants Day.
Human Rights Watch, FIFA and Qatar Need to Do More for Migrant Workers.