Middle East Experience

The Palestinians want Israel to abide by signed agreements between the two sides.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: PA PM: We must build confidence before Israeli-Palestinian peace talks

Israel registers over 745 cases in 24 hours, highest figure since March, but serious morbidity remains limited.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israeli COVID cabinet meets as cases pass 700

The study's finidngs were consistent with the findings of previous smaller studies that showed a link between living in the periphery of Israel and a higher risk of developing all types of cancer.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Poor Israelis from the periphery more likely to die of cancer - study

The United Arab Emirates has granted Golden Visas to 100,000 entrepreneurs, enterprise owners and startups specialized in coding, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported on Sunday.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The country’s National Program for Coders announced the start of the Golden Visa application process on Sunday as part of an initiative that is available to both residents and non-residents of the UAE to attract some of the most talented and qualified coders and graduates specializing in the field of coding.Coders of all nationalities and age groups are eligible to apply for the UAE Golden Visa including distinguished experts in the field and talents who work for pioneering international technology companies, and graduates of computer science, software engineering, information technology, artificial intelligence, data science, electrical engineering, data science and hardware engineering.Eligible applicants can apply through the UAE’s Office of Artificial Intelligence or the federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship. All applications must be submitted by the UAE’s government agencies responsible for issuing the visas.The announcement is in line with the country’s aim to establish 1,000 major digital companies within the next five years to strengthen the UAE’s digital market and secure the necessary infrastructure needed to yield greater innovation and creativity to keep up with global trends and challenges across a variety of industries.The Golden Visa, which is also available to investors, entrepreneurs and talented individuals, offers ten years of residency within the UAE.Read more:UAE government grants Golden Visa to top high school grads, their familiesDubai launches with big tech companies a national program for codersAbu Dhabi launches new cybersecurity strategy to better safeguard healthcare data
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE grants Golden Visas to 100,000 resident, non-resident coders

When COVID-19 invades our bodies, the virus tries to overcome the immune system. It attacks and multiplies in huge numbers readying itself for the inevitable fightback.As the pandemic has shown, for many, their immune responses failed to combat coronavirus. The infection killed them.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Many others fell ill, some seriously, and some slightly, showing few symptoms at all while acting as carriers for the virus’s spread.It is ultimately the immune system that is the first and last line of defense against infectious disease. It uses a variety of tools to fight off infections, with red blood cells carrying vital oxygen to tissues and organs, and white blood cells acting as the key shield against infecting viruses, bacteria, fungus and other microorganisms.Helping the body’s immune system, we have multiple medicines at hand.In the fight against viruses vaccines have benefited Mankind for generations. Polio, Rubella along with many others are blocked by the body’s immune system when boosted by that vaccine.How do vaccines work? According to the global vaccine alliance GAVI, all vaccines work by exposing the body to molecules from the target pathogen to trigger an immune response.When vaccines are introduced into the body, they offer protection by providing our bodies with a supply of memory to help it remember how to fight off the same virus if infected again in the future.It typically takes two to three weeks after receiving a vaccine for the body to begin to produce its defense mechanism to ensure an effective immune response to defend itself in the event of that future infection.Peoples’ knowledge of vaccines has increased considerably throughout the many months of the pandemic. This is unlikely to change because everyone wants to keep pace with the best ways to protect themselves from COVID-19. New technologies and medicines are likely in the world’s long, continuous fight against COVID-19.More specifically, different vaccine types will continue to be offered to the public, all of which will defend the body against the virus in different ways.The best-known vaccines being used fall under two classes: messenger RNA (mRNA), and Adenovirus-vector vaccines. They are the basis for an array of big pharma brand named products.While these two vaccines have been created from different scientific approaches and designed with unique defense mechanisms against the virus, they have both proven to be quite effective in combatting this pandemic.mRNA vaccines mRNA vaccines are a new in the disease protection space. Unlike other vaccines that use a weakened or inactivated germ to fight the virus, mRNA vaccines teach a body’s cells how to produce a protein, or just a piece of protein, to trigger an immune response, prompting the production of antibodies which protect us against infection if the real virus were to ever enter our bodies.The widely accepted – and currently available - types of mRNA vaccines are the jabs manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna. The advantages of both these two-dose vaccines are that they are both highly effective, non-infectious, and have no preservatives in them.“Messenger RNA is present in our cells naturally and gives instructions for making protein,” Dr. Azeem Abdul Salam Mohamad, Internal Medicine Specialist at Bareen International Hospital in Dubai told Al Arabiya English.“mRNA in vaccines educates our cells on how to make a piece of spike protein of COVID virus. That way when the actual virus is introduced in the body, the body will already have developed some kind of an immune response,” he added.RNA based vaccines are quickly designed and manufactured based on genetic sequencing and mRNA fragments don’t cause COVID-19, explained Dr. Mohamad. The fast rate at which these vaccines are produced contributed to their quick approval across the world.In research conducted by scientists from the Washington University School of Medicine in the United States, it was found that the two mRNA vaccines created a constant immune reaction to the virus in the body protecting itself against COVID-19, online medical news agency Health reported.The research indicated that booster shots might not be needed to protect against the existing variants unless new strains emerge and are stronger than the two messenger RNA-based vaccines.“It’s a good sign for how durable our immunity is from this vaccine,” Dr. Ali Ellebedy who is based at the Washington University in St. Louis told the New York Times. “The fact that the reactions continued for almost four months after vaccination - that’s a very, very good sign.”The results of the study suggested that a vast majority of people who are vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna would be protected in the long run against existing variants. However, older adults or people with weaker immune systems will need booster shots.The exact length of the protection provided by mRNA vaccines against the virus has not been determined.“The disadvantage is that they only allow a fragment of virus to be made, producing poor protective immune response and hence multiple boosters may be needed,” Dr. Mohamad said.One of the most common misconceptions related to this vaccine type is that it could alter a human’s DNA. This has been debunked by numerous studies on the subject, including GAVI.Read more: Is it safe to mix-and-match COVID-19 vaccines? Here’s what we know so farAdenovirus-vector vaccines Like mRNA, Adenovirus-vector vaccines also use a specific genetic code from the “spike antigen” to protect the body against COVID-19, but it is deployed differently. Instead, the Adenovirus system uses a harmless virus as a vehicle to carry the spike into the body and create an immune response, online news media Mint reported.Both Oxford’s AstraZeneca and India’s Covishield COVID-19 vaccines use a mild adenovirus which causes common cold in chimpanzees. Russia’s Sputnik V uses human adenoviruses engineered to prevent the replication of a virus. Once these adenoviruses enter the body, human cells begin to produce the antigen to eventually combat the coronavirus.One of the drawbacks of this vaccine type, from a manufacturer’s perspective, is that it would require live adenovirus to be grown in large quantities in the lab first.In order to ensure the utmost safety during this process precautions will need to be taken to avoid infecting the people involved in its production.“One challenge of this approach is that people may previously have been exposed to the virus vector and raise an immune response against it, reducing the effectiveness of the vaccine. Such “anti-vector immunity” also makes delivering a second dose of the vaccine challenging, assuming this is needed, unless this second dose is delivered using a different virus vector,” a report on the GAVI website stated.Delta variant The Delta COVID-19 variant, first identified in India, is now the dominant form of the virus in a handful of countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States where it accounts for 10 percent of all diagnosed cases, according to online news media Medical News Today.Recent data indicates that the available vaccines are highly effective against the Delta strain by preventing a severe reaction and diminishing the need for hospitalization.Research by Public Health England (PHE) proved this theory, showing that Pfizer-BioNTech’s mRNA vaccine (96 percent) and Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Adenovirus-vector vaccine were highly effective against hospitalization after two doses, accounting for 96 and 92 percent efficacy, respectively.Further research is needed to determine which is more effective and how well each will protect against future variants.Read more:EU delivers enough COVID-19 vaccine doses to inoculate 70 pct of adultsPfizer to discuss vaccine COVID-19 booster with US officials90-year-old infected with ‘two COVID-19 variants at once’
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Explainer: The difference between COVID-19 mRNA and Adenovirus-vector vaccines

A Jordanian state security court on Monday sentenced former officials, Bassem Awadallah and Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, to 15 years in prison on charges of sedition and incitement.Awadallah and Zaid were accused of attempting to destabilize the monarchy of King Abdullah II and to have conspired with Prince Hamzah, the king’s half-brother.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Awadallah, a former aide to King Abdullah II, and Zaid, a member of the royal family, were arrested in April. The two had pleaded not guilty during their trial.Forty-one year old Prince Hamzah is not facing trial, but his family said that it had resolved the dispute with him. The court had rejected a defense request to bring more than two dozen witnesses to testify, incuding the prince.King Abdullah II and Prince Hamzah are both sons of the late King Hussein, who died in 1999.Upon ascending to the throne, King Abdullah named Prince Hamzah as the crown prince, only to revoke the title five years later and give it to his own son.The two brothers are said to generally have good relations, Prince Hamzah has in the past spoken out against government policies and forged close ties with powerful tribal leaders in a move that could be seen as a threat to the king.Read more:Defense in Jordan trial to ask court to invite Prince Hamza to testifyJordan coup plot accused want Prince Hamzah to testify: LawyerJordan ‘plot’ suspects to go on trial in security court, reports State TV
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Jordanian court sentences two former officials to 15 years for coup plot

New finance Minister Avigdor Liberman is ending daycare subsidies for ultra-Orthodox families in which the husband studies rather than works.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Liberman takes on ultra-Orthodox

With Eid Al Adha just around the corner, health experts in the United Arab Emirates are urging the public to exercise caution and to comply with COVID-19 safety protocols during the celebrations to avoid a spike in cases.The warning comes after the country’s health body recorded an “increasing number of infections” after the Eid al-Fitr holiday in May.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) said cited a failure to comply with COVID-19 rules, including wearing face masks, not social distancing and holding large gatherings during the festivities being a contributor to cases increasing.Cases rose to more than 2,000 across the country every day after the first Eid holiday, however, in recent weeks numbers have fallen.Doctors say the public must continue to be cautious to avoid cases climbing again.Dr Amaka Kate Uzu, a consultant in family medicine at Bareen International Hospital - MBZ City, told Al Arabiya English: “Recent experiences has made us aware that cases of COVID 19 tends to increase after public holidays and celebrations such as Eid.”“As we draw close to the coming Eid celebration, let us be mindful of this and do our best to take necessary precautions that will protect us from contracting the virus.”“Such precautions include ensuring you are vaccinated and even if vaccinated continue to maintain physical distance, wear your mask and avoid large gatherings.”‘Stay safe’Dr Rajesh Kumar Gupta, specialist internal medicine, Burjeel Specialty Hospital, Sharjah, has advised against marking the Eid holidays with large gatherings.“Considering the ongoing pandemic, it is suggested to limit the celebrations during the holidays,” the doctor told Al Arabiya English.“Always wear a face mask, maintain social distancing, disinfect hands by washing or sanitizing and avoid contact with face and eyes.”“I would advise no large family visits, gatherings or handshakes during Eid holidays and I would urge everyone to avoid visiting pregnant women, children, elderly people with chronic illnesses,” the doctor said.“Lastly, get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible as there is high risk (of illness) from new strains of the virus for unvaccinated peoples.”Dr Abdul Aneez, medical director at Medeor Hospital Dubai, echoed the need for caution.“When the COVID-19 pandemic first started, there was a lot of uncertainty,” he told Al Arabiya English. “Celebrations, like most other social events, became muted.”“Today, the situation is not as bleak as the cases have come down and vaccination drives are taking place in full swing. But we need to remember that the pandemic is not yet over.“We must not let our guards down even if we have already received the vaccine. We now have a better understanding of the protocol we need to follow and this will enable us to celebrate the upcoming Eid in a meaningful and safe manner.”That, he said, included paying attention to the official guidelines while observing the festivities.“Make it a priority to wear a mask and maintain physical distance while interacting with others. It is wise to limit spending time in enclosed areas or places with large crowds. Let us try to make the most of Eid by celebrating responsibly.”The UAE has officially surpassed Seychelles in becoming the world’s most vaccinated nation with more than 15.9 million doses, according to the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA).This number is expected to rise soon with the approval of a third booster dose to those who have taken the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine, and the launch of Pfizer vaccines for pregnant women, which was announced in late June.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.On Friday Saudi Arabia announced the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha will begin on Tuesday, July 20, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).The Crescent Moon Sighting Department “decided that standing at Arafat shall be on Monday, the 9th the month of Dhu al-Hijjah for this Year 1442 AH, corresponding to July 19, 2021 AD, and the blessed Eid al-Adha shall be on the following day, on Tuesday,” according to SPA.Read more:UAE urges public to wear face masks, get vaccinated as COVID-19 cases riseUAE updates COVID-19 rules for entering ministries, federal entities, service centersUAE overtakes Seychelles in becoming world’s most vaccinated nation
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE health experts urge COVID-19 caution ahead of Eid Al Adha

Saudi Arabia and Oman will continue the cooperation and coordination that has been achieved in the political, security, and military fields, a joint statement by the two Gulf countries said following the end of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq’s two-day visit to the Kingdom at the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz.The statement directed the concerned authorities to expedite the opening of border crossings between Saudi Arabia and Oman.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The two countries welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the establishment of a Saudi-Omani Coordination Council headed by their respective foreign ministers.They also agreed to direct the concerned authorities to expedite the opening of border crossings between the Kingdom and the Sultanate, which will integrate supply chains and allow Saudi and Omani citizens to travel smoothly between the countries.The statement also directed officials to work on concluding a number of agreements and MoUs between the two countries to enhance their cooperation in various economic, commercial, investment, security, cultural, diplomatic and educational fields.The statement comes at the end of Sultan Haitham’s visit to Neom, where he partook in talks with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.An Omani delegation with several top officials also accompanied the Sultan and met with their Saudi Arabian counterparts.Read more:King Salman, Sultan Haitham witness signing of Saudi-Omani Coordination Council dealSaudi Arabia’s King Salman receives Oman’s Sultan Haitham at Neom PalaceSaudi Arabia’s Crown Prince welcomes Oman’s Sultan Haitham ahead of Neom talks
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia, Oman to continue cooperation between the two countries: Joint statement

The killing of an 18-year-old girl who refused to marry her cousin at the hands of her relatives in the countryside of Hasakah sparked anger and ignited controversy on social media.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Relatives murder Syrian girl in honor killing