Middle East Experience

Individuals in Saudi Arabia can now take the third dose, or booster shot, of the COVID-19 vaccine three months after taking the second dose, the country’s Ministry of Health announced on Monday.For the latest coronavirus updates, visit our dedicate page.This week, Saudi Arabia’s Public Health Authority (Weqaya) citizens and residents to avoid “unnecessary” travel outside the country amid rising COVID-19 cases and the new omicron variant.“Weqaya has recommended avoiding unnecessary travel outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, especially to high-risk countries, given the significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, the emergence of the [omicron variant], and the accelerated rapid spread of the virus in many countries,” the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.People in Saudi Arabia will have to receive a booster vaccination shot against COVID-19 in order to attend events and use public transport from February 1, 2022, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).Those who have not received the booster shot more than eight months after their second vaccine dose will no longer be considered ‘immune’ in the Kingdom’s contact-tracing Tawakkalna app from February 2.Read more:Saudi Arabia urges against travel outside Kingdom amid COVID-19 concernsSaudi Arabia issues new COVID PCR test exemptions for non-Saudi spouses of citizensModerna says booster COVID-19 vaccine appears protective against omicron
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia makes COVID-19 booster shot available three months after second dose

A total of 732,000 people attended Saudi Arabia’s MDLBeast festival in four days, making it one of the largest music festivals in the world, Turki Al al-Sheikh, the Chairman of the Kingdom’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA) said.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“With the attendance of more than 732,000 and the participation of 200 international artists... the largest music event in the Middle East concludes its activities in Riyadh,” event organizers said on Sunday.This year’s festival is the second edition of MDLBeast’s Soundstorm, a dance and musical event taking place near Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh.Soundstorm featured performances by David Guetta, Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, and other prominent artists.Alongside electronic dance music producers, the festival saw a number of Arabic musicians perform including Nancy Ajram, Amr Diab, Rashid al-Majid, and Balqees.The festival took place in a sprawling site consisting of eight different stages with a spectacular arrangement of pyrotechnics and lighting shows. One of the stages, dubbed the ‘Big Beast,’ is billed as the tallest in the world.Last year’s Soundstorm saw more than 130,000 people attend just the first day of the festival, according to organizers.Al Arabiya English’s Marco Ferrari contributed to this article.Read more:MDLBeast: What to expect from Saudi Arabia’s blockbuster Soundstorm music festivalMDLBEAST bringing David Guetta, DJ Snake, Tiesto to Riyadh’s SOUNDSTORM 2021Saudi Arabia to resume entertainment activities for vaccinated individuals
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: More than 700,000 thousand people attended Saudi Arabia’s MDLBeast in 4 days

Dubai Expo temporarily suspended some activities that require close or direct contact as a precaution against the latest COVID-19 developments in the UAE, state news agency WAM reported on Monday.Some of the suspended activities include shows, and performance arts by roaming artists. Additionally, the Expo increased the number of PCR testing facilities, and enforced a PCR test on all front line workers at the site as well as the entertainment employees.Cases in the Gulf country have been steadily at low rates in recent months, but the Ministry of Health reporting the highest number of COVID-19 cases on Monday since late September.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The UAE reported on Monday 301 positive coronavirus cases, which is the highest since September 25 when the country reported 321 positive cases.The country has not specified whether any of the new cases where of the omicron variant, though it announced that it reported its first case of the new, highly transmissible variant on December 1.The UAE cautioned against over-the-top celebrations for Christmas and the New Year. It also restricted entry into all government institutions only to people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 starting from January 3For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Read more:UAE restricts entry to government sites to vaccinated only amid COVID surge concernsEmirates, Hosn offer new solution to ease COVID travel requirements to EU countriesDubai airport ‘100 percent operational’ for first time since pandemic
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Dubai’s Expo suspends some activities as precaution amid COVID-19 surge concerns

This is the first time a top Israeli official has confirmed a role in the operation in 2020 to assassinate Iran’s top commander Qasem Soleimani.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israel was involved in Soleimani assassination - ex-IDF intel chief

Head of Public Health Services Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis presented some of the restrictions that are in place in other countries to demonstrate how Israel measures up.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: How do Israel’s Omicron restrictions compare to those worldwide?

Israel’s Defense Minister warned on Monday of greater action against Iran, adding that it’s time to take advantage of what he described as the current weakness of the Iranian regime.“We are deepening international cooperation, and I am certain that soon, both overt and covert actions will be expanded, by a variety of means,” Benny Gantz told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.Gantz also added that Tehran has weak cards to play at the Vienna talks aimed at reviving the abandoned 2015 Iran nuclear deal and it was simply buying time.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Israeli defense minister saw that the time is now to “draw a clear line in the sand” to halt both Iran’s nuclear and regional “terrorist” activities, according to the Jerusalem Post.“The internal situation in Iran leaves lots of opportunities for the world. It is not a real power. Its citizens are suffering… the heads of Iran know their [weak] situation,” he said.Currently, tensions are high over whether or not the Vienna talks to revive the abandoned nuclear accord would succeed.The US has long been saying that if diplomacy failed with Iran, it was willing to turn to “plan B”, without specifying details.Meanwhile, Washington-ally Israel has grown impatient and has repeatedly announced it is preparing for a military strike on Iranian nuclear targets.On Monday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned that they would respond to any Israeli attacks on its nuclear program by targeting all the sites used to launch the attacks. Tehran has historically repeated threats of what it describes as a “crushing response” to any potential attack against it.Read more: Iran vows sweeping response against any Israeli attacks on nuclear program As nuclear talks resume, Israel PM says worried US is readying to lift Iran sanctionsUS Navy tests high energy laser weapon system in Gulf of Aden amid Iran tensions
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Israel might take greater action against Iran, Tehran is now weak: Defense Minister

Scientists from Tel Aviv University demonstrated the positive effect of cannabis oils in animal models in a laboratory.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Cannabis oil can help treat autism symptoms - Israeli study

Star prosecution witness Nir Hefetz on Monday testified about the crucial quadrangle between himself, Benjamin Netanyahu, Shlomo Filber and Bezeq and Walla owner Shaul Elovitch.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Netanyahu trial: Hefetz testifies about triangle with PM, media

Coronavirus Commissioner Prof. Salman Zarka warns that new restrictions on gatherings might be needed.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: COVID-19: Israel records over 1,000 cases for the 1st time since October

Lira crisis made a whole gamut of imported drugs for a range of illnesses nearly impossible to find across Turkey..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Drug shortages jeopardise lives in Turkey