Middle East Experience

The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratization will implement the “Noon Work Ban” decision for outdoor jobs carried out under sunlight, between 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., starting June 15 until September 15, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported Wednesday.The ministry stressed the importance of the “Noon Work Ban” for preserving workers’ health and occupational safety, adding that COVID-19 precautionary measures must be implemented during the period to limit the spread of the virus.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Under the new decision, daily working hours, for morning or evening shifts, must not exceed eight hours.The ministry praised the strategic partnership with the private sector in “implementing the work ban and achieving its goals, as well as the active societal role in monitoring its implementation, which reflects the human values prevailing in the Emirati society,” according to WAM.The decision includes implementing preventive measures and controls aimed at protecting workers from exposure to direct sunlight.It also obligates employers to provide appropriate preventive means to protect workers from the dangers of injuries that may result from the use of machines and other work tools and to follow all other prevention methods prescribed in the UAE Labor Law, the statement by the ministry added.Every facility that does not comply with the terms and conditions of the decision will be penalized with a fine of 5,000 dirhams for each worker and a maximum of 50,000 dirhams in the case of multiple workers being employed during the ban period, WAM reported.Read more:Super and ‘ultra-extreme heatwaves’ predicted in the Middle East: ExpertsUAE highlights carbon emission reduction strategies at climate negotiationsUAE registers 2,154 new COVID-19 cases, two deaths in 24 hours
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE to implement ‘Noon Work Ban’ starting June 15: Ministry

Saudi Arabia registered 1,269 new coronavirus infections, 1,081 recoveries and 16 deaths in 24 hours, the country’s health ministry reported on Wednesday.The Kingdom recorded most of its cases in Mecca and Riyadh, accounting for 444 and 285 cases respectively.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Wednesday’s numbers recorded a slight increase in daily recorded infections from Tuesday’s 1,251 cases.There are currently 10,043 active COVID-19 cases in the country, 1,489 of which are critical, and the total diagnosed infections since the beginning of the outbreak in the Kingdom rose to 452,952. Total recoveries increased to 435,520 and the death toll mounted to 7,393.Over the past week, Saudi’s vaccinations averaged at around 164,655 doses per day, according to Reuters. At this rate, it would take the country 43 more days to administer enough jabs to cover another 10 percent of its population.Read more:Saudi Arabia will require COVID-19 immunization during most events as of AugustSaudi Arabia administered over 13.9 mln COVID-19 vaccine doses so far: OfficialIs it safe to fly again? Aviation expert weighs risks during COVID-19
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia records 1,269 new COVID-19 cases, 16 deaths

Kuwait has approved GSK and Vir Biotechnology’s Sotrovimab as a treatment for coronavirus, state news KUNA reported on Wednesday.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Kuwait is the second country in the Middle East to approve the use of the antibody treatment for mild to moderate COVID-19 cases, after the United Arab Emirates.Kuwait also announced on Wednesday a $40 million donation to COVAX, the international program designed to help supply developing countries with vaccines against the disease, KUNA said.Read more:UAE approves GSK’s Sotrovimab COVID-19 drug for emergency useEgypt aims to vaccinate 40 pct of population by end-2021: PMUAE vaccinates 81 pct of eligible population over 16, over 92 pct of elderly
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Kuwait approves Sotrovimab treatment for COVID-19: State media

US backers of Israelis, Palestinians argue their cases.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israeli-Hamas conflict continues to reverberate in US

The Navy said the crew safely evacuated before the Kharg sank near the southern Iranian port city of Jask.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iran navy's largest ship sinks after fire in Gulf of Oman

Russia appears to be trying to maximize gains from countries or entities it has strong influence with such as Abkhazia and Syria.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Abkhazia president pays show visit with Assad

President Hassan Rouhani said most issues with the United States have been resolved, but he hinted a deal may not happen until after his term ends.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iran's Rouhani says problems with US ‘resolved’ in Vienna talks

The UAE and Israel normalised ties after the signing Abraham Accords in September last year..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Abraham Accords is not history, it is the future: Dr Ali Al Nuami

For Mira Hasbini, Lebanon's disastrous financial crisis came down to something very basic: surgeons couldn't find enough screws to fix her aged mother's broken bones..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Bitter pill: Lebanon's medical crisis set to get even worse

A massive fire broke out at an oil refinery near the Iranian capital Tehran on Wednesday, state media reported.The fire broke out at the Shahid Tondgooyan refinery in Shahr-e-Rey, south of the capital Tehran, Iran’s state broadcaster (IRIB) said on Telegram.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Mansour Darajati, director-general of Tehran’s crisis management team, said the incident was due to a leak in one of the pipelines inside the refinery.“Fortunately, we have not had any casualties so far,” the Young Journalists Club (YJC), an IRIB-affiliated news agency, quoted Darajati as saying.The head of public relations at the refinery ruled out the possibility of sabotage, IRIB reported.“So far, no information is available on the extent of possible losses and damages,” IRIB quoted him as saying.Around 18 storage tanks at the refinery have so far caught fire, YJC reported.Several ambulances have been dispatched to the scene, IRIB cited Mojtaba Khaledi, spokesman for Iran’s emergency services, as saying.Hours earlier, the largest ship in the Iranian navy caught fire and later sank in the Gulf of Oman under unclear circumstances, state media reported.In 2020, Iran witnessed a series of mysterious fires and explosions across the country, some of them at sensitive military and nuclear sites.Read more:Iran navy training ship on fire at mouth of Gulf, crew evacuatedIran’s largest navy ship sinks in Gulf of Oman after catching fireReturn of Iran nuclear deal with US needs only ‘will’: Rouhani
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Massive fire breaks out at oil refinery near Iran’s Tehran