European Union Official To Visit Iran In Last-Ditch Effort For Nuclear Agreement
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The European Union is firing the "last bullet" to get Iran to okay a nuclear agreement, dispatching its chief negotiator to Tehran in a last-ditch effort. Saudi Arabia's 86-year-old King Salman is hospitalized and resting after a colonoscopy; Egypt's President El-Sisi calls in his generals after troops are slain in the Sinai and the Islamic State claims responsibility; Syria's Bashar al-Assad goes to Iran, meets with the Supreme Leader and president, and is back in Damascus in a day.
The Saudi-led coalition releases a ship full of gas it had seized from the Yemen rebels, and the United Nations will try to raise $80 million to move oil from that abandoned tanker in the Red Sea off Yemen that's been sitting there ready to explode for more than six years. Iraq will get advanced weaponry from the United States and France, Lebanese vote around the world, and United Arab Emirates astronauts complete their training in the United States and are bound for the International Space Station.
And news from Iraq's Kurdistan, Bahrain, Lebanon, Tunisia, Libya, and More.
The European Union's nuclear negotiator will try go to Iran this week and make one more, last-ditch try to conclude an agreement. The Iranians are said to be reluctant, but Enrique Mora is expected to be in Tehran on Tuesday, carrying a message of a possible compromise on the United States designation of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as terrorists. EU foreign policy chief Josep Morrell said the group is finding to find a "middle way" to end the impasse in the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna, and he described the prospective trip of Mora to Iran as "the last bullet."
Financial Times, EU makes last-ditch effort to save Iran accord.
I24 News, EU says efforts to save Iran nuke deal are "last bullet."
Saudi Arabia's King Salman will remain in the hospital for rest following a colonoscopy. Doctors advised a period of rest after the procedure, which was termed a success, and there was no indication how long the 86-year-monarch would remain hospitalized. He remains in King Faisal Specialist Hospital in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, after entering over the weekend for what was descripted as medical tests.
Khaleej Times, Saudi King Salman to stay in hospital after colonoscopy, reports state agency.
At least 11 Egyptian troops including an officer were killed in a militant attack in northern Sinai. Five or more other troops also were wounded as Egyptian security forces clashed with the militants, who attacked a water pumping station in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula, east of the Suez Canal. Egypt is battling an Islamic State insurgency in the region.
Associated Press, Egypt troops killed in militant attack in Sinai.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the Sinai attack, one of the deadliest against Egyptian security forces in years. The extremist group announced its claim of the attack in a statement carried by its Aamaq news agency. The attack took place in the town of Qantara in the province of Ismailia, which stretches east from the Suez Canal. Militants have carried out scores of attacks in the area, mainly targeting security forces and Christians.
Australian Associated Press, IS claims Egypt attack that killed 11.
Egypt's president called in his top generals after the deadly attack in Sinai. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with military commanders the day after 11 soldiers were killed in a militant attack at a water pumping station. The meeting discussed "measures taken to pursue the militants on the run and destroy them," and Sisi directed the generals to "complete the purge."
The National, Egypt's El Sisi reviews Sinai security with top generals after deadly attack.
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad made a surprise trip to Iran and met with the country's Supreme Leader and its president. Before returning to the Syrian capital of Damascus on the same day, Assad heard Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praise Syria's "victory in an international war" and received a pledge from Iran to increase bilateral relations. Assad had made one earlier trip to Tehran in 2019.
Al Jazeera, Syria's Assad meets top Iranian leaders in surprise Tehran visit.
Qatar's emir will travel to Iran and Europe this week on an extensive visit. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will go to Iran, Germany, Britain and other European states,, although the trip has not been officially announced. He is expected to discuss the Iran nuclear talks as well as natural gas supplies to Europe. Iranian state media said the emir would travel to Tehran to bolster ties, but no date or details were given.
Reuters, Qatar's emir to visit Iran, Europe next week - report.
Yemen's Houthi rebels said the Saudi-led coalition released a ship filled with gas that was seized last month. The vessel was carrying 8,259 tons of gas when it was seized by the coalition on April 27, and a Houthi spokesman said it was expected to "arrive at Hudaydah port within hours." The ship's release comes as a two-month truce continues between the Houthis and the the coalition.
Anadolu Agency, Yemen rebels say gas ship held by Saudi-led coalition released.
Fighting in Yemen's south against suspected Al-Qaida militants killed a dozen people including two Yemen force commanders. The fighting took place at the headquarters of the Security Belt forces, a militia funded and trained by the United Arab Emirates, in Dhale province when a group of militants was arrested. The force reported that two colonels were killed, but did not give further details of the fighting.
Associated Press, Yemen officials: 2 commanders killed in clash with militants.
The United Nations will hold a donor conference this week to raise $80 million and prevent an aging oil tanker off Yemen from exploding. The abandoned cargo ship, the Safer, has been sitting in the Red Sea off Yemen for more than six years, with Yemen's Houthi rebels in control and a continuing regional fear of a disastrous environmental explosion. The UN will raise money to offload more than 1.14 million barrels of oil from the ship.
The Guardian, UN leads 65m lb plan to stop huge oil spill off Yemen during first ceasefire in six years.
Iraq signed agreements with the United States and France for advanced weapons. A senior Iraqi military commander said the contracts will strengthen Iraq's artillery, which has been used successfully against the Islamic State, and that new artillery is part of Iraq's agreements. A state news agency report did not elaborate on weapon types or give any details.
Reuters, Iraq signs contracts with U.S. and France to import advanced weapons - state news agency.
U.S. military intelligence believes Iran-backed Iraqi militias are working with Kurdish guerrillas to attack Turkish forces in northern Iraq. A report by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency said that following Turkish incursions and airstrikes in northern Iraq, targeting forces of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the militias aligned with the Kurdish force and launched rocket attacks against the Turkish troops north of Mosul. The U.S. agency assessed that the militias' coordination with the PKK is expected to continue.
Al-Monitor, Pentagon: Iran-backed militias, PKK coordinated vs.Turkish troops in Iraq.
Thousands of Lebanese living in 48 countries cast their votes in parliamentary elections. The vote in Lebanon takes place on May 15, and 194,348 registered voters are expected to cast ballots at 192 polling stations around the world, many at Lebanese diplomatic missions. About 195,000 Lebanese had registered to vote Sunday in the 48 countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, European Union member states, Russia, and several African nations. Earlier, a similar vote was held in 10 predominately Muslim countries.
Associated Press, Lebanese in 48 countries voting in parliamentary elections.
Bahrain's economy is expected to rise by 3% in 2022 on the back of higher oil prices. Bahrain posted a 2.2% growth in 2021 and is expected to see a budget surplus this year, well ahead of a 2024 target. High debt levels, however, remain a concern in Bahrain.
The National, Bahrain's economy to grow 3% in 2022 on higher oil prices and post-Covid rebound
Oman has officially assumed the presidency of the Asia-Pacific Group at the United Nations. At a New York ceremony, Oman's UN ambassador Dr. Muhammad bin Awadh Al-Hassan accepted the position for Oman to lead 55 member states.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Oman assumes presidency of Asia-Pacific Group at UN.
United Arab Emirates astronauts completed training at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and are qualified for mission assignments onboard the International Space Station. Hazzaa Al-Mansoori and Sultan Al-Neyadi were granted astronaut pins after completing 20 months of training at the Texas center of U.S. NASA.
Khaleej Times, UAE astronauts granted Nasa pin; now ready to work on International Space Station.
Backers of Tunisian president Kais Saied rallied in support of his rewriting Tunisia's constitution. Opponents of Saied say the action will entrench his one-man rule, as hundreds of the president's followers demonstrated in Tunis in a rally smaller than recent opposition protests.
Reuters, Tunisian president's backers rally to demand clampdown on opposition.
The United Nations special representative for Libya met with the head of the country's election commission to discuss preparations for a vote. Adviser Stephanie Williams met with Emad El-Sayeh and they agreed on support for Libya's High National Election Commission "to keep it ready to hold" the polls.
Anadolu Agency, UN adviser discusses elections preparations in Libya with officials.
MORE: Algeria authorises purchase of 15 new aircraft for Air Algerie, Reuters... Egypt private sector activity continues contraction on Ukraine war -PMI, Reuters... Omani journalist Mukhtar al-Hanai charged over corruption coverage, Committee to Protect Journalists... Singapore says tainted fuel first loaded in United Arab Emirates, Bloomberg... Top health official in Egypt expects vaccination target to be reached by end of May, Egypt Independent.
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Tunisia's president is consolidating one-man rule while the country's economy flails. In the past, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning coalition of Tunisian lawyers, unions, and activists stepped in to preserve the country and a 2013-2014 political crisis was avoided. Now, however, as the country lurches toward disaster, a new dialogue planned by President Kais Saied seems far from the inclusion of the 2013 discussions.
New York Times, As Tunisia's democratic experiment unravels, economic collapse looms.
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