Middle East Experience

Residents in the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi can now travel around Yas Island, a popular entertainment destination, which is home to a Formula One race-track and the Ferrari World theme park, in a driverless taxi.Passengers can book a taxi around the clock via the application, TXAI, available on Google Play and the iOS App Store.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.In his statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Hassan al-Hosani, CEO of Bayanat for Mapping and Surveying Services, a subsidiary of Group 42, said the first pilot phase of the driverless taxi was launched in Yas Island and will conclude on December 23, adding the public may use the application for free during this period.He added Abu Dhabi residents can reserve rides as soon as they download the application by following the instructions that appear on screen.The user is required to be in one of nine locations in Yas Island to book a trip.The second phase of the initiative will involve increasing passenger transport operations, by operating over 10 vehicles in different areas around Abu Dhabi.The current fleet of TXAI vehicles consists entirely of electric and hybrid cars, which will help reduce carbon emissions, stated al-Hosani.Bayanat, which specializes in geospatial systems, data analysis and artificial intelligence, recently announced its new fleet of driverless vehicles under the TXAI brand, which represents the first fully-automated taxis in the UAE.Read more:Electric Hummer receives ‘almost overwhelming’ Mid East response: GM execAbu Dhabi’s G42 to start Mideast’s first driverless car trials on Yas IslandDriverless cars to be trialed in Dubai
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Self-driving taxis arrive in Abu Dhabi

Kuwait has confirmed 12 travelers arriving from Europe tested positive for the omicron COVID-19 variant, the health ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.All those who have tested positive upon arrival are currently isolated and in quarantine, in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s preventative measures.Meanwhile, authorities have urged all those arriving in Kuwait, even if they're not infected with the virus, to self-isolate in case of infection and to follow all other preventative measures including avoiding gatherings and wearing face masks.Authorities have also called on postponing any travel plans except for necessary trips.Early morning Wednesday, the ministry announced the detection of 92 new COVID-19 cases in the country, taking the total number of cases to 414,270.Meanwhile, 27 people who had previously tested positive for the virus recovered, increasing the recoveries to 411,145.Kuwait’s COVID-related death toll has reached 2,466 as of December 22.Read more: China orders 13 mln Xi’an residents to stay home over COVID-19 outbreak: OfficialsMore than half of hospital, ICU beds vacant despite COVID-19 surge: UAE officialsUAE COVID-19 numbers continue to climb, 665 new cases recorded in 24 hours
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Kuwait confirms 12 omicron COVID-19 cases in travelers arriving from Europe

The budget plan aims to reduce the deficit to 7.7% next year from 8.3% in 2021, though growth in Tunisia is forecast to slow to 2.6% from 2.8% this year..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Tough decisions planned by Tunisia as it copes with financial crisis

A South African study offered pre-Christmas good tidings about the severity of omicron on Wednesday as the fast-spreading coronavirus variant forces countries across the world to impose new curbs.Governments urged citizens to vaccinate as omicron becomes the dominant strain, upending reopening plans that many had hoped would herald the end of the pandemic, and unnerving financial markets.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Germany, Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and South Korea have reimposed partial or full lockdowns or other social distancing measures in recent days.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.German health experts said on Wednesday that new curbs probably did not go far enough as the health minister said he had not ruled out a full lockdown.Italy is preparing new measures and might make vaccinations obligatory for more categories of workers, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said.Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Spain were also considering new curbs.Omicron was first detected last month in southern Africa and Hong Kong. Studies indicate it is more resistant to vaccines developed before it emerged.However, the South African study suggested that those infected with omicron were less likely to end up in hospital than those with delta.‘Positive story’The study by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and major universities, which had not been peer-reviewed, compared South African Omicron data from October and November with data about Delta between April and November.The authors found that the risk of hospital admission was roughly 80 percent lower for those with omicron, and that for those in hospital the risk of severe disease was roughly 30 percent lower.“In South Africa, this is the epidemiology: Omicron is behaving in a way that is less severe,” said Professor Cheryl Cohen of the NICD, one of the authors.“Compellingly, together our data really suggest a positive story of a reduced severity of omicron compared to other variants.”Still, the authors included caveats and cautioned against jumping to conclusions. A study by Imperial College London released last week found no sign that omicron was milder.Policymakers across the world are scrambling to address the economic blow that might come from new outbreaks; Britain on Tuesday announced 1 billion pounds ($1.3 billion) of support for businesses hit hardest.Some 300 South Korean business owners protested in Seoul on Wednesday against the return of strict social distancing rules, urging the government to scrap its “vaccine pass” policy and compensate them for losses.Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett welcomed a Health Ministry panel’s recommendation that the over 60s, those with compromised immune systems and health workers should receive fourth COVID shots.Free test kitsBut Professor Lawrence Young, virologist at the University of Warwick in England, said it was difficult to justify this “in a situation where around 73 percent of people in wealthy and middle-income countries have been (fully or partly) vaccinated ... whereas only 12 percent are vaccinated in Africa”.The Israeli recommendations require approval from the ministry’s director-general, and it was not clear when that might happen.More than 275 million people have been reported to be infected with the coronavirus around the world, and nearly 5.7 million have died, according to a Reuters tally.Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in central China in December 2019.US President Joe Biden on Tuesday promised to distribute half a billion free rapid COVID-19 tests, and warned the quarter of American adults who are unvaccinated that their choices could spell the “difference between life and death.”Japan reported its first suspected case of community transmission of omicron on Wednesday, while India has urged its federal states to prepare for surges and allowed them to impose restrictions on crowds and gatherings.Some wealthy countries want to shorten the time between second vaccination shots and boosters, hoping this will reduce the need to burden weary citizens with new lockdowns.Australia on Wednesday reported more than 5,000 daily infections for the first time. Prime Minister Scott Morrison nevertheless insisted that strict lockdowns would not be brought back.Read more:‘Celebrate safely’ on Christmas, New Year amid omicron fears: UAE doctorsUAE COVID-19 numbers continue to climb, 665 new cases recorded in 24 hoursKuwait confirms 12 omicron COVID-19 cases in travelers arriving from Europe
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: South Africa study points to reduced risk of severe illness from omicron

The bill passed 59-50, with support coming from Joint List MK Osama Saadi. Likud MK Gila Gamliel, who previously served as environmental protection minister, did not show up to vote.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Wildlife poisoning bill passes first reading with Joint List MK support

He admitted that the decision was based on the experts’ understanding of the situation more than on full evidence.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Why did Israel’s COVID-19 team recommend a 4th vaccine? A member explains

Gaza Environment Authority estimates that there are 25,000 tonnes of old batteries piled up at several locations..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: In Gaza, piles of old batteries pose risk to health, environment

It still does appear that Deri will be able to remain chairman of the Shas Party and at least be able to initially run for the next Knesset.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Arye Deri to leave Knesset, confess, pay NIS 180K fine

PA President Mahmoud Abbas: Mansour Abbas represents only himself when he talks about accepting Israel as a Jewish state.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Palestinians slam Mansour Abbas for 'recognizing' Israel as a Jewish state

Israel has the capability to carry out a successful strike on Iran’s nuclear sites as early as “tomorrow”, the incoming Air Force chief said on Wednesday.“Israel could successfully strike Iran's nuclear program tomorrow, if necessary,” said Major General Tomer Bar, who will command Israel’s air force in April, according to the Jerusalem Post.“I have to assume it will happen in my time, and my shoulders already understand the weight of the responsibility,” he added.He stressed that Israel can successfully destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities: “There is no way that we will operate there, one thousand kilometers from here, and I will return home without being able to say ‘I completed the mission.’”For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Currently, tensions are high over whether or not the Vienna talks to revive the abandoned 2015 Iran nuclear deal 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.Hezbollah war Bar believes that should Israel strike Iran, Lebanon’s Tehran-backed Shia militia Hezbollah will attack Tel Aviv.“I have to assume that he [Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah] will automatically be all in. Thirty years he has waited for this order and there is no way that he will not be there and with the highest intensity,” Bar said. “We have to be prepared for this.”Bar stressed that a potential third war with Lebanon would result in Israel’s victory.“Even Hezbollah... does not know how to imagine our power,” he said. “Maybe they will try to bring in special forces or shoot at the home front, but we are no longer on this scale. We want a clear victory this time, in a shorter time and with fewer losses.”Read more:Israel might take greater action against Iran, Tehran is now weak: Defense MinisterIran vows sweeping response against any Israeli attacks on nuclear programAs nuclear talks resume, Israel PM says worried US is readying to lift Iran sanctions
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Israel can strike Iran ‘tomorrow’, Hezbollah might hit back: New Air Force chief