Middle East Experience

Egypt's moves are likely signs that the government is working to secure another financing package from IMF..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Pound slides further as Egypt seeks to combat inflationary waves

Ukrainian forces have pushed back Russian troops in several areas around Kyiv, the city’s mayor said Wednesday, vowing to defend every building rather than surrender the capital.Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said there were battles raging on the northern and eastern outskirts of the city, and that “the small city of Makariv and almost all of Irpin is already under the control of Ukrainian soldiers.”Irpin borders Kyiv to the east, and Makariv is located some 50 kilometers (30 miles) to the west. For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Fierce exchanges of artillery fire took place in Irpin and Lyutizh to the north of Kyiv, with considerable activity behind the front lines in Irpin, AFP journalists said.A Ukrainian news agency spoke of a possible encirclement of Russian troops at Irpin, as well as Bucha and Hostomel, which are located in the western outskirts of Kyiv.Klitschko said he didn’t have any more detailed information of ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensives.Russian troops quickly pushed to the outskirts of Kyiv after invading the country on February 24, but their attempt to encircle and enter the city have failed.The “target of aggressors is the capital of Ukraine... because the city is the heart of the country,” former boxing champion Klitschko told a news conference in a city park overlooking the Dnipro river.He urged Russian soldiers to go back home and said Ukrainians are ready to defend Kyiv building by building.“We would rather die than kneel in front of the Russians or surrender to the invaders,” said Klitschko.“We are ready to fight for each building, each street, every part of our city.”A residential neighborhood in northwestern Kyiv came under bombardment Wednesday morning, with several buildings damaged and four people wounded.A toll kept by city authorities puts the civilian death toll in the capital at 73, including four children, since the start of the invasion. Another 297 people have been wounded.The Ukrainian capital has been under curfew since the beginning of the week. Klitschko said the measure was necessary because of information from the military about possible attacks.He said dozens of saboteurs had been arrested since the start of the conflict.Read more:Russian siege of Mariupol is ‘genocide’: Ukraine chief prosecutorRussia will only accept rubles for gas deliveries to Europe: PutinRussia says sending international peacekeepers to Ukraine would be ‘very reckless’
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Ukrainians push back Russian forces around Kyiv: Mayor      

91 gold coins worth half a million euros were among the antiquities snagged in an operation involving 28 countries across the world.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Thousands of ancient artifacts seized, 52 people arrested in int'l operation

Researchers rated water governance efforts as the strongest in southern and northern Africa..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Egypt and Tunisia rank as the most water-secure countries in Africa

While many in Gaza welcome higher Israeli pay, the head of workers’ union called for the permits to include mandatory social security protections..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: In Gaza, youth quit studies for low-skilled jobs in Israel

This refreshing sweet and sour beverage—made with tamarind, water, and sugar—is popular during the month of Ramadan..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Tamer Hindi

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has resulted in at least 64 attacks on health facilities in Ukraine, averaging between two to three attacks per day as of March 22 (day 25 of the invasion), the World Health Organization revealed in a statement early Thursday in which it condemned these attacks in the “strongest possible terms.”The Russian invasion has had a devastating impact on the country’s health system, destroying health infrastructure and disrupting chains of medical supplies.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“Attacks on health care are a violation of international humanitarian law, but a disturbingly common tactic of war – they destroy critical infrastructure, but worse, they destroy hope,” said WHO Ukraine representative Dr. Jarno Habicht in a statement.“They deprive already vulnerable people of care that is often the difference between life and death. Health care is not – and should never be – a target,” he added.One month into the Ukraine war, almost four million people have fled to neighboring countries, meaning that one in four Ukrainians have been forcibly displaced, aggravating the condition of those suffering from noncommunicable diseases. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), one in three of the internally displaced suffers from a chronic health condition.Chronic health conditions Several hospitals have been repurposed to care for the wounded. This shift, while necessary, comes at the cost of primary health care and essential services.Approximately half of the country’s pharmacies are thought to be closed, said WHO, adding that many health workers are displaced themselves or unable to work.In addition, close to 1,000 health facilities are within a close vicinity of conflict lines or are in besieged areas. As a result, this has limited the facilities’ access to medicines, health professionals and facilities so treatments for patients with chronic health conditions have almost come to a complete halt.Over 20 emergency medical teams have been deployed by the WHO to Ukraine, Poland and Moldova, to provide training and specialized medical care to supplement existing services in the countries.COVID-19 Coronavirus vaccination and routine immunization has also been disrupted. Before the Russian invasion, at least 50,000 people were reportedly getting inoculated against the virus per day.However, between February 24 and March 15, only 175,000 were vaccinated against COVID-19, posing yet another huge risk for Ukrainian civilians as the world still grapples with the pandemic two years on.WHO in Ukraine On the first day of the war, February 24, WHO activated its contingency plans which involved repurposing staff and projects and shifting its focus to emergency needs in order to support Ukraine’s health system and its healthcare staff.“WHO works closely with Ukraine’s Ministry of Health and authorities to identify gaps and needs in the country’s health system – and swiftly respond,” the statement read.“WHO has opened an operations hub in Rzeszow in Poland, developed a pipeline of trauma supplies to most Ukrainian cities, and sent more than 100 metric tons of medical equipment over the border, to health facilities across the country.”Currently, around 36 metric tons of supplies are on their way to the Ukrainian city of Lviv, with an additional 108 metric tons in the pipeline, consisting of trauma supplies, pediatric drugs, medication for chronic diseases and blood transfusion supplies, WHO revealed.“What we are delivering – and where – meets the very needs of people on the ground, where Ukrainian health workers are working around the clock in unimaginable circumstances. A team of trained health-care professionals can, with one WHO trauma kit that contains surgical equipment, consumables and antiseptics – save the lives of 150 wounded people. In other words, delivering 10 such kits, means 1500 lives saved,” Habicht said.On March 18, as part of a United Nations convoy, WHO also reached the northeastern city of Sumy with critical medical supplies to treat 150 trauma patients and provide primary health care to around 15,000 patients, sufficient for three months.Among other deliveries to health facilities over the past week are artificial lung ventilation machines, a hematology analyzer, chemical protection suits, cryogenic cylinders and liquid oxygen bulk tanks.“I have seen with my own eyes the exceptional humanitarian response in neighboring countries, but this emergency is far from over. We expect more people – mainly women, children and older persons – with even greater health needs to be displaced in the coming weeks. They may face challenges in accessing the services and medicines that they need – and this can have life-threatening consequences,” the WHO’s Regional Director for Europe Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge said.Read more:Russian siege of Mariupol is ‘genocide’: Ukraine chief prosecutorRussian invasion poses ‘clear, growing threat’ to food security in Ukraine: FAO‘Frightening conditions’: Aid staff face logistical hurdles, urge Ukraine ceasefire
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: At least 64 verified attacks on health care in Ukraine, 18 mln affected: WHO

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of making a “big mistake” by invading Ukraine, as leaders gathered to discuss overhauling the alliance’s eastern defenses.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“President Putin has made a big mistake and that is to launch a war against an independent sovereign nation. He has underestimated the strength of the Ukrainian people, the bravery of the Ukrainian people and their armed forces,” Stoltenberg said ahead of a NATO summit in Brussels.Stoltenberg said the leaders of the US-led military alliance would “address the need for a reset of our deterrence and defense in the longer term,” starting with agreeing new deployments to eastern members Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria.NATO has already rushed tens of thousands of troops to its eastern flank in the wake of Russia’s invasion to counter the threat of any spillover from the conflict into alliance countries.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country is not in NATO, is set to appeal for more weapons and greater intervention in a video address to leaders as he seeks to cajole the West into a tougher response.“We are waiting for meaningful steps. From NATO, the EU and the G7,” Zelensky said ahead of the day of summits of all three organizations in Brussels.“At these three summits we will see: Who is a friend, who is a partner, and who betrayed us for money. Life can be defended only when united.”NATO leaders are vowing to bolster weapons deliveries to non-member Ukraine and supply protection against chemical and nuclear threats from Russia.But the alliance has rebuffed pleas from Kyiv to impose a no-fly zone to help halt Russia’s onslaught for fear of getting dragged into a “full-fledged” conflict with Moscow.“We have a responsibility to ensure that this conflict does not escalate beyond Ukraine that will cause even more suffering, even more death, even more destruction,” Stoltenberg said.US President Joe Biden warned before heading to Europe of a “real threat” that the Kremlin could use chemical weapons in Ukraine.Stoltenberg told journalists that “any use of chemical weapons would fundamentally change the nature of the conflict”.“It will be a blatant violation of international law, and it will have widespread and severe consequences.”Read more: ‘Active phase’ of Russian invasion will break down by April: Ukrainian adviserNATO to bolster eastern flank, support for UkraineIn nod to Russia, Ukraine says no longer insisting on NATO membership
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Putin made ‘big mistake’ invading Ukraine: NATO chief

Dubai’s main power and water company is set to join the ranks of the world’s largest utilities after unveiling plans to list at a $34 billion valuation.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The top end of its IPO price range would catapult Dubai Electricity & Water Authority into a list of the top 20 biggest listed utilities, valuing it at more than Britain’s SSE Plc, Spain’s Endesa SA, Germany’s E.ON SE and Portugal’s EDP SA, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.DEWA is looking to raise as much as $2.2 billion in its initial public offering, in what would be the emirate’s biggest listing since DP World in 2007. Abu Dhabi National Energy Co PJSC will remain the largest listed utility in the Persian Gulf, while Saudi Electricity Co. will drop to third place in the region.DEWA’s listing, set to be the biggest this year in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, would also make it the most valuable company on Dubai’s bourse.ACWA Power International was the last utility to list in the Middle East. The stock surged by the daily limit on debut in Riyadh late last year, and has since doubled in value.Read more: DEWA plans to list 6.5 pct stake in what could be Dubai’s biggest IPODubai utility DEWA hires Citi, HSBC for top roles in upcoming IPO: SourcesDubai announces intention to publicly list SALIK
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Dubai’s DEWA set to be among world’s largest listed utilities

Saudi Arabia qualified for World Cup finals on Thursday after Japan beat Australia 2-0.Saudi Arabia has appeared at the World Cup five times, their best performance coming on the debut in 1994 when they reached the last 16.By qualifying for the finals, Saudi Arabia became the first Arab team to qualify six times for the World Cup, according to Saudi Arabia’s Al Ekhbariya news channel.Japan’s victory also qualified it for World Cup finals for the seventh time in its history.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The 2022 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place in Qatar from November 21 to December 18, 2022.Australia will now advance to a play-off against the third-placed team from the other Asian qualifying group for the right to face the fifth-ranked team from South America for another spot in Qatar.Read more:UAE private jet companies see bookings surge for day trips to Qatar’s FIFA World CupCrypto.com signs on as FIFA sponsor, deepening push into sports sectorIraq’s home World Cup qualifier moved to Saudi Arabia
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia qualifies for World Cup finals