Mideastwire.com

WHAT WE DO

While there is a broad range of Arabic language media outlets reporting stories from and about the Middle East, there is currently no affordable and reliable means for English speakers to gain access to this content. As a result, many English speaking businesspersons, students, journalists and others who have an interest in the affairs of the region are largely unaware of what the Middle East media is covering and how they are covering these stories.

Mideastwire.com aims to close this gap by offering a daily menu of translations covering some of the key political, cultural, economic and opinion pieces appearing in the media of the 22 Arab countries and the Arab Diaspora. Through this effort, we hope to address at least one aspect of a global disconnect that continues to threaten a wide spectrum of socio-political and economic relationships, both here in the region and beyond.

It is also important to note that, since our founding in 2005, Mideastwire.com is wholly funded by the content license fees paid by individuals and organizations. As such, there is no government, commercial or non-profit support, an aspect that we believe provides a relatively independent platform for better understanding.

Our Corrections Policy: We adhere to an honest and open corrections policy. Please email info@mideastwire.com if you notice any typo or if you disagree with our translation choices. Since we do not produce our own content, we only will consider corrections that highlight typos or dispute our translations, not the veracity or accuracy of the original content. Accepted corrections are applied directly to the relevant translations as soon as they are approved by the editor and our database is updated accordingly for all subscribers.

TODAY’S DAILY BRIEFING

08-Sep-2023

Algeria

Politics

“Talks between Algerian Chief of Staff, CIA Chief, on beat of rapprochement over Niger crisis” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Arab Diplomacy - Refugees - USA Europe

On September 7, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report from Algiers: “Algeria and the United States expressed relief toward the level of security cooperation that was achieved, especially in the fight against terrorism, at a time when the two countries appear to be converging over a solution in Niger far away from military intervention. At this level, the Algerian Defense Ministry revealed that talks were held between Chief of Staff Major General Said Chengriha and CIA Chief William Joseph Burns, in the first direct and public contact between the two officials… Security cooperation between Algeria and the United States is considered to be the cornerstone of the relations between the two countries, as stated by US Ambassador to Algiers Elizabeth Moore Aubin in June during the visit of a high-level American security delegation to the country… (Read More)

“What does Algeria want from its campaign against the UAE?” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy

On September 7, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “Algerian newspapers and websites close to the authority have been launching, for several weeks now, a campaign against the UAE, demanding to expel the Emirati ambassador from Algeria, which is raising questions about the official party behind this campaign, and whether Algeria has decided to choose the UAE as an enemy during this phase in order to cover for its failure in dealing with local and external files… (Read More)

Iraq

Politics

“Local elections in Iraq: Popular disgruntlement foreshadows low turnout” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Democracy and Party Politics

On September 8, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper carried the following report from Baghdad by its correspondent Muhammad al-Bassem: “Many Iraqi observers and politicians are lowering their expectations toward the size of the popular participation in the next local elections on December 18. And they are attributing that to the overall popular disgruntlement with the political situation in the country, and the withdrawal of many important political civil powers from the elections in protest against the voting mechanism and the popular funds used by the large parties… This is not to mention the presence of parties backed by armed factions, which contradicts the Parties’ Law in the country, and the boycotting of the entire political process in Iraq by the Sadrist Movement led by Muqtada as-Sadr… (Read More)

“Aso Mamand: PUK will not leave Kirkuk” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security

On September 6, the Kurdish PUK Media website carried the following report from Kirkuk: “Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Politburo Executive Aso Mamand said in an interview with GKSAT channel: “When the demonstrators started blocking the main road between Kirkuk and Irbil, we informed Baghdad and the Joint Operations Command through the PUK bureau and Kirkuk’s representatives in the federal government of the need to prevent such actions, assuring that if the road is not opened, we will have a strong position, pledging to reopen the road within 72 hours. However, demonstrations and strikes broke out, causing the martyrdom of four of our youth and the injury of other citizens. We confirm that the blood of our children is more precious and sacred than the headquarters and buildings of all the parties, which is why urged all sides to commit to appeasement and stability in Kirkuk… (Read More)

Lebanon

Politics

“In details: Here are the developments taking place on the borders with Syria” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Military and Security - Refugees

On September 8, the privately-owned Al-Joumhouria daily newspaper carried the following report by Imad Marmal: “As a new wave of displaced Syrians arrived in Lebanon for economic reasons, the existential threat currently jeopardizing the country has increased… PM Najib Mikati was very clear at the last hearing of the Council of Ministers when he warned that the unjustified displacement threatens our independence as an entity and causes an important disruption to the Lebanese structure… (Read More)

“A secret military three-sided meeting: the two tents and the points of contention on the land” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

United Nations

On September 8, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “On the day following the release of the resolution to extend the term of the UNIFIL units in the Lebanese south, the western and Lebanese illusions in this regard were dissipated. The diplomatic and security fever expressed by the enemy’s representatives and allies did not succeed in turning the UNIFIL into an occupation force in South Lebanon… (Read More)

Libya

Politics

“What is the truth behind Saddam Haftar-led forces’ destruction of Qadhadhfa houses in Sirte?” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

On September 7, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Cairo: “A blackout has been imposed on the ongoing developments in the city of Sirte (in the center of Libya) since the middle of the week after the Qadhadhfa tribe said it was subjected to “massive violations” at the hands of the Brigade 20/20, which is affiliated with the Tarek Ben Ziyad Brigade led by General Saddam, the son of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who is the general commander of the “National Army.” The Qadhadhfa tribe in Sirte said it was the object of “unfortunate measures” that featured the “storming of dozens of houses in the Al-Gharibat region with military vehicles, the searching of personal phones, and the arrest and imprisonment of dozens of tribesmen for no reason other than their belonging to the Qadhadhfa”… (Read More)

Saudi Arabia

Business

“Crisis in the horizon between Saudi Arabia and Qatar…” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy

On September 8, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “Surprisingly, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the annulment of the agreement signed with the Qatari beIN network where the network was allowed to cover the interviews during the African competitions for national teams and clubs. Meanwhile, CAF has reportedly only canceled the agreement after finding an alternative, which consists of the Saudi SSC network, which is the exclusive channel of the Saudi League… (Read More)

Syria

Politics

“SDF commanders pledges to Arab tribes to “correct mistakes”…” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security

On September 7, the Egyptian Arabi 21 news site carried the following report by its correspondent Hassan al-Masry: “Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi pledged to meet the demands of the Arab tribes in eastern Syria and correct the “mistakes” which he said were committed in the management of the area, in an attempt to defuse the ongoing tensions for the last two weeks. Arabi 21 had assured two days ago that the Global Coalition Against ISIL gave the Arab tribes and the SDF a 24-hour deadline to cooperate with its call for the organization of a meeting between the two sides under American tutelage to reach an agreement that would end the tensions in the eastern Deir Ezzor governorate. And on Thursday, Abdi told Reuters news agency that he met with the tribal leaders and respected their call for the release of dozens of local fighters arrested in the ongoing clashes between the two sides in Deir Ezzor’s eastern countryside… (Read More)

“…Sweida overcomes the threat” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Unrest

On September 8, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “Contrary to the media propaganda presenting an agitated picture of the Sweida governorate, and while some protests are ongoing for the third week in a row, the situation in the governorate seems calmer than the image that is being depicted since the governmental departments and economic bodies have returned to work, while the protests remained in a way that doesn’t hinder people’s lives and businesses… (Read More)

“Sudden removal of Fourth Division checkpoints in Syrian regions” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Military and Security

On September 5, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Beirut: “The last few days witnessed the removal of the checkpoints of the Fourth Division on the main roads connecting several Syrian governorates, amid conflicting reports about the causes of this sudden measure. The checkpoints of the Fourth Division led by Maher al-Assad, the brother of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, are deployed along all the roads connecting the governorates controlled by the Syrian government. And though it is affiliated with the Presidential Guard and is mainly tasked to protect the presidency, during the years of the war, the division turned into an authority controlling commercial movement, and securing its own resources by imposing fees similar to the custom fees on goods being moved inside the country… (Read More)

Tunisia

Politics

“Labor Union’s escalation might be met with firm response on the part of the Tunisian government” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Unrest

On September 8, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “The Tunisian General Labor Union (the largest union in the country) has inaugurated a new phase in its conflict with the Tunisian government by warning against “an imminent social explosion as a result of the persistence of the state’s economic policies.” Observers believe that this escalation might negatively reflect on the situation of the Labor Union, leading to further marginalization of the union and weakening its role in the country… (Read More)

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