Middle East Experience

The death toll from Sudan’s latest anti-coup protests at the weekend has risen to eight, medics said Monday, bringing the total number killed since last month’s military takeover to 23.Three teenagers were among those who lost their lives during the latest mass protests on Saturday, which were met with the deadliest crackdown since the October 25 coup.“The confirmed number of martyrs since the coup has so far reached 23 people,” said the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, an independent union of medics.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The union named all eight protesters killed, including a 13-year-old girl who it said had suffered “a shot to the head outside her home.”“More than 200 wounded have been surveyed so far, including 100 injured with live bullets,” it said, adding that others were wounded with rubber bullets and tear gas.Sudan’s top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on October 25 declared a state of emergency, ousted the government and detained the civilian leadership.The military takeover sparked a chorus of international condemnation, including punitive aid cuts, with world powers demanding a swift return to civilian rule.Demonstrators have rallied since then despite internet outages and disruptions of communication lines, which forced activists to disseminate calls for protests via graffiti and SMS messages.State television reported that 39 police personnel were “severely wounded” in confrontations with protesters on Saturday.The police accused protesters of attacking police stations, saying the demonstrations “began peaceful but quickly veered off course.”They denied using “live rounds,” saying they had used only “minimum force.”Saturday’s demonstrations came two days after Burhan announced a new civilian-military ruling body to replace the one he ousted.The new council includes figures from the military and from ex-rebel groups from the deposed council.It also comprised several little-known civilians who replaced members of the Forces for Freedom and Change, the main civilian bloc which spearheaded the 2019 protests against former president Omar al-Bashir.The FFC has also led calls for a transition to civilian rule.The UN has criticized the military’s latest “unilateral” step, while Western countries said it “complicates efforts to put Sudan’s democratic transition back on track.”Burhan insists the military’s move on October 25 “was not a coup” but a push to “rectify the course of the transition.”Read more:Five dead as Sudanese rally against army tightening grip on powerProtesters face tear gas and bullets to oppose Sudan coupGeneral Burhan’s moves make return to Sudan’s constitution harder: UN
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Sudan’s protest death toll rises to eight: Medics

Police in northwest England on Monday said they were treating a deadly blast outside a hospital in Liverpool as a “terrorist incident” involving a homemade bomb.Russ Jackson, in charge of counter-terrorism policing in the region, said the motivation for Sunday’s blast in a taxi was unclear but the device was “built by the passenger” who died.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.British police announced the arrest of three men after a car exploded in front of Liverpool Women’s Hospital, in the city centre, killing one man and injuring another on Sunday morning.The three men, aged 29, 26 and 21, were arrested in Liverpool’s Kensington district under the anti-terrorism laws, Greater Manchester Police said in a tweet.The man killed in the blast has not yet been identified, the statement said. The injured man, who was driving, was in a stable condition in hospital.Read more:UK counter-terrorist police arrest three after deadly car blastFive UK police officers to face misconduct proceedings linked to Sarah Everard caseBritish police arrest man over killing of school teacher in London park
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Liverpool taxi explosion treated as ‘terrorist incident’: Police

The identities of 27 additional prominent individuals, including Lebanese Sunni and Shia scholars, who were granted citizenship of Saudi Arabia under a new decree issued on Thursday have been revealed.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Various notable religious figures, as well as medical experts and academics have been named in the latest list of new Saudi citizens.Here is a list of the 27 individuals who have received Saudi citizenship:Radwan Nayef al-SayedRadwan al-Sayed is a Lebanese thinker and writer who is the former editor-in-chief of the quarterly al-Ijtihad magazine.He was a senior signatory of the Makkah al-Mukarramah Document, and holds a bachelor degree from the Faculty of Theology at al-Azhar University and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Tübingen in Germany.Al-Sayed is also a contributor to Al Arabiya.Mustafa CericOriginally from Bosnia, Ceric is a noteworthy Islamic scholar and religious leader.He held the post of Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1999 to 2012, in which he promoted tolerance towards other faiths and an integration of Islam into European societies.Ceric was educated at al-Azhar University in Cairo and received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.Hussein DaoudiDaoudi is President of the Scandinavian Council for Relations and a member of the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League.He has publicly denounced extremism and bigotry, promoting religious tolerance.The scholar was one of many prominent figures who signed the 2020 Makkah al-Mukarramah Document that rallied influential Muslims against extremism.Daoudi is from Sweden, according to the Reykjavik Grapevine.Mohammed Nimr al-SammakAl-Sammak is considered one of the leading Arab thinkers in his field.He holds the position of Secretary General of the Islamic-Christian Committee for Dialogue, and is a member of the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League.Al-Sammak was one of the senior signatories of the Makkah al-Mukarramah Document.Abdullah Saleh AbdullahAbdullah is a notable historian from Iraq who has published works chronicling Saudi Arabia and the wider Arabian Gulf.Mohammed al-HusseiniAs Secretary General of the Arab Islamic Council in Lebanon, al-Husseini is a promoter of moderate Islam.The Shia scholar is known for his efforts to combat sectarianism the politicization of Islam.Emad Mohamed TeljehTeljeh is an infectious diseases expert who has published more than 87 research papers.He has received a number of awards in medicine and has been certified in both the UK and the US.Farouk OwaidaOwaida has worked as the head of the Cardiac Surgery Department at Saud al-Babtain Center in Dammam since 2004.He has performed more than 5,000 open-heart surgeries and has published more than 20 research papers.Emad el-Din Najeh Ezzat KanaanKanaan is a well-known neurosurgeon who leads the Department of Neurology at King Faisal Specialist Hospital.He is a member of the German Board of Neurology and is director of the Neurology program at Al-Faisal University.Khaled HamwiHamwi is a medical expert in the field of organ transplantation, in which he has consulted at King Faisal Specialist hospital.He worked as the medical director of the pancreas transplantation program at Mayo Clinic in the US from 2008 to 2012.Hamwi has also authored several books on the subject.Muhammad Ghayath JamilJamil is an expert in sleep medicine and is the Medical Director of the Telemedicine Unit at King Faisal Specialist Hospital.He is also the former chair of Saudi Sleep Medicine.Walid Khaled RashidRashid is a consultant of hematology, stem cell, and bone marrow transplantation at King Faisal Specialist Hospital.Mustafa Abdullah SalehSaleh is a specialist in childhood medicine and has published more than 235 research papers.Ansir MarahMarah is a Professor at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals specializing in materials engineering.He supervised a joint research center between his university and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US that produced more than 90 publications and 11 patents.Muhammad Abdulaziz Mustafa HabibA Professor at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals specializing in thermodynamics, Habib has published more than 90 papers.Bikar YilbasYalbas is a professor at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals specializing in materials engineering.He has authored more than 13 books and more than 400 research papers.Mohammed Abdel Karim AntarA water desalination technology expert, Antar is a professor at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.He has published more than 70 research papers.Tawfiq Abdo Saleh AwadAwad is a chemistry professor at King Fahd University. He has several registered patents and has published more than 340 papers.Ali Hussein MogabeelMogabeel is a professor at King Fahd University specializing in communications technology.He has a number of registered patents and has published more than 40 papers.Ezz El-Din ZerkinZerkin is a professor at King Fahd University who specializes in communications technology and artificial intelligence.He has published more than 80 research papers and has 18 registered patents.Samir MakedMaked is a professor at King Fahd University who specializes in manufacturing and smart materials.He has published more than 70 research papers.Ayman Helmy SaltSalt is a professor at King Fahd University specializing in computer engineering.He has published more than 40 research papers and has seven registered patents.Bassam al-AliAl-Ali is a professor at King Fahd University specializing in chemistry – specifically industrial chemistry.He has published more than 90 research papers and has registered 12 patents.Hadi Mohammed AqounAqoun is an engineer who has worked as a professor at various universities in the United States.He is a recipient of the Boeing Company Excellence Award, and the IEEE Professor of the Year Award.He was one of several engineers who worked on a major patent for Boeing.Salah al-Din Mahmoud Ahmed al-KatatniAl-Katatni is a professor at King Fahd University specializing in petroleum engineering – specifically in oil wells and optimal drilling methods.He has published more than 77 papers and registered more than 23 patents.Mohamed Ahmed Nasr el-Din MahmoudMahmoud is a professor at King Fahd University specializing in petroleum engineering.He has published more than 130 papers and registered more than 60 patents.Musa Qari SyedSyed was born in Saudi Arabia and went on to earn several qualifications from the US including a Doctorate in Radiological Sciences from the Ohio College of Medicine and a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Pennsylvania.He has also served as dean of the College of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.Read more:In pictures: The five prominent people Saudi Arabia recently naturalizedIn pictures: The latest four distinguished professionals to receive Saudi citizenshipKing Salman approves granting Saudi citizenship to distinguished individuals
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: In pictures: 27 academics and religious scholars granted Saudi Arabian citizenship

Mental health stigma, when a society shames the people who live in a state of mental illness or seek help for emotional distress, is still a rampant issue in many cultures, Dubai-based psychiatrist told Al Arabiya English.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“Stigma on mental health issues is very rampant across all generations, not only in adults from the baby boomer generation,” said Dr. Shaju George, Psychiatrist at Dubai’s Medeor Hospital, noting that while it still is an issue, it has been improved in recent years.“Ignorance is the main reason for stigma. Mental health issues are there since time immemorial,” he said.George believes that research into mental health and neuroscience only began to increase in the last couple of decades, unlike other branches of medicine.“Ignorance about mental health was fertile soil to develop all superstitious explanations backed by religion. Since religion had a major influence on people, unscientific superstitions on mental health issues dominated the world. The lack of research and treatment options added fuel to the fire that developed and spread this stigma across the world,” he said.‘Awareness is key’ Creating scientific awareness is key, said George, in order to diminish this stigma.Ensuring people are provided with the right information to understand that “the mind is the sum total of the brain functions… so mental health issues are the functional disorders of the brain – the master organ of the body.”There are various ways to raise awareness. George suggests that it can be done at schools and universities or even on social media.“Social media can play a big role in removing mental health stigma,” he said.“Encouraging research into mental health, starting state-of-the-art treatment centers for comprehensive care of mental health issues as well as accepting and considering mental health issues as that of any other medical illness in the home, workplace and society helps to create a more positive environment without any discrimination or taboo.”People believe mental and physical health equally important, new survey finds A survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of natural vitamin and supplement producer MegaFood focused on the ways in which people approached their mental, emotional and physical health and how they may have been impacted throughout the pandemic.The survey, which involved 2,000 Americans, found that 45 percent of Millennials said they were more likely to talk to a therapist compared to eight percent of baby boomers.Seventy-four percent of the survey’s respondents said that their physical health was just as important as their mental and emotional health, indicating a more holistic approach to the matter.Millennials (84 percent) and Baby Boomers (66 percent) agreed on taking a holistic approach to their health, meaning that they care for their person as a whole by catering to physical, mental and social needs.The men who were surveyed were more inclined to take a holistic approach compared to women, accounting for 83 percent and 75 percent respectively.When asked to rate various aspects of their lifestyle to gain a better understanding into what mattered most to each group, emotional and mental health came first, accounting for seven out of 10 while physical health came in second at 7.1. Job security ranked the lowest among the provided choices, scoring 5.5 out of 10.“It’s no surprise that in 2021, our health and well-being are our top priorities when ranked against other lifestyle aspects,” said Naturopathic Doctor and Medical Director at MegaFood Erin Stokes in a statement.“And more than half of respondents (53 percent) noted that the #1 way they take care of their physical health is by eating a healthy diet.”Baby Boomers were most likely to incorporate vitamins and supplements into their diet (76 percent), compared to Millennials and Gen X (68 and 65 percent respectively).Read more:Majority of UAE residents believe they can fulfill job remotely: SurveyHow Beirut blast led Bahraini psychologist to launch a Lebanon mental health lifeline‘You are what you eat’: Your diet may be affecting your mental health, here’s how
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: ‘Awareness is key’: Mental health stigma still rampant, says Dubai psychiatrist

Iraqi wheat farmer Khamis Ahmad Abbas lost it all when his battle with drought forced him to abandon his land, pushing him into unemployment..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iran, Turkey dam building exacerbates Iraq’s drought problem

Israel has been using settler violence as a “major informal tool” to drive Palestinians from farming and pasture lands in the occupied West Bank, an Israeli rights group said Sunday..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Activists condemn Israel’s use of settler violence to seize land

Iran-backed Houthi militias are seeking to take advantage of the withdrawal of the joint forces loyal to the internationally-recognised Yemeni government from parts of the city of Hodeidah, to further expand their presence and control the strategic province bordering the Red Sea..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Houthis violate Stockholm pact, expand in Hodeidah

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan will visit Turkey for the first time in years as the regional rivals work to repair frayed ties, two Turkish officials said on Monday..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Abu Dhabi crown prince to visit Turkey for first time in years

Maxwell, 59, is accused of grooming underage girls for deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein to abuse. She has pleaded not guilty to six counts of sex trafficking and other crimes.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: US judge to question more than 230 potential jurors for Ghislaine Maxwell trial

Donor countries to the Palestinian Authority are meeting in Norway on Tuesday.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Shtayyeh: Donors must press Israel to halt tax deductions