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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

30-Jan-2025

Iraq

Politics

“Kurds respond to wages disbursement disruption: We shall not support a second term for As-Sudani” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Democracy and Party Politics

On January 30, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “A high-ranking Kurdish source revealed to Al-Akhbar that “massive anger” is reigning on the level of the Kurdish leadership over the performance of Iraqi PM Mohammad Shia’ as-Sudani, calling it “disappointing,” especially with regards to the matter of the wages and the management of the oil file. The source, who asked for his identity to remain concealed given the sensitive nature of the information, stressed that the Kurdish leadership, mainly including the Kurdistan Democratic Party led by Massoud Barzani, holds As-Sudani fully responsible for the “suffocating fiscal crisis” that the Territory is suffering him and considers him “the number one responsible” for starving the Territory’s employees and “depriving” them of their wages for months… (Read More)

“Al-Mada reveals details of “settlement” with the factions, eye on Mobilization leadership” (Al-Mada, Iraq)

Democracy and Party Politics - Military and Security - USA Europe

On January 30, the independent Al-Mada newspaper carried the following report from Baghdad by its correspondent Tamim al-Hassan: “Iraqi armed factions that have political wings are preparing for the “settlement scenario” if (US President) Trump were to carry out his threats of imposing economic and possibly military sanctions on the “factions” due to their ties to Iran. In response to this scenario, some factions are engaging in political discussions to prepare for the upcoming phase. And as revealed by Al-Mada in a previous report, this “settlement” features positions in exchange for disarmament, one of these positions being the chairmanship of Popular Mobilization, which has been occupied by Faleh al-Fayyad for more than 10 years (except for 5 months)… (Read More)

Israel

Opinion

“Save the UNRWA” (Al-Khaleej, United Arab Emirates)

Refugees - United Nations - USA Europe

On January 30, the Al-Khaleej daily newspaper carried the following editorial: “Starting today, Thursday, Israel’s decision to ban the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the clearing of the agency’s buildings in the occupied city of Jerusalem shall enter into effect, a step that crowns the ongoing efforts to bury the agency with the hope that this will be the beginning of the end for the Palestinian cause… (Read More)

Jordan

Business

“American aid confuses Jordan’s economy...” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Monarchies/Dictatorships - USA Europe

On January 30, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper carried the following report from Amman: “Jordanian economic experts confirmed that the suspension of the American aid, which will include Jordan and last 90 days, will increase the pressures on Jordanian economy. Clearly, many Jordanian sectors will be directly affected by the nonpayment of the salaries of those working in governmental programs funded by USAID..., noting that the latter agency is the one that hires them, signs the contracts with them, and pays their salaries out of the aid funds. At this level, a knowledgeable source told Al-Araby al-Jadeed that the government was not involved in these contracts and that the funded projects might stop for a while until the latter employees get their salaries… (Read More)

Lebanon

Politics

“Al-Hariri to launch the phase of returning to political work on February 14…” (Ad-Diyyar, Lebanon)

Democracy and Party Politics

On January 30, Mohammad Ballout wrote the following report in the Ad-Diyyar daily newspaper: “Since it suspended his political work, the Future Movement left a clear political void on the national arena in general and the Sunni one in particular… After around three years of political action suspension, several developments and changes occurred, mainly in the past few months that placed the Future Movement in the face of two choices: Either keep its political action suspended thus exacerbating the repercussions of its absence on the political arena in Lebanon, or to open the door to return to political action through an active phase of preparation for the participation in the parliamentary elections in May 2006… (Read More)

“Hezbollah is bracing for the fifth defeat…” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Military and Security - Unrest - USA Europe

On January 30, the privately-owned Nidaa al-Watan daily newspaper carried the following report by Samer Zreik: “The “divine” party, including its military wing and political arm, i.e. the Amal Movement, is purposefully drowning the country with an endless flow of rumors and leaks indicating that it has obtained all that it wanted from the Prime Minister-designate, Nawaf Salam… These rumors intersect with the publication of a book titled, “The Isthmus – Days for A Nation That Is Yet to Come” by Parliament Speaker, Nabih Birri, to gain additional “jelly-like” credibility, specifically regarding what has been published about the March 8 forces’ preparations to organize a sit-in and to block the roads in January 2007 for the same objective: To disrupt the state’s work for the sake of obtaining a quota in the government… (Read More)

“February 18 is a fictitious date: Will the appeasement attempts hold?” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security

On January 30, the electronic Al-Modon daily newspaper carried the following report by Zaynab Zaaiter: “According to two paths only, the features of the scene are being drawn in the South, after Israel’s violation of the ceasefire agreement: A human march by the locals and the deployment of the Lebanese army in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from some areas that they had previously occupied. This is a dual equation that liberated some of the front villages, allowing the locals to return to their homes or to the ashes of what remained of these homes… (Read More)

“Al-Qard al-Hasan suspends payment of compensation: Technical reasons or financial deficit?” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Financial Markets - Military and Security

On January 29, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Beirut by its correspondent Youssef Diab: “The Al-Qard al-Hasan Association, which is viewed as Hezbollah’s “Central Bank,” suspended the payment of compensations allocated to housing the displaced from the war and renovating the partially damaged homes until February 10th, attributing that to “technical reasons”. Meanwhile, it announced that its other activities “will continue, including the payment of loans, the account withdrawals and deposits, and other financial services.” The followers of Hezbollah’s status attributed that to the “massive financial losses suffered by the party as a result of the war, and Israel’s successful destruction of most of the branches, headquarters, and safes of Al-Qard Al-Hasan and their content… (Read More)

Libya

Politics

“What lies behind visit of Central Bank governor to East Libya to meet with Haftar’s son?” (Website, Middle East)

Financial Markets - Monarchies/Dictatorships

On January 29, the Egyptian Arabi 21 news site carried the following report from Tripoli by its correspondent Ala’a Farouk: “The surprise visit conducted by Libya’s Central Bank Governor Naji Issa to the country's east and his meeting with Director of the Libyan Development and Reconstruction Fund Belqassim Khalifa Haftar raised questions surrounding the objectives and repercussions of that step and whether it carried financial support to Haftar and his government. Issa and Belqassim, Haftar’s son, conducted an inspection tour in the city of Derna to follow up on the reconstruction projects there, including the building of docks and the Derna Port, the new public housing project, and the Derna Sports City… Observers believed that this “step is like an injection of a new budget and funds into the reconstruction fund headed by Haftar’s son… (Read More)

Middle East

Opinion

“Regional security and the Riyadh-Abu Dhabi-Cairo axis” (Al-Khaleej, United Arab Emirates)

Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security - Monarchies/Dictatorships

On January 30, the Al-Khaleej daily newspaper carried the following piece by Dr. Salah al-Ghoul: “Despite launching the implementation of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the truce extension in Lebanon, and while the situation in Syria is heading toward stability, there are still massive challenges facing the Arab regional system that the ready and capable Arab trio must confront. This trio consists of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt… Below are the main challenges that call for this Arab axis… (Read More)

Syria

Politics

“Russian delegation in Damascus…” [Part 2-2] (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Arab Diplomacy

On January 28, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report from Damascus by its correspondent Hiba Muhammad: “From Moscow, researcher, and academic Mahmoud Hamza told Al-Quds al-Arabi that the purpose of the visit was to engage in “consultations and negotiations with the new Syrian government to maintain the historical relations between the two countries.” He believed that Russia suffered a major strategic and geopolitical defeat in Syria. And almost two months later, it realized it needed to send a high-level delegation to Damascus to engage in negotiations and open a new page with the new Syrian government so as to maintain the Russian advantages in Syria. But he assured: “This will not be free and the new Syrian government will not approve of Russia's demands without concessions… (Read More)

Yemen

Politics

“What are repercussions of Washington’s decision to classify Houthis as “terrorist organization”?...” (Website, Middle East)

Terrorism - USA Europe

On January 30, the Egyptian Arabi 21 news site carried the following report from Aden by its correspondent Ashraf al-Fallahi: “The talk about the repercussions of the US decision to classify Ansarullah as a foreign terrorist organization is continuing, especially surrounding the economic and service aspects and how the citizens will be affected… In a statement, the Houthi group had held Washington responsible for the repercussions of its latest decision on the “economic and humanitarian situation in Yemen, and the peace efforts that have reached an advanced stage.” Commenting on that, Organization for Human Rights and Liberties delegate at the US Congress Saif al-Muthanna said that the decision was expected from Trump and was the result of the Biden administration’s weak policy toward the Houthi threat to maritime navigation and attacks on American military assets… (Read More)

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