Jordan's Prince Hamzah, Half-Brother of King, Quits Royal Title In Protest
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Jordan's Prince Hamzah surrenders his title, and his tone suggests all is still not well in the feud within the ruling royal family. King Abdullah II of Lebanon and Hamzah are both sons of King Hussein who ruled Jordan for nearly half a century, and Abdullah had appointed Hamzah as crown prince but stripped him of the title in 2004.
The first ship bringing fuel arrived in Yemen's Hodeidah port as a new truce breaks a blockade. Under the terms of the truce, 18 vessels will be allowed to carry fuel into the port. Kuwait raises a gasoline price, Sudan's military boss meets with a UN official he threatened to "kick you out." Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates welcome the two-month Yemen ceasefire brokered by the United Stations.
And news from the Saudis, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, and from Iran, which signals again that the end of nuclear negotiations in Vienna is "close."
The outspoken half-brother of Jordan's king relinquished his princely title in protest over how Jordan is run. The announcement was the latest chapter in an ongoing family feud that saw Hamzah placed under house arrest a year ago. The prince wrote that he was driven to his decision because his convictions couldn't be reconciled with the "current approaches, policies and methods of our institutions." He stopped short of directly criticizing King Abdullah II and the ruling elites, as he had done when two of his associates went to jail and he was put under house arrest.
Associated Press, Jordan prince drops title in protest over how country is run.
Reuters, Jordan's Prince Hamza renounces title in protest.
Jordan's King Abdullah called Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and said "all obstacles to Muslim prayers at al-Aqsa should be removed" as Ramadan begins. The Jordanian king said there needed to be "calm" between Israelis and Palestinians as violence surged in Israel and the occupied West Bank.
Middle East Eye, Israel-Palestine: Jordan's king urges 'calm' as violence surges
The first fuel ship arrived in Yemen's Hodeidah as part of the new truce. A tanker carrying badly needed fuel entered the port, which is held by the Yemen rebels but was blockaded, as a two-month ceasefire began. Under the truce, the Saudi-led coalition will allow 18 vessels to carry fuel into the port of Hodeidah, and two commercial flights each week can fly from the Yemen capital of Sanaa to Jordan and Egypt.
Associated Press, First fuel ship allowed in Yemen's Hodeida as part of truce.
The United Nations envoy who negotiated the Yemen truce called for an end to "escalation of inflammatory media rhetoric and hate speech." Special UN envoy Hans Grundberg welcomed the positive reactions by the warring sides for the two-month truce.
Asharq al-Awsat, UN envoy welcomes Yemen truce, de-escalation of inflammatory media rhetoric.
The United States called for Yemen's militaries to completely support the two-month ceasefire brokered by the United Nations. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said "The United States welcomes the UN's announcement of a two-month truce in the Yemen conflict and the parties' acceptance of its terms."
Mena/fn, US calls for Yemen's militaries to support UN ceasefire.
U.S. special envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking said the truce is a "first step" to a permanent ceasefire. "If the international community and parties can work together, this could be built into a lasting ceasefire and inclusive political process that ultimately gives shape to a new Yemen," Lenderking said.
Reuters, U.S.special envoy says Yemen truce paves way to end conflict.
Saudi Arabia welcomed the UN announcement of a ceasefire in the Yemen war. A ministry of foreign affairs statement said it "appreciated the efforts" of UN special envoy Hans Grundberg. The ministry cited the Saudis' own initiative to put an end to the Yemen crisis issued in March, 2021.
Al Arabiya, Saudi Arabia welcomes UN announcement of ceasefire agreement in Yemen.
The United Arab Emirates welcomed the truce and the halt of military operations. The UAE's Abu Dhabi has been attacked by ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's rebel Houthis, and the Emirates' state news agency reported that the UAE welcomed the United Nations-brokered truce.
Reuters, UAE welcomes two-month truce in Yemen, state news agency reports.
The Arab parliament and the Gulf Cooperation Council stressed that a "real opportunity" now exists to resume the political process in Yemen. The Arab Parliament called on the Houthi militias in Yemen to comply with and respect the armistice and deal with ongoing discussions for the next steps.
Tradearabia, Arab parliament, GCC welcome UN-brokered Yemen ceasefire.
Qatar's foreign affairs ministry called for a "lasting ceasefire" in Yemen and a return to United Nations Security Council resolutions. In a statement, the Qatari ministry praised the two-month ceasefire agreement and expressed hope it would lead to a "comprehensive political track and national reconciliation."
Doha News, Qatar welcomes two-month UN-brokered ceasefire in Yemen.
Iraq said a political solution is the only way to end the war in Yemen and welcomed the ceasefire. "Iraq supports efforts....to resolve the crisis and take the approach of dialogue," a statement by the Iraqi foreign ministry said.
Nam News Network, Iraq welcomes UN-backed two month truce in Yemen.
Turkey said it will support United Nations efforts for peace in Yemen and "understanding between all sides." A Turkish foreign ministry statement called for "assistance to the people of Yemen."
Anadolu Agency, Ankara welcomes 2-month cease-fire announced in Yemen.
Iran said it hopes the truce will lead to a "complete lifting of a blockade" against the Yemen Houthis. Iran has been accused of arming the rebel group in its fight against the Yemen government and a Saudi-led coalition.
Reuters, Iran welcomes Yemen truce, urges political solution.
Iran's foreign minister said an agreement on the Iranian nuclear talks in Vienna is "close" and that "the ball is now in the U.S. court." Amir Abdollahian said "We have passed on our proposals on the remaining issues to the American side through the EU senior negotiator."
Al Arabiya, Iran FM says agreement in Vienna nuclear talks 'close.'
The United States has repatriated to Algeria a man who had been held prisoner at Guantanamo Bay for almost two decades. Sufiyan Barhoumi had been accused of conspiring with Al Qaeda. The U.S. Defense Department said his detention was "no longer necessary." Barhoumi had been at Guantanamo since 2002.
Reuters, U.S. says it repatriated a Guantanamo Bay detainee to Algeria.
Kuwait's sovereign wealth fund said its exposure to Russia and Ukraine is negligible. Long-term investments in the countries was less than a third of one percent of the fund. The information was divulged after a parliamentary inquiry about the impact of Western sanction on investments by the Kuwait Investment Authority.
Reuters, Kuwait's sovereign wealth fund says Russia investments 'negligible,' document shows.
Kuwait raised a gasoline price for three months. The domestic price for 98-octane gas went up to 235 Kuwaiti fils per liter from 200. Prices of other types of fuel in Kuwait remained unchanged.
Reuters, Kuwait raises domestic gasoline price for 3 months.
Sudan's military leader met with the United Nations representative for the country after publicly threatening to expel him. Gen. Abdel Fattah Al Burhan met with Volker Perthes at the request of the envoy. Burhan said earlier that if the UN representative tried "to manage the Sudanese people, we will kick you out."
The National, Sudan's Al Burhan meets the UN envoy he threatened to expel.
MORE: Algeria's Sonatrach: We cannot replace Russian gas deliveries, Asharq Al-Awsat... Egypt plans lowering debt to GDP ratio to below 85% over three years - finance minister, Ahram...Tunisia doubles phosphorous output in first quarter, targets 5.5 million tonnes in 2022, Reuters... Global lawmakers call on Saudi to block forcible return of Uyghurs to China, Business Standard... Bahrain's real GDP grows 4.3% in Q4, says report, Tradearabia... Israel and UAE finalise free trade deal, Reuters.
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Previous truces in Yemen have fallen apart. Will the current ceasefire do any better? One reason advanced is that Russia's war on Ukraine, disrupting food and fuel supplies, is signaling a new sense of urgency to end the war.
AFP, Will Yemen's latest truce hold?
Iraq, once the scene of conflict and chaos, is becoming a land of opportunity for Lebanese job-seekers. Lebanon's workers are fleeing a deep economic crisis , and Iraq, with its proximity and visas on arrival, seems a good option.
AFP, From Beirut to Baghdad: Lebanese flee crisis seeking jobs in Iraq.