Iraqi Cleric Al-Sadr Declares 'Government of National Unity'
Good day from REEDNEWSARABWORLD for Thursday, December 30, 2021! Iraq is a key in the Gulf region as it hosts meetings between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Now cleric Moqtada al-Sadr will organize a government, and any Saudi-Iran arrangement will be affected. Al-Sadr announced he will form a "government of national unity," which sounds good and usually includes all political factions, but which in the past didn't work so well. Critics say it only papers over divisions.
Al-Sadr didn't get into specifics, beyond saying that his new government would be "neither eastern nor western," but he did meet with leaders of pro-Iran militias who lost the recent election. He's a former militia leader himself, but disbanded his Promised Day brigade in November, after the October election.
And news from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Lebanon, Egypt. More.
Iraq's populist Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr says he'll form a government of national unity that will be "free of external influence." The former warlord (his forces once fought the United States) led a coalition that won the most seats in parliament and defeated Iran-backed militia groups. Now he has met with leaders of those groups, and they may be in the next government.
The National, Iraq's Al Sadr to form government of national unity.
Arab News, Iraq vote victor Moqtada Sadr meets pro-Iran rivals.
Iraq's prime minister said all combat equipment of the U.S.-led international coalition is now out of Iraq, meeting the December 31 deadline. The mission has ended, Mustafa al-Kadhimi said. The coalition will continue to play an advisory and support role in Iraq's fight against the Islamic State.
Xinhua, Iraqi PM confirms end of U.S.-led combat mission in Iraq.
Iran has launched a rocket into space just as negotiations over its nuclear program continue in Vienna. A satellite carrier rocket with three research vehicles was launched, but there was no word about when the rocket was fired or what the devices are. Previous launches have drawn rebukes from the United States.
Al Jazeera, Iran launches rocket into space as nuclear talks continue.
U.S. and Russian officials are coordinating on the Iran peace talks. Top officials have met in Vienna and delegates from both sides are working to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. The U.S. special envoy, Robert Malley, met with Russia's Mikhail Ulyanov. Next, U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to discuss the Iran talks in a virtual meeting this week with Russia's president, Vladimir Putin.
Reuters, Russia, U.S. officials say they're coordinating on Iran nuclear talks in Vienna.
King Salman says Saudi Arabia is concerned about Iran's lack of cooperation and "negative" behavior. The king cited Iran's failure to work with the international community on its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and expressed hope that Iran will conduct a dialogue and cooperate.
Reuters, Saudi King says kingdom concerned about Iran's 'lack of cooperation.'
Saudi King Salman stressed that oil producing countries need to comply with the oil production agreement of OPEC, which he called "essential" to the oil market. He spoke ahead of the coming January 4 OPEC meeting as he addressed the Saudi Shura Council in an annual speech. Saudi Arabia is the world's leading oil exporter.
Reuters, Saudi King says OPEC+ pact 'essential' for oil market stability.
The United Arab Emirates is moving to develop its gas reserves. In Sharjah, the gas output potential is part of an overall initiative across the UAE, and bidding for a new gas find is officially to start in 2023 but may begin in 2022.
OilPrice, UAE looks To Boost Gas Production Capacity With Sharjah Plans.
The United States condemned the continuous attacks by Yemen's Houthis on Saudi Arabia, citing 375 cross-border attacks since the beginning of the year. U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Saudi Arabia has eliminated 90 per cent of the attacks, and "our goal is to see this number rise to 100 per cent."
Khaleej Times, US condemns Houthis' continued attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Yemen's Shabwah governate is in its own war, with conflicts between pro-government forces and fighters backed by the United Arab Emirates. Governor Mohammed Saleh bin Adyo had been leading the pro-government forces, but Yemen president Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi sacked him . The UAE-backed Al-Amaliqa Brigade then backed the new governor, Awadh al-Awlaqi. Adyo's supporters were angered, but they could do nothing about the change, and Adyo left Yemen.
Middle East Eye, Yemen: Pro-UAE forces take over Shabwah after president sacks governor.
Lebanon and Iraq have signed an agreement for military collaboration. Iraq's defense minister Juma Inad and Lebanon's Maurice Selim signed, following meetings between the prime ministers of the two countries.
Menafn, Iraq, Lebanon sign deal to enhance military cooperation.
A new Kuwaiti government was sworn in, the country's fourth in two years and the third this year. The last government resigned in November after a political deadlock between the government and parliament. The new cabinet was sworn in before Kuwait's crown prince, whose ruling Al Sabah family dominates Kuwait and has dissolved previous governments and parliaments.
I24 News, Kuwait swears in fourth government in two years.
Qatar's cabinet has condemned Israel for its settlement policy in Palestinian territories and for occupying Syria's Golan Heights. The cabinet called for intervention by the international community, pointing to Israel's latest approval for 1,300 more settlement units in the West Bank.
The Peninsula, Qatar cabinet condemns Israel's continuation of settlement policy in occupied Palestinian territories.
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas met with Israel's defense minister at his home, then Israel unveiled a package of "confidence-building measures." The measures include advance payment of $32 million for taxes collected by Israel and 600 extra permits for Palestinian businessmen to cross into Israel.
Agence France Presse, Palestinian President Makes Rare Israel Visit For Talks.
Al Monitor, Israel's Gantz announces confidence-building measures after hosting Palestinian President Abbas.
Afghanistan's Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund met with a United Arab Emirates minister in Kabul as the UAE positions itself as a key gateway to Afghanistan for world trade. Ali Mohammed bin Hammad Al Shamsi is the UAE minister of federal authority for identity, citizenship, and customs and port security.
The day before his meeting with Mullah Akhund, Al Shamsi met with Afghanistan's acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to discuss economic cooperation.
ANI, Afghan PM discusses bilateral relations with UAE minister in Kabul.
The United Arab Emirates is cracking down on financial fraud. A new UAE law to take effect January 2, 2022, will broaden the country's cybercrime enforcement, with those who promote cryptocurrency scams online facing five years of jail time and up to one million dirhams, or $272,000, in fines. Earlier laws banned the promoting of cryptocurrencies but didn't penalize them.
International Business Times, UAE Introduces 5-Year Jail Time And Fines For Crypto Criminals.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is postponing his planned January trip to the United Arab Emirates. No official reason was given, but sources indicated the surge in Covid 19 cases was the cause. "The visit has been postponed. But it has not been cancelled. It will happen soon," an official at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi said.
Khaleej Times, Indian PM Modi's January visit to UAE postponed.
Lebanon's central bank governor Riad Salameh is under investigation, but Prime Minister Najib Mikati says Salameh should stay in office. Mikati signaled his support for Salameh despite embezzlement investigations in Lebanon and abroad. "One does not change their officers during a war," Mikati said.
Reuters, Lebanon's prime minister backs central bank governor despite corruption probes
The Arab Gas Pipeline is being repaired and should allow Egypt to deliver gas to Lebanon by the end of February. The pipeline passes through Jordan and Syria, and Lebanon's energy minister Walid Fayad said "everything depends on a U.S. clarification to Egypt." Egypt is concerned that the gas deal won't be affected by U.S. sanctions on Syria that prohibit foreign countries from trading with Damascus.
Reuters, Repairs to Arab Gas pipeline should be completed by end-Feb., Lebanese minister says.
Lebanese authorities captured another shipment of the drug Captagon, with nine million pills hidden inside a shipment of plastic oranges bound to Gulf countries.
Captagon, a mixture of amphetamines, is a popular drug in the Middle East, and Lebanon is working hard to stem the flow to Saudi Arabia and other countries.
"We want to send a message to the Arab world about our seriousness and our work to thwart evil from harming our Arab brother," Lebanon's interior minister, Bassam Mawlawi, said.
Middle East Eye, Nine million Captagon pills hidden in plastic oranges intercepted in Beirut.
The United States helped Morocco arrest an Islamic State militant and bomb maker, and he is on trial in Morocco on terrorism charges. The 24-year-old suspect, a Moroccan, was active in Sala Al Jadida, near the Moroccan capital of Rabat. He was arrested in December, and U.S. intelligence was involved.
Reuters, Suspected bomb maker on trial in Morocco after U.S. help arrest him, police say.
Egypt's Suez Canal Authority is setting aside revenues to establish a sovereign wealth fund for the first time. The authority is Egypt's body that operates the Suez Canal, and the wealth fund has been proposed by Egypt's political leadership as part of its long-term strategy for the canal.
Al Monitor, Suez Canal to establish sovereign wealth fund.
The Arab League is recommending a unified map of Arab countries that shows Western Sahara as part of Morocco. Algeria has objected to the map as it prepares to host the next meeting of the Arab League.
Morocco News, Arab League Recommends Adoption of Unified Map of Arab World, with Complete Map of Morocco.
Morocco World News, Facing New Setback, Algeria Denies Arab League's Adoption of Undivided Map of Morocco.
The New Arab, Algeria accuses Morocco of 'deception' over new Western Sahara map.
MORE: Fight in Jordan's parliament draws attention to women's constitutional rights, The National... Rocket fired in attack on Chinese company in Iraq, Channel NewsAsia... Libya's chief prosecutor orders culture minister jailed, Associated Press... Parliamentary panel wants Libya's executive authority restructured, Yeni Safak...Tunisian government signs two projects with UN to improve food security, Arab News... Tunisia expects deficit of 6.7% of GDP in 2022, Reuters.
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