Middle East Experience

The Gulf state contributes $15m on an annual basis to the organisation..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Qatar extends partnership with UN counter-terrorism office

Russia’s “bragging” about its nuclear weapons is fueling a dangerous arms race, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Doha Forum on Saturday.Zelenskyy also called on Qatar, which organizes the annual meeting of international political and business leaders, to increase production of natural gas to counter Russian efforts to use energy as a weapon.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“They are bragging that they can destroy with nuclear weapons not only a certain country but the entire planet,” Zelenskyy said in a live video message to the forum on the 31st day of the Russian military assault against his country.When Ukraine dismantled its nuclear stockpile in the 1990s it was given “security assurances from the most powerful countries in the world,” including Russia, he said in comments translated into English for the conference.“But these assurances did not become guarantees. And in fact, one of the countries supposed to give one of the greatest security promise started to work against Ukraine and this is the ultimate manifestation of injustice,” Zelenskyy added.“The future of Europe rests with your efforts,” he told the audience that included the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.“It depends on your output. I ask you to increase output of energy to ensure that everyone in Russia understands that no country can use energy as a weapon.”European nations have vowed to wean themselves off Russian oil and gas and have already turned to Qatar for alternative supplies.Germany has committed to build two huge terminals to receive liquefied gas from Qatar, the Gulf state said last week after a visit by German ministers.Read more:Russian forces cut off Ukraine’s Chernihiv city, mayor saysPutin compares attacks on Russian culture to Nazi book burningsUN rights office says evidence growing of Mariupol mass graves
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Russia fueling nuclear arms race: Ukraine’s Zelenskyy

The need to restore the 2015 nuclear accord was amongst the issues discussed at the panel..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Qatar's FM : 'double standards' in addressing global issues

“The military operation will continue until its objectives are achieved,” the coalition said in a statement quoted by the official Saudi news agency SPA..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Saudi-led coalition retaliates against Houthis attack on Aramco oil facilities

Egypt’s foreign minister will take part in groundbreaking talks in Israel from Sunday alongside his counterparts from the US and three Arab states, an Israeli official said.Sameh Shoukry will be joining US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the foreign ministers of the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco for a series of meetings hosted by their Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid, an Israeli official told AFP on Saturday, on condition of anonymity.The two-day event will be held against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a conflict that has sparked wider security concerns and sent oil and food prices soaring.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.It also comes as the United States is close to reaching an agreement with Iran to restore the 2015 accord limiting Tehran’s nuclear activities in return for removing sanctions on the country.The United Arab Emirates forged diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020 under a series of US-brokered deals known as the Abraham Accords.Bahrain and Morocco followed suit, while Sudan also agreed to normalize ties with Israel although it has yet to finalize a deal.The two-day meeting in Israel follows a three-way summit hosted by Egypt on Tuesday at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, after decades of enmity and conflict. Jordan followed suit in 1994.The “historic summit” announced Friday by Israel will mark the first time the foreign ministers of the UAE and Morocco make a public visit to Israel.Read more:Turkey finds ‘mine-like object’ floating off Black Sea, ships warnedSaudi Arabian Grand Prix to go ahead as planned, say organizersEU’s Borrell says nuclear agreement with Iran ‘very close’
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Egypt’s FM to join summit of Arab, US diplomats in Israel        

The Arab Coalition has destroyed explosive-laden boats in Yemen’s Saleef port and Hodeidah port in a targeted strike, the official Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.The four weaponised boats were still being built by the Iran-backed Houthis, according to the same report.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The destruction of these boats are reported to have thwarted “imminent attack on oil tankers,” according to the SPA report.Additionally, three “experts” who worked on the explosive-laden boats were killed during the strike on Saleef port, SPA reported.The statement also called on the Yemen-based terrorist group to “remove weapons from protected sites” including at the Sanaa international airport within a three-hour deadline.Keeping weapons in the airport of the Yemeni capital and other civilian areas would “end their status” as safe regions not to be targeted by the coalition’s strikes, it said.The Arab Coalition announced the start of air strikes in Yemen on Friday in retaliation for attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, according to an Al Arabiya report citing the coalition spokesperson al-Malki.The coalition reported that its forces are carrying out air strikes on “sources of threat in Sanaa and Hodeidah,” despite exercising “the highest standard of restraint for Houthi attacks on oil facilities” in recent days.The coalition asked civilians to stay away from oil sites in Hodeidah, stressing that it will take all efforts to direct strikes away from civilian facilities without compromising action against credible sources of threat, according to the same report.Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have launched dozens of cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia throughout 2021 and into 2022.In September 2021, the Houthis intensified their efforts to take Marib, a provincial capital which is the government’s last northern stronghold.The Iran-backed militia frequently target civilian areas and energy facilities in the Kingdom with drones, ballistic missiles and explosive-laden boats.The Arab Coalition has been carrying out attacks against legitimate military Houthi targets in Yemen in recent months, warning civilians not to approach or gather around the targeted sites beforehand.Read more:Iran-backed Houthis under global condemnation after Saudi Aramco attackRocket attack causes ‘limited fire’ in Saudi Arabia’s JazanSaudi Arabia’s defenses destroy ballistic missile, explosive-laden drone
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Arab Coalition destroys explosive-laden boats in Yemen’s Hodeidah, Saleef ports

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said dialogue is essential to end the current conflict in Ukraine, state news agency (SPA) reported on Saturday.Speaking in Qatar where he is attending the Doha Forum, Prince Faisal added that the best way to deal with this crisis is via strengthening dialogue to reach a political solution and end the suffering of civilians.The foreign minister also voiced the importance of efforts to tackle problems which developing countries face.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.He noted that the coronavirus pandemic highlighted the significance of international work, noting that countries cannot work alone to confront challenges, whether they’re related to economy or climate or any other pandemic.“[Such] challenges cannot be overcome without working together,” he added.Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what President Vladimir Putin calls a “special operation” to demilitarize and “denazify” Ukraine.Read more:Biden to meet Ukrainian ministers in Warsaw amid Russia warRussian forces take Chernobyl workers’ town as fighting continues in MariupolRussia fueling nuclear arms race: Ukraine’s Zelenskyy
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia’s FM reiterates necessity of dialogue to end Ukraine conflict 

Talks between Lebanon and the IMF began in May 2020, then stopped for months amid a political deadlock..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanese PM hopes to see progress in IMF talks within weeks

The Arab Coalition asked civilians to stay away from weapons warehouses belonging to the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Hadda Street in Yemen’s capital Sanaa, state news agency (SPA) reported on Saturday.According to the coalition, the Houthis have weapons warehouses in Hadda Street.The coalition also asked residents to stay away from Houthi positions in Hadda Street, adding that the Houthis are using civilians there as human shields.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Earlier on Saturday, the coalition gave the Houthis a three-hour deadline to remove all weapons from the ports of Hodeidah and Saleef and the Sanaa international airport.It also said that keeping weapons in the Sanaa airport and other civilian areas would “end their status” as safe regions not to be targeted by the coalition’s strikes.On Friday, the Arab Coalition announced the start of airstrikes in Yemen in retaliation for attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia.Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have launched dozens of cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia throughout 2021 and into 2022.Al Arabiya English’s Ayush Narayanan contributed to this report.Read more:Iran-backed Houthis under global condemnation after Saudi Aramco attackSaudi Arabia’s FM reiterates necessity of dialogue to end Ukraine conflictRocket attack causes ‘limited fire’ in Saudi Arabia’s Jazan
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Arab Coalition asks civilians to stay away from Houthis’ weapons warehouses in Sanaa

As it pushes for a hard bargain with the government, the labour union hoping to satisfy those worried about the reforms’ impact..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Tunisia labour union rejects reform proposals