Middle East Experience

Christians love the land. They love the people. They love our values.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Christian support for Israel is unconditional. Here's why

Some 600,000 young Israelis aged 12-15 now eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: COVID-19: Vaccination for juniors starts, hundreds already jabbed

Two top advisers to UTJ MK Ya'acov Litzman, as well as two corporate CEOs and a media figure arrested for bribery and fraud charges.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Litzman advisers under police probe for bribery, fraud

How does one select a director-general, cabinet secretary, national security adviser and top foreign policy and economic advisers not knowing if one will indeed become the prime minister?
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: What is the agenda of the Bennett-Lapid government? - analysis

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday met with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab in Neom, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and aspects of joint cooperation in various fields. They also discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and the efforts exerted to enhance security and stability [in the region],” according to SPA.The meeting was attended by Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Kingdom’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and the Kingdom’s Minister of Trade, Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi.Britain’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Neil Crompton, was also in attendance, SPA reported.Read more:US Defense Secretary, Saudi Crown Prince discuss regional security, Yemen warSaudi FM, Kuwait FM hold first Saudi-Kuwaiti Coordination Council meetingSaudi Arabia tops the world in environmental performance indicators
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince meets with British Foreign Secretary in Neom

Doctors in the United Arab Emirates have moved to reassure residents who have had two doses of the Sinopharm that taking a third ‘booster shot’ of the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine is completely safe and will offer an extra layer of protection against COVID-19.The UAE announced last week that they have made the Pfizer vaccine available to those initially immunized with Sinopharm vaccine to offer maximum protection against the coronavirus.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The Gulf states, which have vaccinated large portions of their populations, initially started inoculating residents and citizens with the Sinopharm COVID-19 shot before later introducing other vaccines.In May, the UAE also announced it is offering a third dose of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for those who received their second dose at least six months ago.On Friday, it was announced that residents could also take the Pfizer/BioNTech as a booster shot.Neighboring Gulf state Bahrain announced similar measures.In the UAE, doctors told Al Arabiya English that booster shots are part of the country’s proactive strategy to provide maximum protection.Dr Rajesh Kumar Gupta, a specialist in internal medicine at Burjeel Specialty Hospital in Sharjah, said the UAE Ministry of Health has announced that people who have completed six months after receiving the second dose of the vaccine would be given a booster dose.“This is a proactive step taken by the UAE government to improve the immunity of the people against COVID-19 and reduce the chances of contracting the infection,” Gupta said.“It has also been announced that people who have taken two doses of Sinopharm can get a Pfizer jab as a booster dose. This is completely safe and enhances the immunity of the person better.”The doctor also said there is no need to get a COVID-19 antibody test – which can determine if you have immunity against coronavirus - before taking a booster jab.An antibodies test is simple blood sample, called a serology test, which shows whether you have antibodies that could fight off COVID-19.However, Gupta says it is not necessary to get tested but he would advise to all residents to consider a booster to gain “maximum protection” against the disease.Gupta said local studies conducted across the Emirates have shown that most of the vaccines are “efficacious in protecting against COVID-19 for about six months.”“So, as per this, the UAE government has decided to give booster dose to people who have completed six months after receiving both the doses of the vaccine,” the doctor told Al Arabiya English.“There is no need to do an antibody test before taking the booster dose. First of all, the booster dose will be given to high-risk group and people with co-morbidities in the first phase.”“Secondly, since it is imperative that all vaccinated people take a booster shot to enhance their immunity against the disease, it is not important that all must subject to an antibody test.”“Everybody must get a booster dose so as to raise our guard against the virus.”Gupta said – regardless of booster shots – all UAE residents should continue with safety precautions to limit virus transmission.“It is important the people follow the safety protocols and precautionary measures till the threat of the virus is gone. It has been found that even vaccinated people can contract the infection.”“So, to avoid this, it is crucial that all follow the precautionary measures of social distancing, wearing face mask and sanitizing hands. We shall continue these practices till our society is completely safe from the infection.”Dr Azeem Abdul Salam Mohamad, a specialist in internal medicine at Bareen International Hospital in MBZ City, also stressed taking a third booster - regardless of which vaccine – is completely safe.“Taking Pfizer vaccine as a booster shot after completing the first two Sinopharm jabs do not pose any harm and has no evidence of increased incidence of any adverse events in such cases,” he told Al Arabiya English.“In the emirate of Abu Dhabi, a booster shot is recommended six months after the second dose has been administered.”Abu Dhabi has offered Sinopharm shots to the general public since December 2020 and has started using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine since April 2021. Abu Dhabi has been offering Sinopharm third doses since last month.“Checking level of antibodies before getting the booster dose is not required. But even after getting booster doses, usual precautions like wearing mask, sanitizing hands frequently, and social distancing should still be strictly followed.”The UAE is currently reporting around 2,000 cases a day, down from a February peak of 3,977 but about twice as many as it was reporting in early December.There have been some concerns about the efficacy of the Sinopharm vaccine, granted emergency approval by the World Health organization (WHO) in May, due to limited published clinical data being available.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Chinese vaccine is 78.1 percent effective against symptomatic COVID-19, according to a study published last month in the JAMA medical journal.However, researchers said the data from the study, conducted in countries including the UAE and Bahrain, was insufficient for the elderly and those with chronic diseases.Read more:UAE, Bahrain make Pfizer/BioNTech shot available to those who got Sinopharm vaccineUAE administers ‘booster’ shot to those with no COVID-19 antibodies after vaccineUAE, Bahrain offers Sinopharm booster shot for ‘maximum protection’ against COVID-19
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Pfizer vaccine ‘completely safe’ for UAE residents who got Sinopharm shot: Experts

The United Arab Emirates recorded 1,968 new coronavirus cases, 1,933 recoveries and three deaths in 24 hours, the country’s health ministry reported on Monday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Health authorities conducted 208,090 COVID-19 tests to determine the latest numbers which indicated a slight increase compared to Sunday’s 1,874 cases.The UAE’s COVID-19 death toll mounted to 1,702 and total recorded recoveries rose to 564,509, state news agency WAM reported.Since the beginning of the outbreak, the country registered a total of 585,039 diagnosed cases.The UAE’s vaccination drive has been deemed one of the most efficient in the world, with over 13.3 million doses already administered and over three-quarters of the eligible population already vaccinated against the virus. This number is expected to rise soon with the recent approval of vaccinating adolescents between 12 and 15 years old with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.Data from Reuters suggests that over the last week, the UAE averaged at about 83,720 doses administered per day, adding that if the country were to proceed with inoculations at this rate, it would take a further 24 days to administer enough doses to inoculate another 10 percent of the population.Read more:Vaccinated people in UAE can now enjoy quarantine-free travel to Spain: StatementIs it safe to fly again? Aviation expert weighs risks during COVID-19UAE logs 1,874 new COVID-19 cases, three deaths in 24 hours
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE records 1,968 new COVID-19 infections, three deaths in 24 hours

Some Israeli Arabs congratulate Ra'am party head Mansour Abbas for joining the coalition, while others warn he is setting a dangerous precedent in focusing on civil demands only.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Mixed views among Israeli-Arabs over Ra'am party joining coalition

The UN nuclear watchdog’s head said Monday it was “becoming increasingly difficult” to extend a temporary inspections arrangement with Iran, as Tehran and world powers try to salvage a nuclear deal.In February, Tehran suspended some IAEA inspections, leading the agency to strike a temporary three-month deal allowing it to continue its activities despite the reduced level of access.“I can see this space narrowing down,” International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi told journalists in Vienna at the beginning of the quarterly meeting of the IAEA’s board of governors.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.In late May the ad hoc arrangement was extended until June 24, with Grossi describing the remaining time as “very short”.Referring to negotiations underway in central Vienna between world powers and Tehran on the possible revival of the international 2015 deal on Iran’s nuclear program, Grossi said he hoped that by “wider general agreement that’s being worked on downtown or by some other means, we are not going to see our... inspection capacities curtailed any more”.“We cannot limit and continue to curtail the ability of the inspectors to inspect and at the same time pretend that there is trust,” he said.He also referred to a long-running attempt by the IAEA to get clarity on several undeclared Iranian sites where nuclear activity may have taken place, mostly in the early 2000s.In April the IAEA launched a new process of “technical discussions” with Iran in an effort to “break the impasse” over the sites.But a report issued last week made clear that the IAEA’s queries had not been resolved.Grossi said Monday that his “expectations were not met” and that there had been no “concrete progress” on the issue, despite the Iranian authorities’ stated willingness to cooperate.“Talk must lead to conclusions,” he said.While stressing that the issue of the undeclared sites and the broader talks to revive the 2015 deal were not directly connected, Grossi underscored the importance of trust.“This is where everything you do with any country is interconnected,” he said.“For me the road to trust goes through information, clarification, inspections and full transparency,” he added.Diplomats are hoping to conclude the talks on reviving the 2015 deal before Iran’s presidential election on June 18.The deal has been disintegrating ever since former US President Donald Trump dramatically withdrew from it in 2018 and went on to re-impose swingeing sanctions on Iran.In retaliation Iran has been disregarding limits laid down in the deal on its nuclear activities.Grossi reiterated on Monday that the situation in Iran was “serious”.“We have a country that has a very developed and ambitious nuclear program which is enriching at very high levels... very close to weapons grade,” he said.Read more:US, Europe avoid resolution against Iran at IAEA board: DiplomatsIran enriched uranium stockpile 16 times over deal limit: IAEASixth round of indirect US-Iran talks on nuclear deal next week: State Department
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: It’s getting harder to extend monitoring deal with Iran: IAEA chief

Biogen has estimated that around 1.5 million Americans would be eligible for treatment with aducanumab, which is given by monthly infusion, raising concerns about costs to the healthcare system.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: FDA approves Biogen Alzheimer's drug for use