TimeLine Layout

April, 2021

  • 16 April

    Under Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale’s Statement at Baabda Palace

    Good morning and Ramadan Kareem. I came to Lebanon at the request of Secretary Blinken to underscore the Biden Administration’s continued commitment to the Lebanese people and our shared desire for stability and prosperity in Lebanon. Over the past three days, I have met with many Lebanese leaders to discuss …

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  • 16 April

    Saudi university catches fire near Yemen border in attack

    A Saudi university near the country’s border with Yemen caught fire early Thursday after the kingdom’s air defenses intercepted a barrage of ballistic missiles and bomb-laden drones. The interception scattered debris on Jizan University’s campus, which caused a fire that has been contained, the Saudi-led coalition at war in Yemen …

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  • 16 April

    Car bomb kills four in Baghdad

    No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which police say also destroyed five cars and wounded 17 people. At least four people are dead and another 17 injured from a car bomb in Baghdad’s Sadr City on Thursday, Iraqi police said. Citing police sources, Reuters reports the car was …

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  • 16 April

    Iran not backing down in Middle East, US intel report says

    The Trump administration’s maximum pressure campaign did not stop Tehran’s ambitions in the region, ODNI report suggests. Iran’s government is likely to continue to challenge Washington’s influence in the Middle East and pursue espionage within the United States in the coming years, according to an intelligence report newly released by …

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  • 16 April

    Central Bank warns Egyptians away from Bitcoin as value skyrockets

    The Central Bank of Egypt has warned against dealing with cryptocurrencies, particularly bitcoins, arguing that investing Egyptian capital in such a volatile pursuit could negatively impact the nation’s economy. The bitcoin price has shot up to unprecedented levels. On April 8, the price of a bitcoin hit $58,353, up from …

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  • 16 April

    Russian FM’s visit to Egypt helps counter Erdogan’s regional moves

    Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Cairo is seen as a further cementing of increasing Russian-Egyptian ties and as a counterpoint to the Ukrainian president’s visit to Turkey. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during a visit to …

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  • 16 April

    US, Turkish forces in Iraq targeted in separate attacks

    A Turkish soldier was killed northeast of Mosul shortly after NATO and US officials announced they will withdraw from Afghanistan this year. Erbil International Airport in Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region was hit by at least one explosion Wednesday night, Iraqi and US officials said.

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  • 16 April

    Ankara in risky geopolitical gamble in Black Sea

    Fiddling with the delicate balance of power in the Black Sea might leave Turkey in a worse squeeze between Russia and the United States. Is Turkey on course to abandon its traditional balancing act between Russia and NATO in the Black Sea region? Ankara’s posture in the Ukraine-Russia standoff, coupled …

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  • 15 April

    Biden Announces End Of ‘America’s Longest War,’ Withdrawal From Afghanistan By September 11

    President Joe Biden has announced his decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by September 11 — 20 years to the day after the Al-Qaeda terrorist attacks on the United States that triggered the conflict. “It is time to end America’s longest war,” Biden said during a speech at …

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  • 15 April

    Bruised Borissov May Yet Prevail over Bulgaria’s Divided Opposition

    With no clear route to a parliamentary majority following an election in Bulgaria, outgoing Prime Minister Boyko Borissov may yet defy the odds. Post-election Bulgaria is fast starting to resemble an endless riddle of political ‘what-ifs’. Prime Minister Boyko Borissov’s path to a third term is strewn with obstacles after …

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