Middle East Experience

The plan focuses on three goals: investments in increasing the housing supply, structural changes to the market and short-term tactics to cool down demand and increase supply in the housing market
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: New Israeli housing plan to shutter Airbnbs, raise purchase tax

IDF Spokesperson's Unit said it has not heard of the investigation and that several in-depth investigations were carried out following the fighting.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: IDF investigation finds intelligence gaps during Operation Guardian of the Walls

Which vaccines are approved? Which documents do I need to bring? Everything you need to know before coming to the Holy Land starting November 1.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israel’s COVID travel rules change on Monday – here are the details

'It's always open season on Israel at the [UN] Human Rights Council," Erdan told the UN General Assembly in New York
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Erdan tears up UNHRC report at UN General Assembly

Dubai International Airport plans to reopen its last remaining closed concourse in two weeks, allowing it to return to full capacity for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters reported on Monday, citing Emirates Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Sheikh Ahmed announced the news at a press briefing on Monday ahead of the Dubai Air Show which is set to take place on November 14.The announcement also came a few days after the airport reclaimed its top spot as one of the world’s busiest international airports.Dubai has been experiencing a surge in passenger traffic as the city’s peak tourist season begun and is set to go on until March next year. In addition, the city is also hosting Expo 2020 and the T20 World Cup, so it expects more tourists to visit for those events in the coming months.The emirate’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic focused on “protecting the health and wellbeing of the people as a top priority, while minimizing the impact of the crisis on the nation’s economy,” said Sheikh Ahmed.The United Arab Emirates has recorded a consistent drop in COVID-19 infections, recording an average of 70 to 90 cases per day. With over 90 percent of the population already vaccinated against the virus, the UAE has been gradually relaxing some coronavirus measures.On Monday, the country recorded 78 new COVID-19 cases, 110 recoveries and no deaths in 24 hours, making it the third consecutive day with no new coronavirus-related deaths.With ReutersRead more:UAE grants emergency use approval of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5 to 11UAE ‘Golden Visa’: Abu Dhabi updates health insurance requirement for applicantsDubai readies health infrastructure as demand for retirement expected to increaseEmirates Airlines to hold talks with Boeing at Dubai Airshow over 777X jetliner delay
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Dubai International Airport to return to full capacity in two weeks: Sheikh Ahmed

Riyadh Season’s “Riyadh City Boulevard” is set to open on Monday, offering visitors an entertainment destination made up of nine different areas, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.It is “the most important entertainment destination, the largest event area and an exceptional project built by Saudis,” according to SPA.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The total area of the zone, located north of Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh, has seen a threefold expansion in its area compared to the previous season, amounting to around 900,000 m2, making it the largest entertainment facility in the region.The “Riyadh City Boulevard” has nine areas, each with its own set of events, restaurants, cafes, gardens, international game centers, festivals and stores.It includes a fountain area with different displays of laser lights, colors and music that are synchronized with the fountain show.Activities include the “Crystal Maze Experience,” which is being held for the first time outside the United Kingdom, SPA reported, among other activities, live events, and shows.The zone will also host international events for the first time in the world, in addition to the largest cinema in the Middle East, which contains 25 high-quality screens where the latest films will be shown before their debut in international cinemas, in an area of around 22,280 square meters.The “Riyadh City Boulevard” will open its doors to visitors daily from 05:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m., seven days a week.Riyadh SeasonSaudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season 2021 kicked off last week in the Kingdom’s capital with an opening parade that saw the presence of more than 750,000 people, according to the General Entertainment Authority’s chairman Turki Al al-Sheikh.Riyadh Season 2019’s logo was “Imagine!” this year, event organizers came up with the logo “Imagine more!” promising visitors bigger, better entertainment events and offerings.“To facilitate the process of entering the zones in Riyadh Season, tickets have been unlinked to the ‘Tawakkalna’ app and it is sufficient to show ‘Tawakkalna’ when entering” zones, Al al-Sheikh said on Monday.Tawakkalna is Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health COVID-19 tracking app.Read more:Saudi Arabia: Riyadh Season’s Winter Wonderland kicks off with fireworksIn pictures: Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season 2021 opening celebrations‘Imagine more’: Riyadh Season 2021 promises bigger, better entertainment events
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Riyadh City Boulevard, part of Riyadh Season, opens its doors

Billionaire Elon Musk said that if the United Nation’s World Food Program (WFP) could prove that $8 billion will solve world hunger, he would sell Tesla stock and donate the proceeds to the cause.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“If WFP can describe on this Twitter thread exactly how $6B will solve world hunger, I will sell Tesla stock right now and do it,” Musk tweeted on Sunday.“$6B will not solve world hunger, but it WILL prevent geopolitical instability, mass migration and save 42 million people on the brink of starvation. An unprecedented crisis and a perfect storm due to Covid/conflict/climate crises,” WFP chief David Beasley responded.“With your help we can bring hope, build stability and change the future,” he added.Beasley also assured Musk that the UN’s WFP had systems in place “for transparency and open-source accounting,” suggesting that their teams could work together to review the matter and “be totally confident of such.”The WFP chief has been repeating his call to billionaires for funding to help solve world hunger.In an interview with CNN, Beasley said: “The top 400 billionaires in the United States, the net-worth increase was $1.8 trillion in the past year. All I’m asking for is 0.36 percent of your net-worth increase. I’m for people making money, but God knows I’m all for you helping people who are in great need right now. The world is in trouble.”He continued, “It’s not complicated. I’m not asking them to do this every day, every week, every year.”Read more:Elon Musk could become the world's first trillionaire thanks to SpaceXTesla worried it won’t be able to hire enough people for Berlin factory: MuskNorth Korea tells people to eat black swans amid crippling food crisis
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Elon Musk says will sell Tesla stock to solve world hunger, wants proof from UN first

Saudi Arabia participated in the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Scotland’s Glasgow on Sunday, confirming the importance of climate change and environmental protection, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.During its G20 Presidency last year, Saudi Arabia strengthened its leadership role towards common international issues and contributed to the protection of the planet, SPA said in a report.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“This resulted in the issuance of a special declaration on the environment to ensure a sustainable future that limits environmental degradation, preserving biodiversity, sustainable use of natural resources, and preserving the environment and oceans, while promoting clean air and water, dealing with natural disasters and extreme weather events, and tackling climate change,” the report added.The UK is hosting COP26 summit in Glasgow on October 31 until November 12, 2021.The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action toward the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman on Sunday highlighted the Kingdom’s contribution in terms of climate change, referring to the Saudi Green Initiative and Middle East Green Initiative, which were announced by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.The initiatives are a confirmation of Saudi Arabia’s “continuous approach to preserving the environment, as this is one of the pillars of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030,” he said, according to SPA.Last week, Prince Abdulaziz said that a scheme to offset carbon emissions could help the Kingdom’s plans for net zero emissions.Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Summit in Riyadh, the minister said Saudi Arabia played an important role in 2020 in terms of crafting the circular carbon economy agenda.Read more:COP26: Climate finance could make or break the Glasgow summit, here’s whyUN climate summit formally opens in Glasgow, kicks off intense negotiationsG20 Rome Summit affirms energy security: Saudi energy minister
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia participates in COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow

MBC Group and Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA) are launching a new music show called “Boulevard al-Mawaheb” where 12 talented singers will compete to be transformed into professional artists.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The program, called “Boulevard of Talents” in English, includes live stage performances as part of this year’s Riyadh Season, and will also feature daily behind the scenes episodes which will air on MBC4, the Shahid streaming service, and on social media platforms.Twelve talents will be featured during the first live show which will be an audition, then four people will be eliminated, bringing the number down to eight.Viewers will get the chance to follow along as the remaining talents are divided into two teams to be mentored by the show’s two talent managers: Hassan Taleb and Hamdi Badr.Taleb is a seasoned talent manager who’s been in the music industry for over 30 years. He currently manages Saudi artist Rashed al-Majed, Iraqi singer Waleed al-Shami, and Meteb al-Shalan, a young Saudi talent. He also owns a music production company called “Tunes Arabia.”Badr is currently managing Egyptian star Mohammed Hamaki and had previously worked with singer Mohammed Nour.“I’m looking for a voice, personality and charisma,” Badr said in a promotional clip.“What makes this program unique is that it will show us the ‘behind the scenes’ of creating a star.”The participants will take part in the normal daily activities of a professional artist, including meetings with producers, lyricists, and music composers.Participants will be ranked weekly, then eliminated, based on two criteria: First is their interaction and engagement with the audience on social media. Second, they will be expected to bring in monetary profits which will be used to produce original songs. The participants will perform their songs during the weekly live performances in Saudi Arabia’s capital.All participants will be given the chance to choose their own original songs and perform them live on stage, not just the winner who will be selected based on ranking highest in the above criteria.The first live show will air Monday at 9 p.m. GST on several of the network’s channel, including MBC1, MBC Iraq and Shahid.Riyadh SeasonSaudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season 2021 kicked off last week in the Kingdom’s capital with an opening parade that saw the presence of more than 750,000 people, according to the General Entertainment Authority’s chairman Turki Al al-Sheikh.Riyadh Season 2019’s logo was “Imagine!” this year, event organizers came up with the logo “Imagine more!” promising visitors bigger, better entertainment events and offerings.“To facilitate the process of entering the zones in Riyadh Season, tickets have been unlinked to the ‘Tawakkalna’ app and it is sufficient to show ‘Tawakkalna’ when entering” zones, Al al-Sheikh said on Monday.Tawakkalna is Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health COVID-19 tracking app.Read more: Riyadh City Boulevard, part of Riyadh Season, opens its doorsSaudi Arabia: Riyadh Season’s Winter Wonderland kicks off with fireworks‘Imagine more’: Riyadh Season 2021 promises bigger, better entertainment events
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Riyadh Season: MBC, Saudi Arabia’s GEA to debut ‘Boulevard al-Mawaheb’ talent show

Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is in Glasgow on Monday to participate at the United Nation's COP26 climate summit..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Qatar’s amir joins world leaders in Glasgow for COP26 climate summit – Doha News | Qatar