A research team found 18 drugs that they felt could be effective.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israeli lab: Some existing drugs could stop COVID at almost 100%
Yair Netanyahu apologizes to Wexler Fund for offensive social media posts
The apology came after 74 Harvard University graduates who were funded by the Wexler Fund sued him for libel.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Yair Netanyahu apologizes to Wexler Fund for offensive social media posts
In the desert, you can be a paramedic, fireman, solider and cop at once
A Jewish National Fund-USA project set up essential emergency assistance in the Arava desert.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: In the desert, you can be a paramedic, fireman, solider and cop at once
Israel displaces 11 Palestinian families in Jordan Valley
Israel says it demolished homes in a hamlet in the northern Jordan Valley in order to use the area for Israel Defense Forces military drills.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel displaces 11 Palestinian families in Jordan Valley
Idlib authorities begin restoration of historic mosque
The government affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria’s Idlib is restoring the historic Great Mosque, which was severely damaged by Syrian government shelling.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Idlib authorities begin restoration of historic mosque
Saudi health ministry says it is safe to combine approved COVID-19 vaccine shots
Saudi Arabia has assured that combining COVID-19 vaccine doses from different brands is safe, so long as they have been approved in the Kingdom, Emirates News Agency WAM reported on Wednesday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The Kingdom’s official health ministry spokesperson Dr. Mohamed al-Abdali stated that the procedure had been authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in several countries, according to Saudi Press Agency (SPA).“Incorrect interpretations are being circulated in the media about what was issued by the World Health Organization about mixing vaccines. We confirm the safety of mixing the vaccines approved in the Kingdom, based on [inputs from] international research and specialized scientific committees, as this procedure is authorized by WHO and a number of world’s countries,” Dr. al-Abdali tweeted.The Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Johnson and Johnson, and Moderna coronavirus vaccines have so far been approved in Saudi Arabia.Over 20 million vaccine doses have been administered in the country so far, meaning that at least 58 percent of its population have been inoculated with one dose.According to COVID-19 data from Reuters, the Kingdom’s immunization drive averages at around 183,807 doses administered each day. If the country continues to vaccinate at this rate, it would take a further 38 days to administer enough doses to another 10 percent of its population, Reuters reported.Read more:Is it safe to mix-and-match COVID-19 vaccines? Here’s what we know so farSaudi soldier conducts Kingdom’s first female-led security briefing for Hajj seasonWHO warns individuals against mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccines
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi health ministry says it is safe to combine approved COVID-19 vaccine shots
Populist Iraq cleric demands action over COVID-19 isolation ward fire
Populist Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr has warned he will hold the Iraqi government responsible if it fails to action over a devastating fire that killed scores of people in a COVID-19 isolation unit.The warning comes just months before Iraq is scheduled to go to the polls in October for an early parliamentary election that was demanded by a protest movement backed by Sadr’s supporters.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.“It is incumbent on the government to work immediately to firmly and seriously punish those to blame for hospital fires, whether in Nasiriyah or other provinces, no matter their (political) affiliation,” Sadr tweeted late Tuesday.“Otherwise, this government will be held responsible from its lowest to its highest (official).”The devastating blaze swept through the COVID-19 isolation unit of Al-Hussein Hospital in the southern city of Nasiriyah on Monday evening,The death toll rose to 92 on Tuesday, the Iraqi state news agency said. Two health officials said that more than 100 people were also injured in the fire.Earlier, officials had said the fire was caused by an electric short circuit, but have not provided more details. Another official said the blaze erupted when an oxygen cylinder exploded. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to journalists.The new ward, opened just three months ago, contained 70 beds.It was the second such fire in Iraq in three months.An April fire at a Baghdad COVID-19 hospital killed 82 people and was also blamed on the explosion of badly stored oxygen bottles.That blaze triggered widespread anger and resulted in the suspension and subsequent resignation of then health minister Hassan al-Tamimi, a nominee of Sadr’s powerful political bloc.Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi has ordered an investigation into Monday’s blaze “that will lead to those directly responsible”, his office said.He already dismissed the hospital’s manager, the provincial health director and the local civil defense chief.Arrest warrants have been issued for 13 officials, including the provincial health director.Sadr demanded that the findings of the official inquiry be released quickly.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“It must not end up like others conducted into previous hospital fires. Or else we have other means of protecting people’s safety and dignity.”Demonstrations in honor of the victims were planned in Nasiriyah later after residents held a candle-lit vigil late on Tuesday.(With input from agencies)Read more:Death toll from COVID-19 isolation ward fire climbs to 92: State news agencyIraq health minister resigns over hospital fire that killed 80 peopleEnraged relatives say neglect caused deadly Baghdad hospital fire
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Populist Iraq cleric demands action over COVID-19 isolation ward fire
Oil prices drop after Saudi Arabia, UAE reach compromise over supply deal
Oil prices dropped on Wednesday after Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had reached a compromise over a global supply deal that will allow the UAE to boost its output. The deal between the two Gulf producers means that members of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia and other producers, a group known as OPEC+, will be able to extend a deal to curb output until the end of 2022, the sources said.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. Brent crude was down 57 cents, or 0.75 percent, at $75.92 a barrel by 1120 GMT after dropping by over $1 earlier. West Texas Intermediate was off by 58 cents, or 0.77 percent, at $74.67 a barrel. Disagreement between OPEC’s defacto leader Saudi Arabia and the UAE led to a collapse in talks last week on boosting production as global demand recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. Under the compromise with Saudi Arabia, the UAE’s baseline production will rise to 3.65 million barrels per day after the current pact expires in April 2022, the source said. Oil prices were earlier under pressure after data showed China’s crude imports dropped by 3 percent from January to June compared with a year earlier, the first such contraction since 2013, as import quota shortages, refinery maintenance and rising global prices curbed buying. “Imports were scaled back as surging prices for crude oil have eroded refinery profit margins,” Eurasia Group said in a note. Lending support to the market, US stockpiles of oil and gasoline inventories fell last week, according to two market sources on Tuesday, citing American Petroleum Institute figures. Crude inventories declined by 4.1 million barrels for the week ended July 9, the sources said.Read more: OPEC+ stalemate risks price war as demand surges, says IEA
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Oil prices drop after Saudi Arabia, UAE reach compromise over supply deal
First woman appointed to lead Saudi football club amid increased roles for women
Abrar Shaker was appointed as Chairman of the FLIG Football Club at its first founding meeting in a move that made her Saudi Arabia’s first woman to lead a football club, Arabic news media Al Yaum reported.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.At the club’s first meeting, the Saudi lawyer and newly-appointed chairman Shaker said: “… Today, the meeting of the Constituent Committee was convened. God willing, we came up with and agreed on many recommendations. God willing, we will begin to see better results in the near future. This serves the people of Hafr Al Batin, serves Saudi football and serves both women and men.”As part of an effort to expand the number of games in the future the football club - based in the eastern Saudi province of Hafar Al Batin - includes teams for both men and women.Taking on more roles in Saudi society On Tuesday, female soldier Abeer al-Rashed conducted the country’s first female-led security forces briefing for Hajj, the Kingdom’s media ministry reported. She constructed the security and traffic management strategy for the upcoming pilgrimage season which is set to take place from July 17 to 22. It has a limited capacity of 60,000 people in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.Al-Rashed's role was met with a mass of positive comments on social media, from users in Saudi Arabia and across the region.The defense ministry opened military recruitment to women earlier this year, enabling them to enroll in the Saudi Arabian Land Forces, Royal Saudi Air Defense, Royal Saudi Navy, Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Force, and Armed Forces Medical Services.Many female police officers were also spotted supervising Umrah pilgrims during the holy month of Ramadan in Mecca, highlighting the advances women in the Kingdom have made in many fields under the Vision 2030 program.Another major advancement is the growing number of industries that are hiring women for the first time in Saudi Arabia. With the relaxing of guardianship laws, women are now able to open up their own businesses too.Some prominent Saudi figures who dominated Forbes’ Top 10 power list in 2020 included: Rania Nashar, the first female CEO of a Saudi commercial bank, currently leading Samba Financial Group, the Kingdom’s third-largest bank by assets; Sarah al-Suhaimi, the first Saudi woman to chair the country’s stock exchange; and Lubna Olayan, CEO and Deputy Chairman of multinational enterprise and investing firm Olayan Financing Company.Another key milestone in this space was when Reema bint Bandar al-Saud was appointed as Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States.Although women’s evolving roles in Saudi Arabia are changing fast, there have always been breakthroughs.When talent shone through women were guaranteed to play significant roles. This included female rocket and spacecraft engineer, Mishaal al-Shamimri, who became the first Saudi woman to join the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).Since Vision 2030 was launched in 2016, it has become clear that women will continue to play instrumental roles in the country. In such a short period of time so much has changed, in terms of a woman’s place in society, and the realization that the skills and talent on offer will help Saudi Arabia diversify its economy seamlessly. It is safe to say that we will see more women empowered to take positive steps in their professional careers.Read more:Saudi soldier conducts Kingdom’s first female-led security briefing for Hajj seasonThree held for violating Saudi Arabia’s Hajj season regulationsSaudi health ministry says it is safe to combine approved COVID-19 vaccine shots
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: First woman appointed to lead Saudi football club amid increased roles for women
Lebanon’s Hariri puts forward cabinet of 24 ministers, says it can save nation
Lebanon’s prime minister designate Saad Hariri said Wednesday he has presented to president Michel Aoun a cabinet suggestion of 24 ministers.He said that he believes this cabinet can save the nation from its current crisis, and added that he is awaiting a response from the president on Thursday.Developing
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Lebanon’s Hariri puts forward cabinet of 24 ministers, says it can save nation