Middle East Experience

The United Arab Emirates recorded 1,529 new COVID-19 cases, 1,504 recoveries and two deaths over 24 hours, the country’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) reported on Sunday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Health authorities conducted 265,482 tests to determine Sunday’s figures.The UAE’s virus death toll mounted to 1,898, total recoveries rose to 638,771 and total diagnosed cases since the pandemic’s onset increased to 660,978.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.There are now 20,309 active cases in the country.A clinical trial that examined the use of anti-viral medicine Sotrovimab in the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 cases among high-risk UAE-based patients found that 97 percent of its recipients fully recovered from the infection within 14 days, Emirates News Agency WAM reported on Sunday.The monoclonal antibody treatment also resulted in 100 percent prevention of death among recipients and 99 percent reduction in emergency hospitalization.Late last week UAE health officials urged the pubic to follow COVID-19 safety rules when they mark Eid al-Adha and released new protocols for the Muslim celebrations. It came as they revealed during the Eid al-Adha last year the average daily ratio of COVID-19 infections rose by more than 500 percent.NCEMA also released new Eid al-Adha safety protocols, outlining that prayers will be held for no longer than 15 minutes at mosques, while safety signs will be displayed in the outdoor areas of places of worship. Worshippers will also be asked to bring their own prayer mats and socially distanced markers will be placed on prayer spots.People are asked to avoid large gatherings, refrain from shaking hands or hugging at Eid prayers and to get tested before vising elderly relatives. People have also been asked to avoid exchanging and distributing meat, gifts and foods among neighbors.The UAE has officially surpassed Seychelles in becoming the world’s most vaccinated nation with more than 16 million doses.Read more:Abu Dhabi introduces new entry requirements to prevent COVID-19 variants spreadUAE reports 97 pct recovery in COVID-19 Sotrovimab clinical trialUAE records 1,565 COVID-19 cases, four virus-related deaths in 24 hours
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE logs 1,529 new COVID-19 infections, two deaths in 24 hours

The energy minister of the United Arab Emirates says OPEC and allied countries have reached a “full agreement” after an earlier dispute that roiled oil prices.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The comments by Suhail al-Mazrouei came after an online meeting Sunday to reach a deal.The group, which includes OPEC countries and allies like Russia, crucially agreed new production allocations from May 2022 to overcome differences between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that threatened the plan.OPEC+ last year cut production by a record 10 million barrels per day (bpd) amid a pandemic-induced slump in demand and collapsing prices. It has gradually reinstated some supply to leave it with a reduction of about 5.8 million bpd.From August until December 2021 the group will increase supply by a further 2 million bpd or 0.4 million bpd a month, OPEC said in a statement.The group had agreed to extend their overall pact until the end of 2022 from an earlier planned date of April 2022, to leave more room for maneuver in case global recovery stalls due to new virus variants.Whilst both Riyadh and the UAE had been supportive of an immediate output boost, the UAE had objected to the Saudi idea to extend the pact to December 2022 without getting a higher production quota.To overcome the disagreement, OPEC+ agreed new output quotas for several members from May 2022, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Kuwait and Iraq.The overall adjustment will add 1.63 million bpd to supply from May next year, according to Reuters calculations.The UAE will see its baseline production, from which cuts are being calculated, increase to 3.5 million bpd from May 2022 from today’s 3.168 million.Saudi and Russia will see their baselines rise to 11.5 million bpd each from the current 11 million.Read more:Major oil producers seeking output boost to meet Sunday, July 18: OPECUAE energy ministry says baseline oil production deal with OPEC+ not yet reachedOPEC+ stalemate risks price war as demand surges, says IEA
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Top oil producers agree on output boost from August: OPEC

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is tightening the noose on the jihadi Jundallah group and asking it to join it or leave Idlib, in what observers described as an attempt on the part of HTS to get rid of non-Syrian fighters.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Syrian jihadi groups crack down on rivals in Idlib

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Holy Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has provided pilgrims with all the necessary supplies and services to get through the Hajj season safely and in a socially distanced manner, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).Hajj visitors are provided with over 100,000 bottles of Zamzam water per day, during the first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Muslims believe that Zamzam is a miraculously generated source of water from God, which sprang thousands of years ago when Ibrahim’s infant son Ismail was left with his mother Hajar in the desert. After desperately looking for water to quench their thirst, God made water spring out of the ground, where it remains today.Also, more than 9,000 liters of Zamzam water are being distributed in back bags by 350 workers, SPA reported, along with 2,000 packs of dates during the Dhuhr (noon), Asr (afternoon), and Maghrib (sunset) prayers.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.To achieve this whilst limiting the spread of COVID-19, the affiliated body is using robots.The robots use a control system that is programmed on a pre-installed map, ensuring that they protect the environment whilst analyzing the sterilization requirements in accordance with various usage scenarios.The robots can distribute an average of 30 bottles of Zamzam water during a 10-minute tour. They are also able to work between five to eight hours without any human intervention, eliminating the spread of bacteria within 600 square meters.The general presidency allocated 3,000 electric carts which can be pre-booked on the Tanaqol app, to ensure that visitors avoid crowding and maintain social distancing, SPA reported on Sunday.In addition, Fahd bin Sharar al-Maliki, director of mobility services department at the Grand Mosque, told SPA that his department would supervise the maintenance and sterilization of the carts and monitor their movement, ensuring they are used in the allocated areas.The body also distributed 12,000 umbrellas to Hajj pilgrims and workers at the Grand Mosque on Friday to help offer protection from the sun and heat, SPA reported.This year’s Hajj is taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it did in 2020. A limited 60,000 people have been selected to take part in the pilgrimage in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.The accepted pilgrims had to meet strict criteria to qualify. Only vaccinated citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia between the ages of 18 and 65 were considered during the selection process, with none suffering from chronic illnesses or joined the procession in a previous Hajj.Mecca normally welcomes more than 2.5 million Muslims from across the world for Hajj.Read more:Twenty fined for violating Hajj regulations: SpokespersonSaudi Civil Defense female officers play vital role to ensure safe Hajj seasonHajj amid COVID-19: Steps and rituals every pilgrim must follow
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: General presidency equips pilgrims with Hajj essentials amid COVID-19

Two Syrian brown bears rescued from a zoo in south Lebanon are on their way to a US wildlife sanctuary, Animals Lebanon said on Sunday..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Bears rescued from Lebanon zoo fly to US sanctuary

Five runners-up will receive $50,000 each. In addition, four of the best trainers will win $25,000 each..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Dubai: Sheikh Mohammed launches million Coding Challenge

A sculpture showcasing Qatar's national bird has been unveiled at Hamad International Airport..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: 'Falcon' latest artwork to soar into Hamad International Airport  – Doha News | Qatar

Several hospital administrators in a southern Iraqi province have abandoned their posts, local authorities said Saturday, after arrest warrants were issued for senior staff following a deadly hospital fire in the city of Nasiriyah..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iraq hospital managers leave posts wary of possible new tragedies

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri’s decision to step down has jolted Lebanon, threatening to throw the crises-ridden country into further political and economic instability and social unrest, analysts said, amid warnings of chaos if a new government is not formed quickly to remedy the alarming situation..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon faces risk of instability, chaos after Hariri quit: Analysts

Robert Maxwell, a notable conduit between Israeli leaders and other governments, reportedly introduced Epstein to Israeli leaders.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Jeffrey Epstein may have had links to Israeli leaders - The Rolling Stone