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Gulf Scientists to Study COVID-19 Genetic Sequence

GCC health ministers during their meeting on Thursday (Asharq Al-Awsat)
GCC health ministers during their meeting on Thursday (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Gulf Scientists to Study COVID-19 Genetic Sequence

GCC health ministers during their meeting on Thursday (Asharq Al-Awsat)
GCC health ministers during their meeting on Thursday (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Gulf Cooperation Council formed a team of virologists to carry out a study on the genetic sequence of the coronavirus that is present in GCC countries, where the number of cases has reached nearly 1.3 million.

The GCC also agreed to ensure that citizens are treated for free and to emphasize the importance of exchange of information among member states regarding new strains and the effectiveness of PCR tests to diagnose COVID-19 mutations.

The GCC health ministers convened in a video conference on Thursday in their fourth extraordinary meeting chaired by Faeqa Al-Saleh, Bahrain’s Minister of Health and President of the current session, with the participation of GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf, to discuss the latest developments regarding the pandemic.

The ministers underlined the importance to maintain internal strategies to provide vaccines to citizens and residents in order to curb the spread of the virus.

The ministers also praised the efforts of the General Secretariat and the GCC Health Council, which are aimed at promoting joint action to immunize society and ensure that citizens and residents are vaccinated.

During the summit held in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla in January, GCC leaders adopted an emergency preparedness and response plan, a guide for early detection and the establishment of the Gulf Center for Disease Prevention and Control.

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Gulf

Saudi Arabia Condemns Drone Attacks on Kuwait Launched from Iraq

A view of Kuwait City, Kuwait. (KUNA)
A view of Kuwait City, Kuwait. (KUNA)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Drone Attacks on Kuwait Launched from Iraq

A view of Kuwait City, Kuwait. (KUNA)
A view of Kuwait City, Kuwait. (KUNA)

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Friday the drone attacks against Kuwait that were launched from Iraq.

A Foreign Ministry statement underlined the Kingdom’s “categorical rejection of the violation of the sovereignty of nations and attempts to threaten the security and stability of the region.”

It reiterated importance of the Iraqi government “acting responsibly towards those threats against the Gulf countries.”

Saudi Arabia expressed its solidarity with Kuwait’s government and people and support for all measures the country takes in protecting its sovereignty, stability and security.

Kuwait's army said two drones launched from Iraq ‌targeted two ‌northern border ‌posts ⁠on Friday, causing damage. ⁠It added there were no casualties.

Iraq's prime minister ⁠ordered an investigative ‌committee ‌to examine the ‌attack and ‌identify those responsible, Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari ‌said, adding Iraq condemned the attack ⁠in ⁠a call with his Kuwaiti counterpart.

Kuwait had on Wednesday summoned the Iraqi envoy to the country to protest attacks against it by Iraqi armed factions.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi strongly condemned the “treacherous attacks” on Kuwait.

“The continuation of these brutal attacks from Iraq is a flagrant violation of the principles of good neighborliness and all international laws and norms,” he said.

He expressed the GCC's “full solidarity with Kuwait, affirming absolute support for all measures it takes to safeguard its sovereignty, security and stability.”

The Muslim World League (MWL) strongly condemned the drone attacks.

In a statement, Secretary-General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa “reiterated condemnation of these criminal attacks, which violate the sovereignty of countries in the region and threaten their security and stability.”

He expressed his full solidarity with Kuwait, its leadership, government and people, in all measures taken to safeguard its security, sovereignty and the safety of citizens and residents.

Gulf

Mohammed bin Salman, Zelenskyy Meet in Jeddah

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in Jeddah on Friday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in Jeddah on Friday. (SPA)
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Mohammed bin Salman, Zelenskyy Meet in Jeddah

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in Jeddah on Friday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in Jeddah on Friday. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received in Jeddah on Friday Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

Zelenskyy had arrived in the Kingdom earlier on Friday. He was welcomed by Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz and other senior officials upon his arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport. 

Separately, Crown Prince Mohammed received a written message from Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis on bilateral ties between their countries. 

Gulf

Kuwait Announces New Attack Launched from Iraq

File photo of smoke rising from a building in Kuwait following recent Iranian attacks (AFP)
File photo of smoke rising from a building in Kuwait following recent Iranian attacks (AFP)
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Kuwait Announces New Attack Launched from Iraq

File photo of smoke rising from a building in Kuwait following recent Iranian attacks (AFP)
File photo of smoke rising from a building in Kuwait following recent Iranian attacks (AFP)

Kuwait said a new attack targeted its territory from Iraq, in a repeat of similar incidents reported in recent weeks during the Iran war.

The official spokesman of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense, Colonel Staff Saud Abdulaziz Al-Atwan, said in Statement No. 60 that two sites belonging to Kuwait’s northern land border posts were targeted this morning in a “criminal act of aggression involving two explosive-laden drones guided by fibre-optic cables, originating from the Republic of Iraq,” resulting in material damage without any human casualties.

The statement added that the Ministry of Defense confirms the competent authorities immediately began taking the necessary measures to deal with the incident.

No immediate Iraqi comment was issued regarding the Kuwaiti announcement, noting that Kuwait and several Gulf states have complained in recent weeks of attacks launched from Iraqi territory.

On April 14, the Saudi Cabinet stressed its categorical rejection of violations of state sovereignty and attempts to threaten regional security and stability, reiterating its strongest condemnation of blatant attacks targeting the country and Gulf states using drones launched from Iraqi territory, and underscoring the importance of the Iraqi government acting responsibly in addressing these threats.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs also summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Iraqi embassy in the country, Omar Al-Obaidi, handing him a strongly worded protest note expressing condemnation and denunciation of terrorist attacks launched from Iraqi territory targeting vital facilities in Gulf Cooperation Council states, despite the announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and the United States.

In the note, delivered by the Director of the Arab Affairs Department at the ministry, Ahmed Al-Marashda, the UAE affirmed its absolute rejection of these attacks, stating they were carried out by armed factions and groups loyal to Iran, constituting a violation of the sovereignty and airspace of the targeted states and a clear breach of international law and the United Nations Charter.