Middle East

News Brief: Police Acquittal, Trump Rally, Kushner In Middle East

6:59am June 22, 2017

An-ex Milwaukee police officer was found not guilty in the shooting death of a motorist. President Trump returned to the campaign trail. Presidential adviser Jared Kushner is working on peace talks.

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World News

Turkey's LGBT Community Pushes Ahead With Plans For Pride Parade

6:43am June 22, 2017

by Peter Kenyon

On Sunday, members of Turkey's LGBT community are to hold a pride parade — if the authorities let them. The parade has been canceled for the last two years, reportedly due to security concerns.

A billboard in Taif, Saudi Arabia, shows King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud (center) flanked by his 31-year-old son, Mohammed bin Salman (right), and Prince Mohammed bin Nayef. The king appointed his son as his successor and first in line to the throne, s

World News

What To Know About Saudi Arabia's New Crown Prince And The Issues He Will Face

7:57pm June 21, 2017

by Deborah Amos

Mohammed bin Salman is now first in line to the throne. At 31, he has already reshaped his country's role in the region. His biggest test will come as he tries to wean the kingdom off an oil economy.

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World News

Saudi King Names 31-Year-Old Son As New Crown Prince

5:39pm June 21, 2017

by Deborah Amos

Mohammad Bin Salman, son of Saudi Arabia's king, is the new crown prince and first in line to the throne. The person he replaced is his older cousin, who had been a widely respected interior minister.

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World News

Saudi Arabia's Beef With Qatar Reflects Long Simmering Tensions

5:39pm June 21, 2017

by Kenny Malone

Two weeks ago, Saudi Arabia announced it had closed its border and cut diplomatic ties with neighboring Qatar. Other Gulf countries joined in, and the tiny gas-rich monarchy became a pariah seemingly overnight. But tensions have been simmering for some time. To understand what's happening to Qatar, Planet Money traces the long, dramatic relationship between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, two brother monarchies.

Mohammed bin Salman has risen from Saudi Arabia's deputy crown prince to the heir to the throne, according to a royal order backed by Saudi's Allegiance Council.

World News

Saudi King Deposes Crown Prince And Names 31-Year-Old Son As New Heir

10:53am June 21, 2017

by Bill Chappell

Saudi Arabia's new successor to the throne is 50 years younger than the current monarch. He's known for his social and economic views, as well as leading the Saudi military.

World News

Jared Kushner Makes First Attempt At Reviving Israeli-Palestinian Peace Talks

7:39am June 21, 2017

Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt are in Israel to try to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Steve Inskeep talks to Yossi Klein Halevi, a columnist who met with Greenblatt.

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World News

Australia Halts Airstrikes In Syria After Russian Military Threat

12:14pm June 20, 2017

by Bill Chappell

Named Operation OKRA, the Australian Defense Force's effort to fight the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria includes about 780 personnel.

News Brief: Warmbier Dies; Russia To Target U.S. Jets Over Syria

11:26am June 20, 2017

The story of young American student Otto Warmbier, who was detained in North Korea, has come to a tragic end. Russia issues a warning after the U.S. shot down a Syrian warplane over the weekend.

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World News

Russia To Target U.S. Aircraft Flying Over Syrian Government Airspace

8:18am June 20, 2017

A U.S. fighter jet shot down a Syrian warplane on Sunday. Rachel Martin talks with Daniel Fried, a former senior career U.S. diplomat, about the rising tensions between Russia and the U.S. over Syria.

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