Middle East Experience

Tehran needs to “move quickly” if it wants to resume talks on the Iran nuclear deal, a senior State Department official said Friday.“Our commitment to doing this is not indefinite. Because at a certain time, the JCPOA is no longer going to convey the non-proliferation benefits that it once did. So, we call on the Iranians to move quickly, meet us in Vienna,” Acting Assistant Secretary of State Joey Hood said.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Speaking to Al Arabiya, Hood suggested that the nuclear deal talks needed to include Iran’s ballistic missile program and its militias around the region.“We also need to address the concerns that we and many countries in the region and around the world have with Iran’s destabilizing activities through promoting and funding and arming militias … as well as attacking commercial shipping and so on,” Hood said.Asked if the Vienna talks being linked to Iran’s destabilizing behavior were delaying progress, Hood said: “You have to ask the Iranians why there’s no progress because we’re waiting on them to return to Vienna.”“We see it [Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missile program and support for militias] altogether, because Iran is engaged in destabilizing and destructive activities, and if it were to gain a nuclear weapon, it would be even more dangerous than before. So, we need to get the nuclear program back into a clearly civilian track, and we need to also make sure that we address these concerns of the international community,” the US diplomat said.YemenTurning to Yemen, Hood said the US was willing to impose sanctions on the Iran-backed Houthis.Shortly after taking office, US President Joe Biden made it a priority to quickly remove the Houthis from the terror blacklist and lift sanctions designations on Houthi officials.Nevertheless, the group continues to escalate its offensive on Yemen’s Marib and refuses to engage in peace talks.Asked to explain the lack of progress in easing the yearslong war in Yemen, Hood said: We’re frustrated... We don’t want to be having to announce every few months, as we just did the other day, $290 million more dollars for humanitarian assistance in food, water and hygiene and medicine for the Yemeni people.”But reaching a solution would require the Houthis to come to the table and agreeing on a way forward. “They’re not fighting the Saudis anymore,” Hood said, in an apparent reference to the Arab Coalition. “They’re fighting Yemeni people in and around Marib, and that has to stop.”Read more: Saudi Arabia aims to maintain peace, resolve conflicts peacefully: King Salman
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran must ‘move quickly’ if it wants to resume nuclear deal talks: US official

Russia’s Wagner Group has its eyes on Mali. It fits a pattern of Russian interference in Africa..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Who Blessed the Vlads Down in Africa?

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told reporters that Iran plans to return to the negotiating table after suspending its participation at the end of June.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iran's foreign minister says nuclear talks to restart 'very soon'

The US condemns the Taliban’s plan to bring back executions and amputations as punishments for crimes committed in Afghanistan, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said on Friday.Price said the punishments would “constitute clear gross human rights violations.” He added: “We stand firm with the international community to holdperpetrators of these, of any such abuses, accountable.”The US statement comes a day after Mullah Nooruddin Turabi said in an interview with The Associated Press that executions and amputations were “necessary” punishments to maintain security in Afghanistan.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Since seizing control of Afghanistan on August 15, the Taliban have launched a charm offensive to rehabilitate their hardline image from their 1996-2001 era when they performed public executions, men who didn’t pray in mosques where whipped, women’s every day movements were restricted and an extreme interpretation of Islamic law, Sharia, was enforced.However, it seems the Taliban are not changing much of their core values as Turabi stressed in his interview with The Associated Press that the group will carry out punishments as it sees fit and demanded the international community not interfere.Read more:Taliban will bring back executions, cutting off hands, feet as punishment: OfficialCurbs on women, beard length, use of force: Taliban detail morality police ‘rulebook’US will not force Taliban to replicate Western culture with frozen funds: Official
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US condemns Taliban’s plan to reinstate executions, amputations as punishment

Egypt in focus: The Nile and Climate Change; Blinken and Shoukry talk civil rights;  Sex ed from "Mother Being;" Atheists, and sharks attacks…in less than 1000 words!
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Sisi warns of ‘grave threat’ from Ethiopia over Nile dispute

Erica Ollmann Saphire spent the past year and a half profiling the coronavirus, creating intricate three-dimensional images in her San Diego lab to understand its most problematic features. That information is now revealing the pathogen’s weak spots and ways to exploit them.Using an 11-foot (3.35 meter) tall microscope, the most powerful commercially available, she’s scoured hundreds of different antibodies against the COVID culprit to identify its salient features. For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The research at the La Jolla Institute of Immunology led to a study Thursday in Science that gives the most detailed map yet of how to circumvent the SARS-CoV-2 virus’s panoply of mutations and variants.The map, produced in collaboration with 56 research groups on four continents, is enabling scientists to devise blueprints for better vaccines and treatments to thwart the hyper-infectious delta strain, which has become dominant globally, and its successors. “We now have a framework for selecting durable antibody cocktails for COVID-19 treatment,” said Ollmann Saphire, who is president and chief executive officer at the La Jolla Institute. The aim is find two potent and complimentary antibodies that can be combined into a $25 therapy for COVID-19 patients who haven’t been vaccinated, couldn’t be vaccinated, or have developed a breakthrough infection. “We’re probably a long way from $25, but the goal is to bring it down from $1,000 to something that could treat more people,” she said in a Zoom call Friday. “To be practically useful, it’s got to be something that’s durable and resistant to the variants that are circulating.”The World Health Organization on Friday recommended a combination of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies -- casirivimab and imdevimab -- developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. for treating COVID patients at the highest risk of severe disease, and urged drugmakers and governments to address the high price and limited production of the medication.One “rock star antibody” developed by a collaborating lab is so far outperforming more than 350 other candidates analyzed by the Coronavirus Immunotherapy Consortium that Ollmann Saphire is leading. It’s been shown to block immune-evading variants and provide 100 percent protection against COVID-19 in lab mice.“I have my eye on that one, and I’m looking to see what we might want to pair with it to take forward into clinical studies,” she said. Research on mice is also pointing to a more potent approach to vaccine development based on a more stable version of the coronavirus’s spike protein made in her lab that could be used by new or existing inoculations against SARS-CoV-2. “It’s fantastic,” Ollmann Saphire said. “We can make gobs of it and it stays in the right shape and structure for a month in a drawer in the lab at room temperature.”Read more:llamas could be a secret weapon in the fight against COVID-19: ResearchBMI changes among children almost doubled during COVID-19: StudyEmirates becomes first airline to roll-out COVID-19 travel pass across six continents
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Profiling COVID-19 mutations help scientists find weak spots: Study

The lockdowns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused people to eat at home more frequently, leading to suggestions that children were eating healthier during that time. New research finds that this might not necessarily be true. According to a survey, one in five parents believe that their children have been snacking on junk food a lot more since the pandemic’s onset. For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The survey, which involved over 2,000 parents of American children aged 3 to 18, was conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Although many parents say they enjoyed healthier meals since the beginning of the pandemic, 20 percent of the respondents admitted to being “too stressed” to cook, leading to one in six saying that their kids were consuming fast-food at least twice a week. “The pandemic disrupted many family routines, including where and what they eat. We know families’ lifestyles can impact children’s diets, and we looked to see how the pandemic may have changed their eating habits,” poll co-director and pediatrician at the hospital, Dr. Gary Freed, was quoted as saying in a statement. He added that families’ views on fast-food consumption varied based on the parents’ perception of their child’s weight. “Parents who said their kids are overweight were almost twice as likely to say their children have fast-food at least twice a week, compared to those who said their kids are at a normal weight,” he explained, adding that they also identified “some barriers to home-cooked meals.”“Around 40 percent of parents reported being too busy to cook, and one in five said they were too stressed. These challenges were also reported more commonly among parents with kids who were overweight.”Fast-food is ‘okay’ in moderation Although most parents agreed that fast-food was unhealthy for kids, more than 80 percent said they felt it was “okay” in moderation, poll results showed. Three in four parents also agreed that when stressed for time, fast-food was a good family option. A third of the respondents said that fast-food was good value for money. However, around 24 percent said they felt it was less expensive than cooking food at home. “Parents mostly acknowledge that fast-food isn’t an ideal choice, but see it as an acceptable ‘sometimes food’. But parents don’t usually dictate their kids’ food choices at fast-food restaurants with 88 percent allowing their child to choose what they eat and only one in three parents reading the nutritional information,” said Freed. Despite this, two out of three parents (around 67 percent of respondents) said that they encourage their kids to go for healthier options and try to discourage them from consuming unhealthy items such as milkshakes and chips. “One fast-food meal often exceeds the recommended fat, sodium, and calorie intake for the entire day without providing many nutrients. Parents should consider using nutritional information to help their kids learn how to make healthier choices. Trying to make those meals even a little bit healthier can have an important impact,” he added. Pandemic-spurred BMI changes in children According to another study, the rate of body mass index (BMI) changes in children nearly doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic. School closures, disrupted routines, increased stress, and less opportunity for physical activity and proper nutrition all had profound effects on children’s BMI, according to the study, published Thursday in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s report on morbidity and mortality.BMI is a measure that uses height and weight data to track changes in weight relative to height.After surveying BMI changes in 432,302 US children aged between two and 19 before and during the pandemic, the CDC found that the rate of change nearly doubled from March to November 2020 compared to those that were recorded before the pandemic. All the children in the study experienced significant increases in their rate of BMI change during the pandemic, except for children who were underweight, the report found.Children or adolescents who were overweight or obese pre-pandemic experienced the largest increases.“During the COVID-19 pandemic, children and adolescents spent more time than usual away from structured school settings, and families who were already disproportionally affected by obesity risk factors might have had additional disruptions in income, food, and other social determinants of health,” the study’s authors wrote.Read more:‘You are what you eat’: Your diet may be affecting your mental health, here’s howDutch, world’s tallest people, could be shrinking due to poor diet: Study‘Feel-good’ Dopamine hormone increases in response to stress, not just pleasure
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: ‘Too stressed to cook’: 1 in 5 US parents say kids eating more junk since pandemic

The Egyptian government is working with NGOs to advance social protection programs despite criticism that the state is seeking to control these associations and eliminate political Islam.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt seeks help from NGOs to advance social protection programs

The United Arab Emirates on Saturday announced a new federal government structure for the next 50 years and appointed Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, took to Twitter on Saturday to make the announcement.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“Brothers and sisters, after consultations with my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, who approved the new government structure and directed those concerned to harness all resources to preserve our achievements and accelerate the process of national development, and after the approval of my brother, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa, we announce, today, the new structure of the UAE Government,” said the ruler of Dubai in a series of tweets.“Our objective is to create a government with faster decision-making capacities that is capable of keeping pace with the latest developments, making the most of opportunities, and addressing this new era of our history, and a flexible government that aims to continue the nation’s achievements,” he added.“Today, my brothers and sisters, we announce the mergers of ministries and authorities, the re-allocation of powers and responsibilities, and the restructuring of the UAE Government. We are closing 50 percent of government service centers and turning them into digital platforms within two years, merging 50 percent of federal authorities with other authorities or ministries, and appointing new ministers of state and CEOs of specialist sectors,” he added.The new government structure includes: • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense• Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior• Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs• Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Cabinet Member and Minister of Finance• Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Cabinet Member and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation• Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Cabinet Member and Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence• Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Cabinet Member and Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future• Ahmed Juma Al Zaabi, Minister of Federal Supreme Council Affairs• Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Cabinet Member, Minister of Health and Prevention and Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs• Dr. Anwar bin Mohammad Gargash, Cabinet Member and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs• Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Cabinet Member and Minister of State for Financial Affairs• Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Cabinet Member and Minister of State for International Cooperation• Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Cabinet Member and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure• Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Cabinet Member and Minister of Climate Change and the Environment• Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Cabinet Member and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology• Sultan bin Saeed Al Badi, Cabinet Member and Minister of Justice• Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Cabinet Member and Minister of Education• Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, Cabinet Member and Minister of State for Defence Affairs• Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Cabinet Member and Minister of Culture and Youth• Jameela bint Salem Al Muheiri, Cabinet Member and Minister of State for Public Education• Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli, Cabinet Member and Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation• Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Cabinet Member and Minister of Community Development• Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Cabinet Member and Minister of Economy• Dr. Maitha bint Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State• Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and SMEs• Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade• Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and The Future• Shamma bint Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Youth Affairs• Zaki Nusseibeh, Minister of State• Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of State for Food and Water Security• Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology• Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Teleworking Applications• Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of StateCEOs of UAE Government • Mohammed Sultan Al Obaidli, Head of Legal Affairs• Mohammed Hamad Al-Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security• Saeed Al-Attar, Head of Government Media Office• Hoda Al Hashemi, Head of Government Strategy and Innovation• Hamad Al-Mansoori, Head of the Digital Government• Mohammed Bin Taleya, Head of Government ServicesRead more:UAE records 303 new COVID-19 cases, three deaths in 24 hoursEmirates becomes first airline to roll-out COVID-19 travel pass across six continentsUAE securities regulator grants approval for DAMAC founder Sajwani to go privateUAE central bank starts gradual curb of COVID-19 stimulus measures
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE announces new cabinet, federal government structure

The United Arab Emirates will close down 50 percent of its government service centers and turn them into digital platforms, Vice President and Prime Minister and the ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced on Saturday.In a series of tweets regarding the new federal government structure and new ministerial appointments, Sheikh Mohammed said: “We are closing 50 percent of government service centers and turning them into digital platforms within two years, merging 50 percent of federal authorities with other authorities or ministries, and appointing new ministers of states and CEOs of specialist sectors.”For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.He also highlighted the establishment of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, which has been set up in an effort to develop the national industrial sector, according to Emirates News Agency WAM, as well as the entity’s merger with the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA), explaining that the Minister of States for Advanced Sciences will work under its umbrella.He also announced the transfer of the “Quality of Life and Happiness” portfolio to the Ministry of Community Development and the transfer of the Federal Human Resources Authority to the UAE Cabinet Office.The Ministry of Energy will merge with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development to become the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, with the Sheikh Zayed Housing Program and the Federal Transport Authority (Land and Maritime) being assigned to this new ministry.The national Media Council (NMC) and the Federal Youth Authority to the Ministry of Culture will become the Ministry of Culture and Youth, he said, naming to new ministers Shamma Al Mazrui as Minister of State for Youth and Noura Al Kaabi as Minister of Culture and Youth.In addition, WAM will be transferred to the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, while the Federal Electricity and Water Authority, Emirates Post Group, the Emirates General Transport and Services Corporation and the Emirates Real Estate Corporation will be attached to the Emirates Investment Authority (EIA). They will also be responsible for drafting a new government investment authority, WAM reported on Saturday.The National Qualifications Authority will merge with the Ministry of Education, and the Insurance Authority to the Securities will be merged with the Commodities Authority which will also be chaired by the Minister of Economy.Read more:UAE announces new federal government structureDubai’s ruler approves $17.7 billion housing program for EmiratisUAE economy to grow 2.1 percent this year: Central bank
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE to close down half of govt service centers, go digital in two years