World Leaders Go to UAE, Pay Respects to Late President And His Successor
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U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris leads a United States delegation to Abu Dhabi after the death of the president of the United Arab Emirates, and the number of senior officials accompanying her show a new and strong effort to repair a strained relationship with the UAE. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan takes over as the new UAE president after serving for years as de facto leader, so the change is largely ceremonial.
Saud Arabia's King Salman leaves the hospital after a week-long stay, with the health of the 86-year-old monarch closely watched in the kingdom and around the world. Lebanon votes for a new parliament, its first election since 2019; Saudi Arabia shows a budget surplus as Saudi Aramco reports a huge increase in profit, and exiles in London protest that Bahrain's king is invited to the Royal Windsor horse show by Queen Elizabeth.
And news from Qatar, Yemen, Tunisia, Iran, Egypt, and More.
World leaders descended on Abu Dhabi over the weekend to offer condolences on the death of the president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan. The late president, long ill, is succeeded by his half-brother, Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who has been de facto leader of the emirates. Vice President Kamala Harris led the United States delegation and is due to visit on Monday.
Reuters, World leaders pay respects in UAE after death of pro-West president.
Rulers of the United Arab Emirates seven sheikdoms unanimously appointed Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the nation's new president, signaling unity and stability. The appointment of Sheik Mohammed, a half-brother of the late president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, had been expected. The transition of power marks only the third time the U.S.-allied nation has selected a president since becoming independent in 1971.
Associated Press, Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is named the UAE's new president.
United States Vice President Kamala Harris heads the U.S. delegation to the United Arab Emirates following the death of its president. Harris will travel to the UAE on Monday and will "offer condolences on behalf of the Biden-Harris administration and the American people on the passing of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan," Harris' press secretary said in a statement. "She will meet with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates. In addition to honoring the memory and the legacy of Sheikh Khalifa, the Vice President will underscore the strength of the partnership between our countries and our desire to further deepen our ties in the coming months and years."
The Hill, Harris to head delegation to UAE following the death of its president.
The U.S. is sending a team of top national security officials to the United Arab Emirates with Vice President Kamala Harris to try to ease rising tensions with the UAE. The delegation will include Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns, and the chief of the U.S. Central Command, Gen. Michael Kurilla. The visit by the U.S. officials comes amid growing tensions between longtime allies, with the UAE failing to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine and also questioning the U.S. commitment to its security.
Forbes, .U.S. National Security leaders reportedly headed to UAE with Vice President Harris.
Saudi Arabia's King Salman was discharged from a hospital after a week-long stay. The king left King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Jeddah, walking slowly and using a cane and accompanied by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and an entourage of officials. The king had undergone a colonoscopy at the hospital, and the health of the 86-year-old monarch is closely watched, as he wields absolute power in the kingdom. The crown prince, 36, is already running the country's day-to-day affairs.
Associated Press, Saudi King Salman leaves hospital after week-long stay.
Lebanon's Hezbollah and allies are likely to lose their majority in the country’s new parliament. While results from Sunday’s elections aren’t yet complete, sources said it was improbable that Hezbollah and its allies could get more than 64 of parliament’s 128 seats, citing preliminary results. A loss would mark a major blow to the heavily-armed Hezbollah faction.
Reuters, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and allies likely to lose majority in parliament, sources say.
Election turnout in Lebanon was slow, hundreds of irregularities were claimed, and there were clashes in some towns. President Michel Aoun cast his vote in his hometown in Beirut's southern suburbs and urged voters to avoid being "impartial in a matter as important as choosing the ruling system." Clashes and confrontations in some areas brought intervention by Lebanon's military and internal security forces.
Arab News, Lebanon parliamentary elections: Voting marred by disputes, low turnout.
The divisive issue of Hezbollah's weapons was at the center of the Lebanese parliamentary vote. The question of disarming Hezbollah, the only group officially allowed to keep its weapons after a civil war ended in 1990, has long dominated the campaigns of Hezbollah opponents, who say the group harms Lebanon's relations with Gulf state benefactors.
Associated Press, Hezbollah weapons at the heart of Lebanon's elections Sunday.
Saudi Arabia posted a $15.3 billion budget surplus as oil prices rose in the first quarter. Oil revenue jumped 58 percent, with Saudi Aramco reporting an almost 82 percent rise in net profit for the quarter.
Al Arabiya, Saudi Arabia posts $15.3 billion budget surplus in Q1 as oil prices surge.
Saudi Aramco posted a huge increase of 82%, reporting a $39.5 billion profit for the first quarter, its highest since 2019. The increase was driven by higher crude oil and gas prices, along with a production increase, Saudi Aramco said.
Business Insider, Saudi Aramco profits soar 82% following oil price surge days after overtaking Apple as most valuable company.
Qatar sentenced four men to jail, three of them to life imprisonment, for protesting a law that prevented some of their tribal members from voting. The four were convicted on charges of mass gathering to protest, disturbing public security, and refusing police orders to leave. Two of the men are lawyers, Hazaa Abu Shraydeh al-Marri and Rashid Ali al-Marri, and received life sentences. The verdicts can be appealed.
Reuters, Qatar jails four election protesters, including three for life.
A Yemen military commander escaped an assassination attempt in Aden. Brig. Gen. Saleh Ali Al Dharhani, commander of joint operations in Aden, survived when a car bomb caused a powerful explosion near his convoy. The incident took place in the Al Mualla district.
The National, Aden explosion: senior security official the target of car bomb.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth invited the king of Bahrain to be her guest at the Royal Windsor horse show, and Bahrain's exiles in London protested. Also cited was last week's message from Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to Russia's president Vladimir Putin congratulating him on Russia's Victory Day.
The Guardian, Exiles angry as Queen hosts king of Bahrain.
Protests in Iran against cutting food subsidies spread, with reports of four protesters killed. Slogans appeared calling for leaders to step down as Iran raised prices on basic goods including cooking oil and dairy products. Almost half of Iran's 85 million population is considered impoverished.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Price protests turn political in Iran as rallies spread.
Rival Libyan factions resumed talks on election planning. Twelve lawmakers from Libya's eastern-based parliament met with eleven members of the High Council of State, representing the government in western Libya. The United Nations special adviser for Libya, Stephanie Williams, said the talks were aimed at addressing core challenges, including the political system, eligibility criteria, and a timeline for elections.
Associated Press, Libyan rivals resume U.N. brokered talks on elections.
About 2,000 protesters against President Kais Saied gathered in Tunis as the New Salvation Front coalesced parties to oppose him. Protesters gathered on Bourguiba Avenue in the capital, a favorite site for demonstrations, but the number of participants was lower than expected.
Deutsche Welle, Tunisia: Protest marks new coalition against President Saied's one-man rule.
Egypt announced a plan to privatize a string of state-owned companies in a roadmap to double the private sector's share in the economy. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli laid out plans for 10 state-owned companies and two army-owned companies to be listed on the stock market later this year. Two new holding companies, one for ports and the other for hotels, also will be formed.
AFP, Egypt to privatize key state companies as inflation surges.
MORE: Unemployment in Egypt down to 7.2% in first quarter of 2022, Ahram... Egypt announces plan to boost economy against global crisis, Egypt Independent... Yemen: Restart of flights from Sanaa expected on Monday, The National... Egypt expects to reach agreement with IMF 'within months,' Reuters... Islamic State claims responsibility for attack on Egyptian soldiers in Sinai, Reuters... Long-awaited GCC railway could transform trade and connectivity across Gulf: Report, The Peninsula... Saudi Arabia, US continue to explore cooperation in space sector, Arab News.
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The new United Arab Emirates president has worked behind the scenes for years as de facto leader and transformed the UAE's military into a high- tech force. He is said to be driven by "a certain fatalistic line of thinking" that after the United States abandoned Egypt's Hosni Mubarak during the 2011 Arab Spring, Gulf Arab rulers could no longer rely on the U..S. as their main supporter.
Reuters, UAE's newly elected ruler sees Iran, Islamists as threat to Gulf safe haven.
A U.S. lawsuit is bringing new scrutiny to Qatar's alleged financial ties to terrorism. The family of Steven Sotloff, a slain American journalist, is alleging in a federal lawsuit that Qatar institutions wired $800,000 to an Islamic State figure who ordered the murder of Sotloff and another American journalist, James Foley. The two were beheaded in Syria.
Associated Press, Qatar, key US ally, faces new accusations of terror funding.