The Saudis and the Iranians, erstwhile enemies, now find themselves engaged in conversations aimed at de-escalating tensions with Iraq serving as the go-between.
Newsletter Archive
Below are some excerpts from recent editions of the Arab Digest daily newsletter.
Arab Digest members...
- receive the complete newsletter daily via email
- can login to read the newsletter online
- can post comments about the newsletter and read other members' comments online
- can search the archive of hundreds of old newsletters
To receive the complete daily newsletter click on the link below for your Free 30-day Trial or Join Arab Digest now to receive full membership benefits.
Iraqi education: a generation betrayed
Posted on Categories Arab Digest EmailBillions of dollars intended to repair and rebuild Iraq’s war-battered school system have disappeared into the pockets of corrupt politicians and business people, leaving a generation denied the education that is their right to have.
Russia in Syria: Airwars tracks civilian harm events
Posted on Categories Arab Digest EmailAirwars has tracked up to 23,000 civilian deaths from Russian military actions since 2015 – with Moscow yet to concede a single casualty.
Organised Crime in the Middle East and North Africa
Posted on Categories Arab Digest EmailA new report on organised crime around the world indicates Arab countries are amongst the world’s biggest offenders, with states in conflict or post-conflict at the bottom of the list.
Saudi school texts: cleaning up the act
Posted on Categories Arab Digest EmailAfter years of promising, and failing, to remove vicious antisemitism and other hateful material from school curriculum, the Saudis are finally scoring good grades ridding texts of intolerance, ignorance and prejudice.
Bahrain: price rises, prisoners and a punt in Vegas
Posted on Categories Arab Digest EmailBahrain’s economy continues to face significant challenges; a Bahraini company takes a stake in Las Vegas real estate; and a bipartisan appeal from US senators urges the Secretary of State to call the regime to account for human rights abuses.
Iraq’s meaningless election
Posted on Categories Arab Digest EmailInstitutionalised corruption and embedded power elites mean that Iraq’s upcoming election is largely meaningless to most Iraqis, many of whom will not bother to vote.
Prince Turki and the Taliban
Posted on Categories Arab Digest EmailFew outside Afghanistan know the Taliban as well as Prince Turki Al Faisal and at his recent book launch he called for both caution in dealing with them and compassion for the Afghan people they once again rule over.
Murdered intelligence officer triggers Somali political crisis
Posted on Categories Arab Digest EmailThe murder of a female intelligence officer has brought fragile Somalia to the brink of state collapse.
China headaches for Iran Deal
Posted on Categories Arab Digest EmailWhile the Gulf states watch with nervous apprehension as President Biden tries to revive the nuclear deal, China is shattering the sanctions and giving Iran an economic lifeline that could wreck hopes for a renewed JCPOA.