Middle East Experience

The new restrictions will go into effect from Monday, June 21..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Covid-19: UAE suspends entry for travellers from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Namibia

The European Union’s foreign policy chief Saturday berated Lebanese politicians for delays in forming a new Cabinet, warning the union could impose sanctions on those behind the political stalemate in the crisis-hit country..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: EU's Borrell threatens politicians with sanctions over crisis

The domestic intelligence agency for Australia does not object to designating the entire Lebanese movement Hezbollah a terrorist organization, according to a Sydney newspaper report.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Australian intel doesn't oppose full terror sanction for Hezbollah

According to the WSJ report “the Biden administration is sharply reducing the number of US antimissile systems in the Middle East in a major realignment of its military footprint there.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: US to pull Patriot batteries from key MidEast countries - report

Is the term accurately a descriptive for Iran’s far-right extremist theocratic leaders, or is it used to whitewash and excuse Iran’s politics?
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Is the 'hardliner' talking point about Iran’s Raisi a whitewash?

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden announced the passing of their German shepherd Champ, who they called a "constant, cherished companion" for 13 years.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Champ, Biden family dog, passes away

Amid the stalled negotiations with Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Ethiopia is expressing its intention to build military bases in the Red Sea.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Ethiopia’s plan to build Red Sea military bases fuels tension with Egypt

NGOs, businesses and even private citizens are speaking up in favor of coexistence and against tensions in Israel between Jews and Arabs.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israeli Arabs, Jews not giving up on coexistence

The United Arab Emirates has now vaccinated 84.66 percent of its eligible population (over the age of 16) and 95.27 percent of its population over the age of 60, against COVID-19, the country’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) reported on Tuesday.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.The country’s vaccination program has been gaining speed lately, with more than 13.3 million doses already administered. According to COVID-19 data from Reuters, an average of about 78,733 vaccine doses are administered each day. If the country continues to vaccinate at this rate, it would take health authorities a further 25 days to vaccinate another 10 percent of the population against the virus.Last Tuesday, NCEMA reported that 81 percent of the population were inoculated, meaning that within the last week the UAE managed to vaccinate more than three percent of its eligible population, a significant undertaking to achieve within a week’s time.In the last 24 hours alone, the UAE administered 63,984 vaccine shots.The country also recently announced the approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab for adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 and that those who took the Sinopharm vaccine would be able to take a Pfizer shot as a booster, meaning that the UAE’s vaccination figures are expected to rise soon.Following the announcement of the country’s vaccination figures, NCEMA stressed that attending events or exhibits are only limited to inoculated individuals and clinical trial participants.“We stress again that vaccinations does not prevent infection but reduces the symptoms and complication,” NCEMA stated, adding that adhering to precautionary and preventative measure was still necessary.The country recorded 2,205 new cases on Tuesday, indicating a slight rise in the number of daily infections, as well as 2,168 recoveries and two deaths. “The health sector is at the core of the UAE’s priorities, with a focus on establishing state-of-the-art hospitals and the provision of advanced medical equipment and qualified medical staff,” NCEMA tweeted on Tuesday.“Specialized hospitals play a major role in saving lives and maintaining the health and safety of our community.”Ten specialized hospitals were established in the UAE throughout the COVID-19 pandemic which brought in teams of qualified medical professionals and over 1,500 coronavirus-related specialists and had the capacity of almost 3,800 beds, NCEMA added.Read more:Pfizer vaccine ‘completely safe’ for UAE residents who got Sinopharm shot: ExpertsPfizer to test COVID-19 vaccine in larger group of children under age 12Vaccinated people in UAE can now enjoy quarantine-free travel to Spain: Statement
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE vaccinates 95 pct of over 60s, 84 pct of eligible population over 16

Iraq’s justice system freed a commander of the state-affiliated Popular Mobilization Unit (PMU) paramilitary militia coalition on Wednesday, two weeks after he was arrested over the murder of a pro-democracy activist.Qasim Muslih was arrested by police intelligence on suspicion of ordering the May 9 killing of Ihab al-Wazni, who was shot dead by men on motorbikes using a silencer.The paramilitary leader was welcomed by pro-Iran PMU (Hashed-al-Shaabi) colleagues in the Shia holy city of Karbala following his release, AFP journalists said.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“The judges have served justice, they have ended their investigation, terminating it with my release,” Muslih said.But an official government source decried the decision to release Muslih.“The government presented all available evidence, but the judges have decided to release him because of pressure exerted on them,” said the source, who wished to remain anonymous.In the wake of Muslih’s arrest, security forces had barred entry to Baghdad’s high-security Green Zone – home to the US embassy, parliament and the premier’s office – after the Hashed quickly deployed armed men and armored vehicles in a show of force.Muslih is also suspected of ordering the assassination of another activist, Fahim al-Taie, in December 2019.“Telephone communications on the topic of these assassinations between Muslih and the direct perpetrators, threats to relatives, witness testimony, explanations received under questioning – all (these things) were supplied” to the judges, the government source added.The evidence implicated Muslih in the assassination of both Wazni and Taie, the source said.In the same city where supporters of Wazni had last month gathered around his coffin shouting “Iran out!”, Muslih was Wednesday greeted as a hero.“Qassem has returned victorious!” proclaimed banners brandished by supporters who threw sweets in the air.“This is one more victory for the Hashed against those who target it here and abroad,” said Saad al-Saadi, a Hashed official in Karbala.Pro-democracy activists are often portrayed as foreign stooges by Iraq’s powerful pro-Iran factions.Read more:Iraq arrests commander in Iran-backed PMU over activist’s murder: Security sourceUK ‘steadfast’ in support of Saudi against Iran-backed terror: Foreign SecretarySenior Iraqi intelligence officer killed in Baghdad: Sources
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iraq frees pro-Iran PMU commander Qasim Muslih arrested over activist murder