The Arab Coalition on Thursday said it intercepted and destroyed an explosive-laden drone that belongs to the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemeni airspace as it was heading towards Saudi Arabia. The Houthis continue to deliberately launch attacks on civilians and civilian objects, the coalition added in a statement. For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The coalition said it was taking the necessary operational measures to ensure that civilians are protected and to deal with the imminent Houthi threat. On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia’s defense forces intercepted and destroyed an explosive drone launched by the Iran-backed group targeting the Kingdom’s southern region.The Arab Coalition has previously said the hostile and deliberate attempted attacks by the Houthis to target Saudi Arabia constitute war crimes.Read more:Saudi defense forces intercept explosive Houthi drone targeting Kingdom: CoalitionSaudi Arabia’s defense forces intercept Houthi drones hours after foiled attackSaudi Arabia intercepts Houthi drone launched towards Khamis Mushait
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Arab Coalition downs explosive-laden Houthi drone in Yemeni airspace
Gazans rebuild with rubble as reconstruction delayed
The Ministry of Public Works and Housing in Gaza is contracting with local companies to crush rubble and turn it into construction material.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Gazans rebuild with rubble as reconstruction delayed
UAE’s Hope Probe captures first images of Mars discrete aurora
The United Arab Emirates’ Mars mission has captured the first images of the discrete aurora phenomenon in the red planet’s nightside atmosphere.The images, taken by the Hope Probe, show a ghostly glow known as the discrete aurora. The pictures were released five months after the UAE became just the fifth nation to enter the Red Planet’s orbit.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“The implications for our understanding of Mars’ atmospheric and magnetospheric science are tremendous and provide new support to the theory that solar storms are not necessary to drive Mars’ aurora, said the mission’s Science Lead, Hessa al-Matroushi.Space Technology is a key part of the Gulf state’s plans to reduce its dependence on oil.The country entered the space race last year when it launched the first Arab mission to Mars. It established a space agency in 2014, sent its first astronaut to the International Space Station five years later, and plans to send an unmanned spaceship to the moon in 2024.The latest observations have “opened a new realm for this mission and actually increased the potential outcome when it comes to research, Sarah al-Amiri, UAE minister of state for advanced technology, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV.The United Arab Emirates’ investment in space exploration has created a “ripple effect in society, she had said in an earlier interview at the Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst. The Emirates Mars mission, which marked the UAE’s first excursion into deep space, was given about $200 million, she said.The start of the mission was about diversifying the economy through developing skills for space and “across different sectors that require complex technological systems, al-Amiri said.Now, the space agency is focusing on ensuring mechanisms are in place to support a “very risky business, and turning data from scientific missions “into impactful outcomes for the economy.Read more:UAE’s Hope Probe begins gathering data from Mars’ atmosphereUAE partners with Japan’s iSpace to send rover to the moon in 2022UAE appoints two new astronauts, including woman
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE’s Hope Probe captures first images of Mars discrete aurora
Israel, Morocco take baby steps on diplomatic, social, economic ties
Diplomatic relations are not advancing as rapidly as those with the Emirates and Bahrain, but Israel sees positive trends in ties with Morocco.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel, Morocco take baby steps on diplomatic, social, economic ties
Yemeni model abducted by Houthis tried to commit suicide in jail: Lawyer
A Yemeni model who was abducted and put on trial by the Iran-backed Houthi militia earlier this year tried to commit suicide in prison, her lawyer said, according to media reports. Entisar al-Hammadi was being treated in a hospital in Sanaa after she tried to hang herself in her prison cell on Monday, her lawyer Khaled al-Kamal told Arab News on Wednesday.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.According to her lawyer, al-Hammadi’s mental and physical condition became “very, very difficult” after the Houthis had transferred her into a wing for “prostitutes.” “She felt humiliated by the Houthis shaming her,” al-Kamal said. The 20-year-old model and actress was kidnapped by the Iran-backed group in February and was later interrogated, physically and verbally abused, placed in solitary confinement, and subjected to racist and sexist insults, activists said at the time. The Houthis charged al-Hammadi with prostitution, drug dealing, and breaching Islamic norms, and had prevented her lawyer from seeing her case documents. Al-Hammadi denied all charges.Despite calls from local and international organizations, the militia refused to release the model and banned all media coverage of her case, according to her lawyer. Yemeni women and children have been the principal victims of violence since the Iran-backed Houthis waged a war in 2015 against the internationally recognized government.In recent months, the Houthis have intensified their violations against women and have conducted what activists described as “ISIS-like” behavior in areas under their control, including banning women from working in restaurants and cafes, requiring a husband’s permission before purchasing birth control, and even putting up cement walls to separate female and male students in university classrooms.Read more:Yemeni model Entisar al-Hammadi kidnapped by Iran-backed Houthis: Activists‘ISIS-like behavior’: Iran-backed Houthis implement extreme measures against womenHouthis’ use of sexual violence as a weapon against women is a terrible crime: UK
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Yemeni model abducted by Houthis tried to commit suicide in jail: Lawyer
Two doses of COVID-19 vaccine seems to protect against Delta variant: European Agency
Two doses of Covid vaccine appear to provide protection against the rapidly spreading Delta variant of the coronavirus, the European Medicines Agency said on Thursday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.“Emerging data from real world evidence are showing that two doses of vaccines are protective against the Delta variant,” Marco Cavaleri, EMA head of vaccine strategy, told a news conference.Two doses of Covid vaccine appear to provide protection against the rapidly spreading Delta variant of the coronavirus, the European Medicines Agency said on Thursday.The upbeat assessment came as the World Health Organization warned that the variant first spotted in India could fuel a new wave of cases in Europe.The EMA’s head of vaccine strategy, Marco Cavaleri, said the Amsterdam-based watchdog was “aware of concerns caused by the rapid spread of the Delta variant.”“Right now it seems the four vaccines approved in the European Union are protecting against all the strains circulating in Europe, including the Delta variant,” he said.“Emerging data from real world evidence are showing that two doses of vaccines are protective against the Delta variant.”Four vaccines are currently approved for use in the EU: Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.Read more:Is one dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine effective? Health experts weigh inSaudi Arabia to become regional hub for COVID-19 vaccines, supplies: KSrelief chiefWorld Bank says will boost financing for COVID-19 vaccines to $20 billion
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Two doses of COVID-19 vaccine seems to protect against Delta variant: European Agency
Syrian aid agencies brace for vote on border crossing: 'There is no Plan B'
Humanitarian actors are stockpiling supplies and sounding the alarm ahead of a UN Security Council vote that could eliminate the United Nations' last remaining entry point into northwest Syria.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Syrian aid agencies brace for vote on border crossing: 'There is no Plan B'
Donald Rumsfeld Freed the World From ‘Mutual Assured Destruction’
His thinking on arms control proved prescient—but the howls reverberate to this day..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Donald Rumsfeld Freed the World From ‘Mutual Assured Destruction’
Vast inequities in accessing vaccines fuelling two-track pandemic, WHO chief says
Vaccine equity is the best way to control the pandemic, reboot the global economy, Dr Tedros says at India Global Forum..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Vast inequities in accessing vaccines fuelling two-track pandemic, WHO chief says
Turkey's illegal renditions of Syrian nationals back in spotlight
Critics say the arrest of Syrian citizens and their extradition to Turkey violates Turkish and international humanitarian law.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Turkey's illegal renditions of Syrian nationals back in spotlight