Iraq Receives 50,000 Sinopharm COVID-19 Vaccines From China
Iraqi medics arrive in Baghdad. (File photo: AFP)
Iraq on Tuesday received 50,000 Sinopharm vaccines donated by China, the health ministry announced, launching a long-awaited vaccination campaign.
Health ministry spokesman Seif al-Badr told reporters that the first delivery in the early hours meant inoculations could begin.
"The doses will be delivered to Baghdad's three main hospitals, and maybe to some provinces," said Badr, who confirmed the jabs were donations.
"We will start vaccinations today, Tuesday," he said, AFP reported.
The health ministry simultaneously announced it had agreed with the Chinese ambassador in Baghdad to purchase another two million doses, with no details on payment or timing.
Sinopharm affiliate Wuhan Institute Of Biological Products says its vaccine has an efficacy rate of 72.51 percent, behind rival jabs by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, which have 95 percent and 94.5 percent rates respectively.
Hours earlier, on Monday afternoon, the health ministry launched an online platform for citizens to register for vaccinations, but it had not said the campaign would begin the next day and the page was not functional on Tuesday.
It has said health workers, security forces and the elderly would be prioritized and that the vaccine would be administered free of charge, but has given few other details.
The first jabs arrived as the Iraqi government faces growing criticism of its handling of the pandemic.
The country has been hit by a second wave of Covid-19 infections, with more than 3,000 new cases reported daily, a few months after they had dropped to around 700 a day, and deaths also tripling to around 25 a day in recent weeks.
To stop the spread, Iraq has imposed overnight curfews during weekdays and full lockdowns on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with obligatory mask-wearing in public.
But there is little commitment by either the public or security forces deployed to enforce the measures, in a country whose health sector has been ravaged by decades of war, corruption and slim investment.
Some Iraqi officials have already been vaccinated.
Two current and one former Iraqi official told AFP in January they had already received doses of "the Chinese vaccine".
They said 1,000 vaccine doses had been gifted to a senior Iraqi politician through contacts in China and had been distributed to top politicians and government officials.
Al-Zouba Leads Yemeni Efforts to Link Relief With Sustainable Developmenthttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5291689-al-zouba-leads-yemeni-efforts-link-relief-sustainable-development
Yemeni Planning and International Cooperation Minister Afrah al-Zouba meets representatives of international organizations partnering with Yemen to discuss strengthening development cooperation (Saba).
Al-Zouba Leads Yemeni Efforts to Link Relief With Sustainable Development
Yemeni Planning and International Cooperation Minister Afrah al-Zouba meets representatives of international organizations partnering with Yemen to discuss strengthening development cooperation (Saba).
The Yemeni government has intensified its diplomatic and development efforts in Germany through a series of meetings held by Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Afrah al-Zouba with international organizations, partner organizations, and the World Food Programme (WFP), aimed at strengthening cooperation and mobilizing support for Yemen's economic recovery and sustainable development.
The meetings took place on the sidelines of the Hamburg Sustainability Conference 2026, where al-Zouba met representatives of Vision Hope, CARE, Save the Children, and Oxfam to discuss ways to improve the implementation of humanitarian and development projects and overcome challenges facing various sectors, with the goal of improving project implementation and maximizing their impact on target communities.
During the meetings, al-Zouba stressed the importance of the strategic partnership between the Yemeni government and international organizations, praising their role in implementing humanitarian and development programs. She also highlighted the need to transfer successful experiences, strengthen knowledge exchange, and promote best practices.
The minister underscored the importance of conducting comprehensive and realistic assessments to measure the development impact of completed projects and incorporating lessons learned into the design of future programs and projects to enhance performance and achieve more sustainable development outcomes.
According to state media, representatives of the international organizations reaffirmed their commitment to continuing support for Yemen's development efforts and expressed appreciation for the Planning Ministry's efforts to strengthen dialogue and coordination aimed at improving project efficiency and achieving sustainable development impact.
Yemeni Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Afrah al-Zouba (Saba)
Supporting Reforms and Peace
In the German capital, Berlin, the Yemeni minister met officials from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation to discuss expanding cooperation in the areas of social and economic policy, supporting peacebuilding efforts, and improving aid effectiveness in line with the Yemeni government's priorities and its reform and recovery plans.
The discussions also covered social protection, economic reforms, community dialogue, as well as support for applied research and evidence-based policymaking to improve public policy and strengthen coordination among partners.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued coordination and expanding areas of joint cooperation in support of the government's efforts to achieve sustainable development and strengthen economic recovery.
Al-Zouba also expressed the government's appreciation for the foundation's continued presence in Yemen and its decision to continue operating from the interim capital, Aden, describing the move as a reflection of its commitment to supporting national institutions and strengthening cooperation with the government.
Yemeni Planning Minister Afrah al-Zouba Meets Officials of Germany's Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Saba)
Food Security Tops Agenda
In a separate meeting, al-Zouba met with World Food Programme (WFP) Acting Executive Director Carl Skau to discuss ways to improve food access for the most vulnerable groups, particularly children and mothers, while reducing costs through innovative mechanisms that make use of local markets and support producers, farmers, and fishermen.
The minister stressed the importance of integrating these efforts with national social safety nets and school feeding programs, while highlighting success stories that demonstrate the impact of the partnership between the government and the WFP. She emphasized the need to shift from humanitarian response toward building resilience, promoting development, and breaking cycles of dependency.
Al-Zouba also called for stronger international advocacy efforts to mobilize funding for Yemen amid declining humanitarian assistance and urged that the challenges facing fragile states be placed on the G20 agenda. She noted that Yemen continues to bear the consequences of external crises, including the impacts of climate change.
According to state media, the UN official reaffirmed the WFP's commitment to continuing its support for Yemen and stressed the importance of encouraging donors to focus on the country's needs. He also expressed support for strengthening national capacities and investing in resilience and development.
The meetings came days after the minister announced that the International Development Association (IDA), part of the World Bank Group, had approved a $101.8 million Cash for Nutrition and Livelihoods Project for Yemen.
The project targets households with pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as mothers of children under the age of two, in governorates most affected by malnutrition. It will provide targeted cash transfers, nutrition awareness programs, early screening for malnutrition, and components aimed at supporting livelihoods, strengthening institutional capacity, and enhancing social protection systems and digital payment systems.
Al-Zouba said the project's approval reflects the strength of the partnership between the Yemeni government and the World Bank and supports the priorities of the 2026-2030 Country Partnership Framework, which aims to strengthen food security, improve livelihoods, and gradually transition from humanitarian response toward building the capacity of national institutions.
Al-Zaidi: Government Will Continue Pursuing Corrupt Officials and Recovering Public Fundshttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5291685-al-zaidi-government-will-continue-pursuing-corrupt-officials-and-recovering
Al-Zaidi: Government Will Continue Pursuing Corrupt Officials and Recovering Public Funds
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi (AFP)
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi on Friday reaffirmed the government's commitment to continuing its efforts to pursue corrupt officials, bring them before the judiciary, and recover public funds.
Speaking during a meeting with senior security and oversight officials, al-Zaidi said the government is moving ahead with implementing its reform program in line with its ministerial agenda on combating and preventing corruption, according to a statement issued by the Iraqi government.
He called for closer coordination between oversight bodies and law enforcement agencies to track down and apprehend those responsible for corruption crimes, recover public funds, and strengthen preventive measures. He said the efforts should cover all government sectors without exception to ensure greater coordination and effectiveness.
Al-Zaidi also urged authorities to intensify efforts to combat drug trafficking, stressing the need for effective measures to protect society, prevent the spread of narcotics, and maintain security and stability.
He said fighting corruption is a shared national responsibility that requires coordination among security, oversight, and judicial institutions. He also called for adopting the highest standards of integrity and transparency, intensifying intelligence and oversight efforts to pursue corruption and economic crime networks, and ensuring the implementation of relevant government decisions.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi (AFP)
The prime minister also called for expediting investigations into cases involving public funds and ensuring that the law is applied equally to everyone without discrimination.
According to the government statement, participants reviewed the country's overall security and economic situation and discussed government measures to combat corruption, as well as mechanisms to strengthen coordination among the relevant institutions to improve the protection of public funds and enforcement of the law.
The Iraqi government has launched what it describes as its largest anti-corruption campaign, carrying out arrests under judicial warrants targeting current and former parliamentary leaders and lawmakers, as well as senior officials in the oil sector accused of involvement in financial corruption cases. Authorities have also seized billions of Iraqi dinars, millions of US dollars, and large quantities of gold jewelry allegedly hidden in homes and farms.
Syrian Interior Ministry Continues Investigation Into Damascus Bombinghttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5291681-syrian-interior-ministry-continues-investigation-damascus-bombing
02 July 2026, Syria, Damascus: A member of the Syrian security stands in front of a cafe after an explosion near the Palace of Justice. Photo: Mohammed Al Rifai/dpa
Syrian Interior Ministry Continues Investigation Into Damascus Bombing
02 July 2026, Syria, Damascus: A member of the Syrian security stands in front of a cafe after an explosion near the Palace of Justice. Photo: Mohammed Al Rifai/dpa
Syria's Interior Ministry is continuing its investigation into the bombing that struck a cafe near the Palace of Justice in central Damascus on Thursday, killing nine people and injuring 20 others.
A Syrian security source said collecting evidence would take time before the final results of the investigation could be announced, noting that the area is one of the busiest districts in the Syrian capital.
The source told the German Press Agency (dpa) on Friday that criminal investigation teams and security personnel arrived at the scene immediately after the explosion to gather all available evidence, including surveillance camera footage, in an effort to identify the person who planted the explosive device inside the cafe.
In a statement issued overnight Thursday into Friday and published on its social media platforms, the Interior Ministry described the blast as a "terrorist" attack targeting a cafe on Al-Nasr Street near the Palace of Justice, about 70 meters west of the judicial complex. It said the explosion killed nine civilians, injured 20 others, and caused material damage at the scene.
The ministry said preliminary investigations indicated that the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device weighing about one kilogram and packed with metal shrapnel, resulting in severe injuries and extensive damage. Following the blast, security forces sealed off the area, while engineering teams and police dog units conducted thorough searches to ensure there were no additional threats.
The ministry said forensic teams from the Criminal Investigation Department immediately began collecting evidence, reviewing surveillance footage, and interviewing witnesses and people who were near the scene as part of efforts to determine the circumstances of the attack, identify those responsible, and uncover anyone involved in planning it.
It added that the investigation remains ongoing and that any developments or confirmed findings would be announced through the Interior Ministry's official channels. The ministry also urged citizens and media outlets not to spread rumors or circulate unverified information and to rely on official statements as the sole authoritative source on the case.
Separately, the Syrian Bar Association called for tighter security measures and stronger preventive steps following the bombing. In a statement, it strongly condemned the attack, which it said targeted a vital civilian area near a judicial facility, describing attacks on civilians and public institutions as an assault on the justice system that threatens public safety and civil peace.
The association stressed the need to exercise the highest level of vigilance and strengthen security measures around critical facilities and public spaces. It also called for those responsible for the bombing, along with anyone behind it, to be pursued and face the harshest legal penalties.
The Bar Association reaffirmed its support for the relevant state institutions in efforts to protect security and stability, uphold the rule of law, and prevent any attempts to undermine Syria's social unity or destabilize the country.
Mohammed al-Tawil, head of the Syrian Bar Association, said the organization was closely following the aftermath of the bombing and had visited hospitals treating injured lawyers and other victims. He added that funeral processions for those killed had departed from hospitals to their hometowns, with victims hailing from Damascus, Rural Damascus, Quneitra, and Hasakah.
Syrian Internal Security Forces continued guarding the cafe where the bombing took place, keeping it closed since Thursday evening, while passersby stopped to look at the site of the attack.
Life has meanwhile returned to normal in the neighboring Hamidiyah district, one of Damascus' main tourist areas, home to the Umayyad Mosque, the Damascus Citadel, and the entrance to the city's Old Damascus neighborhoods.
The bombing was the deadliest attack in Syria so far this year and the second deadliest since the bombing of Mar Elias Church in Damascus, which took place on June 22 last year.
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