UAE

Iran reports 258 coronavirus deaths, highest daily toll since Dec

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran reported 258 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said on Sunday, the highest daily toll since early December.

That brings the total number of fatalities from the coronavirus to 64,490 in Iran, the worst-hit country in the Middle East.

Health ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari told state TV that 21,063 new cases were identified in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of identified cases since the pandemic began to 2,070,141.

Iran frees South Korean ship it held amid dispute over funds

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A South Korean oil tanker held for months by Iran amid a dispute over billions of dollars held in Seoul was freed and sailed away early Friday, just hours ahead of further talks between Tehran and world powers over its tattered nuclear deal.

MarineTraffic.com data showed the MT Hankuk Chemi leaving Bandar Abbas in the early morning hours.

Iran arrests 'Israeli spy', others in touch with foreign intelligence: Iranian media

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran has arrested an “Israeli spy” and a number of other people who were in contact with foreign intelligence services, Iranian state media reported on Monday, without giving the nationality of those arrested.

“An Israeli spy has been arrested in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province ... also other spies who were in contact with several countries’ intelligence services have been arrested as well,” it quoted an Intelligence Ministry official as saying.

Israeli officials did not immediately comment on the report.

Expats struggle to get vaccines in Kuwait, citizens come 1st

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — In the tiny, oil-rich sheikhdom of Kuwait, the foreigners who power the country’s economy, serve its society and make up 70% of its population are struggling to get coronavirus vaccines.

Unlike other Gulf Arab states that have administered doses to masses of foreign workers in a race to reach herd immunity, Kuwait has come under fire for vaccinating its own people first.

UAE 'arrests Sudanese official'

01 Apr 2021; MEMO: Sudanese sources said on Wednesday that the UAE authorities have detained the head of Sudan's National Border Commission, Arabi21 has reported. Dr Moaz Tango is also a member of Sudan's delegation of negotiators and he was in the Emirates to participate in official talks in Abu Dhabi, which mediates between Sudan and Ethiopia on border issues.

Expat remittances from UAE drop by 3.9% in 2020

29 Mar 2021; MEMO: Outward personal remittances by expats in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have decreased by 3.9 per cent in 2020 compared with 2019, according to Central Bank of the UAE data.

The bank's quarterly report showed that outward personal remittances by expats have decreased from Dh165.2 billion ($45 billion) in 2019 to Dh158.8 billion ($43.2 billion) in 2020.

Saudi-led coalition destroys Houthi rigged boats, drones - state media

DUBAI (Reuters) - The Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen’s Houthi forces has destroyed two explosive-laden boats that the Iran-aligned group planned to use in an “imminent” attack launched from the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, Saudi state media reported on Sunday.

The coalition in separate statements also said it intercepted and destroyed three armed drones launched towards southern Saudi Arabia, including the city of Khamis Mushait.

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