Middle East Experience

We owe it to our country and our people, the Dubai Ruler explained..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Video: We will never stop developing, says Sheikh Mohammed

Lebanon and the United Nations launched Friday the 2021 update of the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan 2017-2021..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon Crisis Response Plan appeals for .75B

Following outrage in Turkey and Iran, KRG authorities issued a….
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Pope stamp showing 'Greater Kurdistan' causes uproar in Iraq, Iran, and Turkey

The Iran-backed Houthis Friday rejected a US proposal for a ceasefire in Yemen, while the State Department slammed the group for blocking the flow of goods and money to civilians.Washington has been engaged in diplomatic efforts to reach a political solution to the yearslong war in Yemen, with the Biden administration taking an aggressive stance on Saudi Arabia since taking office.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.President Joe Biden appointed Tim Lenderking as his special envoy for Yemen. Lenderking returned from a three-week trip to the region recently, where he met with regional officials, including Houthi representatives.On Friday, he said the US had presented a proposal to the Houthis for a ceasefire “a number of days” ago.But the Houthis quickly rejected what they called the “US proposal.”A Houthi spokesman told a Yemen TV channel based in Beirut that there was no “real change” toward ending the war. “What has been referred to as the American proposal doesn’t include lifting the siege or a ceasefire,” the Houthi official claimed.Houthis block flow of money, goodsState Department Spokesman Ned Price slammed the Houthis for continuing to “impede” the flow of money and goods into Yemen.“Unfortunately, we know that the Houthis continue to impede that flow, including diverting money from imports that were intended for civil service salaries, in direct violation of their obligations under a UN-brokered agreement,” Price told reporters in a phone briefing.Fuel imports are being diverted by the Houthis and this “one of the many ways they are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis,” Price added.Read more: More work needed for Yemen ceasefire, Houthis must halt Saudi Arabia attacks: US
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Houthis reject US ceasefire proposal for Yemen after Lenderking returns to Washington

The US is communicating with Iran using “indirect diplomacy” methods, a senior White House official told reporters on Friday.“At the moment, there are communications through the Europeans and through others that enable us to explain to the Iranians what our position is with respect to the compliance-for-compliance approach and to hear what their position is,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Since becoming president, Joe Biden has repeatedly tried to get the Iranians to the table to discuss the now-defunct Iran nuclear deal. Iran has so far rejected the US offer for direct dialogue, mediated by the European Union.While the State Department has said it does not have “unlimited patience,” Sullivan said Friday: “We’re waiting at this point to hear further from the Iranians how they would like to proceed. But from our perspective, you know, this is not going to be easy.”He added: “We believe that we are in a diplomatic process now that we can move forward on and ultimately secure our objective, which is to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.”The JCPOA, an acronym for the 2015 nuclear deal, has been the center of focus between renewed efforts by the US to re-engage Iran after former President Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018.Last month, Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Washington’s readiness to sit down with the Iranians to discuss the deal signed under Barack Obama. The decision was reportedly announced after the EU extended the offer to Tehran.But Tehran is demanding that the US lift all economic sanctions before Iran comes back into full compliance with the JCPOA. Biden has, so far, stood firm in rejecting Iran’s demands.Read more: US, Israel discuss Iran threats during first strategic group meeting
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US communicating with Iran through ‘indirect diplomacy,’ White House says

The announcement comes a year after the Trump administration slashed $73 million in assistance over concerns the Houthis were diverting the aid.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: US restores aid to Houthi-held northern Yemen

Iran enjoys warm relations with the Latin American state and the two countries are also developing a coronavirus vaccine together.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iran receives COVID-19 vaccine from Cuba

France also sent naval assets for the first time since last year's joint exercises.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel, Cyprus, Greece conduct naval exercise amid tensions with Turkey

There have been no reports of severe complications linked to the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine in Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom’s Public Health Authority said after several European countries withdrew the dose over its alleged link to blood clots. For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.“We have not detected any side effects from the licensed vaccines in the Kingdom, other than the simple side effects, which were previously observed in clinical trials,” the Public Health Authority said in a statement on Saturday. Authorities withdrew the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in some countries in Europe as a “precautionary measure” while they investigate whether the dose is linked to blood clots, the authority added.There has been no evidence linking the vaccine with the complications reported so far, it said. “We assure you that some of these countries have returned to using it after it was proven safe,. We confirm that the vaccines in the Kingdom are safe and effective,” Ministry of Health spokesman Mohammed al-Abd al-Ali said in a tweet.Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Bulgaria temporarily suspended their usage of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine shots last week after reports of a number of cases of blood clots forming in people who were inoculated.However, the UK-based drug company on Friday issued a statement saying: “An analysis of our safety data of more than 10 million records has shown no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis in any defined age group, gender, batch or in any particular country.”“In fact, the observed number of these types of events are significantly lower in those vaccinated than would be expected among the general population,” the statement said.The World Health Organization (WHO) also insisted that there was no link between the vaccine and increased risk of blood clots. “Yes, we should continue using the AstraZeneca vaccine,” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told reporters on Friday, adding: “There is no indication to not use it.”Read more:Saudi health minister assures all COVID-19 vaccines administered in Kingdom safeOver 1.7 mln people received COVID-19 vaccine in Saudi Arabia: Health ministrySaudi Arabia expands national COVID-19 vaccination campaign
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: No severe side effects of AstraZeneca dose reported in Saudi Arabia: Health Authority

Jordan’s Minister of Health Nathir Obeidat resigned on Saturday after six coronavirus patients died in a government hospital when oxygen supplies were cut off for about an hour.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The oxygen system at the Salt General Hospital in the town of As-Sat near the capital Amman suffered an outage, according to Jordanian media reports.A state of panic erupted in the hospital following the incident, as family members of COVID-19 patients rushed to the facility to check on their sick relatives, local media reported.Police were stationed outside the hospital to prevent any chaos breaking out, the reports said.Jordan’s King Abdullah visited the hospital on Saturday. Jordan’s Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh ordered authorities to open an investigation immediately, the Jordan News Agency (Petra) said.The investigation will be transparent and comprehensive, and all its details will be made public, Petra cited the prime minister as saying.Al-Khasawneh requested the President of the Judicial Council to conduct an investigation through the Public Prosecution, and to issue the results of its investigations in an independent and clear manner to ensure the integrity and integrity of the investigations, according to Petra.Everyone who is responsible for the failure will bear the consequences in accordance with the provisions of the law, the prime minister said.Read more:Jordan ministers sacked for coronavirus rules breachJordan’s COVID-19 vaccine drive to speed up in coming weeks: Health minister
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Jordan’s health minister resigns after six patients die due to hospital oxygen outage