Middle East Experience

Saudi Arabia has “spared no effort” in its COVID-19 vaccination drive according to a new study, which highlighted the Kingdom’s success in battling the pandemic and its goal to achieve herd immunity.The first case of COVID-19 was reported in the Kingdom on March 2 2020 and the country quickly implemented multiple interventions to limit the spread of the virus, according to the study: ‘Launching COVID-19 vaccination in Saudi Arabia: Lessons learned, and the way forward.’ Published in the medical journal Science Direct, it detailed Saudi Arabia’s journey tackling the spread of the virus.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Lead author, Dr. Abdullah Asiri, the Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Preventive Health and Consultant in Contagious Diseases, said preventative measures included the cancellation of social events, mass gatherings, citywide festivals, religious gatherings, cultural celebrations and scientific conferences.Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries in the world to begin a country-wide vaccination drive, said Asiri. The Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine was the first vaccine to be approved for use in the Kingdom in mid-December 2020, followed by the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in February 2021.“Saudi Arabia was very proactive in the preparation for the availability of COVID-19 vaccine,” said Asiri, adding that the Kingdom quickly established a national immunization technical advisory group and the establishment of a vaccine committee to aid in a rapid nationwide vaccination rollout.The committee chose to first distribute vaccines based on the size of the population of each city, prioritizing those with higher populations, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Madinah, and Makkah.“Large quantities of the vaccine was provided so a ramp-up plan was proposed to achieve herd immunity and eventually limit the spread of the virus and the progression of COVID-19,” said Asiri.“The plan was to expand vaccination operations to include dedicated vaccine centers including mega sites, Expos, old airport terminals, and leverage pre-existing medical facilities including primary healthcare centers, field hospitals and public hospitals,” he added.By the end of February 2021, 128 COVID-19 vaccine sites were set up around the country.The initial plan, said Asiri, was to administer 6.5 million doses in the first quarter of 2021 and 10.5 million in the second quarter to hit a target of 17 million jabs.The priority, he said, was to target frontline healthcare workers, individuals in security and military sectors, and all individuals at increased risk for severe disease (those above 65 of age and individuals with two or more chronic medical conditions).The second phase continued to focus on these frontline groups, but also targeted essential workers in the public and private sector such as education, communications and transportation and those with chronic medical conditions.Phase three was directed at the remaining population.Due to the storage requirements for Pfizer-Biotech doses to remain at -70c, Saudi Arabia designated large exhibition centers in key cities for the administration of the vaccine, said Asiri, and the Kingdom began a mass public awareness campaign to encourage people to receive their jabs.“No effort was spared to assure the highest level of vaccine equity,” he said. “The government announced the launch of a public registration system that prioritized vaccination appointments based on preset conditions. Citizens, expatriates, and visitors were all eligible to register and receive the vaccine free of charge.”“A Royal decree was issued stating that the vaccine should be provided to all Saudi citizens and residents, including illegal residents, equally and at no cost to the individual.”A total of 16,522,087 vaccine doses have been administered as of June 20, 2021, according to the health ministry spokesman. To date, the Kingdom’s vaccination drive has been steady, currently averaging at about 123,643 doses administered per day, according to COVID-19 data from Reuters.Asiri said the goal now is to achieve herd immunity across the Kingdom.“Giving the increasing number of COVID-19 around the globe, the need for herd immunity is with no doubt an important issue to tackle,” he said. “Saudi Arabia had implemented a very active process to provide immunization to all residents.”“The MOH had made the vaccine available at all healthcare sectors including the MOH facilities, institutions, private hospitals and clinics as well as large public pharmacies.”“The mass vaccination campaigns are already scaled up to all citizens and residents free of charge. The first one million vaccinees was completed in more than two months, the second million was accomplished in (another) ten days and the third million in (another) seven days.”Asiri said that the “Sehhaty” application allowed citizens and residents to easily book appointments and know the locations of the COVID-19 vaccination centers in the Kingdom.“Daily MOH briefings and updates including strong messages for the public to accept the vaccine and share histories of those who were hesitant to take the vaccine and unfortunately developed COVID-19 with poor clinical outcome,” he said.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Asiri said, as of the end of May, more than 13.9 million people across the country had been vaccinated.The Kingdom’s COVID-19 death toll has so far mounted to 7,677 and total recoveries to 455,618, according to figures released on Sunday.Read more:Saudi Arabia administered over 13.9 mln COVID-19 vaccine doses so far: OfficialSaudi shopping malls open only to COVID-19 vaccinated people from AugustSaudi Arabia records 1,079 new COVID-19 infections, 14 deaths
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: ‘No effort spared’: Study hails Saudi Arabia’s COVID-19 vaccination drive

Israel-based i24News television network said Monday it would open an office in Dubai, the first to do so since the normalization of ties between Israel and the UAE.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“In the last year, we have witnessed regional diplomatic changes that enable business ties and opportunities for partnerships,” said Frank Melloul, chief executive of i24News.“The establishment of our office in Dubai Media City gives us a strategic platform to expand our coverage of the Middle East right from the heart of the region’s media industry hub,” he added.The news channel also announced a series of agreements with the United Arab Emirates, including content exchanges with the publisher of English-language daily Gulf News, and advertisements from UAE’s tourism ministry.Mona Al Marri, director general of the Government of Dubai Media Office, welcomed “the establishment of cooperation between the media sectors of UAE and Israel”, while Majed Al Suwaidi, the director of Dubai Media City, said that adding i24News to the center “adds to the rich global diversity of media.”Two major Emirati telecom operators, Etisalat and DU, would carry content from i24News, which broadcasts in Arabic, English and French.In December, the channel based in Israel’s coastal city of Tel Avi signed a deal with Abu Dhabi Media for shared reporting and archival content.The state-owned Dubai Media Incorporated said it signed a memorandum of understanding with i24News to cooperate on content creation, media technology and employee exchange programs.The channel and Dubai Media Incorporated also said they connect their media with a “fiber of Peace” an optical line connecting the Gulf to Israel to share information.Under the US-brokered accords last year, Israel established ties with UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.Israel has already signed a raft of deals with both UAE and Bahrain, ranging from tourism to aviation and financial services. This month, a first Emirati student began study at an Israeli university.Read more:UAE, Bahrain, Israel and the US ‘change the course of history’UAE-Israel visa exemption deal postponed over coronavirus worriesIsrael’s parliament passes UAE agreement, bringing peace deal into full effect
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Israel-based i24News channel to open office in Dubai Media City

German federal prosecutors said Monday they had arrested a Russian scientist accused of passing sensitive information from a German university to Moscow in return for cash.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.They said in a statement the suspect, identified only as Ilnur N., had been taken into custody on Friday on suspicion of “working for a Russian secret service since early October 2020 at the latest.”Ilnur N. was employed until the time of his arrest as a research assistant for a natural sciences and technology department at an unnamed German university.Federal prosecutors believe he met at least three times with a member of Russian intelligence between October 2020 and June 2021. On two occasions he allegedly “passed on information from the university’s dominion.”He is suspected of accepting cash payments in exchange for his services.German authorities searched his home and workplace in the course of the arrest.The suspect on Saturday appeared before a judge who remanded him in custody.The case comes at a time of highly strained relations between Russia and Germany on a number of fronts including the ongoing detention of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who received treatment in Berlin after a near-fatal poisoning.Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government has also worked to maintain a sanctions regime over Moscow’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula, the scene of ongoing fighting between pro-Russia separatists and local forces.However despite international criticism, Berlin has forged ahead with plans to finish the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, set to double natural gas supplies from Russia to Germany.Read more:US spied on Merkel, European allies with Danish help from 2012 to 2014US says preparing new Russia sanctions over Alexei Navalny poisoningRussian envoy returns to US optimistic, hopes for ‘equal’, ‘pragmatic’ ties
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Germany arrests Russian scientist for ‘spying’ for Moscow

Dubai’s Emirates airline will restrict its UK flights to London Heathrow and Birmingham as it continues to operate a reduced flying schedule amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a spokesperson for the carrier told Al Arabiya English on Monday.While the airline had been allowing passengers to also book tickets to London Gatwick for later in the year – despite the carrier not currently operating flights to the UKs second busiest airport – Emirates have now confirmed that, at present, it has no plans to re-open the route.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The airline had allowed bookings given the fluidity of COVID-19 restrictions in the UK.However Britain’s strict quarantine requirements remain in place.Britain allowed international travel to resume in May, but nearly all major destinations like Spain, France, Italy and the US were left off the ‘green’ safe list. Those visiting ‘amber’ countries must quarantine for 10 days on their return and take multiple tests. ‘Red’ countries - such as the United Arab Emirates - have tougher rules.In a statement, Emirates said: “Emirates is operating to and from the UK and is accepting eligible travelers to London Heathrow and Birmingham under special conditions. Understandably, the airline is serving its gateways in the UK with a reduced flying schedule due to ongoing travel restrictions in place.”“Full schedules are available on emirates.com and Emirates will continue to monitor and make additional adjustments as UK travel guidelines and entry conditions evolve. Customers with affected travel plans are urged to go to emirates.com for alternative booking options.”On Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was very confident that he would be able to lift remaining coronavirus restrictions on his new target date of July 19, based on the most recent data.On Thursday, Emirates airline announced it will operate close to 90 percent of its pre-pandemic network by the end of July as it restores more destinations and increases flights on other routes over the summer.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Dubai state carrier, which reported a record $5.5 billion loss last week, said it was encouraged by countries reopening to visitors, forecasting strong demand during the peak summer travel season.Emirates will operate 880 weekly services to 124 passenger destinations by the end of July, up from 115 today and compared to a pre-pandemic passenger network of 143 destinations, it said.Read more:Dubai airport targets ‘flood’ of 28 million travelers this year: CEODubai-based Emirates airline posts $5.5 bln loss as coronavirus disrupts travelDubai Airports CEO hopeful yet unsure about UAE removal from UK ‘red list’
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Dubai’s Emirates restricts UK flights to Heathrow, Birmingham amid travel curbs

A temporary Israeli immigration measure's yearly renewal has put the members of the new government in an uncomfortable position.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Routine renewal of immigration regulation tears at Israeli coalition

The Islamic State's religious police are back at work in the areas under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces in northeast Syria.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Islamic State revives religious police in northeast Syria

Ansar al-Islam is a Kurdish Salafist and jihadist group operating in the Kurdistan mountains in northern Iraq all the way to Latakia in Syria, fighting against the Syrian government.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Does Kurdish jihadist group threaten Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in north Syria?

The Gaza Strip's bomb squad is working with severely limited resources to neutralize the deadly ordnance left behind after the latest Israel-Gaza fighting.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Gaza bomb squad handles ordnance with scant equipment

The “year of wheat” campaign pushed by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is in peril after low rainfall risked leaving an import gap of at least 1.5 million tonnes, according to preliminary estimates by officials and experts..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Drought puts Syria’s food production in jeopardy

Top stories on #TheRoundUp today: 🇵🇸 UN to mediate transfer of Qatari aid to Gaza ⚽ Norway votes against boycotting Qatar World Cup 2022 💪 Qatar celebrates milestone 10,000 scholarships for disadvantaged youth, refugees 🇸🇴 QNL donates 4,000 books to Somali National Library..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: The Round Up | 21 June 2021 – Doha News | Qatar