Middle East Experience

Damascus, Ankara and Moscow turn up the heat on US-backed group; UN Syria envoy says, "We can’t continue like this."
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Syrian Kurds hoping for lifeline from Biden administration

Thousands of farmers across India blocked roads on Saturday with makeshift tents, tractors, trucks and boulders to pressure the government to roll back agricultural reforms that have triggered months-long protests.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.While the initial protests were started by rice and wheat growers from northern Indian who camped out on the outskirts of New Delhi, support for them has been growing especially in states not ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party.The federal government has offered concessions to the farmers but refuses to repeal three laws passed last year that it says are crucial to bring new investment to the sector, which accounts for nearly 15 percent of India’s $2.9 trillion economy and about half its workforce.But farmers fear the reforms will leave them at the mercy of big corporate buyers, gradually ending the current practice of assured government purchases mainly for grain such as wheat and rice.Saturday’s three-hour “chakka jam”, or road blockade, started around noon except in New Delhi and a couple of neighboring states.“Today, the support of the whole society is with farmers,” Yogendra Yadav, a political activist who is one of the leaders of the farmers’ movement, said on Twitter. “Victory is certain.”On a highway near the capital, some farmers smoked hookah as songs played on a loudspeaker.Farmers squatted on the road in the eastern state of Odisha and Karnataka in the south with flags and banners protesting against the laws, with some carrying placards urging the government not to treat them as enemies.Read more:US calls for talks to resolve India’s farmers’ protests, backs the new farm lawsIndian farmers back at protest camp, tensions rise amid Republic Day aftermathProtesting Indian farmers to ride tractors into capital after Republic Day parade
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Thousands of Indian farmers block roads with tents, tractors amid nationwide protests

Abu Dhabi government employees will be required to undergo a weekly COVID-19 test as authorities reduce office attendance to 30 percent capacity, the capital’s media office announced on Saturday.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.“The Department of Government Support has approved reducing attendance at the workplace in Abu Dhabi government and semi-government entities to 30 per cent, to bolster precautionary measures implemented in the emirate and protect the health of employees and their families,” the media office said in a Twitter thread.Those who are volunteers in the country’s vaccine trials or anyone who has already been vaccinated and “have active icons (gold stars or letter E)” on the government’s COVID-19 app Alhosn are exempt from the weekly PCR test.Meanwhile, remote work has been approved for all employees that can fully complete their job tasks remotely, those who are 60 years or older, employees with chronic diseases or a weak immunity, and people of determination.Rules to enter Abu DhabiThe emirate updated entry rules last month which went into effect on February 1.The Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee announced that UAE citizens and residents in the country will be granted entry within 48 hours of receiving a negative PCR test result. A mandatory PCR test must be taken on the fourth day of entry for those who stay for four days or more, and on the eighth day for those staying eight days or more.A negative test result from a laser DPI test can be used to enter the UAE's capital within 24 hours of taking the test. However, a mandatory PCR test is still required on the third day of entry for those who stay for 48 hours or more, and on the seventh day for those staying seven days or more.Read more:UAE approves Sinopharm vaccine for use after trials show 86 pct efficacy'Stop the spread of Germans' image a fake, says Abu Dhabi health authorityAbu Dhabi updates rules on entering the emirate
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Abu Dhabi requires weekly COVID-19 tests for government employees, reduces attendance

The UAE has recorded 3,276 new COVID-19 cases, 4,041 recoveries and 12 deaths, state news agency WAM reported on Saturday.WAM reported that 150,706 COVID-19 tests were also conducted in the past 24 hours.To date, the UAE has recorded 323,402 cases, 301,081 recoveries and 914 deaths.Dubai received its first shipment of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday, making it the third COVID-19 vaccine approved and offered by the UAE in its nationwide inoculation drive.The vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, was manufactured in, and shipped to the UAE from India.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The UAE’s vaccination program is well underway, with more than four million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered across the country.The country has so far approved the Sputnik V, AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Sinopharm vaccines and the inoculation drive is currently operating from over 100 different sites across the UAE.Read more:Abu Dhabi requires weekly COVID-19 tests for government employees, reduces attendanceDubai receives first AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine shipment Coronavirus: UAE vaccinates over 3 mln people as infections surge rapidly
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE records 3,276 new COVID-19 cases, 4,041 recoveries and 12 deaths

The Syrian Salvation Government in Idlib issued a decision to shut down all weapons stores in the areas under its control as a result of accidental shootings and explosions taking place inside these stores.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Hayat Tahrir al-Sham shuts down arms stores across Idlib

Saudi Arabia sees an increase in COVID-19 cases with 386 new infections confirmed over the past 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health, raising the total to 369,961.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Of the new cases, 154 were detected in the capital Riyadh, 110 in the Eastern region and 54 in Mecca.The death toll reached 6,397 after four people died due to coronavirus complications in the past day.Meanwhile, 283 individuals who had previously tested positive for the virus recovered, taking the total recoveries to 361,237.In January, the Kingdom’s Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq al-Rabiah warned of an increase in new infection due to the lack of compliance with preventative measures. In February, authorities reimposed restrictions to help contain the spike and avoid a second wave.Read more:New rules, penalties for restaurants and cafes in Saudi ArabiaCOVID-19 rules in Saudi Arabia: Events, weddings canceled and cinemas, gyms closed
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia's daily COVID-19 cases spike with 386 new infections

Around a hundred activists rallied in downtown Beirut on Saturday to protest the killing of prominent Hezbollah critic Lokman Slim and to demand a transparent investigation.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Slim, a Shia publisher in his late fifties, ran a research center, made documentaries with his wife and led efforts to build an archive on Lebanon’s 1975-1990 sectarian civil war.He was a vocal critic of what he described as armed group Hezbollah’s intimidation tactics and attempts to monopolize Lebanese politics.He was shot dead and found in his car on Thursday in south Lebanon - the first killing of a high-profile activist in years.Slim had gone missing the night before. He had four bullets in his head and one in his back.On Saturday morning Slim’s wife, Monika Borgmann, tweeted for the first time since his death, sharing a two-word banner with a black background that said “zero fear” in Arabic.The same two words appeared on a banner at the protest where activists blamed the Iranian-backed Hezbollah for the killing.“If Hezbollah is really innocent of this crime or refuses it and condemns it, then they have to help the security apparatus and Lebanese judicial authorities especially that Lokman Slim was killed in their area of security influence,” said one of the protesters, Youssef Diab.“If that doesn’t happen then they are still suspects.”Hezbollah condemned the killing on Thursday, which Lebanese officials, including the president, called an assassination.“We will not kill him again with our silence,” said one demonstrator who gave her name as Nelly. “My one fear is that people will be scared and remain silent, then Lebanon will be in danger.”Read more:Lebanese activist, Hezbollah critic Lokman Slim found shot to death in his carLokman Slim ‘may have been tortured’ before he was assassinated: FamilyLokman Slim's assassination adds to a series of recent murders in Lebanon
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Lebanon activists demand transparent investigation into Lokman Slim killing

Protesters were seen carrying signs reading "Mr. Netanyahu, talks a lot but does little," and "the government is abandoning its citizens - our blood is not red enough."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Thousands in Tamra protest over violence in Arab sector, Route 70 blocked

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince receives phone call from Pakistan Prime Minister..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Sheikh Mohamed, Imran Khan discuss UAE-Pakistan ties

Two more people who belong to Daesh (ISIS) were arrested in the town of Arsal, the Lebanese Army said in a statement Saturday..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Army arrests two more Daesh members in Arsal