Middle East Experience

Trade and transportation could resume between Qatar and boycotting countries within a week, the United Arab Emirates’ minister of state for foreign affairs said on Thursday.Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies agreed on Tuesday to restore ties with Qatar, ending a boycott imposed in 2017 over allegations that Doha supported terrorism and was cozying up to Iran, which it denied. Tuesday’s deal has US backing.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“Measures to be implemented within a week of the agreement include practical measures of airlines, shipping and trade,” the UAE minister, Anwar Gargash, told reporters.However, other issues such as restoring full diplomatic relations and the Turkish presence in the Gulf would take longer, the official said. “Some issues are easier to fix and some others will take a longer time.”In 2017 Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt had set Doha 13 conditions to end the boycott, including closing al Jazeera TV, shuttering a Turkish military base, cutting links to the Muslim Brotherhood and downgrading ties with Iran.Qatar said the embargo had aimed to curb its sovereignty.“We have a very good start with (Tuesday’s) agreement... but we have issues with rebuilding trust,” said Gargash.“There will be bilateral working groups to move forward on other issues,” he added.Read more:Qatar economy to grow 3 pct in 2021 on resolution of Gulf dispute: Standard CharteredReconciliation with QatarQatar welcomes AlUla declaration amid GCC summit: SPA
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE says transport to, trade with Qatar may resume within a week

A group of former parliament members is reorganizing within Egypt’s opposition parties, but it remains unclear whether their efforts can threaten Sisi's grip on power, given the popularity of the Egyptian president and the very thin margin left for the political parties to communicate with the public.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt's former MPs coming back to political stage with big dreams

Although the road to sustainable economic recovery is teeming with several obstacles at this critical time, the new Yemeni Cabinet that recently arrived in Aden asserts that it will overcome all hurdles and deal with this challenging situation.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Will Yemen's new Cabinet revive economy?

Saudi Arabia has reported 108 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, raising the total to 363,485, the Ministry of Health announced on Thursday.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Of the new cases, 48 were detected in the city of Riyadh, 24 in Mecca and only three in Medina.The death rate remains low with six new fatalities, raising the death toll to 6,278. Meanwhile, the number of recoveries increased to 355,037 after 138 individuals who had previously tested positive recovered.As authorities see a 98 percent drop in new daily confirmed cases, a total of 137,862 individuals in the Kingdom have been vaccinated as of January 7, according to the health ministry spokesman. Dr. Mohammed al-Abd al-Ali also said that more than one million people have signed up to receive the vaccine since authorities launched the campaign in December.Earlier in the day, the Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq al-Rabiah announced the launch of the online “Health Passport” for those who completed the two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.The passport will help authorities identify those who received the vaccine.Read more:Saudi Arabia launches ‘Health Passport’ for vaccine recipientsFour dead, 52 arrested after violent protests by Trump supporters at US CapitolSaudi Arabia’s Hajj, Umrah minister advises pilgrims to get vaccinated
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia sees 98 pct drop in new COVID-19 cases, 137,862 vaccinated

Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi has not commented publicly about speaking with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, nor on the French-Egyptian initiative for a mini international peace conference.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel quiet as Egypt advances talks with Palestinians

The UAE reported 2,988 coronavirus cases on Thursday, the highest daily rise since the start of the pandemic.This brings the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 221,754.Visit our dedicated coronavirus site here for all the latest updates.Cases in the UAE have been on the rise in recent weeks.Five people died on Thursday due to complications caused by the coronavirus, which brings the virus-related death toll in the UAE to 694.Meanwhile, 3,658 people recovered from the disease, according to the ministry. The total number of recoveries in the country is now 199,178.Despite the rise of infections, Dubai on Tuesday announced it would be reducing the isolation period for a few coronavirus patients and those who came into close contact with infected individuals to 10 days from the previous 14 day period.The Dubai Health Authority said the decision to shorten the self-isolation period was based on global research showing that the majority of contact cases get infected within the first 10 days from last exposure.Read more:Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia detects ten new COVID-19 variant infectionsCoronavirus: Saudi Arabia sees 98 pct drop in new COVID-19 cases, 137,862 vaccinatedCoronavirus: WHO Europe urges safe flexibility on timing between vaccine doses
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE reports 2,988 coronavirus cases, highest daily infections since outbreak

Saudi Arabia has detected ten infections of the new coronavirus variant, Official Spokesman of the Saudi Arabia’s Health Ministry said on Thursday.Saudi Arabia’s Health Ministry added that the spread was "limited", all active cases have been isolated."27 other individuals who came in contact with the ten positive individuals have been tested and their results were negative," the Health Spokesman added.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Saudi Arabia has reported 108 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, raising the total to 363,485, the Ministry of Health announced on Thursday.Of the new cases, 48 were detected in the city of Riyadh, 24 in Mecca and only three in Medina.The death rate remains low with six new fatalities, raising the death toll to 6,278. Meanwhile, the number of recoveries increased to 355,037 after 138 individuals who had previously tested positive recovered.Earlier in the day, the Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq al-Rabiah announced the launch of the online “Health Passport” for those who completed the two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.The passport will help authorities identify those who received the vaccine.Read more:Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia detects ten new COVID-19 variant infectionsUAE reports 2,988 coronavirus cases, highest daily infections since outbreakCoronavirus: Saudi Arabia sees 98 pct drop in new COVID-19 cases, 137,862 vaccinated
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia detects ten new COVID-19 variant infections

Leaders across the region responded with alarm to the violence that unfolded at the US Capitol.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Middle East allies, adversaries condemn 'disgrace' at US Capitol

Close to 22 million Covid-19 tests have been carried out in the UAE so far..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE reports 2,988 Covid-19 cases, 3,658 recoveries

Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai Thursday resumed his mediation attempts aimed at accelerating the formation of a new government desperately needed to rescue the country from multiple crises by seeking to arrange a meeting between President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, an official source said..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Rai seeking to arrange Aoun-Hariri meeting to break Cabinet deadlock