Middle East Experience

The PA has taken the flak from many Palestinian activists for thwarting the arson attacks and “serving as guards for Jewish settlers.”
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Palestinian Authority foils attempts to torch Joseph’s Tomb

Diaspora Jews are frustrated with Israel’s ban on foreigners entering the country due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Bennett: Diaspora is ‘close to my heart,’ but no travel exceptions

Paxlovid received FDA approval after showing in a Phase II/III clinical trial that it reduces severe disease, hospitalization and death by 89% when patients are treated early. 
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Pfizer COVID-19 pills to arrive in Israel on Wednesday - Bennett

Several lawmakers had insisted on questioning al-Khalid on various issues including handling the pandemic and perceived corruption..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Kuwait includes opposition lawmakers in new cabinet

Researchers from Bar-Ilan University found that early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention to treat symptoms of ASD were helpful in averting severe deviations in neurodevelopment.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israeli scientists find way to identify autism within a year after birth - study

The defendant, identified as 40-year-old Robert Frank Wilson, is also facing charges for assaulting his neighbor while shouting homophobic slurs on November 10.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Man charged for antisemitic banner hung over California overpass

The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) has announced the issuance of seven commemorative silver coins in one set to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Union of the UAE Federation, and in honor of the founding fathers, led by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan.The CBUAE will issue 3000 sets comprising seven silver coins, each of which is worth AED50 and weighs 28 grams.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The front face of the coin will bear a black and white image of one of the founding fathers and another color image of Their Highnesses, the members of the Supreme Council of the Union, the current rulers of the Emirates. The reverse side of the seven coins will bear the fiftieth year logo, surrounded by the name of the Central Bank of the UAE in Arabic and English, in addition to the nominal value of the coin (AED50).The black and white photographs include the founding fathers, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed al-Maktoum, Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed al-Qasimi, Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid al-Nuaimi, Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmed al-Mualla, Sheikh Saqr bin Muhammad al-Qasimi, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad al-Sharqi.The colored images are of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, and the rulers of the five northern emirates.The sets of seven commemorative silver coins will be available for sale at the CBUAE headquarters and its branches until stock runs out, at a price of AED2000.Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the CBUAE, said: “This coin issuance honors the founding fathers for their significant role in establishing the Federation of the Seven Emirates, and in line with the current wise leadership’s to continue the legacy of the founders in building a nation to which we are proud to belong.”Read more:Explainer: What is the new UAE-approved Sinopharm protein vaccine?
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE Central Bank issues seven silver commemorative coins in honor of founding fathers

A source in Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior on Wednesday said the Kingdom will reinforce wearing masks in public places including outdoor events as of Thursday amid a rise in COVID-19 cases worldwide, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.SPA said the new rule will come into effect from 7:00 a.m. on December 30, 2021.The risk posed by the rapidly-spreading omicron variant of COVID-19 is still “very high”, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.“The overall risk related to the new variant of concern omicron remains very high. Consistent evidence shows that the omicron variant has a growth advantage over the Delta variant with a doubling time of two to three days and rapid increases in the incidence of cases is seen in a number of countries,” the WHO said in its COVID-19 weekly epidemiological update.The Kingdom reported 602 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 553,921. The country reported one new death.There are 39 critical COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Health said.Read more:COVID-19 omicron variant risk remains “very high”: WHOCOVID-19 with omicron isn’t ‘same disease,’ Oxford scientist says
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia to reinforce wearing masks in public amid rise in COVID-19 cases

The UAE reported the highest number of daily coronavirus cases in six months, as it recorded more than 2,200 infections on Wednesday.The Ministry of Health reported 2,234 cases of COVID-19 infections and 775 recoveries in the previous 24 hours. No new deaths have been reported.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The numbers reflect a climb from 1,846 infections reported on Tuesday.Cases in the Gulf country have been steadily rising at slow rates in recent months, but the last time the number of daily infections was this high was at the end of June when the UAE reported 2,184 cases on June 29.In early December, cases had dropped to below 50 a day.The UAE remains one of the top countries in the world when it comes to vaccination rates and has managed to report low numbers of cases and deaths in recent months while remaining open to business.It comes as officials in Abu Dhabi announced new border rules for those entering the emirate.The Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee said that vaccinated people coming into Abu Dhabi must show the Al Hosn green pass, while those who have not been vaccinated must show a negative PCR test taken in the previous 96 hours.The new rules were announced on Tuesday and will come into effect on Thursday.Read more:UAE reports another rise in new daily COVID-19 cases
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE reports over 2,200 new COVID-19 cases, highest daily figure in six months

A new Kuwaiti government was sworn in on Wednesday, the oil-rich Gulf emirate’s fourth in two years, after the last one resigned in November amid political deadlock.Kuwait has been shaken by disputes between elected lawmakers and successive governments dominated by the ruling Al-Sabah family for more than a decade, with parliaments and cabinets dissolved several times.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The last government called it quits in November in the face of a standoff with parliament over reforms.The cabinet was sworn in before the crown prince, the official KUNA news agency reported.It is the fourth government that Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah has formed since his appointment as prime minister in December 2019.Kuwait is the only Gulf Arab state with a fully elected parliament, which enjoys wide legislative powers and can vote ministers out of office.Oil Minister Mohammed al-Fares and Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nasser al-Mohammed Al-Sabah retain their posts in the reshuffle.However, the new lineup includes a critical voice in Finance Minister Abdulwahab Al-Rushaid, who earlier this month called on government to “focus on a sustainable economy rather than on the fluctuations of oil prices”.Like most Gulf countries, Kuwait’s economy and public finances have been hit by the coronavirus pandemic and the slumping price of oil.In last year’s elections, the opposition and its allies won nearly half of parliament’s 50 seats.The polls were the first since the new emir, Sheikh Nawaf, took power on the death of his half-brother, Sheikh Sabah, at the age of 91.In recent years there have been mounting calls for reform in Kuwait, where expatriate residents make up 70 percent of the 4.8 million population.Read more:New finance minister, opposition lawmakers in Kuwait’s cabinet
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Kuwait swears in fourth government in two years