Middle East Experience

Rivlin entreated the public to vote "for our children, grandchildren, future generations and for ourselves. Together we can achieve a victory for Israel's democracy."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Rivlin calls voting for Knesset Holy of Holy of Israel's Democracy

Gantz followed up by personally addressing the hit, saying "It's bull****. Every vote is important. it is critical to vote for Blue and White, so that we can pass the electoral threshold.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Gantz: Lapid is irresponsible, spreading fake news

The United States and Iraq will have another round of Strategic Dialogue next month, the White House said Tuesday, just hours after it was reported that Baghdad requested talks to discuss US troop withdrawals.“We look forward to renewing our Strategic Dialogue with the Government of Iraq over the month of April,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Iraqi officials reportedly delivered a letter to US Ambassador to Iraq Matthew Tueller outlining their request to specifically discuss the withdrawal of US troops that are still present in Iraq.US troops were deployed to Iraq at the Iraqi government's request years ago to help with the fight against Daesh (ISIS).But as tensions increased between Washington and Tehran, Iran-backed lawmakers in Iraq requested the immediate withdrawal of US troops.“The meetings will further clarify that coalition forces are in Iraq solely for the purpose of training and advising Iraqi forces to ensure that ISIS cannot reconstitute,” Psaki said on Tuesday, without directly responding to reports of Baghdad’s request.The first Strategic Dialogue took place under former President Donald Trump to boost and clarify Baghdad and Washington's bilateral ties.April’s talks will be the first under the Biden administration. “This will be an important opportunity to discuss our mutual interests across a range of fields from security to culture, trade, and climate,” Psaki said.She added: “The United States is committed first and foremost to Iraq’s sovereignty, and we look forward to these important discussions with Iraqi leaders on the future of our partnership as outlined in the Strategic Framework Agreement between our two countries.”
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US to hold talks with Iraq next month as Baghdad requests to discuss troop withdrawal

A Kurdish civilian was tortured and killed after he was kidnapped by an armed opposition faction in north Syria, days after the United Nations condemned the detention of civilians in Syria.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Why is opposition arresting Kurds in northeast Syria?

The United Arab Emirates finance minister and the deputy ruler of the emirate of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al-Maktoum, has died, Dubai’s ruler said on Twitter on Wednesday.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Sheikh Hamdan, aged 75, was the brother of the current ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum. Finance minister since 1971, he had been unwell for some months and had surgery abroad in October.“Funeral prayers will be restricted to family members due to the (COVID) pandemic,” Dubai Media Office tweeted.Dubai announced 10 days of mourning with flags to be flown at half-mast as of Wednesday and a closure of government institutions in the emirate for three days as of Thursday.In 2008, Dubai’s ruler established the line of succession in the emirate by naming his son Hamdan, 38, as crown prince. His other son Sheikh Maktoum is also a deputy ruler of Dubai.The emirate, part of the UAE federation, is the Middle East’s business, trade, and tourism hub.Read more:Dubai’s ruler announces restructuring of emirate’s government to boost efficiencyUAE requires PCR test every two weeks for some employees not vaccinated against COVID
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Dubai deputy ruler, UAE finance minister Sheikh Hamdan dies at age 75

The blockage of the Suez Canal by a giant container vessel is likely to send a ripple of disruption through the global energy supply chain.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.European and US refiners that rely on the vital waterway for cargoes of Mideast oil may be forced to look for replacement supplies should the blockage persist, potentially boosting prices of alternative grades. At the same time, flows of crude from North Sea fields destined for Asia will be held up.The world’s busiest maritime trade route has been thrown into turmoil after the container ship ran aground on Tuesday, blocking traffic in both directions. While the vessel is only likely to remain stuck for a couple of days, that’ll be long enough to scramble some energy flows, creating an extra headache for refiners, traders and producers already coping with the pandemic’s fallout.“There are plenty of alternative trades for European importers to avoid the Suez Canal,” said Ralph Leszczynski, head of research at shipbroker Banchero Costa & Co.Buyers in Europe and the US may now look to other regions, including the US Gulf, North Sea, Russia and West Africa, according to shipbrokers. Varieties including Mars Blend from the US Gulf, Urals from Russia, and even Asian and Russian Far East grades are likely to get a boost as a result of any increased demand, an analyst and one of the shipbrokers said.The logistical challenge comes at a volatile time. Global benchmark Brent sank about 6 percent on Tuesday on concern near-term demand may prove weaker than expected amid renewed lockdowns. On Wednesday prices fluctuated, with at least 100 vessels waiting to transit between the Red Sea and Mediterranean.The canal is a crucial route for energy flows. For oil, it is mainly used to transport Middle Eastern crude to Europe and the US, as well as shipping fuel oil from the west to the east. The canal can take fully-laden Suezmax vessels that carry about 1 million barrels and bigger Very Large Crude Carriers, as long as they transfer some cargo out of the vessel before transiting.Read more:Massive container ship blocks Egypt’s Suez CanalWorld’s most venomous spiders could swarm Sydney, experts warn of deadly ‘plague’Egypt’s Suez Canal annual revenues decline 3 percent in 2020 to $5.61 bln
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Suez Canal blockage by giant vessel likely to disrupt global energy supply chain

The United Arab Emirates’ National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) announced Tuesday that the Al Hosn App, the country’s official application for COVID-19 testing, has been updated to act as the national e-register for vaccinations.NCEMA’s announcement on Twitter stated that the app would contain “all vaccine-related data” which will be provided by various vaccination centers from across the country.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Al Hosn App, which previously only comprised of data relating to testing, will now have official documents proving vaccination. This will enable users to have pdf files of their coronavirus test results to print whenever needed, and also provide the original documentation proving that they have indeed been vaccinated.“Since the beginning of the global announcement of new strains, the UAE has been a pioneer in following up the changes and developments, and a national team has been formed to track variant strains in cooperation with all health authorities,” read the circular on Twitter.The UAE has so far administered over 7.4 million vaccine doses, 103,156 of which were administered on Tuesday, NCEMA reported.Read more:UAE requires PCR test every two weeks for some employees not vaccinated against COVIDUAE may ‘soon’ be first country to vaccinate all population, reach herd immunity: DocDubai Health Authority expands eligibility criteria for COVID-19 vaccinations
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE’s Al Hosn App updated to become official national COVID-19 vaccine registry

Members states of the United Nations agreed on Friday to a political declaration aimed at providing equitable access to the coronavirus vaccines across the world.The “Political Declaration on Equitable Global Access to COVID-19 Vaccines” was initiated by Lebanon’s Ambassador to the UN, Amal Mudallali, and garnered the support of more than 180 member states.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.“No one is safe until everyone is safe,” was a motto repeatedly heard during the meeting held in New York on Friday.The initiative aimed to raise awareness of the need to work together to defeat the pandemic while raising awareness of the low availability of vaccines to low and middle-income countries.“In this regard, we welcome the efforts of countries which have donated COVID19 vaccines and actively encourage further sharing of vaccine doses from all countries in a position to do so, to low- and middle-income countries and other countries in need, particularly through COVAX, including on the basis of the WHO allocation framework, for fair access and equitable allocation of COVID-19 health products,” the declaration read.Lebanon’s envoy to the UN also secured the support of the P5 members, which includes the United States, United Kingdom, France, China and Russia.While the supporting members of the declaration praised the scientific community and research that led to the production of several vaccines in record time, they urged countries to work together with a “deeper sense of collaboration.”And despite initiatives and international agreements, there is an “uneven” distribution of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide. The declaration pledges to treat vaccination efforts as a “global public good” by ensuring equitable access to vaccines for all, “with COVAX being the appropriate mechanism to guarantee it.”COVAX, an acronym for a global initiative to ensure vaccine access, is led by UNICEF, the World Health Organization and others.The declaration acknowledged the initiatives undertaken by the G20 since the outbreak of the coronavirus, and it encouraged more collaboration with the UN and the international community to “upscale support and funding for vaccine production and distribution.”G7 countries were also called upon to highlight vaccine equity and accessibility during the upcoming summit in June.Stockpiling vaccines was condemned in the declaration, and member states were implored to up their support for COVAX contracts with vaccine producers rather than strictly look at bilateral contracts between nations.Apart from vaccine production, the declaration also appealed for the implementation of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ call for a global ceasefire to facilitate vaccination processes.Lebanon was singled out and thanked by the countries who spoke during the meeting in New York.“We pledge continued collaboration to ensure global coordination for equitable and timely allocation of COVID-19 vaccines. The time to go beyond rhetoric is now. The forum to promote cooperation is the United Nations,” the declaration read.Read more: Yemen’s coronavirus committee declares public health ‘state of emergency’Everything you need to know about the coronavirus right now*This article has been updated to clarify that Lebanon initiated and led negotiations on the declaration. It was drafted by 19 countries.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UN member states issue declaration to battle unfair access to COVID-19 vaccines

Some countries have suspended the British-Swedish vaccine due to its association with blood clots, though the European Union still recommends its use. The KRG previously received a small amount of Chinese vaccine doses.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq receives AstraZeneca vaccine

Tribal sheikhs in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor, some of whom are said to have been previously associated with the Islamic State in the province, attended a caucus in support of President Bashar al-Assad for the upcoming presidential elections.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Tribes in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor back Assad in upcoming elections