Middle East Experience

In spite of the dire situation in Lebanon with an escalating economic crisis, locals can still find a way to escape, at least temporarily, the daily pressures by looking for fun, mood-lifting activities, like exercising or spending time in nature..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanese escape daily woes with whitewater river rafting

Israeli officials told KAN that they were concerned by the report, while US officials in public did little to dispel the mystery surrounding the issue.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: How dangerous is the new alleged Russia-Iran high resolution satellite?

Incoming Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, who is Israel's first LGBTQ+ Health Minister, plans on removing a form question that asks "have you engaged in sexual relations between men?"
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Health Minister to remove blood donation restrictions from gay men

New religious services minister has set a goal of decentralizing conversion, reforming kashrut supervision and changing the electoral body for chief rabbis to ensure religious-Zionist rabbi is elected.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Matan Kahana wants to fix Israel's divisions over religion, state

The United States Monday lambasted the Iran-backed Houthis for a drone attack that targeted a school in Saudi Arabia over the weekend.“Such attacks threaten civilians, including school children,” the State Department said in a tweet.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Saudi Arabia’s civil defense in the Asir region said a Houthi drone had landed on a school without causing any injuries, according to a statement on Sunday.The Houthis have continued their cross-border attacks on civilian targets inside Saudi Arabia and have escalated their offensive on Marib, one of the Yemeni government’s last strongholds in the north since the Biden administration eased pressure and removed the group from Washington’s terror blacklist.But in a sign of frustration, Biden officials and the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on several Houthi figures despite removing three senior officials from the Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) list shortly after Joe Biden became president.The most recent Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia drew condemnation from the regional and international community. “We strongly condemn the Houthi drone attack that struck and damaged a school in the Asir Region of Saudi Arabia,” the US said Monday. “We join other nations in condemning the attack and call on the Houthis to commit to a lasting ceasefire.”Led by US Special Envoy Tim Lenderking, Washington has increased its efforts to end the yearslong war in Yemen.Saudi Arabia, among others, has expressed a willingness to end the war and has put forward proposals for ending the conflict. Nevertheless, the Houthis remain uncommitted to reaching a solution, and US officials have repeatedly stated that this was the case.Read more: UAE condemns Houthi drone attack targeting school in Saudi Arabia’s Asir
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US condemns Houthi drone attack on school in Saudi Arabia

Incoming Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev said the march is expected to continue as planned.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Joint List files appeal to cancel Jerusalem flag march

The demand for the popular fruit is rising endlessly. This year, revenues are expected to double last year's revenues, which reached an estimated sale of 270,000 tons of avocados.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Avocado: Israel's most economic crop

Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca said on Tuesday a study of its monoclonal antibody treatment, AZD7442, did not meet the main goal of preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in people recently exposed to the novel coronavirus.The company said the participants in the trial were unvaccinated adults older than 18 years with confirmed exposure to a person with the coronavirus within the past eight days.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.AZD7442 reduced the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 by 33 percent compared to a placebo, which was not statistically significant, the company reported.“While this trial did not meet the primary endpoint against symptomatic illness, we are encouraged by the protection seen in the PCR negative participants following treatment with AZD7442,” Mene Pangalos, AstraZeneca executive vice president, said in a statement.AstraZeneca is also studying the treatment in a pre-exposed patients trial and for preventing more severe disease.The monoclonal antibody therapy belongs to a class of drugs which mimic natural antibodies the body produces to fight off the infection.Rivals Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc and Eli Lilly & Co have both developed monoclonal antibody therapies which have been authorized for use in the United States to treat patients infected with the virus.. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved Regeneron’s therapy and is reviewing similar drugs from Eli Lilly, Celltrion and one developed by GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology Inc.AstraZeneca in October enlisted Swiss contract manufacturer Lonza to produce the antibody drug in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, starting in the first half of 2021.AZD7442 is being developed with support from the US government. AstraZeneca in March announced a deal with the US government to supply up to half a million doses of AZD7442. The company said on Tuesday it is now in talks with the US government regarding next steps on the deal.Read more:Thailand denies blocking AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine exportsJapan to send Vietnam 1 mln COVID-19 vaccines on June 16AstraZeneca vaccine should be halted for over-60s: EMA
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: AstraZeneca’s antibody treatment fails to protect patients exposed to COVID-19

With the opening of a new international airport in the Red Sea, residents of the disputed Halayeb and Shalateen region are hoping the government will step up development efforts.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Will new Red Sea airport spark development on Egypt-Sudan border?

The United Arab Emirates customs seized 923,724 counterfeit goods in 2020, according to a report published on Emirates News Agency (WAM) on Monday.Combating the smuggling of counterfeit commodities and protecting Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) are paramount in nationwide customs functions, Commissioner of Customs, and Chairman of the UAE Federal Customs Authority (FCA), Ali al-Neyadi said.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“The efforts by the FCA and local customs departments have protected society, consumers, trademark holders and the private sector against economic, commercial and social harms resulting from infringing IPRs and the spread of counterfeit commodities,” according to WAM.The report said that 70.73 percent of the counterfeit goods seized were being transported by sea, while 19.51 were from air transport, and 4.88 percent were from land transport.WAM reported that al-Neyadi lauded the efforts by local customs departments in 2020, adding that Dubai Customs’ work contributed to the removal of the UAE from the United States’ intellectual property watchlist.Increased efforts by Dubai Customs to stop the import of fake products led to the UAE’s status being upgraded on the Office of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) Special 301 Report for 2021.Earlier this month, officials in the emirate of Ajman seized 120,000 counterfeit items of international designer brands worth $8,168,155.The confiscated items included fake designer watches, handbags, sunglasses, clothes and accessories.Read more:UAE removed from US intellectual property watchlistAjman Police confiscate $8.1 mln worth of counterfeit luxury items
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE customs seized 923,724 counterfeit goods in 2020: WAM