Middle East Experience

With concrete barriers and checkpoints, Israeli forces have closed off the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israeli police close off Sheikh Jarrah in Jerusalem

Eight years after an alliance was forged between Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and Yamina leader Naftali Bennett, that brotherhood is getting the latter into the prime minister's seat.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Can Lapid-Bennett coalition keep it together?

Saudi Arabia has reported 1,175 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, raising the total to 463,703, the health ministry announced on Friday.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Of the new cases, 376 were detected in the city of Mecca while 258 were detected in the capital Riyadh.The ministry also recorded 18 coronavirus-related deaths, raising the death toll to 7,537 as of June 10.Meanwhile, an additional 1,262 people who had previously tested positive for the virus recovered, takin the total number of recoveries to 446,054.Read more:Abu Dhabi requires COVID-19 vaccine, negative PCR test to enter public placesOver 600 mln people in China vaccinated against COVID-19: Official
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia sees slight drop in daily new COVID-19 cases with 1,175 confirmed

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson expects the Group of Seven to agree to donate 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to poorer countries during its summit starting on Friday, and help inoculate the world by the end of next year.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Just hours after US President Joe Biden vowed to supercharge the battle against the coronavirus with a donation of 500 million Pfizer shots, Johnson said Britain would give at least 100 million surplus vaccines to the poorest nations.Johnson has already called on G7 leaders to commit to vaccinate the entire world by the end of 2022 and the group is expected to pledge 1 billion doses during its three-day summit in the English seaside resort of Carbis Bay.Some campaign groups condemned the plan as a drop in the ocean, with Oxfam estimating that nearly 4 billion people will depend on COVAX for vaccines, the program that distributes COVID-19 shots to low and middle income countries.“As a result of the success of the UK’s vaccine program we are now in a position to share some of our surplus doses with those who need them,” Johnson will say on Friday, according to excerpts of the announcement released by his office.“In doing so we will take a massive step towards beating this pandemic for good.”COVID-19 has killed around 3.9 million people and ripped through the global economy, with infections reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.While scientists have brought vaccines to market at breakneck speeds - Britain has given a first dose to 77 percent of its adult population and the US 64 percent - they say the pandemic will only end once all countries have been vaccinated.With a global population nearing 8 billion and most people needing two doses, if not booster shots to tackle variants as well, campaigners said the commitments marked a start but world leaders needed to go much further, and much faster.“The G7’s aim to provide 1 billion doses should be seen as an absolute minimum, and the timeframe needs to speed up,” said Lis Wallace at anti-poverty campaign group ONE.“We’re in a race with this virus and the longer it’s in the lead the greater the risk of new, more dangerous variants undermining global progress.”Of the 100 million British shots, 80 million will go to the COVAX program led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the rest will be shared bilaterally with countries in need.Johnson echoed Biden in calling on his fellow leaders to make similar pledges and for pharmaceutical companies to adopt the Oxford-AstraZeneca model of providing vaccines at cost for the duration of the pandemic.Leaving poorer countries to deal with the pandemic alone risks allowing the virus to further mutate and evade vaccines. Charities have also said that logistical support will be needed to help administer large numbers of vaccines in poorer countries.The British doses will be drawn from the stock it has already procured for its domestic program, and will come from suppliers Oxford-AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Janssen, Moderna and others.Read more:US buying 500 mln doses of Pfizer COVID vaccine to distribute among other countriesUK’s Raab: We don’t condone ‘vaccine diplomacy’, but no doubt some are using itUK PM Johnson, US President Biden meet on ahead of G7 summit in Cornwall
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: G7 expected to donate 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to poorer countries

The respondents of the survey were a mix of classroom teachers and education experts..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: 100% focus should be given to student’s mental wellbeing, says study

The continued obstruction by President Michel Aoun and MP Gebran Bassil of the formation of a new government is boosting the chances of Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri stepping down, Future Movement officials said Thursday, in the latest setback to ongoing efforts to break the monthslong Cabinet deadlock..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Amid deadlock, Hariri edging closer to stepping down: Future

The Israeli army shot dead a Palestinian teenager on Friday during clashes in the north of the occupied West Bank, Palestinian medics and the health ministry said.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“Mohammad Said Hamayel, 15, died in clashes” with Israeli forces near Beita, south of Nablus, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.The Palestinian health ministry said six others had been wounded by live gunfire.According to Wafa, the Palestinian news agency, the violence took place during “a public protest against Israel’s construction of a colonial settlement outpost near the village”, to which the army responded with live fire and teargas.The teenager’s death comes a day after three Palestinians were killed by Israeli special forces on a mission to arrest suspected “terrorists” in the occupied West Bank.Violence in the West Bank increased in early May, with at least 30 Palestinians killed in clashes with Israeli forces and in alleged attacks.Read more:Three Palestinians killed by Israeli forces on arrest missionIsraeli police cancel controversial Jerusalem march due to security concerns‘She screams when someone comes near’: Israel-Hamas fighting traumatize Gaza children
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Israeli army shoots, kills Palestinian teen during protest: Ministry

The broad alliance signed deals ahead of Sunday's vote of confidence in the incoming Israeli government.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israeli opposition parties finalize agreements to unseat Netanyahu

Indian businessman Ravi Pillai said part of the fund will be handed over to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: UAE: Dubai-based businessman announces Dh7.5m Covid-19 fund for Kerala

Pharmacies across Lebanon shuttered their doors on Friday in protest of severe supply shortages, as motorists seeking fuel queued for hours outside petrol stations since the crack of dawn..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Pharmacies, gas stations close due to shortages in Lebanon