Middle East Experience

Bria Ali and her family have twice tried to make it to Germany, desperate for a better life. They are now back home with thousands of others who made it to Europe in recent months only to be deported..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: They Twice Gave Up Everything to Flee Iraq. They Keep Getting Sent Back.

A young Kurdish woman, Maryam Nuri, died with 26 others after making a desperate attempt to join her fiancé by crossing the English Channel from France on an inflatable boat..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: A Couple’s Dream of Reuniting in England Is Dashed in a Channel Disaster

Four concerts will be held as part of this year's Qatar Live event..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: A-list Arab artists to feature at Qatar Live concerts next month – Doha News | Qatar

The suspended talks are due to resume on Monday between Iran and Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia. The US will take part indirectly..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iran negotiators arrive in Vienna for nuclear talks amid low expectations

The Abu Samra land border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia will be expanded to welcome more traffic to and from the two Gulf nations..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Abu Samra land crossing to be expanded for influx of Qatar 2022 fans – Doha News | Qatar

Saudi Arabia will host the third governmental forum to discuss the challenges of combating trafficking in persons in the Middle East 2021 from November 29 to November 30, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Sunday.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.According to the press agency, the forum will be held virtually under the theme “National and International Coordination on Combating Trafficking in Persons in the Light of the Coronavirus Pandemic.”“The forum will include the participation of the heads of the committees concerned with combating trafficking in persons in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for the Arab States, a number of Arab countries and international representatives,” SPA reported.It will be inaugurated by the President of Saudi Arabia’s Human Rights Commission and Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Awwad al-Awwad.SPA said the forum will discuss the challenges and developments in the field of combating human trafficking crimes in the Middle East “in order to enable the national committees to develop joint action plans to address these crimes.”Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the forum affirms the Kingdom’s “important role in combating trafficking in persons, continued efforts to address trafficking in persons, in addition to all exerted efforts to support this crime’s victims,” SPA reported, adding that it resulted in Saudi Arabia’s continuous progress in the US Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report.Read more:US offers $1 mln rewards to capture Pakistani human smuggler who operates in Mid EastHuman trafficking suit spreads to Hindu temples in five US statesUN refugee agency says number of displaced people worldwide tops 84 million
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia to host challenges of combating human trafficking Middle East forum

The emergence of COVID-19 variants is the result of not achieving health-related goals, individuals not getting vaccinated, and severe laxity in precautions, the official spokesman for Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health said on Sunday.The World Health Organization (WHO) labeled the new coronavirus variant B.1.1.529, which was first reported in South Africa on November 24, as “Omicron.”Saudi Arabia on Sunday said no cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant have been detected in the country.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The number of COVID-19 vaccine doses given in the Kingdom has reached 47 million, where over 22.3 million people have been vaccinated, the spokesman said.The new potentially more contagious COVID-19 variant Omicron has raised alarm all over the world, with many governments responding with instituting travel bans from countries where it has been detected.Saudi Arabia on Sunday suspended flights coming to and from Malawi, Zambia, Madagascar, Angola, Seychelles, Mauritius, and Comoros due to the outbreak of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported, citing a source from the Ministry of Interior. The Kingdom also suspended entry of non-Saudis who come directly or indirectly from the above countries, except for those who have spent a period of no less than fourteen days in another country whose health procedures comply with Saudi Arabia’s rules regarding entry to the country in accordance with the approved health procedures, SPA reported.Read more:Saudi Arabia suspends flights to several countries due to COVID-19 variantCOVID-19 variant Omicron brings back travel curbs worldwide: All you need to know
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: COVID-19 variants emerge due to lax precautions, not getting vaccinated: Saudi Arabia

Iran's nuclear negotiator arrived in Vienna on Saturday ahead of the talks..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: US vows to exert pressure on Iran in upcoming round of talks – Doha News | Qatar

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi said on Sunday that judicial authorities have refused to hold a hearing to consider his appeal against Libya’s High National Election Commission decision to disqualify his candidacy in the upcoming presidential elections.Earlier this week, Al Arabiya reported that Gaddafi’s team planned to file an appeal with the judicial authorities to challenge the commission’s decision to exclude him from the election scheduled for next month on the grounds that he did not meet the conditions for candidacy.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Attorney Khaled al-Ghuwail told Al Arabiya that the commission’s decision, which was based on Article 10 of the Presidential Election Law, constitutes a legal violation and does not apply to Gaddafi, as no final judicial ruling was issued against his client in any felony or crime as evidenced by Gaddafi’s criminal record, which does not include any precedents.He also indicated that an appeal against Gaddafi’s disqualification would be submitted to the judicial committees concerned with electoral appeals, describing the exclusion of his client as a “political decision.”“The battle is still on, and Libyans will fight with all their might to defend their candidate’s right to run,” al-Ghuwail said.Read more:Gaddafi’s lawyer says plans to file appeal after disqualification from Libya electionLibya election head rules out Saif al-Islam Gaddafi as presidential candidateLibya parliament speaker Aguila Saleh submits papers to stand in presidential voteLibya’s parliament speaker declares presidential bid
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saif al-Islam Gaddafi says judges refuse to hold hearing on disqualification appeal

Western powers must compensate Iran for the financial damage done by the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal in order to revive the pact, Tehran’s top nuclear negotiator said on Sunday.Indirect talks between the US and Iran, which are due to resume in Vienna on Monday after a five-month pause, “must prioritise compensation for the violation of the deal, which includes the removal of all post-JCPOA sanctions,” Ali Bagheri-Kani, Iran’s deputy foreign minister and chief nuclear negotiator, wrote in an op-ed for the Financial Times on Sunday, using the acronym for the formal name of the nuclear pact – the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“The West needs to pay a price for having failed to uphold its part of the bargain. As in any business, a deal is a deal, and breaking it has consequences,” Bagheri-Kani said.The US withdrew from the deal under former President Donald Trump in 2018, reimposing sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy.The Vienna talks aim to bring both the US and Iran back into compliance with the 2015 deal, under which Tehran limited its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.Iran’s primary goal in the talks will be to “gain a full, guaranteed and verifiable removal of the sanctions that have been imposed on the Iranian people,” Bagheri-Kani said.“Without this, the process will continue indefinitely.”Read more:Low expectations on nuclear talks as Iran creates facts on the groundsIran seeks to return oil output to pre-Trump sanction levelsUS to exert pressure on Iran if it uses Vienna talks to boost nuclear program: Envoy
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: West must ‘pay price’ to revive nuclear deal: Iran chief negotiator