Karbala, one of Islam’s holy cities, witnessed a massacre overnight. At least 98 protestors killed and 1000 wounded - videos coming in show brute force used against unarmed protestors. Clear that Iraqi govt&its various security arms will use all methods to shut their people down
Incredible
@BBCYaldaHakim
- reporting on Afghanistan with such poise, speaking to the spokesperson of the Taliban, asking the questions that matter with respect to her viewers. Reporting with elegance& focus, even though she feels so strongly and passionately about Afghanistan
Prince William’s visit to the UAE has been phenomenal.. In an exclusive oped in
@TheNationalNews
, the Duke of Cambridge writes: Expo 2020 shows a better tomorrow is possible via
@KensingtonRoyal
One of Iraq’s strongest voices and advocates for justice
@ahmedalbasheer1
is seen as a direct challenge to corrupt forces in Iraq - so apparently they are using archaic ways to block his show and his voice from reaching his many supporters
Hard to believe 30 years have passed since the terrible invasion of Kuwait. For the first time, I write about how that fateful day on 2nd August 1990 changed my family's life forever
Today Iraq lost its last princess.. Princess Badiya bint Ali, maternal aunt of King Faisal II, who survived 1958 massacre that ended Iraq’s monarchy, died in London at the age of 100. She mourned the loss of her family to her last day, but was a gentle and delightful lady.
#RIP
Iraqi PM resigns. That is an important step but by no means will it fix the political mess in Iraq or the terrible corruption and criminal activity among many of ruling class in the country - all of it pre-dating AbdelMahdi’s tenure
15 years ago, the war on Iraq began. Most of us would say, in 5, maximum 10, years Iraq will be up on its feet again and will protect its children. 15 years later, so many lives are shattered and so much sacrificed by Iraqis to strive for that better future
For all the noise that 'experts' made on succession being the biggest issue for Oman after the passing of Sultan Qaboos.. that succession process was both impressive and expected. Sultan Qaboos was incredible wise and a master strategist. He wouldn't have let it be any other way.
Iraqi PM says govt supports parliament decision to freeze provisional governments. Also says will pass hydrocarbon law - that law has been discussed for over a decade - doubt anyone cares or believes this statement.
What a week in Abu Dhabi.. an honour to meet His Holiness Pope Francis and share with him
@TheNationalUAE
coverage of
@Pontifex
extraordinary visit to the UAE. Kind, humble and charming
#PopeFrancisInUAE
Today we are launching
#My2020
podcast
@TheNationalNews
. I sat down with 7 leaders from the world of politics, academia, aviation and space to talk about the impact of 2020 on their lives and industries.. tune in
Today is the 12th year anniversary of
@TheNationalUAE
launch.. so proud of our incredible team.. we couldn’t celebrate in person as we all work from home, so we sent a puzzle instead
This podcast series was a labour of love as we reflect on 20 years since the 2003 war in Iraq.. I spoke primarily to Iraqis, and others who know and love Iraq, no senior officials or politicians… ordinary people with extraordinary stories
We mark 20 years since the US-led invasion of Iraq with a special podcast series, examining the era that shaped a generation
🧵 All episodes are featured in this thread
A very moving speech by Iraqi president
@BarhamSalih
welcoming
@Pontifex
in Iraq.. this visit is of such significance for the country.. a moment of hope, a moment to rejoice in Iraq’s strengths, its history, its people and its future - despite the continued efforts of extremists
President Biden has a long list of issues to contend with,but he shouldn’t ignore Iraq. I write
@ForeignPolicy
on why Iraq remains strategically significant, how upcoming elections offer an opportunity to turn Iraq around—and contain Iran in the process
Protests in Beirut are strong, heading to parliament- and security forces are using tear gas. Images on TV show direct confrontation. How can they use tear gas? How can they use force in the wake of this tragedy? On top of it, most buildings in the area are without windows..
Hard to imagine
@hushamalhashimi
is gone. The greatest loss is his family's loss and that of all his loved ones. But equally so for Iraq. We need his voice against militants of all stripes and to help us understand how to navigate these difficult times. الله يرحمك ويصبرنا
What a disappointing day to see the US close Palestinian representative office in DC - this is not just about the PLO but about having a political and diplomatic door being shut. Closing the mission enables extremists who always rejected diplomacy
Terrible news of Iraqi deaths as result of Iranian rockets. Details yet to emerge but yet again it is Iraq that loses out. Iraqi sovereignty violated by Iran, parliament should ask to remove Iranian militias and for UN condemnation but won’t.
I love this quote, explains why so many people love making the UAE their home.. “I always say, any good deed in the UAE will not be lost or wasted”
via
@TheNationalNews
I spoke to Iraqi Prime Minister
@MAKadhimi
on Iraq’s many challenges.. he denounced the ‘big lie' of sectarianism driving corruption in the country via
@TheNationalUAE
Hundreds of students from the American University of Afghanistan are stranded in Kabul. "The Taliban posted a picture of themselves at the entrance of a university building saying they were where America trained infidel “wolves” to corrupt Muslims minds"
بحثت مع الدكتور مصطفى الكاظمي تعزيز علاقاتنا الأخوية ودفعها إلى الأمام في مختلف المجالات، وتبادلنا وجهات النظر حول التطورات العربية والإقليمية والدولية..الإمارات دائماً إلى جانب كل ما يحقق استقرار العراق ومصالح شعبه
The Iraqi governing class is divided between (1) those who want to use force to break the protests, believing them to be ‘traitors’ (2) those who don’t believe in this violent reaction but are completely incompetent&don’t know what to do. Both are responsible for loss of life
Sheikha
@Bodour
Al Qasimi becomes first Arab woman appointed president of the International Publishers Association (so proud of this incredible lady
@YGLvoices
) via
@TheNationalNews
Sat down with
@SecPompeo
today for an interview for
@TheNationalNews
.. US set on troop drawdown from Iraq and Afghanistan, vows to maintain ‘maximum pressure’ on Iran and won't rule out military strike via
@TheNationalNews
Big news in the UAE today - legal overhaul of personal and family law, allowing for changes to inheritance laws, marriages and divorces for non-Emiratis, Good Samaritan Law, increased protection of women from harassment via
@TheNationalNews
40 years after Iranian armed groups working at behest of Iranian regime stormed US embassy in Tehran, Iraqi armed groups working at behest of Iranian regime have done the same in Baghdad. Same command structure&tactics
تاكدت الانقسامات العراقية ب:
1-عرف المحاصصة الذي جاء به الاحتلال "شيعة، سنة، كرد، تركمان، اقليات" الذي جوهر العراق في مكونات.
2-الأحزاب المسيطرة "الشيعية، السنية، الكردية، التركمانية.." التي أرادت تاكيد مكاسبها عبر الانقسام.
3-الأحزاب الدينية التي استبدلت التنافس الحزبي بالطائفي.
My exclusive interview with
@SecPompeo
during his visit to Abu Dhabi: Qassem Soleimani is causing trouble in Iraq and Syria ... we need to raise the cost for him via
@TheNationalUAE
The violence in Karbala puts clerics of Iraq in an even more difficult position. They cannot condone violence in a holy city and yet many of the Islamist parties in Baghdad have strong ties to religious establishment in Karbala - and Najaf. Political pressure will now increase
New UAE measures make female representation on boards of all listed companies compulsory - really important step in an already enabling environment via
@TheNationalNews
This is what effective leadership looks like - prepare for the worst while striving for the best. Field hospitals set up and maintained in the UAE just in case needed, while pushing on all fronts with vaccinations and precautions to avoid another
#Covid19
wave
My interview with
@MAKadhimi
during his visit to Abu Dhabi:
•Elections will happen in October but will not run in them
• Iraq-US strategic dialogue today “will solidify and organise relations
• Iraq returning to Arab fold
via
@TheNationalNews
Lebanon declared 'hunger hotspot' by humanitarian organisations. This is a man-made disaster (I stress man, and not woman since it really is male politicians and their egos)
via
@TheNationalNews
My take on why Pope Francis
@Pontifex
visiting
#Iraq
is the story we all need right now.. it represents a win against terrorism, Covid-19 and general dysfunction via
@TheNationalNews
“I know many people hate 2020 but I don't hate it. I realise this is part of our human experience”. The eternal optimist
@SultanAlQassemi
is my guest for today’s episode of
#MY2020
Podcast.. listen here via
@TheNationalNews
Iraqi governing class is failing to grasp the situation. So far, ’steps’ taken to heed calls for change include questioning of 3 ministers in parliament by 11 November & establishing a committee ‘to review the constitution within 4 months’. Detachment from the street is palpable
@RoryStewartUK
How deceivingly comforting it must be to be able to abdicate all responsibility like that. Biden's position was the same on Iraq and Syria when he was VP.. and then ISIS happened.
If nothing else, grateful to
@EmmanuelMacron
for getting us to see
@FayrouzOfficial
.. not forgetting all the crises and suffering leading to this meeting, but heart happy to see this magnificent lady
Since the start of the protests in Iraq, various armed groups have appeared trying to break the protests. Some are part of regular security forces, including Counterterrorism units! Others are militias trained to kill any opponent as an ‘exential threat’
Failed assassination attempt on Iraqi PM, days after drone attack in vicinity of HQ intelligence services, highlights both the desperation of militias being squeezed out and danger of allowing them to remain unchallenged
Today
@TheNationalNews
is 16 years young. So proud of all that The National has achieved.. April 17th marks 16 years of dedication to strong journalism, the stories that matter from our region and an incredible team.
Pompeo says 'Who could’ve believed a few years ago that an Israeli Prime Minister would visit Muscat?' - well those of us who knew that Shimon Peres went to Oman in 1996 and before him Rabin in 1994.. would believe it
The word ‘historic’ is used all too often, but today was truly that. UAE’s
@NouraAlKaabi
signed MOU in Baghdad with Iraqi Ministry of Culture and
@UNESCO
to rebuild Mosul’s 800 year old AlNouri Mosque and Hadbaa Minaret - less than a year after ISIS destroyed it
Friends & colleagues of
@hushamalhashimi
gather online to speak of the man, the analyst &the treasure that Iraq lost..including his friend
@harith_hasan
who spoke of how Husham supported others & cared about informing the world about Iraq, not just about promoting his own writing
40 days have passed since the killing of
@hushamalhashimi
.. He is missed and mourned, while fears about the lack of accountability mount.. just yesterday, another brave civic activist was killed in Basra. The longer Husham’s killers remain free, the more emboldened they will be
Frustrating how Erdogan is using the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, especially as Jamal often defended Erdogan&held him in high regard. Politicizing the sordid details of a crime scene, holding world's attention for as long as he can for own benefit. Just another part of this tragedy
The assissination of
@hushamalhashimi
, may he rest in peace, is a crime. It is a sign that those speaking truth, those against militias, those calling for Iraq’s sovereignty to be protected will be killed. The intention is also to target
@MAKadhimi
& efforts to curb militias
Princess
@rbalsaud
is Saudi Arabia’s first female ambassador - appointed to Washington, a city she is very familiar with having grown up there while her father was Ambassador via
@TheNationalUAE
#Breaking
:
Sheikh Mohammed: UAE passes law to grant citizenship to expat investors, scientists, artists, cultural figures, doctors, engineers and their families.
Dear
@HopeMarsMission
, congratulations on arriving at Mars! In the words of the poet Al Mutanabbi:
إذا غامَرْتَ في شَرَفٍ مَرُومِ
فَلا تَقنَعْ بما دونَ النّجومِ
(If you ventured in pursuit of glory, don’t be satisfied with less than the stars.)
I had the privilege of spending days with Princess Badiya as I interviewed her for my Masters dissertation in 2004/2005. She was so gracious and generous in her knowledge and loved speaking of her family & Iraq..but she never spoke of the terrible events of 1958 without tears